Purpose
The purpose of this organization is to worship and serve God,
to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to engage in such religious,
educational and benevolent work as the membership of this organization
may determine.
History of Oakdale Community Church
Calvary Baptist Church of Oakdale was incorporated May 4, 1949
by a number of Christian people who had been fellowshipping together
at the Oakdale Grange. Their first pastor was selected, Reverend
Norman James Black and in due time the church joined the Conservative
Baptist Association, an association of churches that seek to promote
the gospel and ministry of Jesus Christ.
In August 1950 the church was deeded property by Carleton B. Wood,
as it was his mother’s wish that the church be established
on her property on the corner of 8th and D Streets in Oakdale.
The original size of the lot was 100 feet by 100 ft. Then the size
of the property was doubled in January 1953 for a sum of $500.00,
purchased from Mr. Wood as his mother had directed. The lot was
200 feet on D Street and 100 feet on 8th Avenue (originally named
East Avenue).
The existing church facility was built with the help of many of
the members under the supervision of Mr. Jim Word, who was a charter
member, along with his wife, Ruby. A mortgage loan was received
from the Bank of America to finance this project and was finally
paid off on March 30, 1962. The pastor at that time was Stanley
Tilley who was also very able to finish building the sanctuary
as it stands today.
At one time the name of the church was changed to The Evangelical
Free Church of Oakdale, California, fellowshipping with the Evangelical
Free Churches of America, because the interim pastor, Leonard Haggstrom
was of this persuasion.
However in August of 1999 the name of the church changed again
to Oakdale Community Church and resumed its affiliation with the
Conservative Baptist Association.
Members of our church who were living in Oakdale in the latter
60’s and early 70’s, Marlon and Kathleen Rassmussen
and their children were commissioned by the church and sent as
missionaries with the New Tribes Mission to serve in the Phillippines.
Monty is a missionary pilot. At this time, their oldest daughter,
Karen and her husband Ben Royer and their family are serving in
Brazil as missionaries with New Tribes Mission. Ben was raised
in Brazil in a tribal situation as his parents were also veteran,
pioneer missionaries. We also support this family along with Russian
Ministries, a mission serving in Russia founded by Peter Dyneka.
|
