Bristow Church Celebrates 75th Anniversary with Booklet and History Posters

To mark its 75th anniversary, Bristow Seventh-day Adventist Church has turned memory into legacy. Led by 85-year-old June Hurst, members published a 24-page commemorative booklet and created thirty 20”x30” history posters that now line the church hallways—each one a window into the past.

A Dinner That Sparked a Discovery

The idea began over dinner at the home of Gail East and Ann Hottal. As they flipped through old church scrapbooks with their guest, June Hurst, they stumbled upon a bulletin listing the church’s founding date. A quick calculation revealed that the 75th anniversary was fast approaching in 2025.

“We were blessed as a partial church history had been written previously,” said Hurst. “This was an opportunity to update that history and tell what God hath wrought since our small beginning with one faithful Adventist family.”

That family was led by Henry Will Fisher, whose legacy continues to echo through the church’s mission and growth.

Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

To commemorate the milestone, the church invited Pastor Shane Anderson of Pioneer Memorial Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan—who is closely related to the founding Fisher family. Two former pastors, Don Fortner and Dale Tunnell, also returned to speak, adding depth and warmth to the celebration.

The updated church history chronicles decades of faith, sacrifice, and expansion. It highlights the resilience of pioneer members and the spiritual strength that carried the congregation through challenges. Frances Fisher Cook meticulously curated over 300 photographs for display, securing them on a table covered with a heavy, clear plastic sheet to safeguard them from potential damage during viewing.

“We discovered the Bristow Church has an impressive ‘member to international mission service’ ratio,” said Hurst. “Fifty-five members have served as missionaries in 50 countries.”

A Model for Mission

Pastor Shane Anderson was deeply moved by the church’s global impact.

“I would like to tell other pastors: go visit the Bristow Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bristow, Oklahoma. They will show you how it’s done.”

Hurst, who also serves as president of the Bristow Genealogy Society, brought her experience from the Bristow Chamber of Commerce to the project, where she once helped collect oral histories of town pioneers. Now, she’s helping other churches prepare for their own celebrations—Okmulgee’s 50th anniversary and Sand Springs’ 100th.

“I will be praying that churches around the state recognize the benefits of celebrating milestone anniversaries,” said Hurst.

Article by June Hurst and Todd Gessele, Assistant Communication Director of the Oklahoma Conference.

How to Write a Church History

Creating a church history is a sacred task. Here are practical steps to guide your committee:

Planning & Team Building

• Get church board approval and set a budget.

• Choose a chairperson and committee members with diverse skills:

  • Tech-savvy individuals

  • Researchers and interviewers

  • Writers, typists, and editors

    
    

📚 Research Resources

• Church clerk’s minutes

• Previous written histories

• Family scrapbooks

• Local library and newspaper archives

• Courthouse records

• Church bulletins and newsletters

• Conference websites

  
  

Collecting Visuals

• Invite members to submit labeled photos

• Insert images throughout the booklet

• Include personal quotes and stories to enrich the narrative

  
  

Printing & Distribution

• Get quotes from at least three printers

• Decide on layout, page count, and quantity

• Send a copy to the Oklahoma Conference Communications Department

• Write and submit an article about your celebration to the Southwest Union Record.

  
  

Tips for Hosting a Church Anniversary Celebration

Preparation

• Start early and pray for guidance

• Set a budget for guest speakers’ travel and lodging

• Invite former pastors and dignitaries

  
  

Promotion

• Create bulletin inserts and posters with speaker bios

• Mail or hand-deliver invitations to former members

  
  

Program Planning

• Assign platform roles: elder, scripture reader, musicians, etc.

• Designate a church history reader

• Post the day’s schedule in the bulletin and on the board

  
  

Hall of History

• Create foam board posters with bold fonts

• Include:

  • Old bulletins

  • Property deeds

  • News articles

  • Mission maps and lists of missionaries

  • List all pastors and the years of their service

  • List all associated schools and principals.

    
    

Say Thank you

• Have gifts for the guest speakers

• Include:

  • Send thank you cards to the local printer & invite their staff to come!

  • Send thank you cards to all committee members

  • Send thank you cards to everyone that was interviewed and who helped with the project.

    
    

Wisdom from June Hurst

“People see through different lenses. Don’t take suggestions as personal criticism. Include short quotes and stories to make the history come alive.”

For more guidance, contact June Hurst at: 📍 603 S. Maple Circle, Bristow, OK 74010 📞 918-729-3327 📧 dojuhu.80@gmail.com