November 7, 2026 Issue, Page 4 of 15

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4• SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 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. LIFE IN THE FAMILY “CASTLE” Dixie Yoder Our life experience is built on beliefs we inherited from our family. We’re influenced by the thoughts and choices of our ancestors, all the way back to First Adam. But no matter what “building” we’ve inherited, we are each personally responsible for the renovation (renewing the mind) and maintenance (faith-actions) of the “belief-castle” handed down to us. Each generation has equal opportunity to tear down the ruinous sections of pride, immorality and selfishness, and build instead, new rooms of faith in God that are strong and protective. We will only find rest and enjoyment in the castle-of-life we’re building when we choose intentionally to thank God for the privilege of daily life with Him! Examples of family influence: At her birth, Kate Middleton’s parents had no inkling that their first child would marry Prince William and become the future queen of England. The Middletons have done for generations what ‘average’ or typical people do: grow up, get married, have jobs, have babies and live life the best they can with the ‘life tools’ they’ve been given. As a teenager, Kate learned piano and studied average subjects, not knowing that she would one day rank among the world’s most famous women. Do you remember Jeffery Dahmer? His claim to fame was being known as the “Milwaukie Cannibal.” When was born, his parents didn’t know that their new baby would become one of America’s most notorious serial killers. Here is a bit of information from his early history: he was doted upon by both parents. His mother was known to be tense and moody; greedy for attention and argumentative. As Dahmer entered grade school, his mother began to spend more time in bed, demanding constant attention and working herself into a state of anxiety over trivial matters simply to get attention from her husband and son. Addicted to prescription drugs, she attempted suicide several times. Her emotional state had a clear impact on her son’s emotional instability and future choices. George Washington Carver was born in Kansas Territory in 1864 or 1865, the son of slaves. His father was killed shortly before Carver was born. As a baby, Carver was kidnapped by nightriders, and held for ransom with his mother and brother, who died before they could be rescued. Moses Carver, a compassionate German farmer, ransomed the surviving infant with a $300 racehorse. He had no idea the baby would make the family name, Carver, world-famous. Unlike Jeffrey Dahmer’s mother, Carver refused to be a victim. He worked hard to learn, taking advantage of every educational opportunity, no matter how limited or difficult. Overcoming abandonment, racial hatred and poverty, his eventual life work in agriculture and food genetics resulted in: the creation of 325 products from peanuts, more than 100 from sweet potatoes and hundreds more from other plants. These life-sustaining foods contributed to rural economic improvement around the world, saving lives and enhancing nutritional health for millions. Who can take credit for his accomplishments? Those who brought Carver’s ancestors to America under cruel conditions? The parents who conceived him in poverty? His kidnapper? The God-fearing farmer who ransomed him, and nurtured his agricultural interests? Perhaps a kind teacher? Actually, each one of these and many more who touched Carver’s life were a part of his accomplishments. God does His work through people, and each one, often unknowingly, contributed in someway to the scientific development that improve nutrition for millions. Average people, living life, both righteously and unrighteously, were involved in producing this world, changing knowledge. At your conception and birth, no matter what the circumstances, the structure of the human race was made different because you exist with your unique DNA. After birth, we each get to choose, not if we make changes in world history, but whether the changes we make as we live our ‘average’ life, are constructive or destructive. Send your questions, comments, and suggestions for future columns to drdixie51@ gmail.com 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