About our congregation

Founded in 1907, Beal Heights Presbyterian Church, Lawton, Oklahoma, is a congregation of North Texas Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America, an evangelical, Reformed denomination. The word “evangelical” refers to our belief in the saving work of Jesus Christ, appropriated by faith. The word “Reformed” refers to our doctrinal beliefs that were systematically hammered out during the Great Reformation; i.e., we believe that the Westminster Standards are a reliable and trustworthy exposition of what the Bible teaches (Hebrews 10:23).

At BHPC, because we believe that the Bible is the infallible and inerrant Word of God, we are committed to developing a comprehensive Biblical worldview, where every area of life is submitted to King Jesus. Hence from our worship services, to our Sunday School classes, to our fellowship meetings and whatever programs we develop, we believe firmly we have a responsibility to do God’s work, God’s way (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Worship

We hold to what is known as the “regulative principle;” i.e., that God has ordained in His Word how He wants to be worshiped, and we must neither add nor subtract from what He has commanded (John 4:24). We believe this means that God-honoring worship consists of prayer, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, the reading of Scripture, the preaching of Scripture and administering the sacraments (the Lord’s Supper and Baptism), and giving of our tithes and offerings to the Lord.

You will not find us very innovative in our Sunday worship nor do we try to create a “worship experience” that might please men. While we do try to be diligent and conscientious in offering God our best in worship (and we do use musical instruments), the focus is always on the glory of God; never our entertainment. Since we LOVE the Word of God, we sing it joyously, pray it fervently, read it passionately and love to study it diligently (Colossians 3:16).

The Family

For many churches, being “family-oriented” means carefully segregating children from parents and creating lots of programs to keep everyone busy. We do things a little differently. We want our covenant children to worship with us at a very early age and encourage parents to bring their children into the service as soon as possible. Sure, we know that this can be difficult for very little ones (and even more difficult for some parents! Please see the articles on Teaching Children to Worship and Why a Cry Room). But since our children are part of the family of God, we do not think they should be deprived of worshiping Him in Spirit and Truth (e.g. Exodus 12:24-27). We also like to see our covenant children brought to the Lord’s Table as soon as they are able to give a reasonable confession of their faith and demonstrate the ability to examine their consciences (1 Corinthians 11:28).

At BHPC, we place a great deal of emphasis on building strong, Christian families; and that means, a special emphasis on teaching fathers how to be godly men who can lovingly and wisely serve their wives and children by being strong covenant heads of their households (Ephesians 5:25ff, 6:4ff). We help and encourage fathers to conduct daily family worship in the home, catechize their children, as well as love and discipline them so that they can raise strong warriors for the faith ((e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Psalm 127:3-5). It is our belief that if Dad does HIS job as the covenant head of his household, that the entire church will be strengthened and the Kingdom of God advanced.

Our older women are committed to teaching the younger ones how to be godly, gracious and powerful servants of God (Titus 2:3-4). We unabashedly hold up the Proverbs 31 woman as a model for every Christian wife and mother.

Christian Education

Though we have a very successful Christian Education Program, taught by gifted and mature Christians, we never want ANYONE to think that the church can replace the family when it comes to training our covenant children. Our Sunday School program is designed to ASSIST the parents, not replace them. We feel strongly that Mom and Dad do the real work through daily family worship and catechism (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Therefore, the bulk of our Sunday School instruction is for the parents!

We believe this so strongly that you won’t find the same number and diversity of programs you might find at some other churches. We try to keep the family together. We want to free up the family so they build relationships with each other, and learn how to minister to people through their homes, rather than fragmenting the family with too many activities (e.g., Romans 12:13, Hebrews 10:24, etc.).

A Covenant Community

Finally, at BHPC we are striving to become a genuine covenant community, committed to living together in Christian love, encouraging, admonishing, supporting and exhorting each another to become what God calls us to be (Hebrews 10:24, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, Philippians 2:1-4, Romans 8:29, etc.). We will not gossip about others, or slander them. We will “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) about each other, and try to stand alongside each other through trials and difficulties (1 Peter 4:8-10).

A “Perfect” Church?

No, we do not think we are a “perfect” church, just one committed to obeying King Jesus in every area of life. We are convinced that our highest goal and purest calling is that each and every one of us would become conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). But we also realize that we are sinners, saved by grace and our sanctification is a process never to be completed in this life. Therefore, since God has forgiven us, we are committed to forgiving each other, and bearing with one another, and helping each other to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

We think God is doing something wonderful in our midst, something exciting and something special; something worthwhile, and something lasting. If you are in the Lawton / Fort Sill area, drop by and see us.