History
Rainbow church of Christ
Gadsden, AL 35901
The inception of the Rainbow Church of Christ transpired long before the physical signs were seen in the eyes of the quiet community of Etowah Park in Gadsden. As early as 1953, conversations were taking place on a daily basis as to the possibilities of establishing such a work.
Leslie C. King, Sr. and his office manager, Grady Medlin, discussed the number of their relatives living in the area who would be potential members.
These discussions led to a longtime friend, Lt. Governor James B. Allen, who shared their interest in establishing a congregation. King and Allen, with large real estate holdings, agreed to donate property bound by Rainbow Drive, Emerson Street, and Sangster Road and to give significant amounts of money as well.
Others joined the discussions including businessmen George Erwin and Van Pruitt, members of the Central Church of Christ. Other members at Central were very supportive and contributed greatly to the ultimate decision to establish the Rainbow Church of Christ.
On November 26, 1956, nineteen members of the church living from Big Wills Creek to Morgan Crossroads met in the home of Lamar and Fleeta Millican to discuss plans. Soon after, a second meeting was held in the home of Claude and Maurine Pruitt. Elders and preachers from the area congregations were invited. Plans were announced to establish a congregation on Rainbow Drive and prayers were solicited from the Brotherhood and financial support was asked from all interested.
The group started looking for a preacher. The first worship service was held at Striplin Annex (now Eura Brown School) on December 23, 1956 with Clyde Hale of Nashville, TN the speaker. Services were later held at 1024 Sangster Road until the building was ready.
Jack Austin, a charter member along with wife: Martha, was authorized to begin construction.
This began in early 1957 and was completed that summer. Plans called for the construction to be done in units to allow for expansion of the congregation over time. Upon completion of the main building, it served as an auditorium for worship and folding walls provided classrooms for the Bible study. The first meeting in the new building was on Wednesday, August 14, 1957. Open House was held on October 6, 1957.
There have been questions about charter membership, but the original "book of registration" was found. This is the book that all those who wanted to be considered charter members were to sign at the first three services of the new congregation. Prior to the discovery of this book, it was believed there were forty-three charter members. This book contained the actual handwriting of the individuals themselves and records the names of fifty-three charter members. Five of them are still here at Rainbow: Joyce Alford, Martha Austin, Helen Cloud, Sarah Foote, Polk King, and Hassie Moon.
These are the preachers who have served here at Rainbow: W.H. Johnson, Charles London, Leon Burns, Billy Joe Watson, Fred Baker, Jimmy Vest, Larry Mitchell, Gordon Smith, Jerry Weldon, Bruce Tucker, Norman Flynn and Blake Jones
Associates who have served are Tim Gentry, Bill Dodson, Norman Flynn, Steve Worley, and Norman Flynn. Youth ministers have been Mark Smith, Mark Hawk, Philip Brooks, Philip Medlin, Chris Barnett, and Blake Jones (currently co-minister & youth minister).
Elders here have included George Erwin, Marshall Moon, Willis Lorren, Grady Williams, Mel Barham, Gurnie Foote, George Fulton, Elmus Honeycutt, George Elliot, Tim Gentry, Bob Stringer, Paul Baker, Kerry Lee Johnson, Dyer Honeycutt, Bobby Golden, Stephen Ellis, Craig King and our current elders are John Bowling, Eugene Brown, Norman Flynn, and David Wallace.
