Mt. Carmel Cornerstone Unveiling

By Chuck Stewart, Jr.

(Town of Newburgh) - If you travel Route 300 in the Town of Newburgh, near the town hall, you probably have seen the construction going on next to the Mount Carmel Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ.

It’s not a new church, rather a new church home for Mount Carmel. The original church home was on Colden Street in the City of Newburgh. Elder Johnson, who had been sent to preach at the Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Beacon, New York by Bishop W.C. Gilliams found and rented a little store front at 62 Colden Street and called this mission, Mt. Carmel. His purpose in mind was to turn Newburgh upside down by making Disciples of Christ. That was August, 1956.

It wouldn’t be long before the church would be on the move, growing in strength and numbers. In November of 1962 Bishop Johnson and the Mt. Carmel congregation marched from Colden Street to 13-15 Johnston Street, led by the late Bishop Gilliam and the congregation of the Shiloh Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ from New York, New York.

In 1983 a fire destroyed the Mt. Carmel edifice on Johnston Street. They would regroup and, on the second Sunday in November of 1984 march from Johnston Street to their new home on Route 300 in the Town of Newburgh.

Their next move won’t be quite as far, just next door - literally. With the exterior of the new building now complete, and the final touches being put on the interior, it’s almost ready to move in.

So, on a mild Sunday afternoon in December, the Mount Carmel Church of Christ Disciples of Christ held an unveiling of the cornerstone ceremony. Gathering outside of the new church’s side entrance, Dr. Morgan recited scripture from the New Testament 1st Peter 2:6-8, “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed…”
Elder Thermond Herring, Pastor of Mount Carmel in his message said, “This cornerstone is a symbol of Jesus Christ. Each member is connected like each brick of this church. And we are all connected to Jesus Christ.”

At the completion of the brief ceremony, a processional into the new building was led by church officials and members, where they gathered around the altar. There personal inscriptions of individual promises were permanently inscribed on the concrete floor. Pastor Herring said the carpet will soon be put in place and they will be hidden, however, “Those promises will be a part of the foundation forever.”

Pictured Above From Left to Right: Danielle Riley writes her promise of hope on the concrete floor of the brand new Mount Carmel Church of Christ Disciples of Christ located on Route 300.

The Cornerstone for the new Mount Carmel Church of Christ Disciples of Christ building can be seen to the left of Mother Johnson, mother of the church, as she poses with Pastor Elder Thermond Herring during the unveiling ceremony.