BUSINESS: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church

On the first Sunday after the Land Run in 1889, many Oklahomans came together to worship, and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church was born in the heart of downtown OKC. Now, 125 years later, St. Luke’s is expanding and opening a new campus in Edmond.

The need for a new campus became clear when church attendance reached over 1,000 every Sunday, and many members from Edmond were no longer as engaged in the church community because of the distance between them and the church. Now, Edmond members of St. Luke’s can become involved with the church’s missions locally, and many have already started.

The physical church building has not yet been built but longstanding Edmond members have already begun holding community group bible studies in their homes. On Sunday mornings they gather for worship at their temporary location at Sequoyah Middle School.

The importance of a satellite campus is that it allows the church to tailor its programs to be community-specific, and that is exactly what St. Luke’s plans to do. Future church activities may include daycare and mother’s day out, art and theater programs, basketball leagues and more. The agenda of events will depend on what the community asks for, says Senior Pastor Bob Long. The idea is to allow the people to choose what they need, so that the church can be a place for all residents, not just formal members of the church.

This concept is a key part of the church’s mission statement, which is to “share Christ, grow in faith, and serve the community.” St. Luke’s in Edmond plans to do all that by presenting services and programs that are both positive and practical, offering support and fellowship that will appeal to people who are already members, and those who aren’t. Getting people involved with church programs before they are church members is a great way to spread their message and encourage people to share their faith, while at the same time providing much needed community services. And that, says Reverend Bob Long, is the essence of what St. Luke’s is all about.

To learn more about St. Luke’s, visit stlukesokc.org or attend their 11am Sunday worship services at Sequoyah Middle School, 1125 E. Danforth in Edmond.