Our Story
1800s-1980s
Way back in the early 1800s, a small group of believers began talking and dreaming about a Christian community in the town of Decatur. They met in a log court house, and established themselves as the first Christian church in Decatur: First Christian Church. (And later, Abraham Lincoln purchased that property for his law practice. Crazy, huh?)
Towards the end of the 1800s, the congregation moved to a new building on Church Street near downtown. Later, in 1913, the building was replaced with a classic brick-and-stone structure that’s still in place today.
1980s-90s
In the 1980s, the congregation began to talk and dream about re-establishing it’s ministry to the continually stretching boundaries of north Decatur. In 1996, this dream became a reality, when the facility on North MacArthur was completed.
It only took 18 months after completion for the new facility to be expanded to help facilitate the growth in ministries. Lots of new space was added, making room for twelve classrooms and a gym (now it’s the Youth space: The Well).
2000s
And again, in 2008, additional space was needed to enhance the ministries of the church. A new gym was added, as well as Mosaic Café and Bookstore.
First is continuing to find new ways to connect with those in Decatur and surrounding areas, and help everyone connect in a very practical way with our Creator. For nearly two centuries, First Christian Church has sought to provide a place of Christian community, while reaching out to a hurting world.