February 7, 2026 Issue, Page 4 of 13

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RELIGION 4• SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2026 The Elk City News Area Church Directory Assembly of God Assembly of God 115 W. 5th St., Erick Pastor: Gary Griffin Assembly of God 7th and Locust St., Sayre 580-928-4296 Jimmy Blanken, Min. First Assembly of God 2701 S. Randall , Elk City 580-225-1167 Kevin Akins, Min. I CAN’T FORGIVE MYSELF anyone else’s. So God Himself became human for the sole purpose of redeeming humankind from the horrific sin of rebellion against His righteous, loving, tender mercy. Dixie Yoder “Dr. Dixie, I’ve done some pretty awful things in my past. I’ve shoplifted, lied and had sex with so many women, I’ve lost count. Two years ago I heard for the first time that Jesus loves me, and I received salvation. I am so grateful for His love and His forgiveness, but I just can’t seem to forgive myself. My friends tell me that because God has forgiven me, I have no right to hold my past against myself. I’ve really tried, but can’t seem to let it go. Help! How do I forgive me?” Our “Christian-eze” language is full of clichés that keep us stuck in wrong thinking. “I need to forgive myself” is a perfect example. Because we hear it so often, we have come to believe the lie that we have to forgive ourselves in order to have “closure”. Actually, when you say, “I can’t forgive myself” you are absolutely right. You can’t! If we could forgive ourselves, then Jesus’ death on the cross was unnecessary. No human being has ever qualified to pay for sin—our own or Psalm 49:6-8 (Amplified): “Even of those who trust in and lean on their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches, not one can by any means redeem either himself or his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—for the ransom of a life is too costly, and the price anyone can pay will never suffice.” from eternity past through eternity future. If God ever forgot anything, including our sin, He would not be infinitely all-knowing. For God to “remember our sin no more” doesn’t mean He lost information about our sin, but rather, He will not intentionally recall or dwell on it. Created in God’s likeness, our minds are made to remember, not forget. Saying “Yes!” to new life in Christ, we begin learning how to remember our dark and painful past through the cleansing blood of Jesus, rather than condemnation. Col 1:13-1; 1 Peter 1:18-19 (Amplified): “The Father has drawn us to Himself, out of the control of darkness, and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love…in Whom we have redemption through His blood. This means: the forgiveness of our sins...you must recognize that you were ransomed from the useless way of living inherited from your forefathers, not with corruptible things such as silver and gold, (and we could add here, ‘or your own efforts’)… but you were purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ—a sacrificial lamb without blemish or spot.” Our sin was not covered up by the blood of Jesus—it was completely washed away. If God ever rehashed our sin, He would be dishonoring the blood sacrifice of His Son. Since we’re being formed into the likeness of Jesus, now we also can choose not to rehash our past sin. After we have said “Yes!” to Jesus, and have been raised to new life in Him, all that’s left for us to do is to agree with God: “I AM forgiven! I AM washed clean. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!” Infinite Grace Ministries in Weatherford, OK is a ministry of reconciliation and hope for individuals and families torn by abuse, divorce and disappointment with life. Call 580-774-2884 for an appointment with one of our ministers, and begin living in greater freedom today! God is omniscient—knowing all things at all times, 1 Corinthians 6:11 (Amplified) “And some of you were once thieves, slanderers and sexually immoral. But you have been purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin …pronounced righteous, by trusting in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Grandview Assembly of God Pioneer and Country Club, Elk City 580-225-7742 Bryan Herrick Baptist Prairie View Baptist I-40 & S Hwy 34, Elk City Pastor Tod Thornton Sunday School 9:15, Worship 10:30 Wed Prairie View Troops 3:30 Wed Prayer Meeting 6:30 Retrop Baptist Church Intersection Hwy 6 and 55 580-303-0791 Catholic Queen of All Saints 914 N. 5th St., Sayre 580-928-2385 Rev. Danny Grover St. Mathews Catholic 3001 E. Hwy 66, Elk City 580-225-0066 Rev. Danny Grover Christian Great Plains Baptist Assn. 1902 Watts St., Sayre 580-928-2585 Antioch Christian 3200 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City 580-243-0066 Jeff McDowell Calvary Baptist Church 1018 W B Avenue, Elk City 580-225-5344 Pastor Brad Hyatt Sunday Worship 11 am Wednesday 6 pm Christian Church 1 S. Walnut, Erick 580-526-3284 Central Missionary Baptist 1205 W. B Avenue, Elk City 580-225-0212 Eastside Baptist 421 N. Booth Avenue, Elk City 580-225-0742 Chase Brower, Min. Fairview Baptist 312 S. Lusk Avenue, Elk City 580-225-0203 First Baptist 1600 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City 580-225-7951 First Baptist 400 S. Sheb Wooley, Erick 580-526-3375 Jason Klechner, Min. First Baptist 504 N. 4th St., Sayre 580-928-5518 First Christian Church (Diciples of Christ) 1500 N. Randall, Elk City 580-225-7801 First Christian 1601 N. 4th St., Sayre 580-928-3639 Church of Christ Church of Christ 216 N. Adams Ave., Elk City 580-225-0718 Gantt Carter, Min. 301 S. Magnolia Ave, Erick Douglas Holland, Minister 816-726-6988 Bible Study 10am Sunday Worship 11am Sunday Ladies Bible Study 10am Wednesday Evening Open Bible Study 7pm Wednesday Lutheran Christ Lutheran 1023 W. 2nd St., Elk City 580-225-2266 Seventh-Day Adventist Seventh-Day Adventist 11375 N. 1990 Rd., Elk City 580-472-3472 Service times: 2:00 pm Bible Study 2:50 pm Church Service Methodist United Methodist 702 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City 580-225-0262 Scott Rodgers, Rev. United Methodist 320 S. Magnoliea St., Erick 580-526-3949 United Methodist 802 N. 4th St., Sayre • 580-928-2146 Sun School: 9:30 AM/Worship:10:45 Nazarene First Church of The Nazarene 816 W. 6th St., Elk City 580-225-2026 Rev. Andrew Dages Pentecostal Grace Temple 601 W. 20th St, Elk City Lindell & Nequita Brown, Pastors Iglesia Evangelica Cristo Es La Pena 600 W. Main, Elk City Pastor, Jose Reyes 580-799-2964 Presbyterian First Presbyterian 217 N. Washington Ave., Elk City 580-225-3130 Non-Denominational The Way Church 201 S. Jefferson Ave., Elk City Church of Christ Elk City Meets at Pioneer & Bell 580-501-0175 [email protected] Elk City Community 120 S. Randall Ave., Elk City 580-225-1184 Main Street Baptist 1101 N. Main St., Elk City 580-225-2938 Westside Church of Christ 580-225-3052 Gateway 4227 W. 3rd St., Elk City 580-225-1184 Curtis Newton, Min. Mt. Carmal Baptist 1801 W. A Avenue, Elk City 580-225-2061 Church of God 501 W. 1st, Elk City 580-225-0227 Joe Thompson, Min. First Hispanic Baptist 919 W. 8th St., Elk City 580-225-7901 One Church 200 East Broadway, Elk City 580-210-8881 Kevin Brosius (pastor) Jehovah’s Witnesses Jehovah’s Witnesses 402 E. Washington Ave., Sayre 580-928-9330 The Link 200 S. Main, Elk City Trinity Fellowship Sayre 580-928-2345 Christ Ministiries 804 W. 6th St., Elk City 580-243-9708 SUPPORT & RECOVERY RESOURCES AA-Elk City Original Group– 113 Meadow Ridge Dr Suite K, Elk City–M-F at noon & M,W,F,S,Su at 7pm AA-Elk City Southside Group– 105 Meadow Ridge Dr, Elk City, Nightly at 7pm NA-Elk City– 100 S. Monroe Ave, Suite 18, Elk City, Nightly at 7pm CR - The Link Church - 200 S. Main St, Elk City, Mon at 7pm CR - Great Plains Baptist Association- 1906 N Watts, Sayre - Th 6:30 SUBSCRIBE TODAY Current news and great deals delivered right to your door! Call today to support the church page! 580-225-3000