History of the Mountain Island church of Christ

On May 13, 1962, the first service of the Westside church of Christ was held in a remodeled home on Rozzelles Ferry Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. Approximately 100 attended.

Fifteen to twenty families who lived in or around the westside area and had formerly worshiped at the Plaza congregation formed the Westside church through many long, hard hours of planning by brother Dave Rickelton. Johnny Sewell served as minister. Financial assistance to start Westside came from the Plaza church in Charlotte (now the Providence Road church), the Dilworth church in Charlotte (now the Archdale Road church) and the Wingate church in Nashville, Tennessee.

The building for Westside at 4527 Freedom Drive was completed and the first service held there in the summer of 1964, with Johnny Sewell as minister. Elders were first appointed in 1975. In July, 1985, eight Spanish Christians began meeting as a church of Christ for worship and classes in the multi-purpose room of the Westside church that was added to the facilities in 1968. As of April, 2001, the attendance in the Spanish assembly was 63.

The brethren who have served Westside as elders from 1975 to the present are: Calvin Bennett, George Painter, Sr., Gene Parker, George Benfield, Andy Hood, and Lee Whitecotton. The current elders are Clyde Gilbert, Gary Sanderson, Dale Pendergrass, and Dan Whitecotton.

Many fine men have served here as deacons over the years. Our current list include: Rick Burgin, Clyde Eidson, Dennis Lively, Brad Pearce, Russ Widner, Ben Womack and Scott Lively.

Evangelists who have served Westside over the past 40 years are: Johnny Sewell (1962-1967), Paul Kidwell, Sr. (1967-1969), R.C. Walker, Sr. (1969-1974), E.A. (Al) Furline (1975-1978), Ted Rush (1978-1984), Jerry Laxson (1985-1992), Phillip Johnson (1992-1996), J.T. (Terry) Wheeler (1996-present), Francisco Vejar (Spanish Congregation, 1985-1994), and Diomedes Damian (Spanish congregation, 1994-present).

Westside moved from Freedom Drive to Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road in May, 2008 and became the Mountain Island church of Christ.