Loving God, Loving People on East 21st Street
Eastland Assembly of God sits on the north side of East 21st Street in Tulsa, between South Garnett Road and South 129th East Avenue, in a part of the city where the Assemblies of God has deep roots. The words on the church's sign simply read, "Loving God, Loving People," a phrase pulled from Matthew 22:37-39. Senior Pastors Randy and Bev Dyer describe their congregation as a family of real people striving to live out their faith daily, and they invite newcomers to "come as you are." Inside, the building is laid out for a wide range of ages, from newborns to senior adults, with a particular welcome for adults with special needs.
Sunday Mornings: Two Services and a Special Place to Belong
Sunday at Eastland starts with a Traditional Service at 8:30 a.m., followed by a Contemporary Service at 10:45 a.m. The music is described by the church as a good mixture of modern and classic. Greeters meet visitors at the west entrance, and the west parking lot is the easiest place to leave a car. Plan on being in the building from around 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for the main worship hour, though regular attenders often arrive earlier to grab coffee and connect.
At 10:00 a.m., between the two main services, the Fellowship Hall fills with the Bring Them In congregation. This service is designed specifically for people with special needs. Sunday School begins at 9:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall, and worship follows at 10:00 a.m. Pastors Al and Ladonna Harper lead a program where songs of thanksgiving and hearts filled with joy are always present. The congregation aims to bring the truth and promises of Jesus Christ in a setting where every guest can participate fully.
Wednesday Nights: Mid-Week Teaching for Every Age
Wednesday is a second anchor of the week at Eastland. A Traditional Service is held at 11:00 a.m., and at 7:00 p.m. the church runs a full slate of classes and groups that run until 8:30 p.m. Adult Bible Study, Young Adults, Youth Group, Royal Rangers, and Missionettes all meet at the same hour, so families can arrive together and split off to their own rooms. The evening has the feel of a mid-week family night, with separate programs for children, students, and adults running under the same roof.
The Armory: A Youth Ministry That Lives Up to Its Name
The Armory is the name given to Eastland's youth ministry for students in sixth through twelfth grade. The group meets upstairs at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and finishes by 8:30. Youth & Worship Pastors Adam and Christa Hoch lead a service that mixes games, a weekly video segment, and multimedia teaching with extended time in praise and worship.
The Armory leans into energy. Each Wednesday includes a time of worship, a clean video of the week, a "Meme Me" segment of jokes and memes, and game time that can run from relay races to donuts hanging from the ceiling. Once a month, the room is decorated for a special theme night, complete with costumes and prizes. The teaching is built around Psalm 119:11 and the conviction that hiding God's Word in the heart is the difference that carries young people through a noisy generation. Leaders say their goal is not just to produce church attenders but disciples sold out to Jesus.
Kidz Connection: Children's Church With Depth
Children's Pastors Jim and Tammy Frazier lead Kidz Connection, a children's ministry that aims to make Jesus known and relatable to kids' everyday lives. The church describes it as more than simply "children's church": the program studies God's Word, worships with reverence, and gives children practical ways to share Jesus with the people around them. Family devotions are available as a follow-up resource so that what is taught on Sunday can carry through the rest of the week at home.
Overflow: Women's Ministry at Eastland
Overflow is the name given to the women's ministry, and it focuses on meeting the needs of women both inside the church and in the wider community. Events are structured to be enjoyable and encouraging, and it is not uncommon for fifty or more women to show up on any given night. The leadership team includes Laura, Bev, April, Leslie, Jeri, and Jessica, who plan retreats, game nights, dinners, and craft nights throughout the year.
On the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m., the women gather in an intimate setting for "Prayer & Praise," a time to carry each other's burdens and thank God for answered prayer. Overflow's approach is simple: women coming together, encouraging one another, and letting the goodness of God overflow into their lives.
Outreach: Food, Clothing, and Community Events
The Outreach Ministry at Eastland puts the church's motto into practice. The motto itself, "Loving God, Loving People," is the words on the sign drivers see from the street, and the outreach team carries that motto into the neighborhood. A Food Pantry and a Clothes Closet are open to the community on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Guests are asked to park on the east side of the building toward the back and come in the east doors.
The pantry's service area covers the zip codes 74108, 74112, 74128, 74129, 74134, 74145, and 74146, with exceptions for regular attenders of Eastland Assembly. The church is a member agency of the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. When Tulsa Public Schools close for inclement weather, the pantry follows the same schedule for the first two days of a weather event, and the church makes an independent decision on day three and beyond.
Twice a year, the church opens its doors to the wider neighborhood with an annual Trunk-or-Treat in October and an Easter Egg Hunt, both free and open to everyone in the community.
Connect Groups and Sunday Evening
At 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings, Connect Groups meet around the city for fellowship, study, and shared life. These small groups are the church's main route for deepening relationships beyond the Sunday gathering, and the church frames its life around three core values: connecting with God and the Eastland family, growing in understanding of who believers are in Christ, and serving those in need and the spiritually lost.
What Eastland Believes
Eastland's statement of faith lays out sixteen beliefs rooted in the Assemblies of God. The church affirms that the Scriptures are inspired by God, that there is one true God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that Jesus Christ is both human and divine. Salvation is by faith and repentance, followed by two ordinances practiced by the church: water baptism by immersion and Holy Communion.
The church also holds the four cardinal doctrines of the Assemblies of God: the Baptism in the Holy Spirit as a subsequent empowering experience, the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues, divine healing provided through Christ's atonement, and the Blessed Hope of the rapture of the church before Christ's return. Beyond these, the statement covers the Church's mission to seek and save the lost, the millennial reign of Christ, a final judgment for those who reject Christ, and the promise of new heavens and a new earth.
Leadership and Giving
Randy and Bev Dyer serve as Senior Pastors. Adam and Christa Hoch lead worship and youth, Al and Ladonna Harper lead the Bring Them In ministry, and Jim and Tammy Frazier oversee children's ministry. The church livestreams services and posts video on Facebook, and giving is available online through Pushpay. Weekly bulletins are also posted online for anyone who wants to follow along during the week.