HISTORY OF THE RANDOLPH CHURCH OF CHRIST

The congregation had its genesis as the Dover Church of Christ with the evangelistic work of William Morgan in 1956. The infant church met in homes and eventually rented the Crystal Street Chapel on Morris Street for assemblies.

Campaigns conducted by Andy T. Ritchie of Harding College in the summers of 1957 and 1958 resulted in a number of baptisms. By the end of 1957 the congregation numbered 21.

From 1957 to 1959 approximately 25 young Christians from David Lipscomb, Harding, Freed-Hardeman and Abilene Christian Colleges moved to the Dover area as missionaries for the Lord. At that time it was thought to be the largest number to have moved to a mission field in the United States. Seventeen of these young people worked as teachers in the Dover, Randolph, and Rockaway public schools while building the foundation for the congregation's growth. As the years progressed many of the Christians who met each other here for the first time, married and started families while enthusiastically working for the church here.

From 1958 until 1961 the church met in the current preacher's residence and raised funds to build a church facility. The present building was completed in 1961. At this time the membership was over 50 people.

The congregation installed its first elders: Bill Edwards and Bob McMillan in 1979. About 1985 and 1986 Ron Smith served as an elder also, until his job was re-organized and the local office for his company was closed. Bill Edwards and Bob McMillan continued as elders, doing a superb job, until 1990 when Bill Edwards retired to Alabama.

The elders began the decade of the '80's with a special emphasis on evangelism. A large number of members were involved in personal evangelism and the congregation ran an active bus ministry. As a result, 24 people were baptized into Christ in 1981 alone. Membership peaked in the early 1980's at over 100. Since then job transfers and retirements have caused cycles of membership peaks and valleys. Former members of this congregation can be found all over the United States and overseas. Among countries that former members of this church have lived in to perform missionary work are included Australia, Brazil, Peru, Nigeria, Ukraine, France, China, and Russia--to name a few. A congregational highlight was Homecoming 1982 when many former members gathered again in Randolph packing the auditorium with some 200 members and former members. It was a joyous reunion!

Over the years the congregation has supported mission work in Japan, France, Brazil, Nigeria, Italy, and among the Latino population of New Jersey. It has also supported the work of the Timothy Hill Ranch in Long Island, New York, Camp Manatawny in Pennsylvania, and the Church of Christ Disaster Relief Organization in Nashville, Tennessee.

In the early 1990's the Dover church of Christ, taking into account our geographic location, while appreciating our historic roots in the town of Dover, decided to officially change our name to "The Randolph church of Christ", and we continue to labor for the Master in the former apple orchard at 316 Quaker Church Road.

Minister's who have served this congregation over the years are as follows:

With the help of these men and other dedicated Christians, we have continued our efforts to faithfully serve the Lord in this area of northern New Jersey, while many who have departed from here are diligently serving him in other parts of the United States and of the world. Praise the Lord!

John Lee Netwon

1966 - 1968

Bob Riggs

1970 - 1971

Joe Galimi

1974 - 1978

John Lee Newton

1996 - 2001

Paul DeHart

2010- Present

K. Rex Butts

1963 - 1965

Bob Hafner

1966 - 1968

Dale Castleman

1966 - 1968

Dick Shenkle

1979 - 1996

Bob Bliss

2002-2008

Ron Nelson