LIBERTY CHURCH OF CHRIST

Sometime late in the 1800’s a group of people met to worship God as best that they knew how. This was the result of two men who had gone to Texas and there heard the Truth of God and were converted. John Henry Shook and Jack Moody had become members of the body of Christ. John Henry Shook returned first and began to tell others of this new found freedom. Later he was joined in this effort by Jack Moody.

In the year 1889, T. B. Lindsey provided the land for a building to be built. With this new freedom in Christ and the interest in the community, a number of people came together and built the building. The question came up about the name, seeing that all had helped to put the building up, and all were seeking heaven, the name liberty was selected to indicate that all could have liberty in Christ. At this time a man’s word was good as his signature, and so the deed shows the feelings of the early congregation by providing Liberty in the use of the property. This was further indicated by the various groups who met there for singings and other occasions. This building had a dirt floor and the windows were left open during services. This was so men could chew tobacco and spit while the preacher spoke. Traveling to worship was not always easy, since most had to either walk or ride in a mule wagon. When they arrived at worship services the men and women had to sit on opposite sides of the building. Baptisms had to be done in Bear Creek or by damming up someone’s branch. Still through all the “inconveniences” the church at Liberty grew and became well known.

The original deed was made to Liberty Christian Church but later changed as the church continued to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word. As they continued to grow they realized that the church should wear Christ’s name instead of the name of His disciples. Thus the name became Liberty Church of Christ.

The charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Burleson, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Shook, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Shook, Henry Lancaster, J. T. Vaughan, J. C. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Carr, T. B. Lindsey, and Willis Burcham.

The first elders were appointed in 1895. They were C. M. Burleson, J. H. Shook and J. T. Vaughan.

A second building was built in 1946 on the old site. A new building was erected in 1965 and the congregation held services in it for the first time on the first Sunday in August, 1965. Today the congregation continues to grow and has approximately 200 members.

Some of the men who have preached at Liberty were: Richard Rogers, Jimmy Gross, Haskell Sparks, Arnold Shaddock, Ricky Brooks, Jimmy Allen, Paul Spears, Paul Clayton, Wayne Mitchell and Tim Spivy. Our current preacher is Ron Deaton.

Liberty has become involved in several Christian works over the years. At one time they had a children’s home that housed several children. They help fund the J. C. Choate Mission Fund, Sunny Brook Children’s Home, Magnolia Bible College, International Bible College, India Radio Program, “Let the Bible Speak” radio program and the Alex Grear Mission Fund. They also have a “Lads to Leaders” program for the youth.