Where am I now?
History and Growth of the Church
Our History
In 1942, OFCN was a vision of Grover C. Kelly from Denver City and Evangelist Herbert Land.
After much prodding from Mr. Kelly, District Superintendent Finch promised that some day he would start work in Odessa. Rev. Bob Hocker, pastor of the Nazarene Church in Midland, was also praying.
It was agreed that if Mr. Kelly could find some Nazarenes in Odessa, that the Midland pastor would come over and hold services for two Sunday evenings a month.
The first service was held on January 28, 1945 in the office of the Alamo Courts.
On June 24, 1945, Rev. Hocker organized the first Sunday School and appointed Grover C. Kelly as Sunday School Superintendent. Services were now being held in the home of Bob Brookover, where Pastor Jessie Bohannan and his wife, Lucile were called into service.
On September 23, 1945, corner lots were purchased on 3rd and Amburgey and District Superintendent Hadly Hall of the San Antonio District came to Odessa and officially organized the Church of the Nazarene with the following charter members:
In 1951, under the leadership of Pearl Keeton, a new building, which included 23 Sunday School rooms, a baptistery, a kitchen, and recreation room were built.
Later, the church bought property at the corner of Grandview and Lyndale, at that time on the northeast edge of the city. The property on Amburgey was sold to a Baptist Church and OFCN met temporarily at John Ireland Elementary School until the church could be built. During the booming growth period of Odessa in the mid 1970s, the church grew as well. Attendance reached and surpassed the 300 mark.
In 1978, the activity center was built, later renamed the Keeton Building. Since the beginning, eight pastors have served Odessa First Church of the Nazarene.
Pastors who have served OFCN
Associates who have served OFCN
In 1942, OFCN was a vision of Grover C. Kelly from Denver City and Evangelist Herbert Land.
After much prodding from Mr. Kelly, District Superintendent Finch promised that some day he would start work in Odessa. Rev. Bob Hocker, pastor of the Nazarene Church in Midland, was also praying.
It was agreed that if Mr. Kelly could find some Nazarenes in Odessa, that the Midland pastor would come over and hold services for two Sunday evenings a month.
The first service was held on January 28, 1945 in the office of the Alamo Courts.
On June 24, 1945, Rev. Hocker organized the first Sunday School and appointed Grover C. Kelly as Sunday School Superintendent. Services were now being held in the home of Bob Brookover, where Pastor Jessie Bohannan and his wife, Lucile were called into service.
On September 23, 1945, corner lots were purchased on 3rd and Amburgey and District Superintendent Hadly Hall of the San Antonio District came to Odessa and officially organized the Church of the Nazarene with the following charter members:
Pastor Jesse and Lucile Bohannan
Grady Bohannan
Cora Jane Bohannan
Charles Bohannan
Mrs. Bob Brookover and her daughters
Miss Donna Brookover
Miss Patsy Brookover
Grover C. Kelly
Mrs. Dixie Watley
Joe Bohannan
Luther and Wilmon Bohannan
Earl Bohannan
Mrs. Gordon, and Mrs. Smith
The first services were held in the Odd Fellows Hall, located on North Grant Street, on May 12, 1946. Grady Bohannan
Cora Jane Bohannan
Charles Bohannan
Mrs. Bob Brookover and her daughters
Miss Donna Brookover
Miss Patsy Brookover
Grover C. Kelly
Mrs. Dixie Watley
Joe Bohannan
Luther and Wilmon Bohannan
Earl Bohannan
Mrs. Gordon, and Mrs. Smith
In 1951, under the leadership of Pearl Keeton, a new building, which included 23 Sunday School rooms, a baptistery, a kitchen, and recreation room were built.
Later, the church bought property at the corner of Grandview and Lyndale, at that time on the northeast edge of the city. The property on Amburgey was sold to a Baptist Church and OFCN met temporarily at John Ireland Elementary School until the church could be built. During the booming growth period of Odessa in the mid 1970s, the church grew as well. Attendance reached and surpassed the 300 mark.
In 1978, the activity center was built, later renamed the Keeton Building. Since the beginning, eight pastors have served Odessa First Church of the Nazarene.
Pastors who have served OFCN
Jessie Bohannan - 1945-1946
Aaron Wallentine - 1946-1950
Pearl Keeton - 1950-1969
Richard Thompson - 1969-1971
Tommy Burton - 1971-1976
Bob Lothenore - 1976-1978
Norman Rickey - 1978-1983
Jay Bybee - 1983-1988
Terry Pierce - 1988-present
Aaron Wallentine - 1946-1950
Pearl Keeton - 1950-1969
Richard Thompson - 1969-1971
Tommy Burton - 1971-1976
Bob Lothenore - 1976-1978
Norman Rickey - 1978-1983
Jay Bybee - 1983-1988
Terry Pierce - 1988-present
Associates who have served OFCN
Laura Fornash - 1959-1968
Terry Roediger, Children - 1976-1978
Keven Wentworth, Music & Youth - 1976-1978
Darrel Archer, Music - 1978-1980
Dave Price, Music - 1980-1982
Richard Bennett, Youth - 1992-1993
Robert Williams, Pastoral Care - 1992-1999
Joseph Emerson, Music & Children - 1994-1995
Ralph Buffington, Pastoral Care - 1994-2001
Jimmy Orozco, Spanish Ministry - 1998-1999
Kim Spires, Children - 2000-2002
Tom Reed, Administration/Music - 2003-present
Pam Doughty, Children - 2003-2004
Deborah Wright, Children - 2004-2007
Brian Pierce, Youth - 2005–2007
Jessica Wight, Children – 2007
Gloria Cisneros, Children – 2008-present
Terry Roediger, Children - 1976-1978
Keven Wentworth, Music & Youth - 1976-1978
Darrel Archer, Music - 1978-1980
Dave Price, Music - 1980-1982
Richard Bennett, Youth - 1992-1993
Robert Williams, Pastoral Care - 1992-1999
Joseph Emerson, Music & Children - 1994-1995
Ralph Buffington, Pastoral Care - 1994-2001
Jimmy Orozco, Spanish Ministry - 1998-1999
Kim Spires, Children - 2000-2002
Tom Reed, Administration/Music - 2003-present
Pam Doughty, Children - 2003-2004
Deborah Wright, Children - 2004-2007
Brian Pierce, Youth - 2005–2007
Jessica Wight, Children – 2007
Gloria Cisneros, Children – 2008-present
Tyler Hull, Youth - 2009
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