Happy Birthday, Willow View

By Pastor Mark McAdow
How does it feel to be 122 years old, Willow View?  Our first worship service was held on May 26, 1902. This Sunday is our actual birthday! John Kelly can tell you all about it (just kidding)!  We began as the First United Brethren Church of Enid and have gone through many transitions over the years in terms of theology, locations, pastors and new names.

We become known as the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1946, after the Evangelical Church and the Church of the United Brethren merged in the same year. On Feb. 23, 1951, the church building was almost completely destroyed by fire but was eventually rebuilt.  In 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church merged into the United Methodist denomination, and we became Central United Methodist Church in downtown Enid. Several years later, forward-thinking church leaders suggested moving to the north side of Enid and building a brand-new church facility.  A new name was suggested, and Willow View United Methodist Church was built and consecrated on May 19, 1985, at our present location.

After prayerful discernment, we chose to disaffiliate from the United Methodist denomination in the fall of 2022 and became Willow View Church. On Sept. 1, 2023, we joined the fastest growing Methodist movement in the world called The Global Methodist Church. This is our first “birthday” as a Global Methodist Church, though we have had 122 years of faithful ministry here in Enid. What a blessing!

It’s Memorial Day weekend, but it is also our opportunity to celebrate our rich history as the Willow View family in Enid. I hope you can join us this Sunday as we celebrate in a festive way and with a special presentation by our own Jeff Funk from the Enid News & Eagle.

Looking forward to seeing you all this Sunday in worship. Remember Sunday is a holy day before it’s a holiday!

Blessings to you and yours,
Pastor Mark

PS: Please be safe as you enjoy Memorial Day with your family and friends.

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