A Disciples of Christ Church on South Yale
Yale Avenue Christian Church has stood on South Yale Avenue in southeast Tulsa since the late 1950s, gathering week after week around an open communion table. The congregation belongs to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and lives out a local motto that has shaped its identity for decades: "Caring, Sharing and Serving in the name of Jesus." A traditional worship service, a building full of music, and a long list of Tulsa-area mission partners define who YACC is and how it spends its week.
From Eisenhower Elementary to a 70-Year Campus
The church was organized on January 16, 1955, with the support of Christian Churches across the Tulsa area to serve a growing southeast side. Until the first unit of the present building was completed in 1957, the founding members worshipped at Eisenhower Elementary School. Growth came quickly, and within five years a second unit had to be added. A major remodel of the sanctuary and narthex was completed in 1982. In 2001, the Family Life Center, a new entrance, and a foyer expanded the campus to serve a still-growing congregation. The current church building stands as a tribute to the faith and ministries of this family, both past and present, and the congregation marked its 70th anniversary in January 2025.
Sunday Morning at 10:30, Around an Open Table
Worship has been at the heart of the congregation since its first gathering. Every Sunday at 10:30 AM the church meets for a traditional service. The order of worship is shaped by organ and piano music, the chancel choir, and the bell choir. The congregation celebrates communion every Sunday, and the table is fully open: all believers are welcome to partake. This open table is one of the defining practices of the Disciples of Christ and an expression of the denomination's commitment to Christian unity.
Reverend Darell Christopher serves as Senior Pastor and preaches in language that connects the sermon to daily life. Visitors quickly learn that dress is whatever makes people comfortable. Shorts, slacks, dresses, and suits all appear on Sunday mornings.
Music That Rings Through the Building
Music is woven into nearly every Sunday. The YACC Chancel Choir sings a range of repertoire that the church describes as moving from quiet and worshipful to "snazzy and jazzy." The choir leads worship three to four Sundays a month and participates in special services such as the annual Christmas Cantata and Christmas Eve. Reading music is helpful but not required for singers who can match pitch. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 PM in a two-semester schedule.
The YACC Praise Ringers is a handbell ensemble of 11 to 14 musicians who perform two to four times a year and rehearse on Wednesdays from 6:00 to 6:55 PM. The bell choir is in active need of additional ringers, and anyone with piano, vocal, or instrumental experience who can read basic notation is welcome to give it a try. Three small vocal ensembles - one men's trio and two ladies' trios - round out the music ministry, along with a soloists' rotation that includes vocalists and instrumentalists. Worship Music Director Kim North oversees all of these groups, with Teresa Petray serving as Pianist and Accompanist.
From time to time the program also looks for substitute pianists and organists to fill in when the regular musician is unavailable.
Sunday School for Every Stage
Four weekly Sunday School classes meet for adults and older youth alongside the 10:30 hour. In the Family Life Center, a video-and-discussion class uses a variety of Christian books under the banner "Always Seeking, Always Praying." In Room 1109, Frank and Phyllis Holdsclaw lead "Hooked on Jesus and Looking for Answers," a class that alternates between Bible studies and topical discussions on Christian living. Room 1106 offers a casual and accepting setting around the individual walk with God, taught by Mike and Mary Wallace. Room 1202 is designed for teenagers, younger adults, and those just beginning their journey of faith, with discussion of life, faith, and scripture led by Anthony Allen.
Children's Church and Nursery
Skilled nursery care is provided for children age two and under during the 10:30 service, with Jamie Hamilton overseeing the nursery. Children age three and older are invited to Children's Church, which meets at 10:30 AM in the Play and Learn wing, Room 2106. Children are always welcome to stay with their families in the sanctuary if parents prefer to worship together.
Senior Fitness in the Family Life Center
Two weekly senior fitness opportunities meet in the Family Life Center under the motto "Use It or Lose It." A one-hour Chair Exercise class begins at 1:00 PM, followed by a Balance Class at 2:15 PM, both led by instructor Barbara Wilson on Mondays and Thursdays. The gatherings are built around fellowship as much as fitness, and newcomers are invited to come meet new people.
Tables and Conversations Across the Week
Food and conversation run through several YACC rhythms. A Brown Bag Lunch and the Friday Brunch/Lunch Bunch give members and friends regular opportunities to share a meal. The Women's Ministry gathers on its own schedule and is open to anyone who would like to connect. Throughout the year, small groups also meet around the city to study, pray, and support one another; these small groups sit at the heart of the congregation's value of lay ministry and pastoral care.
Serving Tulsa Beyond the Walls
Outreach is a core expression of the church's identity, and YACC supports a long list of mission partners across the Tulsa area. The congregation maintains Blessing Boxes on the west end of its parking lot, stocked with non-perishable food, pet food, books, and hygiene supplies and accessible at all times. Volunteers partner with Iron Gate, John 3:16 Mission, Salvation Army Tulsa Area Command, Tulsa Day Center, Meals on Wheels, Emergency Infant Services, Domestic Violence Intervention Services, and the Mental Health Association Oklahoma. The church also sends support to Camp Christian Oklahoma, the Christian Veterinary Mission, and Church World Service disaster relief efforts. Play and Learn Preschool, a long-standing preschool housed in the church's wing under director Carla Story, extends the congregation's reach to young families in the neighborhood.
A Green Chalice Ministry
YACC is recognized as a Green Chalice Ministry, a designation within the Disciples of Christ that highlights the congregation's commitment to environmental stewardship and care for creation as part of faithful living.
What They Believe
The congregation holds to two sayings from the pioneers of the Christian Church: "We have no doctrine, but the Bible. No creed but Christ," and "In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty, in all things, charity." On essentials, the church points to Ephesians 4: 4-6: one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Beyond those essentials, members are encouraged to study, pray, and follow where God leads, trusting that love and charity cover the rest.
The church is open to membership and full participation by people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, races, ethnicities, nationalities, disabilities, family structures, backgrounds, economic circumstances, and theological and political perspectives, and seeks to embody God's love, peace, and hope in Tulsa.
Joining In
Visitors are welcome in person at the 10:30 Sunday service or online through the church's YouTube channel. The building sits at 3616 South Yale Avenue, with offices open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed for lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 PM, and Friday from 9:00 AM to noon. Gifts can be made through the church's online donation page. Prayer requests can be sent to the office by email, and a steady stream of newsletters keeps members and friends connected throughout the week.