Church Spotlight - East Side Church of God

 Anderson’s East Side Church of God was founded in 1951 as a cooperative church plant of Park Place Church of God, South Meridian Street Church of God, and the former Jackson Park Church of God.  The location was chosen to meet the needs of the many post WWII residents drawn to Anderson University through the GI Bill and the factory jobs available on the east side of Anderson.  The Church has a strong history in the Anderson community, and they have been located in the same building at 2600 East 5th Street for 67 years. They currently serve the Anderson/Madison County community, the students and faculty at Anderson University and are a leading church in the Church of God Movement internationally.East Side holds two services each Sunday, one at 9:15 am and again at 10:45 am with over 1,000 attendees.Pastor Kerry Robinson has served as senior pastor for 22 years.   He and his wife, Becky, have adult sons, Kyle and Kameron, and a “daughter-in-love”, Hannah (Kameron’s wife). “The mission of East Side Church of God is to lift up Jesus Christ as Savior for the lost, Lord of the church and Reconciler for the world so that people may discover Hope for living. Our congregation includes people from all walks of life. I believe God has called us to be a connection place for those who know Jesus and for those who need to know Jesus”, notes Pastor Robinson.East Side also has events each week; including support groups, small groups, youth ministry, community basketball and volleyball leagues. “East Side has been blessed,” said Pastor Robinson, “with the physical space to steward and use for our community.”  Additionally, East Side Studios, a non-profit art studio sponsored by the church, exists to provide an artistic resource to the community by providing workshops, collabor-ations and studio spaces to local artists. Dottie Hamlin, a volunteer at First Choice who attends East Side Church of God stated.  “Our church is a very caring and giving body of believers. I am thankful that we support local missions, such as First Choice, as well as missions around the world. Both First Choice and East Side Church of God offer the hope found in Jesus Christ to hurting people in our community.”Pastor Robinson agrees, “First Choice for Women ministers to the entire person through the provision of health care and education.  They desire to serve women and children with a positive, healthy, life-affirming perspective that is redemptive rather than condemning.”“We at East Side Church of God believe that relationships come first,” concludes Pastor Robinson. “We encourage people to connect with God, serve with others and grow as followers of Jesus.”