The Duncan Banner

Homepage

Related Photos

  • From left, Sandy and Russ Stewart and Gabe and Heather Amaya, pastors for the Stephens County Worship Center, are excited to move into their ministry's new home at The Palace Theater. Rebeka Rutledge/The Duncan Banner

    From left, Sandy and Russ Stewart and Gabe and Heather Amaya, pastors for the Stephens County Worship Center, are excited to move into their ministry's new home at The Palace Theater.
September 28, 2012

SCWC takes the Palace stage

Rebeka Rutledge The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — When Stephens County Worship Center opened it’s doors five years ago, it was pastors Russ and Sandy Stewart’s prayer it would grow.

Now that it has, they are moving from their small quarters at 717 Willow, Suite 24 and going to the movies.

SCWC and their members will be making the venue move to The Palace beginning Oct. 7.

This change is opening up the ministry to many new options they haven’t previously had as a result of space.

“We started looking into moving about six months ago because we were running out of room,” said Gabe Amaya, creative arts pastor. “If everyone were to show up, we wouldn’t have room for everyone.”

Through Leadership Duncan, Amaya became friends with Haylee Root, owner of The Palace, and when asked two months ago, she immediately said yes to the idea of using the space for their service on Sundays.

From a small membership, the ministry has grown to one of 100-120 regular members who don’t show up every week.

With the large theater in The Palace, which holds about 380, Amaya along with his wife Heather and fellow leaders the Stewarts, don’t have to worry about all of the members showing up at once.

They can also continue to allow their ministry to grow.

What they’ve heard from their congregation is nothing but positive. Though change can be unnerving, it’s a change in a good direction.

“Everyone is excited and some of them have been with it since it started five years ago,” said Amaya.

The adult service will be in the larger theater, while the children’s service will take place in the smaller one.

Previously, the children have been having their service in a small classroom setting and this move allows them to have a more interactive service.

“They’ll be doing the same curriculum that’s geared toward them, but doing it from the big screen” Amaya said.

It’s not only the children who will see changes to their service, but as will the adults.

A praise band is present at each service and the larger venue allows them to include more musicians and raise the volume.

“We get to do everything on a much larger scale and the sky’s the limit,” said Amaya. “We’re working on video announcements and the sound system, screens, everything is upgrading.”

Another aspect to their new Sunday services is that The Merchant will be open and feature a full coffee bar for the members.

Text Only
Local News
Features
Sports
Education
Opinion
  • Is it ‘coincidence’ the OCE has no teeth?

    Since I spend most of my working hours in offices in Duncan and Waurika, it’s nice both communities now have recycling programs so I can deposit the sticky notes that serve as my memory.

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • Name new complex for Barnes

    Duncan High School’s new tennis complex, looking sharp in its blue and green U.S. Open color scheme, is drawing high praise for its quality and team impact.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

Special Deals
Facebook
The Duncan Banner on Facebook
Poll

The Oklahoma Lottery Ticket is $360 million for the May 15, 2013 drawing. Tell us:

Did you buy a ticket?
Forgot to buy a ticket?
Or do you just not play the lottery?
     View Results
AP Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting