Southside Christian Church

"Serving God and loving people"

www.SouthsideChristianChurch.org

Curt, and his wife Sarah, have served as our ministry family since 1987. Curt is originally from Annapolis, Maryland and Sarah grew up on a dairy farm near Lake Okeechobee, Florida.

Curt received his education from Florida Christian College in Kissimmee, FL and from Cincinnati Christian University. Sarah has degrees from Florida State University and the University of South Florida, and is now teaching in the Sarasota County Public School System.

Sons Isaac and Jesse are the other two Leonards. Isaac is married to Rae, and he is finishing a masters degree in electrical engineering at Florida State University.  Jesse is beginning a doctoral program in electrical engineering at FSU.  They worship and serve at First Christian Church in Tallahassee.

Curt's hobbies include restoring old military vehicles and Sarah loves cooking, reading and cats.

Southside Christian Church began its journey of evangelism in 1962. Much before then, however, eleven people launched the effort to establish this new church, one more clearly patterned after the New Testament. During 1960-1961, Mildred Hill* and Bonnie Sharp met with local area ministers from St. Petersburg, Wauchula, Clearwater, Lake Wales and Ft. Myers to finally get support to start the church, originally known as Southside Christian of Sarasota.

Space was rented at the Elks Club behind Riverview High School as a temporary location to hold services. The inaugural service was held Sunday, March 18,1962 with fifty-one persons attending, and nine persons placing their membership. The first baptisms were done in Philippi Creek.

John Mullins, an Elder from the Central Christian Church in St. Petersburg, drove over to preach and lead the original congregation until September of 1962, at which time Roland M. Lotridge was called to be the first full-time minister.

The current church property on Webber Street was donated by Mrs. Isabel Avery, and bonds were sold to the church members for the construction of the buildings. In 1965, the 250-seat sanctuary, social hall, kitchen, two restrooms and minister’s study were built, and furnished, at a cost of less than $50,000.00. Tom Myers and Earl Curvin, both Elders, contributed greatly to the building and oversight.

There was a full week of services scheduled for the dedication of the new church building on Webber St., beginning with the actual dedication ceremony at 3pm on Sunday, March 28,1965 and a special service each night through Friday.

In later years a new office complex was built, the fellowship hall enlarged, two wings of classrooms added and the sanctuary remodeled.

Roland Lotridge retired as the minister in September of 1978, continuing to attend until his passing in 1999. The second minister was Robert E. (Bob) Miller who served until 1987. Curt Leonard, the current minister, has been faithfully serving the church since that time and will reach a 25-year anniversary of service in May of 2012.

* Founding member Mildred Hill remains a regular attendee at Southside.

Click HERE to view a picture album of Southside’s historical story.

Click HERE to view the 50th anniversary celebration program.