How it all started...
In 1997, college pastors and a group of 40 students from Chi Alpha Campus Ministry began gathering each Sunday on the campus of Oklahoma State University. They shared a vision of reaching the campus and the community of Stillwater, and of discipling and sending leaders who would be difference-makers around the world. As the church grew, they began to meet on Washington Street, ("The Strip") south of campus.
Although our group began with college students, we grew quickly as families and others from the community joined with us. Together, we focused on passionate worship, training and equipping believers, and finding creative ways to reach outside the walls of the church and impact the community around us.
We eventually moved out of our building on Washington Street, thinking we would meet temporarily in the Stillwater Community Center. During our eight years of "temporary," God renewed our mission and heart with an increased focus on the community we live in. It became one of our strongest desires to live in our community, as opposed to dropping in and rolling back out every Sunday. We craved the opportunity to invest in the lives of those around us.
We also chased after God, studying His Word, seeking Him in prayer and worship and always seeking to bring Him to the center of our lives. We are not, nor have we ever been, perfect at this pursuit. But we are consistent in our desire to know God deeply and surrender more and more of our lives to Him as Lord.
It was out of these two desires that we changed our name to Center Church - because it best reflected our heart to make God the center of our lives and to bring God to the center of our city.
In 2024 we moved from our home in Cimarron Plaza, which will soon be the location of Stillwater’s new High School. We currently meet at the Sheerar Center in downtown Stillwater.
Today Center Church is a beautiful blend of college students, adults and families who are committed to God and each other. Together, we live out our faith and grow in our relationship with Jesus as we encourage and equip one another to bring God to the center of our lives and join together to love our city in real and tangible ways.
Although our group began with college students, we grew quickly as families and others from the community joined with us. Together, we focused on passionate worship, training and equipping believers, and finding creative ways to reach outside the walls of the church and impact the community around us.
We eventually moved out of our building on Washington Street, thinking we would meet temporarily in the Stillwater Community Center. During our eight years of "temporary," God renewed our mission and heart with an increased focus on the community we live in. It became one of our strongest desires to live in our community, as opposed to dropping in and rolling back out every Sunday. We craved the opportunity to invest in the lives of those around us.
We also chased after God, studying His Word, seeking Him in prayer and worship and always seeking to bring Him to the center of our lives. We are not, nor have we ever been, perfect at this pursuit. But we are consistent in our desire to know God deeply and surrender more and more of our lives to Him as Lord.
It was out of these two desires that we changed our name to Center Church - because it best reflected our heart to make God the center of our lives and to bring God to the center of our city.
In 2024 we moved from our home in Cimarron Plaza, which will soon be the location of Stillwater’s new High School. We currently meet at the Sheerar Center in downtown Stillwater.
Today Center Church is a beautiful blend of college students, adults and families who are committed to God and each other. Together, we live out our faith and grow in our relationship with Jesus as we encourage and equip one another to bring God to the center of our lives and join together to love our city in real and tangible ways.
