On North Granbury Street in Cleburne, Texas, a brick building with an adjoining annex has anchored a Church of Christ congregation for decades. Granbury Street church of Christ, at 1211 N. Granbury St., gathers twice on Sundays and once on Wednesdays for Bible-centered worship, classes, and fellowship. The congregation is known locally for its simple, reverent services, its a cappella singing, and its practice of observing the Lord's Supper every Sunday morning. A few blocks down the same street, the church supports a Spanish-language sister congregation, Iglesia De Cristo, that meets at 1011 Granbury St. under the ministry of Osvaldo Rodriguez.
A Visitor-Friendly Welcome
Members of Granbury Street are quick to say that they try to be the friendliest church a first-time visitor has ever attended, and that most of them were once visitors themselves. Greeters meet people at the door and help locate classrooms, and visitors are encouraged to find a comfortable seat without being singled out, asked to give a testimony, or otherwise put on the spot. Services are described as simple, reverent, practical, Bible-based, Christ-centered, and Heaven-bound. Members and guests are urged to bring their own Bibles and follow along.
Free booklets, pamphlets, tracts, and back issues of publications are displayed in the entrance areas and are available to anyone. Personal home Bible studies, either with an open Bible or a video, can be arranged for those who want to know more. The leadership summarizes the atmosphere with the phrase "everybody is welcome."
Sunday on Granbury Street: Bible Class, Morning Worship, Evening Worship
Sunday mornings begin at 9:00 AM with Bible classes for every age, from cradle roll through adults. Two adult classes meet in the auditorium and the annex, and a New Converts' Class meets at 9:00 AM in Room 107 for those still studying the first principles of the faith. At 10:00 AM the whole congregation gathers for morning worship in the main auditorium. Singing is a cappella, prayer is offered, a sermon is preached from the Bible, and the Lord's Supper is observed. A second worship service follows at 5:00 PM.
On the 5th Sunday of any month, the schedule shifts. After the 10:00 AM service, a potluck lunch is held in the annex. Visitors are welcome to stay for the meal, and afterward the congregation reconvenes in the main auditorium at 1:00 PM for an afternoon worship service in place of the usual evening hour.
Wednesdays: Ladies' Class and Midweek Bible Study
Two gatherings fill the midweek. At 10:00 AM a Ladies' Bible Class meets in the annex; Cheryl McIntosh teaches, and the current study walks through the book of Romans. At 7:00 PM the whole church assembles in the auditorium for a Bible study that brings members of every generation into the same lesson. During the summer months the 7:00 PM slot is given over to the Wednesday Night Summer Series, when guest speakers from across the area come to teach the Word.
The Plan of Salvation
Granbury Street teaches the same five-step plan of salvation that congregations of the churches of Christ have outlined for generations. The plan is presented in six steps: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, Baptism, and Walk in Faith. The teaching points to Romans 10:17 ("faith comes from hearing the word of Christ") as the starting place. Confession is described as a public declaration of belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and of His resurrection, drawn from Romans 10:9-10. Baptism is taught as an act of obedience that identifies the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Salvation, the final step, is presented as a lifelong walk of repentance, worship, prayer, and growth in God's word.
A Cappella Singing and the Lord's Supper Every Week
Two practices distinguish the worship services at Granbury Street. First, the congregation sings without mechanical instruments, a cappella, in the way the leadership understands the New Testament church to have sung (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Visitors may sing along or simply listen; many first-time guests comment on how easy it is to focus on the meaning of the words when there is no instrumental accompaniment.
Second, the Lord's Supper is observed every Sunday, following the example in Acts 20:7. Communion is described as one of the highlights of the week, a time to commemorate Christ's death and to celebrate His promised return.
Bible Classes for Every Age
The teaching program at Granbury Street runs from the nursery through the adult classes, and the congregation treats Bible education as "the vital part of the Christian life." On Sunday mornings classes are organized as follows: Cradle Roll; 2s and 3s; 4s through kindergarten; 1st through 6th grade; 7th through 12th grade; Adult 1 in the auditorium, taught by John Haffner, currently through the book of Exodus; and Adult 2 in the annex, taught by Pat McIntosh, working through 1 Corinthians. A New Converts' Class meets only on Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM in Room 107 under Will Cammack and works through the first principles of the faith. On Wednesday mornings, the Ladies' Bible Class continues the Bible study begun on Sundays.
For older youth and young adults, training classes focus on the practical skills of congregational life: speaking, teaching, reading scripture publicly, and leading singing. Men meet the first Sunday of each month at 4:00 PM in the auditorium; the women's training time and location are still being set.
Bringing Others to Jesus
The church's outreach includes several ministries that run on parallel tracks. New Movers and Visitors sends out welcome baskets to new homeowners in the area. A Door Knocking team goes out into the surrounding neighborhood to introduce themselves and offer help. Card Writing keeps a steady stream of personal notes going to members and neighbors who are ill, grieving, or simply in need of encouragement. Benevolence offers both financial assistance to those facing hardship and physical help such as yard work or moving. Personal and group Bible studies are coordinated for anyone who wants to investigate the Bible further, with the conviction that salvation comes through hearing and responding to God's word.
Keeping in Community: Events, Camps, and Game Night
Fellowship and connection are supported through several activities. The church hosts Gospel Meetings and Mini-AMC gatherings, runs the Wednesday Night Summer Series, and organizes Game Night once a month when members share a meal and play together. Ladies' Days and Ladies' Prayer Days are scheduled at intervals, and monthly devotionals are hosted after Sunday evening services for the youth, sixth grade and up. Summer brings the trip to Green Valley Bible Camp in Rogers, Arkansas, where the youth spend a week studying God's word and building lifelong friendships. Annually, the young people of the congregation are treated to a Junior/Senior Banquet, a chaperoned evening on the town sponsored by the adult members. A "Prom Alternative" gives students another option for that spring evening. Visitation and the House to House Heart to Heart outreach publication round out the year-round rhythm of fellowship.
Mission Work and Iglesia De Cristo
Mission work is overseen by the elders and is supported through the weekly offering. The church describes this calling in the words of Mark 16:15: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Missionaries address both spiritual and physical needs, teaching, offering prayer and guidance, and providing education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid in places far from Cleburne.
Closest to home is a sister congregation, Iglesia De Cristo, that meets just down the street at 1011 Granbury St. in Cleburne. Osvaldo Rodriguez ministers to that Spanish-speaking group, and the Granbury Street church counts them as beloved brethren, a tangible expression of the same mission work pursued in distant places.
The Shepherds and Deacons
The elders who shepherd Granbury Street include Pat McIntosh, an associate minister who also serves as Academic Dean at Brown Trail School of Preaching; Kenneth Helm, raised in Wingate, Texas, married to Glenda since 1962, a Cleburne resident since 1976, and an elder since 2002; Jackie Mayden, a 1978 graduate of the Sunset School of Preaching who moved to Cleburne around 1984 with his wife Jane and was asked to serve as an elder in 2023; and Vince Grinnell.
Deacons include Justin Hewlett, who has overseen the church's finances and budget since he was first asked to serve in 1985. Other deacons fill the remaining assigned areas of responsibility.
The Preaching Staff
John Haffner serves as the minister of the Granbury Street church of Christ. A graduate of the Southwest School of Bible Studies, he grew up in Trenton, Texas, has been preaching the gospel since 2008, and has served congregations in East Texas and Southwest Texas. He and his wife Hanna were married in 2012 and have two sons. His work with World Video Bible School has put his teaching online, and he regularly leads the Summer Series and contributes to youth camps.
Pat McIntosh serves as associate minister. A 1989 graduate of Brown Trail School of Preaching, he holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Science, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctorate in Ministry from Southern Christian University, with further graduate work toward a PhD. He has served churches in Texas and Alabama, was Assistant Director of Extension Studies for the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver from 2001 to 2009, and taught at Brown Trail School of Preaching before stepping into his current role as its Academic Dean.
Giving, Streaming, and the Building
Offerings may be given online through Tithe.ly, and regular financial reports are shared with the congregation to underscore the commitment to transparency. Worship services are livestreamed on YouTube, and recordings remain available there for those who cannot attend in person. The sound system in the auditorium is calibrated for a cappella singing, and the technology team is working to enlarge text and visual aids for members with limited sight. A separate team monitors entrances and oversees safety, coordinating with local authorities and holding preparedness drills.
The building itself centers on a main auditorium with an adjoining annex that hosts the Ladies' Class, potluck meals, and other overflow gatherings. Buildings and grounds are tended by a team of volunteers under Bill Cashion, while Diana Newberry coordinates the custodial care that keeps classrooms, restrooms, and common areas ready for use. An online member app keeps the church directory current and connects members to one another between Sundays.
A Place for You
Granbury Street sums up its invitation in a single line: "A Place For You." That welcome is extended through every part of the church's life, from the warm greeting at the door to the free Bible study materials in the lobby, from the cradle roll class to the Wednesday Night Summer Series, from the welcome basket left on a new neighbor's porch to the ongoing support of the Iglesia De Cristo a few doors down. The same conviction runs through every program: that the Bible is the source of all that pertains to life and godliness, and that the church's task is to bring others to Jesus, teach them the good news, and help them walk faithfully day by day.