Local Church Celebrates 75 Years in Plymouth

The Plymouth Church of Christ has come a long way from back when it was first founded in 1938. 

From its humble beginnings in an apartment of two of its members, it moved to several locations within the city and township, and built the building which currently houses the Salvation Army on Main Street. Nowadays, the nondenominational church is located on Sheldon Road and averages 230 people at its services. 

This month, church-goers will celebrate 75 years of worship with a special service and picnic in Heritage Park on Sept. 15. 

The anniversary celebration will be held during the church's annual fall blast off and will welcome back past ministers, elders and church members. 

Kelvin Hoover, Plymouth Church of Christ pulpit minister, said the church is very community oriented and gets involved with events such as the Rake-n-Go, Relay for Life and holds several Red Cross Blood Drives. 

The Plymouth Church of Christ has its own Benevolence Committee which selects families to help out during the holidays. Last year the church supplied 175 turkeys and food baskets to families for Thanksgiving and more than 200 hams and food baskets for Christmas. 

"One of the things that's unique about Plymouth is the amount of benevolent work and community outreach," Hoover said. "That's sometimes hard to develop in churches, and Plymouth has been strong in that. I think that's really a great value that they've shown. All churches are different, some are stronger in some areas than others. But that's an area Plymouth has been very strong in.

In addition, the church also keeps a record of visitors and reaches out to them to see how they are after their initial visit, according to Outreach Minister Al Meakes.

"It's something unique," Meakes said. "Either by letter or by phone. It can be people who are new to the community, those who just come to church one day, or even those visiting from other countries."

"Certainly we want to help people with their spiritual needs, but there are physical needs to be met as well," Hoover added. "If people come, they should feel loved and cared for and in fact, that is the theme for this 75th Anniversary - a place to belong. We want this to be a place to belong. We're really trying to promote that in our people. Make sure they show the love of Christ to those people that come. It might not be somebody that looks like me - but this is a place for everybody."

The Plymouth Township Board of Trustees acknowledged the church's 75 years in the community with a proclamation on Aug. 20. Along with Hoover, 85-year-old Carl Stamper was there to accept the honor. 

Stamper has been a member of the church for the past 65 years, although, he admits it was off and on in his younger days. 

"I was raised in that church in Kentucky," Stamper said. "When I came here, I started going some, then I'd drop off, then go back. Then when I got married, my wife and little boy started going and I followed right along with them."

Stamper said he is most proud of the leadership the church offers, including outreach and youth ministers as well as a pulpit minister. 

"We've known Kelvin for the past 27 years," Stamper said. "He's just great."

Refreshments will be served at the Plymouth Church of Christ on Sept. 15 at 9:30 a.m. Worship will begin at 10:30 a.m. The picnic at Heritage park will follow. For more information, visit the church online at pchurchofchrist.com.