History

After Sooner Valley School was consolidated with Ripley School in 1935, the school house became a community building, also used for Sunday School and church services.  The school house was located one mile north of this corner.  A number of preachers came and went through those early years, and the first name we have knowledge of is Frank Barnes, who pastored in 1949.

In 1950 Sam Hunt and his wife, Beverly, who were still college students at OSU, became our pastor.  They graduated and went on to seminary.  Then, Charles Van Frank and his wife, Audrey, also college students, became our pastor.  These two couples became very good friends, but sadly, we've lost touch with both of them.

One Saturday night in 1952, this community building/church burned down.  With the insurance proceeds, the old Axtell store building was purchased and we worshiped God there.  At first, the group used a different preacher each Sunday of the month, rotating four.  It became known as the Mehan Union Church, but we were not organized, as yet.  In the course of a year or so, they all dropped out except Mr. Logan Hargrove and his wife Ila.  The Hargroves were very dedicated people.  Mrs. Hargrove played the piano and they stayed with us for more than 20 years.

Then, late in the 1960's, we decided to build a real church and to become organized.  The name Mehan Union Church stuck.  There were 17 members on the church roll, and the first building fund offering amounted to $51.98.  We were on our way...

Harland Wells, a Perkins businessman, donated eight lots that he owned in Mehan to build our new church.  After many meetings and much prayer, the plans were finalized in March 1967, and the decision was made to build and A-frame structure.

One year late, the first cement was poured and the new church was underway.  Ester Sunrise services were held on that slab with fourteen people attending.  It was a cold morning, with no windbreak of any kind...but is was a beginning!

Many months of dedicated labor and hard work went by.  We held our first service in the new church November 7, 1971, 98 people attending.  A year later, November 5, 1972, our dedication service was held.  At this point, $10,600 was our cost basis with all debts paid.

After Mr. Hargrove retired, we called Ray Allen as pastor, followed by Don Cagel and then Tom Branch.  When Tom left for seminary (that happened often), Larry Eslinger was asked to fill in temporarily.  Larry has been serving as pastor ever since.

With time, a fellowship hall, bathrooms, and classrooms have been added.  A new larger sanctuary with new offices was dedicated on March 24, 1996.

Over the years, God has poured out his blessings on this church.  Now we look forward to what God has in store for Mehan Union Church in the years to come!