Our Blog

Women On Mission - September 2023

A Blast From the Past

In a 2018 conversation with the late Martha Boultinghouse and her daughter Bonnie Beckham, they shared memories of the early days of Oakhill.  Their family had attended the Rescue Mission downtown for a number of years when Maurice noted that they passed a Baptist Church every Sunday on their way into town.  He thought they could attend a church closer to home that would provide more for their children.  In 1961, they began attending Oakhill.  Cindy was 9, Bonnie was 8, and Judy was 7. Penny was born in 1963.

Oakhill met in a 3 car garage and small residence at the present location.  When they moved into a new building in 1965, Martha helped organize the nursery and kitchen.  They had to start from scratch as far as furnishings were concerned.  Not a lot of money was available to them.  Dishes were purchased from a dime store at Lawndale (Kresge or Woolworth).  The ladies chipped in to make the purchase.  Economy Market had a deal giving silverware when you purchased groceries.  Port-a-cribs were bought for $10.00 each.  Martha served in the nursery from 1964 to 1979.   Bonnie served since she was in her 20’s until 2022.  Her husband Larry worked with her.  Martha recalled that in the early days, the members took turns cleaning the church.  Nothing was hired out that could be done by members or the pastor.  Rev Bill Carter did the weekly bulletin, cleaned snowy drives and walks, mowed grass, whatever needed to be done.

When the church voted to build, the Boultinghouse family was 1 of 7 who put their homes up as collateral.  We are blessed to have charter member Bonnie Beckham still at Oakhill.  We appreciate the Boultinghouse’s years of service and faithfulness.  They have touched and continue to touch many lives.

Women on Mission will meet Thursday, September 7th at 1:00 pm in the Grace classroom.
All ladies are invited to be with us.

Women On Mission - August 2023

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

The Sunday Courier and Press - February 27, 1981
A local hospital and local church have combined their efforts so people like Leila Evans can have the convenience of a home away from home. Miss Evans, who lives in Owensboro, Ky., has been taking radiation therapy treatments on weekdays for five weeks at St. Mary’s Medical Center. She was dumbfounded when she learned she’d have to take the treatments every day. “I didn’t see how I could possibly make the daily round trip from Owensboro to Evansville by myself,” she said.  Officials at St. Mary’s told Miss Evans about the old parsonage at Oakhill Baptist church. And in little time the church people had made arrangements for Miss Evans to occupy the facility so she wouldn’t have to commute from Owensboro or rent a room in Evansville.  “This is just the grandest place I ever heard of. I brought my typewriter, my lamp, my niece’s television and just moved right in,” Miss Evans said. Although Miss Evans normally transports herself to St. Mary’s, the church people came through when driving conditions were hazardous recently. Even though his son was having surgery that morning, church member Ronald Baker picked up Miss Evans in his four-wheel drive vehicle and took her to the hospital when snow and ice made driving hazardous. Several people - including outpatients and patients’ relatives - have occupied the house since it was ready in early August of last year. About a year ago, Emma Meredith, a secretary in quality assurance at St. Mary’s, and Micki Bennett, a registered nurse who is a discharge planner there, noticed that relatives of patients were sleeping in the hospital waiting rooms. The two women conducted a survey which found that many of the relatives were from out of town. Unable to afford hotel accommodations but still desiring to be near seriously ill family members, the relatives had no alternative but to bed down for the night somewhere in the hospital. Aside from their regular responsibilities, the women took up the challenge of doing something about the problem. They requested information from area churches concerning what type of temporary lodging might be available for patient’s relatives or patients themselves who needed regular outpatient treatment. Although the request was only for information, Oakhill Baptist responded with the offer of letting people stay in its old parsonage. “We had on occasion used this space for accommodating visiting ministers,” said the Rev. Roy Jones, pastor at the church. “It was just one of those things where they had a need, and we had the facilities.” Church people June Baker and Norman Baggett were instrumental in organizing the congregation, which took up the task of supplying clean linens, transporting patients to the hospital and cleaning the facilities on a weekly basis. For St. Mary’s, the Oakhill facility represents the first step in a project they hope will grow. The old parsonage has only one bedroom with a double bed available, so facilities are somewhat limited. But Ms. Bennett and Ms. Meredith are keeping their eyes open for facilities which would enable them to expand the project. The house is also available to patients at Evansville’s other hospitals.  

Women on Mission will meet Thursday, August 3rd at 1:00 pm in the Grace classroom.
Michele Linn will be speaking to us about the recent mission trip to Brazil.
All ladies are invited.