Maranatha’s Mortgage Burning

The Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Church in Okmulgee, Okla., kicked off a monthlong celebration of thanksgiving and praise under the theme “Look Where God Has Brought Us” to commemorate the payoff of the church’s mortgage.

Speakers for the occasion included Johnathon McCottry, retired pastor; Brian Ham, Oklahoma Conference president; Stephen Brooks, Southwestern Union executive secretary; Calvin Watkins, North American Division vice president; and Carlton Byrd, D.Min., Southwest Region Conference president, who served as the keynote speaker.

In his message to the congregation, Byrd challenged members not to stop with this accomplishment but to continue building the church through evangelism and outreach.

Senior Pastor Leo Rolle said, “It was through prayer, unity and the faithful support of the members through the Adventure in Faith program that we were able to retire the debt five years before its due date.”

Also in attendance were Okmulgee Mayor Mickey Baldwin; Leslie Pollard, Ph.D., former president of Oakwood University; and a host of friends and well-wishers.

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