The small group of people who helped found Christ Central found itself worshiping in four different locations during the first four months of the church’s existence. Twelve acres of choice property on Texas Highway FM16 was soon purchased, and a first-phase building seating 400 was erected within 10 months. Pastor Dill and the Christ Central people believe that minis- tering back to the community is the way to reach the hearts of the unchurched. Early in its existence, the church developed a relationship with the Smith County Food Bank, committing to help keep the food bank supplied and to assist with the feeding of underprivileged children on a weekly basis. The church also initiated a “Fill the Bank Week,” which blanketed Smith County with appeals for the needy. To underwrite this, a Nativity drive- through was established at Christmas. With the high visibility of the church location, more than 2,000 drive through each year on a designated night. There is no fee for coming to the Nativ- ity scene, but each visitor is asked to drop off a food donation before entering.
Christ Central operates with the philosophy that one can- not merely build a building and hope that people will come. This missional ministry reaches out to the community through billboards, radio, TV advertising, newspaper, and door-to-door handouts. Classes are provided for people in the community who are struggling with specific issues. For instance, a support group has been developed recently for persons who have strug- gled with abortion issues.
Pastor Dill and the Christ Central people believe the future of the church is in its youth. Only three years old, R.A.G.E. (Reach- ing After Godly Encounters), the Christ Central youth group, which numbers around 75 teenagers, is the largest church youth group in Lindale. The congregation’s total midweek attendance is around 150, and between 250 and 300 attend morning wor- ship each week at Christ Central.
Pastor James Dill’s ministry has always been characterized by the theme, “Find a need and meet it!” That missional philosophy has led to tremendous success for this young church plant in east Texas.
ROSE HEIGHTS DEDICATES COMMUNITY LIFE CENTER
“For over 65 years,” says Lead Pastor Doug Anderson, “Rose Heights has been reaching out to the people of Tyler.” The stated mission of the church is to reach its community through dis- cipleship, outreach, fellowship, evangelism, and worship. Nestled in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood off Old Omen Road, Rose Heights Church of God has always seen itself as a member of the community. Established in 1945, when five families met in a storefront building with district overseer C. H. Mason, the church soon purchased property and built its first church building and parsonage under the leadership of Pastor G. H. Alford. Locations on Church Street and Southeast Loop were home to the congregation prior to its present site. Pastor Anderson insists that the recent dedication of their new 44,000-square-foot Community Life Center is a continuation
12 EVANGEL • JULY 2010
of the mission of the congregation, and of the vision of its origi- nal founders.
Several years ago, the congregation began studying ways of reaching deeper into the community and on a much larger scale. Church members dreamed of a facility that would serve the sur- rounding neighborhood and the Tyler community while staying true to the Rose Heights mission. “The idea,” says Pastor Anderson,
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