Church celebrates its 50th year

Sandy Springs Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) begins an extended celebration of its 50th anniversary with the return of a former senior minister to preach on April 25.

Rev. J. Lynn White, now senior minister at the Trinity Christian Church in Fort Worth, Tex., will preach on “Telling the Story” in conjunction with the ministry that began during his tenure with the Sandy Springs congregation.

White first came to the church in 1981 as an associate minister, then became co-minister with Rev. Albert Widener in 1983. He held the position of senior minister from 1986 until 1993.

On May 16, Rev. Randy Johnson of the Christian Church Foundation will continue the church’s celebration by preaching on “Story Creates a Legacy.” He will help the Sandy Springs congregation launch a campaign to develop a campaign “ensure a firm funding structure for the future of the congregation,” the church said in a press release.

In July, Mary K. Widener, widow of former senior minister Albert Widener and chair of the board of Peachtree Christian Church, will take the pulpit to share one of her late husband’s best sermons. Peachtree Christian was one of the congregations that served a major role in developing the Sandy Springs church.

In August, Rev. Herbert Leslie, the congregation’s first full-time senior minister, will appear. Leslie served at the church from 1964 through 1976, when the congregation grew from 150 to 1,000 members, according to the church’s prepared statement, and he was instrumental in the building of the church campus at 301 Johnson Ferry Road.

On Sept. 19 former Disciples of Christ General Minister and President Rev. Richard Hamm will preach during a special celebratory service on “The Story in Action.”

On Oct. 3, Rev. R. Glen Miles, senior minister from 1994 through 2003, returns to preach. Miles was instrumental in organizing the congregations youth mission trips to Mexico. The youth group has built housing in Mexico each spring for 14 years according to the church.

For more information, visit www.SandySpringsCC.org.

–Joe Earle