Pastor Paul Craig
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. I am Pastor Paul Craig; and this is my lovely wife, LeJeune. I trust that your visit with us will be invaluable to your Christian growth. But before you take a look at all our ministries, have a seat for a minute; and allow me to share my heart concerning the vision God has given me concerning this ministry.
Years ago, the Lord showed me that the primary focus of this ministry is for man and God to be connected together through God’s Word. Men, women, boys and girls need to be educated in the Word of God. Spiritual education has virtually been done away with in our American culture. We have brilliant people in the natural, but many of those same people have very little knowledge of God’s Word. As the Word of God is understood by man, then man and God are connected together. So, basically, we are a teaching ministry getting people to understand what God says so they will know what God’s will is for their lives and come to understand God’s heart. As a means to this end, we offer anointed in-depth bible instruction here at the church house Sunday through Friday, and our radio station, KJRF 91.1 FM is on the air 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
In John 17:16-17 AMP, Jesus prays for the disciples, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy) through your truth: your word is truth.” Then, in John 17:20-21, Jesus prays for us (His church), “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their (the disciples’) word; that they all may be one; as you, Father are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
The above scripture also leads us to another focus of the ministry, which is unity. The Christian Center is a unique ministry in that it is a multiracial and multicultural congregation. Although God has ordained me as the founder and pastor of this congregation, I recognize that I alone have not been given all the wisdom, knowledge or understanding of the five-fold ministry. Because of this, God has placed hundreds of men and women of like faith, from differing races and cultures, who are willing to follow what God has given me for this ministry. Not only this, but they are also willing to lead others into the vision which God has directed for the ministry. When you have an integrated congregation, you must have an integrated leadership.
Let’s face it, folks, God’s family consists of a multiracial, multicultural congregation. In Matthew 12:50, Jesus said “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother and sister, and mother.” Jesus receives all people who are willing to do the will of His Father, and He teaches them kingdom living. Heaven lives a particular way. The only way we can know how heaven lives is to read, hear and understand heaven’s words – God’s Word.
This ministry teaches people how to remove from their day-to-day lives the encumbrances that are not of heaven. Basically these hinderances are the words, attitudes, thoughts and feelings that have been learned by the world’s way of doing things. These can be removed by replacing them with the words, attitudes, thoughts and feelings of heaven. Hebrews 12:1b, 2a says, “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily beset (or entangle) us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
Faith is the glue of this ministry. Jesus said in Mark 9:23 “If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes”. Also, Romans 10:17 says, “…Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” So God’s power is really released by faith, by our belief in what the Word of God says. The Holy Spirit is then released to perform what the Word of God describes.
I refuse to take any credit for the success of this ministry. It’s been a God thing since the ministry’s inception. Just as the Christian Center is growing spiritually, the leadership is compensating with physical expansions. The church recently built a new sanctuary that seats 2,600, a gymnasium, and a fellowship hall, all debt free. Current attendance at our Lawton, Duncan and Chickasha services runs approximately 1100 to 1200 each Sunday.
Please feel free to join us anytime you’re in the Southwest Oklahoma region. You’re always welcome at the Christian Center.
We Love You,
Pastor Paul & LeJeune Craig