(Oklahoma City, Okla.) Rev. John Malget, former vocal music teacher for Cushing Public Schools, will be installed as a new leader of the First Christian Church of Oklahoma City. Rev. Malget invites former students to come and sing “River in Judea” with the choir the day of his formal installation, Sunday, April 28, 2013 during the 10:30 a.m. worship service.
Born and raised in Perry, Oklahoma, Rev. John Malget began serving as Senior Minister of First Christian Church on March 1. He comes to FCC from Memorial Drive Christian Church, Houston, TX, where he served as Associate Pastor for over eight years. Prior to serving in Houston, Malget served for 15 years at First Christian Church of Cushing while teaching for Cushing Public Schools. While serving in Cushing, he continued his education at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa where he received a Master of Divinity degree and was ordained in 2004.
“The mission of the church is to love God so deeply, that we share that love with others, teaching them to share God’ s love in the process,” said Malget. “We enter the church as individuals, but become a part of a community that must make everyone welcome.” “I feel called as a Disciples of Christ minister to work within a congregation as well as the larger community to create a church with a table big enough for everyone: loving and serving the least, the last and the lost,” added Malget.
“I am a passionate preacher and teacher of scripture,” Malget said “I believe that we must understand what the Bible said when it was written, but also what it has to say to us about today’s world.” “We are united not because we all believe the same, or think the same, but because we pursue God together,” said Malget. “And in that pursuit, we are made one by God.”
First Christian Church of Oklahoma City, often called the “Church of Tomorrow,” opened in 1956. Since then, FFC OKC has occupied several locations. Through fundraising and planning, construction on the “Church of Tomorrow” took place under the leadership of Rev. William H. “Bill” Alexander. Featured in Life magazine, the church was described as a “gigantic concrete egg, arching 110 feet into the air.” Today, just 4 minutes from Bricktown at 3700 N. Walker, among the FCC facilities are the 1200 seat, iconic domed Sanctuary, the Jewel Box Theater, the Education Building, the Replogle Chapel, a 3,500 seat amphitheater, and the Bill Alexander Memorial Youth Center.
Former Oklahoma State Representative, Rev. Jeff Hamilton, Associate Minister at First Christian for over 16 years, said, “I believe that Rev. Malget embodies the bold spirit of the history of First Christian Church.” “His desire to reach out to the community in relevant ways that support the well being of all is at the heart of his ministry,” said Hamilton. “We are pleased and excited to have him as our new senior minister.”
“As a pastor who was trained as a musician, it is a great honor to become the Senior Minister of First Christian Church of Oklahoma City,” said Rev. Malget. “This congregation has such a rich history of music and performance. It is with great enthusiasm that we begin a new chapter in the storied history of First Christian Church.”
Rev. Malget and his wife Sherri have two children, Nick, 16 and Kristin, 11.
For more information visit the First Christian Church of Oklahoma City website at: www.fccokc.org
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