The First Baptist Church of Kingfisher celebrates its quasquicentennial – 125 years of “Loving Jesus, Loving People, and Making Disciples” – this year.

At 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, a special worship service will be held in the current facility, 1340 S. 13^th St., to commemorate this milestone in church history.

Former pastors and staff have been invited to return and see what God has been doing in the church. They will also encourage the congregation to remain faithful as those who preceded them did.

After the service, a meal will be served “family style” in The Gathering. The service and meal are both open to the public.

A 125-foot timeline of events and pictures also has been assembled in The Gathering, constructed by Roberta Nicholas. Members have contributed facts and memories of the church’s rich history.

Other memorabilia, arranged by Susan Kannady, will be on display in the chapel.

How the Church Began

On Dec. 30, 1894, a group of Baptists met in the Blackford and Cunningham Hall, Kingfisher, Oklahoma Territory, for the purpose of organizing a Baptist Church.

On March 10, 1895, the Rev. Job Ingram, missionary pastor of the Northern Board of Home Missions of New York, was called as pastor of 18 charter members.

In 1896, the first church building was completed and dedicated, with Gov. A.J. Seay as one of the main speakers. In February of 1929, under Pastor JT Wiles, the church voted to tear down this structure and rebuild in the same location.

The building was completed and dedicated in December of that year, with the dedicatory sermon by Dr. George W. Truett.

In 1938, during financial struggles, several church members sacrificed dearly to save the church building– even mortgaging their own farms. Their faithfulness paid off on Aug. 14, 1943, when the building debt was paid in full.

In the ensuing years, a nursery building and Falls Creek cabin were built as well as a new church parsonage. In 1980, a cable TV ministry was launched, enabling services to be rebroadcast to nursing homes and shut-ins.

Breaking New Ground

On April 20, 1980, ground was broken for a new and present facility on South 13^th Street. It was completed and dedicated in April, 1981, with Dr. T. Hollis Epton preaching the sermon, “What Mean These Stones.”

In December of 2007 a new youth education, activity, and worship building was planned. Completed in 2009, the new building was named The Connextion, to encompass the vision that it be a place where the church connects with the community, particularly youth and children – the Next Generation.

First Baptist Church has had 35 pastors in 125 years and built three new buildings.

Minding the Missions

First Baptist Church has always been mission-minded by sending teams and individuals around the state and on every continent except Antarctica.

In Kingfisher County, FBC has established missions which later became full-fledged churches. These include the Indian Mission, Broadway Baptist Mission (later Oak Street Baptist Church), Dover Mission and Okarche Mission.

The church has also partnered with churches in Yukon, El Reno, Chicago and New York City in establishing churches.

Expanding the Ministry

In 2013, FBC began a ministry of free medical care and pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with other local partners and volunteers, for those who cannot afford care. The Compassion Clinic is now open the second Monday night of every month.

The church also began a Grief Share ministry to help those who have lost a loved one – a spouse, child, other relative or friend, provides Sunday School lessons for nursing home residents on Sunday mornings and rebroadcasts Sunday morning messages on cable TV.

Information about these programs can be obtained by calling the church at 375-4283.