In 1862  a young married couple by the names of Thomas and Peneople moved their family from Mississippi to Cooke County, TX, near present day Gainesville. It took them 8 weeks in a covered wagon. Later after working and moving to some different places, they settled near Loco in Stephens County in October 1874.

It was so rural that years later the family noted that they had never heard a sermon of any kind for a number of  years, as there just weren’t any churches around the area at all.  Eventually a preacher from TX crossed the Red River, and one of their sons, about 20 years old at the time, was saved under a brush arbor they built for that preacher. 

That son eventually started in ministry himself, and wrote down several stories about his life and ministry.  He had several churches under his care in Indian Territory then, but the churches often didn’t have buildings and were very small. He said that he preached in dugouts, blacksmith shops, private homes, and anywhere he could meet. 

Jesse James Ward eventually married Evilra, and they had 11 children.  Over the years he held pastorates at Loco, Velma, Alma, Little Beaver, and in 1899 he became pastor at FBC Duncan.  At the age of 73 in 1931 most people would be ready to retire, but JJ Ward had one more project in him: He agreed to be the founding pastor of a new mission church on the edge of Duncan, to be called Immanuel Baptist Church. 

He died while still pastor here in 1938 at the age of 80, but his life and ministry are a great description of the legacy of this church. Perseverance, passion, patience, and above all a desire to tell others about Jesus. It’s now been 166 years since JJ Ward was born and over 90 years since IBC was born, but our mission has never changed in all that time.

In 1930  the United States was in the second year of the Great Depression. It was also in the same year that the largest oil field in the lower 48 states had been discovered in East Texas. The town of Duncan, OK was beginning to see a boom with the opening of oil related industries. The population at that time was 8,363. Even with that money was still a hard commodity to come by.

A member of First Baptist Church in Duncan by the name of Emma Jones became burdened in prayer that a Sunday School Mission was needed in the eastern part of the town. This matter was made known to the entire church and became a matter of prayerful concern with the church at large.

In the east area of Duncan there were many people not attending church anywhere. Some were inactive, un-enlisted church members and many were unsaved.

At a Sunday morning worship service in the summer of 1931, in the First Baptist Church, Dr. T.P. Haskins, pastor, spoke of the need and asked for a freewill offering of $300.00. He asked that 100 members give $1 each sacrificially. The amount was received and became the first material preparation in the establishment of the mission.

A lot 300’ x 190’ was purchased at the corner of Ash Avenue and Third Street, somewhat an elevated location facing the west and exactly six blocks east of the Mother church on the same avenue. Dr. Haskins asked how many would volunteer to answer the call to go to work at this new mission on the east side of Duncan and 39 members volunteered. A 40’ x 60’ open tabernacle with a dirt floor was soon erected and in August of 1931, Pastor Haskins preached there for two weeks in revival services. Attendance and interest were good. Several people were saved, most of them adults, others joined the church. Some of these together with other active members of the First Baptist Church, became the first workers in the mission.

Following the revival, a Sunday School was organized. M.P. Funk was the Superintendent. Records show one of the earliest attendances to be 39.

Reverend J.J. Ward, a pioneer preacher of this area was chosen mission pastor. In the fall of 1931, the tabernacle was enclosed but continued with a dirt floor for sometime. An interesting fact is that the mission was begun during a nation-wide financial depression and the home church, FBC Duncan, was having difficulty in meeting her own financial obligations. Regular contributions were made through the mission Sunday School and worship services but did not meet the needs. All financial business was administered through the church with its supplement.

As time went on, the frame building (40’ x 60’) was gradually improved; a floor was put in. An addition made at the east end of the building providing more space for the growing Sunday School. A Training Union was later organized and there was one Women’s Missionary Circle. The mission continued for a little more than three years. Attendance for Sunday School was 199.

Having gained sufficient strength financially and otherwise for self-existence, the mission was organized November 18, 1934 with 136 charter members and became Immanuel Baptist Church*. Brother Ward was unanimously called as pastor at the age of 75. The church began contributing regularly through the Cooperative Program and united with Mullins Association in the fall of 1935. They reported a membership of 157 with a Sunday School enrollment of 232 and total gifts and expenditures amounting to $882.38. A.P. Murphree was chosen first music director and served in the position from 1934 to 1950. I.C. Harris was chosen as the Sunday School Superintendent.