The 1940s: The first meeting of the Cuyahoga Falls Church of Christ was Sunday, December 26, 1943. Due to a snowstorm, it was held in the home of Cecil Smith. The new church soon moved into a rented hall at a local art school in February 1944. After a year, the church began meeting in a hall above the city building on Front Street. Here, the church held its first gospel meeting in June 1945.
In 1947, the church moved into a larger hall above the East Ohio Gas office and used the name “Front Street Church of Christ.” In 1950, the church moved yet again into an old Lutheran church building on Fourth Street. Many founding members of the church remain with us today, including Greeta Cornell, Ann Feldman, Jean Oneacre, Carolyn Morrison, Jim Feldman, Barb Schray, and Bea McLean. Robert Myers was the minister.
The 1950s: By the early 1950s, the church had grown from six members to 40. L.J. Nicklas, George LeMasters, and E.C. Koltenbaugh were the preacher during the decade. The 1950s saw tremendous growth, with church membership crossing 200 people. One the best achievements of the 1950s was the birth of two other congregations out of the church in Cuyahoga Falls. They were the Ravenna Church of Christ and the Kent Church of Christ, both of which still meet today.
The 1960s: The keyword of the 1960s was “change.” The building on Fourth Street was simply too small; so, the elders developed a vision to build a new facility. A location was found on Chestnut Boulevard and bought for $35,000. Ground was broken on December 26, 1966, exactly 23 years to the day of the original meeting in Cecil Smith’s home on Reed Avenue. The new church building was finished in 1967, and on August 6, the doors were opened for the first-ever VBS. Over 400 kids attended. Jack Myers was hired as the full-time minister, and Perry Henegar was hired to lead the youth ministry.
The 1970s: During the 1970s, the Cuyahoga Falls Church of Christ settled into its new building. Three-day gospel meetings were common. A TV program called “The Amazing Grace Bible Hour” was developed in partnership with other church for channel 23. The youth ministry and VBS continued to grow, and the church started women’s Bible classes, family camps, children’s Bible hour, marriage encounters, and a bus ministry. Missions were a priority in the 1970’s, with support going to the establishment of new churches in Minerva, Ohio; Glen Falls, New York; and Akron, Ohio. In addition, support was given to Mark and Jill Brazle for their mission work in Belgium. Serving as preachers during the 1970s were Ron Laughery, Jack Myers, Charles Pugh, John Rockhold, and John Fisk.
The 1980s: Like the 1960s, change revisited the church in the 1980s. The addition of an entire new wing gave the church building a fellowship hall, kitchen, library, offices, and several more classrooms. In addition, the name of the congregation was changed to “Church in the Falls.” John Fisk served as the minister and Rod Sheldon became the youth minister in 1980. New ministries were developed, including the 49ers, Teen Talk, Rainbow Kids, and the Falls Family Chorus. Our annual youth rally “Youth Cruise” began in 1986 and is still going strong. Missions continued to be an emphasis during the 1980s. World Christian Broadcasting used Church in the Falls as headquarters for their radio outreach in Russia, Japan, and China. Support continued for Mark and Jill Brazle in Belgium, and support began for Steve and Donna Meeks in Kenya. Betty Drummond retired as the church secretary and was succeeded by Juanita Carpenter. Barb Schray began her counseling ministry, which remains a vital resource today.
The 1990s: Whereas the 1980s saw change and growth, the 1990s continued that growth. Mark Brazle, along with his wife and five children, returned from the mission field in Belgium to become the pulpit minister in 1993. He remains in that role today. One of the chief projects of the 1990s came toward the end of the decade with the building of the Falls Family Life Center in 1999. This new building consists of a gym, kitchen, and youth center and opened in 2000. It is here that Friday Night Fun began as a sports outreach to neighborhood teens. The building also hosts numerous fellowship meals and sporting events.
The 2000s: The new millennium came and went without a glitch, and new ministries lay just ahead. In 2001, Rod Sheldon left youth ministry to begin family ministry at Church in the Falls. Grant Knisley was hired as the new youth minister in 2002 and served for two years. In 2003, Kim St. Clair began her counseling ministry at Church in the Falls for both members and non-members. By God’s grace these ministries will grow and new ones will begin. In the summer of 2004, Josh Muller was hired to take over the youth ministry. Celebrate Recover, a 12 step program, was started in 2006 to help people recover from adictions, hurts, and hangups.