|
 In
the mid 1960s Central Christian Church of East Orange, recognizing
changes that were taking place in and around their town, acknowledged
that the church would need to look west if it were to have an influence
in the future. Surveying began in Morris County for a site to begin new
work. At an Elders’ meeting late in 1967, the town of Parsippany was
chosen by an extremely advanced method of selection – the Preacher,
Thomas M. Hart, closed his eyes and put his finger on a map indicating
the town of Parsippany.
Mid-week Bible studies
were begun shortly thereafter in Carl and Florence Ordway’s home in the
Brooklawn section of town. The Ordway family had been part of the
Paterson Christian Church until its demise, and willingly opened their
home for the study. The Preacher from East Orange conducted meetings and
surveyed the town until property could be found and a congregational
nucleus formed.
The first Sunday service
was held on October 5, 1969, in what would become the church parsonage.
The congregation continued to meet in the house for several years,
reaching between 35 and 40 in attendance each week. Bible School classes
were held in every bedroom as well as the living and dining rooms.
Incorporation was accomplished by 1972.
Construction on the property allowed the church to move into a building
(36’ by 70’) with two later additions. First was the addition of an
identical-sized building for classrooms. Later a 13’ addition gave us
room for a kitchen and enlarged the fellowship hall. Plans are available
for a third expansion when deemed feasible.
Over the years the
congregation grew and waned in attendance depending upon transfers of
individuals and families in and out of the Parsippany area. A total of
nine identifiable congregations over the last 40 years represents the
makeup of 900 to 1000 people who gathered in worship and praise to God.
In the 40 year history of
the congregation there has been one minister and two associates, as well
as a number of summer interns. The first associate was brought on board
to assist in the start of Western Hills Christian Church in the mid
1980’s. For that church plant, 75 members from a total of 150 were given
up to begin attending in the Hackettstown area. During the early 1970’s
another congregation was begun in the Flemington area, but only four
families helped form the nucleus of that congregation.
Scott A.
Bates has been with the congregation for the past ten years, first as an
Associate and now as Minister. He and his wife Amy are active in all
aspects of the church, but notably in missions and youth programming.
Scott leads in preaching and is in the process of taking over all
administrative and teaching duties.
Thomas M. Hart, who has
been with the congregation from its inception, retired on October 4,
2009, and Scott Bates assumed the role as senior minister on that day.
The
church has had a food pantry for about five years, but it has only been
committed to making the food pantry a vital part of the church’s
outreach ministry for the last two years. In that time the church has
moved the pantry from the barn to the church proper and has upgraded the
method of stocking and providing food for a growing number of community
families. In the calendar year of 2008 the pantry, now named as
Mind, Body and Soul Food
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