Cedar Hill Church of Christ gathers at 535 South Clark Road in Cedar Hill, Texas, where a congregation with roots in gospel meetings in the mid-1800s and a first building around 1890 is reported as one of the oldest in Dallas County. The church calls itself a family of Christians, a diverse people united by Christ, and its mission is to reach beyond the ordinary to serve an extraordinary God. Sunday mornings bring Bible classes for every age, coffee and donuts at 10:00 a.m., and worship in the auditorium at 10:30 a.m.
Gospel Meetings in the Mid-1800s to a South Clark Road Congregation
The church's history begins with gospel meetings in the mid-1800s, when Cedar Hill was still a simple farming community, and its first building came around 1890. Rather than leave that heritage behind, the congregation says it seeks to be relevant in a growing and transitioning community while remaining true to its calling of serving the Lord Jesus Christ in the area. Its mission is written as six commitments, each framed as reaching beyond something: experiencing a life-changing relationship with God, rediscovering the depth of God's Word, connecting with one another in God's love, meeting God in joyful celebration and praise, sharing stories of God's grace, and serving others to the glory of God. The essence of that calling, the church says, comes down to a single word: love.
Sunday Classes, Coffee and Worship at 10:30
Sunday begins with morning Bible class at 9:00 a.m. Coffee, donuts and fellowship follow at 10:00, and worship begins in the auditorium at 10:30 a.m., with biblical teaching and a welcoming atmosphere, while a 5:00 p.m. Scripture reading closes the day. The church's plan for a visit welcomes families and children, and the weekly rhythm extends through the week with Overcomers Outreach on Monday at 7:00 p.m., Ladies Bible Class on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. from September through May, and a 5:30 p.m. fellowship meal followed by 7:00 p.m. mid-week Bible study on Wednesday.
Adult classes meet in rooms around the church under names such as Life Builders, Cross Connections, Young and Married, the 30s to 50s class, Overcomers, and College and Beyond. Children are grouped by age, from Cradle Roll for infants through 2 years, a class for 2 and 3 year olds, preschool for 4 and 5 year olds, elementary through 6th grade, and a high school youth group for 7th through 12th grade. Spanish speakers meet for the Iglesia de Cristo class at the service center.
During the worship service, children have a separate, connected room in the auditorium on the southwest side, and Bible Hour, offered during the school year, presents Bible stories through puppet shows and live enactments for children 4 years old through 4th grade. Children are dismissed after the Lord's supper. For those who cannot attend in person, the worship service is livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook.
Iglesia de Cristo: Spanish Worship Behind the Main Building
The church's Spanish-language congregation, Iglesia de Cristo, holds worship services, Bible classes and fellowship activities for Spanish speakers. Spanish classes and worship take place in the Spanish auditorium behind the main building, across from the BOB, and Hugo, the church's Spanish-language minister, offers weekly reflections called Palabra semanal de Hugo. On the first Sunday of each month, the main auditorium hosts combined worship in English and Spanish.
Children: Bible Lessons, Service Projects and Summer Learning
Raising children in the ways of God is one of the most important missions at Cedar Hill Church of Christ. Bible Hour gives children Bible lessons and activities and challenges them to memorize Scripture so they learn to love God's Word, while elementary students serve God and others through projects throughout the year. Fun activities build deep friendships that help children withstand peer pressure as they grow older. Elevate Vacation Bible School is free for children going into 1st through 5th grade, with drop-off at 8:00 a.m. and pickup at 2:00 p.m. each day. The summer version is a free one-week, four-day day camp in early June built around a biblical theme, with science, technology, engineering, arts and math activities that bring God's Word to life, and breakfast, lunch and a snack provided.
Youth: Moving From a Parent's Faith to a Faith of Their Own
The Youth Group rests on the Igbo and Yoruba proverb that it takes a whole village to raise a child, and its aim is to move young people from their parents' faith to a faith of their own. Momentum offers monthly devotionals with fellowship meals, games, singing and a Bible lesson hosted in the homes of members. Weekly Bible study adds practical application for standing against pressures from peers and the world, and retreats give the group time away in nature to appreciate God's creation, His Word and one another. Kamp Koinonia, the church's annual summer camp in June for pre-teens and teens, adds swimming, games, worship, singing and Bible teaching in an environment of fellowship.
Adult Ministry for Every Season of Life
The adult ministry is organized around the idea that spiritual needs change as people move through different seasons of life. Its classes include Young at Heart for mature singles, Growing Families for families with children under 18, Cross Connections for empty nesters, a general Adult Bible Study, a men's topical class and a ladies' topical class. Women's Ministry strengthens the bond of love between sisters, and Men's Ministry centers on small jobs completed for the community and on retreats. The 59ers gather as a small group for those young at heart who enjoy food, fun and fellowship together, and the Young Adult Ministry offers topical Bible study for adults 18 to 28.
Reaching Beyond the Walls on Mondays and Wednesdays
Outreach is organized around concrete needs. On the first Monday of each month, free non-food essentials are distributed to families in need, and food pantry and free breakfast resources are shared with Spanish-speaking families. Overcomers Outreach gathers on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for Bible classes and fellowship for people working away from addictive behaviors. The World English School teaches English as a Second Language through relationships that inspire confidence. Two dedicated teams carry the work: the Community Outreach Action Team, known as C.O.A.T., engages to meet the physical and spiritual needs of people in the community, and the Missions Team seeks God's direction in spreading the Gospel throughout the world to people who do not know Jesus. Giving is available online, and the church describes online donations as safe and easy.
What the Church Holds to Be True
The core convictions are stated plainly: God is above all else and transforms lives; God's Word is truth; God shows mercy, holding to justice, mercy, faithfulness and the freedom found in Christ Jesus; God builds relationships within a family of diverse ethnic, cultural, economic and social backgrounds; and God's family is open to all. The church values nurturing, mentoring and training so that each person can grow into the maturity and fullness of Christ, and it sees the gifts given by the Spirit as belonging to the whole family for gift-oriented ministry and service. In worship, the congregation sings with joy using only its voices, as the mission describes, and a word from church leadership urges shepherds to watch over God's flock willingly and to lead as examples.
A Family United by Christ
Cedar Hill Church of Christ continues to gather on South Clark Road as a diverse people united by Christ, reaching beyond what is comfortable to achieve a deeper fellowship with God and each other, and serving its Lord in Cedar Hill, Texas, with love at the center of the call.