Our History
The following is taken from
"The History of Jefferson County"
by J.M. Dyer 1957
The First Christian Church of Waurika was
organized in 1908 when a protracted meeting
was conducted in the First Baptist Church building on East F Street. The minister
holding this meeting was from Liberty, Missouri, the former home of the Ed T. Capps
and Joe Ballard families. They, with the Mose Anderson family were the prime
movers and leaders in this organization were Grandma Ballard, Miss Randa Ballard,
and Mrs. O.E. Heacock. These constituted the initial membership in this Church. Mr.
and Mrs. J.S. Altman, Mrs. John Adams, and Mrs. Wade Atkins were added to the
organization later.
Sometime during the winter of 1909, a revival was conducted by Evangelist, Charles
P. Murphey and what might be termed the charter membership was enlarged to forty.
Of this number, only Mrs. Heacock and Mrs. Harley Ivy, the former Miss Mae
Wooldridge, are all who are here now. They are still active in the affairs of the
church.
The first church home was a modest frame building erected "out on the hill." This
building was financed with a thousand dollars the forty members had raised, plus a
loan which had been secured by Ed. T. Capps, Joe Ballard and M.C. Fisher, signing
the note. The church was somewhat handicapped for the first few years of its
existence by reason of its location "out on the hill" with no sidewalks and other
attendant inconveniences. Mrs. Heack says "The membership spent several
weary years paying off that first mortgage."
The original building was enlarged by additional rooms; the sanctuary had been
remodeled and beautified to where it presented an altogether different and more
inviting appearance. These changes were nothing new. The same is part of most
church's experience. More beautiful buildings offering increased space for
membership service and expansion.
During 1957 the church was in the process of adding a large and well appointed
educational building.
Much credit for the church's continued growth is due to the late G. Lyle Smith who
was the loved and respected pastor for this church for twenty years, and pastor
emeritus for an ensuing twelve years. He was loved not only by his own
congregation, but by all who knew him without regard to denominational lines. Then
as he became more tired from his long years of service in the gospel ministry, he
gently folded his hands on night and fell asleep to be awakened by the heavenly
rejoicing at the homecoming of a faithful servant
The following is taken from
"The History of Jefferson County"
by J.M. Dyer 1957
The First Christian Church of Waurika was
organized in 1908 when a protracted meeting
was conducted in the First Baptist Church building on East F Street. The minister
holding this meeting was from Liberty, Missouri, the former home of the Ed T. Capps
and Joe Ballard families. They, with the Mose Anderson family were the prime
movers and leaders in this organization were Grandma Ballard, Miss Randa Ballard,
and Mrs. O.E. Heacock. These constituted the initial membership in this Church. Mr.
and Mrs. J.S. Altman, Mrs. John Adams, and Mrs. Wade Atkins were added to the
organization later.
Sometime during the winter of 1909, a revival was conducted by Evangelist, Charles
P. Murphey and what might be termed the charter membership was enlarged to forty.
Of this number, only Mrs. Heacock and Mrs. Harley Ivy, the former Miss Mae
Wooldridge, are all who are here now. They are still active in the affairs of the
church.
The first church home was a modest frame building erected "out on the hill." This
building was financed with a thousand dollars the forty members had raised, plus a
loan which had been secured by Ed. T. Capps, Joe Ballard and M.C. Fisher, signing
the note. The church was somewhat handicapped for the first few years of its
existence by reason of its location "out on the hill" with no sidewalks and other
attendant inconveniences. Mrs. Heack says "The membership spent several
weary years paying off that first mortgage."
The original building was enlarged by additional rooms; the sanctuary had been
remodeled and beautified to where it presented an altogether different and more
inviting appearance. These changes were nothing new. The same is part of most
church's experience. More beautiful buildings offering increased space for
membership service and expansion.
During 1957 the church was in the process of adding a large and well appointed
educational building.
Much credit for the church's continued growth is due to the late G. Lyle Smith who
was the loved and respected pastor for this church for twenty years, and pastor
emeritus for an ensuing twelve years. He was loved not only by his own
congregation, but by all who knew him without regard to denominational lines. Then
as he became more tired from his long years of service in the gospel ministry, he
gently folded his hands on night and fell asleep to be awakened by the heavenly
rejoicing at the homecoming of a faithful servant
More about us
First Christian Church
of Waurika, Oklahoma
of Waurika, Oklahoma
I will build my church; and the
gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. ”
— Jesus, Matthew 16:18
gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. ”
— Jesus, Matthew 16:18
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