The West Newton congregation started in 1986 by a group of 30 Christians. They purchased a 125 year old church building, originally built by the Free Methodist, later purchased by the Latter Day Saints before being sold to these brethren. The congregation secured Jimmy Thompson of Indianapolis, Indiana as their Minister. Thompson has been their minister on a continuous basis.
The congregation is presently composed of approximately 70 persons
who believe as the church of Christ believed and taught from the
days of its founding and as returned to in the restoration movement.
Some members are of the seventh generation as members of the church.
A person of age walking into the services would hear and see the
worship of God as was generally practiced throughout the brotherhood
in the early parts of the Twentieth Century until the middle parts
of the Twenty-first Century. Most families trace their origins to
the Western Reserve areas of Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia,
and Ohio.
The congregation teaches and fellowships those teaching:
New Testament Christianity in its purity. No creeds, disciplines, or denominational doctrines are allowed. [Mt. 15:8,9]
The Gospel plan of salvation consisting of the absolute necessity of all the steps of Hearing [Heb. 11:6; Rom. 10:17], Believing [Jno. 8:24; Mk. 16:16], Repentance [Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30], Confession [Acts 10:37,38; Rom. 10:10], and Baptism [Mk. 16:15,16; Acts 2:38; 1 Pet. 3:21] in water for the remission of past sins and being born again into the body of Christ [Rom. 6:4; Acts 2:47], the church. Children are not subject to baptism being unable to believe as required and having been born free of sin and pure in the eyes of God until they reach an age of accountability from the knowledge of right and wrong.
Christians who commit sin of a private nature have the ability to go to God through Jesus Christ in prayer for the forgiveness of those sins. [Acts 8:22]
Christians who sin publicly and bring reproach on the church are to repent publicly and seek the prayers of their brethren in their behalf for the sins forgiveness.
Worship is composed of only five acts offered to God in a public
assembly of the Saints by the congregate actions of the Saints.
These acts are:
1) Teaching of the scriptures by hearing preaching.[Acts 20:7].
2) Prayer to God in praise, thanksgiving, and pleadings. [Acts 2:42]
3) Admonishing one another and praising God through singing of spiritual songs offered by the lips of the saints in congregate song without the aid of any mechanical instrument (accapella) of music. [Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19].
4) Contributing of a free will of our temporal and financial blessings as we have been prospered and have purposed in our hearts. [1 Cor. 16:1,2].
5) Observance of the Lord’s Supper composed of the fruit of the vine [Grape juice] and unleavened bread in remembrance of the death burial and resurrection of Christ while looking forward to his return. [Acts 20:7].
No entertainment, extracurricular activities sponsored by the church, no method of raising funds other than free will offerings and no social activities sponsored by the church. Fellowship is among Christians not by entertainment supplied by the church of social events put on by the church. Benevolence is to be rendered as directed in the New Testament to the churches of Galatia to the household of Faith and then if the ability exists and the need arises to all men. Benevolence is primarily by the individual, and then if no other way by the congregation. [Gal. 6:10]. Agencies and other non-scriptural means will not be used.
Government is by Elders (2 or more) in each congregation and lacking elders, by a decision of the men in the congregation. Elders must be scripturally qualified and are not to be re-evaluated on a term basis, but retain the office as long as qualified. Each congregation is autonomous from all other congregations. There is no organization within the church larger than the local congregation or smaller than the congregation. [Titus 1:5]. Men are charged by God to fulfill the leadership responsibilities and the teaching responsibility of the church, and women have a supporting but not public role toward their husbands. A woman is not to usurp authority over a man. [1 Tim. 2:12].
The Bible, in a properly translated format, is the inerrant word of God
totally inspired and sufficient for all God desires of man. At West Newton
the Bible is taught in only a word for word translated format, by our
common decision using only the King James Version in public assembly and
classes. Writings and publications use only word for word, not eclectic,
thought, or paraphrased versions of the Biblical text.
Eclectic: selecting according to the opinion of the editor the best source
or rendition.
Paraphrase: A restatement of a thought or idea in the words of the editor
or writer of words not originally his.
Thought: A method of translation whereby the translator translates in
accordance to his understanding as to the thought of the original author
at the time of writing.
Other questions as to who we are and what we teach and believe can be addressed to the church at Post Office Box 55, West Newton, IN 46183; Attention Jimmy Thompson
Come enjoy New Testament Christianity as given by God through Jesus Christ in the fellowship of the Apostles and their teachings as recorded in the New Testament at West Newton church of Christ.
We are: Not Catholic, Protestant or Jew.
Not Liberal or Conservative.
Just faithful Christians!
Please come see for yourself.
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 9:45 AM
WORSHIP SERVICE 10:45 AM
EVENING SERVICE 5:00 PM
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 7:00 PM
Map
and Directions
7704 MOORESVILLE ROAD
WEST NEWTON, IN 46183
317-856-2872
Preacher--Jim Thompson