Westside Church of Christ gathers at 4410 West Illinois Avenue in Midland, Texas, where the congregation is known for New Testament-centered, a cappella worship and an active life of service. Sunday visitors can join Bible class at 9:00 a.m., morning worship at 10:00 a.m., and evening worship at 5:00 p.m.; Wednesday Bible class begins at 7:00 p.m. The same Bible-study emphasis reaches into youth education, local benevolence, school partnerships, disaster relief, and the training of gospel preachers.
A Cappello Gathering on West Illinois Avenue
Westside's main Sunday pattern is simple: Bible class at 9:00 a.m., worship at 10:00 a.m., and a second worship gathering at 5:00 p.m.. A Wednesday Bible class at 7:00 p.m. anchors the middle of the week. At the assemblies, the congregation seeks to direct worship to God, approach Him in the right spirit, and act according to His word.
Those actions include teaching and preaching, prayer, giving, singing, and observing the Lord's Supper. The singing is a cappella, without mechanical instruments, and is one of the practices visitors most often notice. Members remember Jesus and proclaim His death through the Lord's Supper on the first day of every week. Giving is cheerful, but visitors are not expected to give.
For those who cannot attend in person, worship is livestreamed on YouTube. The church also accepts online contributions by bank draft or credit card through Tithe.ly, and contribution totals can be tracked through a giving account.
Westside's aim is that worship is not confined to the gathering. The church presents whole-life service to God and describes weekly financial giving as supporting the work of God's kingdom locally and throughout the world. The teaching, prayer, song, and memorial at the assembly are therefore connected to daily life and continuing mission.
Bible Learning From the Cradle Roll to Adulthood
Westside's education work spans Bible classes from cradle roll through adult, each intended to help participants grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. That commitment is visible in the regular Sunday and Wednesday classes, as well as in subjects selected for special seminars. Special seminars have addressed marriage and family, Islam, and how the Bible was transmitted.
The Grace Rose Register Children's Library adds a reading dimension to the church's work with children. The library is filled with instructive and interesting religious books, and when school is out, monthly summer reading times are scheduled. Vacation Bible School is another opportunity for children, combining uplifting lessons, fun activities, and a welcoming setting for all ages.
Westside's approach to learning is not confined to classroom exercises. Scripture stands at the center of worship, where members sing, pray, hear teaching, give, and remember the Lord's Supper each week. The aim is that what is learned in class carries into Christian living and service.
The archive of recorded teaching also shows the breadth of the church's Bible instruction. Sermons are available in both video and audio across biblical books, doctrine, Christian living, faith, prayer, missions, and other subjects.
Pew Packers, Bible Bowls, and Summer Camps
Westside has ministry for children and teenagers through every youth age. Pew Packers, a class for the very young, meets each Sunday evening for songs and study about God. Young men and young women take part in yearly Timothy and Tabitha classes, where they learn to worship and serve better. The youth also participate regularly in Bible Bowls.
Christian camp is another major part of the youth calendar. Most of the young people attend a Christian camp each year, with trips to Hensel Youth Camp, Camp Ida, and Camp Blue Haven. The church's Sweetheart Banquet turns youth toward service by bringing together widows, widowers, and people who are single again for an annual gathering.
Outreach That Begins with Local Students
One notable local connection is with Premier Charter School in Midland. The relationship has helped junior high and high school students learn more about Jesus and His church. Westside's building has also hosted the school's high school graduation ceremonies on two occasions, making the congregation a gathering place beyond Sunday worship.
The church has organized a school supply drive for Midland families facing financial challenges, helping students obtain materials for a successful school year. Give-Away Day adds another direct avenue of service. On that effort, the congregation provides clothing, small appliances, and other household goods to community members who may need them, meeting practical needs while creating opportunities to share the love of Christ.
Westside also encourages one-on-one Bible study. A free study program pairs an interested person with a personal study helper who answers questions and becomes a friend in learning about Jesus. Special seminars and Gospel Meetings invite the wider community to study the Bible and pursue spiritual growth.
A Clothing Room, a Pantry, and Disaster Relief
The congregation's benevolence work is organized around a well-stocked clothing room and pantry. These resources allow Westside to help individuals and families facing difficult circumstances with compassion while sharing the hope found in Christ. The church's service extends beyond Midland when disasters strike, with the congregation supporting relief for Haiti and parts of Texas heavily affected by hurricanes.
Care for people in nursing homes and assisted-care settings is another regular ministry. Several brethren, including some young people, conduct a singing or devotional service each week at a couple of these facilities. On Sunday afternoons, several members participate in a devotional service at Focus Care. These ministries pair the church's love of singing and teaching with regular contact at care facilities.
Study and Service for Women, Fellowship for Men
Westside gives women several regular opportunities to study Scripture and pray together. A Monday ladies' class meets in the home of a church member. On Wednesday morning, a ladies' class gathers at the building at 10:00 a.m., and an ongoing discussion class meets every Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m., alongside the church's general Bible class.
The Ladies' Ministry extends that study into service. Women write notes of encouragement to people who are sick, bereaved, or shut in, prepare food for those who are ill and for families who have lost loved ones, and prepare holiday baskets for those who appreciate them. Their work also includes visitation, remodeling and sprucing up areas around the church building, and hosting an area Ladies' Day.
The men of the congregation meet for breakfast and prayer on a Saturday morning at least once each quarter. Elders provide updates about the work of the church, and the gathering also gives the men an opportunity for fellowship.
Training Faithful Men to Teach Others
Preacher-student training is a major Westside ministry. Grounded in the instruction of 2 Timothy 2:2 to train faithful men who will in turn teach others the gospel, the church partners with Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. One of Westside's preachers, Mike Vestal, travels to Denver several times each year to teach Bible courses. Through this work, Westside helps support the training of approximately 40 to 60 preaching students annually.
The support extends beyond the classroom. Congregants take a personal interest in students and their families; many adopt a preaching student, sending notes, offering encouragement during finals, and building relationships that continue beyond financial help. Westside also provides financial and personal support for students attending Southwest Bible Institute.
Following the New Testament Pattern
Westside identifies as a Church of Christ congregation with no creed but Christ. It believes the Holy Bible is inspired by God and that Scripture provides what people need to live a life pleasing to Him. In practice, the church seeks to follow the pattern of the first-century church established by Christ and His apostles. It is not connected to any earthly religious body or headquarters and submits only to the rule of heaven.
The church's teaching about God centers on the God of the Bible as the only true God and the source of all being. Westside believes God gave His only begotten Son so people could live, that the Son died on the cross for the penalty of sin, and that God's mercy and grace come at great cost. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for all mankind, rose from the dead on the third day according to Scripture, ascended to the Father's right hand, and will return in power and glory.
Westside teaches that salvation comes through knowing and trusting God's grace by hearing the word of Christ, turning from sin, and choosing to follow Jesus as a disciple. Baptism by immersion in water follows that new birth, after which believers seek forgiveness, guidance, and a life walked in the light. Weekly worship joins singing, prayer, hearing the word, giving, and the Lord's Supper in an effort to honor God with the whole life.
The congregation is pastored by a group of men called elders. Its ministers do not take confession, and church members address one another as brother or sister. Its aim is to learn, grow, and love God and one another while seeking pure Christianity through the Bible in its entirety.
A Week Shaped by Study and Service
Westside's rhythm is visible in its regular gatherings and the work that grows from them: Sunday Bible class and two worship times, Wednesday study, classes for women, youth activities, benevolence, school outreach, care-facility ministries, and support for preachers in training. Across those activities, the church connects learning from the Bible with service to people in Midland and beyond. Westside Church of Christ seeks to worship in spirit and truth, remember Jesus each week, and let that worship shape both the congregation and its community.