Celebrating 70 Years of Service & Ministry

The Cortez Church of Christ, to whom I am blessed to preach every Sunday, celebrated its 70th anniversary today. It was a wonderful day. Many who had been a part of this fellowship in the past came to wroship with us today. It was a grand reunion.

I wrote the following article for our church bulletin this week.

Seventy years! That’s a long time.

In 1937, the year Christians began to meet in a small building on Main Street in Cortez, Franklin Roosevelt was beginning his second of four terms as President. In 1937, the Hindenburg burst into flames as it was mooring following its first trans-Atlantic flight. In 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge opened to traffic. In 1937, Japan invaded China, signaling the beginning of World War II. In 1937, Amelia Earhart’s plane disappeared. In 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien published The Hobbit. In 1937, Hank Williams began his singing career. In 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs came to theaters, and Spencer Tracy won the Academy Award for Best Actor. In 1937, The New York Yankees defeated the New York Giants in the World Series, and the Washington Redskins defeated the Chicago Bears for the NFL title. In 1937, Cy Young was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1937, the first Krispy Kreme Donut Shop opened, and Volkswagen was founded. In 1937, John D. Rockerfeller and George Gershwin died, and Merle Haggard, Colin Powell, Bill Cosby, and Brooks Robinson were born. In 1937, Pepperdine University was founded. In 1937, you could buy a baked ham for 39¢ a pound, a loaf of bread for 5¢, a Studebaker for $1,330, a Ford coupe for $625, and a 71-acre farm (complete with 6-room house) for $4,200.

In the past seventy years, there have been a lot of changes and a lot of happenings, but at least one thing has remained constant. The Cortez Church of Christ has remained committed to serving God faithfully and tirelessly. Our fellowship has consisted of countless men and women over the years, many who have long since gone on to their eternal home, but we share the bond that we have together in Christ.

Seventy years is a long time, but it is just a beginning. As the Lord wills, we, the Cortez Church of Christ will continue as we have in the past, faithfully and fervently serving our Lord and his cause.