The Southside Church of Christ officially began on the first Sunday in October 1982 with 14 members in attendance. The first meeting place for the congregation was the historic Old St. Joseph's Church/Performing Arts Center. The idea for a congregation to serve the inner city originated during a monthly brotherhood meeting. Bro. Clifford Davis, the founder of the "Back to the Bible Crusade", along with the elders of the Olga Ave and Cole Mill Road congregations sponsored the campaign in Durham. Several congregations supported the crusade; however, the Cole Mill Road congregation served as the host and sponsoring congregation. For several months in 1982, members from Cole Mill Road, Olga Avenue, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and other congregations canvassed the streets of Durham conducting religious surveys and offering spiritual assistance. Bro. William A. Stephens along with several members of the Northside Church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL came to Durham to help conduct bible studies during the two-week gospel meeting. The leadership of the Cole Mill Road congregation opened their homes to the brothers and sisters from out of town. Every day for two weeks, members of the Lord's church knocked on doors and conducted bible studies while each evening members from Cole Mill Road and Olga Ave. (especially) would fill the sanctuary along with members from several congregations. Bro. Clifford Davis delivered thought provoking and challenging messages and Bro. Willie Ray Norwood would lead the congregation in soul stirring song selections. Bro. Davis extended the meeting for a 3rd week, and seven precious souls were saved during the gospel meeting.

Bro. William Stephens agreed to become the minister of this fledgling congregation. The Cole Mill leadership welcomed this new congregation with open arms. Approximately 8 members of the Cole Mill family agreed to work with Bro. Stephens to help build the new work. The Northside Church of Christ in Jacksonville, FL, where Bro. Stephens served as the full time assistant minister to Bro. Charlie McClendon continued to pay his salary for the remaining months of 1982 (during that time, ten more precious souls were added to the church).

With the liberating knowledge of continued assistance from Northside in hand, Bro. Stephens was able to solicit future financial support from other places. God demonstrated His grace upon this congregation from the beginning, and God blessed Bro. Stephens to receive financial support from eleven congregations, allowing him to serve in a much-needed full-time capacity. Groups of faithful members of the Carver School Road (Winston-Salem) and the South English St. (Greensboro) congregations further supported the work by bringing bus loads each month to help encourage the members on Sunday. This encouragement from outside inspired in the congregation a desire to grow and develop spiritually. To this end, a Single's class, the Ladies' Bible Class, Family Enrichment Class, and New Member's class were established to address the various needs of these groups and to supplement the pulpit ministry. An acappella ensemble was also established early in 1983 to help spread the gospel through song.

Under the leadership of Bro. Stephens, God blessed the congregation to grow numerically and financially. In 1985, both minister and members stepped out on faith, becoming fully self-supporting. Several congregations still desired to continue support of Southside. Funds given were designated for the building program, and with this additional financial help we were able to purchase 5.3 acres of land in 1987.

Due to a bond referendum and renovation plans for the St. Joseph's Historical Building, the congregation was forced to find a new meeting place. For approximately three months, the Cole Mill Road congregation shared their facilities with Southside, and this arrangement worked very well. On Sundays Southside met during the afternoon and on Wednesdays Bible classes were combined. In December of 1987, the congregation found a building to rent on Angier Ave. In July 1990, we issued a $350,000 bond program wherein all bonds were sold in approximately four months. We broke ground for the building of our new edifice in September 1990. In January of 1991, we began meeting at Shepard Middle School to be closer to our anticipated meeting place. It was a time that brought about excitement and revived the members of Southside. By the grace of the Almighty, we moved into our very first church building in June 1991. As the congregation grew the need for space became more demanding. Therefore, in August of 1996 we completed a $250,000 addition/renovation to our building. Also in 1996, we purchased a 29 passenger bus. We have also been blessed to purchase two parcels of land next to our property, and we purchased two (2) houses diagonally across the street from our church building. Also by God's grace, we have erected a fully equipped multi-purpose building at a cost of approximately $1.2 million in 2003. For more history go to our next history page.