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A small group of people joined together in the summer of 1978 to worship and praise God. While meeting in a rented room in Indiana’s “poor house” on Senate Ave, with much prayer and several guest ministers, the group grew to a small congregation. The sign, “THE CHURCH”, over the front door of the small auditorium typified the spirit of our new congregation. After a few more months, the name SOUL’S HARBOR was chosen and Evangelist Mike Purkey was invited to be our first pastor.

In late 1979, our first Sanctuary was built on Oak Hill Road. As God moved, we continued to grow. By 1980, Mike Purkey returned to the Evangelistic Field and Rev. Ray Thomas came to be our pastor. Through his ministry souls were added along with classrooms and a gymnasium to accommodate our growth. In November of 1987, Brother Thomas sensed the call to leave Evansville and pastor in Missouri.

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In God’s perfect timing, Rev. Randy Hopkins and family were invited to become our pastor. Pastor Randy’s first sermon resounds yet today, every Christian has a ministry. By 1990, we updated our name to OAK HILL CHRISTIAN CENTER and opened PARENTS CHOICE CHILD CARE a year later.

With all that God had done He still had more planned for us. In April, 1996, He turned our church inside out and upside down. We’ve never been the same since…and don’t want to be. No more are we satisfied with the status quo…we want more of God and His Holy Spirit.

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On Palm Sunday, 2002 we celebrated Christ in our new sanctuary. Having a heart for children and teenagers, we renovated the former sanctuary into a children’s/youth chapel. Also, adding more classrooms and a youth café upstairs.

God has continued to grow His Church at Oak Hill Christian Center as Pastor Randy leads us down the path which God directs. We celebrate Jesus on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings and would love to have you visit with us. I guarantee that at least one person of our congregation of about 500 will shake your hand and welcome you to our loving family. I hope to see you there.