Nearly 1,000 Oklahoma Baptists gathered at Oklahoma City, Southern Hills Nov. 10-11 for the 119th Annual Meeting. The two-day Annual Meeting was attended by 875 registered messengers from churches across Oklahoma, as well as other attendees and guests.
The theme was “Prevail,” based on Matt. 16:13-19. Michael Butler, pastor of Chickasha, First, served as Oklahoma Baptists president and led throughout the Annual Meeting.
Monday evening celebrates 100 Years of the Cooperative Program
During the opening session of Annual Meeting on Monday evening, Oklahoma Baptists Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Fisher shared his annual address.
Fisher, who was involved in a near-fatal automobile accident in July of 2024 thanked Oklahoma Baptists for their prayers and support. He then led in a time to commemorate the 100th anniversaries of the Cooperative Program (CP) and the Baptist Faith and Message.
“As we gather this evening in our annual meeting as Oklahoma Baptists, we do so in remembrance and celebration of a long and rich history of obedience to God’s Word and faithfulness to the mission he has given the church,” Fisher said. “Our cause for gratefully looking back at our heritage are the 100th anniversaries of both the Cooperative Program and the Baptist Faith and Message. In light of these milestones, we would do well to do as these examples from history have done and learn from our history to help us in our today and our future.
“I am reminded of the address an aging Joshua gave the leaders of Israel in Joshua 23 as he looked back on the history of his people. He used that history to help encourage the leaders of Israel to remain focused on the Word and mission God had given them. We would do well to do the same.”
Fisher emphasized the legacy and history that Oklahoma Baptists enjoy.
“As we look at who we are as Oklahoma Baptists, we would do well to look back at our history and the incredible work that God did to unite our state around shared beliefs and mission,” he said.
According to Fisher, the history of Oklahoma Baptists is rooted in the unification of two separate conventions—the Baptist General Convention of Indian Territory and the Oklahoma Baptist State Convention—prior to Oklahoma achieving statehood in 1907. This merger, formalized in 1906, created a unified body committed to missionary work, Christian education, and denominational enterprises, a purpose that Fisher states continues today.
“The two Baptist conventions, seeing the imminent reality of statehood and the merging of the two territories, began to formally discuss merging the conventions. After a series of meetings for both sides, the two conventions agreed to become one. On November 9, 1906, the Baptist General Convention of Indian Territory met inside the First Baptist Church of Shawnee (that building is Stubblefield Chapel on the campus of OBU) and formally approved the merger. The Oklahoma Baptist State Convention met inside the First Methodist Church of Shawnee and voted to merge as well.
“At 10 AM, both groups walked out of the two churches and met together— 400 messengers in total. They walked down Main St of Shawnee in pairs, one from Indian Territory and one from Oklahoma territory to the Shawnee Opera House. They were no longer competitors, but brothers sharing a common faith and commitment to the Word of God and the Great Commission. As they walked, they sang the old hymn, “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.” Inside the opera house, they had their first annual meeting as a unified convention.”
Fisher explained how the two conventions had their own respective gavel. The two gavels were merged into one gavel used at the annual meeting the following year. After the opening prayer, the first song they sang was “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.” God, through his purpose and power, had united the two conventions.”
Fisher held up the original gavel in his hand during Annual Meeting, which was a reminder of the unity experienced in the past and today.
“Their stated original purpose of forming the convention was ‘to promote missionary operations, Sunday School work, the dissemination of religious literature, the cause of Christian education and our denominational enterprises in general, and to develop our people in missionary enterprises at home and abroad.’”
He added, “That purpose and commitment has not changed today—the Word of God and the Great Commission. Neither has the unity they experienced in that moment faded from the ranks of Oklahoma Baptists.”
Tuesday features key business, officer elections, ministry reports
The Tuesday morning session began with pre-session music by the Southern Hills Worship Team, directed by Randy Lind. Oklahoma Baptists’ First Vice President Owen Nease, who is pastor of Oklahoma City, Emmaus, led the session.
Baptist Village Communities (BVC) President Bill Pierce then delivered the BVC report, where he emphasized the strategic ministry impact of BVC in Oklahoma. Last year during the “Every Door in ’24” campaign, 19 seniors adults made professions of faith and 78 recommitted their lives to Christ. Pierce also gave an update on the various repairs, renovations and replacements for BVC properties. To conclude the BVC report, Pierce announced the launch of new programs to help families care for their senior adults.
Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) President Heath Thomas highlighted the work OBU is doing to reach the next generation of future shapers through their world class education programs built on the foundational Rock of Christ. For the fourth year in a row OBU has had an increase in enrollment from the previous year with 17 percent more students enrolled than in 2024. Thomas also announced the creation of new doctorate and master’s programs. Finally, he talked about the progress of the remodeling projects across the OBU campus, including the recent reopening of Shawnee Hall, the soon-to-be opening of Thurmond Hall in 2026 and the status of Raley Chapel’s remodeling.
During the business session of Annual Meeting, messengers approved the 2026 Financial Plan, which said that “The 2026 Cooperative Program allocation be distributed 40 percent Southern Baptist Convention / 45 percent Oklahoma Baptists / 15 percent (Oklahoma Baptists) Affiliates. The plan, which featured the same CP allocation as prior year, has a giving objective of $24.5 million.
During the election of officers, messengers elected Owen Nease as president. Pastor Kevin Moss of Spencer, Antioch Fellowship was elected as first-vice president; and D.J. Carney, pastor of Bristow, First, was elected as second-vice president. Each of the officers ran unopposed and were elected by acclamation.
Oklahoma Baptist Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Fisher then gave the Board of Directors Report, beginning with recognition of Veterans Day and thanking veterans for their service.
After another time of worship through prayer and praise, Michael Butler delivered the President’s Address which was based on 1 Cor. 4. Butler emphasized how unique and amazing the unity amongst Oklahoma Baptists is, but how we must still work to keep that unity for the sake of the Gospel.
“We are all servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God that is the Gospel,” Butler said.
The evening session opened with worship, prayer, Scripture reading and a call to order. Then, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC) President James Swain reported on the 2025 OBHC strategic plan, titled “Pillars of Hope.” The pillars focus on filling the OBHC campuses, furthering the work of Hope Pregnancy Centers and finding OBHC’s place in foster care.
In 2025, OBHC has served people on all of its campuses and served 2,449 clients at Hope Pregnancy Centers. Additionally, they worked with 20 churches to establish resource management families and referred 84 families to adoptive families. Among all their programs, OBHC has seen 82 professions of faith this year.
In his ministry report, WatersEdge Chief Executive Officer Robert Kellogg highlighted the “25 by 25” campaign, which began in 2013. The campaign originally sought to distribute $25 million by the end of 2025, has met and exceeded the original goal. The total amount distributed since 2013 has even surpassed $350 million, which is nearly the same amount WatersEdge had in assets under management when the campaign began. Kellogg acknowledged this achievement, and he reminded messengers that the mission is not over and there are still those who need help.
Fisher helped celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Baptist Faith & Message through a video presentation by Southern Seminary President Albert Mohler. Fisher also recognized staff and volunteers who helped make Annual Meeting possible.
After the Southern Hills Worship Team led messengers in a final time of praise, David Wallace, lead pastor at Roosevelt, Frist, delivered the Annual Sermon. Wallace is a military veteran and Green Beret who was honorably discharged after sustaining a major injury. His message focused on standing strong in the faith when the world stands against us.
“Be courageous and prevail through Christ,” Wallace said.
Fisher concluded Annual Meeting with a recognition of outgoing officers and presentation of newly-elected ones. Moss gave the closing prayer to round out Annual Meeting. The 120th Annual Meeting of Oklahoma Baptists is set for Nov. 9-10, 2026 at Tulsa, South Tulsa. For more information, visit www.oklahomabaptists.org
