New Worship in an Old Gospel Place

January 14, 2005

It's not your typical church time at 9pm on Tuesdays. And it's not your typical service for a 150-year-old church building. 

But that is the hour and Stubblefield Chapel is the place for one of the most meaningful worship times on the Oklahoma Baptist University campus. The student-led service in a building that predates the university combines scripture, testimony, prayer and some of the newest music under the sun.

"We pack that place out," says Campus Minister Dale Griffin. "It's one of the greatest times you can be a part of."

Students openly share what God has been doing in their lives. They will pray for friends and families in need. And they will sing. The music ranges from familiar choruses, to new arrangements and even a few works written by current students. The styles include introspective ballads and lively praise music.

It's a contemporary service in one of the most historic buildings on campus. Named in honor of pioneer pastor Cortez Stubblefield, the chapel was built in 1849 as the original home of the First Baptist Church of Shawnee. Articles creating the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma were signed in the chapel. It was moved to the OBU campus in 1963.

The weekly worship times are non-required and led by students. Everyone who attends has come for the purest of purposes - to honor God.