History of Creekside Church and the former Elkhart City COB

THE CHURCH AT WOLF AND BENHAM

The new church as it was originally built.

The new brick building, costing $136,000, was dedicated on June 25, 1950. The old church on Sixth Street was sold to UMW, Dist. 50, for $15,000.

Foster B. Statler became the full-time pastor in 1950, replacing George Phillips who had been the full-time pastor since 1935.

As of October 1, 1952, the following plan of church organization went into effect: Under the Church Council, the final authority in the local congregation, were the Official Board and the Church Board. The Official Board was composed of the elders, ministers, and deacons of the local congregation. Under the Church Board were ten departments: Nominations and Personnel; Property (Trustees); Stewardship and Finance; Recreation and Social Life; Brethren Service; Missions; Christian Education; Music and Worship; Evangelism; Ministry.

In 1957, a second parsonage was purchased on the southwest corner of Cleveland and Benham for $12,000. It was sold in 1973 to Church Community Services. During a three year period, 1957-1960, three men from Bethany Seminary in Chicago served as intern pastors - Carl Showalter (1957); Martin Gauby (1958); Dale Shenefelt (1959).

In September 1960 Charles DuMond was called to serve as full-time pastor. In 1962 Eleanor Painter came as full-time Director of Christian Education and initiated the start of the church library that year. (Eventually the library would hold 1,200 volumes of interest to all age groups.)