CHICKASAW MISSIONARY BAPTIST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION

Our

Philosophy/Vision

• Reconciliation of member churches to active participation and foster a grand state of unity.  Further to make a progressive impact across the breadth and length of the Chickasaw district.

• Member Churches should be given a clear view of operational procedure and be encouraged to participate in all events/activities that will strengthen, enhance, improve and or birth ministries within their respective localities.

• MC will be able to call on and expect the united support of the CDA Leadership Team in economic development, civil and community involvement coupled with the fulfillment of Article II of the constitution.

• The CDA Leadership Team using the RIE principle will directly engage MC ministry leaders.

Historical High-Lights of the Chickasaw District Missionary Baptist Association—

1891-1942.  Edited by H. P. Parris 

The Washita and Caddo Missionary Baptist District Association was organized the first Sunday in March, 1891; at the Calvary Baptist Church, Berwyn, Oklahoma, Reverend J.R. Banks, pastor.  It was organized with only two churches and six delegates participating.  The pioneer churches were the entertaining church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Reverend H. E. Darrington, pastor.  The latter church was also located near Berwyn.  The pioneer delegates were: Reverend J. R. Banks, Mr. Charlie Cohee and Mr. B. Williams representing Calvary and Reverend H. E. Darrington.  Prof. W. E. Lee and Reverend B. Antwine representing Mt. Pleasant.  The pioneer officers elected to head this organization were as follows:  Reverend J. R. Banks, moderator; H. E. Darrington, vice moderator, Professor W. E. Lee recording secretary and Mr. Charlie Cohee, treasurer.  They named this new organization The Washita and Caddo Missionary Baptist District Association.  A condition for it was drawn up in this meeting by a committee of four.  They were: Darington, Banks, Lee and a white man whose name is not known.  The association adopted this constitution, which among other things provided that the annual assessment for churches would be 10 cents per capita for each church member.  These leaders began immediately to attempt to build up the membership of this infant organization.  In August of that same year, they held the first deliberate meeting with Mount Pleasant.  In addition to the two pioneer churches, five others joined in this meeting.  Their names are as follows:  Mt. Carmel, Wynnewood; First Baptist, Ardmore; Sweet Caanan, Brock, Reverend A. W. Brooks, pastor; Hopewell, Wynnewood: and St. Mary, Burneyville, Reverend S. V. Terral, pastor.  All of the officers were retained, with the election of a corresponding secretary.  Reverend A. W. Brooks, pastor of Sweet Caanan, Brock was their choice for this office.  Approximately $40.00 was raised in this historical meeting.  Three added board members aside from the regular officers were appointed.  It was also in this meeting that the Sunday School Convention and the Women’s Association was organized as auxiliaries to this body.

They met the following year with St. Mary, Burneyville, Reverend S. V. Terrel, pastor.  In this meeting several other churches cast their lots with them.  Around $100.00 was  raised in the 1892 meeting which amount made these leaders feel enthusiastically encouraged.  There was a little misunderstanding created in the meeting by the contention of territory natives over the validity of state raised people taking the leadership in this Association.  This storm was soon weathered by the sage advice of Darrington.  The term of Moderator Banks expired in this meeting and Darrington was elected to succeed him.  The later held this office until 1942, when he was elected moderator emeritus.  The Association met in 1893 with Hopewell, Wynnewood, Reverend John Peters, pastor.  Around $150.00 was raised in this meeting.  In 1894 they met at Mt. Carmel Wynnewood, Reverend A. W. Brooks, pastor.  They raised in this meeting approximately $200.00.  From this time until 1905, we have not been able to learn the exact places of the Association’s annual meetings.  They held their 1905 meeting with Bethel, Tatum.  It was in this meeting that the name of this Association was changed to its present name.  This change was the climax of an effort on the part of Attorney T.S.E. Brown of Ardmore.  Lawyer Brown was then serving the Association as its recording secretary.  He contended that since most of the churches comprising this body was located in what was then called the Chickasaw Nation; the name Washita and Caddo was misleading.  Lawyer Brown was three years getting the consent of Moderator Darrington for said change.  Thus after 14 years of existence, the name of this body was changed to “the Chickasaw Missionary Baptist District Association.”  During the 51 years existence of this organization, it has spread over nearly half of the state of Oklahoma.  Reaching as far north as Oklahoma City, and south to Marietta; approximately 115 miles; and as far west as Frederick and Lone Wolfe and east to Ada, and Tishomingo about 165 miles.  This is an area of alost 18,355 square miles.  No other district of this state has reached and influenced any more lives for the Kingdom of God, than the Chickasaw.  Between 70 and 100 churches have had memberships in this body during this semi-century.  For history’s sake some of them are listed below.  Excluding those already mentioned, the list is as follows:

Bethel Union, Enville; Red Rock, Byars: Athen, Ada; Mt. Zion, Ardmore; Corinth and Sunrise, Ardmore; First Baptist, Purcell:  New Hope, Sulphur; New Hope, First Baptist, Macedonia; Union Baptist and Mt. Olive, Chickasha; Bright Hope and Center Union, Colbert; Clarks Chapel, Lone Wolfe; Bethida, Clinton; New Salem, Ft. Cobb; Pleasant Hill, Purcell; Valley View, Berwyn; Mt. Zion, Mt. Olive and Pilgrim Rest, Wynnewood; Antioch and St. Steven, Duncan; New Bethel, Blanchard; Bethel, Tatum; Bethlehem, Pauls Valley; Jerusalem, Washington; St. John and Gilfield, Davis; St. James, Milburn; First Baptist, Tishomingo; Mt. Zion, and Lemons Chapel, Marietta; Mt. Olive, New Port; Davidson Chapel, Ardmore; Pleasant Hill, Rush Springs; St. John, Mt. Pleasant and New Zion, Oklahoma City; St. John, Tishomingo; St. John, Lovis; Lone Isle, Woodville; Mt. Olive, Norge; Young Reaper, Straford; Nazarene, Burneyville; Galilee, Elmore City; First Baptist, Sulphur; Betel Chapel, Verden; Morning Star and First Baptist, Anadarko; Bethel, Madill; Shiloh, Springer; New Ezra, Tishomingo; Mt. Olive, Rosedale; St. Paul, Milo; Little Flock, Fola; First Baptist, Choctaw; Mt. Sinai, Maxwell; Mt. Zion, Waurika; Mt. Zion, Manitou; Mt. Zion, Comanche; Pleasant Hill, Cement; Galilee, Stringtown; Pleasant Hill, Rocky Fort; Mt. Zion, Springer, Rodger Chapel, Madill; Union Chapel, Center; Sardis, Milburn; Shiloh, Wynnewood; St. John, Frederick; Mt. Zion, Berwyn; Davidson Chapel, Mulky; St. Mary, Bowles; First Union, Lone Wolf, ect.  This list is sufficient to show us the wide scope, this district has covered during these 50 years 

THE OLDEST CHURCHES 

The oldest church from the standpoint of organization, that has held membership with the Chickasaw District Association, is Hopewell, Wynnewood.  This church was organized in 1866; one year after freedom was declared.  Reverend Sam Brewer, John Kemp and Steven Smith lead in its organization.  Brewer became its first pastor.  He is said to have been about the first Negro Baptist preacher to preach the gospel of the Son of God in the Chickasaw Nation.  The next oldest church is perhaps the Calvary Baptist Church, Berwyn.  It was organized about 1875.  This is the church where this association was born. 

THE LARGEST CHURCHES 

The largest church to represent with this body is St. John, Oklahoma City.  At one time it had a membership of about 1,000.  It withdrew from this association in October 1940, after being a loyal member for 21 years.  It joined this body in 1919.  The next three largest churches are First Baptist Chickasha, First Baptist, Ardmore and Mt. Zion, Ardmore.  They have had an average membership of 400 each.

Historical Briefs 1942-1985 (by Chairperson of G.P.B.)

Rev. T.F. Fisher took the reign of leadership of the Chickasaw District in 1942.  His high spirited drive in Christian Education, Missions and promoting God’s entire program, was years in advance of the time in which he lived; but Rev. Fisher was a strong believer of this statement, “All things are possible with those who put God in full-charge of their lives.”  So under his banner, he magnified the support of education for ministers and laymen, and was always willing to pool his personal resources and that of the District, with the Oklahoma Baptist State Convention to support the Oklahoma School of Religion then located at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma.  Rev. Fisher was not only a promoter and supporter of the school, he was also an ardent student, was awarded an honorary Doctors Degree from Langston University and was well known as “Dr. T.F. Fisher.”

His last pastorate was with the First Baptist Church in Purcell, Oklahoma, where he served for 19 years.  He delivered his last message on Sunday night March 24, 1963.  He died suddenly early Monday, April 1, 1963 in the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oklahoma City.

Dr. C. M. Franks, who served as Vice-Moderator was named Moderator and served faithfully for 21 years (1963-1984) and was highly honored with the title: Moderator Emeritus of the Chickasaw District, and a colorful banquet Testimonial Fete.

Dr. E.C. Beatty who had been very active serving with Dr. Fisher, and as Vice Moderator with Dr. Franks for 21 years, was elected Moderator, August 1984 at the annual session held at First Baptist Church in Chickasha, Rev. R.S. Corbin host pastor.  We anticipated continued growth in our mission and education program as we increase our support to the School of Religion, now located at Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Baptist Student Union Program, Langston, Oklahoma and our Family Camp, East of Oklahoma City.

This Souvenir Program Booklet is one of the endeavors initiated by our new moderator to keep alive the dreams of our trail blazers and to reach higher heights in Kingdom building.  “If it’s to be – It is up to me!”

Moderators of the Chickasaw Missionary Baptist District Association

Past Officers of the Association (1891-1942)

Vice Moderators:         Rev. H.E. Darrington 1891-1892; Rev. J.R. Banks 1892; Rev. N.C. Combs period served unknown; M.T. Jackson period served unknown; Ben E. Gwens 1910-1917; Rev. D.D. Jones 1917-1927; Rev. J.W. Johnson 1927-1940; Rev. T. F. Fisher 1940-1942; Rev. D.C. Hannah 1942 - ;

Recording Secretaries:  W.E. Lee; Rev. E.E. Ware; Attorney S.E. Brown; Thomas Drake 1905-1907; Rev. J.F. Kersh; Dr. P.R. Neil; Rev. A.W. Brock 1913-1915; Rev. A. L. Russell 1915-1917; G.A. Kenyon 1917-1923; Rev. Wm. Stokes 1923-1927; Mrs. Blanche Bruce 1927-1942.

Corresponding Secretaries:       Rev. A. W. Brooks 1891-1913; Rev. P.P. Pope 1913-1914; Rev. G.W. Dickerson 1914-1915; Rev. S.P. Cato 1915-1916; Rev. J. B. Gentry 1915-1918; Mrs. Blanch Bruce 1918- 1920; Mrs. Pearl Smallwood 1920-1922; Rev. J.W. Johnson 1922-1927; L.L. Rhodes 1927-1928; Rev. H.C. Belcher 1928 -; Mr. W.C. Readis – 1942.

Treasurers:       Charlie Berwyn, pioneer treasurer; Mr. Charlie Ross – 1915; Silas Adams 1915-1928; J.W. Wirt 1928- 1934; Jack Jackson 1934-1942.

Many other faithful workers have served the Association as statisticians, auditors, and board members.  These services, along with the listed officers, made an outstanding contribution to the growth and spiritual strength of the Chickasaw Missionary District Association.