A Turning Aside: Cultivating Spiritual Life

A retreat hosted by First Christian Church on Saturday May 26, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

There is a hunger for spirituality in our day. Many are wondering how to find just the right food to satisfy their hunger and are over whelmed by all the choices.

Click here for flyer and registration.

Welcome to First Christian Church

From Easter to Pentecost we use communion vessels from 1891!

This historic Church is emerging in many ways

Join the journey!

Sign up by Email  for the Spiritual Retreat on May 26

Welcome Disciples Men

Meets at 8 a.m. every Friday to share breakfast.

Meet at Church.  Go to Breakfast. 
Enjoy One Another.

Remember, the board of church leaders made it official -- Disciples Men plan and do what they want to do. 

Go Guys Go!
Do What Guys Need to Do for Spiritual Well Being!

New Lent and Easter Photo Galleries Added

Click here to see the new photo gallaeries recently added to the website.

What Kind of Church is First Christian?

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) traces its roots to the Cane Ridge Revival of 1801.

Barton W. Stone was a Presbyterian pastor in Cane Ridge, Kentucky where a meeting for spiritual renewal was held. Stone observed the joyful cooperation of churches, pastors and Christians of many different denominations at the Cane Ridge Revival. He knew the same renewal was happening across the county. Out of the experiences of those meetings the Christian Church movement with a vision for the unity of all Christians was born.

A few years later in West Virginia, two other Presbyterian pastors, father and son, Thomas and Alexander Campbell, also had a vision for the unity of the church. Thomas wrote "that the church is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one." By 1830 this movement was known as the Disciples of Christ.

In 1832, these movements joined together and eventually became known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). They were one of the few church groups that did not divide during the Civil War. After the war, a 40 year debate over the nature of the movement that came to be symbolized by the use of instrumental music in worship led to a separation from the Churches of Christ. And in 1926 another group left because they did not want to participate in cooperative missionary organizations. They became known as Independent Christian Churches.

Guided by the vision of the unity of all Christians, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) increased its ecumenical involvement. In 1968 they adopted the Design that defined the mission and structure of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) we know today. 

THE LOCAL STORY

FIrst Christian Church in Beeville has its own personality. The railroad arrived in Bee County bringing families from churches called Christian, Disciple, the Body of Christ and the Church of Christ. They gathered in the Bee County Court House every Sunday of 1885 for worship. On August 9, 1891, twenty women and fourteen men chartered this church. They came from North Texas, Kentucky, Missouri and nearby surrounding counties.

In October they called a minister, ReverendT. D. Secrest, an evangelist from the Texas Christian Missionary Society. In only one yearthe church was able to raise funds and begin erecting a church building. That building is the sanctuary portion of the church today. 

Before the first Sunday Worship service the church purchased one treasurer's book, one can of oil, tw bottles of wine, four lamps, a church register, and 18 song books.  From that day to this there has never been a time when the doors hve not been opened on the first day of the weekfor Bible School and Communion at the Lord's Table.  

A Closer Look

From the beginning not much has changed about the personality of this church. Men and women shared leadership and care of the church then and now.  Lay Leaders and the Minister lead worship together every Sunday.  The ministers is called to be an Elder alongside the other Elders of the Church as together they practice our belief in the "priesthood of all believers."

The early church leaders stayed in touch with Missionary Societies, attended Conventions nearby and far away. Some went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1909 for the 100th Anniversary of the Disciples of Christ in America. Today the church stays connected to the Assemblies of our Area and Region. Some attended a Quadrennial of Disciples Women. Some always find a way to the General Assembly in odd numbered years. The 2011 General Assembly will be July 9-13, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn., at the Bridgestone Arena. This church stays connected to the whole church.

Communion at the Lord's Table continues to be the center of Sunday Worship. Our Worship service is led by a Lay Leader and the Lord's Table is served by Elders and Deacons, both men and women. Young members learn to serve the church by receiving the morning tithes and offerings. They have an important place as visitor hosts to families with children. We welcome new members from many faith traditions and respect the Baptism they experienced in those traditions. It is our privilege to be witnesses to the Confession of Faith of new Christians and their Baptism by immersion. The whole church is dedicated to the ministry of hospitality and sanctuary - making this a place of healing and safety.

Back to the Future

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) stands in the long line of Christian Churches who like to say:

We are Christians only but not the only Christians.
Unity is Our Polar Star
The Church of Jesus Christ is One.

There is much more to tell and you can learn who we are by spending time with us on the web. Each time you visit us you will find something new. You may find some pages are not quite complete. That is part of being new. There may even be mistakes and when you find one it would be very helpful if use the contact form to tell us about it.

Click around and get acquainted. We'll look for you to come back soon.