Himaya to Speak During Founders Day Chapel Service Feb. 7

OBU will welcome Dr. Alex Himaya Feb. 7 to the Recreation and Wellness Center where he will deliver the Founders Day chapel message at 10 a.m.

The annual event, held near the beginning of the spring semester, is a time-honored tradition that celebrates the University's incorporation in 1910 and pays tribute to the dedicated faculty and staff who have contributed to its rich 114-year history. 

Himaya is the founding and senior pastor of BattleCreek Church, located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

BattleCreek Church was founded in 2003 and has significantly grown in attendance since then, under Himaya’s leadership. Instead of one mega building, the church steadily increased its reach with the Gospel in the Tulsa metro area by adding additional locations, including Midtown, Downtown, South Tulsa, Owasso and Jenks, in addition to its home church in Broken Arrow.

The church is involved in church planting efforts locally and internationally and has established a ministry for permanent and long-term missions in Egypt. Himaya is involved in various strategic partnerships through the church and has founded an international orphan care ministry called Adopt(ed), which helps churches and families find their niche in orphan care around the world.

Himaya earned his bachelor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas and his master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. He also earned a doctorate in church growth and evangelism. Alex and his wife Meredith have four children, Katherine, Eli, Benjamin and Lemley.

In addition to being a pastor, husband and father, Himaya is also the author of several books, including “Jesus Hates Religion,” “Overcome,” “Your Little Red Wagon,” “The Pathway to Discipleship,” “Walk through the World,” “God’s Wisdom for Today,” “God is Faithful,” and “The Gift of Jesus.”