Church Historical Timeline

Oakwood Bible Church through the Years…

1915
Oakwood residents began the Oakwood Sunday School Association. Classes
were held in the Oakwood School building on Parkview Ave.

1924
Lot 333 at 2517 Amherst Ave. donated by John Hinga

1929
Rev. Henry Kooi called as first full-time pastor

1932
Lot 332 at 2523 Amherst Ave. purchased

1933
Name changed to Oakwood Undenominational Church

1953-1963
Sunday school Departmentalized
Junior Church program began
Name changed to Oakwood Bible Church (1954)
Basement added to original building on Amherst (1956)
Sanctuary added to existing building on Amherst (1962)

1966
Joined IFCA (Independent Fundamental Churches of America)

1967
Parsonage on Logan St. sold
Participated in Bible Memory Association (1967-79)

1968
Parsonage on Fleetwood Dr. in Portage purchased
Church library started

1971
AWANA program began

1974
Approved purchase of 3.5 acre plot and house at 4150 Oakland Dr.
Bible quiz team organized

1975-1977
Amherst Ave. building and property sold
Congregation met in Haverhill Elementary School
Purchased house at 4206 Oakland Dr.
Associated Church Builders hired to supervise construction of new church
Twenty-five year mortgage approved for building expenses
“Program of Progress” capital campaign began (1977)
AWANA Sparks program began (1977)
Ground-breaking ceremony held (3/20/77)

1978
First service held in new building at 4100 Oakland Dr.

1984
House at 4206 Oakland Dr. used as Sunday school annex

1989
Front lawn converted to expanded parking lot
After 1 1/2 years as part-time Steve Johnson hired as first full-time Associate
Pastor, serving under Pastor William Hentschel

1990
Pastor Johnson ordained (6/10)
Pastor Hentschel called Home to Glory (8/26)
75th Anniversary celebrated (10/13-14)

1991
Steve Johnson appointed Senior Pastor

1992-1993
Men for Missions group started
Mortgage paid off on church building; celebration service held
Foyer expand; carport extended (1993)

1994
Church membership class instituted
New Rodgers organ purchased

1995
Karen Kortman hired as first paid part-time secretary
Mark Smith ordained

1996
Pastor Johnson enabled to purchase his own house; Smith family moves into
Fleetwood parsonage

1997
“Give us this Mountain” capital campaign began

1998
Parsonage at 4206 Oakland Dr. demolished

2000
Ground-breaking ceremony for new Family Life Center (9/10)

2001-2003
Dedication of completed Family Life Center (2001)
AWANA moves from Woods Lake School to new church gym (2001)
Old office walls removed to enlarge foyer; restrooms and nursery
remodeled and enlarged (2002)
Parsonage on Fleetwood Dr. sold to Pastor Smith (2003)

2005
90th Anniversary celebrated with Jerry Jenkins as special speaker

2010-2014
Steve Surine ordained
Courtney Eaton commissioned as missionary with TACTICA, Costa Rica
Paid off mortgage on Family Life Center. Church debt free (08/2014)

2015
100th Anniversary celebrated with former Pastor Russell Osbeck preaching

2019
Pastor Steve Johnson Retired

Dr. Robert Evans called as Interim Pastor from IPMFirst sermon 6/9/19

2020

Dr. Robert Evans finishes his ministry at Oakwood and returns home to Minnesota. 11/22/20

Dr. Bradley S. Belcher is called as Senior Pastor and his first sermon on 12/6/20

Pastor Bill Kiewiet retires as Pastor at the end of 2020. Link to his end of year devotional video.

2021

Pastor Nick Eaton is called as Pastor of Family & Student Ministries