Twenty years ago, the Whitewater Crossing Christian Church in Cleves, Ohio was on the brink of closing as membership declined and the church experienced a fast turnover of pastors.
But through the efforts of its leaders and members, the church, formerly known as Westwood-Cheviot Church of Christ, stayed open. Last Sunday, it celebrated its 100th anniversary.
"We are an existing church reinventing itself," senior minister David Vaughan told WCPO, adding that it was rare for a church to rebound this way.
The church has become a megachurch with an average attendance of 1,600 people for its weekend worship service. It has outgrown its present location and it is now building a $13.5-million addition to expand its space.
Whitewater began as Westwood-Cheviot Church of Christ in January 1915 founded by 23 people who established a Bible school, according to its website. In May 1916, the congregation was incorporated with 48 members.
The church began to grow in membership and by 1922, it had 230 members. In 1950, Dr. Harold Hockley became its minister, a position he held for 34 years until he retired in 1984.
With his retirement, membership declined with 300 people leaving the church and several ministers came and went.
Vaughan became the senior minister in 2002.
The following year, the church decided to move to a 74-acre land in Whitewater Township. In 2004, it changed its name to Whitewater Crossing Christian Church. Its grand opening was held in 2007.
The church's oldest member, William Harrison, who is turning 98 in July, attended the 100th anniversary celebration.
"What our growth tells us is that many people want this relationship focus – both with God and others. We're actually not that fond of the megachurch classification because every number has a name, every name has a story, and every story matters to God," Vaughan wrote on the church's website.
He added, "God has done extraordinary things through this ordinary church, because we serve an extraordinary God!"
