Stokesdale Christian Church is a Disciples of Christ congregation on Stokesdale Street in Stokesdale, North Carolina. The church is known for two things above all: a Sunday morning worship that gathers the community around an open communion table, and a steady rhythm of mission work that reaches from a local food pantry to children's summer camps. The congregation's stated purpose is to know God and make God known, to love one another as Christ loves, to make disciples, and to experience fellowship with God through obedience and praise.
Sunday Mornings on Stokesdale Street
The church's weekly rhythm centers on two Sunday gatherings. Sunday School begins at 9:00 a.m., and the worship service follows at 10:00 a.m. The worship follows a traditional pattern built around scripture-based messages, hymns, a children's moment, and the celebration of communion each week. The communion table is the focal point of the congregation's identity. Disciples of Christ observe the Lord's Supper every Sunday, and the church welcomes all Christians who believe in Jesus Christ to participate, regardless of denomination. A children's worship service is offered during the 10:00 a.m. hour as well.
A Welcoming Door
The congregation describes itself as a diverse group of all ages and professions gathered for the common purpose of worshiping and praising Jesus Christ, and visitors are met with at least a warm handshake. Visitors enter through the double doors at the front of the building, where greeters meet them in the narthex. Parking is available in the front and side lots along Stokesdale Street, with several handicap spaces and a handicap ramp providing accessibility. Inside, children four and younger are welcome in the nursery, the last room on the left down the hall from the sanctuary. Children five and older typically remain with their families in the sanctuary and join the rest of the children during a children's moment. As for dress, members arrive in everything from coats and ties to jeans and shorts; the church's approach is that people should come as they are comfortable.
A Disciples Tradition with Open Communion
Stokesdale Christian Church is part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a movement that began on the American frontier in the early 1800s. The congregation holds to freedom in belief, gathering around a single essential: faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Persons are free to follow their consciences guided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, study, and prayer, and are expected to extend that same freedom to others. The only question asked of those presenting themselves for membership is whether they believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and accept him as Lord and Savior. Members are then baptized by immersion, a New Testament practice Disciples see as a sign of participation in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
The congregation holds several core beliefs in common with the wider Disciples tradition. The New Testament, particularly the life and teachings of Jesus and his apostles, forms the basis for Christian thought and action. The Church is understood as a holy fellowship through which God seeks to work his will in every age. The congregation practices the priesthood of all believers, meaning each person can approach God directly without a priest or minister as intermediary. The church operates on a self-governing model in which the regional and general church serve in advisory roles only. The congregation is also committed to ecumenical relations, participating in shared worship, study, and service with other Christian bodies. The chalice, the Disciples' emblem, signals the central place of communion in the life of the church.
Growing in Faith: Children and Youth
The church invests in the next generation through a mix of weekly and seasonal programs. The nursery welcomes the youngest children during worship, and a children's worship service runs at the same time as the 10:00 a.m. service. Vacation Bible School is a regular feature. Youth meet weekly for Bible study that includes games, music, and food, and additional activities through the year include retreats, camps, service projects, and group outings. The children and youth are taught the Bible creatively, in keeping with the church's commitment to following the command of Jesus to make disciples of all people.
Fellowship Around the Table
A hallmark of life at Stokesdale Christian is the third-Sunday fellowship luncheon, when the congregation gathers after worship for a spread of dishes brought by members. The Christian Men's Fellowship and the Christian Women's Fellowship each meet monthly and organize fundraising activities to support outreach ministries. The church also joins other Stokesdale congregations several times a year for shared worship, including a Fifth Sunday Sing, a Thanksgiving service, and an Easter Sunrise service, reflecting the Disciples' deep commitment to Christian unity.
Reaching Out: Local and Global Missions
Stokesdale Christian has a deep tradition of mission work. Locally, the church partners with other area churches through Good Samaritan Ministries of Stokesdale, an ecumenical outreach that runs a food pantry, provides health and dental assistance, and offers emergency monetary aid. Ten area churches each contribute a specific food item monthly to the pantry. The pantry is open to the public on the last Tuesday of each month, and $25 supplies a box of food for a family of four. The congregation also serves area nursing homes, with the youth singing Christmas carols at Creekside Manor and the women hosting monthly birthday celebrations for residents at Countryside Village Retirement Community.
Beyond the immediate community, the church sponsors campers at Camp Agape, a week-long Disciples of Christ camp for at-risk and underprivileged children ages 8 to 11 that includes Bible study, crafts, worship, and recreation. The congregation also supports Camp Carefree, a free week of summer camp for children with chronic illnesses, and Christmount, a Disciples retreat and conference center in the North Carolina mountains. The Disciples Mission Fund and Week of Compassion offerings extend support to national and international disaster relief and humanitarian work. The congregation's vision is to reach the lost, educate believers, and build its ministries for the growth of God's Church through serving the community and the world.
Leadership and Giving
Lemuel Hardison serves as the congregation's Interim Minister. Both ministers and lay persons lead in worship, service, and spiritual growth at Stokesdale Christian. The church's stated values center on leading a Christ-like, Spirit-filled life through worship, prayer, communion, baptism, fellowship, and outreach as a supportive family to all, while acknowledging the church's rich history. Online giving is available for those who wish to support the church's ministries, and the church maintains an active presence on Facebook and Instagram for news and updates.