By Robert Barron, Staff Writer

Davis Park Christian Church has been in the same location for 82 years.

Sunday they had a new beginnning, as the congregation held a grand opening celebration at their new location, 3320 N. Van Buren.

The celebration began with the Dunford Family Ministry conducting the service, followed by a picnic in the new church’s parking lot.

The Rev. Alan Seibel said the church was expanding the brotherhood with the move to its new site. Thirty years ago, the church grew when Oakwood Christian Church was formed from Davis Park Christian Church, as an expansion to the west side of town.

Amigos Fellowship will take over the old Davis Park building at 749 N. 11th. The daycare also will remain in the church.

Historically, the church’s first building was a tabernacle, a 42-by-66 foot structure that was cold and drafty, with pinewood pews that were uncomfortable. The first service was held Oct. 10, 1926, with 118 present at the first Sunday school.

A four-week revival was held and 36 people joined the first day and were considered charter members of the new church. By the end of the four weeks there were 67 members.

“We haven’t always been in the same building, but we’ve always been in the same location,” Seibel said.

Davis Park church members bought the building at their new location in 2007, then gutted and remodeled it. The new church is located adjacent to Crosslin Park.

“It’s exciting. The city is working on Crosslin Lake in the park and it will eventually be 75 acres and that will be right next to us,” Seibel said. At the original church site on 11th, the tabernacle was the first building erected. It was expanded in 1948 when a new basement and sanctuary were constructed. In 1954 the church added an educational building, then new classrooms and offices were added in 1961.

Sunday, as the church dedicated its new building, Seibel looked back on what he called the history of the church.

“Davis Park has a rich history and tradition, not only in Enid, but throughout the state. It was once the largest Christian Church in Oklahoma in the 1960s. Our history is a grand and noble one, having helped to start Oakwood Christian Church 30 years ago gave a new birth to our church and giving birth to the Amigo’s Ministry. We realize we’re expanding the kingdom of God. That’s exciting to me. It’s a move to expand the kingdom of God, plain and simple,” he said.

The majority of people who participated in the history of the church have died and the present congregation wants to feel the investment of their own sweat and money, he said.

“There is a pride factor in it, a sense of ownership and a renewed sense of excitement and energy within the church because we’re all working toward a common goal and we have something to actually work toward,” he said.

Seibel said the church went from having plenty of room to being faced with space problems. They recently moved their Sunday school classes because of space limitations.

They already have begun Phase 2, which is dirt work for a new parking lot and circle drive. The church also is debt-free.

“The Lord blessed us with enough money to build a parking lot and circle drive. We moved into the building debt-free and we will try to remain debt free.

The third phase of the program will be construction of a new sanctuary.

Seibel also said the church will definitely start a second service before Christmas, to accomodate more worshippers.

“Our very first Sunday in here I asked when was the last time you had to push and shove your way into church,” he said.