The above photograph is believed to be one of the first photographs 
of the Delaware Church of Christ in Christian Union at
162 Belle Avenue, Delaware, Delaware County, Ohio in 1959

Where We’ve Come From …

There were arbor meetings at a farm located at Route 42, at Smart Cole Road which later developed into Long's Chapel CCCU which was destroyed by a tornado in the early 1960's. The Arbor Grove, which became Long's Chapel then moved to Eaton Street and was known as Hazleton Chapel CCCU. When Hazelton Chapel CCCU (now Morning Star Tabernacle) was built in 1924, the Welfare Building house adjacent to the church, was used as an outreach to the poor. There was a second CCCU church in Delaware located on Rheem Street. In 1958, the Rheem Street CCCU and Hazelton Chapel merged to create one CCCU church in Delaware. The new site located at 162 Belle Avenue (which is the present location of the church) was called the First Church of Christ in Christian Union. Under different pastors, different properties were purchased. Today the church has 3 houses as well as several lots to utilize for ministry needs.


Hazelton Chapel CCCU was built in 1924

Following is a list of those 
Pastors who have served
the Churches (CCCU) in 
Delaware County since 1924

Rev. A. L. Terry 1924-1935 at the Hazelton Chapel CCCU

Pastors of Rheem Street:
Rev. Gerald (Dick) Edelbute
Rev. Garrett Heller
Rev. Alvin Conkey
Rev. Eddie Meyers
Frances Hatten filled in until the Rheem Street Church merged with Hazelton Chapel in 1959

Pastors at Belle Avenue:
Thomas Hermiz
Rev. Coppick
Floyd Shoemaker
S.G. Williams
Landon Frances
Floyd Kerr
Rev. Warren Goble 1970-1976
Rev. Alvin Conkey 1976-1978
Rev. H. David Cyrus 1978-1999
Rev. Gary Heinbach 1999-2001
Rev. H. David Cyrus, Senior Pastor and
Rev. Martha Adams, Associate Pastor
2001-2003
Rev. Martha Adams 2003-2005
Rev. Martha Adams, Senior Pastor and
Rev. Frank Robinson, Associate Pastor
2005-2007
Rev. Bill Benner 2007-present

Rev. H. David Cyrus came to pastor in 1988. His ministry was marked by a number of conversions, attendance highs, fugality and financial stability, and the church became a strong name in the community. In the mid-1990’s, our church started The Food Pantry, which is used as a referral by other community agencies. Approximately one year before exiting, Pastor David Cyrus permitted the use of overhead projection of songs for Sunday AM worship. The choir at that point was evolving into a praise team. During Rev. Cyrus' years at the church, three properties and several open lots were added that now constitute the back field. Pastor David served here for twenty-three years, retiring after a struggle with leukemia.

Rev. Gary Heimbach became the pastor in 1999 and his years served were marked by change. A dynamic Praise Team under the direction of Shelley Williams led worship with a new video projection machine and instrumental CD tracks. Hymns and Gospel Songs were still used with a blend of some contemporary worship choruses. A number of improvements were made to the Parsonage. Several new families were reached that joined the church. Pastor Heimbach had strong ties with the community through the Pray Delaware Pastors prayer group. In 2001, the Heimbach’s were called to pastor at the New Boston CCCU which was Pastor Heimbach’s home church.

In 2001, Rev. H. David Cyrus returned to DCCCU on the condition that he would stay only two years and that Rev. Marty Adams would serve with him as the full-time Associate Pastor. Pastor Adams was given the responsibilities of leading the Vision Team, the Youth ministry, developing outreach and assimilation, and doing some visitation. Attempts to either build, add-on, or purchase new property were revisited during these two years.  A Vision Team was formed by the DCCCU Board. For eighteen months, they met monthly, prayed and studied God’s Word, and developed a Mission Statement, Vision Statement, and Core Values. These were edited and accepted by the Board in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, these were compiled, along with tentative Goals and Strategies, and printed on visual signs. The black and white lighthouse graphic began to be used in 2004, as a symbol of our church becoming a leading beacon for Jesus Christ in the Delaware community.

Beginning in 2003, Rev. Marty Adams was voted in to serve as Pastor of DCCCU. Several members including former three Elders left at the end of the church year. Change continued to mark Pastor Marty’s ministry. The first major decision that the board recommended to the church membership was for the sale/purchase/relocation process of the DCCCU. In November of 2001, church members decided to look earnestly for new land with the intent of selling the DCCCU properties and eventually relocating to a new property. The consensus of the board at that time was that the church was at a growth impasse on Belle Avenue and that the church needed new facilities to reach the increasingly upwardly mobile demographics of Delaware County, Ohio. Thirty-four acres of land were purchased. Facility changes were significant with the handicap accessorizing of the upper level sanctuary with the purchase of a chair lift and the renovation of the coat closet into a handicap/special needs restroom. The nursery was turned into a hospitality room to act as a Welcome/Information Station during services and a kitchen to serve dinners and refreshments for a variety of ministries. The entire building was repainted by people doing court-ordered community service. Other updates or repairs were made to all existing properties.

Other ministries were started that were specifically targeting the impoverished and at-risk children and families in the community. Celebrate Recovery operated in a trial ministry mode for eighteen months with the goal of bringing healing to our present congregation and training for leaders to reach the large at-risk population. LifeCamp (Summer ’06) fed an enrollment of twenty-four children with free food from the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Children’s Hunger Alliance. Abba’s House, a contemporary youth and young adult service, started at this time on Saturday evenings followed by The RightWay Café which continue in operation to this date. The Food Pantry was evaluated and expanded. All of these ministries have been enhanced or have the potential of growing because of the removal of the pews and the purchase of movable seating during Rev. Adams's time with the DCCCU. The traditional sanctuary space is now understood to be multi-purpose.

In 2007, Rev. Bill Benner began his ministry at the DCCCU.  He and his family served for nearly twenty years in Papua New Guinea and the Caribbean for twenty years as missionaries.  They were responsible for the relationship and communication between the homeland missionary department and the West Indies national church during their transition from a mission field to a district of the Churches of Christ in Christian Union.  Rev. Benner served as pastor for the new church outreach in St. Croix from 1992 to 1996.  From 1977 to 1992, he supervised six district mission stations, 15 plus missionaries, 68 local churches, Nembi Bible School and Ol Medical Center.  The congregation welcomes Rev. Benner and his family to Delaware and to DCCCU.  

Our MISSION

“F.A.I.T.H. for Life!”

We exist to:

F - FOCUS on God,
A - ATTRACT people with the Truth,
I - INVOLVE all in His Family,
T - TOUCH the whole Person, and
H - HUNGER for Holiness.

Our VISION

“We believe that God wants us to become a church center for Christian leadership that is pursuing, nurturing, and equipping disciples for Jesus Christ who are reproducing by living out their F.A.I.T.H. in Delaware County, Ohio and beyond.”  

Provided by International Bible Society

Our Denominational Affiliation …

Our local church is a member church of The Churches of Christ in Christian Union, with its world headquarters in Circleville, Ohio. Circleville Bible College, established in 1948, has trained hundreds of leaders, in every ministry field, to serve around the globe.

CCCU or 3CU, as we lovingly call it, was birthed out of the historical Methodist movement. The teaching of holy living made possible through “sanctification” or a fully surrendered and Spirit-empowered life, is our hallmark. 

3CU churches are congregationally governed by representation on a local Board of Administration. Each member has a vote.

The Churches of Christ in Christian Union traces its origin as an independent body to the year of 1909 at the council of The Christian Union Churches which was held at Marshall, Ohio.  A prominent breach was present among the churches of that district.  The point of controversy was the preaching of holiness as a second definite work of grace subsequent to regeneration.  Those opposed to such preaching, being in the majority, enacted certain legislation to silence those upon whose preaching they frowned.  Instead of being silenced, this group, led by the Reverend J. H. McKibban, withdrew by compulsion and took the name "The Churches of Christ in Christian Union".

On October 27, 1909 a convention of this group was held at the Christian Union publishing house at Washington Court House, Ohio with the Reverend E. S. Cartwright presiding.  At this convention a charter of The Churches of Christ in Christian Union was read and endorsed by the ministry and members present.  There was also a Declaration of Rights written and presented.

Being no longer members of the council of Christian Union Churches, this new group was compelled to establish their own council.  The first council of The Churches of Christ in Christian Union was held at Jeffersonville, Ohio October 28 to 31, 1909.  The Reverend E. S. Cartwright was moderator of this council.  Annual councils have been held from that date.

At the thirty-seventh annual council at Circleville, Ohio in 1945, legislation was enacted amending the Articles of Incorporation and resolutions passed permitting the organizing of other state and district councils and their incorporation in this body of believers.

The first general council (composed of all districts) was held at Circleville, Ohio in 1948.  General councils are held every two yeras.  Before the work of redistricting was completed in 1959, there were districts in Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, and the Northeast District composed of New York, and northern Pennsylvania, the latter district having been formed by the affiliation and merger of the Reformed Methodist Church of New York with The Churches of Christ in Christian Union.  The Northeast District was composed of churches in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.  The other three districts were divided into two; namely, North Central and South Central, the two being divided by a line following U. S. Highway 40 from the Ohio-Pennsylvania line westward to the junction of U. S. 22; thence southwest and west on U. S. 22 to Washington Court House and the junction of U. S. 35; thence northwestward to the junction of U. S. 40; and from there westward following U. S. 40.

During 1972, the South Central District was divided to form the Southern District.  Churches which remained in the South Central District were in Ohio (see northern boundary above), Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia.  The new Southern District was composed of churches in Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida.  In 1979, these two districts were reunited into a single district known as the South Central District.

On July 15, 1972 the North Central District Council passed a resolution to divide the North Central District into two districts; namely, the Midwest and the Medeast.  The Midwest District was composed of all Ohio churches in the North Central District west of U. S. Route 23 and all of the Indiana churches.  The Mideast District was composed of all North Central District churches east of U. S. Route 23 and all Michigan churches.  In 1979, these two districts were reunited into a single district which is known as the West Central District.

In its missionary work, the church is active in fields around the world.  Through partnership with World Gospel Mission we have missionaries working in Bolivia, Honduras, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Uganda, U. S. Virgin Islands, and The American Indian Field in Arizona.  A school has been built in connection with the Papua New Guinea mission.

The official publication of the church is The Evangelical Advocate.

Circleville Bible College (Ohio Christian University) was established by council action and began its first year in 1948.  A new administration building housing both the school and the offices of the general church work was erected on the Mount of Praise grounds in 1953.  A new library and laboratory building was erected in 1958. In 1964-65, a new brick and stucco dormitory was erected.  Continued growth of the school necessitated plans for a new campus.  After extensive study, a forty acre campus was laid out on the north side of U. S. 22 east of Circleville on the church farm.  Construction was started in 1966 with the erection of an administration building.  A men's dormitory, the chapel, and a combined classroom-dining hall followed rapidly.  In September, 1969, full classroom operations were started at the new campus.  In 1970 a student center building was completed.  Landscaping and athletic fields have also been provided.  In 1972 phase one of the campus development was completed with the erection of the women's dormitory.  Townhouses were constructed in 1977 to house married students.  The Melvin and Laura Maxwell Library was constructed in 1979.  Since that time, a new townhouse has been constructed (1998), upgrades to both the women's (1997) and men's (1998) dormitories, and an addition doubling the size of the Melvin and Laura Maxwell Library (1999).

Each of the districts conducts its own annual camp meeting, youth camps, and councils.  The Northeast District operates Lily Lake Campground near Port Crane, New York.  The South Central District Campground is located in the community of Nipgen, northwest of Waverly, Ohio.  The Mount of Praise camp meeting is an annual function of the general department.  In 1996 the Mount of Praise moved to the Circleville Bible College (Ohio Christian University) campus.  The East Ohio Street location was sold in 1998 and plans are progressing toward the development of the new location on denominational property located on U. S. Route 22 east.  In 2005 the denomination completed a conference center facility west of the Maxwell Library.  Youth facilities for the Mount of Praise camp were completed in July 2006 with accommodation for 90 plus students.  In corporation with Ohio Christian University and the Churches of Christ in Christian Union ground was broken for a new leadership ministry center officially on August 13, 2006.  This new facility will house many of the university's sports and special events as well as the worship center for the Mount of Praise camp.

 

“Faith View: Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus”

We are asking God to help us become a Church Center for Christian Leadership that is pursuing, nurturing, and equipping disciples for Jesus Christ who are reproducing by living out their F.A.I.T.H. in Delaware County.

  • Family Leadership

  • Church Leadership

  • Community Leadership

Where We Are Going ...

While we continue to experience quantity and quality growth in our congregation, we have a dream that God is creating in us. We believe that God wants us to reach our present community by providing felt-need outreach. We have purchased 34 acres of land, right off of Route 42 North in Delaware County, Ohio, where we plan to build facilities to house multiple ministries in the future.

 

Delaware Church of Christ in Christian Union (DCCCU)
162 Belle Avenue
Delaware, Ohio  43015
(740) 369-4943 Church Office

Copyright © 2007 Delaware Church of Christ in Christian Union