A history of Southwest church of Christ

The first meeting of the Lord's church currently known as the Southwest congregation occurred on September 4, 1955. The nucleus of the congregation was made up mostly of interested members from the San Marcos Street, Govalle, and Southside congregations in Austin. It was identified according to its location as the Ford Village church of Christ. Its members began meeting in the Jerry Joslin Elementary School building, 4500 Manchaca Road. Two elders, Bert Powell and the late Bruce Voges, were appointed in 1961 to guide and oversee this work. Elders chosen in the years to follow include Marion Taylor, Hilton Sherrod, Bill Siebert, and Charles Cauley. Brothers Bert Powell, Marion Taylor, Bill Siebert, and Charles Cauley continue to serve as elders of the Southwest congregation. Brother J. D. Pinkerton was the first full-time preacher to work with the congregation, followed by J. Leathel Roberts, and other Gospel preachers including Johnny Ramsey, Jerry Moffitt, the late Bill Jackson. Rick Brumback is now the regular preacher for the Southwest congregation.

Soon after the first year of meeting, the church decided to build a new red brick building with seven classrooms and an auditorium with a seating capacity of about two hundred, located at 1300 Redd Street. The growth of the congregation was rapid as the powerful Gospel of Christ was preached, faithful overseers guarded the flock, and dedicated brethren worked in zeal for the Cause of Christ. Within the first ten years of its existence, it was necessary to increase the number of classrooms and build a new auditorium. By the year 1973, even with multiple building additions completed, it was necessary to have two worship services on Lord's Day mornings. In order to accommodate all of those attending, it was necessary for the young people to meet in the home of Ollie and Lois Brown (about two blocks from the building) for their class meetings, with three other classes meeting in a residence purchased behind the building.

In January of 1973, it was necessary to seek a new location in order to have room for growth and expansion.

A sixteen acre plot located at 8900 Manchaca Road was then purchased on which the very beautiful and commodious 35,000 square foot facility that now houses an auditorium, classrooms, three libraries, printing rooms, and adequate space for the Southwest School of Bible Studies was constructed. In 1998 a beautiful new annex was completed which provides additional classroom and meeting space. The present building continues today as a familiar landmark for all who are acquainted with the southwest Austin area.

Among the many continuing works at Southwest are:

(1) The Southwest School of Bible Studies, which began operation in 1978;
(2) The nationally known Southwest Lectureship, which began in 1982;
(3) The weekly bulletin, "The Southwesterner," which is mailed to almost every state and many foreign countries;
(4) Our monthly publication, "The Christian Worker," (third oldest paper in our brotherhood), which began publication in 1915;
(5) The Spanish congregation, begun in 1989 with Al Macias continually preaching;
(6) and for many years, the good work of preaching the Gospel by means of TV and radio.

Special interest and work have been shown successfully in programs for our young people, Bible correspondence course work, and many other works that have brightly shown the light of this city set on a hill.

Now in our forty-plus year of service, the future of the Southwest church of Christ looks bright for the furtherance of the Cause for which our Lord died. Through the many fine brethren at Southwest who are presently working in peace and harmony, being of the same mind and judgment and seeking to honor God and not themselves, many souls shall know the "Old Jerusalem Gospel" and be able to spend eternity together after this life is completed.