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About Us > A History of Oak Grove Church of the Nazarene

The Beginning: September 23, 1951

"The Oak Grove Church of the Nazarene in Decatur, Illinois. was organized September 23, 1951, with 23 members. The organization came as a result of a Sunday School directed by workers from West Side Church in Decatur which had been held in a tent at the corner of West Hunt and North Dennis Streets, during the summer months. The Illinois District under the leadership of District Superintendent W.S. Purinton appointed Rev. Leslie Wooten as the home mission pastor, prior to the organization, and revival services were conducted for two weeks by Rev. Mrs. Lena Mae Peters from September 3 to September 16.

The organization services were conducted by Rev. G. H. Harmon. Warnie Tippit led the congregation, assembled under the tent, in singing, and then Rev. G.H. Harmon spoke from a portion of the 1st and 2nd Chapters of the Book of Acts. After a special song, Rev. Harmon reviewed the doctrine and general rules of the Church of the Nazarene and invited those who wished to join the church to come forward. Amid shouting and weeping, 23 came forward to become charter members of the church, and the presence of the Holy Spirit was very precious. Each of those united with the church testified, and Rev. L.G. Milby led in prayer."

- From the official minutes of the Oak Grove Church of the Nazarene

A New Church Site Acquired: February 1954

"The Committee on Church Location was asked to report. Brother Clem Hale acting as reporter for the committee told about different locations looked into and stated that only on of these was attainable. This being a piece of ground 184' X 390' on the corner of W. Garfield and N. Summit Ave for $3500...Sister Warner made a motion to purchase the new location. It was seconded by Forrest Holmes. It was then voted on and approved with out a dissenting vote."

- From the Minutes of the Church Board Meeting: February 17, 1954

Dedication of the New Church Building: April 13, 1958

"No doubt you are aware that Sunday, April 13, we dedicated our beautiful new Church building. Everyone present expressed their admiration and gratitude not only in kind words but in gifts as well. Many made mention of the building's beauty, simplicity of design, floor plan and comfortable find quality pews. Our first night revival speaker, Dr. W.S. Purinton, made this comment to the congregation: 'There are bigger churches being built but few, if any, are prettier or better arranged' Thank you Dr. Purinton for such a gracious compliment. Naturally we are thrilled immensely with our new Church because it is the fulfillment of over six years of planning, praying, hard work and self denial on the part of pastor and people of Oak Grove. We say thank you, Heavenly Father for helping us! Also many friends from various churches and walks of life are to be highly commended for the fine way they have stood by us in time of need."

- From the final financial report of the New Church Building Project: 1958

 

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH:

"May I introduce my Church to you? It was established for the sole purpose of preaching and teaching scriptural salvation by both precept and example.

To this present hour we have not veered to the right or left no side-stepped from our primary purpose"

- From a Neighborhood Canvass Letter: Early 1970's

 

THE COMMITMENT TO MINISTER TO CHILDREN: 1971

"On July 7, 1971, a duly called Special Church Meeting was held for the purpose of selling the parsonage back to the pastor, Rev. Leslie Wooten, in order to acquire the money needed to construct a new Children's Church, new class rooms and purchase new class room furniture....

The vote was taken. All were in favor of said motion and the meeting was adjourned in an enthusiastic spirit of harmony and unity."

-From the official minutes of the Oak Grove Church of the Nazarene: July 7, 1971

 

THE CHURCH'S SACRIFICIAL GIVING: 1980

"The accompanying letter from First National Bank advises us that the entire amount of our mortgage is due May 28, 1980.

"This is because our last loan was for fifteen years with a balloon balance at maturity. We had to do this to get the monthly payments down where we could handle them back then.

We just can't afford the luxury of a mortgage. It's just simply foolish and outrageous to even consider it when each of us can dig down deep, deny ourselves, borrow, beg or pull out savings (you can't take it with you) a really big gift to pay off the church mortgage. And just think, no more monthly church payments!

WE can easily do it with no real sweat. The money is there or can be acquired. IT'S UP TO US.

You can count on your pastor to contribute the first $2000. This represents three month's salary for me...This will enable us to pay off our church and have a great rejoicing mortgage burning ceremony.

Your church and your Lord and Savior are counting on you to come through with a great big appreciation love gift for what both have meant and do mean to you.

Sunday, May 25, is "BURN THE MORTGAGE" offering Sunday. Bring your check or pledge.

P.S.

NEWS FLASH! Glory! God is already moving on hearts. Just while I was writing this, the phone rang. A widow lady on Social Security and who is seldom about to attend church had gotten word of the mortgage coming due. She said, "Brother Wooten, I want to give $500 to help pay it off. I wish I could give more." Needless to say, my eyes are wet with tears of joy as I write this last paragraph. What would we do without our faithful, generous-hearted widow ladies and the support of all our faithful retirees."

-From the "Burn the Church Mortgage Now" appeal letter: May, 1980.

 

"Sunday, May 25th is "BURN THE CHURCH MORTGAGE OFFERING"! Sunday, June 1st is "BURN THE MORTGAGE SUNDAY". The money to pay off the mortgage will come in May 25th. This will be one of the most exciting days in the history of the church. It will be the largest cash offering our generous-hearted people ever gave at one time. Then Sunday, June 1st you will get to see a match struck and watch the mortgage go up in flames. GLORY!

The people of Oak Grove are really excited. Everyone of them believes the money will be there. They are going to see that it does. There's not on Ananias or Sapphira among them. They love their Lord and their Church more than they love their money in savings accounts, bonds, banks or credit unions.

Sunday May 25 is when we stand up and are counted in a way that says my Lord and Church mean more to me than money in the bank.

Right at $10,000 in cold cash or check is needed for May 25. Bring it with you or call it in. Glory, Glory, I can hardly wait till Sunday comes.

Christ and His Church are Supreme! One answered prayer, one soul saved, is worth more than all the money each of us will ever have.

- From the second "Burn the Mortgage" appeal letter: May, 1980

 

"To all members, Former members, Honorary members, Friends and Relatives:

Sunday June 1st will be one of the greatest days in the history of Oak Grove Church. We urge all to come and rejoice with us!

Last Sunday the congregation gave $18,669.47 in one single service. The church is now debt free. GLORY!

All of you, and some now in other churches, have made a significant contribution to Oak Grove Church in years past. You helped make this great service possible.

An location like this usually happens only once in the life time of a church and many people never get to see it happen in any church which they have had a part in building and praying for."

-From the Invitation to attend the Mortgage Burning Ceremony: May, 1980

 

PASSING THE TORCH

"Pastor and Mrs. Leslie Wooten, pastors at Decatur Oak Grove Church for the past 46 years will be retiring as of July 27, 1997. A special morning service in their honor is planned. You are invited to join us as we honor Pastor and Mrs. Wooten for their many years of dedicated service to their Lord.

Our new pastor will be present and introduced at this special service. He has a lovely wife and four young children. He and his family are coming to us from Colorado Springs, Colorado. They are a very nice friendly family. You will like them."

- From the Wooten's Retirement Announcement

A New Pastor

"(Wooten's) successor will be a young man who grew up right in the Oak Grove Church of the Nazarene. Brian Hay was 8 when he started attending Oak Grove and is a May graduate of Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He'll be installed is the new pastor at the same service where Wooten's retirement will be commemorated.

Hay said he's excited to be coming home for his first pastorate but knows Wooten's shoes wont' be easy to fill.

"Both (he and his wife) always felt that's where we were going to end up ministering.' said Hay, 32, from his home in Colorado Springs. Hay, his wife Tracy, and their four children will move back to Decatur and take over the parsonage Sunday. "I was back there in April, and I told the folks, I'll never be Pastor Wooten, but I can be the man God's called me to be."

Because the congregation is small and has always been pastored by Wooten, Hay said, it's like an extended family. And since most of he members have know him since he was a child, he things he'll have an easier time taking over as pastor than stranger would.

As the same time, he knows Decatur can be a difficult place to live, with a lot of problems a church might be expected to address.

"The Lord is till on his throne, that's the way I look at it." Hay said."We're just going to start of by loving folks. I think we can minister to folks, one family at a time."

-From an article in the Decatur Herald & Review: July 19, 1997