The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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September 14, 2008

Oakwood Christian Church to celebrate its 30th anniversary

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer

On Sept. 17, 1978, Oakwood Christian Church held its first Sunday service in a small building that the congregation recently had moved into on Oakwood.

Today, that original area serves as a fellowship hall and nursery and Wednesday the church will celebrate its 30th anniversary. The church family is planning a celebration starting Satur-day and continuing through Sept. 24.

Among the activities planned are a sock hop Saturday, reminiscent of some 1950s-style dances the church once sponsored, said church secretary Nancy Truman.

A number of former pastors have been invited, including Dan Harlow, who was part of the group whom had the vision to build a Christian church in west Enid. In 1977, Davis Park Christian Church recognized the need to establish a church on the west side of Enid. They realized the two acres they owned on West Randolph were too small, sold it and purchased five acres, which with an additional purchase, has grown to 10 acres on which Oakwood Christian Church is located.

Davis Park Christian Church called Joe Wilson in 1978 to be the founding minister of Oak-wood Christian Church. People started meeting in homes on Sunday evenings and began the work of Oakwood’s first building project. When they held their first church service in 1978, about 250 people attended.

Activities planned include:

• Saturday, 7 p.m.: sock hop on the gym floor.

• Sunday, 9:30 a.m.: fellowship doughnut breakfast in the GAP, church office area, with guided tours of the facilities.

• Sunday, 10:30 a.m.: morning worship service, with the Rev. Joe R. Wilson speaking.

• Sunday, noon: catered lunch in the Oakwood Activity Center. Cost is $5 per person.

• Sunday, 6 p.m.: evening service, with speaker Bob Beltz.

• Sunday, 7 p.m.: Linger Longer in the GAP.

Services also will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21-23.

Among the activities the church is known for in Enid is the Festival of Light, which is held Oct. 31. The alternative to Halloween features church members decorating areas of the church and handing out candy to kids who walk through. There also is a carnival atmosphere held in the activity center.

Oakwood Christian Church women’s group also reaches out to women in Enid who are in rehabilitation for drug, alcohol and abuse situations. A new ministry preparing to start is called Helping Hands.

Church volunteers accept clothing, furniture and appliances that still are usable and give them to individuals in need.

“Our most significant contribution to the community is the continual preaching of God’s word and doing as he said — reaching out to others,” Truman said.

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