Central Christian Church Beginnings

On September 6, 1869 a group of Christian friends joined together to be in prayer at the home of H. W. Lewis in Lima, Ohio.  These people had been part of a fairly new Christian movement born in western Pennsylvania, northern Virginia and middle Kentucky.  They believed first in the good news of God’s love that was given to the world in Jesus Christ.  They took seriously the supremacy of scripture in their life and witness, as individuals and in church life in general.  They believed that the church of Jesus Christ really should be one and only one church.  They believed in the ideals of this new nation – self-government, freedom, individual liberty.  They also believed in individual responsibility.

This prayer meeting led to the invitation of Reverend Wright T. Moore of Central Christian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio to come preach a series of four sermons.  These four meetings led to the organization of Central Christian Church of Christ on December 2, 1869.  The organizational charter proclaimed: “We further agree in everything pertaining to the church relationship we will be governed by the teachings of the word of God.”

Over the years Central Christian has been a vital witness to the community of Lima, Ohio and the world.  In 1897 a group of members proposed to begin a mission in the southern part of Lima and asked the mother church’s blessing.  Receiving the church’s blessing, that group began South Side Christian Church which still continues to serve the Lima community as well.