History of The Church At BattleCreek,
Tulsa, Oklahoma
In November of 2002, Dr. Alex Himaya stood in front of a small gathering of believers at Gracemont Church in Tulsa and cast the vision for a new church. He said, "Tulsa does not need another church. What Tulsa does need is a safe environment where the unchurched can come and hear the life-changing truth that Jesus Christ cares for them and died for their sin." So began The Church at BattleCreek which launched on August 14, 2003.
In the early months we made a strategic decision not to focus on growth, but instead to focus on leadership development. As a result, when the church launched we had a core of leaders who knew exactly what we were trying to do and exactly where they fit in.
In addition to the Sunday morning services, TCABC started three ministries designed to capture the attention of some target audiences.
Treasure Island
Treasure Island is a full-blown, interactive
worship experience for children (3-5 yrs.
Old). It is a wonderful environment set
on the beach of Treasure Island where
kids sing and laugh and learn about the
love of God. The Children's favorite characters
(puppets) are used to communicate the
truths of God. By the time these children
go to the 1st grade, we want them to know
that God made everything, God loves them,
and God wants them to love Him back.
Kids Club
Kids Club is under the leadership of
Jason Lee. Kids Club targets families
with elementary school-aged children.
Kids Club is a one-hour program where
children participate with their parents
in a highly interactive, values-driven
learning environment. As Jason is fond
of saying, "Kids Club is where kids
bring their parents to church." Kids
Club is now taking the message to the
streets by doing public school assemblies
all over the Tulsa Metro area.
Everyday Student Ministries
The Lord has done incredible things in the lives of our students under the leadership of John Hickman. We are watching our students bring friends and learn what it means to truly be a follower Christ. Thru Sunday morning programming, Wednesday night Community Groups, monthly worship services, and mission outreaches, our students are learning that their relationship with Christ is an everyday thing.
Our desire is to teach students to Tell others about God, Honor God with their lives, Invest in others, Network with other believers, Grow to be like God, and !Exclaim to the Lord. It's an Everyday T.H.I.N.G.!
Beyond the Numbers
Currently, The Church at BattleCreek has over 2,000 people participating in two morning worship services, of which about 1,200 are members. Over 800 students and children meet in small groups and worship services while their parents attend worship. As you might imagine, however, the numbers don't tell the whole story. Changed lives are what drive the leadership at TCABC. Our real mission is to glorify God by helping All People, All ages, All the T.I.M.E take their next step with Jesus. That's not just a slogan on our wall. We have measured our success by that standard from the beginning. If we ever stop hearing stories of lives being changed, I guarantee we will stop what we are doing and regroup, no matter how many people are attending.
