Revival in Chickasha Oklahoma


It is an amazing thing how different each revival experience is for me from place to place.  Each congregation is unique in its make-up and in its personality.  The most recent experience that I've been blessed to have has been the gospel meeting/revival in Chickasha Oklahoma.  Evangelist Willie Mays is the minister there and has been for the last decade or so.  He's a very mild mannered man who loves the congregation and who equally loves the city it's in. He along with his wife, Terry, are doing a great work there in that city.  Many of you reading this may never have even heard of Chickasha but it is definately making its mark.  The congregation is racially diverse consisting of black, white and native american members.   That's right!!! Native American.  The town is smaller than it's neighboring major city, Oklahoma city, yet the church is doing some innovative and creative things to minister to hurting people.   On this particular venture I had the privilege of having my wife, Carole, my brother-in-law, Gerald and my armor-bearer, Woodrow.   The hotel we lodged with consisted of many of the very members of the 1st and Georgia church.  Stephanie, the minister's sister-in-law has a supervisor position there and uses her job as an opportunity to teach and ultimately baptize many of the employees there.  This was quite encouraging.  The people of that congregation were very warm and welcoming.   When we arrived we were greeted with a fish fry with the Bishops and evangelist's families.   Meeting many of the Native American members proved to be a great experience as well.  We got an opportunity to share in their culture with a meal that they call "indian tacos".   Very tasty, unique and delectable.    

Through the relentless efforts of the preacher, wife, her sister and the meeting there were 2 people who gave their lives to Jesus that week.   They too were Native Americans.  What I found to be intriguing and refreshing was a ministry that the congregation has that ministers to people who are recovering from addiction called the serenity group.   Several lives have been and are being touched through this ministry which is led by one of the Bishops of that congregation who himself had a bout with addiction.   I'm convinced that this is what the church should be about;  meeting real people with real issues where they are and introducing them to a better life in Jesus.   The church should be a place where broken become better and wounded becomes wonderful.  Such is the case with the 1st and Georgia church.   That town has a rich native american history that is also reflected in the church.   I am grateful to God for allowing me to have such a sobering experience there (excuse the appropriate pun).   I travel to do these meetings with the purpose of helping and encouraging the church, yet often times the encouragement is mutual and I leave being encouraged by what I experience at these engagements.   If you are ever in the town of Chickasha... you won't be disappointed should you find the 1st and Georgia church.  Thank God for this church and their ministry of reconciliation!!!!