Christian Youth Fellowship

I will be doing two posts on March 31st to make up for not being able to post on April 1st.

Gretna Christian Church 100th Anniversary

Minister:  Dwight Mays

111 Leftwich Street
Gretna, Virginia
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 644 Gretna, Virginia 24557

For many years I was a member of the Christian Youth Fellowship.  We had a wonderful time at our meetings, visiting other churches, going to conventions and attending Youth camp.  We made lasting friends to this day.  We would go to Lynchburg, Danville, Bedford, Richmond, Craig Springs, Rocky Mount and Martinsville.  We went to other places, but these are the ones that stand out in my memory.   Shirley Owen was always there for us taking us to conventions, movies and various entertainments.  She was so giving and dedicated and I for one will always appreciate all the things that she did.

Mama had a article from the Altavista Journal January 20, 1972.  It was written by our own church member Shirley Kinsley.  Shirley Kinsley was the Gretna News Correspondent for the Altavista Journal.  That just may be why our youth group was in the paper so much.  Thank you, Shirley.

CYF meeting

The CYF of Gretna Christian Church met Monday night.  Susan Shelton presented the program, Teenage Problems, and group discussion followed.  Janice Bailey, president conducted the business session.
Plans were made to observe Youth Week, the first week in February, with members taking care of Sunday School classes and participating in the worship service; also for a group outing in February, the date to be announced later.
Janice Bailey served refreshments.


Gretna Christian Church always allowed us to grow.  I remember one Sunday Susan Shelton and I preached the Sunday service.   I don't remember being frightened, but excited and happy.

In the 70's we went to Euclid Christian Church for the weekend for a Youth meeting.  We stayed at different parishioner's homes.  We were all made to feel very welcome.  One night Euclid had a beatnik night.  I guess that would be close to what you would call it.  The room was  lit by candles and we had musicians playing the guitar doing a sort of Dobie Gillis thing with a seventies twist.   It was a blast.  Eventually during these youth conventions we made friends that we would hook up with at all the meetings and write letters to each other.  Yes, write letters through the U. S. Postal System.  Technically the world has really changed, but I am sure there are still kids going to church meetings, hooking up with friends and e-mailing each other.  What I am trying to say is that at our church we were encouraged to be a part of everything.    We discussed religion, politics, school.  We discussed everything and we were not put in the back.  We were allowed to participate.
This was a church that wasn't only about Sunday, but everyday.

Thank you

Mark E. Poole  photos

Disciples of Christ Historical Society 

Gretna Christian Church

Atha Bailey

Linda Dalton