God is faithful!
For more than 100 years, God has been faithfully working through Putnam City Baptist Church. Throughout that time, much has changed, from buildings and pastors to seasons of growth and challenge, but one thing has remained constant: God's faithfulness.
From our humble beginnings to where we are today, He has continued to use PCBC to reach the Oklahoma City metro and beyond with the hope of the gospel. As we look back with gratitude for all He has done, we also look ahead with anticipation, trusting Him to continue His work through our church for generations to come.
From our humble beginnings to where we are today, He has continued to use PCBC to reach the Oklahoma City metro and beyond with the hope of the gospel. As we look back with gratitude for all He has done, we also look ahead with anticipation, trusting Him to continue His work through our church for generations to come.
our History
1926-1946
Several years before Putnam City Baptist Church was officially organized, people from the community gathered for Sunday school in the auditorium of the Putnam City public school. Many different denominations met together in what they simply called the Union Sunday School.
As time went on, some folks began to see and feel a need for more spiritual nourishment in this vast unchurched area–and a church home for their families.
They wrote a letter to the president of Oklahoma Baptist University expressing their desire for "a strong young man who would be willing to preach Christ and lead lost people to accept and trust Him as Saviour and Lord." They wanted him to be "Pastor to all," not just one group. Within a week, they received a letter from a young man, and Rev. Dewey L. Riley arrived the following Sunday.
On Sunday, June 20, 1926, under a small brush arbor on a recently purchased lot, over one hundred people gathered for the founding Sunday of Putnam City Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. By mid-August, church members had purchased enough lumber to begin construction of "The Tabernacle." Everyone pitched in–helping buy materials and swing hammers. Although Riley was only with them a few months, he left the church with a deep conviction that the Holy Spirit had led them through troubled waters toward a great and glorious future.
In September 1926, PCBC (as it would come to be known) called their first pastor, Rev. T.J. Brown. Spiritual fires burned brightly under his leadership as church members continually sought God's power and will, becoming an established part of the community.
In 1931, after two lots at 41st and Grove were donated to the church, they began relocating to gain better access to people who were driving the 39th Street Highway-better known now as Historic Route 66. But these were difficult times as both a community and a nation. The move, new construction, and another pastoral transition all took place during the heart of the Great Depression.
From its early days, PCBC has been a missional, sending church. Just seven years old, they launched a mission on N. MacArthur, and another a few months later on 10th Street following a six-week revival. These efforts later became West Tenth Baptist Church in 1935. Ten years after that, they did it again–purchasing a site and sending eighty members to plant First Baptist Church of Bethany.
The first two decades of ministry saw both the Great Depression and World War Il. Many difficult times occurred throughout those years, but the people of Putnam City Baptist Church showed incredible determination and unmatched missionary spirit. Rev. Guy Bellamy Sr., the longest-serving pastor to date, followed by Herbert Pierce, brought stability, care, and fresh direction to the growing work. It was a season of health and growth for PCBC.
These were foundational years that set the tone for decades to come as God continued to prove His faithfulness.
As time went on, some folks began to see and feel a need for more spiritual nourishment in this vast unchurched area–and a church home for their families.
They wrote a letter to the president of Oklahoma Baptist University expressing their desire for "a strong young man who would be willing to preach Christ and lead lost people to accept and trust Him as Saviour and Lord." They wanted him to be "Pastor to all," not just one group. Within a week, they received a letter from a young man, and Rev. Dewey L. Riley arrived the following Sunday.
On Sunday, June 20, 1926, under a small brush arbor on a recently purchased lot, over one hundred people gathered for the founding Sunday of Putnam City Baptist Church of Oklahoma City. By mid-August, church members had purchased enough lumber to begin construction of "The Tabernacle." Everyone pitched in–helping buy materials and swing hammers. Although Riley was only with them a few months, he left the church with a deep conviction that the Holy Spirit had led them through troubled waters toward a great and glorious future.
In September 1926, PCBC (as it would come to be known) called their first pastor, Rev. T.J. Brown. Spiritual fires burned brightly under his leadership as church members continually sought God's power and will, becoming an established part of the community.
In 1931, after two lots at 41st and Grove were donated to the church, they began relocating to gain better access to people who were driving the 39th Street Highway-better known now as Historic Route 66. But these were difficult times as both a community and a nation. The move, new construction, and another pastoral transition all took place during the heart of the Great Depression.
From its early days, PCBC has been a missional, sending church. Just seven years old, they launched a mission on N. MacArthur, and another a few months later on 10th Street following a six-week revival. These efforts later became West Tenth Baptist Church in 1935. Ten years after that, they did it again–purchasing a site and sending eighty members to plant First Baptist Church of Bethany.
The first two decades of ministry saw both the Great Depression and World War Il. Many difficult times occurred throughout those years, but the people of Putnam City Baptist Church showed incredible determination and unmatched missionary spirit. Rev. Guy Bellamy Sr., the longest-serving pastor to date, followed by Herbert Pierce, brought stability, care, and fresh direction to the growing work. It was a season of health and growth for PCBC.
These were foundational years that set the tone for decades to come as God continued to prove His faithfulness.
1946-1966
On February 11, 1947, Putnam City Baptist Church accepted the pulpit committee’s recommendation to call Reverend Max Stanfield as pastor–and with that, sixteen years of devoted service began. Dr. Stanfield would prove to be a spiritual leader and source of inspiration, leading the congregation to accomplish again and again what often seemed impossible. When he answered the call, he shared his belief that this part of Oklahoma City was poised to grow by leaps and bounds. The challenge to Putnam City Baptist Church was unlimited. He proved to be right!
Dr. Stanfield was known as "an aggressive pastor–old enough to know what he's talking about, young enough to dream big dreams." Under his leadership, PCBC made phenomenal progress, doubling in size within his first five years. Whether comforting the grieving, visiting the sick, winning the lost, playing with the kids, or spearheading a building program, he gave himself fully to his calling.
A new church building plan was adopted on December 10, 1947, and by August 1948 the pastor and building committee were authorized to pursue a new auditorium. Loans, however, kept getting denied. So the church pressed on–remodeling existing buildings to keep pace with significant growth. It took twelve years of work, generosity, and prayer, but a new building was finally completed. When the new auditorium was dedicated on June 21, 1959, Dr. Stanfield wrote:
"For some five years, we have planned and worked on this major item in order that we might make possible the worship of our God by more people, and lead on in the upward way. We rejoice in its accomplishment...God has given us more than we asked. And yet this glorious day is not the goal or the end. It is, in reality, marking the beginning of a time of larger and better service to Christ. He made it possible; let us use it for Him.”
The church family was shaken to its core on Friday, July 19, 1963, when Dr. Stanfield died suddenly from a heart attack.
The grief–felt deeply by members and the wider community alike–took time to heal. But the work continued. In November 1963, the church called Dr. T. T. Crabtree as pastor, and throughout his eight years as Senior Pastor, the congregation thrived, grew, and kept carrying the gospel across Oklahoma City.
Alongside PCBC's own growth during these decades, the church helped plant several new congregations throughout the city: Tulakes Baptist Church, Springdale Baptist Church, Central Hillerest Baptist Church, and Cherokee Hills Baptist Church - all vibrant, growing communities seeking to reach and disciple those around them.
Dr. Stanfield was known as "an aggressive pastor–old enough to know what he's talking about, young enough to dream big dreams." Under his leadership, PCBC made phenomenal progress, doubling in size within his first five years. Whether comforting the grieving, visiting the sick, winning the lost, playing with the kids, or spearheading a building program, he gave himself fully to his calling.
A new church building plan was adopted on December 10, 1947, and by August 1948 the pastor and building committee were authorized to pursue a new auditorium. Loans, however, kept getting denied. So the church pressed on–remodeling existing buildings to keep pace with significant growth. It took twelve years of work, generosity, and prayer, but a new building was finally completed. When the new auditorium was dedicated on June 21, 1959, Dr. Stanfield wrote:
"For some five years, we have planned and worked on this major item in order that we might make possible the worship of our God by more people, and lead on in the upward way. We rejoice in its accomplishment...God has given us more than we asked. And yet this glorious day is not the goal or the end. It is, in reality, marking the beginning of a time of larger and better service to Christ. He made it possible; let us use it for Him.”
The church family was shaken to its core on Friday, July 19, 1963, when Dr. Stanfield died suddenly from a heart attack.
The grief–felt deeply by members and the wider community alike–took time to heal. But the work continued. In November 1963, the church called Dr. T. T. Crabtree as pastor, and throughout his eight years as Senior Pastor, the congregation thrived, grew, and kept carrying the gospel across Oklahoma City.
Alongside PCBC's own growth during these decades, the church helped plant several new congregations throughout the city: Tulakes Baptist Church, Springdale Baptist Church, Central Hillerest Baptist Church, and Cherokee Hills Baptist Church - all vibrant, growing communities seeking to reach and disciple those around them.
1966-1986
As northwest Oklahoma City began to grow–new homes popping up, new schools opening, young families putting down roots–Putnam City Baptist Church found itself right in the middle of something special. What started as a small gathering of believers grew into a real spiritual home for a neighborhood that was changing fast. As the city expanded, so did PCBC's commitment to reach every new street, every new household, and every new heart.
The 1960s brought a fresh evangelistic fervor. Church members joined a city-wide outreach effort that led to thirty-five baptisms in the spring of 1966. New programs began to take shape too, such as Mother's Day Out in 1969 and a Craft Program in 1971, both designed simply to reach and care for local families and open new conversations. All the while, PCBC kept investing in missions and church planting across Oklahoma and the surrounding region.
But some of the most meaningful ministry didn't happen inside the building at all. It happened on front porches and at kitchen tables, as pastors and volunteers knocked on doors all across northwest Oklahoma week after week. Programs like Evangelism Explosion helped everyday church members feel equipped and confident sharing their faith, and revivals kept the congregation's passion for the gospel fresh and alive.
After a fruitful tenure, Dr. T.T. Crabtree concluded his time at PCBC, and in 1972, the church warmly welcomed Richard Douglass as Senior Pastor. Richard and his family were coming off four years of mission work with the IMB in Brazil. A global heart for people would define his ministry at PCBC.
The 1970s were full–full of milestones, full of momentum, and ultimately, full of heartbreak. The church celebrated its Jubilee (50th) anniversary, completed a new educational building in 1978, and launched Weekday Preschool in 1979. There was a real sense that something new was beginning.
No one could have prepared this community of believers for the tragedy of October 15, 1979. That night, Pastor Richard Douglass and his wife Marilyn were tragically shot and killed by drifters at their home in Okarche. Their children, Brooks and Leslie, were also seriously wounded. The news was devastating–not just for PCBC, but for people around the world who had known and loved the Douglass family. In the grief that followed, the church held onto something Richard himself had taught them: that there is victory over death, over sorrow, over pain, over the wrongs of others–through Jesus Christ our Lord.
It would take someone truly special to step into that kind of loss. Rod Masteller was that person. He and his wife Linda, along with their family, answered the call to PCBC on October 5, 1980. The years that followed held both continued grief and real, tangible growth. PCBC was finding its footing again, still rooted in the same mission that had always carried them.
The 1960s brought a fresh evangelistic fervor. Church members joined a city-wide outreach effort that led to thirty-five baptisms in the spring of 1966. New programs began to take shape too, such as Mother's Day Out in 1969 and a Craft Program in 1971, both designed simply to reach and care for local families and open new conversations. All the while, PCBC kept investing in missions and church planting across Oklahoma and the surrounding region.
But some of the most meaningful ministry didn't happen inside the building at all. It happened on front porches and at kitchen tables, as pastors and volunteers knocked on doors all across northwest Oklahoma week after week. Programs like Evangelism Explosion helped everyday church members feel equipped and confident sharing their faith, and revivals kept the congregation's passion for the gospel fresh and alive.
After a fruitful tenure, Dr. T.T. Crabtree concluded his time at PCBC, and in 1972, the church warmly welcomed Richard Douglass as Senior Pastor. Richard and his family were coming off four years of mission work with the IMB in Brazil. A global heart for people would define his ministry at PCBC.
The 1970s were full–full of milestones, full of momentum, and ultimately, full of heartbreak. The church celebrated its Jubilee (50th) anniversary, completed a new educational building in 1978, and launched Weekday Preschool in 1979. There was a real sense that something new was beginning.
No one could have prepared this community of believers for the tragedy of October 15, 1979. That night, Pastor Richard Douglass and his wife Marilyn were tragically shot and killed by drifters at their home in Okarche. Their children, Brooks and Leslie, were also seriously wounded. The news was devastating–not just for PCBC, but for people around the world who had known and loved the Douglass family. In the grief that followed, the church held onto something Richard himself had taught them: that there is victory over death, over sorrow, over pain, over the wrongs of others–through Jesus Christ our Lord.
It would take someone truly special to step into that kind of loss. Rod Masteller was that person. He and his wife Linda, along with their family, answered the call to PCBC on October 5, 1980. The years that followed held both continued grief and real, tangible growth. PCBC was finding its footing again, still rooted in the same mission that had always carried them.
1986-2006
It was, in many ways, the best of times and the worst of times –for Oklahoma City, and for Putnam City Baptist Church.
Oklahoma City itself was living a dramatic chapter. In 1993, the city voted for MAPS, launching a civic renaissance full of new energy and optimism. But that hope was shattered on April 19, 1995, when a domestic terrorist's bomb tore through the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people. The world watched as Oklahoma City grieved–and then watched even more closely as it rose.
PCBC was no bystander in that moment. When the smoke cleared, Pastor Rod Masteller stood alongside Reverend Billy Graham in the city's collective grief–a visible witness to the church’s deep roots in the life of Oklahoma City. And the loss was not abstract for PCBC. Several church members were survivors or first responders of that tragic day.
Throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s, PCBC embraced the calling to be a strong influence throughout Oklahoma City. Membership soared to nearly 2,400. A citywide crusade at the State Fairgrounds drew more than 8,000 people. The Christmas productions that began in the church auditorium eventually moved to the Civic Center Music Hall for two additional years. These productions would become a citywide Christmas celebration. Programs like Evangelism Explosion equipped members for personal outreach, while the HOPE Ministry served refugees by teaching English and sharing Christ.
The best of times gave way to something far more difficult. The decision to relocate the church north to a new 31-acre site on Rockwell led to a great divide in the congregation.
Many realized the need to move to where OKC was growing. Others struggled to leave the neighborhood where God had planted us in 1926. In the midst of the pain of that struggle, Max Alexander introduced the staff and congregation to Experiencing God–Henry Blackaby's landmark study on knowing and doing the will of God. It was a pivotal moment that reoriented the church’s heart and steadied its footing when steadiness was desperately needed.
After nearly 20 years of ministry at PCBC, Rod Masteller completed his time at the church just before groundbreaking on the new building on Easter Sunday, March 30, 1997. Dr.
Jerry McKinney stepped in as pastor to lead the congregation to its new home. The new building was dedicated on October 28, 1998, and in 1999, PCBC made the journey to Rockwell in a long procession of cars–a congregation on the move.
From explosive growth to painful division, from the rubble of the Murrah Building to the dedication of a brand-new sanctuary, PCBC's story from 1986 to 2006 is one of a church that refused to be defined by its hardest moments.
Oklahoma City itself was living a dramatic chapter. In 1993, the city voted for MAPS, launching a civic renaissance full of new energy and optimism. But that hope was shattered on April 19, 1995, when a domestic terrorist's bomb tore through the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people. The world watched as Oklahoma City grieved–and then watched even more closely as it rose.
PCBC was no bystander in that moment. When the smoke cleared, Pastor Rod Masteller stood alongside Reverend Billy Graham in the city's collective grief–a visible witness to the church’s deep roots in the life of Oklahoma City. And the loss was not abstract for PCBC. Several church members were survivors or first responders of that tragic day.
Throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s, PCBC embraced the calling to be a strong influence throughout Oklahoma City. Membership soared to nearly 2,400. A citywide crusade at the State Fairgrounds drew more than 8,000 people. The Christmas productions that began in the church auditorium eventually moved to the Civic Center Music Hall for two additional years. These productions would become a citywide Christmas celebration. Programs like Evangelism Explosion equipped members for personal outreach, while the HOPE Ministry served refugees by teaching English and sharing Christ.
The best of times gave way to something far more difficult. The decision to relocate the church north to a new 31-acre site on Rockwell led to a great divide in the congregation.
Many realized the need to move to where OKC was growing. Others struggled to leave the neighborhood where God had planted us in 1926. In the midst of the pain of that struggle, Max Alexander introduced the staff and congregation to Experiencing God–Henry Blackaby's landmark study on knowing and doing the will of God. It was a pivotal moment that reoriented the church’s heart and steadied its footing when steadiness was desperately needed.
After nearly 20 years of ministry at PCBC, Rod Masteller completed his time at the church just before groundbreaking on the new building on Easter Sunday, March 30, 1997. Dr.
Jerry McKinney stepped in as pastor to lead the congregation to its new home. The new building was dedicated on October 28, 1998, and in 1999, PCBC made the journey to Rockwell in a long procession of cars–a congregation on the move.
From explosive growth to painful division, from the rubble of the Murrah Building to the dedication of a brand-new sanctuary, PCBC's story from 1986 to 2006 is one of a church that refused to be defined by its hardest moments.
2006-2026
The story of Putnam City Baptist Church across these twenty years is, at its heart, a story about what happens when a community of believers refuses to give up. Attendance had thinned. Finances were stretched. The world was changing fast, and the path forward wasn't always clear. But in those uncertain days, God was already at work.
From 2006 to 2009, Dr. Jerry McKinney shepherded the church with quiet faithfulness, keeping its neighborhood ministries, worship services, and Sunday programs alive and rooted in the community. Then 2010 arrived-perhaps the hardest year in the church's recent history. On March 13, Pastor McKinney passed away after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma. Just weeks later, on May 11, the congregation mourned again with the loss of Max M. Alexander, Minister of Pastoral Care, who had faithfully served PCBC for 43 years and conducted 967 funerals across that span–walking alongside more families in grief than most pastors see in a lifetime.
These were not small losses. Bob Shelton stepped in as interim pastor, steadying the congregation through grief and transition. And then, in December 2010, God brought Bill Hulse back to PCBC as senior pastor. With him came a renewed vision anchored in the Experiencing God strategy–seeing where God is already at work and joining Him there.
The mission crystallized around Acts 1:8–ministering first in the shadow of their own steeple (Jerusalem), then across OKC (Judea), the Nation (Samaria), and to the ends of the earth.
The years that followed were marked by purpose and growth.
A 2012 Strategic Plan shaped the future of the 31-acre campus. Small groups deepened. Family ministry flourished. The church engaged its neighboring schools–Wiley Post Elementary School and Putnam City North High School–building relationships that extended the church's presence well beyond Sunday mornings. Events like FestiFall and neighborhood block parties became beloved traditions. Pastor Bill's annual "State of the Church" messages wove vision and celebration together, reinforcing PCBC's identity as an aspirational family walking through life side by side.
In 2015, the church made a remarkable decision–selling a portion of its land for the development of the "Healthy Living OKC Wellness Center." When it opened in 2017, PCBC was selected to open and operate it, welcoming over 7,000 members into a space that embodied the church's commitment to whole-person wellness: body, mind, and spirit.
“Growth continued through 2016-2019. Families filled the rooms and halls of our current building, children’s ministry expanded, and global missions moved to center stage.”
Then came 2020. The pandemic seemed to shut down the world–but not PCBC's ministry. The congregation gathered outdoors for "Lawn Chair Church," held together by worship and fellowship under Oklahoma skies. And in a remarkable act of provision, the new Children's Building and preschool remodel were completed and paid off in full that same year–debt-free, even in crisis.
Out of 2020 also came the Community Bridges Mission Strategy–a bold vision for launching ministries through businesses and services. Parenting Services was born to walk alongside mothers, families, and children in need, responding in part to the changing landscape following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. A CrossFit gym and Nourish Catering followed as additional bridges into the surrounding community.
In 2022, Dru Finley joined as Associate Pastor and Josh McClellan as Next Gen Pastor–a clear investment in the generations ahead.
In 2024, PCBC was gifted the property and facilities of Highland Hills Baptist Church, now home to the Community Bridges Mission Center, extending the church's reach into a whole new neighborhood.
“When God gives the vision, His people will flourish.”
From 2006 to 2009, Dr. Jerry McKinney shepherded the church with quiet faithfulness, keeping its neighborhood ministries, worship services, and Sunday programs alive and rooted in the community. Then 2010 arrived-perhaps the hardest year in the church's recent history. On March 13, Pastor McKinney passed away after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma. Just weeks later, on May 11, the congregation mourned again with the loss of Max M. Alexander, Minister of Pastoral Care, who had faithfully served PCBC for 43 years and conducted 967 funerals across that span–walking alongside more families in grief than most pastors see in a lifetime.
These were not small losses. Bob Shelton stepped in as interim pastor, steadying the congregation through grief and transition. And then, in December 2010, God brought Bill Hulse back to PCBC as senior pastor. With him came a renewed vision anchored in the Experiencing God strategy–seeing where God is already at work and joining Him there.
The mission crystallized around Acts 1:8–ministering first in the shadow of their own steeple (Jerusalem), then across OKC (Judea), the Nation (Samaria), and to the ends of the earth.
The years that followed were marked by purpose and growth.
A 2012 Strategic Plan shaped the future of the 31-acre campus. Small groups deepened. Family ministry flourished. The church engaged its neighboring schools–Wiley Post Elementary School and Putnam City North High School–building relationships that extended the church's presence well beyond Sunday mornings. Events like FestiFall and neighborhood block parties became beloved traditions. Pastor Bill's annual "State of the Church" messages wove vision and celebration together, reinforcing PCBC's identity as an aspirational family walking through life side by side.
In 2015, the church made a remarkable decision–selling a portion of its land for the development of the "Healthy Living OKC Wellness Center." When it opened in 2017, PCBC was selected to open and operate it, welcoming over 7,000 members into a space that embodied the church's commitment to whole-person wellness: body, mind, and spirit.
“Growth continued through 2016-2019. Families filled the rooms and halls of our current building, children’s ministry expanded, and global missions moved to center stage.”
Then came 2020. The pandemic seemed to shut down the world–but not PCBC's ministry. The congregation gathered outdoors for "Lawn Chair Church," held together by worship and fellowship under Oklahoma skies. And in a remarkable act of provision, the new Children's Building and preschool remodel were completed and paid off in full that same year–debt-free, even in crisis.
Out of 2020 also came the Community Bridges Mission Strategy–a bold vision for launching ministries through businesses and services. Parenting Services was born to walk alongside mothers, families, and children in need, responding in part to the changing landscape following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. A CrossFit gym and Nourish Catering followed as additional bridges into the surrounding community.
In 2022, Dru Finley joined as Associate Pastor and Josh McClellan as Next Gen Pastor–a clear investment in the generations ahead.
In 2024, PCBC was gifted the property and facilities of Highland Hills Baptist Church, now home to the Community Bridges Mission Center, extending the church's reach into a whole new neighborhood.
“When God gives the vision, His people will flourish.”