2022-2023 Focus on Oak Grove City Guide Page 24 Community Church history Church of Christ at Oak Grove can trace its roots back to Hick City church (Present day: Al Gosset Rd. near F Hwy.). By 1901, members of the church began meeting in Pleasant Valley, approximately seven miles southwest of Oak Grove. In 1909, R.N. Gardner of the Western Bible and Literary College in Odessa held a tent meeting in Oak Grove. Later that year, land was donated and members purchased and moved a frame building on what is now the 200 block of E. 12th Street. Sometime after 1923, the congregation dwindled in numbers and disbanded with remaining church members attending Pleasant Valley Church of Christ. In November of 1943, a small group began meeting again in Oak Grove at the home of Marie Church. In July of 1944, they purchased and moved into the stone building at 10th and Broadway. When the Pleasant Valley church disbanded in 1949, members transferred to Oak Grove. In July of 1965, a new building was completed at 6th and Clinton, the present meeting place for the church. First Baptist C h u r c h w a s o r g a n i z e d o n November 28, 1853, in a grove of oaks south of Oak Grove. T h e 14 p i o n e e r cha r t er members w e r e b r o u g h t together by the Rev. Jeremiah Farmer. Since that time, more than a century and a half ago, buildings have been built, and locations have changed. The vision of the church continues to be to lead families to connect to God, to grow in their walk with Christ and others, serve in ministry and go to the lost. The First Baptist Church is located at 400 SE 14th Street in Oak Grove. St. Jude Catholic Church began as a mission church 40 years ago. A Mass celebrated by the Rev. John Leitner, pastor of St. John LaLande Church on March 16, 1980, was the beginning of a mission church in Oak Grove. Mass was held in the American Legion Hall with 75 persons in attendance. B i shop John J. Sullivan announced in September, 1980 that Oak Grove would have a mission parish. Rev. Joseph Mancuso, pastor of St. George parish, Odessa, served as pastor of the mission church in Oak Grove. The group worshiped for a short time at the Oak Grove Middle School cafeteria, until the United Methodist Church offered its church as a site for services. The congregation met at the Methodist Church for nearly a year where they held weekly religious education classes as well as services. A committee was formed to look for possible sites and existing buildings for a church. The Assembly of God, 200 E. 12th Street, was purchased in July of 1981. St. Jude the Apostle was chosen as the name for the new church. On April 5, 1992 a new church was dedicated at 2001 S. Broadway. As of November, 2014, St. Jude is no longer a mission church. Rev. Bryan Amthor is the current parish priest. Grace United Methodist Church - Methodists have been in Oak Grove since the town incorporated in 1881. Until 1939 two Methodist congregations were active in the community, one on the northeast corner of 10th and Broadway, and one on the northwest corner. Mergers and building programs united the Methodists who, since 1958, worshiped and served as Oak Grove UMC. In 2017 the church, on the corner of 15th and Harding, voted to become a campus of Lee’s Summit Grace United Methodist Church. Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church was established in 1974 as a mission congregation. Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church is a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and is located north of Oak Grove High School on 12th Street.
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