Parkway's Rich History

Looking back on 2007

On Sunday, August 18, 1957, the Parkway church of Christ (then called the Land Park church of Christ) held its

first services with 119 present. In 1984 the decision was made to move from their Land Park location to our present

site on Tangerine Avenue. Work began on the new building in November, 1984, and was completed in March, 1986.

Much of the construction was done by the members themselves.

From that day forward, the mission at Parkway has been to preach the New Testament truth in its love and simplicity.

Over the years, the congregation has grown steadily in numbers and spiritually.

Without question, the first thing you will notice when you walk through the doors of the Parkway building is our

diversity. We are made up of rich and old, rich and poor, black and white, male and female.

In addition to our regular services in English, we have a Spanish service as well (we had a Laotian service in past years).

We come from many different cultures, have many different backgrounds, and, in some cases, even speak different

languages, yet we are united in the love of the Father. While the world outside our doors builds walls to separate the different

generations and cultural groups in California, we work to tear down those dividing walls and be united in love.

Philip Stump and Bid Shepherd served as shepherds at Land Park. J. D. Dotson and Gerald Been served at both congregations.

John King, Sam King, and Corky Cooper serve the congregation presently as its shepherds. Clinton Childs and Newton Ekpo have served in that capacity in recent years. Phil Milton, Chris Brinkley, Daryl Evans and George Steinert now serve as deacons.

The following men served as ministers at the Land Park congregation: Alton Hall, Elbert Garretson, Paul King, Carl Thompson, Richard Troul, A.E. Swims, and David Reynolds. Don Kern started preaching at Land Park in 1982 and moved with the congregation in 1986. He stepped down and retired in 1996.  Matt Crane preached in 1996, while Pancho Hobbs served between 1997-2007.

Stanley Winters has  served for many years as the Family Life minister. In September, 2007, Gary Davenport became the pulpit minister and some 255 members make up the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking congregations, which meet simultaneously in the building each week.