In the fall of 2018 Pastor Scott, our founding Pastor, began praying and seeking the Lord about starting a new church in the Owasso area. In October of 2018 He put out word to select few of people whom he had made friendships with met at Baily Hospital Conference room to see if there might be interest in helping plant a new church. With a marvelous reception that evening, and talking with people in November and December, the decision was made to start a new church called, The Refuge Owasso.
Starting in February of 2019 Pastor Scott and his wife Sarah met with a launch team every Sunday morning at the Owasso Community Center for a time of prayer, training, teaching, worship, and seeking the Lord together about a possible start of the new church in 2020. On January 4th, 2020, The Refuge had a soft launch with about 75 people in attendance. Then on March 1st, 2020, The Refuge Owasso was born officially with its Official Hard Launch Sunday with an attendance of 120 people. Three weeks later The Owasso Community Center was shut down due to decisions made my local officials out of concern of Covid. For the next 4 months The Refuge Owasso held virtual live services online on both YouTube and Facebook from the home of Scott and Sarah Carlson.
To say it was challenging times, would be an understatement. By the time The Refuge was able to start meeting again in July, and out of concerns of the virus, just a fraction of the people met together on Sunday mornings. Down but not out, the core was determined to keep pressing forward with the mission and vision that God had given the Launch Team of the Refuge.
Through the Fall of 2020, then the Winter and Spring of 2021 The Refuge began to grow again, not as big as the soft or hard launch but respectable with everything going on around them. In December of 2020 Pastor Scott was contacted by the leadership of Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Owasso. After many conversations and much prayer, Beacon Hill offered their building 10,000 square feet, and the five acers it sits on in Norther Owasso as a gift to the People of Refuge. In July of 2021 The Refuge Owasso moved into our new home on 116th Street, ¼ mile West of Garnett.
Currently the Refuge meets every Sunday morning at its Weekly Gathering Service at 10:00 A.M. for food and fellowship and 10:30 for worship with plans very soon to begin a second worship service. But the Refuge is not defined by its weekly gathering. It is defined by our calling of Missional Community Groups that meet through the week all across the area.
Starting in February of 2019 Pastor Scott and his wife Sarah met with a launch team every Sunday morning at the Owasso Community Center for a time of prayer, training, teaching, worship, and seeking the Lord together about a possible start of the new church in 2020. On January 4th, 2020, The Refuge had a soft launch with about 75 people in attendance. Then on March 1st, 2020, The Refuge Owasso was born officially with its Official Hard Launch Sunday with an attendance of 120 people. Three weeks later The Owasso Community Center was shut down due to decisions made my local officials out of concern of Covid. For the next 4 months The Refuge Owasso held virtual live services online on both YouTube and Facebook from the home of Scott and Sarah Carlson.
To say it was challenging times, would be an understatement. By the time The Refuge was able to start meeting again in July, and out of concerns of the virus, just a fraction of the people met together on Sunday mornings. Down but not out, the core was determined to keep pressing forward with the mission and vision that God had given the Launch Team of the Refuge.
Through the Fall of 2020, then the Winter and Spring of 2021 The Refuge began to grow again, not as big as the soft or hard launch but respectable with everything going on around them. In December of 2020 Pastor Scott was contacted by the leadership of Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Owasso. After many conversations and much prayer, Beacon Hill offered their building 10,000 square feet, and the five acers it sits on in Norther Owasso as a gift to the People of Refuge. In July of 2021 The Refuge Owasso moved into our new home on 116th Street, ¼ mile West of Garnett.
Currently the Refuge meets every Sunday morning at its Weekly Gathering Service at 10:00 A.M. for food and fellowship and 10:30 for worship with plans very soon to begin a second worship service. But the Refuge is not defined by its weekly gathering. It is defined by our calling of Missional Community Groups that meet through the week all across the area.
