When Paul preached in the urban centers of the Greek world, he presented Jesus as the bridge between many fractured cultures and the Judaism of his day. The church served to integrate many different peoples into one body. Believing "all things--even heaven and earth are being drawn together under the one head that is Jesus Christ," we also believe God has positioned the Speedway church at a point of welcome at the confluence of numerous cultural streams. Indianapolis, was the crossroads of America long before there was an Interstate Highway system. It is where the cultural South meets the Midwest. And increasingly it is where the Midwest meets multi-cultural populations from around the globe. Originally formed by the intersection of efficient engineering and the daring, racing spirit, the Civil Town of Speedway is a rare mix of small-town, urban and high-tech culture. At the confluence of so many social forces we are practicing ministry accross ethnic economic and all denominational barriers.
Many of us come from a tradition emphasizing the unity of all believers in Christ, and in this post-denominational culture we remain a unity-minded, informal tradition, emphasizing the faithful observance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Without making first century forms into binding mandates for the twenty-first century, we still read scripture for an ongoing authoritative voice. Sister churches tease us as “the eating church,” because we attempt to restore the agape love feast where we have fellowship meals together, pray for one another and support each other in small and confidential groups.
Some Historical Highlights: Founded in 1885 as the Christian Church at Blaine Avenue, by the 1920's the congregation was known as the Blaine Avenue Church of Christ. The congregation called it's first "full-time" minister in the 1960's. In 1980 the congregation moved to its present location in Speedway. In 1994 it purchased a community center; it began small group ministries in 1995, hosted unity forums and Christian Liberty conferences in 1996-1997. In more recent years focus has been on collective spiritual formation and more missional engagement with the community.