Sitting on East Lee Street in Sapulpa
First Christian Church sits on East Lee Street in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. The church describes itself as "an independent body of believers under the Lordship of Jesus and the authority of the Bible," and that simple identity shapes everything from the dress code in the auditorium to the kids' programming on Wednesday nights. The whole rhythm of the church is built around welcoming people where they are and walking with them deeper into faith.
"Love God, Love Others, Serve Both"
The motto of First Christian Church distills the church's whole philosophy into two commands. Leadership teaches that "the entire law in the Bible can be summed up in these two commands: love God and love others." The community speaks often of going on an "Adventure with Jesus" - applying what is learned on Sundays by loving and serving people who are far from God, so that, in the church's words, "the Kingdom of God will come into focus."
The church's stated mission is to be "a people who care for, welcome, and support those around us in a way that can only be inspired by God." The hope is that anyone who visits the church or interacts with its people walks away feeling encouraged, refreshed, and drawn closer to God - and that every man, woman, and child in the local community has the chance to experience and respond to the Gospel in action through the church.
The vision names three paths the church walks together. Worship and Study: through weekly Bible studies, worship gatherings, and small groups, members grow in their knowledge and love for God. Evangelism and Outreach: by serving those around them, members share God's love and message of hope with the community. Multiplication and Sending: by making disciples and supporting fellow believers as they launch new churches and ministries, the church expands its reach to people around the globe.
What the Church Believes
First Christian Church is independent of any denomination, but holds firmly to a series of historic Christian convictions laid out under the heading "Our Beliefs":
- An independent body of believers under the Lordship of Jesus and the authority of the Bible (1 Corinthians 15:27-28; Revelation 22:13)
- A triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 11:27; Acts 1:2,8)
- The Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God (John 1:1; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- Jesus was born of a virgin, was crucified, died, and rose again on the third day (Matthew 1:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26)
- The divinity of Christ is the fundamental truth of Christianity and the church's faith (John 3:35-36; Matthew 11:27)
- The church has been charged by Jesus with a Great Commission to carry the Word of God to a lost and dying world (Mark 13:10; Matthew 11:27)
- In His great mercy, God has given new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (1 Peter 1:3), and Jesus will one day return to earth and reign forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Acts 1:6-7)
- Baptism is practiced by immersion, in accordance with the example of Jesus (Matthew 3:15-17; Luke 3:15-17, 3:21-22)
- Communion is practiced weekly as an expression of God's love for His children (Luke 22:17-20; Matthew 26:26-28)
- Believers are united under the authority of Christ and God's Holy Scriptures (Ephesians 4:1-5; Acts 2:42-47)
Sunday in Sapulpa
The Sunday rhythm at First Christian Church is built around two touchpoints. Sunday School begins at 9:30 AM and offers classes for every age and stage. Sunday Morning Worship follows at 10:30 AM and runs just over an hour. Visitors are encouraged to arrive a few minutes early to find a seat and to stop by First Perk Coffee House in the lobby for a cup of coffee or a bottle of water.
A typical worship service includes extended time in praise and worship, prayer, and Bible teaching. Communion is observed weekly as part of the gathered worship. The dress code is unstated in policy but relaxed in practice: "the focus is on Christ. There's no need to dress up, and most of our attendees dress casually. You might even spot a few OU or OSU jerseys some days."
For those unable to attend in person, the full Sunday service is livestreamed on YouTube every week at 10:30 AM. A growing message archive makes it possible to catch up on recent series at any time.
Wednesday Night Connect Groups
Wednesday nights are the church's second front door. Adults gather for Connect Groups from 6:15 to 7:45 PM for Bible study, conversation, and prayer around tables in the auditorium and lobbies. At the same time, youth and kids gather from 6:00 to 8:00 PM for their own age-appropriate programming. The whole church family is on site together on Wednesday evenings, which makes Wednesday a natural night for anyone wanting to dip their toes into church life midweek.
One Kids: Children's Ministry
Children are treated as full participants in the life of the church. The children's ministry - branded One Kids - offers engaging, safe environments led by adult volunteers where kids learn the Bible and begin to understand how God's truth shapes their everyday lives. Special emphasis is placed on Scripture memorization, and the church is intentional about partnering with parents in the faith formation of their children.
Parents can pre-check in kids (5th grade and younger) for their first visit, smoothing the morning for the whole family. The church maintains active One Kids channels - a One Kids Facebook page, an Instagram account (@onekids_sapulpa), and a One Kids GroupMe chat - so families stay connected throughout the week.
Vacation Bible School is part of the broader children's ministry calendar each summer, joining the regular Sunday and Wednesday programming for kids.
One Student: Student Ministry
The student ministry sees itself as a partner with parents, supplementing the discipleship happening at home with weekly Bible studies, small groups, and service projects. The goal is for students to grow into strong, life-changing relationships with God and with each other - students who, in the words of the church, "walk boldly towards Christ, apply His truth to their lives, and develop strong, life-changing relationships with the God of the universe."
Students stay connected through a dedicated One Student Facebook group and a One Student GroupMe chat. Beyond the regular Wednesday rhythm, the ministry hosts special events and trips - including the CIY Move conference - that give students opportunities to build friendships and deepen their faith in new settings.
JOYned Together Women's Ministry
JOYned Together is a ministry of FCC Sapulpa serving widows, never-married single women, and "single-again" (divorced) women through small-group fellowship, outings, and mutual support. The ministry gathers two mornings a week:
Tuesdays at 10:30 AM: Chair-Based Exercise Class
Led by an experienced FCC instructor in a fun and relaxed setting, the weekly chair exercise class is open to all ladies. Participants may remain seated or stand at their chair, which serves as a tool to be used as needed. The class engages every muscle group and builds strength, flexibility, and balance. No equipment is required - only comfortable clothing, water, and a smile.
Thursdays at 10:30 AM: Ladies' Bible Study
An open gathering for women to study Scripture and pray together.
Women's Encounter Weekend
Each year JOYned Together sponsors a Women's Encounter weekend - a Friday-to-Sunday retreat with teachings on different aspects of a person's life, times of worship, and times of reflection between the attendee and the Lord. The Encounter is described as "an invitation to surrender completely to God" - a chance to find freedom from habits, burdens, wrong thinking, bitterness, and past experiences that hold a person back, and freedom to live the life God created them to live. "If you come with a humble and open heart ready to allow God to change you from the inside out, you will truly be blessed."
Men's Ministry and the Encounter Weekend
The men of FCC gather monthly for a Men's Breakfast at 8 AM on the first Saturday - an open-invite event for building friendships and encouraging one another in faith. The ministry also hosts an annual Men's Encounter weekend structured around the same model as the women's Encounter: a Friday-to-Sunday retreat of teaching, worship, and reflection focused on surrender to God.
Adult Sunday School and Connection Groups
Beyond the children's Sunday School hour, adults gather for connection groups designed for "people who are in the same season of life, forming close-knit communities to navigate the ups and downs of those seasons together." The goal, in the church's words, is "to give anyone in our congregation the opportunity to grow closer to community while ultimately growing closer to Christ."
Teaching That Walks Through the Bible
Sermon series at First Christian Church span books of the Bible and major topics of the Christian life. Recent and ongoing series include:
- Becoming Who You Are - a walk through Ephesians centered on God's will and identity
- Faithful Lives - a series on Hebrews 11 exploring Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and the "hiddenness of faith"
- Impact 25 - a five-week series focused on prayer, salt and light, work and glory, mission and multiplication, and encouragement
- True Confession - a six-week series on confession, contentment, forgiveness, kindness, purpose, and vulnerability
- Beautiful Fences - reflections on the church and the exclusive claims of Christ
- Moving Stones - an Easter series on the resurrection of Jesus
- The Unexpected - a Christmas series on hope, promise, and commitment
- Tough Questions - addressing common questions about faith, including "What happens to those who never hear about Jesus?"
- Versus - a series framed around the resurrection: "Jesus vs. Death"
- What if Jesus was Serious? - a study of the Beatitudes
- Unleash - a series on being unleashed from complacency and fear
- 1 John - a verse-by-verse walk through the letter
- Dear Church - letters to the early churches applied to today
- Invitations from God - a series on following God's call
- Be A Part - studies on being dependable in God's story
Sermons are typically taught by Senior Minister Lance Peterson, with Student Minister Ben Keller, Children's Minister Ryan Summerhill, and Worship Leader Nathan Woodmansee also contributing. Guest speakers and visiting missionaries are part of the rotation as well.
Leadership
First Christian Church is led by Senior Minister Lance Peterson, who oversees preaching, vision, and overall shepherding of the congregation. Student Minister Ben Keller oversees the student ministry, Children's Minister Ryan Summerhill leads the kids' programming, and Nathan Woodmansee serves as Worship Leader, leading the congregation in song each Sunday.
Four elders provide spiritual oversight and governance: Jeff Brown (Chairman), Tim Huff (Vice-Chairman), Keith Easter, and Jeff Wortz. The eldership reflects the church's commitment to shared leadership and accountability, in keeping with the church's stated belief in the unity of believers under the authority of Christ and God's Holy Scriptures.
Giving and Prayer Support
Three simple ways to give are offered at First Christian Church. On Sunday, offerings can be placed in the black boxes at the back of the auditorium and in the auditorium lobbies. Online giving is available through a secure Pushpay platform. Giving by mail is also accepted at the church's PO Box.
A prayer request form on the livestream page invites anyone to share needs with the church staff. The church teaches that "prayer is not added in or tagged on but prayer is the work," and the staff welcomes prayer requests from the wider community.
Reaching Out From Sapulpa
First Christian Church keeps a strong presence beyond the East Lee property. Sunday services are livestreamed on YouTube every week at 10:30 AM, and the sermon archive goes back several years. Active Facebook and Instagram channels keep families and members of the broader community engaged throughout the week. As the church's vision puts it, the community is committed to reaching out to and serving those around them, sharing God's love and his message of hope with the people in their community - and supporting fellow believers as they step out to launch new churches and ministries around the world.
First Christian Church in Sapulpa continues to lean into the same simple commission that has shaped it for decades: love God, love others, serve both.