Our history

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  Born in 1900, Bro. Alonzo C. Payne was the first minister of the Emeryville church of Christ. Without a formal church building and without an actual pulpit Bro. Payne preached in the living room of a Victorian home owned by Sis. Ida B. Rockwell and her brother Bro. Charles Kelly. Supported every step of the way by his devoted wife, Bro. and Sis. Payne embarked upon a journey that would change the city of Emeryville forever. Bro. Payne taught one on one and group bible classes in his home and Sis. Payne provided a welcoming home study atmosphere that included a home cooked dinner after every class. 

Bro. AC Payne, his wife, Bro. Joe Burnley and his wife, Bro. Earnest Kelly, Sis. Ida B. Rockwell, and Sis. Algie Luckett petitioned the city of Emeryville to allow the establishment of a church within its borders despite the fact that it was a gambling district of Oakland at the time. They were rejected repeatedly for 5 years. 

  In spring of 1982 the city of Emeryville allowed the establishment of the 48th street Church of Christ in Emeryville, Ca., as well as the purchase of a 4 plex apartment building. The first 7 members of the church immediately began demo and remodeling of the apartment building to establish a worship center for the city. 

At age 82 and as senior minister Bro. A.C. Payne served faithfully until his health began to fail in 1987. He at which time installed the new minister Bro. James F. Walker Sr. Bro. Payne continued to serve as minister emeritus until his death in 1990. 

In 1985 Bro. James Walker Sr. started a small congregation in East Oakland, Ca. in a storefront located at 7327 Mac Arthur Blvd. There he proudly served the community, preached the gospel, and baptized souls into the Kingdom of God. Beginning to outgrow the storefront location Bro. Payne asked Bro. Walker if he and his congregation would consider merging as it would take the leadership of a young preacher to guide the congregation into the future. After successful congregational meetings and much prayer the two congregations combined to create the Emeryville Church of Christ. Eager and excited about their new growth and potential together the congregation held its first worship service while the stucco was still wet on the front of the building. 

Bro. James Walker and his loving wife Valerie served the Emeryville and Oakland communities through church ministry, philanthropy, and provision of bus service for well over 20 years. In December 2003 just 7 days before Christmas the world lost its treasured and beloved sister and friend as heaven gained its newest angel. Our dear Valerie suffered a heart attack but left us with a tremendous amount of knowledge and zeal in our hearts. She was everywhere, did everything, and never dropped the ball. She was our congregations youth counselor, drivers-ed instructor, babysitter, secretary, van driver, and women's ministry leader. She never desired the designation of "first lady" but history will tell you that she was always the first lady to arrive and the last lady to leave. The children of the congregation were welcomed to practice singing and praying on Saturday evenings as she cleaned the church building and polished the furniture. Still to this very day almost 20 years after her passing a chalkboard remains affixed to the wall with her handwriting that we still use today to teach "Gods Plan of Salvation"

Despite this devastating loss, Bro. Walker labored on another 9 years until his health seriously declined in 2012. After suffering a hard bout with pneumonia and a failed back surgery, Bro. James Walker Sr. passed the baton to his son Bro. James Walker Jr. who served as youth minister and assistant minister since 1998.  

Barely able to walk or stand, Bro. Walker Sr. continued to serve as minster emeritus and as ministerial counselor until the day he passed. His last recorded sermon was preached from his hospital bed.