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A HISTORY OF THE
ABM CHURCH OF CHRIST
1921 - 1988
by Joe Buser
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CREDITS
This project could not have been completed without the
help of many people. A listing does not seem sufficient
to express my thanks for sharing the treasures of their
memories.
On behalf of those yet to come who will marvel at the
faith of their forefathers, I say, "Thanks and God bless
you..."
Special thanks to Norman Archibald of Abilene;
TAMU Archives; C.H. Bernard of Rush Springs, OK;
Virgil and Grace Bernard of Austin; Berme Bernard;
Miss Maurine Blakeley; Research Section of the Bryan
Public Library; Larry Claborn; E.C. Coffman of
Houston; Mrs. Flop Colson; Bob Davidson; George
Davis of Lubbock; Research Sections of the Sterling
Evans Library at TAMU: Mrs. Bessie Hunt; Edwin
Martin of Houston; J.D. McCrady; Col. Bob Melcher;
Mary Lou Moore; R.L. Nolan; Mrs. Eris Potts; Don
Russell; Charles She pard of Houston; Ralph Sweet of
Round Rock; Silvia Sweet) Alfred of Riverside, CA;
Bob Walker; Dan Warden; and Mrs. Grace
Woodward of Kerrville.
As always, Karen proved to be my best advisor, my
fairest editor and my most enthusiastic supporter. In
this effort, and every day, she lights up my life...
JOE BUSER
Bryan, Texas
1988
HISTORY
of the
A&M CHURCH
OF CHRIST
By Joe Buser
A&M AND TEXAS
IN 1921
In 1921 a mathematics professor named A.D. (Dow)
Martin began to hold Lord's Day services with 3 or 4
Texas A&M students. Those campus meetings were the
beginnings of the A&M Church of Christ.
The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas was
45 years old in 1921. Enrollment was about 2,000
students. There was no tuition but room and board cost
$130 per semester. W.D. Bizzell was the Prexy; D.X.
Bible was the head football coach. The World War in
France had just ended and the doughboys were coming
home to go to college.
The Volstead Act prohibited the sale of alcohol -- and
milk was 20 cents a quart at the Bryan Milk Depot. An
infestation of pink boll weevil and the new A&M ice
plant were big news items for the day. A list of favorite
books at the campus library was headed by the Holy
Bible. The College planted 521ive oak trees around the
drill field to honor A&M heroes killed in World War I.
Warren G. Harding was the President and Pat Neff was
the Governor. The feature movie at the Queen Theatre
in Bryan was Cecil B. deMille's "Why Change Your
Wife?", a lavishly staged production starring Gloria
Swanson.
Sunday movies (and Sunday baseball) were illegal.
Girls with rouge and powder were barred from serving
on a jury. The cadet uniform was changed from the
high collar tunic to the English style blouse with wide
lapels which permitted the wearing of a white roll collar
for dress occasions. Sam Browne belts (like officers
wore during the War) were authorized for
upperclassmen and the cords on cadets' campaign hats
were color coded to indicate branches of the Army.
The population of Bryan was 6,295 and a new factory to
manufacture automatic shoe polishers was created with
chartered capital of $73,000.
Chapel was Compulsory
Chapel services at the A&M College were compulsory
in those days. Some cadets wanted that rule changed.
An editorial in the January 7, 1921 issue of The
Battalion asked this question:
"Why cannot each denomination have a small building
somewhere on or near the campus in which to hold
meetings? The Baptist students are now meeting in Guion
Hall, the Methodists in the.Electrical Engineering Building
and others elsewhere... "
CHURCH IN BRYAN
In 1921 there was no Church of Christ building in
Brazos County but Christians had been meeting on the
Lord's Day since 1870. David Lipscomb, on his
missionary journey to Texas in 1872, reported in his
Notes on Texas Travels that "25-40 Christians were
worshipping regularly in Bryan... "
Christians met on the second floor of the Carnegie
Library for communion services. A traveling preacher
who passed through Bryan in May of 1921 prompted
Christians to begin regular meetings on the Lord's Day.
The Daily Eagle of May 7 reported the event like this:
"The Church of Christ begins a series of gospel meetings
tonight at the city library. Wm. Guy Ashley, evangelist
5
from Ballinger, Texas, will do the preaching. Come and
hear him. The Christianity of the New Testament will be
preached in all of its fullness. No collections. All
welcome. "
Bro. Ashley's meeting lasted for two weeks. His topics
for those 7:45 p.m. services included "The Resurrection
of Christ" (It will be his purpose to prove Christ arose
from the dead); "Sermon on the Mount" (if you are a
skeptic or a believer, don't fail to hear this); "How to
Know Which is the True Church"; "Prayer"; and
"Christian Unity" (urging all Christians to be united on
the Word of God and it alone). That series of lessons
launched the Bryan congregation: they have regularly
meet since. A small advertisement in the Eagle of June
4, 1921 announced their new resolve:
"There will be talks by two or more of the brethren and
communion (in the library). Forsake not the assembling
of yourselves together, as the manner of some, said Paul... "
The ad was signed J.T. McGee, who was a retired rural
mail carrier.
In 1929 they began to congregate in the Brazos County
Courthouse.
The Central Congregation
The "town" congregation erected a frame building at the
corner of Washington and 29th Streets (currently called
29th Place, located across Washington Street from the
Chamber of Commerce building) in about 1932. This
was the beginning of the fellowship now known as the
Central Church of Christ (which later moved to its
present location at 29th and Luza Streets).
Interurban Not Dependable
For A&M College students, six miles of travel to Bryan
for church services was simply out of the question.
There were virtually no student automobiles on the
campus and the Interurban trolley wasn't totally
dependable. The students dreamed of the day they
would have a building of their own in College Station.
The YMCA
Another Bro. Martin participated in the campus
services. He was Edwin D. Martin (no relation to A.D.
Martin), an instructor in the A&M Consolidated Rural
School which met on the A&M College campus. Bro.
Edwin came to A&M in 1925 to teach faculty children.
He recalls worship services in Dow Martin's math
classroom in the Academic Building until the YMCA
general secretary's wife (Mrs. Mahon Cashion) offered
the use of a room in the YMCA.
Winnie Cashion (whose brother, J.B. Blakeley, later
became an elder of the A&M Church) wanted her
children to attend a Sunday School so she worshipped at
the Presbyterian Church with her husband. One other
professor (Percy Key of the English faculty) occasionally
joined the Martins in the cadet services
as did Winnie's sister, Miss Maurine Blakeley, who
moved here in 1933 to accept employment with the
USDA.
The Sunday morning services at the cadet church were
held in a second floor room of the "Y". Students would
be assigned to pray, to read Scripture and to distribute
the emblems. Dow Martin would preach. Worship
would end in time for the faculty members to attend the
11 a.m. services in Bryan.
In 1931 the cadet church was announcing services in the
campus Daily Bulletin like this:
7
"Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great
recompense of reward. (Hebrews 10:35) Church of Chnst
group meets Sunday morning at 9:30 in the YMCA
Chapel.. "
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MEETING HOUSE ON CHURCH STREET -- The first
building on Church Street was designed after the New
England meeting houses of Pilgrim times. It was a
worship center -- no classrooms were included.
THE BUILDING
ON CHURCH STREET
Bro. Edwin Martin moved to Houston in 1928 to work
with Houston Schools, a system which he later served as
deputy superintendent. He gave glowing reports of
A&M's fledgling college congregation to his friends at
the Heights Church of Christ. That church, which still
meets at 16th Street and Heights Avenue, was formed
in 1915 and is the oldest still meeting at the same
location in Houston. It was instrumental in planting
several other congregations in Harris County including
Central, Norhill, West End, 26th and North Shepherd,
Humble Road, West University, Stonewall and Waco,
Bammel Road, Frazier Street (Conroe) and Pasadena
(Watters Road), among others.
The Heights Church
In 1931 Bro. Edwin arranged for Bro. Dow to address
the Heights Church. A.D. said the students had
collected $500 (quite a sum in those days) as down
payment for a parcel of land at College Main and
Church Streets at the North Gate of the campus. He
appealed to the Houston brethren for their prayers and
encouragement for the cadet church which now involved
as many as 124 students. As he was leaving a lady
handed him a slip of paper with her name and address
written on it. The note asked Dow to write her on
January 1. He did so and by return mail he received a
check for $2,000 and a letter that read, '7 am interested
in the Church of Christ group at the Texas A&M College.
As I am able I will send more money. Write me again on
July 1... "
And so began the relationship with the A&M Church
and Mrs. E.F. Woodward of Houston.
10
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Mrs. Bessie Woodward
Bessie Woodward
Bessie Woodward was a generous member of the
Heights congregation. Her gift of $135,000 financed
that church's building in 1925. She and her husband,
Emerson, (reputed to be the richest oilman in Houston
at that time) had paid the cost for two buildings at the
Boles Home and other works "from here to California",
some remember. Their only son, Harley, was killed
March 5, 1936 in an airplane crash in Mena, Arkansas
while on a trip to check out a building that Mrs.
Woodward thought might be suitable for a children's
home.
Emerson was an investor in the Spindletop field near
Beaumont. That strike dwarfed all other oil fields
before and since. It made Texas the largest oil producer
in the United States and the United States the largest
oil producer in the world. The first Spindletop well
alone produced more black gold than all the known
reserves of the time. For 12 years Mrs. Woodward
shared her wealth and her prayers with the college
assembly. In 1933 she inquired about the plans for a
church building. Do not build before consulting me," she
wrote. By then the college body had paid for the North
Gate lot and had accumulated $10,000 toward
construction of a frame building.
Professor Ernest Langford, then head of the
Department of Architecture, (later to become College
Station's mayor) had prepared plans for the structure.
The plans were shown to Mrs. Woodward. She thought
they were too modest: she provided $35,000 to create a
brick building with a 210-seat auditorium, a library and
a preacher's residence. The structure was toped with
65-foot steeple (later removed when the building was
enlarged.)
Construction began on the first building in January
12
19 3 5 . The site was a grassy field bounded by an artery
to Bryan (College Main Street) and a gravel road (later
to be called Church Street when Baptist, Methodist and
Catholic churches were lined up along the
thoroughfare).
The North Gate of the Campus
North Gate was the "business district" of the campus
(the City of College Station wouldn't be created for
another 2 years). It included a photo studio owned by
George Sosolik, Holik and Son's Boot Shop, Lipscomb's
Drug Store, Aggieland Pharmacy, Luke and Charlie's
Campus Grocery, Lauderstein's Clothiers, Park Hill
Cafe, Rapp & English Cleaners, the Western Union
Office, the College Station Post Office, the Campus
Theatre and a hamburger stand owned by Smith &
Mercer. A&M's football players lived in a wooden
boarding house west of College Main (more or less the
location of the Dixie Chicken in the 1980's). There were
several apartment houses along the principal streets
where faculty and some graduate students lodged.
13
OPENING SERVICES
A Gospel Advocate article of February 6, 1936 describes
the opening of the building on Church Street like this:
'At the opening services (Sunday, October 27, 1935)
twenty three churches were represented. One hundred
eighty two visitors registered and many were present who
did not register...
'A.D. Martin of Bryan, who has worked faithfully for
several years to see the accomplishment of this tasl~
delivered the principal address at the morning service.
E.C. Coffman of Houston Heights Church, delivered an
inspiring short address. At the evening service Professor
Ernest Langford gave an informative talk on The
Architecture of the Building: Expression of an Ideal.
14
"Cadet Lieutenant RK Anderson of Lometa talked on a
student's reaction to the building and Bro. RB. Sweet
preached to the capacity crowd of families, visitors and
cadets. "
The Advocate also noted that the new building would be
good for the college's enrollment.
"It is hoped that young men who may have failed to come
to A. and M. because it was thought church opportunities
were lacking may come in the future. Parents of students
may now feel free to visit with their sons over the weekend
or on Sundays for a beautiful place is now available for
worshiping right at the campus... "
The unwritten traditions of the brotherhood were
respected -- even at the opening. The article noted that
anyone passing this way is invited to visit "at the usual
hours of worship... "
15
THE FIRST CLAS S
Ralph Sweet told the first class of cadets to worship at
the "building" that they were a history making group.
'A new era opens in the work of the church with the
students at the A. and M. College. Our new plant is the
best and the most beautiful that could be designed. The
largest enrollment in the history of the school (3,500) and
largest group who are Christians make it a challenge to
carry on the loyal work of our predecessors and to build
larger and more substantially (if possible) a body of
intelligent and capable young men who will soon become
leaders in many churches throughout our State and
Southland...
'May our Father help us every one to be loyal to the
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Church to show by our zeal for its welfare our gratitude to
the one who has made this particular work possible and
our gratitude to Him who doeth all things well... "
The directory notes 123 cadets (mostly small town
products from such places as Salado, Decatur, White
Deer, Junction and Yorktown. There were only two
from San Antonio, three from Dallas, three from
Houston and four from Abilene. Not one of the cadets
hailed from out of state. Twelve were listed as "non
military" and there was one graduate student.
Two years later Sweet was still promoting the church as
a drawing card for enrollment in A&M. In a Firm
Foundation article published September 6, 1938 he said,
'Parents who are sending their sons to A. and M. this fall
will be doing their boys a service and helping us in
ministering to their spiritual needs if they will write us
concerning their boys so we may be on the lookout for
them...
'Arrange to visit your son over Sunday, come to see us,
worship with us and help us keep your boy interested in his
Christianity. We believe you will enjoy such a visit to the
largest agricultural college in the world and the
opportunity to worship with the college church... "
17
EARLY CHURCH
EVENT S
Bro. Sweet was an avid writer and he regularly sent
invitations to the residents of College Station to attend
his services. One such mailing was his letter of January
8, 1936 addressed to "Dear Folks" and read like this:
'You were invited to the opening services in our new
church building and we were very grateful for the splendid
response...
'Please do understand that we want you to be with us at
any or all of our services when you find it possible to be
present and you have the inclination to come...
"We are thoroughly nondenominational, practicing the
utmost simplicity both in the organization of our work and
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in the conduct of our public services... We are content to
Christians only and are seeking the help and
encouragement of all others who want the utmost freedc
in spiritual affairs... Won't you come and worship and
study with us regularly enough to understand what
we are trying to do? Come thou with us and we will do
thee good... "
Faculty Postcard
Sweet mailed the faculty a printed one cen
postcard with 'An Important Message" pros
evening services dealing with the existence
'Discussions concerning the evidence for an intelligent
Creator back of the uraverse is (sic) as old as philosop
it began. "The probability that the cosmos has taken
shape by chance is becoming more remote... Truly scie~
men are willing to examine and re-examine the bases I
for their believing or failing to believe. Great scientists
may be religious; marry of them are.
"Whatever you may have thought or whatever opinion you
now hold, let us look again at this fundamental question
of our existence and purpose in the universe. Our Sunday
evening discussions during October will be devoted to this
line of thought. Won't you have a part with us in them?
Come at 7 o'clock each Sunday evening... "
The Daily Bulletin of September 23, 1936 carried an
advertisement for the church, a plug for Luke and
Charlie's Grocery and an advertisement for Samuel
Goldwyn's vivid feature film "Splendor" starring Joel
McCrea and Miriam Hopkins which would be shown
Saturday for 25 cents in the Assembly Hall.
'The Church of Christ welcomes all students:
for the first time and those returning. May you
profitable year. Make this your church home v
A&M. - RB. Sweet, Minister':
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The First Home Bulletin
The first home bulletin was called
a suitable vehicle for Bro. Sweet's
talents. Here is a sample from th
in which he cajoles the cadets to a
regular basis.
The Reminder. It was
considerable writing
e Feb. 12, 1936 issue
ttend services on a
"Our splendid building was erected and equipped for the
benefit of you men. Shall we fail to take advantage of this
extraordinary opportunity to better ourselves? Shall we
disappoint those who have expended so much for us?
Shall we show by our behaviour that we care nothing for
the Lord and His church which cost so much? Your
actions will speak louder than words! Let's make next
Sunday's attendance the best thus far. Come and bring
someone with you. Be seein' yuh!"
An Early Gospel Meeting
One of the first gospel meetings for the church was held
about 1947. Trine Starnes (son of Warren Starnes, a
famous reacher of the day) came to College Station
from Mineral Wells. The church staged a dinner in his
honor at the Bryan Country Club (now the site of the
Municipal Golf Course).
Early Song Leaders
Every man in the congregation (whether he was
particularly talented or not) took a turn at leading
singing during the 30's. Then came Harry Springfield of
Corpus Christi, a graduate student with a swell voice.
He is remembered as the first "regular" song leader.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL
AT A&M
The Cadet assembly that met at the YMCA didn't have
Sunday School or Bible Class: it was a worship service.
The building at North Gate didn't include any
classrooms--rt is obvious from its floorplan that classes
were not part of the initial plans for the church.
Architect Ernest Langford patterned the building after
the New England meeting house of the Pilgrim period.
Prof. Langford told the audience at the first evening
service in the building of his plans for the structure.
'The keynote of the building is simplicity with beauty, in
keeping with the religious ideal of the Church of Christ, "
Langford said. 'An attempt was made to embody in its
21
22
VBS ON CHURCH STREET
YOUTH RALLYDURING THE 40's
architecture and decoration simple beauty and to create
an atmosphere of worship. It was desired that the building
would say by its appearance that it is a place of meeting
for those who are simply Christians. It should say I am a
meeting house, not a bank or a library... "
A&M wasn't by itself: many early churches did not meet
for Sunday School. In fact, the Add-Ran Academy and
church at Thorp Springs were divided over several
issues (including Sunday Schools and instrumental
music). Some dissident faculty members moved to
Waco, then to Fort Worth to form Texas Christian
University. Others went to Abilene to join the fledgling
Abilene Christian College. And a few, including A.D.
Martin, came to Texas A&M College. Some of the
early members of the A&M congregation including
A.D.'s wife (Lena), Percy Key and a few others thought
Sunday School was inappropriate. In deference to their
views, Bible classes were not scheduled in the North
Gate building in 1935.
In 1936 the debate over Sunday School reached Mrs.
Woodward's ears. She wrote a "6-cent letter" telling
Ralph Sweet her views. (A regular letter cost ,2 cents in
those days -- her message took quite a few pages and
weighed about 3 ounces). She advised Bro. Sweet that
the facilities were to be fully used and, if necessary, she
would provide additional space for Sunday School.
That settled the issue: the A&M Church of Christ
started a Sunday School program.
First Bible School Teachers
The first Bible School teachers were as follows: Bessie
Hunt ( reschool); Eris Potts (older children); and R.B.
Sweet (cadets and adults). Mrs. Potts' husband built
wooden benches for her "card class" (so named because
of the printed cards with pictures and Bible verses given
to the children each Sunday).
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Matthew, Mark, Luke and Charlie
The kids of that time (like today) learned by
association. When the Sweets' daughter, Silvia, was
learning to recite the books of the New Testament she
was mightily influenced by the local environment. The
only grocery store in College Station was named "Luke
& Charlie's" after its owners: Luke Patranella and
Charlie Opersteny. So it was understandable that little
Silvia had problems learning the names of the Gospels.
As often as not, she recited, "Matthew, Mark, Luke and
Charlie".
24
SUPPORT
FOR THE
CONGREGATION
Mrs. Woodward continued her support of the A&M
Church until September 1942 when she asked the local
group to assume more expenses (the extra taxes to fund
World War II were becoming a burden, she said.)
On May 23, 1943, Mrs. Woodward and her husband
were returning from San Antonio to their Valdina ranch
in Uvalde and Medina counties. Near D'Hanis a
car-train accident took their lives but Bessie's dreams
for a campus congregation are surely yet alive.
Limited Resources in the 30's
Members of the church had limited resources during the
30's. The Great Depression was just ending. Jobs were
still scarce. Wages at the College were modest (as low
25
as $185 per month, in some cases). Without Mrs.
Woodward's support, the A&M Church could not have
existed during the early years.
The abrupt termination of support caused drastic action
for the A&M Church. Bro. Sweet took a job as
telegrapher at the College Station for the Southern and
Missouri Pacific Railroads at the monthly salary of
$150, thus relieving the congregation of his support.
Even without building or utility payments, the
contributions in the 30's did not even equal Ralph
Sweet's salary.
In 1936 the members gave less than $100 total in four
months. The next year the annual giving was only
$360.82. It was 1940 before they reached $1,000 in their
annual donations.
The first Sunday's offering to exceed $1,000 was
November 1947. It was almost 10 years later (May
1955) when the Sunday offering yielded more than
$2,000.
The 40'S and 50's
In 1948 the annual giving exceeded $10,000 A decade
later the giving for the year passed $30,000. In the spirit
of the First Century, the church in College Station
shared what it had with others: they provided financial
support to help create congregations in Navasota, North
Zulch, Edge and Franklin.
First 25 Years of Giving
Annual contributions for the first quarter of a century
(compiled in 1959 by Jane Ledbetter, a church
secretary) are displayed on page 57.
Contribution records for the 60's and 70's cannot be
located.
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Giving must have reached $100,000 per year during the
1970's. In 1976 annual income for the church was
$170,142. Giving surpassed $300,000 in 1980 and
$500,000 in 1984.
Annual contributions have increased every year except
3: 1982, 1984 and 1986.
Annual contributions for ].977-1987, compiled by Bernie
Bernard, are displayed on page 57.
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8.25 acres on the West Bypass.
FAMILIES
AND THE CHURCH
The A&M Church was mostly students through the 30's.
In 1941 there were only 6 families among the members;
there were 38 families in 1947 and by 1960 families still
only numbered about 90. One family has provided
three servants for the church: C.H. Bernard was an
original elder; his brother, Virgil Bernard, was a deacon
in the 50's; Virgil's son, Bernie Bernard, was selected a
deacon in the 80's.
No list of non-student members from the first days has
survived. Some of the families (recalled by members of
the time) included A.D. and Lena Martin, Charlie
Allen, Sam Harper, Bessie Hunt, Percy Key, Wayne and
Edna Long, Bill and Eris Potts, Robert Smith, William
and Clara Street and Grover Vaughn, among others.
28
GROWTH
ANA EXPANSION
The building at 301 College Main was enlarged in 1947
when a classroom center and a nursery were added at a
cost of $3,300. A six room residence nearby was
purchased for $8,500. In 1954, the facade of the building
was altered to remove the steeple and the auditorium
was enlarged to hold 400 permanent seats. Anew
education building was also added. The preacher's
residence was converted into classrooms and a new
home was constructed for the Fowlers. Total cost for
these changes was $48,000. ;;,
New Year Welcomed at 1002 Munson
Without a Fellowship Hall the church met wherever
they could for social events. On New Year's Eve,
29
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families gathered at Virgil and Grace Bernard's home
on Munson Drive to greet 1948. The dwelling was still
under construction so they strung temporary lighting,
swept up the wood scraps from the bare concrete floors
and sat on folding chairs for the event.
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EDUCATIONAL BUILDING -- In 1954 an Educational
Building was constructed.
THE BIBLE CHAIR
In 1956 a hardware building across from the auditorium
was purchased for about $36,500 and converted into the
Bible Chair Building. The building was remodeled in
January 1957 through the efforts of W.M. Dowell (an
elder of the time and chairman of the Bible Chair
Committee). Bro. Dowell and his son, Dickie, and a
few students spent their Christmas vacation building
partitions to create four large classrooms and made
other improvements in the facility. Funds to renovate
the Bible Chair came from students, their hometown
churches and other congregations across Texas.
The budget for the Bible Chair in 1956 was $950 per
month. The A&M church provided $150. The rest
32
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BIBLE CHAIR B UILDING -- In 1956 the church
purchased the building which housed Sorenson's hardware
store and converted it into the Bible Chair.
FIRST FELLOWSHIP HALL -- The Bible Chair was the
church's first hall for fellowship dinners and socials.
came from other churches including Grove Avenue of
San Antonio, Proctor Street in Port Arthur, Edgefield
and Skillman of Dallas, Orange, Granbury, Port Lavaca,
Big Spring, Colorado City, Coleman, East and Central
of Amarillo, among others.
Billie Sol Estes Helps
In 1958 the church staged a dinner to day off the
indebtedness on the Bible Chair building. On April 11
some 56 people from around Texas "opened their hearts
and their pocketbooks" to the effort. A grand total of
$11,347.50 in cash and pledges was received including
$1,000 from Billie Sol Estes. Estes, who was later
convicted of mail fraud for using nonexistent fertilizer
tanks as collateral for bank loans, flew to dinner in his
private airplane. His pilot couldn't locate College
Station's Easterwood Airport and mistakenly landed in
Navasota. When Estes discovered the error he fired the
pilot on the spot and arranged for ground
transportation back to Pecos after the dinner.
Move to Separate The Bible Chair Fails
In 1959 there was an attempt b~ a minority of the
congregation to separate the Bible Chair from the A&M
Church. That movement was quickly snuffed out and
the pulpit minister and the Bible Chair director were
replaced.
A Weekday Hangout for College Students
The Bible Chair Building was a weekday "hangout" for
college students who regularly met there between
classes. It served as a classroom center for Sundays and
Wednesdays and was the first "Fellowship Hall" for
church supers and socials. Classes for college credit
were held in the building until 1964 when A&M
abandoned the practice of giving elective credit for
off-campus religion courses.
34
On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays students
athered at 7:05 p.m. fora 20-minute worship service
known in the 80's as DEE-vos). Freshmen and
sophomores were able to return to their rooms for CQ
(Call to Quarters) by the 7:30 curfew, thanks to a Bible
Chair carpool. A brochure printed in 1965 was lavish in
its praise for the student programs.
"The devotionals are student-led arul thus provide a first
rate leadership incentive. Singspiration, student talks,
guest speakers and discussion sessions enliven these
services. If you're new atA&M come to the devotionals.
The tensions of the day will slide off and when you relax,
things will appear in their right perspective. You will
return to your studies more certain than ever of the value
and the purpose of life... "
.~-
35 ~''~
LG v v aurtng l y68.
AGGIES
FOR
CHRIST
The Aggies for Christ (AFC) organization was born in
1972 in Room 114 of Hughes Hall. Tommy Isbell had
invited three of his friends over to discuss their plans for
~ the summer. The group (Stuart Platt, Cody Birdwell,
Norman Archibald and Isbell) decided to take a trip.
The idea of stopping overnight at a children's home
came up, then someone suggested a visit to a local
church to meet with teenagers. Pretty soon the trip had
grown into a missionary journey. Archibald suggested
they call the venture "The A&M Church of Christ
Evangelistic Missionary Journey". "Too many words, "his
mates said. "Let's just be Aggies. Aggies for Christ. "And
so they were.
In May 1972 twelve students and their advisor, Bob
36
37
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Davidson, left College Station on the first AFC trip in a
bus borrowed from the Crestview Church in Waco.
They planned a swing through the South: North Texas,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia
and Louisiana. They made it as far as the Mississippi
River before the bus developed engine trouble near
Morrilton, Arkansas.
'The group slept for five nights on the gym floor at the
Southern Children's Home while the vehicle was
repaired. Their spirits weren't dampened by the
transportation problems and their reports of visits to the
Boles Home in Quinlan and the Youth meeting at Del
City Church of Christ in Oklahoma City prompted the
gang at the Bible Chair to plan another AFC trip in
January to San Benito. Later the A&M church
acquired its own buses (which broke down with the same
regularity as the borrowed bus, the AFCers remember).
The students' zeal for their Aggies for Christ, however,
has never flagged.
Members of AFC 1
Members of "AFC 1" included Chester Amidon of
Georgetown, Norman Archibald of San Benito, Brice
Biggerstaff of Harlingen, Cody Birdwell of Spring,
Tommy Dayton of College Station, Tommy Isbell of
Hillsboro, Mike Keese of College Station, Bob
McElvain of Abilene, Stuart Platt of San Antonio, Doug
Stelljes of Spring, James Wilbeck of Hungerford and
John Wilson of Houston. They were accompanied by
the Bible Chair director and campus minister, Bob
Davidson.
38
THE NEW BUILDING
In 1968, a group of far-sighted men of the church
(including Paul Crawford, Ethan Holt, Wayne Keese,
James D. McCrady, Page Morgan, J.W. Sorenson,
Gene Stallings and Dan Warden) were appointed to
serve as a building committee. Dr. McCrady served as
chairman of the group. Don Russell, the church's part
time youth minister, was the student representative to
the group.
The committee surveyed the projected growth of the
university and the community and determined that a
facility to accommodate 1,000 worshipers would be
needed in 10 years (1978). The existing site was not
large enough for a building of that size and parking for
congregation of 1,000 was simply not available at North
39
Gate. The committee finally concluded that a new site
must be found for the church meeting place.
The decision to move was made slowly: not every
member favored leaving the North Gate. There were a
series of congregational meetings to discuss the pros
and cons. Bob Walker and J.D. McCrady, two of the
deacons at that time, met with each family individually
to discuss their plans for contributing to the building
fund. Eventually, the objectors conceded there wasn't
any alternative to moving if the church was to continue
to grow.
8.25 Acres South of Town
In 1972 the church paid $50,000 for 8.25 acres of land in
the southern outskirts of College Station. There was
only a gravel road to the property but one day it would
be serviced by a rincipal thoroughfare to be known as
the West Loop ~FM 2818).
A community wide ground breaking ceremony was held
on Easter Sunday (April 22) 1973. College Station
Mayor J.B. (Dick) Hervey spoke at the occasion and
joined three of the elders of the time (Bob Mullinix,
Wayne Keese, W.W. Bay), Councilman J.D. Lindsay
and Councilman Fred Brison in turning a ceremonial
spade of earth to mark the event.
1001 West Loop South Opened in 1974
Construction on the new home for the A&M Church of
Christ at 1001 West Loop South was completed in 1974.
The 26,000 square foot building included an auditorium
for 800 and multipurpose areas for classes and
fellowship activities. The budget for the facility and its
77,000 square foot parking lot was $600,000.
The second evangelist to serve the congregation, J.F.
40
41
Fowler, then minister of the Central Church of Christ in
Birmingham, Alabama) spoke at the dedication service
on September 15, 1974. Don Flynt led the congregation
in singing Number 480 "Soldiers of Christ Arise" and
Number 589 "To Christ Be True".
Wings Added in 1977
In 1977 the "A" (Adult) Wing and the Aggie Wing were
added to the building. These improvements of 17,000
square feet cost an additional $437,000.
42
ARCHITECT's view of the building at 1001 West Loop.
MINISTERS
The first full time minister of the A&M Church was
R.B. Sweet of Austin. Brother Sweet is well known as
the founder of Sweet Publishing Company which
provided the brotherhood with 'Journeys Through the
Bible", a curriculum for Sunday School programs that
was begun while he was the preacher at the A&M
congregation. His daughter, Silvia, recalls him pounding
away on his office typewriter preparing notes for Mrs.
Sweet's class of high school students. 'Journeys" may be
the most popular Sunday School curriculum every
produced: in Austin he adapted it for eve grade. The
material involved 12 years of Bible Study four
complete journeys from Genesis to Revelation).
The publishing company he founded printed tens of
43
thousands of copies for 35 years until the rights were
sold to Houston printers. Brother Sweet was a
self-taught Bible scholar. He dropped out of Sherman
High School at age 14, briefly attended Austin College,
received a bachelor's degree m biology from SMU and a
master's degree in economics from the University of
Teas at Austin. His journey through the Bible made the
stories come alive, his daughter recalls.
"He told Old Testament stories like they happened to real
people. He believed they were true -- and so did his
listeners, "she says.
Brother Sweet began his preaching career at the
Western Heights congregation in Fort Worth while a
student at SMU. He moved to Belton, then to the
University Avenue church in Austin before Mrs.
Woodward urged him to come to College Station. He
returned to Austin in 1946 and preached at the
University Avenue congregation until his death in 1963.
Ralph and his wife, Thelma, opened their home on
Church Street to the cadets who lived in barracks (there
was no Memorial Student Center or similar "living
room" facilities on the campus at that time). Grace
Woodward, Bessie Woodward's daughter-in-law,
remembers that "Thelma's cookie jar was always open
for the students. They loved her..."
Brother Sweet left A&M on July 14, 1946.
R.L. Nolan, a mathematics instructor who came to
Texas A&M from the Abilene Christian College faculty,
filled the pulpit for 13 weeks (until December 8) when
James Fowler from Dallas assumed the ministry.
44
PULPIT MINISTERS
A list of ministers who have served the church follows.
1935 - 1946: R.B. Sweet
1946 - 1946: R.L. Nolan
1946 - 1956: James F. Fowler
1956 - 1959: Mont Whitson
1959 - 1963: Levi Gentry
1963 - 1967: Thomas J. Seay Jr.
1967 - 1979: Dan E. Warden
1980 - 1984: James E. Woodroof
1985 - Kenneth Reed
~~
~~
45
RB. SWEET -- Ralph B. Sweet was the first full time
minister of the A&M Church and served in that capacity
longer than any of his successors.
COLLEGE
MINISTERS
A list of the men who have served as the
campus/college minister of the A&M Church of Christ
follows:
1954 - 1958: Bob Davidson
1958 - 1959: Pence Dacus
1959 - 1960: Bob Stewart
1960 - 1964: Billy Earl Williams
1973 - 1976: R.L. Nolan (Extension Course Instructor)
1970 - Bob Davidson
46
S OWE
DIRECTORS/MINISTERS
The School of World Evangelism was formed in 1977 to
train apprentice missionaries. During its first 10 years
the School produced 146 graduates in 20 classes. Half
of the graduates of the SOWE (rhymes with SOW--like
seeds) went to cross-cultural work. One fourth of the
graduates have become full time workers for the Lord.
And yet there is room...
The faculty for the School is drawn from career
mis canaries, church leaders who are also members of
Tex~s A&M's faculty and missionaries in residence.
The curriculum is a 6-month program of intense
trai#ing.
The A&M congregation assumes responsibility for the
47
faculty and staff salaries, study materials, facilities, etc.
There is no tuition for students.
Each candidate must arrange for personal financial
support for two years (6 months of training and 18
months on the field).
Apprentice graduates select the field where they will
wish to serve and are supervised by the elders of their
sponsoring church as directed by a career missionary at
their location. SOWE classes are held in the fall and
spring terms to coincide with the semester calendar of
TAMU.
SOWS Memorial Fund
In 1983 Don Russell, chairman of the SOWE
Committee, proposed the development of a memorial
fund to provide a permanent endowment for the School.
Bylaws were drafted by Joe Buser and Steve Smith;
Larry Wilson presented the idea to the elders. The fund
was approved in 1984 and has become a significant
source of encouragement to the program. The bylaws
provide that the principal gifts be invested and only the
dividends be expended on SOWE students and
graduates. In 1987 the principal of the SOWE
Memorial Fund was almost $30,000.
SOWS DIRECTORS/MINISTERS
1976 - 1978: Dave Depew
1978 - Kenneth J. Wilkey
48
YOUTH MINISTERS
The Youth Minister's duties were managed by
part-time, university students for many years. Billy Don
Russell, an electrical engineering student from
Dennison, was selected by the elders to serve as the first
youth minister. Don served the church for 4 years while
earning bachelor's and master's degrees. When he
moved to the University of Oklahoma to pursue
doctoral studies he was replaced by Gary Vannoy. Larry
Phillips was employed following his graduation in 1976
as the first full time youth worker.
A list of those who have served as Youth Ministers
follows.
49
YOUTH MINISTERS
1967 - 1970: B. Don Russell
1971- 1975: Gary Vannoy
1975 - 1976: La Phillips
1977 - 1988: Mark Phillips
1988 - Gary Cochran
50
ELDERS
The direction of the congregation was coordinated by
Bro. Sweet during his 11 years as the church's minister.
In 1948 men and women of the congregation met on a
Sunday afternoon to nominate the church's first elders.
The members wrote their choices on cards which were
tallied by a committee of men. The three bishops so
selected were C.H. Bernard, W.M. Dowell and W.E.
Street. The alphabetical list overleaf includes all the
men who were designed as elder in the existent church
directories. Men who also served as a deacon are
marked with an asterisk.
51
ELDERS: A&M CHURCH OF CHRIST
thru 1987
Allen, Sidney*
Bay, Wallace W.
Bernard, C.H.
Blakeley, J.B.*
Buffington, Jesse L.
Dowell, W.M.
Keese, Wayne*
McGuire, J.G.
Morgan, Page W.*
Mullinix, Bob M.
Path, Bill*
Potts, Bill M.*
Sorenson, Romey W.
Street, W.E.
Thomas, Bill*
Wade, James*
Walker, Robert L.
Wythe, L. Douglas*
* also served as a deacon
52
DEACONS
The first to serve tables at the A&M Church were
appointed about 1948. No official record of deacon
appointments can be found. The alphabetical list
overleaf includes every man who has served as a deacon,
according to the memories of long time members.
Every listing is authenticated by a church directory
indicating deacons of the time. Men who also served as
an elder are marked with an asterisk.
NOTE: This list includes the names of some men chosen to
be a deacon during the summer of 1988. While the scope
of this history generally ends with 1987, it seemed obvious
to include these names in this record of tlae church while
the facts were readily available...
53
DEACONS: 1948 - 1988
Adams, Garry
Alexander Jerry
Allen, Si~ney*
Anderson, Charles
Baker, DeWitt
Barron, John
Beasley, Wallace D.
Bennett, Roy
Bernard, Bernie B.
Bernard, Virgil
Bevans, Jim
Bingham, Melvin
Blakeley, J.B.*
Brewer, Jerry
Brooks, Jim
Brown, Tim
Buffington, Jesse L.'
Burson, Byron
Carson, Dee
Clabor~ Larry
Don
Green Reed
Greenawalt, Charles
Gunter, Bob
Heffin~ton, Warren
Hencd~erson Buck
Hogan, I~enry
Hogan, Jerry
Holt, Ethan C.
Holt Mike
Hott,'Wilfred
Hottel Bruce
Jensen, >~ rnest R.
Keese, Wayne*
Landis, Carl W.
Laudermilk Curtis
Mann, )fob
Martin, Ken
McCaleb, Gary
McCrady, James D.
McDonald, Don
McGuire, J.G.*
McLarey, Don
* also served as elder
54
McNeil NA.
Morggan, gage W.*
Mu1Tnix, Bob M.*
Newhouse, Ron
Odle, Louis
Path Bill*
Potts; Bill M.*
Pruitt, Cled
Russell, B. Don
Schneider, Steve
Simmons, Joe
Skow, Loren
Smith, Ryan
Smith, Sherrel
Smith, Steve
Sorenson, Romey W.*
Sprott, Bill
Stallings Gene
Steyn, P~iillip
Sutphen, Gene
Sweeney, Don
Tefertiller, K R.
Thomas, Bill*
Wade James*
Walker Robert L.*
Wallace, John
Ward Don
Webb, earl
Wilkinson Dan
Wilson, ~.arry
Womack Tim
Wythe L. Doug'las*
young, Terry
* also served as elder
55
CHURCH
ARCHITECTS
Ernest Langford/College Station:
Auditorium and residence at 301
College Main (1934).
Jack Nusbaum/Oklahoma City:
Auditorium and multipurpose building at 1001 West Loop
South (1972).
M.O. Lawrence Jr./Bryan:
'A" (Adult) and Aggie Wing at 1001 West Loop South
(1977).
56
CONTRIBUTIONS: 1935 - 1987
1935 $ 82.58
1936 360.82
1937 458.40
1938 509.43
1939 766.56
1940 1039.81
1941 2024.68
1942 1950.79
1943 3520.38
1944 4126.70
1945 4019.66
1946 6600.55
1947 9078.60
1948 10038.36
1949 9976.19
1950 10751.44
1951 9659.77
1952 10163.36
1953 11647.92
1954 14132.70
1955 18325.16
1956 25484.71
1957 29410.47
1958 31178.69
1959-1975 not available
1976 170142.11
1977 223750.96
1978 237607.83
1979 264233.30
1980 306972.71
1981 386688.22
1982 369819.41
1983 554138.89
1984 525959.56
1985 581160.02
1986 564145.80
1987 569410.01
57
ATTENDANCE: 1977 - 1987
1977 738
1978 726
1979 697
1980 731
1981 774
1982 878
1983 855
1984 899
1985 887
1986 841
1987 827
Average: 805
-------------------
58
BAPTISMS: 1977 - 1987
1977 54
1978 94
1979 84
1980 37
1981 30
1982 54
1983 38
1984 43
1985 39
1986 24
1987 25
-----------------
Average: 47
-----------------
59