WOODLAWN CHURCH OF CHRIST
Founded December 1956
First minister: John Stevens
First Deacons: James Bradford, V.K. Blair, Jack Conaway, Foster Cox, Paul Dillard, Paul Farris, H.L. Farris, Aubrey McCright, Bill McClure, J.C. McDearman, C.L. McInturff, Tim Mason, Fred Stirman, John Swayne Jr. , Carlos Toney, Britt Willeford

CHRISTIAN SERVICE CENTER
Dec. 13, 1965–Organized under the direction of 16th and Vine Street Church of Christ
January 1967–Grew to include four other congregations, each assuming some financial responsibility
May 1, 1968–Turned the oversight and major financial responsibilities over to then-College Church of Christ, now University Church of Christ
1968–Moved to 901 Mesquite St.
2013–Started major capital campaign to renovate the 3185 N. 10th St. location
April 3, 2017–Grand opening of renovated building
DIRECTORS
Jessie Eubanks
Peg Leverett Smith
Paul Garrett
Jim Clark, 2003 to present

By Loretta Fulton

If it weren’t for the generosity of Woodlawn Church of Christ, Christian Service Center literally wouldn’t be where it is today–3185 N. 10th St. 

In 2013, Woodlawn deeded its property at that location to the service center. Woodlawn, founded in December 1956, had experienced a downsizing in membership and attendance, a trend common to mainstream churches in the past few decades.

“We were getting smaller and smaller,” said Wayland Schroeder, one of two elders at Woodlawn.

Christian Service Center opened in the location in 2017. Woodlawn members continued to worship on Sundays and Wednesdays in a portion of the building and had classrooms and offices. That arrangement worked well, but Woodlawn continued to decline in numbers until a decision was made to close entirely. 

The final service will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 1, with a brief devotional, followed by a “dissolution” meeting. Jim Clark, executive director of Christian Service Center, spoke at a reunion of current and former Woodlawn members on Sunday, May 25, which drew 185 people. Among them was the only remaining charter member, Delores Flatt, who will be 94 in August. A “Legacy Memorial Garden” sign was attached to an outside wall and a tree was planted. 

“Because of your amazing gift, dear Woodlawn family, this ministry will carry on,” Clark said in his talk. “Your legacy will continue.” 

Wayland Schroeder, left, and Jim Clark in the clothing room at Christian Service Center. Photos by Loretta Fulton

Woodlawn is the second Church of Christ to close in recent months. The S. 11th and Willis church closed its doors in December and merged with Westgate Church of Christ. 402 S. Pioneer Drive. The remaining members of Woodlawn won’t merge with another church but will scatter among Church of Christ congregations in town, Schroeder said.

The road that took Christian Service Center to its current location was a winding one. In 2012, Clark was asked to speak at Woodlawn one Sunday. He talked about how the service center wanted to move into a larger building. And then he said what turned out to be prophetic words–“If you know of such a facility.” Those words were all it took to get the ball rolling. After the service, the church’s other elder, Glenn Bailey, talked to Clark and told him how Woodlawn needed to downsize. Perhaps they could work something out that would be beneficial to both. 

The following year, that possibility became reality when the church deeded its property at 3185 N. 10th St. to Christian Service Center. Following a campaign to raise $1.8 million for renovation, a grand opening was held April 3, 2017. Mayor Norm Archibald read a city proclamation. Sharing the building has served Woodlawn Church of Christ and the service center well during the past eight years, but a dwindling congregation at Woodlawn took its toll. 

The church opened in December 1956, with John Stevens, president of then-Abilene Christian College, as the first minister. He served until 1957. The 1950s were a time when churches were full, and Woodlawn soon grew to 600 people. Since then the congregation has continued to shrink, with about 35 attending on Sundays, Schroeder said. 

Even though the Woodlawn church has closed, its mission is still alive within its former walls. The large auditorium, which seated 600, people now is the massive clothing room at Christian Service Center. The two entities have been sharing about 3,000 square feet of the 22,000 square-foot building. Christian Service Center now will have full usage of that 3,000 square feet. Clark said the center is exploring additional ways to serve the 10,000 people who seek assistance annually. 

“God is amazing in what he did,” Clark said. 

Jim Clark in front of shoe display at Christian Service Center.

When the new location of Christian Service Center opened in April 2017, it was quite a jump from its previous homes. The center was organized in December 1965 and moved into old Camp Barkeley barracks at 901 Mesquite St. in 1968. It remained there until its move to the current location in 2017. 

While Woodlawn Church of Christ was being renovated to make room for Christian Service Center, the center’s facility on Mesquite Street was destroyed in a fire on April 2, 2016. For the next year, it operated out of the Meals on Wheels old building next door. MOW had built a new building connected to the old one. Betty Bradley, executive director of Meals on Wheels, made the old building available rent-free for the year.

“What grace and generosity of her and the Meals on Wheels board,” Clark said. 

The move into the renovated Woodlawn Church of Christ in 2017 brought new opportunities for improvement or expansion of services, Clark said. Among them:

1. A much larger lobby, new bathrooms, and a children’s area for reading or playing.
2. A larger receptionist area that allows for two staff members to assist “neighbors” or clients. A large workroom is located next to the receptionist area.
3. The Hope Room is used for morning devotionals and staff and volunteer meetings. It also is where visiting volunteer groups congregate to hear about the ministries provided by Christian Service Center.
4. The adult, toddler, and baby clothing are now in one room.
5. The large multipurpose room is used for monthly budgeting classes for people receiving rent assistance, the annual volunteer appreciation luncheon, and training meetings for volunteers. Also, a large kitchen in the multipurpose room is used to prepare meals for meetings and classes. And, a classroom adjacent to the multipurpose room is used for board meetings and for childcare while parents attend budgeting classes.

Wayland Schroeder, left, points to an architects map of Christian Serivce Center. The service center sign and building, center. Schroeder, right in the center’s multipurpose room.

None of it would have been possible without the generosity of Woodlawn Church of Christ, Clark said. For almost 70 years, the neighborhood church has nourished souls, shared joyous and sad occasions, and served as a beacon. At the May 25 service, a prose poem was read titled, “My Small Hometown Church.” The last verse encapsulates the thoughts of many members over the years at Woodlawn Church of Christ:

“My prayer now is that each of us can find what God put us here to find–love, joy and peace. This is what I found in my small home church. Thank the Lord for small home churches.”

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene