Title
To honor and celebrate the 113th Anniversary of the Oakley Full Gospel Baptist Church.
Body
Whereas, the Oakley Full Gospel Baptist Church founded in 1897 by a small group of believers who initially met from house to house, began as a mission under the supervision of the Second Baptist Church headed by the Reverend Graham Jordan and in 1911, Rev. Frank Harrison became the pastor; and
Whereas, in 1917, under the leadership of Rev. Jacob Ashburn, Jr., the location of the Church was at the corner of South Oakley Avenue and Sheridan Street, in the "Hilltop" area of Columbus, Ohio, and at this time was named the Oakley Avenue Baptist Church; and
Whereas, following the death of Rev. Jacob Ashburn, Jr., in 1955, his son Dr. Jacob Julian Ashburn was called to the pastorate. Under his leadership, the congregation of the Oakley Avenue Baptist Church moved to a new church building located at 64 South Highland Avenue on March 11, 1962; and
Whereas, after prayerful search, the church membership called the Rev. (Bishop) Andy C. Lewter, Jr. of New York to become pastor in 1985. The church ignited with a new spirit that resulted in the growth of the choir and the creation of additional auxiliaries; and
Whereas, Under Bishop Lewter's leadership the church became active in the Full Gospel Fellowship, and the name of the church was changed to the Oakley Full Gospel Baptist Church. In March 1998, the church moved to its present location at 3415 El Paso Drive, on the Far Westside of Columbus, Ohio; and
Whereas, following Bishop Lewter's departure in 2006, the church family remained in prayer and search for a new Shepherd. After much prayer and deliberation the Rev. Jonathan J. McReynolds of Chillicothe, Ohio was called to become the sixth pastor of the Oakley Full Gospel Baptist Church; and
Whereas, Oakley has experienced unprecedented growth in membership and has demonstrated a remarkable ability to reconnect with the Columbus community throug...
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