History Of Michigan Ave. Baptist Church - Grady County, Oklahoma Transcribed by: Bonnie Humphries 21 Oct 2002 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ==================================================================== HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AVE. BAPTIST CHURCH CHICKASHA, OKLAHOMA The present Michigan Avenue Baptist Church and its properties is the outgrowth of a mission station maintained by the First Baptist Church in the Frisco Addition in the early days of 1900. The church was organized October 11, 1908 (its first Pastor was E. H. Compere, at its beginning): with Elder W. A. Freeman, pastor of the First Baptist Church and Elder G. W. Jefferson, Missionary of the Chickasaw Baptist Association acting as the Presbytery. The following members of the Missionary Baptist churches were Mr. & Mrs. W. M. Drake: Mrs. Jessie George: Mr. & Mrs. J. B. Hornback: Miss Leona Mead: Mr. & Mrs. W. L. Rhea: Miss Bessie Slater: Mr. & Mrs. George Meadows: Mr. & Mrs. W. H. Mead: Arthur Mead: Mr. & Mrs. L. V. Powell: Miss Grace Powell: Mr. & Mrs. W. C. Reville, and Miss Grace Slater, each presenting letters. They read and adopted the Articles of Faith and the Church Covenant, after which they were recognized by the Presbytery as a regular Missionary Baptist Church under the title of the Northside Baptist Church. On November 8, 1908, Elder W. B. Peeples was called as pastor of the church. He served only one year. Rev. H. E. Hogan was called on March 8, 1911. At the close of his pastorate, the church called Rev. S. R. Williams on November 1, 1912. From October 1, 1914 until December 1, 1918, Rev. H. P. Haley served this church as pastor. In these years the church ordained J. T. King, W. C. Reville, E. C. Vernon, S. H. Scott, George Meadows, G. W. Anderson and D. W. Beets as deacons. In April, 1919, Rev. C. P. Alcorn became pastor, serving four years. In November, 1922, Rev. W. T. Cost was called to the pastorate. On August 8, 1923, the Northside Baptist Church, sometimes referred to as the Second Baptist Church of Chickasha, Oklahoma, changed its title to the Michigan Ave. Baptist Church by vote of its members. In 1924, Rev. K. B. Ford, M. D., was called to serve this church as pastor. In 1925, the church issued a license to E. C. Vernon to preach, Rev. H. E. Cook was called April 7, 1926, and served the church most faithfully for 11 years. In these years the church ordained Rev. Paul Wilkinson, (pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church of this city): Rev. Eddie Dwyer, teacher of Bible in Baylor University, Waco, Texas, and Rev. A. A. Simons (pastor of the Baptist church in Summerfield, Texas, to the ministry. It was during these years that L. W. Davidson, Clayton H. Horn, Herbert Riddle, A. C. Morris, J. L. Dwyer and W. H. Rucker were ordained as deacons. The building that now houses the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church, was built under the leadership of Bro. Cook. The first service was held in this auditorium on January 20, 1929. The church called Rev. I. A. Bently as pastor in October 1937. During his pastorate the Sunday School grew too large to be accommodated in the one building, and in 1938 there was an intermediate building added to the properties of the church. This building housed the entire Intermediate Department of the Sunday School. It was in these years that Rev. James Wilkerson, pastor of the Baptist church of Stroud, Oklahoma was ordained as minister of the gospel. In September 1940, the church called Rev. Roy A. Carley as pastor. He served the church faithfully until he entered the services of the armed forces, as Chaplain, in June 1942. Rev. Harold Lassiter served this church as pastor from January 6, 1943 until March 12, 1944. It was during this year that the church added the parsonage to its properties. From March 19, 1944 until September 4, 1946, Rev. Joe PaskVan served as pastor. During these years, the church ordained H. E. Ratliff and Lester Mitchell as deacons. Rev. D. D. Barber served this church as pastor from November, 1946 until November, 1949. During his pastorate the Educational Building was added to the properties of the church, and Bill Chapman was ordained as a minister of the gospel. Wade E. Darby was called as pastor of this church in December, 1949 and served until April, 1956. During his pastorate, the College Heights Baptist Church was built. He went then to that daughter church as its pastor. Charles Graves was called as pastor on May 20, 1956 and served until February 9, 1958. Clarence W. Garrison was called as pastor on February 18, 1958 and served until March 16, 1962. Samuel R. Ellenwood was called as pastor on April 29, 1962 and served until October 1. 1965. Roy Enterline was called as pastor on February 20, 1966 and served until March 20, 1967. Joe Capps was called to pastor this church on April 23, 1967 and served until July 1970. James Loder was called as Interim Pastor for a period of three months (August 30, 1970 to November 4, 1970). Bill Mark was called as pastor on November 11, 1970 and resigned January 10, 1971, to go back to Sterling, Colorado. Joe Ray was called to pastor this church in June 1971 and served until July 1, 1973. Marvin Ward was called as pastor on March 1, 1974 and served until September 1, 1975. Jerry W. Jones was called on December 1, 1975 and served until April, 1977. Robert Eugene Dye was called on June 26, 1977 and served until May 16, 1984. Dr. Cecil R. Threadgill served as interim from August, 1984 until March, 1985. Larry J. Steverson was called to pastor the church on March 27, 1985 and served until August 1986. Dr. Cecil R. Threadgill again served as our interim pastor from August 1986 until March 15, 1987. Rev. Royce Harrol Kelly was called as pastor, and preached his first sermon on March 22, 1987. He resigned June 29, 1988. Dr. Cecil R. Threadgill was called to pastor the church on December 21, 1988 and served until August 31, 1990. Rev. Keith Weaver was called to pastor the church on December 16, 1990 and served until November 13, 1991. CHURCH HISTORY October 11, 1908 Northside Baptist Church organized after serving as a mission October 11, 1908 E. H. Compere, First Pastor November 8, 1908 W. B. Peeples March 8, 1911 H. E. Hogan November 1, 1912 S. R. Williams October 1, 1914 H. P. Haley April, 1919 C. P. Alcorn November, 1922 W. T. Cost August 1, 1923 Church changed its name to "Michigan Avenue Baptist Church: 1924 K. B. Ford, M. D. April 7, 1926 H. E. Cook (dead, wife in Shannon Springs Resthome) January 20, 1929 Present Church building was dedicated October, 1937 I. A. Bently (3962 Shannon, Fort Worth, Tex 76116, Retired) September, 1940 Roy A. Carley (?, 2202 Johnson, Pecos Tex 79772) January 6, 1943 Harold Lassiter (? 2131 Sheridon Dr., Garland, Tex 75041) March 19, 1944 Joe PaskVan (dead) November, 1946 D. D. Barber (dead, wife in OK City, sister, Miss Abby Hollis) January 1, 1950 W. E. Darby (Tenn.) May 20, 1956 Charles Graves (OK City, Pastor - Nichols Hills, 2925 Rossmor, OK City) March 18, 1958 Clarence W. Garrison (OK City) May 27, 1962 Samuel W. Ellenwood (dead) January 23, 1966 Roy Enterline (Tulsa, 720 E. 53 St., Tulsa, OK 74126) April 23, 1967 Joe Capps (Trinity) June, 1971 Joe L. Ray (Laverty) March 4, 1974 Marvin L. Ward December 1, 1975 Jerry Jones July 3, 1977 Robert Dye February 24, 1985 Larry Steverson