Community Church of God, 710 Sanderson Ave., Campbell, celebrates its 100th anniversary this weekend

Community Church of God, 710 Sanderson Ave., Campbell, celebrates its 100th anniversary this weekend on “centennial Sunday.” Rev. Gary Rozier, interim pastor, will speak at 11 a.m. A fellowship dinner will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Elm Tree in Struthers. At 5 p.m., the Rev. Kenneth Simon, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Youngstown, will speak and the church choir will sing.

The beginning: The Church of God began in Youngstown in 1916 under leader Blackburn of Sharon, Pa., who was with The Brothers and Sisters of Love, then affiliated with the Church of God in Anderson, Ind. In its pioneer stage, leaders were Elders Jeter, Simmons, P. Wimbush and Turner. The church was on West Federal Street and Chicago Avenue in Youngstown, then the congregation bought a church building at 712 Arlington Ave., Youngstown.

1930s-1950s: In May 1938, the Rev. Samuel Adair was called to pastor. The mortgage of the church and parsonage was paid off. The congregation grew; another building was bought at 537 Arlington St., where the church did remodeling and repairs. The Rev. Mr. Adair retired in June 1959. In November 1959, Campbell and Struthers COG congregations merged the ministries of Elders A.A. Eddings and G. Harper with the Youngstown congregation.

1960s-1990s: Rev. J.J. Jefferson served 1960-63. In June 1963, the Rev. Charles Heard was named pastor. The church bought a building at 1339 Himrod Ave., Youngstown, and took the name Himrod Church of God. He resigned in 1970. In June 1971, the Rev. Frank Matthews was named pastor, serving until 1977. The church installed a baptismal font and began a van ministry. The Rev. Mr. Matthews resigned to become executive secretary at the National Association of the Church of God in West Middlesex, Pa. The Rev. Elestine Corbin was named pastor in 1978; she served until her death in 1989. The church bought a new van and remodeled the sanctuary. The Rev. Catherine Rexford, assistant pastor, was installed as pastor in 1990.

2000s: After worshipping for 39 years and six months at the Himrod Church of God, the congregation moved to its current location because a tornado in 2003 caused a large pine tree to puncture the church roof and severely damage the sanctuary. Dec. 7, 2003, was the date of the official move and name change to Community Church of God. The Rev. Ms. Rexford served until she retired in 2007. The church was able to buy the building on Sanderson Avenue and a residence as a parsonage. A baby grand piano was bought. The Rev. Eric U. Brown Sr. was pastor. The church bought an organ, blacktopped the parking lot and updated the sound system. When he served the U.S. in Afghanistan; the Rev. Catherine Lockhart was pastor from 2007-08. In 2009, Pastor Brown returned and stayed until 2012 when he accepted the senior pastorate at York Avenue Church of God in Warren. In 2013, the Rev. Lawrence Thomas Jr. became pastor. The church improved the landscaping, bought new chairs for the sanctuary and had a clothing drive. He left in 2015 when the Rev. Gary Rozier began serving.

Church structure: Clarence White, finance committee chairman, and Marlie Byrd, treasurer; White, trustee board chairman, and Ronald Perry, vice chairman, and Byrd, Derrick Cathey and Donna Turner; Loretta White, Sharon Perry and Rhonda Burt, deaconesses; Ronald Tomlin, men’s organization; Kisha Cathey, Women’s Connection; Derrick and Kisha Cathey, youth ministry; Rosie Hall and S. Perry, social fellowship committee; Michele Alston, president, and White, vice president, usher board; Byrd, S. Perry and K. Cathey, decorating committee; Michael Jennings, David Alston, Turner, S. Perry and Burt; Byrd, music committee; R. Perry, Sunday school superintendent; Byrd, Christian educaton board chairperson; and K. Cathey, church secretary.

Source: Church records