Established 1907

The church of Christ 775 W. Donnelly Ave. Coos Bay, OR 97420 (541) 267-6021

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A Short History of the Coos Bay church of Christ      In 1907, thirty "Christians only" met to establish the Church of Christ in Marshfield, OR. For the next 37 years, there were 15 different preachers whose ministry lasted from 5 months to about 3 years. On June 18, 1944 Melvin Traxler moved with his family to Coos Bay to begin a ministry that lasted 30 years.      In 1953 the congregation moved out of their old church building on the northwest corner of 6th and Anderson Streets (165 S. 6th.), next to the Myrtle Arms Apartments, into the newly constructed building here at 775 W. Donnelly Avenue. Services in the new building began with a two week evangelistic meeting with Archie Word preaching. Incidentally, Archie Word's first evangelistic meeting was in the old building here in Coos Bay in 1931, and he held more meetings in this congregation than in any other place.      In 1957, 60 acres were purchased up the Coos River for a campground for the church. Many camps and meetings were held there, and in 1975, our annual Family Camp began. It is held the second full week of August.      In 1974, Melvin Traxler retired from his ministry here, and Marple Fannin moved from Indiana to begin a 15 year ministry with the church. Alan Walker (1978,1979), Ed Henry (1981-1987), and Bob Lentz (1988,1989) each served as associate ministers with Marple.      In October, 1989 Ed and Sharon Werner, with their youngest daughter Barbara, moved to Coos Bay to minister to this congregation. Gordon Ross, Tom Brainard, and Ken Knowlton were ordained as elders, and Gordon Lockhart and Roy Brainard were ordained as deacons.      The Coos Bay church has been involved through the years in the spreading of the Gospel far beyond this community to the other parts of the world. They helped establish a Church of Christ in Reedsport in 1947, and one in Bandon in 1949.      About 20 men have gone out from this congregation as preachers of the Gospel of Christ. Among them were Ed Henry, Hal Watkins, Ralph Johnson, Richard Tucker, Bruce Oberst, Bob Bowers, David Traxler, Clarence Oxenrider, Eugene Boulton, Marshall Collver, Oren Knowlton, Don Knowlton, Henry Knowlton, Lewis Commons, Wendell Herbison, and Mel Huckins.      Many of the ladies from this congregation have married preachers or served on the mission field. Among them were Imogene (Ross) Reyman, Betty (Ross) Knowlton, Lyla (Maine) Fagerskog, Dorris (Wing) Henry, Margaret (Ross) Crane, Betty (Curl) Watkins, Ruth (Johns) Oxenrider, Roberta (Traxler) Byers, and Muriel (Oberst) Schnier.      For years, we have been sending support to Lee Turner for his Key Communications broadcasts into the Muslim world. The Coos Bay church is the sponsoring church for Jamaican Evangelism, and we support Anyan P.J., a young preacher in India.      Many souls have been touched by this congregation. We pray that you will visit our services.