Who We Are

Pastor Johnny & Heather

When I realized that God was calling me into the ministry, at the age of 18, I sat down to talk with my pastor, Tom Elliff. He told me a quote that was said to D.L. Moody, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.” My pastor looked me in the eyes and said “Johnny I hope you are that man.” From that day forward my aim has been to fulfill those words and to be the man that is completely sold out to God.

I started my ministry as the Youth Pastor at Faith Baptist Chapel, in Michigan, while I got my Biblical Studies Degree. I then became the Junior High Youth Pastor at First Southern in Del City, OK for the next four years and then followed the call of God to become the Youth Pastor at First Baptist Sapulpa, where I spent five years. While at Sapulpa I Took a group of students on a missions trip to Washington D.C., where we visited National Community Church (Pastor Mark Patterson). When I walked through the door I immediately sensed and felt the presence of God. As I sat there, I could hear the whisper of God on my heart calling me to start a church. I knew God was leading me out of student ministry, but I never dreamed it was to start a church. So in 2014, Heather and I started praying about the church that God desired to start.

As we began to dream and pray, I listened to a message by Francis Chan. He asks the question, “If you wiped your mind clean of all your pre-conceived ideas about church and only sat down with the Bible in hand and read God’s design for the church, does it match? Does the church today look like the church God desired for the disciples to build?” This question rocked me to the core because the church I see in the new testament is on that is passionate about sharing Jesus whatever persecution may come. They relied on each other for prayer and boldness to continue to share Jesus. The thing that bothered me is that I don’t see the same passion, power, urgency, fellowship, boldness, and commitment today that I saw in the New Testament Church. I knew at that moment God was calling me to build that church.

I believe, with all my heart, that the church his the hope of the world. I believe the only thing that will change the world is a passionate church. I believe God has created all of us with a specific purpose and though our path may be different, our purpose is the same – To take the Gospel to the end of the world. I believe the church is a place where you come in and get built up, prayed for, and challenged to live boldly to proclaim the Gospel of Jess in the area of influence God has given you.

On February 15th, 2015, we opened the doors to The Way Church in Cedar Ridge Elementary. We were set up and tear down in Cedar Ridge Elementary for two years averaging 103 people a week. After two years, we were given the facility we are now in and we have seen God do incredible things over the past four years!

We have grown to over 700 on a weekend with thousands that watch online. We have has the opportunity to be on Channel 2 on multiple occasions and we are currently on weekly tv on Maranatha tv in Africa. God has blessed our church in so many ways and we do not take for granted all that God has done. Through a pandemic, God allowed us to distribute hundreds of thousands of pounds of food to our community, providing for those in a time of need. Since the beginning of the church we have seen 1188 people give their life to Christ as their Lord and Savior, and out of those we have seen 237 follow God through baptism.

Staff

Cody Cannon

Creative Media Director

Heather Jaimes

Way Cool Kids Director

Amy Pulley

Way Cool Kids