History of Bible Baptist Church

Bible Baptist Church began in 1948 as a bible study group under the direction of a preacher named Johnny Morgan.  As the bible study group began to grow the folks desired to organize into a local new testament church.  They had been meeting in what is known today as the Ritter Grey Funeral Home.   The church organized and called Johnny Morgan as pastor and he served from 1950-1954. It was during this time that the church established its location at 1712 SW C Avenue here in Lawton.   The Calvary Baptist Church in Chickasha, Oklahoma donated to the young church their first building, it was brought down what is now known as Interstate 44 and was delivered at the location of the young church.  This became their first building at their new location, then in 1954 Pastor Johnny Morgan stepped down as pastor and the church called Pastor Joe Seacrist who became the second pastor of Bible Baptist Church and he served the Lord here from 1954-1988. During Pastor Seacrist’s ministry the church saw much growth and he led the church in the acquisition of more property around the church  at its location and the church entered a building program to build its new sanctuary. During this time the bus ministry has six routes running around Lawton and was known for its evangelistic outreach and saw many families and military families come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  It was during this time the church began to add some staff a music director and youth pastor.  Pastor Seacrist while having been a faithful servant for a number of years began having some health difficulties and in 1988 he resigned as pastor and moved back to West Virginia and later started a church there until the time the Lord called him home.

The Lord had Bible Baptist’s third pastor in place who had served with Pastor Seacrist, and he became the next pastor, his name was Pastor Gene Burnham, he served the Lord faithfully here from 1988 until 1997.  Under his leadership Bible Baptist was used to expand its ministry and found the membership growing.  During his leadership the church built a parsonage on some lots the church owned, pastor Burnham said his reason for building this parsonage was to be prepared for the next pastor who might have a larger family and be a man who could come and have a lengthy pastorate as the Lord would allow.   Pastor Burnham began having some health issues and then resigned and stepped down as pastor and in April of 1997 Bible Baptist Church called their fourth pastor.

In April of 1997 Pastor Gene Burnham passed the mantel over to Pastor Bob Weger who became the fourth and current pastor of Bible Baptist Church.   Pastor Weger led the church to become debt free within his first year as pastor and after knowing the mind of God about the plans for the church he shared with the church a plan to move the ministry to its next level of ministry to the Lawton community.   In 2001 the church bought 4 acres from the Hill family out on Lee Blvd. In November of 2002 the church learned the new address of their future church site was 7501 SW Lee Blvd. In 2003 the entrance to the property had been installed and the church began moving forward in its relocation.  Actual construction began in 2004, there were challenges along the way but the Lord has a way of always accomplishing what he sets before his people and in 2007 the church was completed and Bible Baptist Church had its first service in its new building on Father’s Day and on June 21st 2007 was our first service in our new building.  The church has seen many challenges over  the years, but through them all God has shown HE is faithful and is the one whom we all can depend on for the LORD is faithful.   Today the church owns 9 acres at its current location and has a youth camp of 39 acres in Bethel, Oklahoma which is in development.

The people which make up the Bible Baptist Church are a people who you might see as just everyday people, just working hard and making a living for their families but they are a people which have a great faith in the God in whom they serve, they understand that the LORD is the one who provides and is the one whom we all can depend upon completely.  God has shown himself strong to his people, we have seen God work miracles and do incredible things and we seek to live and serve the LORD to the best of our abilities, because we understand the purpose of our existence, is to make a people ready for the LORD.  Luke 1.17 this is accomplished through the preaching of God’s word and the teaching to our community and to the world .