50 Years 1966 - 2016
Over two Sundays in May 1966 Arana Hills Church of Christ was born. This is our story, so far.
At the beginning of 1966, Ray and June Wilson were going about their daily lives establishing a home at 17 Narellan Street in the recently developed suburb of Arana Hills. Ray and June were members of the Stafford Church of Christ, which started via a Sunday School outreach by the Kedron Church of Christ. Land was subsequently purchased on Stafford Road and the chapel was dedicated in March 1954. By 1960 Bible School enrollments were 154 with 19 teachers.
Ray was involved as a Deacon/Board Member and leader of the Explorers Club for boys. However, something was stirring in the hearts and minds of the Wilsons. Around them new houses were popping up on a regular basis. Young families were moving in and the landscape was a very typical "nappy valley". There was no church or obvious planned church for the area. Here was a golden opportunity to establish a work similar to what had been established at Samford in the 1950's.
No doubt a lot of prayer and thoughtful consideration was made by the Wilsons and the Stafford Board as to how and when a work might be established in Arana Hills. |
To perhaps appreciate what sort of influences were affecting the thought processes of those involved at the time, let's for a moment consider what was happening in the society/world around them and secondly how the Conference of Churches of Christ was structured and operated in 1966.
Here are some examples:
Decimal currency was introduced.
Robert Menzies resigned after 16 years as Prime Minister of Australia.
Australia was heavily involved in the Vietnam War.
All Churches of Christ Conference business was conducted via an elected committee system.
Next, the first step taken to establish the Arana Hills Church of Christ.
Here are some examples:
Decimal currency was introduced.
Robert Menzies resigned after 16 years as Prime Minister of Australia.
Australia was heavily involved in the Vietnam War.
All Churches of Christ Conference business was conducted via an elected committee system.
Next, the first step taken to establish the Arana Hills Church of Christ.
Go to Snippet 1-The First Step