Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ Beginnings...

• Our History

  1924:  The first Black Church of Christ known as the Tenth and Van Buren Church of Christ is established. Brother K. C. Thomas, Sr. is the minister. Brother Thomas and the brethren had a vision to establish a church.
  
  

  1931:  Brother K. C. Thomas, Sr. went to work and help the North Dallas congregation and became it's minister. Sister Edna Baccus and Lillian Cartwright were among the first members still working to keepthe church alive. Sometimes there was no heat in the building and when it rained, they would move around to the dry spots in order to worship. In spite of the hardships, the congregation was determined to stay together. Under the leadership of Brother K. C. Thomas Sr., the church was revived and began to grow.
  
  1938:  Brother Thomas health began to fail. He was followed by Brother Robert Crawford in the ministerial capacity for a short time.
  
  

  1941:  The U. S. Government bought the property, on which the church was located, to build homes for low-income families. Several brothers went to South Dallas to find a new location for the church. They were BrothersW. R. Houston, J. H. Starks, Sampson Wiley, Luther Willis, Aaron Johnson, Muriel Johnson, Johnson McGilbra, German McGilbra and Brother Clayton. They wrote to Brother Marshall Keeble and asked him to send a minister. Brother Keeble sent Brother H. H. Gray.
  
  

  Under the leadership of Brother Gray, the brethren purchased the property and a small shotgun house at 2433 Macon Street in South Dallas. The Church became known as the Macon Street Church of Christ. During this period the Skillman Avenue Church of Christ, provided assistance to the congregation. In 1943 the little shotgun house was moved to Marder Street. Later, bricks were installed around the outside of the house to give it a better appearance.
  
  

  Mid 1940's:  The original church building was added onto the little shot gun house on a V-shaped lot and became the Lawrence and Marder Church of Christ. At the end of Brother Gray's ministry, he was followed byBrothers Earl Dulan and A. C. Christman. Brother Levi Kennedy of Chicago, Illinois came and helped for a short time until Brother G. E. Steward could arrive from Detroit, Michigan.
  
  

  January 1, 1955:  Brother G. C. Washington became minister of the Lawrence and Marder Church of Christ. 1956 Classrooms and a kitchen facility were added to the building. 1959 A new auditorium was added to the building.
  
  

  1963:  During Homecoming Services, Brother J. S. Winston ordained four elders. They were Brothers Willie J. Hooper Sr., Miller Jones, Johnson McGilbra and S. W. Washington. Two Deacons were ordained. They were Brothers James Masters, Sr. and Mark Stribling.
  
  

  March 31, 1974:  The congregation acquired a new facility and moved to its present location at 2431 South Marsalis Avenue. The church became known as the Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ.
  
  

  Many Years Later Under the leadership of Brother G. C. Washington, three more Elders were! ordained. They were Brothers E. D. Wyrick, Harold Cannon and Jewel Manzay. The seven Deacons ordained were:  Brothers Johnny Moore, Jacob Polk, Aaron Loftis, Randolph Davis, Willie H. Jackson, Winfred George and Richard Thomas. December 31, 1995 Brother G. C. Washington retired.
  
  

  Dr. E. D. Seamster Jr. replaced him as minister on January 1, 1996 and served as minister until June 1999. November 1, 2000 Brother David M. Starks, Assistant Minister at the Spencer Church of Christ (Spencer, Oklahoma), became minister to the Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ, until February 2003.
  
  December 28, 2003:  Dr. David L. Lane, Minister of the Berkely Heights Church of Christ, St. Louis Missouri, became full-time minister to the Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ.