Creekside Church Of Christ Dedicates Playground In Honor Of John Manley

Creekside Church of Christ recently dedicated a new playground, fulfilling a long-standing promise made to the family of John Manley, a beloved local farmer. The dedication ceremony took place at the end of the Sunday service on November 24. This initiative was part of the church’s ongoing commitment to worshiping God, sharing Christ, and transforming lives through service.

Matthew Kimball, a dedicated servant of the church who spearheaded the playground project, shared the story behind the dedication. One of the church’s members learned about a property acquisition at her workplace that included a large commercial playground. She obtained permission for the donation, provided the church could remove it within a week. Kimball took charge of the playground removal in 2023 and, this spring, mobilized a team to reassemble it at the church, creating two playgrounds — one for smaller children and one for older children.

The church’s property, located on Lithia Pinecrest Road, was initially acquired in 1999 from the Estate of John Manley. The elders of Creekside Church struck a deal with the Manley family, who requested that something special be done in remembrance of Manley, who cherished the land and spent many years farming it. Before the playground’s installation, the property had only a single building used for worship.

“We wanted to honor Mr. Manley’s legacy and fulfill our promise to the family,” Kimball explained. The playground, valued at $135,000 if purchased new, was a perfect opportunity to do so, despite being donated. Unfortunately, to date the church is unable to locate any of the descendants of the Manley family and has reached out to the community for assistance to see if they can be located.

“In 1999, our elders made a promise to the Manley family, and we are proud to deliver on that promise,” said Kimball. The church continues to honor its commitment to service and community, reflecting a spirit of generosity and accountability.

Creekside Church, known for its commitment to worshiping God, sharing Christ and transforming lives through service, holds various events throughout the year. Upcoming events include a OneBlood blood drive starting in January, a wild game/fish fry in February, an Easter egg hunt in March and a Summer Family Fun Fest in June. Details and updates can be found on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/creeksidechurchofchristbrandon/.

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