Happy 100th birthday, South Coffeyville UMC
On Oct. 14, South Coffeyville United Methodist Church will celebrate 100 years in ministry. The centennial events begin at 10:45 a.m. Bartlesville District Superintendent George Warren will be a specialguest. Part of the century of history is the story of a fire, in 1996, and how God brought forth good from that destruction. Church historian Carol Madron, a member since age 5, described what happened. Madron chaired the building committee as the church focused on recovery. Some altar items were saved from the flames — the brass cross, an aged Bible, offering plate -- and pews as well as three blue windowpanes were salvaged. Then insurance and volunteer labor enabled the congregation to build a new church and expand the property from one city lot to 12. Some work teams were from another denomination and from other states. The project was completed free of debt."We were just so blessed," said Madron. "It modernized the church." Another piece that survived the fire is the church bell. As South Coffeyville moves into a new century of embodying Christ, the bell still rings out every Sunday in the town at the Kansas-Oklahoma border. "We’re a praying church," described Madron. Community residents regularly request prayers by the church for their families. Pastor is Darryl Owen. South Coffeyville UMC sets across the street from a school. One-hundred years ago, the church launched in a school. |
