History of Southeast Christian Church

In 1962, members of the South Louisville Christian Church felt led of God to start a church in the Hikes Point area of Louisville. The Southeast Christian Church began holding services at a local elementary school in 1962 with 50 in attendance. In 1966, the 125-member church called 22-year-old Bob Russell as their new senior minister. At that time, the church was meeting in the basement of a home and the staff consisted of Russell and one secretary.

In January 1967, the church moved into its new building complex at 2601 Hikes Lane with a sanctuary that seated 550. Consistent growth continued and the congregation had outgrown its facility and instituted multiple services by 1975.

The next decade saw more than a 10% growth in attendance each year. By January 1983, attendance averaged almost 1,300 and the elders, after much prayer, voted to build again. The church relocated to 2840 Hikes Lane, located on 22 acres with a 2,000-seat sanctuary in April 1987.

From 1987 until 1992, average attendance increased from 3,000 to 7,000 each weekend. The explosive growth coupled with limited parking and seating resulted in five regular weekend services to accommodate the crowd. Church members took another step of faith in 1992 when 95% of the congregation voted to once again build and relocate.

Ground breaking for the new building was held on September 25, 1994. After months of site work, the actual construction began. The first services at the current location (920 Blankenbaker Parkway) were conducted on Christmas Eve 1998, and the official building dedication followed the next week.

Within the last decade, Southeast has seen the founding of several significant ministries including The Southeast Outlook (a weekly newspaper read by 50,000 people and supported financially by its own not-for-profit organization), Country Lake Camp and A Woman’s Choice Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

Currently, more than 17,000 people attend one of the four weekend services at Southeast Christian Church. The newest church facility, one of the largest in the country, offers 3,600 parking spaces, 165,984 square feet of classroom space and a 9,100-seat sanctuary. The paid church staff, consisting of ministers, support staff, child care workers and groundskeepers, has grown to more than 300, with 23 elders (lay volunteers) leading the congregation. Church members recently committed more than $35 million to continue facility expansion for education and ministry space over the next two years, with the first 3.5 million dedicated to supporting ministry efforts of like-minded local congregations.

April 2003

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