In 1862 the seeds of the Gospel were sown among the citizens of New Point in a way not at all uncommon for that era. A traveling evangelist from Kentucky, James Young, preached the New Testament’s message for salvation and godliness.
SESQUICENTENNIAL YEAR!
1870 – 2020
150 Years of Proclaiming the Gospel
Since there was no church building to hold gospel meetings in, the school was used as a gathering place. A congregation of New Testament believers was established but struggled until the year of 1869. That was the year when the minister from the Greensburg Christian Church came to New Point for the purpose of holding religious meetings. His name was Elder D. R. VanBuskirk.
There was such a turnout of people that the schoolhouse could not accommodate the crowds. The meeting site was moved to a nearby grove. Beneath this God-fashioned auditorium came the plea for the sinner to repent, the wanderer to return, and for all Christians to unite upon the infallible and inerrant Word of God.
On the date of July 12, 1870, eighteen members formally organized the church. As time progressed the membership grew to 69 members. On August 5, 1870 a meeting was held in order to elect trustees. Those elected were Randolp Starks, Ephrim Wagoner, and William E. Barkley. Their signatures are on the church’s charter in the Decatur County Courthouse.
On December 25, 1870 a newly constructed building was dedicated unto the Lord’s use. The cost of that structure was $1500.00 and served as the congregation’s meeting house until September 11, 2005.
FUTURE
The New Point Christian Church began meeting in its’ newly constructed, 20,000-sq. ft. building, on September 18, 2005. God has provided a means through this structure for His church in New Point to become more accessible to everyone, more involved in the area, and more effective in evangelism. Indeed, our efforts throughout every area of ministry has been more than enhanced, they have been magnified through the direct work of the Holy Spirit of God.
The desire that we had to make our facilities more available to every person has been realized and the pursuit of developing ministries has been greatly enhanced through the retiring of the debt incurred when the structure was built. The mortgage that was on the new building has been paid off. The church celebrated with a Mortgage Burning Celebration on February 4, 2018.
Now it is up to us, as God’s people, to continue making ourselves just as available and just as accessible. This will help to focus our effectiveness for reaching the lost, the hurting, the fallen and those searching for avenues of godly service for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These aims form a part of our goals for the glory of God.
Matthew 25:34-40 (NASB) “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’
“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’