An Exciting History

The Beginning
Pioneer mission work was begun in the northwest part of Ponca City in Sunset Park in 1933. Dr. Cornelius Bowles, pastor of First Baptist Church, Ponca City, led a group from his church to start the mission. Sunday afternoon open air classes were held. As cold weather came on, a two-room house was rented at 1028 North Birch, and meetings were held there until 1937. At this time, a building was purchased from the school system and moved to Birch to Greenwood. Regular meetings of the Sunset Baptist Mission began. In 1943, Robert J. Bridges was called as mission pastor. On October 1, 1944, the mission was constituted into the Sunset Baptist Church.

The Pastors
Reverend Bridges was called as church pastor and served until 1949. Other pastors who have served since then are as follows: Garth Pybus, 1949-1951; Raymond Quick, 1951-1953; J. W. McCulley, 1953-1956; Joe Howard, 1956-1960; Harvey Kneisel, 1960-1963; Cliff Fite, 1963-1976; Jerry Highfill, 1977-1979; Tom Cox, 1979-1984; David Waganer, 1985-1990; Jim Murphy, 1991-1993; Ron Ledbetter, 1994-2005; Daniel Clark, 2006-2009; Matthew Brown, 2010-.

Property Expansion
Joe Howard provided the leadership to build a new auditorium.   On January 11, 1957, ground breaking was held, and on November 17 of the same year the new 50 X 120 foot building was dedicated.  Another milestone of the church was reached in March, 1965, when ground was broken for a new 40 X 116 foot educational annex. The annex was dedicated October 3, 1965. With the completion of this new building, most of the original buildings were dismantled, and a parking lot was built In their place.

In 1948, the first church parsonage was built by the members.  It was sold when a new one was purchased in 1970.

Property at 1001 West Greenwood was purchased in December 1973, and property at 1013 North Birch was purchased in October 1974, for future expansion. In October,1975, the last of the original buildings was torn down and a contract was drawn for construction of a 40 X 78 foot educational annex with a basement.

Outreach
In July 1983, Mike Tuma, came as Sunset's first full-time Music and Youth director. Mike resigned in November 1987, and in April 1988, Hank Campbell was called as Music and Youth Director. Hank resigned in May 1994 and on January 1, 1995, Monty Wright came as Music and Youth Director.  Monty resigned in August, 2006.  Brian James came as interim youth minister in August, 2006 and left to concentrate on education in March, 2008.  Jonathan McBrayer came as Music Director in January, 2007 and resigned in August, 2009.

In 1989, Sunset decided to start a mission in the Osage. In June 1989 the ground work began on this mission. In May 1990 Crestview/Sunset entered into partnership with the Home Mission Board and Kay Baptist Association to fund a full-time pastor. Mike Taylor came in June, 1990, as pastor for the mission.

Over the years, fourteen men have surrendered to the gospel ministry and two music directors have gone out from Sunset.