October 31, 2026 Issue, Page 4 of 13

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4• SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2026 RELIGION The Elk City News Area Church Directory Assembly of God Assembly of God 115 W. 5th St., Erick Pastor: Gary Griffin Queen of All Saints 914 N. 5th St., Sayre 580-928-2385 Rev. Danny Grover Assembly of God 7th and Locust St., Sayre 580-928-4296 Jimmy Blanken, Min. St. Mathews Catholic 3001 E. Hwy 66, Elk City 580-225-0066 Rev. Danny Grover First Assembly of God 2701 S. Randall , Elk City 580-225-1167 Kevin Akins, Min. FALL BACK— SPRING FORWARD has to learn to feed himself. Getting that strange appliance into his mouth rightside up is difficult enough, but then he has to move the food off the spoon and onto a tongue that simply will not cooperate. Most of the food ends up on his chin and bib. Surely the humiliation and frustration level is great, if he could tell us about it! Dixie Yoder A phrase discouraged people often use is, “I just feel like I take two steps back for every step forward.” Because of Daylight Savings Time, we are familiar with the phrase “fall back— spring forward”. This phrase describes the experience many people seem to have in the process of growing up spiritually and emotionally. We often embrace mistaken idea that if authentic growth is really happening, we won’t struggle with any of the “old stuff ” anymore, and emotional discomfort will disappear. But if we compare growing up spiritually and emotionally with the physical growing process, we’ll quickly see that the “discomfort free” perspective is fantasy. Consider a one-year-old baby learning to walk. The struggle to support himself on legs that wobble and collapse; the pain of repeatedly falling; the exertion required to learn balance—if the child could fully communicate the discomfort involved in this part of growing up, he would express tremendous frustration and fear. While he is mastering the process of walking, he also And then there is the problem of learning to talk. Anyone who has learned a second language understands the struggle of wrapping an uncooperative tongue around sounds that don’t make sense most of the time. Sometimes a word is used that we learn later didn’t mean what we thought, and understand belatedly why people laughed so hard at a statement not intended to be funny. Growing up consists of assorted triumphs, all gained through struggle and discomfort. Habitual immaturity is filled with stagnation, boredom and defeat. The fact that it’s hard and we feel awkward doesn’t mean we’re going backwards. In fact, it’s usually a good indication that we’re moving forward into unfamiliar territory, which will soon become our new comfort zone. Don’t become too settled there! God continually urges us into the unfamiliar ground that’s essential for continued growth. Nothing grows inside the stagnant atmosphere of an old comfort zone. (Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message): “Do you see what this means — all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means …get on with it. Strip down, start running — and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed — that exhilarating finish with God —He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. Now He’s in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again…” Jesus never goes backwards. 1 Corinthians 6:17 says the one who joins himself to the Lord is one-spirit with Him. Since we are joined to Jesus by His Holy Spirit, we can’t go backward either! It’s necessary to acknowledge mistakes and failures, learn from them and keep growing. But it’s important not to dwell on the hardships and discomforts—even the seeming failures. Focusing there only produces the satanic emotional trap of discouragement and defeat. Let’s continue to look ahead toward our goal, just as Jesus did. Our Father desires that we grow steadily toward maturity. The Bible teaches freedom and abundant living by focusing on the limitless love and mercy of God. Reading God‘s word regularly, studying at carefully and obeying it quickly brings change— one step, one moment at a time for a lifetime. Send your questions, comments, and suggestions for future columns to [email protected] Catholic Grandview Assembly of God Pioneer and Country Club, Elk City 580-225-7742 Bryan Herrick Baptist Great Plains Baptist Assn. 1902 Watts St., Sayre 580-928-2585 Calvary Baptist Church 1018 W B Avenue, Elk City 580-225-5344 Pastor Brad Hyatt Sunday Worship 11 am Wednesday 6 pm Central Missionary Baptist 1205 W. B Avenue, Elk City 580-225-0212 Eastside Baptist 421 N. Booth Avenue, Elk City 580-225-0742 Chase Brower, Min. Fairview Baptist 312 S. Lusk Avenue, Elk City 580-225-0203 First Baptist 1600 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City 580-225-7951 First Baptist 400 S. Sheb Wooley, Erick 580-526-3375 Jason Klechner, Min. Christian Antioch Christian 3200 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City 580-243-0066 Jeff McDowell Christian Church 1 S. Walnut, Erick 580-526-3284 First Christian Church (Diciples of Christ) 1500 N. Randall, Elk City 580-225-7801 First Christian 1601 N. 4th St., Sayre 580-928-3639 New Life Christian Center 20210 East Co. Road 1120 Elk City, OK 73644 Pastor: Michael Anderson www.NewLifeElkCity.com Service Information Sundays: 10:00am & 6:00pm Wednesdays: 7:00pm Church of Christ Church of Christ 216 N. Adams Ave., Elk City 580-225-0718 Gantt Carter, Min. 301 S. Magnolia Ave, Erick Douglas Holland, Minister 816-726-6988 Bible Study 10am Sunday Worship 11am Sunday Ladies Bible Study 10am Wednesday Evening Open Bible Study 7pm Wednesday First Baptist 504 N. 4th St., Sayre 580-928-5518 Church of Christ Elk City Meets at Pioneer & Bell 580-225-0718 [email protected] First Hispanic Baptist 919 W. 8th St., Elk City 580-225-7901 Westside Church of Christ 580-225-3052 Main Street Baptist 1101 N. Main St., Elk City 580-225-2938 Church of God 501 W. 1st, Elk City 580-225-0227 Joe Thompson, Min. Mt. Carmal Baptist 1801 W. A Avenue, Elk City 580-225-2061 One Church 200 East Broadway, Elk City 580-210-8881 Kevin Brosius (pastor) Prairie View Baptist I-40 & S Hwy 34, Elk City Pastor Tod Thornton Sunday School 9:15, Worship 10:30 Wed Prairie View Troops 3:30 Wed Prayer Meeting 6:30 Retrop Baptist Church Intersection Hwy 6 and 55 580-303-0791 Jehovah’s Witnesses Jehovah’s Witnesses 402 E. Washington Ave., Sayre 580-928-9330 Lutheran Christ Lutheran 1023 W. 2nd St., Elk City 580-225-2266 Methodist United Methodist - Elk CIty 720 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City • 580-225-0262 [email protected] www.elkcityumc.com Sunday Worship: 9:00am (traditional); 11:00am (contemporary) Sunday School: 10:00 am Sunday Choir Practice: 10:15am Wednesday Night: 5:30pm Dinner; 6:00pm Nursery (0-2 years old), GLOW Kids (2 years old to 3rd grade), Highway 456 (4th-6th grade), Youth group (7th-12th grade), 6:30pm Adult Bible Study United Methodist - Erick 320 S Magnolia Ave, Erick 580-526-3949 [email protected] Sunday Worship: 9:00am United Methodist - Sayre 802 N. 4th St., Sayre • 580-928-2146 [email protected] Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Choir Practice: 10:15am Sunday Worship: 10:45am Tuesday Bible Study: 12pm Nazarene First Church of The Nazarene 816 W. 6th St., Elk City 580-225-2026 Rev. Andrew Dages Pentecostal Grace Temple 601 W. 20th St, Elk City Lindell & Nequita Brown, Pastors Iglesia Evangelica Cristo Es La Pena 600 W. Main, Elk City Pastor, Jose Reyes 580-799-2964 Presbyterian First Presbyterian 217 N. Washington Ave., Elk City 580-225-3130 Non-Denominational The Way Church 201 S. Jefferson Ave., Elk City Gateway 4227 W. 3rd St., Elk City 580-225-1184 Curtis Newton, Min. The Link 200 S. Main, Elk City Trinity Fellowship Sayre 580-928-2345 Christ Ministiries 804 W. 6th St., Elk City 580-243-9708 Seventh-Day Adventist Seventh-Day Adventist 11375 N. 1990 Rd., Elk City 580-472-3472 Service times: 2:00 pm Bible Study 2:50 pm Church Service SUPPORT & RECOVERY RESOURCES AA-Elk City Original Group– 113 Meadow Ridge Dr Suite K, Elk City–M-F at noon & Every Night at 7pm AA-Elk City Southside Group– 105 Meadow Ridge Dr, Elk City, Nightly at 7pm Codependents Anonymous-White Buffalo, Mon 5:30pm CR - The Link Church - 200 S. Main St, Elk City, Mon at 7pm CR - Great Plains Baptist Association- 1906 N Watts, Sayre - Th 6:30 NA-Elk City– 100 S. Monroe Ave, Suite 18, Elk City, Nightly at 7pm SUBSCRIBE TODAY Current news and great deals delivered right to your door! Call today to support the church page! 580-225-3000