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Who We Are
Our
Story
Olivet Christian Church arose a few years after the Civil War in the community of Harg, as farm families on the eastern side of Columbia began to meet in homes and summer brush arbors for worship. The church was formerly chartered in January 1874 as a congregation in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
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In the years since its founding, Olivet has built a new building - the Old Church still stands on the corner of our lot - to provide room for more activities and people. Olivet has also expanded its ministries as we've evolved to meet new and different needs in our community. However, our mission has stayed the same - to make the grace of God real for all people - and we continue to seek ways to share God's deep and abiding love for all creation.
Olivet Christian Church is a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and shares its ministry and its mission with the Disciples both locally and around the world.
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As the story goes, about 200 years ago, a Scottish Presbyterian named Alexander Campbell and another leader in the Second Great Awakening, Barton Stone, both frustrated with denominational church fights and creeds, joined forces to create a restoration movement that would evolve into what is now our denomination. Today the Disciples remain "a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world," and we always come back to the table of our Lord, celebrating communion each and every week.
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Church membership is open to anyone who confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God. We adhere to no specific creeds, but instead invite you to think critically, respect other opinions, and be willing to regard others as God's beloved children.
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Immersion is the traditional form of baptism for Disciples; however, we are pleased to receive new members through transfer from other churches, no matter the form of baptism.