Oakley Full Gospel Baptist Church

About Us

HISTORY OF THE
OAKLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

In 1896 a group of devout and committed Christians came together for the purpose of establishing a House of Worship. The church came under the leadership of Rev. Graham Jordan who ably led the church until 1919. The church then moved forward under Rev. Jacob A. Ashburn, Jr., who distinguished himself and the Oakley Church as one of the first Black Elected Representatives to the Ohio State Legislature.

Following the death of Pastor Ashburn, the church invited his son, The Rev. Jacob Julian Ashburn back to Columbus to pastor the church. Under his leadership, on March 11, 1962 the church moved from it’s location on Oakley Avenue to the facility at 64 S. Highland Avenue. This was the result of some creative negotiating done by Pastor Ashburn with the Glenwood United Methodist Church who was relocated to the Valley View section of town.

After the homegoing of our beloved pastor, Rev. Jacob Julian Ashburn in 1984, the Oakley Church family began a search for a new Sheppard and in 1985, a young man from New York was invited to come and assume the pastorate of the church.

Always progressive, always open to the dictates of the Holy Spirit, in 1992 - 93 the Oakley Family embraced the movement of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. This worship style, which is the return to the old, nothing new, is believed to be that of the traditional Black Baptist Church. On May 6, 1994, Rev. Andy C. Lewter Jr. was consecrated Bishop and installed to the office of General Overseer of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship.

Under the continuous leadership of Bishop Andy C. Lewter Jr., the Oakley Full Gospel Baptist Church moved to our current location at 3415 El Paso Drive in 1998.

Bishop Andy C. Lewter returned to New York and Elder Virgil Starks faithfully fulfilled the pastoral duties of the church. 

The Oakley Full Gospel Baptist Church elected Rev. Jonathan McReynolds to serve as the pastor of the church on August 29, 2007. He was installed as the Senior Pastor on March 30, 2008.  Since his arrival the church has experienced spiritual, numerical and financial growth. 

The Oakley Full Gospel Baptist Church has been a constant Christian Witness. We say with Saints past and present, “Just Look At Where The Lord Has Brought Us From.”

*We believe in the inspiration and authority of the Bible.

*We believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit as Three distinct persons in the one and only triune God.

*We believe in the deity and virgin birth of Jesus the Christ.

*We believe that Salvation is "by grace.”

*We believe that men are justified by faith alone through the merit of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

*We believe in the visible and personal return of Jesus Christ.

*We believe in the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost.

*We believe in the two Ordinances of the local church -
Baptism and The Lord's Supper.