The church was formed after Perry and Madge Martindale moved to Glenpool. They wanted to attend church in their own community rather than having to drive to Sapulpa. In late 1945, the First Baptist Church of Glenpool was formed as a mission of the First Baptist Church of Sapulpa with Hugh Huffine serving as the first missionary Pastor. The church first met in the old Glenpool High School until 1948. At that time, land was donated for the church and a small block building was built to house the first sanctuary. A few years later, classrooms were added to the south side. The first sanctuary sat in the location where our Preschool Department is located today. Some of the charter members were Ruth Smithee, Sue Jones, Alice Frazee, Katie and Ira Ball, Louise Johnson, Ray Haynes, who would later become one of the first deacons, and others. Ruth was the first baptism.
            There were several bi-vocational and full time Pastors who ministered at FBC Glenpool during the 1950's and 60’s. One full time Pastor was D. D. Kelley, who led the church from 1965-1969. Brother Kelley was the husband of Grace Kelley, she is still a member today. Bob Pendergrass was one of the deacons who later surrendered to the ministry. In 1974, Brother Charles Story served as a bi-vocational Pastor through 1978. Iven Bell, Jim Blackford, and Andy Marler assisted as deacons.
            The church continued to grow. In May of 1978, two additional men, Ken Kizer and Glenn Reed were ordained as deacons. There are pictures of Kenny and Glenn that shows they once had a lot more hair. Pictures will also show the old building in the background behind the bus, and the ice house that sat behind the grocery store located on the southwest side of the lot where the tree beside the sanctuary stands today. The bell that sits on the top of the sign once rang in the bell tower over the west doors of today’s Preschool Department. In 1979, Brother Story decided to retire and a young bi-vocational Pastor, Craig Brown, came to lead the church for a short time.
            It was in the late '70’s when the church also began to acquire land, first the old house was purchased that sat where the stage of our sanctuary sits today. The house was traded for the existing parsonage which is located across the street south west of the youth building. The house would be the parsonage for John Crowley and his wife Susie (our first full-time Pastor after several years), his two sons and daughter Shawna, now Shawna Smith, who is a member with her family here today. Brother John led the church from 1980 to November 1984. During that time, the concrete building was expanded to add a fellowship hall where our 1^st grade meets today as well as other classrooms and restrooms.
111111 One of the deacons and volunteer Music Minister, Bob Surber who was a brick mason, led the volunteer effort to lay the blocks for the building expansion. There were some minor set-backs; for instance, during a revival a strong windstorm came through and blew down the rafters of the block building under construction. It only slowed down the progress for a day, when volunteers took off work to put the rafters back in place and the new addition was soon finished. The double door that leads to the foyer was put in place in preparation for a new sanctuary.
            Brother John’s teaching style of preaching was fundamental to the spiritual growth of several young families that now are “older” adults today, including other deacons such as David Brandt and Ron Harris. It was when Brother John was our Pastor that trips to Falls Creek began. During the 1980’s the youth took yearly trips to Falls Creek. You can see some of the pictures and you will recognize some of the faces who now are young adults in the church with families of their own. The two houses that stood on the southeast end of the sanctuary parking lot were soon acquired.
            Every time a property came available, the church didn’t know how they would raise the money, but the Lord always provided. Families grew and children’s musicals began in the old sanctuary. You will recognize some of these faces like Janell Kizer Wright, her sister Dana, Lori Holt, Kristi Brandt and Kyle, now her husband. You’ll also see here where Mike Sutton is acting out a bit. Janice Flud began playing the organ to add an instrument to the music program.
            Billy Hickman served as interim Pastor for five months until May of 1985 when Brother Ernie Margwarth, his wife Dorothy and their son, Paul, came to lead the church. Not long after Brother Ernie came, a plan was developed for the new sanctuary and the two additional stories that would become Sunday School rooms. Since the new building would require the removal of the old parsonage, a two-acre plot of land with a house was purchased on 141st Street as a parsonage with the plan to ultimately move the church. The building of the sanctuary would take over two years with much volunteer labor of both church members and other volunteers. Brother Ernie, himself a builder, also worked tirelessly to complete the building.
            Not long after the completion of the new sanctuary, the old grocery store that stood on the SW corner was acquired. The store had been for sale for a long time and the church continued to inquire about purchasing the property. The asking price was $60,000. This was much more than the church could afford, especially after just entering into debt for the new sanctuary. After much prayer, the store was acquired for $7,500. Looking back, it is so evident—the work of the Lord, in the church acquiring the remainder of the property needed for the city block where our main church facilities sit today. The four pieces of property needed were acquired in about a five year period.