Okolona started in 1960 with a handful of families meeting at Southern High School. They dreamed of a new congregation in the Okolona suburb of Louisville, KY. A place where…
People would be welcomed without judgment or condemnation.
People would focus on loving God and loving people.
People could experience the freedom of God’s grace and the power of God’s love.
That place became a reality July 3, 1960, when 121 people met together for worship. Land would be aquired in 1961 and a building completed in 1963. Our property and facilities have grown through the years but an outside loan was never needed. Funds always came from within, which shows the kind of love and confidence this church family has for the Lord. Never has it been asked to give for a need that was not responded to with great generosity.
From there the story has been about how God has taken and group of imperfect, messed up people and slowly transformed them into something for his glory. We’re amazed at what God has done through Okolona and how he’s used this church to introduce new people to faith or rescue those who had just about given up on faith. We look forward to many more years of serving others here in Louisville and the surrounding area.
Okolona Church of Christ identifies with the American Restoration Movement and the churches born out of it. This movement sought to call people back to the practice of simple New Testament Christianity. The core values of baptism, communion, participatory worship, leadership by elders, and unity with other Christian churches can still be seen in many of our practices today.
In a world of widely varying religious doctrines, we believe it is important to define some of our core beliefs. A core belief is something that we consider to be of central importance to our faith. While our convictions may extend past what we mention here, these are the essentials.
The Bible is God's Word and has authority in all matters of faith and life.
(2 Timothy 3:15-17 & 2 Peter 1:20-21)
The God of the Bible exists as a Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Spirit) - three distinct persons who share a common divine essence. These three exist in ideal community with one another, created the world, and love men and women of all nations, colors, languages, and backgrounds with holy passion.
(Genesis 1-2; John 1; Mark 14:36; Matthew 6:9; Romans 8:15-16)
Jesus of Nazareth is uniquely the Son of God, Son of Man, and Israel’s promised Messiah. He was born of a virgin, attested by miracles, crucified under Pontius Pilate, and raised from the dead on the third day. By his death, burial, and resurrection, the gospel message is that rescue from sin and eternal life with God are available to all. He will one day return to judge the world and to establish a New Heaven and a New Earth for the redeemed.
(Matthew 16:15; 17:5; John 3:16; 4:25-26; Revelation 20:11 – 22:21)
God lives in his church and individual Christians today through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is given to us for the purpose of spiritual transformation. He empowers us to follow Jesus and bears his fruit in our lives. The Spirit also works to teach us, remind us of what Jesus taught, comfort us, bring us to repentance when we sin, empower us to help others, and to assure our eternal inheritance.
(John 14:15-27; Romans 8:1-17; Galatians 5:16-25; John 16:5-15)
All people are created in the image of God for the purpose of living in eternal relationship with him. However, our sinfulness separates us from God and makes it impossible for us to live with him. The only way that this can be undone is through the mercy and justice of God which was shown by sending his Son (Jesus). His death is the only sufficient payment for our sins. Salvation is a free gift of God, it only comes by grace through faith, and it has the power to free us from the effects of sin and death. It is available to all who put their trust in Jesus. This personal trust is exhibited in repentance, baptism, love for others, and a lifestyle that imitates the example of Jesus.
(Genesis 1:27; Ephesians 1:4-5; Romans 3:22-26; Romans 5:12-21; Romans 6:22-23)
The Church is the body of Christ. There is only one church but it is comprised of many parts. The head of the church is Jesus Christ and, as such, he is the foundation and center of everything we do and believe. The purpose of the church is to follow Christ by living out the greatest commands to love God and love people.
(Ephesians 4:4-5 & 15-16; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Mark 12:28-34; Matthew 22:34-40; Acts 2:42-47)
