Tulsa Church Holds Centennial Celebration

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A Tulsa church celebrated a century of service on Sunday.

Wesley United Methodist Church was founded 100 years ago. It has been an important part of the community since then and its members say they are already looking forward to its second century.

Wesley United Methodist Church pulled out all the stops for its centennial celebration. The weekend-long celebration culminated with a performance by popular recording artists, The Platters. Church leaders say it's a fitting tribute for a place that has been a North Tulsa institution since 1910. 

The church has faced its fair share of adversity. It had to be rebuilt in 1921 following the Tulsa Race Riots.

"Wesley's history, you can see what's happened in Tulsa, and how Wesley's been affected, good and bad by it, and also how Wesley has played a role in helping to transform this community," said Pastor Chris Beach, Wesley United Methodist.

Wesley has been a spiritual home for generations of Tulsans. Three generations of the Iveys attended Sunday's services.

"We had 10 children, and I raised them in the church, in this church," said Rosia Ivery, a parishioner.

"This church meant a lot to me. My parents been here, I was raised here, my whole family was raised in this church. It brought so much stability in our family," said Shevon Ivey, a parishioner.

While celebrating the past, the focus Sunday was on the future. Church leaders have made providing positive role models for children the top priority for the next 100 years.

"We believe that there's different parts of this community that if we not only go out and minister to them and embrace, but actually equip them to be leaders, then we're actually setting up the future of North Tulsa," said Pastor Beach.