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THE UNIVERSITY CHURCH OF CHRIST: A BRIEF HISTORY
The University Church of Christ had its local origin in late February,
1970. Intending to establish a presence in the community prior to the
construction of the new campus of Pepperdine University's Seaver
College, five to six families gathered for worship services in the
basement of the Los Angeles County Court House on Civic Center Way in
Malibu. The following year the congregation held its worship assembly
in the court chambers on the first floor, converting the basement into
classrooms. Among the pioneers of the new fellowship were the families
of Bill Banowsky, Bill Brown, Ansel Buchanan, Bob Gilliam, Walter Glass,
Grover Goyne, Dude Higgins, Jerry Hudson, Norman Hughes, John Nicks, Ken
Perrin, Edward Rockey, Jere Yates, and Norvel Young.
In the fall of 1972, the University church moved to the
new campus of Pepperdine University, holding Sunday services in the
just-completed Elkins Auditorium. When construction on Stauffer Chapel
was finished the next fall, assemblies were often held there, especially
during the summer months. For most of the 1990s, both facilities were
utilized by the congregation in two separate Sunday assemblies.
Currently (2009), the University church holds two services for 450 to
500 worshippers in Elkins Auditorium (8:30 and 11 a.m.) each Sunday
morning and in Stauffer Chapel each Sunday evening. With a building
fund of more than $1 million, the congregation looks forward to
constructing a worship center on the campus of the University. In the
meantime, the church takes full advantage of a remodeled Elkins
Auditorium that will seat 400 and of new offices constructed adjacent to
Elkins at the very center of campus.
For the first fifteen years of the church’s history
several members shared the preaching duties. Among those who served in
this capacity were Ed Rockey (1970-74), Tony Ash (1972-75), Robert
Douglas (1975-78), Jerry Rushford and Michael Gose (1978-81), Don
Crawford (1981-82), David Davenport (1982-83; 1984-85), Carroll Osburn
(1983-84), and John Free (1984-85). Not until 1985 did the congregation
appoint its first full-time preaching minister, Dan Anders, who filled
that role until 1998. Ken Durham now serves the congregation as its
pulpit minister
The University church considers the spiritual welfare
of the Pepperdine University students as one of its most important
ministries. Although the campus ministry program began the previous
year under the sponsorship of the Turnpike Road Church of Christ in
Santa Barbara, since 1977 the Malibu congregation has directed the work,
utilizing the full-time talents of several men and women. These include
Craig and Patti Bowman (1977-79), David Ladd and David Pippin (1979-81),
Don Crawford (1981-82), Tom Reynolds (1982-84), Pat Iseke and Rich
Dawson (1984-85), Dave McMahon (1985-87), Scott Lambert (1987-2005)
LaJuana Gill (1990-1997), Linda Truschke (1997-) and Thomas Fitzpatrick
(2007-)
From time to time, the church family at Malibu has
employed individuals on a part-time or full-time basis to minister to
youth. Among those who have served are Randy Gill (1988-1992), Walter
Surdaki (1992-1997), David Lemley (1998-2003), Luke and Holly Tallon
(2003-2004), David Guilland (2004-2005), and Roslyn Bennett (2004-).
Since its organization, the University church has been
blessed with faithful and earnest leaders. Among those who have served
as elders include the following: Ken Perrin, Bill Brown, Bob Gilliam,
Howard White, Norvel Young, Rick Rowland, Stewart Hudson, Bill Adrian,
Richard Hughes, Tom Olbricht, Terry Giboney, Rich Dawson, Bill Stivers,
John Wilson, Harold Bigham, David Baird, Randy Chesnutt, Ron Highfield,
Mike O'Neal, Milt Shatzer, Steve Parmelee, Stuart Love and Tim Perrin.
Early in its history, deacons also served the congregation (Jim
Atkinson, Walter Glass, Stewart Hudson, Jim McGoldrick, Chip Moore, Mike
O’Neal, Paul Piersall, Israel Rodriquez, Gary Thornton, and Jere Yates,
among others), but more recently servant leaders of both men and women
undertake the responsibilities of ministry.
The last three decades have been years of growth and
change for the Malibu Church of Christ. A mere handful of members have
multiplied to number more that 500, with some 300 of those being
students. With an average weekly contribution of $8,300 in 2009, it
underwrites a program that includes evangelism, benevolence, campus
ministry, and world missions, among numerous other ministries directed
by members of the congregation. Doubtless this past of solid and
sustained growth is prologue to a dynamic future.
--W. David Baird
Sept. 1, 2009
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