Trinity Methodist Church History
The Beginnings of the Methodist Movement
Methodist Societies first started in England, when John and Charles Wesley met with other students on the campus of Oxford University. They were called “Bible Moths”, “The Holy Club”, and “Methodists.” The latter nickname stuck to this Christian movement known for having a “method” of spreading an evangelical gospel of Jesus Christ and bringing revival to the whole of Great Britain.
On December 24, 1784, the first formation of Methodist church people in America met to organize a network of churches. The was the famous “Christmas Conference” that ordained the American Methodist founding bishops, Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke. Asbury, especially, was used by God to turn Methodism into a nationwide church in the new United States.
The first circuit riders from this movement entered the Indian Territory of Oklahoma about 1820, where Methodist Churches began to grow. These congregations were organized into an official Methodist Conference in 1844 at Riley’s Chapel near Tahlequah and joined with other conferences of the southern states to form the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, on May 1, 1845. Soon thereafter, Methodists began holding “brush arbor” meetings in the Moffett Bottoms near Fort Smith.
Early History in Sequoyah County
Trinity is one of the oldest churches in Sequoyah County. By 1885, Methodists had founded a church in the Cottonwood community in southeast Sequoyah County.
The church moved into Muldrow with the coming of the railroad in 1888. Methodists met in a one-room building, until the congregation moved into the first sanctuary building in 1898. The name was “First Methodist Episcopal Church, South,” of Muldrow. The first minister of the Church in that year was Rev. M.L. Burd.
A History of Growth and Transition
In 1924 the church’s original denomination merged with two other Methodist groups. Now, the local church was known as “First Methodist Church” of Muldrow. The first frame building was torn down in 1944 and replaced in 1947 with a new buff brick and native stone construction at 400 S. Main Street in Muldrow. Rev. Earl Rinehard presided. It had a full basement which served as a fellowship hall, kitchen, and several small classrooms. This structure is still in use today, though not as a church.
An education building was added to the sanctuary and basement in 1958 adjacent to the west side of the sanctuary. This created space for classrooms, rest rooms, a pastor’s study, and a nursery. Another denominational merger occurred in 1968, and the church name became “First United Methodist Church” of Muldrow.
In 1969, an influential Lay Witness Mission, led by Harry and Marjorie Dressendorfer, supervised by Rev. Charles Wilson, was held at the church. These renewal meetings strengthened the spiritual life of many attendees and led to an evangelical focus in the life of the congregation.
A modern parsonage was acquired on a lot behind the church in 1977.
As the congregation changed with the times, more modernization was needed. After two years of planning and construction, in April 1984, on a Heritage Sunday, a newly renovated building was ready for worship services. Rev. Donald I. Lehman was the pastor. During renovation, the owners of the Muldrow Nursing Home donated to the church the building they were vacating. This next-door addition provided space for classrooms, offices, a fellowship hall, dining room, kitchen, and library.
Still, a lack of parking space, little room for expansion, and the need for outreach to persons outside of Muldrow moved this innovative congregation to reinvent the church again.
In May 2002, the congregation members, with the leadership of Rev. Randall Wade, built a spacious, modern church sanctuary, kitchen and ministry rooms at 1601 E Shawntel Smith Blvd., and the church was again renamed to become “Trinity United Methodist Church”.
The Methodist Food Pantry
A significant Food Pantry ministry started May 2015. It began in a Sunday School classroom, a couple of closets, and the use of every empty nook in the new building to store the food and serve recipients from inside the church.
Over the years the food pantry ministry grew, until in March, 2022, there was a dream to build a building large enough to house the Food Pantry Ministry in a separate building.
After the hard work and fundraising efforts that built all our previous church building, in September 2022, the “Helping Hands Food Pantry” building was opened on the East side of the church. This ministry has grown to serve 100’s of needy local residents a year.
Recommitment to the Biblical Gospel
Questions about denominational affiliation arose in August, 2022, when the Trinity Church Council aired concerns about growing unrest within the United Methodist Church. A schism in the denomination was becoming apparent because of deep, theological disagreements about human sexuality based on the truth and authority of scripture and Christian tradition.
It took four months to complete requirements for the first step of disaffiliation: scheduling a congregational vote. On March 12, 2023, supported by Rev. Donald Jones, the motion for disaffiliation passed 37 to 2. After 55 years, Muldrow had voted to leave the United Methodist Church! This vote promised to free up time and resources for winning the hearts and minds of youth and adults in Sequoyah County to the Jesus Christ of scripture. Ownership of church property passed to the local congregation for the first time since its founding in 1898.
On Sunday, July 9, 2023, members and friends of the former Muldrow Roland Trinity United Methodist Church voted 43 to 3 to join the new Global Methodist Church.
The official, fifth name of the congregation is “Trinity Methodist Church”.
Recent New Life at Trinity
While disaffiliation was unfolding, the youth group unexpectedly began to expand. From an attendance of 15 in the Fall of 2022, the group rose to 60 by Fall 2023. This Wednesday night ministry offers meals, recreation, fellowship, and teaching to youth from Muldrow, Roland, and surrounding areas.
Undistracted by theological disputes and disunity, the congregation has received a new breath of the Holy Spirit . Thirty-five children and youth professed faith in Jesus Christ in 2023. We are overjoyed to see God working in our midst!
Known Pastors of the Historic Methodist Congregation in Muldrow
1898 Rev. M.L. Byrd
Rev. Marchbanks
Rev. Martin
Rev. Shaw
Rev. Moore
1937-39 Rev. J.H. Price
1940-43 Rev. M.L. Matthews
1944 Rev. J.M. Whisenant
1946-48 Rev. Earl Rinehard
1949 Rev. Cecil L. Bolding
1950-55 Rev. E.W. Eaton
1956 Rev. Clay Yeager
1957-59 Rev. Leroy Sebastian
1959-60 Rev. C.O. Ball
1961 Rev. Griffin Hamilton
1962-65 Rev. Garald Main
1966-70 Rev. Charles Wilson
1971 Rev. L.E. Vandiver
1972-73 Rev. Wilson B. Schultz
1974-76 Rev. Paul Wilson
1977-78 Rev. Conrad Young
1979-84 Rev. Donald I. Lehman
1984-86 Rev. Roland L. Luelf
1986-89 Rev. Joe Campbell
1989-95 Rev. Stan Womack
1995-05 Rev. Randall Wade
2005-09 Rev. Connie J. Gibson
2009-10 Rev. Ron Hay
2010 Rev. Bill Buttram
2010-12 Rev. Aaron Tiger
2012 Rev. Tony Huffman
2013-18 Rev. Craig Clark
2018-19 Rev. Michael Shephard
2020-22 Rev. Warren Heatley
2022- Rev. Donald E Jones