History of Oakdale Community Church
Calvary Baptist Church of Oakdale was incorporated May 4,
1949 by a number of Christian people who had been fellowshipping
together at the Oakdale Grange. Their first pastor was selected,
Reverend Norman James Black and in due time the church joined
the Conservative Baptist Association, an association of churches
that seek to promote the gospel and ministry of Jesus Christ.
In August 1950 the church was deeded property by Carleton
B. Wood, as it was his mother’s wish that the church
be established on her property on the corner of 8th and D
Streets in Oakdale. The original size of the lot was 100 feet
by 100 ft. Then the size of the property was doubled in January
1953 for a sum of $500.00, purchased from Mr. Wood as his
mother had directed. The lot was 200 feet on D Street and
100 feet on 8th Avenue (originally named East Avenue).
The existing church facility was built with the help of many
of the members under the supervision of Mr. Jim Word, who
was a charter member, along with his wife, Ruby. A mortgage
loan was received from the Bank of America to finance this
project and was finally paid off on March 30, 1962. The pastor
at that time was Stanley Tilley who was also very able to
finish building the sanctuary as it stands today.
At one time the name of the church was changed to The Evangelical
Free Church of Oakdale, California, fellowshipping with the
Evangelical Free Churches of America, because the interim
pastor, Leonard Haggstrom was of this persuasion.
However in August of 1999 the name of the church changed
again to Oakdale Community Church and resumed its affiliation
with the Conservative Baptist Association.
Members of our church who were living in Oakdale in the latter
60’s and early 70’s, Marlon and Kathleen Rassmussen
and their children were commissioned by the church and sent
as missionaries with the New Tribes Mission to serve in the
Phillippines. Monty is a missionary pilot. At this time, their
oldest daughter, Karen and her husband Ben Royer and their
family are serving in Brazil as missionaries with New Tribes
Mission. Ben was raised in Brazil in a tribal situation as
his parents were also veteran, pioneer missionaries. We also
support this family along with Russian Ministries, a mission
serving in Russia founded by Peter Dyneka.
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