Bethany Church sits on the north side of Broken Arrow on Olive Avenue, between 71st and 81st Streets, and is about 15 minutes from downtown Tulsa. It is a multigenerational church with the mission of “Impacting people to experience a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.” Sunday worship is offered at 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. in the sanctuary of the main building. Bethany is especially known for putting children and families first through Kids Worship, small groups, student ministries, and MidWeek AWANA.
A Church Born to Put Children First
Bethany Church was officially organized on August 27, 1963. A few young families wanted a church that would make children and their families a priority, but they could not find one. They prayed and decided to start one. That origin still shapes the church: its leaders say investing in young people is “woven into our DNA,” and children remain one of ten core values.
The “Proving It” emphasis, “Impacting Kids for Generations to Come,” gives that priority a practical expression. Bethany has a long legacy of Bible teaching, worship, games, activities, and prayer designed for children and students. The church also operates Bethany Learning Center, whose director also oversees the nursery ministry. Children’s learning is treated as a clear expression of the church’s mission rather than a peripheral activity.
Two Sunday Gatherings at 9:00 and 11:15
Every Sunday, the congregation offers two worship experiences in the sanctuary of the main building. The first begins at 9:00 a.m. and the second at 11:15 a.m. Both are designed around biblical preaching and worship, and both include a dedicated Bethany Kids Worship gathering for children. Adults and students can also connect in groups at 10:15 a.m., between the two services.
A Relaxed First Visit
Bethany dresses casually, so visitors can come as they are. Free coffee or tea is available on the way into the first service from the gym and before the second service in the lobby. The worship team leads “passionate worship,” and each gathering centers on a practical message from the Bible. People who do not know the songs are welcome; learning them together is part of the experience.
First-time guests receive a gift at the Welcome Center. They are not called on, asked to stand, or pressured to give money. The Plan A Visit form helps the church prepare for arrivals, while the stated goal is to make a first Sunday comfortable and stress-free. Children have their own age-appropriate worship during both adult gatherings.
Sunday at Bethany Kids
Bethany Kids Worship takes place at both 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. The team uses Bible stories, games, singing, and dancing to bring the Bible to life, with one Bible truth each week supported by songs, crafts, and games. Separate classrooms serve newborns through fifth grade: nursery for newborns to age 1, toddlers ages 2 to 3, preschool ages 3 to 5, and elementary students from kindergarten through fifth grade.
After the 9:00 service, children meet in Bethany Groups at 10:15 a.m. for open discussion about Bible lessons, prayer for one another, and activities. Teachers are intentional about grounding each session in God’s Word and helping children carry their love of Scripture beyond the gathering.
Safety for Every Child
Children are checked in, and each parent receives a corresponding name badge required for pickup. Staff and volunteers have passed background checks, and doors to the Kids Wing are locked during services to prevent unauthorized access. The children’s environments are described as safe, secure, and clean.
MidWeek AWANA
AWANA meets Wednesdays from 6:15 to 8:00 p.m. Children memorize verses, play games, and learn God’s Word in small and large groups. Classes are divided by age: Puggles for ages 2 to 3, Cubbies for ages 4 to 5, Sparks for kindergarten through second grade, and Truth and Training for third through fifth grade.
Students Gather Between Services and on Wednesdays
Bethany Students also meets at 10:15 a.m. on Sundays, between worship services. Its leaders bring Bible stories to life through games, singing, and dancing while emphasizing Biblically based teaching. Wednesday student gatherings run from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and students are fed each week. Student Pastor Quinn Norman plans events and outings, leads small groups and serving teams, and says, “I want to give every student an opportunity to meet Jesus.”
Groups and Lessons for All Ages
At 10:15 a.m. on Sundays, Bethany Groups gather in person for people of all ages. The church frames community as one of its core values: “We do life together because we aren’t made to do life alone.” For additional study at home, Bethany also provides free access to a RightNow Media library with more than 10,000 Christian videos and resources for children, students, parents, and leaders.
Ten Values That Shape the Ministry
Bethany’s staff uses ten values to guide programming and the church’s mission:
- Worship: Everyone worships something; Bethany chooses God.
- Prayer: “We pray as if everything depends on it, because it does.”
- Kids: “Your kids matter to God and to us and we’re going to prove it to you.”
- Missions: “We’ll go anywhere to reach anyone because everyone’s life is better with Jesus.”
- Community: “We do life together because we aren’t made to do life alone.”
- Growth: “Spiritual growth is not optional. God’s Word is required reading.”
- Service: “God gifts ordinary people to do extraordinary things. You’re needed here.”
- Generosity: “We give more than expected because God gave us more than we deserve.”
- Excellence: “We will never settle for doing less than our best. It’s what God deserves.”
- Fun: “Church is a blast! Let’s celebrate together!”
A Faith Centered on Jesus and the Bible
Bethany believes in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, who gives life. It teaches that Jesus was crucified, conquered death, and rose on the third day, making His victory available to those who believe. Following Jesus is described not as a one-time event but as a lifetime commitment.
The Bible is held to be the very words God intended, without error, and the only rule of faith and practice. Salvation is by grace alone, not by works: a person acknowledges sin, turns from it in godly sorrow, and trusts Christ’s death and resurrection as redemption. Because people have the power of choice, those who repent and believe are saved, and those who refuse are condemned by their unbelief. Bethany also teaches that genuine perseverance is possible through divine grace while still recognizing the reality of temptation and human choice.
Its teaching about humanity says people were created innocent, inherited a fallen nature through Adam, and become accountable for sin at an age of accountability. For church practice, Bethany identifies three gospel ordinances: baptism in water by immersion, the Lord’s Supper until Christ’s return, and the washing of the saints’ feet as an ordinance of humility. Its beliefs also include the resurrection of the dead, Christ’s return to glorify His saints and judge the world, and the command to carry the gospel into the city, the country, and the world.
Missions From Broken Arrow to the World
Bethany takes missions seriously through three teams that facilitate trips, funding, and projects locally, nationally, and internationally. In addition to designated giving, the church commits 10% of every dollar received in general offerings to missions.
Local Partnerships
Local work includes partnerships with Broken Arrow Neighbors, MEND Pregnancy Resource, BrightSpot Mobile Family Services, and local elementary schools.
National Projects
National efforts have included short-term trips and projects connected with the Lakota Tribe in South Dakota, a children’s home in Alabama, a children’s home in Texas, the American Dream Center, Inter Varsity at OSU, and an orphanage in Port-de-Paix, Haiti.
International Partners
International support includes funding, supplies, and short-term trips with Good News Baptist Church in Russia, J Pense Ministry in France, and Bible translation and discipleship training in Afghanistan.
Leadership for Worship, Students, Children, and Learning
Rev. Randy Wilson is senior pastor. He believes the local church is “the hope of the world” and wants Broken Arrow impacted with the gospel of Jesus; he also has a heart for missions and has led significant gospel work in Russia, Haiti, France, and other places.
Barry Owens serves as executive pastor and manages day-to-day operations, including finances, facilities, and staff. Quinn Norman is student pastor, Taylar Ziegler is kids pastor, and Cara Ziegler directs both Bethany Learning Center and the nursery ministry. Together, the staff works to provide opportunities for people to grow in faith and reach new people with the gospel.
Giving, Online Worship, and Ongoing Study
Bethany describes giving as an act of worship and divides financial gifts into tithes and offerings. Gifts can be made online, by texting an amount to 84321, or with cash or check in an offering envelope during worship. Online gifts may be one-time or recurring through Planning Center Giving, and all financial gifts to the church are tax-deductible.
Each Sunday service is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, with messages also available to watch on demand by choosing to watch the services online. The church’s YouTube collection includes a broader set of videos, while the free RightNow Media library adds thousands more resources for personal and family study.
At its center, Bethany combines two Sunday worship gatherings with age-specific learning, group connection for every generation, generous support for missions, and an open welcome to people who may not yet consider themselves Christian. Its stated mission remains simple: “Impacting people to experience a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.”