History of the Wildwood Church of Christ
In 1955, there was no Church of Christ that had Black members in the city of
Gary, Indiana. The young people at the Black Oak Church of Christ spearheaded
the thought of the need for a Black church in the area. The congregation of this
church contacted Brother Tibbs Maxey, at the College of the Scriptures, to see if
there were any graduates who would be willing to move to Gary, Indiana to start
a congregation, to evangelize and work with the Black population.
The only ones to submit their names were Henry and Thelma Johnson. In 1951,
Brother Johnson Sr., and his wife graduated from the College of the Scriptures,
with an Associates of Arts Degree, in theology. In June 1955, the Johnson family
answered the call and moved to Gary. They had two sons, Henry Jr. and Daris, who
were born when the couple lived in Warren, OH. Henry was five years old, and Daris
was four years old, when they moved to Gary.
The city of Gary was being developed. Some of the city was basically swamp land
that had to be drained, before houses could be built. The Johnsons found a third floor
apartment, to call home. Although the Black Oak congregation had been supportive
with some funds, they informed Bro. Johnson that total support was not possible. He
was able to get a job at the Inland Steel Mill.
Bro. Johnson made arrangements with a Methodist Church on 21st Avenue. The
Methodists had their service in the morning. In the afternoon, about 2:00 p.m., the
Johnsons met as the members of the Tarrytown Church of Christ. Tarrytown is the
name of the area that covers 21st Avenue, near Clark Road.
Starting a congregation was very slow and not easy. The majority of people never
heard of the Church of Christ, and were not very receptive. Using a truck bed on
wheels, and a loud speaker, Bro. Johnson rode through the community to publicize
the Church, its location and the time of service. It was called the "Go Ye Chapel".
Other ministers, from the Black Oak Church, the Hebron Church, and the Lowell
Church of Christ, were also helpful.
The fall of 1955, the Johnsons moved to a house at 2019 Wright Street. They
continued to meet at the Methodist Church for services. Many times, there were
just the four of them. They had prayer, sang a song, and had communion. Sister
Johnson recalls Henry Jr 's remark, "No one here, but us." Bro. Johnson replied,
"The Lord is here, and we are here. That is enough." They continued to publicize
the Church and witness to the community.
Bible Study was held at their home on Wright Street. During the summers, they
were able to organize Vacation Bible School, which was held at Allan L. Locke
School. As long as it was held before the school was cleaned up for the summer,
there was no charge to the church. In 1958, Sister Johnson was able to get a
job working at W. T. Grants, a department store, where she worked for 10 years.
Again, the extra help came from the Sister Churches.
The Church services were now being held at the Community Center, on 19th Place.
The first two people to be baptized and added to the membership of the Tarrytown
Church of Christ were Janet McMiller, a married woman with a family, and a teenager
named George Robinson. They were baptized at the Black Oak Church of Christ.
Holding services at the community center proved to be a challenge. The center
was widely used by the community. On Sunday morning, Henry Jr. and Daris
cleaned up and wiped up the liquor from the communion table, and removed the
liquor bottles left by the crowds. The school system also used the center for
an extended classroom. Still, the Johnsons continued to publicize the Church.
Bro. Johnson invited a co-worker, at Inland Steel, to Bible Study. After
witnessing to him, Bro. Sam Winger was baptized and became active in the
Church. Later, Sam married Pearl, and they both worked along with the Johnsons.
Another brother named Nicholas Dextor, from the Hessville Church, in Hammond,
came to help. There were other additions to church, both adults and youth. The
congregation was growing.
The community center was no longer available for the Church. The congregation had
to move back to the Johnson's home on Wright Street. About 1963-1964, the Church
purchased a parcel of property for $16/month to be used for a new church home. The
land had been used as a dumping ground for trash.
Around 1965, Bro. Johnson's health was starting to affect him. The doctor stated that
with his body bending at a ¾ angle continuously at the steel mill, the lining in his
stomach was messed up, causing bleeding ulcers. It was at that time, Bro. Irvin Williams,
his wife, Jean, and their two young daughters (Kim and Lisa), came to Gary from Warren,
OH. They had planned to go to the College of the Scriptures, but after landing
a job at the steel mill, they stayed in Gary. This was helpful; Bro. Irvin and Bro. Sam
also shared the jobs of teaching and preaching. Continuing to provide for his family,
Bro. Johnson continued his work at the steel mill, doing the same type of work. He
continued to teach, witness, and publicize the church in and out of Gary.
The Christian Mission Organization approached Bro. Johnson with the thought
of building a church home. About 1965-1966, the new church home was started,
and it was completed in 1967. A sister church donated some used pews. There
was already a pulpit available, and a table for communion. The youth of the church
joined in and helped with the painting and clean up. The floors were made of concrete.
Bro. Johnson was told to paint the floors. Disagreeing with that idea, he raised
enough money to purchase floor tiles for the congregation to walk on.
With the change in location, the newly developed area was not located in Tarrytown.
The Church's new name became the "Wildwood Church of Christ". The dedication
service was held in 1967. The Chicago District Evangelistic Association (CDEA)
gave the Church $7000.00, to match what Wildwood had collected. The Church
had a new home, and a sign was later designed to show its name. The church
passed out brochures and continued to witness to the community, and was quite
active. Along with church services twice each Sunday, there were Bible classes at
Wildwood and at various homes, choir rehearsal, Women's classes, Elders-Deacons
classes, and youth classes. The first baptism at the Wildwood Church of Christ was
Catherine Floyd. The church could finally perform baptisms without using the baptism
pool of other congregations. The growth of the Church was on a rise.
In 1969, Bro. Johnson was forced to retire from the Inland Steel Mill, due to the
deterioration of his health. With his wife, Thelma, and their son, Daris, he
moved his family back to Louisville, KY. He became a professor and the Dean of
Men at the College of the Scriptures. Thelma Johnson worked along the side of
her husband as he continued in the work of the Lord. They started the West Side
Church of Christ, which is now known as the 35th Street Church of Christ, in
Louisville.
Back at Wildwood, Bro. Irvin Williams accepted the responsibility as the minister
of the congregation. His wife, Jean, worked by his side. Ed Peverelle and his wife,
Mary, traveled from Portage, IN, to help with the church, also.
Later, Henry Johnson, Jr. became the interim minister. He and Ida Atkins married
in 1970. When they moved to Lincoln, IL, the church was again in need of a minister.
In 1973, Clinton Jackson, one of the men trained in the Church, accepted the
position as the minister of the Wildwood Church of Christ. He and his wife, Loistine,
worked with the congregation. There was a ordination service as the men of the
church laid their hands on Clinton Jackson, and Ed Peverelle, to ordain them as the
Minister and Elder of the Wildwood Church, respectively.
Two other ministers were called to serve the members of the Wildwood Church of
Christ. They are: Dr. L.C. Sutton, who served from 1995 to 1997 and Duane Johnson,
who served from 1997 to 1999. Bro. Clinton Jackson has served as minister since 2000.
In 1955, there was no Church of Christ that had Black members in the city of
Gary, Indiana. The young people at the Black Oak Church of Christ spearheaded
the thought of the need for a Black church in the area. The congregation of this
church contacted Brother Tibbs Maxey, at the College of the Scriptures, to see if
there were any graduates who would be willing to move to Gary, Indiana to start
a congregation, to evangelize and work with the Black population.
The only ones to submit their names were Henry and Thelma Johnson. In 1951,
Brother Johnson Sr., and his wife graduated from the College of the Scriptures,
with an Associates of Arts Degree, in theology. In June 1955, the Johnson family
answered the call and moved to Gary. They had two sons, Henry Jr. and Daris, who
were born when the couple lived in Warren, OH. Henry was five years old, and Daris
was four years old, when they moved to Gary.
The city of Gary was being developed. Some of the city was basically swamp land
that had to be drained, before houses could be built. The Johnsons found a third floor
apartment, to call home. Although the Black Oak congregation had been supportive
with some funds, they informed Bro. Johnson that total support was not possible. He
was able to get a job at the Inland Steel Mill.
Bro. Johnson made arrangements with a Methodist Church on 21st Avenue. The
Methodists had their service in the morning. In the afternoon, about 2:00 p.m., the
Johnsons met as the members of the Tarrytown Church of Christ. Tarrytown is the
name of the area that covers 21st Avenue, near Clark Road.
Starting a congregation was very slow and not easy. The majority of people never
heard of the Church of Christ, and were not very receptive. Using a truck bed on
wheels, and a loud speaker, Bro. Johnson rode through the community to publicize
the Church, its location and the time of service. It was called the "Go Ye Chapel".
Other ministers, from the Black Oak Church, the Hebron Church, and the Lowell
Church of Christ, were also helpful.
The fall of 1955, the Johnsons moved to a house at 2019 Wright Street. They
continued to meet at the Methodist Church for services. Many times, there were
just the four of them. They had prayer, sang a song, and had communion. Sister
Johnson recalls Henry Jr 's remark, "No one here, but us." Bro. Johnson replied,
"The Lord is here, and we are here. That is enough." They continued to publicize
the Church and witness to the community.
Bible Study was held at their home on Wright Street. During the summers, they
were able to organize Vacation Bible School, which was held at Allan L. Locke
School. As long as it was held before the school was cleaned up for the summer,
there was no charge to the church. In 1958, Sister Johnson was able to get a
job working at W. T. Grants, a department store, where she worked for 10 years.
Again, the extra help came from the Sister Churches.
The Church services were now being held at the Community Center, on 19th Place.
The first two people to be baptized and added to the membership of the Tarrytown
Church of Christ were Janet McMiller, a married woman with a family, and a teenager
named George Robinson. They were baptized at the Black Oak Church of Christ.
Holding services at the community center proved to be a challenge. The center
was widely used by the community. On Sunday morning, Henry Jr. and Daris
cleaned up and wiped up the liquor from the communion table, and removed the
liquor bottles left by the crowds. The school system also used the center for
an extended classroom. Still, the Johnsons continued to publicize the Church.
Bro. Johnson invited a co-worker, at Inland Steel, to Bible Study. After
witnessing to him, Bro. Sam Winger was baptized and became active in the
Church. Later, Sam married Pearl, and they both worked along with the Johnsons.
Another brother named Nicholas Dextor, from the Hessville Church, in Hammond,
came to help. There were other additions to church, both adults and youth. The
congregation was growing.
The community center was no longer available for the Church. The congregation had
to move back to the Johnson's home on Wright Street. About 1963-1964, the Church
purchased a parcel of property for $16/month to be used for a new church home. The
land had been used as a dumping ground for trash.
Around 1965, Bro. Johnson's health was starting to affect him. The doctor stated that
with his body bending at a ¾ angle continuously at the steel mill, the lining in his
stomach was messed up, causing bleeding ulcers. It was at that time, Bro. Irvin Williams,
his wife, Jean, and their two young daughters (Kim and Lisa), came to Gary from Warren,
OH. They had planned to go to the College of the Scriptures, but after landing
a job at the steel mill, they stayed in Gary. This was helpful; Bro. Irvin and Bro. Sam
also shared the jobs of teaching and preaching. Continuing to provide for his family,
Bro. Johnson continued his work at the steel mill, doing the same type of work. He
continued to teach, witness, and publicize the church in and out of Gary.
The Christian Mission Organization approached Bro. Johnson with the thought
of building a church home. About 1965-1966, the new church home was started,
and it was completed in 1967. A sister church donated some used pews. There
was already a pulpit available, and a table for communion. The youth of the church
joined in and helped with the painting and clean up. The floors were made of concrete.
Bro. Johnson was told to paint the floors. Disagreeing with that idea, he raised
enough money to purchase floor tiles for the congregation to walk on.
With the change in location, the newly developed area was not located in Tarrytown.
The Church's new name became the "Wildwood Church of Christ". The dedication
service was held in 1967. The Chicago District Evangelistic Association (CDEA)
gave the Church $7000.00, to match what Wildwood had collected. The Church
had a new home, and a sign was later designed to show its name. The church
passed out brochures and continued to witness to the community, and was quite
active. Along with church services twice each Sunday, there were Bible classes at
Wildwood and at various homes, choir rehearsal, Women's classes, Elders-Deacons
classes, and youth classes. The first baptism at the Wildwood Church of Christ was
Catherine Floyd. The church could finally perform baptisms without using the baptism
pool of other congregations. The growth of the Church was on a rise.
In 1969, Bro. Johnson was forced to retire from the Inland Steel Mill, due to the
deterioration of his health. With his wife, Thelma, and their son, Daris, he
moved his family back to Louisville, KY. He became a professor and the Dean of
Men at the College of the Scriptures. Thelma Johnson worked along the side of
her husband as he continued in the work of the Lord. They started the West Side
Church of Christ, which is now known as the 35th Street Church of Christ, in
Louisville.
Back at Wildwood, Bro. Irvin Williams accepted the responsibility as the minister
of the congregation. His wife, Jean, worked by his side. Ed Peverelle and his wife,
Mary, traveled from Portage, IN, to help with the church, also.
Later, Henry Johnson, Jr. became the interim minister. He and Ida Atkins married
in 1970. When they moved to Lincoln, IL, the church was again in need of a minister.
In 1973, Clinton Jackson, one of the men trained in the Church, accepted the
position as the minister of the Wildwood Church of Christ. He and his wife, Loistine,
worked with the congregation. There was a ordination service as the men of the
church laid their hands on Clinton Jackson, and Ed Peverelle, to ordain them as the
Minister and Elder of the Wildwood Church, respectively.
Two other ministers were called to serve the members of the Wildwood Church of
Christ. They are: Dr. L.C. Sutton, who served from 1995 to 1997 and Duane Johnson,
who served from 1997 to 1999. Bro. Clinton Jackson has served as minister since 2000.