COLLINSVILLE, OK. | Maranatha Baptist Temple celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday, June 28, with a weekend focused not simply on the church’s history, but on God’s faithfulness throughout its ministry and His continued work for the future. The celebration culminated in record attendance and the salvation of one young man during the morning worship service.
Founded on June 26, 1976, by Pastor Donnie Moseby and his wife, Peggy, Maranatha Baptist Temple began with a used school building relocated to nine acres of property in Collinsville. During the mid-1980s, the congregation spent five years constructing the auditorium that continues to serve the church today.
Following Pastor Moseby’s declining health in 2016 and his passing later that year, the church called Pastor Andy Plunk and his wife, Marie, to lead the congregation in December 2016. Since then, the church has continued to invest in its facilities while honoring its heritage. In 2017, the former auditorium was renovated and renamed Moseby Hall. Additional renovations in 2020 created a new lobby area to encourage fellowship, and extensive auditorium improvements were completed during the months leading up to the church’s 50th anniversary celebration.
The anniversary weekend began with a community open house on Saturday featuring local food vendors and opportunities to connect with families throughout the area.
On Sunday, Randy Harp, Executive Director of the BBFI Central Office, served as the guest speaker. Harp taught a combined Sunday School session before preaching during the morning worship service, encouraging the congregation to celebrate God’s past faithfulness while looking forward with confidence to the future.
Rather than making the milestone about the church’s accomplishments, Pastor Plunk intentionally centered the celebration on the Lord’s work through the congregation.
“For the anniversary Sunday we wanted to make it more than a ‘look what we have done’ kind of day. We wanted it to be a ‘look what God has done through us’ kind of day. And an ‘expect great things ahead’ kind of day.”
The day concluded with a record attendance of 135. Most importantly, a man in his twenties trusted Christ as his Savior. Pastor Plunk noted that the young man, along with his wife and children, had attended services periodically and expressed excitement about what God is continuing to do through the ministry of Maranatha Baptist Temple.
The church also received valuable assistance from a neighboring congregation. Volunteers from Friendship Baptist Church in Owasso, OK, served in the nursery, children’s ministries, and kitchen, allowing Maranatha’s regular volunteers to participate fully in the anniversary service.
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