The 61st and Division Streets Church of Christ sits on the southeast side of San Diego, in the neighborhood that takes its name from the very streets the church meets on. The building is at 6070 Division Street, San Diego, CA 92114, and the mailing address is PO Box 740068, San Diego, CA 92174. The phone is 619-263-6931 and the office email is church.office@61stcoc.org. The church identifies itself simply as a Church of Christ congregation, places Jesus at the center of its assembly worship, Bible studies, and ministries, and describes its people as people-oriented, encouraging one another to build a biblical faith and to share the love they have received from God through Christ.
Sunday Morning at 61st and Division
The week centers on Sunday morning. Worship Service runs from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and is preached by the minister, Bro. Jermiyah "J.J." Kelly. Every Sunday gathering is livestreamed on YouTube so that members and friends who cannot be in the auditorium can still take part from home. A short audio message from the minister is also posted on the church's online platforms.
Immediately after the worship assembly ends, Sunday Bible Classes begin at 11:00 a.m. The adult classes are taught simultaneously in the Auditorium (Open Forum), the Annex (Old Testament and Various Biblical Studies), the Annex (Textural Studies), and Room 16 (Bible Bowl). Children's classes are organized by grade: Pre-School and Kindergarten in Room 11, Grades 1-2 in Room 15, Grades 3-4 in Room 27, Grades 5-6 in Room 25, Grades 7-8 in Annex 1, and Grades 9-12 in Annex 2, with the Conference Room used for additional instruction.
A second block of Sunday Bible and Training Classes meets at 4:00 p.m. The Men's Bible Study gathers in Room 16, the Ladies Bible Study meets on Zoom, and the Youth Group meets in the Annex.
Wednesday Night Bible Study
Midweek, the church comes together for Wednesday Night Bible Study from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The adult Advanced New Testament class meets in the Auditorium. Children and youth study in age-graded rooms: Pre-School and Kindergarten in Room 11, Grades 1-2 in Room 15, Grades 3-4 in Room 14, and Grades 5-6 and Grades 7-8 in Room 27. Grades 9-12 continue with their own discussion as well. Bruce Martin serves as the Education Minister coordinating this work.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
On Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m., a Bible Study meets in Room 16. The class adds another touchpoint in the week and is open to anyone who can attend during the workday.
Youth Ministry
The mission of the Youth Ministry is to develop spiritually minded youth who become active leaders of the church. The Youth Committee is made up of teachers, parents, and married and unmarried members of the congregation who either have or desire the spiritual gift of working with young people. Marilyn Montgomery serves as Youth Director, organizing Sunday morning classes for grades Pre-K through 12, Wednesday night classes for the same ages, the 4:00 p.m. Sunday Youth Group, and special activities for teens throughout the year.
Christian Women's Seminar
The annual Christian Women's Seminar is one of the longest-running traditions of the church. The 46th annual Seminar took place on December 7, 2023. The Seminar brings women from the congregation and surrounding churches together for a day of teaching, fellowship, and encouragement, and has become a fixture of the wider San Diego Church of Christ community.
Christian Men's Workshop
The annual Christian Men's Workshop, often shortened to CMW, is the men's counterpart to the Women's Seminar. The 37th annual Christian Men's Workshop was held on Saturday, May 6, 2017, with Mark Vaughn, minister of the East Grant Street Church of Christ in Guthrie, Oklahoma, as the keynote speaker. Registration has historically included a full breakfast and lunch, with a $15 fee. The Workshop gathers men for fellowship, biblical teaching, and practical sessions.
Marriage Retreat Ministry
The Marriage Retreat Ministry organizes annual marriage retreats for husbands and wives. The retreats are designed to strengthen marriages through teaching, small-group conversation, and unhurried time together, and are open to married couples from the congregation and the wider community.
Body & Soul
Body & Soul is a ministry led by Bruce and Elizabeth Martin that addresses the whole person, body and spirit. The ministry focuses on health awareness, wellness, and the relationship between physical well-being and Christian living, and provides resources and fellowship opportunities for adults of all ages.
Christian 2 Christian
Christian 2 Christian is the church's long-running devotional and reflection column. Written by members of the congregation and often by Ozzie Roberts, the column takes everyday experiences - a grandson's catchphrase, a car repair bill, a hard season of life - and turns them into meditations on faith, perseverance, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Recent columns have included pieces like "Knowing God's Approval," "Scriptural Tolerance," "Maintaining a Spiritual Focus," "Some Indications of a Growing Congregation," "Having a Better Day with God," "God's Perfect Love," "God's Design for Fathers and For All Men," "Christian Living Requires Inward Power," and "The Blessing of Being Friendly." Each Christian 2 Christian reflection is shared on the church's online platforms and is also part of the Weekly Messenger.
Evangelism Ministries
The Evangelism Ministries take the church beyond its walls in several practical ways. The congregation produces a television program, sharing the gospel in the community through Cox Cable 23 every Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Two free correspondence courses are offered to anyone who asks: Studies in the Bible, a 30-lesson course from Genesis to Revelation, and Into All the World, a 10-lesson study of the Book of Acts. All new members are encouraged to take at least one course. The congregation also provides transportation to Sunday worship and Wednesday evening Bible study for members and guests who need a ride. Audio and video recordings of sermons are made available on CD or DVD at no cost to anyone who requests them.
Weekly Messenger
The Weekly Messenger is the church's newsletter, posted online and distributed to members. It carries short articles by the minister and members of the congregation on practical Christian living, sermons recap points, announcements of upcoming events, and Christian 2 Christian reflections. Recent issues have included teachings from Dr. Taylor A. McKenzie, the longtime minister who preceded the current minister, on subjects ranging from spiritual focus to God's perfect love to the blessing of being friendly. The Messenger is archived online going back several years.
Leadership and Staff
The current minister is Bro. Jermiyah "J.J." Kelly, who preaches at Sunday worship and oversees the spiritual life of the congregation. The deacons include Bro. Thodore Sanders and Roger Cooper. Bruce Martin is the Education Minister and works alongside his wife, Elizabeth Martin, in the Body & Soul ministry. Marilyn Montgomery serves as Youth Director. The deacon board has historically included additional members who serve the congregation in various capacities.
Online Life and Giving
The church maintains an active online presence. Sunday worship services are livestreamed on YouTube, with the church's channel at youtube.com/channel/UCTZCgCX5H41TZx-sx_OAdnA. Audio recordings of sermons are posted on the church's online platforms. The full calendar of upcoming services, Bible studies, and special events is published online and can be added to Google Calendar, Outlook, or any calendar application that supports iCal feeds. Prayer requests can be submitted through the church's online prayer page, where members of the congregation are invited to pray for one another. Giving is available online through Tithe.ly, and offerings can also be mailed to the church's PO Box or transferred through personal online banking.
What to Expect as a Visitor
Visitors are warmly welcomed at 61st and Division. The Sunday morning worship assembly begins at 9:00 a.m. and lasts until about 11:00 a.m., after which Sunday Bible Classes for all ages meet at 11:00 a.m. The Wednesday Night Bible Study runs from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Tuesday morning Bible Study meets at 11:00 a.m. in Room 16. The congregation offers transportation to and from services for anyone who needs a ride, and audio or video recordings of sermons are available at no cost on request. Anyone who wishes to accept Christ, no matter who they are or where they come from, is invited to do so during the assembly worship, and the church commits to bringing the good news to those living in the city and its surrounding communities.
Faith at the Center
The 61st and Division Streets Church of Christ exists to honor God by placing Jesus at the center of its assembly worship, Bible studies, and ministries. The focus on the Savior shapes the church's people-oriented culture and its encouragement of a biblical faith, and it shows up in the wide range of ministries the church runs for children, youth, women, men, married couples, and the wider community of southeast San Diego. From the parking lot worship assemblies held during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, to the annual Christian Women's Seminar and Christian Men's Workshop, to the steady rhythm of Sunday worship, Wednesday Bible study, and the Weekday Tuesday class, the church has continued to gather, teach, and serve its neighbors in the city.