Church History

Brother Theodore Daniel Smith (1877-1943). This picture appears to be about 15 to 20 years prior to his bringing Revival to Morris. (Special thanks to Rev. Don Martin, pastor of Metro Pentecostal Church in Tulsa for supplying this photo!)
In 1920 Brother Theodore Smith came to Morris and began a tent revival. Brother Smith was the first minister to bring to Morris the message of water baptism in Jesus’ name and the oneness of the Godhead. Approximately 100 people were filled with the Holy Ghost and baptized in Jesus name during the 9 - 11 week revival. A farm pond located north of town became the baptismal scene for many who dared to suffer much persecution for accepting this “new light” message. At one such baptizing a lady troublemaker braved the icy water to give the preacher a bloody face before being arrested for disturbing the peace. From this nucleus of people the church at Morris was born. A church that for many years was called “The New Light Church”.
In 1922 Brother Wallace Wilburn arrived in Morris and discussed the prospects of erecting a church building in which to hold services. A site was selected on North 2nd Street near the railroad tracks and under Brother Wilburn’s guidance as the first pastor, a new church building was soon completed. Due to its close proximity to the railroad tracks, the church occasionally had to interrupt service to wait for the train to pass! In less than one year this new church caught fire and burned to the ground. After discussing their plight, Brother Wilburn and his new congregation began construction of another auditorium which when completed became the meeting place for what was to become the United Pentecostal Church of Morris for some 36 years. In 1943 that auditorium and a parsonage were moved to the current church property on West Ozark Street.

This one of the earliest known pictures of the
New Light Pentecostal Church of Morris. It is believed
that the building pictured was the original building built
in 1922 on N. 2nd Street during the pastorate of
Bro. Wallace Wilburn. Per the notation on the
picture, Bro. and SIs. WIlburn are pictured on
the back row.
In 1934, after the death of his wife, Brother Wilburn resigned as pastor and the following array of ministers pastored the church:
2. Brother George Schrader, 1934 - 1937
3. Brother Joseph E. Ashcraft, 1937 - 1944
4. Brother F. V. Shoemake, 1944 - 1948
5. Brother Graves 1948 - 1950
6. Brother Joseph E. Ashcraft 1950 - 1951
7 .Brother F. V. Shoemake - 1951
8. Brother Hubert W. Parks 1951-1952
9. Brother T. E. Barnett 1952-1953
10. Brother J. B. Hamilton 1953-1956
11. Brother Orville Branson 1956-1957
12. Brother T. E. Shirel 1957 - 1958
13. Brother C. P. Kilgore 1958-1960
14. Brother Jimmy Shoemake 1960-1961
15. Brother Barry King 1961-1964
16. Brother Donald F. Berry 1964-1973
17. Brother E. Gerald Hutton 1973-1986
18. Brother V. Elroy Martin 1986-2017
19. Brother Jimmy Shoemake 2017-2019
20.Brother Justin Monks - 2019 - current
On March 30, 1950, during the second pastorate of Brother Joseph E. Ashcraft, after nearly thirty years as an independent Pentecostal Assembly, the church affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church. This was an organization formed in 1945 by the merger of the two largest Oneness Pentecostal organizations of that time, the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Church Incorporated. The Morris church has maintained its affiliation with the United Pentecostal Church over the past 68 years and has witnessed many previous pastors and members rise to prominent leadership positions within this international organization.
Bro. Joseph E. and Sis. Ila (Vaughan) Ashcraft. Bro.
Ashcraft pastored in Morris on two occasions, 1937 thru
1944 and 1950 thru 1951. They also pastored in neighboring Okmulgee. Sis. Ashcraft was a member of the much loved and widely respected Vaughan family of Morris. This family was very instrumental in helping lay the spiritual foundation for the church and in helping build and maintain the physical church property. The Ashcraft's were very well known and deeply loved throughout the entire Pentecostal movement. Sis. Ila served as the first president of the United Pentecostal Church International's Ladies Auxiliary.


Shown above is the church during the pastorate of Bro. Voar & Sis. Blanche Faye Shoemake. The Shoemakes are shown and the far right and left sides of the congregation. The building shown is the building built after the initial building was destroyed by fire. This building was originally ocated on Second Street near the railroad tracks. It was moved to the current church property in 1943. The Shoemake's lead the church in tremendous revival and under their pastorate the church attained a record attendance that stood for over forty years. Sis. Shoemake was the daughter of Rev. C.P. Kilgore.


Above, Bro. Voar and SIs. Blanche Faye Shoemake
Youth Sunday School class taught in 1947 by SIs. Anna Grissom (seated front row middle).
Congregation circa 1952 during pastorate of
Bro. Hubert W. Parts. Bro. & Sis. Parks and their
daughters are shown on first pew at right.

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Below: Bro. & Sis. T.E. Barnett. The Barnetts Pastored from 1952 until 1953.

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December 13, 1938

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Bro. & Sis. T.E. Barnett on
their 50th wedding anniversary.

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Bro. & Sis. T.E. Barnett on
their 50th wedding anniversary.
This photo shows Bro. & Sis. Orville Branson (at far right and left of photo). The Bransons' pastored from 1956-1957. Also shown in back row are Bro. Joe and Sis. Ila Ashcraft and in center, Bro. Tony and Sis. Katie WIlhoite. We are not sure as to the identify of the brother second to the right.


Bro. Thomas E. and SIs. Lottie Shirel
Photo Supplied by Sis. Cindy Hart, granddaughter of Bro. & Sis. Shirel and pastor's wife of the Muskogee United Pentecostal Church. The Shirel's pastored the church from 1957 to 1958. The Shirel's sons also were prominent pastors in Oklahoma. Son Harley pastored the United Pentecostal Church in Lawton for many years. Son Bill pastored the United Pentecostal Church in Muskogee for many years and also served as the long-time and much loved Secretary of the Oklahoma District of the UPCI. Son Olen pastored in Chelsea Oklahoma. The Shirel's ministry continues today thru the lives of their grandchildren and great grandchildren who pastor churches in Muskogee, Lawton and Stillwater.
Bro. Thomas E. and SIs. Lottie Shirel
Photo Supplied by Sis. Cindy Hart, granddaughter of Bro. & Sis. Shirel and pastor's wife of the Muskogee United Pentecostal Church. The Shirel's pastored the church from 1957 to 1958. The Shirel's sons also were prominent pastors in Oklahoma. Son Harley pastored the United Pentecostal Church in Lawton for many years. Son Bill pastored the United Pentecostal Church in Muskogee for many years and also served as the long-time and much loved Secretary of the Oklahoma District of the UPCI. Son Olen pastored in Chelsea Oklahoma. The Shirel's ministry continues today thru the lives of their grandchildren and great grandchildren who pastor churches in Muskogee, Lawton and Stillwater.
In 1959, under the capable leadership of Pentecostal pioneer, Brother C. P. Kilgore, a new auditorium was built and the previous building after 36 years of use was removed. Brother Kilgore’s long and fruitful ministry came to an abrupt close after pastoring in Morris for only one year, five months, and eighteen days, and fulfilling his desire to build one more church building for the Kingdom of God, when death came to give him a long awaited and much deserved rest.
Church building on current church property at 608 W. Ozark. This building was built during the pastorate of Bro. C.P. Kilgore in 1959 and served the church until it was destroyed by the 1984 tornado.

