Western Hills Church of Christ sits on NW 53rd Street in Lawton, Oklahoma, a city shaped by the nearby Wichita Mountains and the steady presence of Fort Sill to the south. For more than six decades the congregation has been a steady presence in this part of southwest Oklahoma, gathering twice on Sundays and once on Wednesdays to study the Bible, sing, and remember the Lord through communion. The church is warm, friendly, gracious, inviting, and non-judgmental, with strong convictions drawn directly from the Bible.
Sixty Years on NW 53rd
The first worship service at Western Hills was held on the first Sunday in January 1963, in the cafeteria of Eisenhower Junior High School. Seventy people attended that day, and John Kiser delivered the first message. By February of 1964 the young congregation had grown enough to take possession of its own facility on NW 53rd Street, the same address it still calls home: 1108 NW 53rd Street, Lawton, OK 73505.
The driving directions for first-time visitors are simple. From Interstate 44, exit westbound on Cache Road and continue about four miles to NW 53rd Street, then turn left and drive a fifth of a mile. Travelers approaching from Highway 62 out of Altus or Cache can turn at NW 52nd Street, then take the next right onto Cache Road, then left on NW 53rd. The church office, in the same building, is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.
Over the past sixty-plus years, the church has continued to grow in number and in spirit. Western Hills aims to be strong in truth and gentle in manner at the same time, and to keep both at the center of its life together. The motto of the preaching minister, Harley Davidson, captures the spirit in plain language: "Do something good until you do something better, but do something."
An Evangelical Heart in the Restoration Tradition
Western Hills identifies itself as a Church of Christ in the Restoration tradition and as evangelical. The fundamentals affirmed include the existence of the triune God, the deity of Jesus Christ, the virgin birth, the atonement of Christ, the sure return of Christ, and the infallibility and divine authority of the Bible as a faithful guide to belief and life. They joyfully affirm unity with other believers who hold to these same fundamentals, even when those believers belong to denominations with which the church might have other disagreements.
The church takes seriously the Great Commission of Matthew 28, where Jesus sends His disciples to baptize and to teach. Western Hills sees the Kingdom of God as both a future hope and a present reality, and understands the ascension of Christ as a call to honor Him in every area of personal life and to plant the banner of His Kingdom in every area of human endeavor.
In practice, this conviction shapes the way worship is ordered. The church seeks to follow what it calls the simple and spiritual pattern of collective worship found in the New Testament, limiting collective activities to those for which clear Biblical authority can be established.
Sunday Morning and Wednesday Evening
Three weekly assemblies anchor life at Western Hills. Sunday morning Bible class begins at 9:30 am, with classes for every age from cradle roll through adult electives. The Sunday worship service follows at 10:30 am, and Wednesday evening Bible class meets at 6:30 pm. Services can be watched live and on demand on the church's YouTube channel.
Visitors can expect a thoughtful and orderly service. Each Sunday the congregation gathers around five elements: the Lord's Supper, a collection taken for the work of the church, prayer, congregational singing, and preaching and teaching. Communion is observed every Sunday, and the worship is led by one person at a time so that good order prevails. Guests are warmly welcomed, are not asked or expected to give during the collection, and are invited to ask questions on anything they see or hear.
Children are always welcome in the assembly, and a nursery is available. After the Lord's Supper, children aged two and three are dismissed to Junior Junction, and children aged four through fifth grade are dismissed to SonShine Express, a children's worship designed for their age. There is no required dress code. First-time visitors are welcome to wear what they have or what they think is appropriate. Free written material on Bible subjects is available in the lobby, free audio recordings of the sermon can be requested, and personal Bible studies can be arranged at a convenient time.
A Quarter System of Bible Classes
Western Hills runs its Bible classes on a quarterly schedule. Each fall, winter, spring, and summer quarter brings a fresh lineup of classes for every age group, taught by members of the congregation. The current fall quarter runs from September 6 through December 2.
On Sunday mornings at 9:30 am, the children's wing includes Cradle Roll for infants, a class for ages two to three, separate classes for ages four to five, grades one to two, and grades three to five, plus a middle school and high school option. Adult offerings in the fall include Ezra and Nehemiah for young families and any adult, plus electives for couples of the congregation and for elders and church leaders. On Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm, children study lessons such as The Biggest Story and Life and Lessons of Joseph, middle and high schoolers work through the Book of John, and adults gather in three tracks: a study of Hebrews called Life Links, the Every Man series for men, and Prayers of Paul for women.
The educational ministry is coordinated by Educational Directors Shari Dittmeyer and Jonathan Timms, with dozens of teachers from the congregation serving every quarter.
SonShine Express, Junior Junction, and Light of Mine
The Children's Ministry at Western Hills exists to partner with parents in teaching children to know and love God. Janice Croft has been leading the children's work since 2008, after eight years as an elementary school teacher in Lawton.
SonShine Express, the children's worship for ages four through fifth grade, meets during the Sunday morning service. Children are dismissed after the Lord's Supper and gather in the Family Life Center for Bible stories, singing, video clips, games, and crafts designed to build a firm foundation in their relationship with God. Junior Junction, launched in 2011, serves children ages two and three with dramatic play, story time, and art, introducing the youngest in the church to a good God who loves them.
During the school year, Light of Mine Story Time meets every other week for preschoolers and their caregivers, with singing, a story, a craft, and time to play. SonShine Express also travels on a life-sized trolley to local parades and hosts special events throughout the year, including Princess Teas, a Cowboy BBQ, Tuesday Out summer activities, Vacation Bible School, Fall Fest, the Backpacks of Blessings service project, and Parents' Night Out. Parents and volunteers complete an online background check before serving with children or youth.
Youth Ministry: From Sixth Grade Induction to Senior Sunday
The youth ministry at Western Hills serves students in grades six through twelve and is led by Bryn Winters, who joined the staff as youth minister in 2024. The philosophy of the ministry rests on five pillars: a personal relationship with God, prayer, family focus, relationships, and intentional discipleship.
Recurring rhythms include Sunday night devotionals with games, worship, teaching, and dinner; Tuesday Tradition, an every-other-week discussion time from 7 to 8 pm in the Loft; MAD (Movie And Devo) nights; service projects around Lawton; opening night movie outings; occasional Lock-Ins from 7 pm to 7 am; and bowling nights at Thunderbird Lanes, often preceded by a stop at Braum's.
Larger events fill out the calendar. Winterfest is a large youth rally held annually in North Texas. Leadership Training for Christ, or LTC, runs from January to Easter and culminates in Dallas, where students showcase drama, puppet shows, Bible reading, and song leading. The Servant Retreat, open to high schoolers, and the middle school OverFlow Retreat gather youth from several Oklahoma churches for a weekend of worship, spiritual disciplines, and fellowship. Summer brings Zenith, a high school camp at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, and Cornerstone, the middle school camp at OC. The summer also includes a service trip to Westview Boys Home in Hollis, Oklahoma, where students help with painting, building, and cleanup.
Two milestones bookend the years at Western Hills. Sixth Grade Induction welcomes incoming sixth graders with a surprise breakfast and a presentation of Bibles, followed by prayer from the elders. Senior Sunday honors the graduating senior during the morning service with a banquet in the afternoon, where the young person receives a Bible, a video scrapbook of their years at the church, gifts from the congregation, and a shared meal.
Backpacks of Blessings, Thanksgiving Baskets, and Fall Fest
Western Hills has a long tradition of community outreach, much of it organized around the rhythms of the school year and the holidays. Daniel Omusinde serves as the Outreach Minister, and deacon Aaron Young oversees the work.
Each July, the Backpacks of Blessings program collects school supplies and gift cards for elementary students in Lawton. In a recent year more than 400 students received a complete set of supplies through the program, with staff at Edison Elementary School among the recipients. The project has become part of the enrollment process at partner schools, so donations reach children directly. Children's Minister Janice Croft coordinates the effort.
At Thanksgiving, the congregation gathers food items and household goods into baskets containing everything needed for a full holiday meal. Members of the congregation personally deliver the baskets to families who have been identified or who have requested support during the season.
Fall Fest is the church's annual community celebration in late October, with a free meal, Bible-themed carnival games and crafts in the Family Life Center, and the popular Trunk or Treat, in which members decorate their vehicles, hand out candy, and welcome hundreds of children from across Lawton.
From Hollis and Tipton to Quito and Honduras
The Missions Committee at Western Hills, chaired by deacon Jentry McLaughlin with members Zane Mohler, Jeff Reinke, Gaye Lynn Reinke, Roger Wood, and Aaron Young, works to advance the gospel locally, nationally, and internationally. Mission giving includes acts of benevolence, defined by the church as any act of kindness or charitable gift with a material benefit to others, received without condition.
Throughout the year the congregation supports Westview Boys Home in Hollis, Oklahoma, and Tipton Children's Home in Tipton, Oklahoma. Both offer long-term care and a loving, Christian atmosphere for children in need. Western Hills contributes money, food, supplies, and labor, and youth group members regularly spend time with staff and residents.
Internationally, Western Hills partners with Operation Ecuador at the Kumanii Christian Center near Quito, contributing money, supplies, and on-site labor. Members have provided medical care to local residents and helped construct facilities and utilities needed for the Center to keep serving the community. Youth mission trips have extended the same work to Honduras, with students assisting in the construction and repair of family dwellings.
Because Lawton is home to Fort Sill, the church also maintains a partnership with the Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center. Under the guidance of Mike Shklar, who serves as a resident chaplain with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, congregation members lead and assist in chapel services at the center and provide additional time and support as needed.
Shepherds, Ministers, and Deacons
The preaching minister is Harley Davidson, who has served at Western Hills since 1993. He and his wife Donna have been married nearly fifty years and have two adult children, Brandon and Autumn, along with six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The shepherds (elders) of the church are Phil Kennedy, Jeff Reinke, and Stan Scherler. Phil and his wife Anita have attended Western Hills since 1985 and have three daughters and a son-in-law. Jeff has been an elder since 2016 and has been part of the congregation for more than thirty years; he and his wife Gaye Lynn have four grown children and five grandchildren. Stan and his wife Kim live on their family farm and ranch west of Walters and have been part of Western Hills since 2001; one of his favorite verses is John 16:33.
Twelve deacons serve alongside the shepherds, each holding a specific area of responsibility: David Dittmeyer and Mitchell Hill oversee finance; Bob Lee and Brad Rittenhouse lead hospitality, with Brad also coordinating MannaFest; Steve Doughty manages communications; Zane Mohler oversees transportation; Jentry McLaughlin oversees missions; John Norman leads worship; Jonathan Timms leads education; Roger Wood manages facilities; Aaron Young leads outreach; and Leon Schettler oversees facilities and equipment. Lonnie Caples and Debbie Wood serve in audio and visual, Stephanie Ellis serves as Administrative Assistant, and Shari Dittmeyer and Jonathan Timms serve as Educational Directors.
The church office can be reached at (580) 353-4890 or office@whchurch.com. Online giving is available through the church's Breeze platform, and sermons can be watched on the Western Hills YouTube channel.