About First Assembly
The Mission
We are a community of Christ-followers who strive to serve God whole-heartedly, love others outrageously, live life differently, and reach the lost no matter the cost.
In the early years of the 1920’s, Oklahoma was dealing with a number of troubling issues. Beginning with the earthquake in San Fransico, God fearing men were talking in serious terms about “the last days” and the return of Jesus. World War I was not called “one.” People talked about it as the “war to end all wars.” People believed it would lead directly to Armageddon. The pandemic of 1920-23, or the Spanish Flu, reaffirmed these ideas of the End Time pestilence of which the Book of Revelation warns us.
Into this climate Pentecostal evangelist marched with their message of “the Spirit being poured out on all flesh,” according to the prophet, Joel. Between Bixby and Leonard evangelists erected “brush arbors,” which were makeshift tabernacles constructed with materials growing wild around the cotton fields.
There were many drastic conversions of whiskey runners and “lewd women” but most of the adherents to these open-air camp meetings were faithful church goers who felt the need to get closer to God and prepare for the Lord’s return. When winter set in and the brush arbors were abandoned, the newly converted Pentecostals had no similar church to return to, so they met in one another’s house for what came to be called “cottage prayer meetings.”
Out of these prayer meetings a group organized the First Assembly of God Church. With the Northern Methodist and the Southern Methodist merging congregations in Bixby, the early Pentecostals were able to purchase the building once housing the Southern Methodist at 107 N. Stanley. Through several renovations and additions, we have remained at the same location since 1927.
We are an Assemblies of God church.
Our Statement of Faith
The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This Statement of Fundamental Truths is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us (i.e., that we all speak the same thing, 1 Corinthians 1:10 [KJV/NIV]; Acts 2:42 [KJV/NIV]). The phraseology employed in this Statement is not inspired nor contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to a full-gospel ministry. No claim is made that it covers all Biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines.
THE SCRIPTURES INSPIRED
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
THE FALL OF MAN
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.” However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.
HOLY COMMUNION
The Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements --bread and the fruit of the vine-- is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4 [KJV/NIV]), a memorial of his suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26 [KJV/NIV]), and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26 [KJV/NIV]), and is enjoined on all believers “till He come!”
SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.” By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.
DIVINE HEALING
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.
THE FINAL JUDGMENT
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
THE ONE TRUE GOD
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
THE SALVATION OF MAN
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit. The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness.
THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as: an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, a deepened reverence for God, an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost.
THE CHURCH AND ITS MISSION
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven.
THE BLESSED HOPE
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church.
THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare: His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substitutionary work on the cross, His bodily resurrection from the dead, His exaltation to the right hand of God.
BAPTISM IN WATER
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
THE INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance. The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose and use.
THE MINISTRY
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the fourfold purpose of leading the Church in: Evangelization of the world, worship of God, building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son, and meeting human need with ministries of love and compassion.
THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years. This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel, and the establishment of universal peace.
THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH
“We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.”