Our History
First building (now the Community/Youth area) is dedicated March 1, 1968
Jim Zug becomes Senior Minister. (Pictured here delivering the Sunday Children’s Sermon to kids in 1989.)
Children’s playground campaign begins, and the new Children’s playground is dedicated.
Rev. John Reagan and John Trivette are shown on the first completed playground in 2007.
Architect Al Saylor, left, and Builder Chuck Suttle, right, flank members of the church’s Building Committee, Building Chairman Carl Perry, Building Committee Member Earl Pendley and Board Chairman Pat Gentis, in 1965.
Beginning March 1, 1968, Western Oaks sponsored Boy Scout Troop 552– a troop that sometimes camped right here on our property, showing us the skills they’d learned and displaying their achievements. THey participated in Scout Sunday. They loaned the New Beginning their HOO bus. (The bus was a school bus so old that the letters S-C-L were missing, leaving only the letters “HOO”.) The HOO bus took our youth a great many places, including Phillips Science Camp in Colorado and also carried the Scouts to Minnesota. (Photo caption: Before a camping trip, scout leaders pose in front of the “HOO” bus as scouts look out from the windows).
Youth, grades 7 through 12, depict the Last Supper, on Easter Morning at sunrise in the 1970s.
In the 1970s, Chi Rho and CYF youth began New Beginning, a singing group. They performed for Christian churches all over Oklahoma as well as for civic groups.
On March 1, 1968, Western Oaks sponsored Boy Scout Troop 552. Above, Kevin Jay, Geoffrey Choules, Gene Lilly and Daniel Burke and their families celebrate the boys’ achieving Eagle Scout status sometime in 1974 or 1975.
Jerry and Pauline Johnson enjoy dinner while Jerry speaks about WOCC’s past church history during the 1980s.
Pre-Schoolers at the 25th Anniversary Celebration, February 12, 1989 are (front) Justin Hamilton, Elizabeth Hazelwood, Kevin Haney, Jeffry Proctor, Joshua Gladney (back) Jamie Starr, Grant Ledbetter, Clair Rymer, Kristi Teter, Andrea Teter, Mathew Sheets and Megan Pivinski.
Catherine Gray and Kristi Teter are shown at a 1990s-era WOCC silent auction.
In 1993, church member Nathan Ketola was the recipient of a van [top], funded by church members and friends. The Donna Nigh Foundation presented the van to Nathan.
[Bottom] Former Oklahoma Governor George Nigh, Nathan, Frontella and Ted Nickel, Jan Ketola and Former Oklahoma First Lady Donna Nigh.
The 2011 WOCC Youth Route 66 Mission Trip @ The Stroud, OK. Foodbank participants were (front) Taylor Mugnier, Israel Ragle-Tullis, Matthew Lee, (middle) Jeff Newell, Seth Nevel, Vincent Pinazza, Shalee Houchin, (back) Mason McDown, Ethan McCaskill, Jack Frantz, Adrianna Lormand, Tony Pinazza and Jeff Nevel.
In 2012, WOCC youth found themselves in a Paint War. Shown are (front) Taylor Mugnier, Hope Lairson, Tony Pinazza, Erich Wagner (back) Ashley McConnell, Israel Ragle-Tullis, Maddison Lance, Cheri VanHorn, Abby Frank, Jacob Foster, Vincent Pinazza, and Sam Atwood.
In 2014, Liam U’Ren, Emma Wagner, Aidan U’Ren, Noah Mars and Eli Mars participated in a Children’s Moment.
Charter Members Patrick Gentis and Suzanne Parker remind us of our past as they sit in a 1960s Mustang convertible in front of the house where the first service of Western Oaks Christian Church was held.
Rev. Daniel U’Ren, Jesse Thomas, and Brooklin Williams, members of the 2014 Pastor’s Class, drive us forward to the future in a 2014 Mustang convertible. Pastor’s Class members not pictured are Joey Mars and Skylar Frank.
Christian Women’s Fellowship members have taken on a variety of tasks over the years. They have made quilts to celebrate new additions to families, and they have made dolls for Children’s Hospital patients.
Dolls made by Christian Women’s Fellowship members for Children’s Hospital patients.
Every once in a while, the church schedules a Work Day and members volunteer their time and talent to do what needs to be done to keep the facility and its yard looking good. People never know where they’re going to be needed, but they always have a good time working together and produce results of which everybody is proud.
Over the years, Vacation Bible School at WOCC has traditionally been an enjoyable and much anticipated event for children.
Bethany Mayor Don Willis, second from left, presents a grant check to Bethany Senior Center President Paul Pfeil. Bethany Senior Center Executive Director Deana Smith and Bethany City Manager Richard Gertson look on.