(Information from 2016)
James Vinzant
We have often wished that congregations knew more about each other than most do. In past generations, churches visited more often. The recent fire which destroyed the building which was once the Polytechnic church of Christ brought to mind the five or six congregations which she “birthed”, in love, in various parts of Fort Worth which were underserved. A reporter from WFAA called after the fire and asked for some things he could mention about this important church. We were glad to provide some details he included in the story. This helped to illustrate the fact that local congregations need to write their history while making history. We intend to feature more congregations in the near future.
Recently it was announced that the elders of the Argyle church of Christ and the Alliance church of Christ were discussing the possibility of a merger. Such a decision will be made only after much prayer and thought. A developer is purchasing the valuable land on the SE quadrant of SH 407 and SH 377. This includes the Argyle property. This shows the good judgement of the members years ago in Argyle to purchase such a choice piece of property. Argyle has the opportunity to merge with Alliance or build on another piece of property.
Argyle is an exemplary congregation. They not only send funds to mission work, their members actually get involved. In recent weeks, fourteen members paid their own expenses to go to an isolated place in the Philippines to minister to impoverished people. Every congregation can learn from their example. They not only pray for the missionaries abroad, they go themselves and do backbreaking physical work.
The following is from the Argyle church history from their website.
History
In 1966, Dick Kerr and Roy McGaugh saw a need for a Church of Christ in Argyle, Texas and stopped by the side of the road and prayed. After a few previous attempts to establish a Church, a meeting was held on February 28, 1971 to discuss organizing a congregation in Argyle. Present at the meeting were: Dick Kerr, Jim McMahan, C.V. Dunning, Mr. & Mrs. Sam Roundtree, Tim & Marian Wagner, Laura Owens and Paulette Needham. Laura Owens made a request for the use of the Fire Hall (Community Center) which was approved for $20 per month. The Justin Church of Christ graciously paid for the first month’s rent.
The first meeting of the Argyle Church of Christ took place on Sunday, March 7, 1971: Jim McMahan led the singing and Dick Kerr preached. Attendance for the first meeting was 68 with 30 people placing membership. The first mission was begun the very next Sunday (March 14, 1971) with a decision to send $25 per month to Luis Lugo, who was a missionary on the island of St. Croix in the Virgin Islands.
By July 1971, the 6.6 acre property just east of HWY 377 on FM 407 was purchased and members worked hard to prepare the land and remodel the interior of an old farm house to make a chapel to seat 50 people along with four classrooms. The first meeting in the renovated building was September 1, 1971. A new facility was begun on July 8, 1973 and completed in early 1974 (this is now our classroom wing). And our newest building campaign was launched in October 2000 called “Give To Build-Build To Serve.” 35 members signed commitment cards and the building was ready for use in late February 2002. Discussion is now underway regarding our need for future construction as well.
Aside from the facility, our congregation continues to be involved in numerous ministries such as the community food bank and missions around the world.
Shepherds/Elders of the Argyle Church of Christ have been: Clyde Gentry, Dick Kerr, Tim Wagner, Bill Ponder, David Arnold, Tim McGaugh, Bruce Arnett, Jim Fly, Delvin Black, Robert Wagner.
In 2012, after the previous minister had decided to take a role with another church, the congregation as a whole decided to hire a full time Youth and Family Outreach Minister and have a separate minister just to preach on Sunday morning. Jason Miller, in May 2013, was hired to fill the full time role, while Dwight Robarts was hired as the Sunday Morning Pulpit Minister.