PONCA CITY, Okla. – An abundance of different kinds of food draws people to Northeast Baptist Church, where about 225 people participate in Sunday morning worship.
This is so the congregation is strengthened for its task, says Scott Melton, pastor since 2018 and on staff 11 years.
“We’re not a large church but we want to make an impact for God’s kingdom,” Melton told Baptist Press. “Our theme verse is Psalm 96:3 – Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful works among all people. We keep that on the front of our bulletin every week and regularly provide opportunities to get into missions all over the world.”
Physical sustenance in February: “breakfast with the King” men’s Bible study and fellowship Feb. 7; “Love your neighbor” and invite them to Sunday school, morning worship and cinnamon rolls Feb. 8; and an “All Church fried chicken lunch” with potluck side dishes Feb. 22.
Spiritual sustenance: The February Bible verse memory challenge: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good spirit lead me on level ground! Psalm 143:10 (ESV)
And in addition to children’s, youth, men’s and women’s ongoing Bible studies, the pastor is leading 18 members in a study of Systematic Theology, using Wayne Grudem’s book titled Systematic Theology.
“I want to make sure our church is holding true to the Scripture, and the best way, it seemed to me, was a systematic study of all the [doctrinal] topics. We want to make disciples and the best way of doing that is getting people in the Word,” Melton said.
It’s a 40-week study that Melton is spreading over the 52 weeks in 2026.
In addition to physical and spiritual food, the church makes emotional food available, the nourishment that comes from looking outward, toward others and their needs. Northeast Baptist works at being an Acts 1:8 church, ministering at the same time in its Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
The church’s main local ministries include partnering with Living Hope pregnancy resource center, addressing the issue of abortion; and a once-monthly ministry to help another Ponca City church provide a “Friendship Feast” for area residents in need. Northeast members prepare, serve and clean up after the meal.
There’s also a multi-faceted partnership with Roosevelt Elementary School, including for several years providing sack lunches for youngsters who otherwise might not have much to eat over the weekends. Northeast members this school year added a reading program ministry at the school.
“These are the key ministries we’re involved with locally,” Melton said.
The youth over Spring Break, with other youth groups from all over Oklahoma, will be swarming across Tulsa to help where they see needs – including Bible studies at local trailer parks, supporting ministry partnerships around the area, and coming alongside to strengthen and encourage the local churches through an organization in Tulsa called Mobile Missions.
“We try to take at least one mission trip a year,” Melton said. “Missions can be supported through prayer and giving, but we grow in our heart for the lost and our ability to serve the needs of others when we choose to go on mission personally.
“Going on mission is a step of obedience to the Lord. He has called us to go make disciples of all nations. We grow in our relationship with the Lord as we serve Him by serving others. The call to be obedient to declare His glory among the nations has moved us as a church to aim to have an annual trip for the youth and an annual trip for the church as a whole.”
Church leaders several years ago contacted the North American Mission Board for church plant partnership suggestions and were directed to southeast Portland, Ore. Northeast members have helped with VBS, community prayer walking, organized a baseball clinic, and have plans for Spring of 2027 to spend a week helping the church focusing on youth ministry, all to help strengthen Portland’s Woodstock Community Church.
In addition to Northeast Baptist’s “Jerusalem” – Ponca City’s 25,000 residents – plus its Judea, (at this time the Metro Tulsa spring break trip); and its Samaria, Portland, Ore., (and previously in Alaska), the church has a long history of commitment to international missions, including in Belize and Bangladesh.
Last year Melton went to Slovakia in Eastern Europe to see about a new partnership.
“I’m excited to get over there and do the work we’re developing,” Melton said. He has stayed in contact with the pastors and International Mission Board leaders he met there, dream-casting and making initial plans. “I’m excited to see how that goes. We want to have Slovakia be an ongoing partnership for the next several years.
“It’s better to develop relationships long-term,” the Ponca City pastor continued. “You can make a small impact with one trip but it’s more productive over time to develop relationships with pastors and people in the community. ‘One and done’ is kind of like a hit and run.”
Northeast Baptist allocates 10 percent of undesignated income to missions through the Cooperative Program, a commitment made stronger by connections with NAMB, IMB and the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, informally known as “Oklahoma Baptists.”
“My dad, Ron Melton, was a pastor in small churches,” the Northeast Baptist pastor said. “I firmly believe we can do more together than apart. I love the idea when we give to the Cooperative Program we get to be involved in Southern Baptist work all across the world, even though we can’t always physically be there.
“We try to do partnerships and ministry together, but week-to-week giving to missions through the Cooperative Program is something we can participate in and with that can make an impact throughout the world, even as we are strengthened to do more and be better equipped for what God wants us to do in our own community.”
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