Across from OBU on North Kickapoo
University Baptist Church sits at 2515 N. Kickapoo in Shawnee, directly across the street from Oklahoma Baptist University. The proximity shapes the congregation: many OBU students simply walk over, and the church describes itself as the closest church in town to the campus. UBC's motto, "God's People Doing God's Work In God's World," is matched by an inter-generational and diverse makeup that includes longtime residents, young families, and college students. Visitors can call ahead at 405-275-1990 or step in any Sunday morning.
Two Sunday Morning Services
Worship happens in two distinct styles on Sunday mornings. The early service at 8:30 a.m. follows a traditional Baptist pattern, drawing on the pews with hymns, responsive readings, prayers of the people, a choral anthem, a sermon, and the passing of the peace. A typical bulletin opens with a prelude, moves into a responsive reading from the Psalms, gathers prayers and hymns around a Gospel and an Epistle text, and closes with a sending. The 11:00 a.m. service carries a contemporary flavor, led by worship leaders Carrie Myles and Canaan Crane. Both services share the same pastor, the same pulpit, and the same Sunday School hour in between.
Sunday School runs from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. and serves every age from newborns through senior adults, with classes generally segmented by age or topic. Children's ministry is directed by Kara Fuller, and the preschool program is led by Channing Seikel.
Together Services in Summer and Advent
From the first week of June through the first week of August, and on fifth Sundays and the Sundays of Advent, the two morning services combine into a single 11:00 a.m. "Together Service." These blended gatherings pull elements from both the traditional and contemporary styles and let the whole congregation worship at the same time, making room for summer travel and the busier seasons of the year.
Wednesday Nights for the Whole Family
Wednesday evenings at UBC are built around children, youth, and prayer. A nursery is available. The prayer meeting runs from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m., and youth group meets from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. under the direction of Linsey Brown. Children have their own full slate: Children's Choir for preschool through sixth grade from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., Royal Ambassadors for boys and Girls in Action for girls in first through sixth grade from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m., and Mission Friends for preschoolers and kindergartners in the same window. Adult choir practice begins at 6:45 p.m. under Minister of Music and Worship Jim Vernon, with Lisa Schutten at the piano.
Covenant Groups and a Lay-Led Evening
Sunday evenings give the congregation two more touchpoints. A lay-led service runs from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., and Covenant Groups, sometimes called C-Groups, meet in homes every other week from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with childcare starting at 5:30. C-Groups form at the start of each school semester and are built around prayer, accountability, and fellowship, offering a way to know other members on a deeper level. The office can connect newcomers with a Covenant Group at the start of the next term.
Outreach Across Shawnee
UBC members serve the wider community through several named ministries. Community Renewal focuses on block parties, strategic relationship-building, and summer camps in the neighborhood. H2O and Loaves and Fishes provide meals to people in need, and the church supports a Homeless Resource Center. A nursing home ministry brings music and Bible studies to residents who cannot easily attend in person.
The deacon ministry complements this outreach. Deacons serve three-year terms, with one-third rotating off each year, and each deacon is assigned several families for prayer and pastoral care. Their work is grounded in the qualifications laid out in 1 Timothy 3, Acts 6, and Titus 1, and the church office can connect anyone to their assigned deacon.
Beliefs and Membership
UBC describes itself as a New Testament church committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the teachings of Scripture. The congregation cherishes the classic Baptist principles of the priesthood of the believer, congregational church government, and the separation of church and state, and it seeks to be an accepting, caring, redemptive fellowship of a diverse body of baptized believers. Its stated purpose is to help all people find authentic life as Christ's disciples.
Members join through one of four paths: a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ followed by baptism by immersion, a transfer of membership from another Baptist church, a verbal statement of prior baptism by immersion as a result of salvation, or "watchcare" status for college students, military personnel, and others who want to unite with UBC for a time while retaining membership in their home church.
Music, Messages, and Daily Readings
Music is woven through every gathering. The adult choir, the children's choir, two worship leaders, an organist, and a church pianist all play a regular role. Recent Sunday services have included hymns such as "All Praise to Thee," "He Is Lord," and "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne," along with a choral anthem on "At the Name of Jesus."
Pastor Justin Dunn posts weekly lectionary readings, following the Revised Common Lectionary through Vanderbilt's daily readings page, and audio clips accompany the text. Sermons and full worship services are available on the UBC YouTube channel, and a podcast called "Getting to Know UBC" introduces members of the congregation in conversation with the pastor. Online giving is available through the church's secure giving page.