(PCM+) Coming Together for Community

Story by Marlys Cervantes | Staff Writer

The following article appeared in the print issue of Ponca City Monthly magazine, which includes hyperlocal stories about Ponca City. Get full access to all online articles, videos, and content by becoming a paid subscriber. We offer free and paid subscription plans. Find rack locations to pick up your free print copy here, or subscribe here to get online access plus exclusive content.

“Innovation is taking two things that already exist and putting them together in a new way.”

~ Tom Freston, American Media Financier

Church attendance has been declining even prior to COVID-19, and since then many congregations have found it difficult to bounce back from where they were pre-pandemic. Nationwide, the struggle is real, with those who desire to continue in their worship and outreach looking for solutions to keep their doors open to serve their current members while they continue to look for ways to meet the needs within their communities.

In Ponca City, Oklahoma, First United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church have recently come together after months of collaboration in a partnership that very well may be a model that could work for other churches as well. But what led to the need for this? What made two previously vibrant churches struggle and led one to come close to the need to close their doors altogether?