Mentor church of Christ History

The church of which Christ is head was begun in 33 A.D. The promise that Jesus of Nazareth made to establish  it (Matthew 16:18) became a reality after His death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. You can read about the beginning of His church in the book of Acts, chapter two, when about 3,000 became "charter members". The church continued to grow with people becoming part of it every day (Acts 2:47). When persecution arose the  church spread from city to city (Acts 8:4). Those who were Christians arrived in new cities to establish new  congregations, identical to the one in Jerusalem, in new places. The whole world soon knew about that church  (Colossians 1:23).

The Mentor church of Christ began meeting in the Carpenter’s Union Hall on Maple Street in 1957. There were approximately 20 members at that time. The membership was constituted of former members of the

Painesville and Euclid churches of Christ, who left these congregations with their blessing to establish the Lord’s church in Mentor.

Hugh Spurgeon served the congregation as its first minister for the first few months of its existence. He was followed by Elmer (Hoover) Spence, who was to serve the congregation as its minister for the next 16 years.

In October of 1957, a lot was acquired on Burridge Avenue. It was not until 1963, however, that the church would move into the building now located at 7201 Burridge Avenue. The building at that time consisted of the present auditorium and three temporary classrooms. It had been built by members of the congregation, as was the classroom addition, which was completed in 1970.

In 1958, Duffy McKee and Leonard Vertrees were appointed as elders. Don Lewis, Richard Traucht, and Louis Wooley were appointed deacons at the same time. These men would serve the congregation in this capacity, until the death of Bro. Vertrees in 1961.

The congregation was without elders until 1970, when Jack Addison, Loyd Shockey, and Elmer Spence were selected. From that time, Leroy Toothman, Marc Addison, Kennie Hopper, Charles Griffin and Foyster Miller served on behalf of the congregation (between 1995-2003).

At this time (2006), Marc Addison, Kennie Hopper, and Hurley Price serve as shepherds of the flock here, being installed during the fall of 2005 after some two years with no elders. 

In December of 1974, Paul E. Jarrett came to Mentor to serve as the congregation’s first full-time minister. Bro. Spence continued to work with the congregation until January of 1976, when he began working with the Madison Avenue church of Christ in Painesville.  Michael West served as a fulltime minister for some 12 years, until late 2002.

Gary Davenport worked with the congregation for just over 3 1/3 years, beginning in 2004. He left to take a new work in California in September, 2007.

The Mentor congregation grew from 20 members to over 185 in the late 1990’s and over the years have touched many lives for the cause of Christ in this community.

The Story of God’s Saving Love

     God created people to be in a loving relationship with the Father and the Son and the Spirit.  However, sin came into the world and destroyed the loving relationship between the Creator and his creation.  Sin is

mankind’s ultimate disease.  It leads to turmoil and selfishness which distances God’s children from their Father.  This separation from God, sin, is what robs us from real joy and happiness in our lives.  

      Over the centuries, God has done countless acts to bring a lasting joy to his children.   Yet only a perfect gift of love would have the power to wipe out the effects of sin.   Out of his love, God parted with his own son, Jesus, and had him pay the penalty for our sins.  Jesus paid it with the death and sacrifice of his very own flesh and blood.  God asks that we accept his gift and trust him to be the only Lord of our lives.  Then we will have freedom from the effects of sin, and we will live with God forever. 

In Essentials:  Unity

        There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.         Ephesians 4:4-6

In Non-Essentials:  Acceptance

        Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. . . . Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?  To his own master he stands or falls.  And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. . . .  Therefore let us stop passing      judgment on one another. . . . Whatever you   believe about these things keep between yourself and God.  Romans 14:1, 4, 13, 22

In All Things:  Love

        If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  1  Corinthians 13:2-3

         We must always demonstrate love to those who either reject the essential truths of Christianity or whose opinion on non-essential matters differs from ours.  Love is greater than knowledge!

About God 

        God is eternal.  He has always existed.  God created and rules the world and everything in it.  God is the ultimate truth of the universe.  He is the one and only eternal, immortal, and invisible being.  The one God exists in three “personalities:”  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (See Genesis 1:1, Psalm 24:1-2, Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Timothy 1:17) 

About Jesus Christ

        Jesus Christ is the Son of God; the eternal God in human flesh.  In His incarnation, God became human and lived a sinless life on earth.  In His crucifixion and his resurrection from the dead He became our Savior.  In His ascension to glory, He is our Lord.  In His ultimate return, He is our hope. (See John 1:1,14; 6:35; 8:12,23; 8:56-59; 11:25-26; 14:6-9; Colossians 1:13-20; 1 Timothy 6:14-16; Hebrews 1:1-3; Philippians 2:5-11)

About the Holy Spirit

        The Holy Spirit is the “third personality” of the eternal God, equal with the Father and the Son.  He acts in the world to make people aware of their need for God.  He is present in Christians t guide us, to instruct us, to comfort us, to purify us, and to strengthen us for daily living. (See Matthew 28:19; John 16:7-14; Acts 2:38; Romans 8:10-11, 14, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:2; Galatians 5:22)

About People

        People are God’s highest creation, made in God’s own “image.”  The GOOD NEWS is that people share many of God’s own characteristics:  our ability to reason, our knowledge of right and wrong, our creativity, our capacity for love, our desire for meaning and for eternity.  The BAD NEWS is that the image of God in us has been marred by an attitude of disobedience called “sin.”  Every person has two unsolvable problems: (1) a problem with sinning, and (2) a problem with death.  God solved these two problems for us by sending Jesus Christ into the world. (See Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Romans 3:10-23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 2:11-12)

About the Bible

        The Bible is God’s word to people.  It is the result of a divine-human cooperation:  God’s message in

human language.  Because the Bible comes from God, it answers our most important questions with authority:  Who is God?  What is life about?  What is my purpose? (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:105; John 17:17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 24:35)

About Salvation 

        Salvation is God’s free gift.  We cannot earn it!  In Jesus Christ, God solved our two greatest problems.  In His death on the cross God dealt with our sins.  In His resurrection from the grave God dealt with our death.  Salvation is offered freely to anyone who will receive it.  We are saved only by trusting in what God did for us in Jesus Christ and responding in baptism for remission of sins. (See John 3:16; John 14:6; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 1:16; Romans 5:6-9; Romans 6:3-8; Titus 3:5-7)

About the Church 

        The church is God’s family; the people who have been born again through Jesus Christ.  The church is the body — Christ is the head.  The church is the bride — Christ is the groom.  The church is the flock — Christ is the shepherd.  The church represents Christ in the world and seeks to fulfill Jesus’ commission to preach the good news to all the nations.  If you belong to Christ you also belong to His church!  (See Matthew 16:18: Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:21-23; 3:20-21;

5:25-26; 1 Timothy 3:15)

About Hope

        In Jesus Christ, God offers us immortality.  Sin results in death, but in Christ, God gives us eternal life.  Those who receive Christ in this life look forward to bodily resurrection and eternity with God (heaven).  The consequence of rejecting Christ is separation from God (hell). (See John 11:25-26; Matthew 25:31-46; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 50-57; Romans 8:23-25; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Timothy 4:7-8; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

Some Things You Might Want to Know

You Might Want to Know that in Bible times, the church is called:

• The temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16)

• The bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32)

• The body of Christ (Colossians 1:18,24; Ephesians 1:22-23)

• The kingdom of God's son (Colossians 1:13)

• The house of God (1 Timothy 3:15)

• The church of God (1 Corinthians 1:2)

• The church of the first-born (Hebrews 12:23)

• The church of the Lord (Acts 20:28)

• The churches of Christ (Romans 16:16)

You Might Want to Know that the church is:

• Built by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:13-18)

• Purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28)

• Built on Jesus Christ as the only foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11)

• Not built on Peter, Paul, or any other man (1 Corinthians 1:12-13)

• Composed of the saved, who are added to it by the Lord who saves them (Acts 2:47)

You Might Want to Know that members of the church are called:

• Members of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:15; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:4-5)

• Disciples of Christ (Acts 6:1,7; Acts 11:26)

• Believers (Acts 5:14; 2 Corinthians 6:15)

• Saints (Acts 9:13; Romans 1:7; Philippians 1:1)

• Priests (1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6)

• Children of God (Galatians 3:26-27; 1 John 3:1-2)

• Christians (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16)

You Might Want to Know that the local church has:

• Elders (also called bishops and pastors) who oversee and tend the flock (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9;

• Deacons, who serve the church (1 Timothy 3:8-13; Philippians 1:1)

• Evangelists (preachers, ministers) who teach and proclaim the word of God (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 4:13-16;

• Members, who love the Lord and each other (Philippians 2:1-5)

• Autonomy, and is bound to other local churches only by the common faith shared (Jude 3;  Galatians 5:1)

You Might Want to Know that the Lord Jesus Christ:

• Loved the church (Ephesians 5:25)

• Shed his blood for the church (Acts 20:28)

• Established the church (Matthew 16:18)

• Added saved people to the church (Acts 2:47)

• Is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 5:23)

• Will save the church (Acts 2:47; Ephesians 5:23)

You Might Want to Know that man did not:

• Purpose the church (Ephesians 3:10-11)

• Purchase the church (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25)

• Name its members (Isaiah 56:5; Isaiah 62:2; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16)

• Add people to the church (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 12:18)

• Give the church its doctrine (Galatians 1:8-11; 2 John 9-11)

You Might Want to Know, to enter the church, you must:

• Believe in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24; Acts 16:31)

• Repent of your sins (Turn away from your sins) (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 17:30)

• Confess faith in Jesus (Matthew 10:32; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10)

• Be baptized into the saving blood of Jesus Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:48; Acts 22:16)

You Might Want to Know that baptism requires:

• Much water (John 3:23; Acts 10:47)

• Going down into the water (Acts 8:36-38)

• A burial in water (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12)

• A resurrection (Acts 8:39; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12)

• A birth (John 3:3-5; Romans 6:3-6)

• A washing (Acts 22:16; Hebrews 10:22)

You Might Want to Know that by baptism:

• You are saved from sins (Mark 16:16 1 Peter 3:21)

• You have remission of sins (Acts 2:38)

• Sins are washed away by the blood of Christ (Acts 22:16; Hebrews 9:22; Hebrews 10:22; 1 Peter 3:21)

• You enter into the church (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:41,47)

• You enter into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4)

• You put on Christ and become a child of God (Galatians 3:26-27)

• You are born again, a new creature (Romans 6:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

• You walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-6)

• You obey Christ (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)

You Might Want to Know that the faithful church will:

• Worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)

• Meet on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25)

• Pray (James 5:16; Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)

• Sing, making melody with the heart (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)

• Eat the Lord's supper on the first day of the week (Acts 2:42 20:7; Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:20-32)

• Give, liberally and cheerfully (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

You Might Want to Know, that in New Testament times there was:

• One family of God (Ephesians 3:15; 1 Timothy 3:15)

• One kingdom of Christ (Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:13-14)

• One body of Christ (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4)

• One bride of Christ (Romans 7:1-7; Ephesians 5:22-23)

• One church of Christ (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4-6)

You know that the same church today:

• Is guided by the same word (1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

• Contends for the one faith (Jude 3; Ephesians 4:5)

• Pleads for unity of all believers (John 17:20-21; Ephesians 4:4-6)

• Is not a denomination (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Ephesians 4:1-6)

• Is faithful to Christ (Luke 6:46; Revelation 2:10; Mark 8:38)

• Wears the name of Christ (Romans 16:16; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16)

You Might Want to Know that you can be a member of this church:

• By doing what people 1900 years ago (Acts 2:36-47)

• Without being in any denomination (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13)

You Might Want to Know that a child of God:

• Can be lost (1 Corinthians 9:27; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12-19)

• But is given a law of pardon (Acts 8:22; James 5:16)

• Is constantly cleansed by the blood of Christ as he walks in the light of God (1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 1:5-10)

"Some Things You Might Want to Know" is from a tract by Gospel Minutes, P.O. Box 50007, Ft. Worth, TX  76105-0007

To God be all glory and honor!

Gary and Terry Davenport