HISTORY COG7 CLAREMORE
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF GOD (7TH DAY)
IN CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA1943 to 2023
In
the earlier histories of the Church of God (7th Day) in Claremore, it was stated that the church originally began in Inola, Oklahoma and later
relocated to Claremore. This information is incorrect. The
Inola Church of God and the Claremore Church of God (7th Day) are two different congregations. In the early 1940's Elder R.E. Burge and his wife Nellie moved to Claremore, Oklahoma. It is assumed at the time the Burges' moved there, there wasn't a Church of God established, so Elder Burge began holding Bible Study's in the Burges' home. As others joined the group, they rented a building on the corner of East 4th Street and North Lavira Avenue.
The first Church of God Sabbath School in Claremore was established in 1943. Many new people joined the church such as Brother Finnis Nelson, Brother Maurice and Sister Ruth Draper, Brother and Sister Homer Draper, Sister Opal Quick, and Brother and Sister Cowan from Tulsa. Most of the congregation from the Inola church began driving the 15 miles to Claremore for services. After the Burges left two devout men, Will Woodruff and J.D. Hoffman traveled regularly to the local church to bring a message and encourage the congregation. In 1947 Elder Kenneth Walker became the pastor of the local church. Him and his wife Jewel and son Philip were already living in Claremore. The Walkers were very instrumental in starting a youth group at the church.
The Inola Church built a chapel around 1941. The Claremore Church purchased property. So in 1948 the Oklahoma Conference of the Church decided to move the chapel from Inola to the church property in Claremore. Moving day was on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1948. Bill Hinds, grandson of Pastor John Hinds of Inola, was about 15 years old and remembers riding on the roof of the chapel, holding up a board to keep the power lines off the roof. The Walkers' left in 1950 leaving the local church without a pastor. In 1952 Elder William "Ross" Johnston of Arizona became Claremore's next pastor. He, his wife Maudie, plus his in laws Bill and Arka Adams joined the Church of God at Ashland, Oklahoma in 1930. In 1933 Ross received his ministerial license. Most of his preaching years, he was an evangelist. As far as anyone remembers, he was pastor of only one other Church of God and it was in Deming, New Mexico around 1947. Church members from the Claremore and Inola congregations had moved to Deming at that time, and attended the local church.
For the Lord's Supper Service, Elder Ross would line up tables end to end down the center isle of the sanctuary for the emblem service. Women sat at one side of the tables and the men on the other. Elder Ross also introduce the local church to Vacation Bible School. In 1957 Elder Ross obtained property in Inola, from Brother Tobe Brunson. He built a house and him and his wife moved to Inola. At the end of that year, Elder Ross was asked to become the Chairman of the Board for the Missouri State Conference of the Church of God (7th Day). From the end of 1957 to the end of 1959, Elder Ross and Elder Robert Burge switched churches. In 1963, Elder Ross held a two week tent meeting in Coweta, Oklahoma. From that meeting Sister Lily Thomasson Holland and her grown children joined the Claremore church. Sister Holland was raised in the Church of God at Stanberry, Missouri. Her dad was Elder L.D. Maple, a licensed minister of the Church of God in Stanberry, Missouri. While Brother Ross was the pastor of the Claremore church he helped establish a church in Coweta, Oklahoma and one in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Brother Clarence "Cotton" Ullrich, Sr. purchased a building and moved it on to his property for the Coweta congregation to meet in.
Elder Ross was the pastor of four churches at the same time, Claremore, Coweta, Okmulgee and Tulsa. He split the four Saturdays a month among the four churches. He preached two Sabbaths a month at Claremore, his main church, one Sabbath a month at Coweta, and one Sabbath a month at Tulsa. He preached at the Okmulgee Church every Sabbath because they met in the afternoon. This caused a big delima for for him. Which church to preach at in a month that had five Saturdays? His solution was starting the Fifth Sabbath All-Day Meetings. Every month that had a fifth Saturday in it, he had the four churches come together for an All-Day Meeting at a host church.
In about 1970 Elder Ross wrote a small booklet entitled "The Visitor". Bill and Myrtle Moore had a small print shop in Foyil, Oklahoma. They printed and bound his book for him. He began having bible studies with them, and from those studies the Moore's began attending the Claremore church.
Many ministers of the Church of God held revivals and were guest speakers at the Claremore church such as, Elder Ennis Hawkins, Elder Ray Moldenhauer, Elder Ivan Harlan, Elder L.L. Christensen, Elder Ray Benight, Elder Vernon Patchen, Elder Delvin O'banion, Elder Calvin Burrell, Elder Haskell Hawkins, Elder Burt Ford, Elder John Keiz, Elder Belton Sweet, Elder Melvin Sweet, Elder Hugh Butrick, Elder Roy Straub, Elder Max Marrow, Elder Trinidad Padilla, Elder Kenneth Lawson, Elder Clifford Tuttle, Elder Carlos Garcia from Old Mexico, Elder Antonio Vega from South America, Elder Tikili, Jr. from Africa, and Elder Dale Lawson. In 1978 the church attendance had grown, and the congregation felt the need for a bigger sanctuary. A building fund was started and a new 250 seat sanctuary was constructed and dedicated in 1979.
Parents of elementary aged children wanted to establish a church elementary school. A committee of Church of God (7th Day) members met at the Tulsa church to organize the school. The Claremore church was asked for the use of their facilities. A school board was established, teachers were hired and the school opened. The school was named Claremore Christian Academy. There were two teachers, Dorothy Keim and Carolyn Johnston, both members of the Tulsa church, and one Teacher's Assistant Gail Rincker from the Joplin, Missouri Church.
A 50 Year Anniversary Celebration was planned for the Claremore Church in 1999. There was a miscalculation on the year the local church was established in Claremore. The 50th Year Celebration should have been in 1993. The year 1998 was 50 years since the church building was moved to Claremore. A planning committee was formed and met at the church. The committee members were Harry Krause, Shelley Jones, Lavetta Riggs, Bill Hinds, Joyce Hinds, Bob Cowan, Jeanette Cowan, Marvin Keim, Dorothy Keim, and Connie James. The celebration took place on May 8, 1999. Five former pastors were present, Elder Kenneth Walker, Elder Herbert Weekes, Elder Vernon Dickinson, Elder Hugh Butrick and Elder Robert Norvell. On Saturday April 9, 2005 Pastor Tim Hinds, planned an old fashion all-day meeting. The services took place outside on the church lawn. A pot-luck lunch was served on the lawn. The ones attending were invited to dress in old fashion clothes. Pastor Tim and his family left in around 2006.
In about 2006, Barry Mauldin a ministerial student from the Shawnee Church of God (7th Day) began coming to Claremore to preach two Sabbaths a month. In 2009 Elder Ivan Burrell of the Fairview, Oklahoma church was the next pastor. He was only able to serve one year due to his passing in May of 2010. In July of 2013 Barry Mauldin graduated from the General Conference's LifeSpring School of Ministry and received his ministerial license. September 14, 2013 he preached his first sermon as the next pastor of the Claremore Church.
Pastor Barry started having Story Time for the children. He also began the tradition of presenting stepping stones to the children of the church. On each stone he wrote the child's name and the date he gave them the stone. The stones are on display in the a flower bed in front of the Church. As new babies are born into the church, or a new child starts attending the local church regularly, Pastor Barry presents each infant or child with a stone.
Sister Marsha Mauldin, Pastor Barry's mother, began having Children's Church on the first Saturday of the month. She also organized and supervises a children's group called the King's Kids.
Pastor Barry has memory verse time right before his sermons. This is for adults and children alike. The children memorize verses and shares them and are very excited to do so.
Every first Saturday of the month, Pastor Barry calls for all of those who have a birthday in that month to come forward. He prays a Birthday Blessing over them. In the month of February, someone else prays this blessing, as it is Pastor Barry's Birthday month. Over the years the church building has been added on to or renovated. The floor of the dining hall had been repaired many times and was no longer structurally sound and the kitchen needed to be renovated as well. In 2016 the the kitchen had a major over-haul by professionals. In 2017 the sanctuary was renovated. In 2018 the dining hall had a major over-haul inside and out. On December 29, 2018 a dedication service was held for the dining hall. Pastor Barry planned All-day Services for the 70th Year Anniversary of the Claremore Church. As I mentioned before, it wasn't the 70th Anniversary of the Church, but the church building. At the dedication service Connie Johnston James read her written "History of the Claremore Church Building." In 2022 Pastor Barry moved to Owasso, Oklahoma. He had been living in Stillwater, Oklahoma and working for Oklahoma State University. He would drive to Owasso every Friday evening and spend the week-end with his parents. He had tried to find a job in the Tulsa area for many years with no luck. Finally in the fall of 2022 he was transferred to the Tulsa Campus of OSU. He sold his house in Stillwater and moved to Owasso.
The parking lot of the church needed new gravel spread on it. Due to a City Ordinance the parking lots of businesses and churches in Claremore had to be a sealed surface. The church did not have the funds to seal the entire parking lot, so there was a parking lot fund with enough money in it to have two handi-capped parking spaces to be built. In February of 2023 the two spaces were pour by professionals.
Here is a list of the pastors of the Claremore Church of God (7th Day): Elder Robert Burge (2), Elder Kenneth Walker, Elder Ross Johnston (2), Elder Robert Norvell, Elder Daniel Davila, Elder Royce Splawn, Elder Vernon Dickinson, Elder Hugh Butrick, Elder Roy Johnson (2), Elder Victor Novak, Elder Herbert Weekes, Elder Marvin Keim, Elder Tim Hinds, Elder Ivan Burrell, current pastor Elder Barry Mauldin.
Revised History written by Connie James, 2023
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF GOD (7TH DAY)
IN CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA
IN CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA
1943 to 2023
In the earlier histories of the Church of God (7th Day) in Claremore, it was stated that the church originally began in Inola, Oklahoma and later relocated to Claremore. This information is incorrect. The Inola Church of God and the Claremore Church of God (7th Day) are two different congregations.
In the earlier histories of the Church of God (7th Day) in Claremore, it was stated that the church originally began in Inola, Oklahoma and later relocated to Claremore. This information is incorrect. The Inola Church of God and the Claremore Church of God (7th Day) are two different congregations.
The first Church of God Sabbath School in Claremore was established in 1943. Many new people joined the church such as Brother Finnis Nelson, Brother Maurice and Sister Ruth Draper, Brother and Sister Homer Draper, Sister Opal Quick, and Brother and Sister Cowan from Tulsa. Most of the congregation from the Inola church began driving the 15 miles to Claremore for services. After the Burges left two devout men, Will Woodruff and J.D. Hoffman traveled regularly to the local church to bring a message and encourage the congregation.
The Inola Church built a chapel around 1941. The Claremore Church purchased property. So in 1948 the Oklahoma Conference of the Church decided to move the chapel from Inola to the church property in Claremore. Moving day was on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1948. Bill Hinds, grandson of Pastor John Hinds of Inola, was about 15 years old and remembers riding on the roof of the chapel, holding up a board to keep the power lines off the roof.
For the Lord's Supper Service, Elder Ross would line up tables end to end down the center isle of the sanctuary for the emblem service. Women sat at one side of the tables and the men on the other. Elder Ross also introduce the local church to Vacation Bible School.
Elder Ross was the pastor of four churches at the same time, Claremore, Coweta, Okmulgee and Tulsa. He split the four Saturdays a month among the four churches. He preached two Sabbaths a month at Claremore, his main church, one Sabbath a month at Coweta, and one Sabbath a month at Tulsa. He preached at the Okmulgee Church every Sabbath because they met in the afternoon. This caused a big delima for for him. Which church to preach at in a month that had five Saturdays? His solution was starting the Fifth Sabbath All-Day Meetings. Every month that had a fifth Saturday in it, he had the four churches come together for an All-Day Meeting at a host church.
In about 1970 Elder Ross wrote a small booklet entitled "The Visitor". Bill and Myrtle Moore had a small print shop in Foyil, Oklahoma. They printed and bound his book for him. He began having bible studies with them, and from those studies the Moore's began attending the Claremore church.
Many ministers of the Church of God held revivals and were guest speakers at the Claremore church such as, Elder Ennis Hawkins, Elder Ray Moldenhauer, Elder Ivan Harlan, Elder L.L. Christensen, Elder Ray Benight, Elder Vernon Patchen, Elder Delvin O'banion, Elder Calvin Burrell, Elder Haskell Hawkins, Elder Burt Ford, Elder John Keiz, Elder Belton Sweet, Elder Melvin Sweet, Elder Hugh Butrick, Elder Roy Straub, Elder Max Marrow, Elder Trinidad Padilla, Elder Kenneth Lawson, Elder Clifford Tuttle, Elder Carlos Garcia from Old Mexico, Elder Antonio Vega from South America, Elder Tikili, Jr. from Africa, and Elder Dale Lawson.
Parents of elementary aged children wanted to establish a church elementary school. A committee of Church of God (7th Day) members met at the Tulsa church to organize the school. The Claremore church was asked for the use of their facilities. A school board was established, teachers were hired and the school opened. The school was named Claremore Christian Academy. There were two teachers, Dorothy Keim and Carolyn Johnston, both members of the Tulsa church, and one Teacher's Assistant Gail Rincker from the Joplin, Missouri Church.
A 50 Year Anniversary Celebration was planned for the Claremore Church in 1999. There was a miscalculation on the year the local church was established in Claremore. The 50th Year Celebration should have been in 1993. The year 1998 was 50 years since the church building was moved to Claremore. A planning committee was formed and met at the church. The committee members were Harry Krause, Shelley Jones, Lavetta Riggs, Bill Hinds, Joyce Hinds, Bob Cowan, Jeanette Cowan, Marvin Keim, Dorothy Keim, and Connie James. The celebration took place on May 8, 1999. Five former pastors were present, Elder Kenneth Walker, Elder Herbert Weekes, Elder Vernon Dickinson, Elder Hugh Butrick and Elder Robert Norvell.
In about 2006, Barry Mauldin a ministerial student from the Shawnee Church of God (7th Day) began coming to Claremore to preach two Sabbaths a month. In 2009 Elder Ivan Burrell of the Fairview, Oklahoma church was the next pastor. He was only able to serve one year due to his passing in May of 2010.
In July of 2013 Barry Mauldin graduated from the General Conference's LifeSpring School of Ministry and received his ministerial license. September 14, 2013 he preached his first sermon as the next pastor of the Claremore Church.
Pastor Barry started having Story Time for the children. He also began the tradition of presenting stepping stones to the children of the church. On each stone he wrote the child's name and the date he gave them the stone. The stones are on display in the a flower bed in front of the Church. As new babies are born into the church, or a new child starts attending the local church regularly, Pastor Barry presents each infant or child with a stone.
Sister Marsha Mauldin, Pastor Barry's mother, began having Children's Church on the first Saturday of the month. She also organized and supervises a children's group called the King's Kids.
Pastor Barry has memory verse time right before his sermons. This is for adults and children alike. The children memorize verses and shares them and are very excited to do so.
Every first Saturday of the month, Pastor Barry calls for all of those who have a birthday in that month to come forward. He prays a Birthday Blessing over them. In the month of February, someone else prays this blessing, as it is Pastor Barry's Birthday month.
Pastor Barry started having Story Time for the children. He also began the tradition of presenting stepping stones to the children of the church. On each stone he wrote the child's name and the date he gave them the stone. The stones are on display in the a flower bed in front of the Church. As new babies are born into the church, or a new child starts attending the local church regularly, Pastor Barry presents each infant or child with a stone.
Sister Marsha Mauldin, Pastor Barry's mother, began having Children's Church on the first Saturday of the month. She also organized and supervises a children's group called the King's Kids.
Pastor Barry has memory verse time right before his sermons. This is for adults and children alike. The children memorize verses and shares them and are very excited to do so.
Every first Saturday of the month, Pastor Barry calls for all of those who have a birthday in that month to come forward. He prays a Birthday Blessing over them. In the month of February, someone else prays this blessing, as it is Pastor Barry's Birthday month.
Over the years the church building has been added on to or renovated. The floor of the dining hall had been repaired many times and was no longer structurally sound and the kitchen needed to be renovated as well. In 2016 the the kitchen had a major over-haul by professionals. In 2017 the sanctuary was renovated. In 2018 the dining hall had a major over-haul inside and out. On December 29, 2018 a dedication service was held for the dining hall. Pastor Barry planned All-day Services for the 70th Year Anniversary of the Claremore Church. As I mentioned before, it wasn't the 70th Anniversary of the Church, but the church building. At the dedication service Connie Johnston James read her written "History of the Claremore Church Building."
In 2022 Pastor Barry moved to Owasso, Oklahoma. He had been living in Stillwater, Oklahoma and working for Oklahoma State University. He would drive to Owasso every Friday evening and spend the week-end with his parents. He had tried to find a job in the Tulsa area for many years with no luck. Finally in the fall of 2022 he was transferred to the Tulsa Campus of OSU. He sold his house in Stillwater and moved to Owasso.
The parking lot of the church needed new gravel spread on it. Due to a City Ordinance the parking lots of businesses and churches in Claremore had to be a sealed surface. The church did not have the funds to seal the entire parking lot, so there was a parking lot fund with enough money in it to have two handi-capped parking spaces to be built. In February of 2023 the two spaces were pour by professionals.
Here is a list of the pastors of the Claremore Church of God (7th Day): Elder Robert Burge (2), Elder Kenneth Walker, Elder Ross Johnston (2), Elder Robert Norvell, Elder Daniel Davila, Elder Royce Splawn, Elder Vernon Dickinson, Elder Hugh Butrick, Elder Roy Johnson (2), Elder Victor Novak, Elder Herbert Weekes, Elder Marvin Keim, Elder Tim Hinds, Elder Ivan Burrell, current pastor Elder Barry Mauldin.
The parking lot of the church needed new gravel spread on it. Due to a City Ordinance the parking lots of businesses and churches in Claremore had to be a sealed surface. The church did not have the funds to seal the entire parking lot, so there was a parking lot fund with enough money in it to have two handi-capped parking spaces to be built. In February of 2023 the two spaces were pour by professionals.
Here is a list of the pastors of the Claremore Church of God (7th Day): Elder Robert Burge (2), Elder Kenneth Walker, Elder Ross Johnston (2), Elder Robert Norvell, Elder Daniel Davila, Elder Royce Splawn, Elder Vernon Dickinson, Elder Hugh Butrick, Elder Roy Johnson (2), Elder Victor Novak, Elder Herbert Weekes, Elder Marvin Keim, Elder Tim Hinds, Elder Ivan Burrell, current pastor Elder Barry Mauldin.
Revised History written by Connie James, 2023
Comments