History of Hanna First Baptist Church
Contributed by Melva Best

On October 15, 1910, a group of baptized believers met to organize the First Baptist Church of Hanna.  There was no Sunday School in Hanna, and the nearest Baptist Church was eight miles away, across the South Canadian River, at Indianola, Oklahoma.  The population within a three mile radius of Hanna was 4,000.  Little history of the church is known in its early years.  The church was affiliated with the Canadian Valley Baptist Association.

The church sought help from the Home Mission Board to erect the first unit of a church building.  At the time the application was made for help, there were twenty eight members, of which, eleven were men.  On November 28, 1915 the Home Mission Board was called upon again to aid in the completion of the church building.  The amount requested was the sum of $250.

The application was approved immediately and it was recommended to the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention that a sum of $200 be granted to the church.  The contract with the Home Mission Board was signed on March 1, 1916 by church members: J. C. Henderson, Church Clerk and Chairman of the Board of Trustees; J. B. Workman and J. A. Workman.  The contract was signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Beulah Henderson, W. H. "Buddy" Brewer, J. C. Henderson, J. B. Workman and J. A. Workman.

The church was built of lumber brought from the state of Arkansas in wagons. The building was erected on Lots 23 and 24, Spillman Addition, to the town of Hanna.  The total cost of the building was $1500.  The total valuation was $1800. After the church building was completed, worship services were held once each month.  The pastor's salary was $250 per year.

In 1931 the Canadian Valley Association, which included  McIntosh and Pittsburg counties, divided and the Hanna Church became a member of the North Canadian Association.

Due to the shortage of finances, the church was without a pastor much of the time. Revivals were held each year during the summer months.  The membership increased as the years went by.  In 1927 the total membership was 71.  The total valuation was $2600 and $30 was contributed to missions.

On September 28, 1937, the church met in regular church conference with J. C. Hull acting as moderator, and the church members voted to join the Pittsburg Baptist Association instead of remaining with North Canadian Association. At the same meeting O. C. Sutterfield was called as full-time pastor.  He  moved on the field in October, from Stuart, Oklahoma.  The Sutterfield family lived in the upstairs apartment of the Cochran building on South Main Street.  Bro. Sutterfield pastored the church for two years and it was during his pastorate that the church began using offering envelopes.  Also, the Baptist Messenger Club Plan was adopted and each home received a copy of the Messenger each week.  The church began participating in the support of District Missions, paying $1.50 per month and $2.00 per month to the Unified Budget (now known as the Cooperative Program).

On October 25, 1939, Bro. O. C. Sutterfield resigned as pastor, and Bro. V.L. Hopper was called as pastor for an indefinite period of time.  The membership had increased to 80.

In the early 1940's the church was without a full-time pastor.  Church services were held twice each month and no pastor lived on the church field.  Bro. Ralph R. Hunnicut preached much of the time during those hard years.

In November, 1950, T. B. Ritzinger, an OBU student, was called and spent the weekends on the field until June, 1952.  He resigned to enter Southwestern Seminary at Fort Worth, Texas.

Bro. Edgar Urquhart was pastor for a period of four years (1952-1956). For several years after Bro. Urquhart's resignation, students from OBU filled the pulpit.  These students were Jack Wilson, W. A. Yates, Roy Hill, James Williams and Bill Maupin.

During the late 1950's the church began a building fund and plans were made to erect a new parsonage.  In May 1963 plans were completed and a new parsonage

was begun.  The building was completed and on August 1, 1963, Bro. D. C. Jackson was called as pastor and moved into the new parsonage.  The building was constructed at a cost of $6,000.  One year later the parsonage was paid for and the church was debt free.  Total membership was 75.

A building program was started immediately for the construction of a new church building.  Under the guidance of various pastors, ( Walter T. Hembree, Junious Nicholson, Dick Clifton, Dewayne Thompson, Bill Maupin), and with the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the fund continued to grow.  For a period of ten years, hearts and minds continued on thoughts of a new church building.  As Bro. Willie Rumsey became pastor, he began in a might way to see that these dreams came true, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

In September, 1972, Bro. Joe Ray Land, Director of Missions of Pittsburg Baptist Association, met with the church to guide and help in the plans.  In May 1973, after much prayer and discussion, a business meeting was called and a Building Committee, consisting of Bro. Willie Rumsey (pastor), O. J. Rumsey, H. R. Park, Ireland Smith, Raymond Hale, Jim Stites and Ernest Green, was appointed.  Later the same month, the committee decided on a plan and contracted with Kenneth Stockton Company of Stigler, Oklahoma for the construction of the new building.  The land on which the new building was constructed, adjacent to the site of the first building, was donated by Mrs. Anne Pendley.  This donation enabled the church to continue to use the old building until construction of the new building was completed.

A note was made with State National Bank of Eufaula for the sum of $15,000 for a period of 10 years.  The first payment was made October 28, 1973 and final payment was made on July 25, 1975.  The total cost of the church building and facilities was $55,000.

Dedication services for the new church building were observed on June 30, 1974. Bro. Joe Ray land, Director of Missions of Pittsburg Baptist Association, brought the message.  Total membership at the time was 131.

Soon after dedication services, Bro. Willie Rumsey resigned as pastor.  John Basden followed him as pastor on August 24, 1974 and served until February 1976.  Bro. Fred Hambrick was called at this time and was pastor until May 1980.  He resigned to take a position with the Baptist Children's Home in Oklahoma City.  Bro. L. A. Combes was called as pastor in November of 1980. Membership at this time was 155.

On October 18, 1981 the church observed its 71st anniversary.  Former pastor O. C. Sutterfield brought the morning message.  After a covered dish dinner Bro. Joe Ray Land brought the afternoon message.  Many visitors and former members, who had moved away, were in attendance, as well as several former pastors.

Date of writing:  October 18, 1981

Church History Committee:

Dott (Binns) Rumsey, Elsie (Urquhart) Choate, Dicie (Pendley) Stites, Vernia (Crocker) Green and Lorean Combes.