Geary's First Christian Church Hopes New Construction Will Bring More Fun and Faith

GEARY — The First Christian Church of Geary has had a busy 2021, opening a new basketball court, storage unit and outdoor pavilion while nearing completion on a children's playground nearby.

The construction has all taken place near the building where First Christian holds its contemporary services each Sunday, on the east side of Blaine Avenue across the street from the church's original chapel home. First Christian Pastor Richard Cox told the Watonga Republican he hopes the new amenities will help grow the church's youth group and congregation, bringing more souls to Jesus.

"We want to bring as many youth as possible here," Cox said, "and give them a safe, fun place to spend their time."

Darin Smith and Jim Shelton, the previous and current leaders of the church's board of directors, respectively, said the church's new construction over the past several years wouldn't have been possible without the generosity of Russell and Frances Brown, the late lifetime church members and generous donors whose portrait now hangs in the dining room in the contemporary chapel.

In addition to the construction behind that chapel, the church said it has also purchased two vacant homes across the street to the south; future plans for those homes are to be determined.

Cox said the chapel, the pavilion and the basketball court are available to rent for events. The pavilion, which includes a fireplace and small kitchen space, could be used for all kinds of gatherings including wedding receptions and reunions, he added.

More information is available by contacting Cox or Delores Houston, the church secretary, at 1stchristian@pldi.net.

"We do all this to bring more people to Christ," said board member Janice Coble. "We don't do it to boast or show off, but just to help more people come to know Jesus."