In 1956 Reverend Buck Gillespie and his wife Ruby, were pastoring the Sunbeam Road Church of God and Reverend Allen Lyons and his wife Frances, were pastoring the St. Augustine Church of God.
These two families started a new church in the breezeway between the garage and the living room of the Gillespie’s home at 9724 MacArthur Court South. They met on Sundays at 2:30p.m. so they wouldn’t conflict with the service at their own churches. The meetings soon expanded to the garage and living room.
Ruby and Frances went door to door in the neighborhood inviting people to attend the services. The attendance at the first service was eight plus the Gillespie’s and Lyons. Ruby played the piano, which was situated in the adjoining living room, and Allen played the guitar and Frances the accordion, guitar and mandolin. The group met in the Gillespie home for about eight months.
Reverend Buck Gillespie named the new church the Southside Estates Church of God which was officially organized on March 3, 1957 with fifteen charter members. The church was still meeting in Reverend Gillespie’s home. The pastor and church trustees, Clarence Hopkins and V.V. Brown, located and purchased a lot on the present property for $7500 from Mr. Henry D. Reed. The payments were $25 per month.
In order to finance the building of the new church, the members prepared food, such as chicken dinners, and sold them to the public. They paid for the food, prepared it and even paid for their own meals.
Reverend Gillespie and the members built and paid for the new building as they built it. The dimensions of the building were 30ft by 40ft and consisted of the sanctuary with no restrooms and was located where the present restrooms and nursery are located.
The first service in the new building was February 9, 1958. Sunday School classes were conducted in various parts of the sanctuary. Restrooms and a kitchen were added later.
Reverend J.W. “Boe” Peeples became pastor in August 1961. He constructed a parsonage soon after assuming the pastorate. He also built classrooms and a church office onto the small church. Before long he built a much larger church and educational building. Reverend Peeples and the members did most of the work. The pastor actually packed the foundation sand by driving his Volkswagen back and forth over it. The church was completed in March 1966. Also, under Reverend Peeples leadership, the properties where the present Education Building, Parking Lot and Family Life Building are located were acquired.
In 1971 the church started a daycare and on September 5, 1973 the pastor, Reverend Leon Ellis, opened the Southside Estates Christian Academy which was a thriving school. This school continued to operate until its closing in 1992.
Because of some confusion between the Southside Estates Church of God and Southside Church of God, in 1981 the name was changed to Regency Church of God, while Rev. Kirby Thompson was serving as pastor. During his pastorate, Dr. Joffre Vivoni came from Puerto Rico to pioneer a Hispanic church. The Regency church paid Dr. Vivoni’s salary and allowed him the use of the church facilities for one year. This church now has a thriving congregation located on Girvin Road.
In 1983, under the leadership of Reverend F.L. “Bud” Braddock, the spacious Family Life Building was erected. In March of 1988 the church experienced the untimely death of Pastor Braddock. Pastor Braddock died of a heart attack walking to church on a Sunday morning. The Associate Pastor, Cam Mullis, served as interim Pastor until Rev. John Walker was appointed to lead the church.
In May 1991, under the leadership of Reverend John L. Walker, the beautiful new Sanctuary was built. The first service in the new church was on June 3, 1992 and Reverend Kirby Thompson was guest speaker.
Following Rev. Walker, Robert P. Herrin served from 1994 to 1998. During his tenure three churches were started from the Regency congregation.
John V. Morgan was appointed as Senior Pastor in December 1998. Since his coming to Regency Church we have completed a debt liquidation campaign and initiated a new thrust for World Evangelism with expansion of ministries local and abroad. We are presently planning construction of a new facility that will more adequately accommodate our present ministries and launch us into expanded media ministries through TV, radio and the internet. Pastor Morgan has clearly cast a vision for Regency Church as a Whole Church For A Broken World. With the help of the Lord we eagerly look forward to the challenges and opportunities that are ahead.
Former Pastors
March 1957 – August 1958 Rev. Buck Gillespie
September 1958 – May 1959 Rev. Bill Long
June 1959 – July 1961 Rev. F. Garland Mann
August 1961 – February 1966 Rev J.W. “Boe” Peeples
March 1966 – August 1968 Rev. Fred G. Swank
September 1968 – January 1979 Rev. Leon Ellis
February 1979 – July 1982 Rev. Kirby Thompson
August 1982 – March 1988 Rev. F.L. “Bud” Braddock
April 1988 – July 1988 Rev. Cameron Mullis(interim)
August 1988 – September 1994 Rev. John L. Walker
September 1994 – October 1998 Rev. Robert P. Herrin
December 1998 to present Rev. John V. Morgan
