Our Beginning (1920 – 1961)
In 1920 G. P. Bowser, while serving as a Missionary at the Burnett Avenue Church of Christ, the first Black Congregation of the Churches of Christ in Louisville, erected a tent on a vacant lot next to 1415 West Liberty Street, and the entire Fourth Christian Church obeyed the gospel. This established the Liberty Street Church of Christ at 1415 West Liberty Street.
In 1928 the congregation bought a large house located at 1419 West Liberty Street. The church worshipped in this building with Brother Bowser still teaching and working with the congregation. It was here that Brother Bowser worked and began developing the vision for Southwestern Christian College. He also published the Christian Echo, the only National Newsletter among Black Congregations of the Churches of Christ.
When Brother Bowser left our area, there were several faithful men who filled the pulpit, taught bible classes and advised the congregation in their business affairs until the Church grew and ordained elders and selected a preacher to carry on the work. The men who filled the pulpit were Brothers James Caviness, Richard Debow, Sam Elby, Dewitt English, John Hamilton, Marion Holt and R N Hogan. Brother Levi Kennedy served as senior advisor to the Congregation and Brothers Joseph Collins, Ben Carbin and Clay Elmore were the early financial advisors during this period.
The Liberty Street Church of Christ moved to 1430 Cedar Street on June 1, 1943. Thus began the Cedar Street Church of Christ. On the recommendation of Brother Levi Kennedy, acting as senior advisor, the congregation chose Brother Earl Dulan of Guthrie, Oklahoma for its minister. In February 1951, Brother John Frank McGill was appointed Minister.
Welcome to Midwest (1962 – 1984)
In 1962 the church purchased the building at 2115 Garland Avenue and became known as Midwest Church of Christ.
- In 1975 Brothers J Frank McGill, Lindsey Fitzpatrick and C. H. Williams were ordained as Elders and Midwest was now led once again by Biblical Order. The “Midwest Vision’’ began. Under their guidance the congregation purchased three houses on lots adjacent to the church building. The Congregation entered into a bond program, began and completed the addition of the Educational Wing and the remodeling and renovating program of our existing building.
- In 1978 the Elders ordained three men to serve as Deacons: Brothers Benny LaRue, Jerry L Stephenson, and Joe H Stephenson.
- In 1980 Brother McGill trained several young men to preach the Word of God and Brothers Benny LaRue and Jerry L Stephenson were ordained as Ministers by the Elders.
Bro. McGill was well known throughout the brotherhood and the Louisville community, serving as our beloved minister for 33 years. Before God called Brother McGill home to glory, he and the other Elders, Lindsey Fitzpatrick and Claude Williams asked God for guidance to call the right person to help take Midwest into the future. After much prayer they asked Brother Ben Foster from Southwestern Christian College to confirm their choice of Brother Jerry L. Stephenson, one of the Associate Ministers and Deacons, to continue the Midwest Vision.
A New Age, Family Life and Development Ministry (1985 – 2019)
In 1985 this visionary and energetic young man became Minister of the Midwest Church of Christ. Brother Jerry L. Stephenson began to serve and work with the Elders and the congregation continued to move forward. Faithful men were ordained as deacons: Rucell Cobb, Dwayne Wise, James Frazier, and Dan Davies.
- In 1988 the leadership encouraged the Congregation to “Launch the Family Life and Development Center” in the basement of our main building. Brother Wesley Keys led faithful brothers to renovate classrooms into a Counseling Center.
- In 1994 the congregation under the leadership of Brother Fitzpatrick helped guide the Business Committee to pay off two years ahead of the Bond program for our Education Wing and Sanctuary Renovation, leaving the Church debt free.
- In 1997 the Lord called Brother Lindsey Fitzpatrick home and left a large hole of emptiness within the Congregation leaving Brother C H Williams with the load of guiding the church until three other men were ordained in 1998. Brothers Rucell Cobb, Jerry L Stephenson, and Joe H Stephenson joined Brothers as Elders.
- In 2000 Brother Stephenson was invited by Brother Richard Rose to speak at the National Jail and Prison Workshop on Building Community Relationship. From this engagement, the Jail and Prison Ministry started at Midwest.
- In 2001 the Jail and Prison Ministry grew with the help of serval congregations of the Churches of Christ to include Westport Road, Okolona, Middletown and Cedar Springs. These churches helped renovate one of the houses and the Home of New Beginnings was birthed. It was established as a Transition Home for Men released from jail and prison.
- In 2005 The Newlife Behavior Ministry requested that Brother Stephenson serve as the Regional Director for Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
- Plans began to develop “The Family Life and Development Center” bringing a commitment to strengthening families and Reaching Out To A Culture In Pain. The Center was completed in 2003.
- Midwest has as one of its motto’s “We Are An Inner-City Ministry With A Worldwide Vision, Reaching Out To A Culture In Pain.” We reach out through Ministries which include: Regional Jail and Prison Ministry, Food and Clothing Ministry, Inner City Summer Day Camp, Free Summer Lunch Program, Family Visitation Center, Morning Meditation with God Radio Ministry and Health and Wellness Fair.
In 2016 the Congregation reached another great leap of faith into our future. In May, the Cane Run church of Christ united with Midwest. We welcomed the members of Cane Run and Brother Kenneth Burns, their minister who also established the Cane Run Congregation, joined the ministerial staff of Midwest as Minister of Restoration and Education Development.
In 2019 with the paying off of the Family Life and Development Center, the Congregation made major renovations to the main building. The repairs and painting of the sanctuary along with a complete upgrade of the restrooms was an enhancement to our facility.
The Beginning of the Next 100 years (2020 – present)
The Year 2020 began with such great promise and expectation. Brother John “Pooh” Malone Jr. came on board to work with, develop, and grow our youth, their parents and families. Yet, 2020 presented one of the congregation’s greatest challenges with the COVID-19 Virus. When the Government declared that Church attendance was not essential, the Leadership of Midwest refused to use the words, “the Midwest church of Christ is Closed.” Under the leadership of Brother Wayne Shemwell, Minister of Technology and Media, Midwest thrived using Facebook Live and YouTube to keep members engaged and draw nonmembers to Christ.
The leadership grew in 2020, Brother Robert L. Jordan was ordained as elder. Brothers Tony Burton, Richard Curry, Tony Curry, Dwyanne McGill and Gary Simonton were ordained as Deacons.
One concept that has been reinforced repeatedly is that as baptized believers, we are not perfect people but instead recipients of the transformative power of Christ’s blood. As a result of that appreciation of redemption, members such as Onda Baker and Wayne Shemwell saw a need to begin a weekly CASA (Christians Against Substance Abuse) chapter here at Midwest. Through these efforts, many lives have been changed and souls have been baptized into Christ.
In 2022 Midwest found it necessary to grow our leadership team by bringing in Justin Blue as our Youth Engagement Coordinator. He, his wife Tiara, and their son Zyair relocated to Louisville in June to bring concentrated focus to the spiritual growth of our school age children. That year we opened the Village Learning Academy at Midwest, a childcare center designed to impart Jesus at the center of knowledge. We began with only five children, but after extensive renovations to our lower level we look to increase capacity to twenty-two children in 2024.
In addition, we purchased the corner lot at 22nd and Garland Streets to secure future expansion of the Village Learning Academy at Midwest. The building has changed hands a number of times and had multiple purposes. In order to maintain the integrity of our neighborhood, we decided to purchase the building. Subsequently, the building was demolished and there is currently a new green space in our neighborhood.
In June of 2023 we celebrated with Dr. Jerry L. Stephenson as he retired as Senior Minister after thirty-eight years of service. His work is far from over as he will continue to shepherd the Midwest family and support varying ministries. On November 5th, 2023 we officially installed John ”Pooh” Malone as minister to the Midwest congregation. For over a century God has used this body of believers in Louisville to make world-wide impact. We are confident that He will continue you to fulfill His purpose through us going forward.