In 1871, the "Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad", called the KATY, made its way across Indian Territory into the Three Forks area of Oklahoma. On Christmas Day, 1871, the KATY sent its first engine across a bridge laid across the Arkansas River. In early 1872, a new station was established by the railroad and named Muscogee.
An instant town soon followed at the location and consisted of "several tents and board shacks". Several businesses were soon established near the station. On March 19, 1898, Muskogee was incorporated, as the townspeople received legal titles to their property. Finally, on November 16, 1907, the State of Oklahoma was born.
Muskogee began to explode in growth, as Oklahoma's second-largest city. A welcoming arch was created at Main and Broadway to welcome visitors arriving on the railroad. There were ten banks. Oil and gas development was at its peak and a "100,000 Club" was formed to promote Muskogee and to reach a population goal of 100,000.
In this former frontier town, the Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist began to establish strong churches. Things continued well for Muskogee until the great depression which had a devastating impact in the late 20's and early 30's. The prosperous economy took a severe downturn. It was in this atmosphere that another church was to be born - a Pentecostal church.
As revival spread throughout the state, a small group of Pentecostal believers in Muskogee, meeting together in home prayer meetings, decided it was time to become a church.
On November 6, 1927, Muskogee First Assembly was set in order under Reverend Tom Ingle, with thirty-two people signing the petition. On November 12, 1927, the General Council of the Assemblies of God officially recognized the assembly at Muskogee as one of the local Assemblies of God. Pastor Ingle remained with the church until 1928.
In 1928, Wallace S. Bragg, become the pastor of the struggling church. Raised in a Methodist church in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, he gave his heart to the Lord in his later teen years. He was filled with the Holy Spirit as the fire fell in the "Old Glory Barn," located at 423 Queen Street West in Toronto, where Willard Pearce was preaching. Soon after, he entered Central Bible Institute in Springfield, where he later graduated. After a short pastorate in Iowa, he came to Muskogee First Assembly. God's blessing was on his ministry and the church began to flourish.
In those early days, the group began worshiping together in yard meetings in Midland Valley, then in a tent, and then in a store building at 633 South Cherokee St. Later, they moved to a brick building on 28th Street.
Under Bragg's ministry, First Assembly of God erected a building at 827 Columbus Ave. There are still those who remember the flo0r of wood shavings and sand and the potbelly stove, which kept the shed/church warm. Soon after, Noel Perkins, Secretary of the Assemblies of God, preached the dedication service on July 5, 1931 at 2:30pm. In a letter to JR Evans, Bragg wrote, "We now have a fine big tabernacle erected in a wonderfully good part of the city." Bragg's plan was to start a revival on the Sunday night the church was dedicated and he was looking for an evangelist. "Many Baptists are getting mightily interested, and as you know, just anyone won't do for this place." When the dedication services were over, Wallace S. Bragg wrote JR Evans, "Doubtless Brother Perkin has told you about our tabernacle. It is so much of an improvement upon what we have been used to that we are much encouraged to press onward."
Reverend Bragg was ordained in the early part of 1931. He became the State President of the Christ Ambassadors, served as State Presbyter, and as General Presbyter. In 1936, he was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Oklahoma District, an office that he held for over six years.
Thomas E. May became pastor after Bragg resigned and pastored until 1938. The church continued to experience great meetings and a spirit of revival was present. Under his ministry, First Assembly of God moved into the St. Paul Methodist Church building in 1936. The building had been partly destroyed by fire but members began to work together to rebuild the damaged church that was now home to Pentecostals.
In 1938, VH Ray became pastor of Muskogee First Assembly of God. His five-year pastorate served the church well. He had a lot of work to do on the "new" church. His ministry was timely, as the church would develop the building, which would serve them for forty-three years. Ray went on to serve as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Oklahoma District office in 1942, ironically replacing Wallace Bragg. In 1947, Brother Ray become the State Superintendent. Robert Groggin replaced him in 1951; however, Ray served as Secretary-Treasurer from 1951 to 1953.
When Glenn E. Millard become Muskogee First's new pastor in 1941, the Millard name was legendary around Oklahoma. Glenn and his brother, Gordon, both teenagers, were saved in a Jacob Miller meeting in Ringwood in 1919. Millard was called to preach at 16. By 1920, the Millard brothers began taking Pentecost to a wide area of northwest Oklahoma. In March, 1921, District Chairman Paul Ralston reported in The Pentecostal Evangel: "Revivals are breaking out over the western portion of the state. Gordon and Glenn Millard, brothers, are being much used of the Lord at various points...at least 125 have recently received the baptism...two assemblies have been set in order." Now in his forties, Millard led the church to new heights.
In 1945, Warner L. Miles was elected as the Home Missions Secretary, a newly created position of the Oklahoma District. He served until June 1946, when he resigned saying, "someone else might be able to get more accomplished than I have." The position was never again filled, but Miles would use his passion to win the last as Muskogee's new pastor. Besides having built many churches, Brother Miles was engaged in radio work and also served as a district official. Later, in 1968, at the age of fifty, he went to the mission's field in Korea. In 1985, he and his wife, Eva, were awarded a plaque commending their church-planting accomplishments in that country. They served in numerous educational posts as well as worked with Dr. Cho, pastor of the world's largest church. Warner Miles died August 10, 2000 at the age of eighty-three.
Samuel Scott's call to preach came through a miraculous healing. Samuel and Leenetta Scott pioneered nearly twenty congregations in Oklahoma. Brother and Sister Scott, both licensed pilots, were known as "The Flying Evangelists". While pastoring at Muskogee First Assembly, from 1948 to 1951, Scott was appointed by the State Adjutant General as Chaplin of the 180th Infantry, 45th Division. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Between 1951 and 1958, four pastors came to Muskogee First Assembly. CC Wallace in 1951, Warren N. Piersol in 1953, Dean Underwood in 1954, and VH Ray returned in 1955, for the second time. Pastor Ray stated until 1958. Don H. McKinney was the pastor in 1958.
The church was ready for a pastor to stay. That dream became a reality in 1958 when S. James Colburn and his wife, Eva, known by many as Honey, became First Assembly's new pastors. They stayed eighteen years and the church grew under their ministry.
The Colburn's were gifted in music and Sister Colburn organized seven choirs in the church. Under her ministry, "The Teenaires" recorded an album. In 1962, a new $65,000 two-story addition was added, which completely changed the front of the church, giving it a new modern look. The church could now seat 440 people and had many new rooms.
Marcus and Naomi Alexander became the First Assembly's 13th pastors in 1976. Under their ministry, the church began to grow. Property was purchased around 7th and Boston to expand the church, but God had something better. They decided it would be easier and less expensive to purchase property and build a new facility. $125,000 was quickly raised and the property on Gulick Street was purchased. By faith, they started construction on a new building. Over one million dollars was spent to build a magnificent sanctuary. On Easter Sunday, 1980, the congregation met at the old building on 7th and Boston for the last time and caravanned to the new facility on Gulick. The first worship service had a record attendance of over 600 people. During First Assembly of God's 87-year history, six other sister churches were started.
In 1988, the church elected Evangelists Jimmy and Pam King to be their pastors. The church was struggling to pay off the debt of its new building and needed to grow. The King's were just what the church needed. Their emphasis on prayer made the difference. The church was moving forward.
In 1990, Steven and Debra Rose came from the Kansas District Office where they were serving as State Youth Directors. Their ministry has been marked by the church's tripling growth, both financially and numerically. Countless music and drama presentations have reached out to the community. The church is also known for "Freedom Celebration" which is one of the largest Independence Day fireworks displays in the state of Oklahoma. Smart School, a faith-based summer school program, also reached out to children of Muskogee. The church has also taken many missions trips around the world, fulfilling the Great Commission. The Christ Theater, Fellowship Center and a major update to the sanctuary, including lighting and sound has been completed. Additionally, a multi-million dollar Kids Ministry building is slated to be completed in December, 2014 which will feature the latest in state-of-the-art technology.
90 years of history, God's hand has always been on His church, but this is only the beginning. Like never before, the church has a strong desire to reach its city. The vision of the church is "To Lift People To A Higher Purpose." We know where we are going and have strong desire to get there. First Assembly of God has become the major force in the city for evangelism - but it's only the beginning.
