First Christian Church - Paradise

(across from Stratton’s Market) to organize a church. Church services, meetings, dinners, etc. were held there for some time. Earliest services consisted of hymn singing, communion, and prayer. On June 18, 1961 services began in the Community Hall at the corner of Clark and Elliott with 15 people present. The church was know as Clark Road Chistian Church. February 25, 1962 was commitment Sunday. By then a few had dropped out and a few had been added, making 16 charter members. In 1963 the name of the church was changed to First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In April of 1964 the congregation moved to the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Also in 1964 this Pentz Rd. property was purchased. On September 25, 1966 the congregation moved to the Church of the Brethren. Teachers and youth leaders came from both churches and building operating expenses were divided equally. This happy relationship lasted 2 1/2 years. Ground-breaking services were held here on September 15, 1968, and first services were held in the original church building on February 16, 1969. The church was incorporated on January 22, 1969. Between November 1984 and April 1985 the men of the church enlarged the church building, doubling the size of the kitchen and adding the C.W.F. room (which is now our “Pantry”). Ground-breaking ceremonies were held on September 15, 1985 for our new sanctuary and other rooms which volunteers from our congregation helped our builder and crew to build, providing more than 5,000 hours of volunteer construction time. On May 11, 1986 the first services were conducted in the new santuary, with a dedication service the following Sunday. The original property was 2 1/2 acres, and the 1/2 acre corner property on Pentz & Feather River Place was purchased in 1987. Thus ended the first 25 years.