Reach Church celebrates 40 years in Sand Springs, 10 years under lead pastor Chad Stewart
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A version of this story was originally written for the Sand Springs Leader.
40 years ago, 1402 N 81st W Avenue was an empty field on the Sand Springs - Tulsa line. Today it’s a thriving church celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the 10th anniversary of its current pastor, Chad Stewart.
Reach Church has been reaching people in Sand Springs, Tulsa, and around the world for nearly half a century, but for most of its history it was known as Word of Life Fellowship.
In August of 2018 they changed their name to Reach, but the mission has always been the same. “Go to Sand Springs, raise up a New Testament church, and from there you will touch the world.”
Those were the words that David Emigh heard God speak to him while the 28-year-old was pastoring alongside his wife Sharon in Rosebud, Missouri.
The Emighs founded the church in 1981 in a former QuikTrip building at 619 E 10th St. that then became the church’s Depot Youth Ministries building when they built their new facilities.
Emigh led the church for 30 years, writing three books, founding dozens of satellite churches, airing an AM radio broadcast, and founding a bible school and international ministerial organization. Many Word of Life churches are still operating around the globe to this day, in countries like the Philippines and Myanmar.
The church never got to celebrate its 30th anniversary, however.
On June 15, 2011, David Emigh died in a motorcycle accident, and Associate Pastor Chad Stewart was thrust into the leadership role.
Stewart came to Word of Life as the College and Careers Pastor, and served briefly as the interim youth pastor before being promoted to Associate Pastor a few months before Emigh’s death.
Moving a church forward after the death of its founding pastor was far from an easy task. Stewart had to honor the legacy of the church’s founder, maintain the church’s existing identity, while simultaneously following his own passions and calling.
On September 11th, over 90% of the church’s members voted to promote him to the lead role, and ten years have proven that he was the right man for the job.
The church has seen a number of changes over the past ten years. The name change was a big one. The youth ministry is now at the main church building, and the old Depot building was sold to The Stronghold church.
But at its heart, Reach Church is still the same. Touching the world from a home base in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
The church meets every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and has youth services on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. They actively participate in the Sand Springs Local Church Network, they serve the local school districts, host community events, and continue to support missionaries and satellite churches around the world.
The congregation will celebrate their 40th anniversary on September 19th, 2021 with two services at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. with guest speakers at each. There will also be a cookout and church picnic following the services.
