East Englewood Church of Christ 3.26

On September 17, 1989; a small group of nineteen Christians, including six children from the South Venice Christian Church met a the home of Emily Scheffler in Englewood, Florida and organized a new church for East Englewood. At that meeting the group held Sunday School and worship service. Songs, prayers and meditation along with the Lord's Supper followed lessons.

The name Church of Christ Englewood East was selected for the new church. Plans were made for further meetings and a search began for a place to meet.

Martha and Gary Kelly opened their home for Sunday night services and other families invited the group for Wednesday night prayer and Bible study. Jim Ratliff led the Wednesday Bible Study.

After about a week Pro Realty offered the use of their building for services. October 8, 1989, a contract was signed with Charlotte County to meet in the cafeteria of L.A. Ainger School for Sunday morning services. Evening and weekly services were held in members' homes. Music was always a special feature of the church with Betty Buck and Eunice Price on the Piano/organ accompanying the congregational singing. Gary Kelly and Jim Ratliff alternated as preachers for the group.

Within the first six months a leadership committee was selected. On Sunday, November 12, 1989, forty- one members signed a charter and formed the nucleus of the church. The charter was left open for several months.

Plans were formulated to buy ground on which to build a new church. A deposit was made on the site at 9600 Gulfstream Blvd, East Englewood January 16, 1990. members bought the property. From September, 1990 till September 1995, the church members held Sunday Service in the Landmark Building on the Access Road, East Englewood and weekly meetings continued in members homes.

February, 1995 construction began on the new church building. The project was financed through the Church Development Fund of Florida. Architect, Osborn Sharpe Associates, contractor Lester Kaufman. The new building was completed in September 1995 and first services were held on Sunday September 24, 1995.

East Englewood Church of Christ building was dedicated on January 14, 1996, with E.W. Damron, retired minister of the Coal Run Church of Christ, Kentucky presenting the dedication address. Music was supplied by Dorman Winger and wife Carolyn. Ladies of the church served refreshment following dedication with 126 people attending.

Jim Ratliff has served the congregation of the East Englewood Church of Christ as teacher and evangelist since it was first established in 1989. A native of Pike County, Kentucky, Jim was born in 1936, in Pikeville, he lived and attended school there until the age of sixteen (16) he left home and joined the United States Marine Corp. Later joining the U. S. Navy where he rose to the rank of RM6. Jim received his discharge in July 1958, returning to Kentucky in 1961 where he met and married his wife Carolyn. They have a son Jimmy and a daughter Suzanne.

Jim, Carolyn and family moved to East Englewood in 1990 where they began serving The Lord at the South Venice Christian Church, Venice Florida. where Jim served as Elder, taught Adult Sunday School and Wednesday Evening Bible Study before beginning the East Englewood Church of Christ.

The East Englewood Church of Christ is a local autonomous church without any ecclesiastical ties or denominational Headquarters. Members remain simply undenominational, non-sectarian body of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. They wear the God-given name, Christian (Acts 11:26) and are striving to pattern the church as revealed in the New Testament.

They have no creed but Christ, follow no book but The Bible and desire to unite all believers in Christ according to His Prayer in John 17

In matters of faith, members must have unity in matters of opinion, liberty and in all things, love. They believe in the God-given plan of salvation as recorded in the Word of God:

Hearing the gospel of Christ-Romans 10:17

Believing the gospel of Christ- Acts 16:31

Repenting of our sins - Acts 2:38, 17:30

Confessing of our faith in Christ - Romans 10

Being baptized (through immersion) into Christ for the remission of our sins - Acts 2:38, 22:16

Remaining faithful to Christ - II Cor. 5:17, Rev 2:10

In obedience to the commands of Christ and the example of the early church, members meet upon the first day of the week for the Lord's Supper, preaching, fellowship and prayer. They believe in every member being a good steward of that with which God has blessed him, and they believe in the task of world-wide evangelism.

It is the church's desire to be a group of people that, in both word and deed, exemplify and show forth to our community and the word, the joy and fulfillment that is found in the Lord Jesus Christ, both here and thereafter.

IMPORTANT MILE STONES:

Year 1989- November 12, East Englewood Church of Christ Charter signed with 41 members

Year 1990 - Land purchased to build church building.

Year 1995 - February construction started. September building finished. September 24th first service in building.

Year 1996 - January 14th East Englewood Church of Christ building dedicated with 126 attending.

Year 2??? - double wide modular set on property at back of church as class space for youth.

Year 2007- (December) Mortgage Burning.

Year 2009- (February) Handfuls of Purpose Food Pantry held first Distribution of food. -(November) Clothes for the Needy held first distribution.

Year 2010- (January) Held 20 year Anniversary Celebration - (March) Architectural drawings for building expansion ordered.

Feb. 2016 Our Evangelist Jim Ratliff went home to be with Our Lord Jesus Christ. A Steering committee was put into place to search for a New Minister.

June 2016 Jim Chandler from Pebbles Church of Christ and applied for Pastor and has now been Hired.