On June 8, 1955, an organizational meeting was held to set up the Church of Christ in Brainerd.

Merle Maher of Minnesota Bible college met with several people in the Del Junker home, and on June 19, services were begun there. After several Sundays, the old Town hail on Second Avenue N. E. was rented and services were held there.

Richard Kirkland, now of Florissant, Mo., was the first full-time minister. During his ministry, land was purchased in northeast Brainerd for a building, but was later sold when the present property at 11th and Oak was purchased in 1957 from Trinity Lutheran church.

Of the 40 charter members, only four live in Brainerd at this time: Mrs. Fred Holmquist, Sr.; Mr. and Mrs. Delvin Junker and Mrs. Catherine Teagar. Since the beginning, Dennis Ganz, Deane Stricklen, Maynard Woudsma and Carl Holdsworth have held full-time ministries with the church. During interim periods, students from Minnesota Bible college, including David McHenry who is now serving in Ghana, Africa, have filled the pulpit.

Currently, Edmond Pangburn is minister and lives in the parsonage with his wife and two daughters.

Reproduced from the Centennial Edition of the Brainerd Daily Dispatch (1871-1971).