Blake Hilgenfeld

Purcell’s First Baptist Church new Pastor Blake Hilgenfeld and his family have a history with Purcell.

A Norman native, Hilgenfeld and his mom, dad, aunts and uncles all graduated from Norman High School.

His wife of nearly 22 years, Shanae is a McAlester graduate. Her parents moved to Purcell about 10 years ago, Hilgenfeld told The Purcell Register.

Hilgenfeld’s family was in the Chick-fil-A business for many years in Norman with his father, owning the franchise for the store at Sooner Mall.

Hilgenfeld earned a degree in sociology at The University of Oklahoma and did a year-long mission work in China before going to the seminary.

At that time it was called Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary but has now been changed to Gateway Seminary. Hilgenfeld earned a masters in Divinity and also earned a Master of Arts in intercultural studies from Union University in Jackson, Tenn.

Blake and Shanae have two children, Davis a freshman at CCS and Kathryn, a seventh grader there.

Both Blake and Shanae have done mission work in China.

Interestingly, Hilgenfeld found out International Sports Ministries didn’t have an office in the United States so Hilgenfeld started one up in Norman and managed it for five years until he got the calling to be a pastor. He started Providence Road Church in Norman and was the pastor there for over 10 years.

In 2019, his father died. His brother had a Chick-fil-A in Moore and his brother was selected to take over for his father and asked Blake if he would help out. So he did, for a while.

The pastoring call came again.

“The fast food business is challenging. We took over a store and inherited a culture that took years to change to the culture we wanted,” Hilgenfeld said.

“That change in culture at Chick-fil-A will continue to serve me well as we see the culture here,” he said of the 175 member church that is 125 years old.

“First of all, the people have welcomed my family and me with open arms. They have treated us as Jesus would with grace, hospitality and humility.

“There is a hunger to see the Lord move in a way they’ve never seen before,” Hilgenfeld said. “With that hunger comes excitement to be open to wherever the Lord leads us.”

Hilgenfeld said his church is observing and learning where the Lord wants to take them.

“Sometimes discerning how you make those moves can be challenges but there hasn’t been a lot in the first four months.”

He said it’s encouraging, comforting and exciting for the people to use the Holy Spirit.

“They display the gospel to the community and to each other,” he said.

Hilgenfeld reports he loves preaching.

“I’m a people person that loves being with people,” he said. “I enjoy entering into people’s lives who are in need and helping them find freedom and joy in Jesus.

“My life of vision is to lead people to pursue freedom and joy in Jesus. That’s my greatest passion. Everything I get to do here is being able to live out that vision.”

The pastor said his church is strategically thinking how they can reach out to the community to allow them to pursue freedom and joy in Jesus.

“At the end of the day, we all desire happiness,” Hilgenfeld said. “Every single person is looking for that. What the gospel gives to the world the world cannot give.”

When worldly things are gone, happiness leaves, he said.

“Joy is in the gospel and that cannot ever be taken away even in life’s hardest circumstances,” Hilgenfeld said. “It’s been revolutionary to me in regards to Christian life. Jesus came to set us free; free us from sin and death. Sin is a lot of us pursuing happiness in things that can never bring us happiness.”

The vision of FBC is to pursue freedom and joy in Jesus.

“Our desire is for people to excel in the freedom of Jesus Christ. We are a church that is hungry for that. We are a church that welcomes all people. It’s a new season and a new time for FBC.

“Over time our hope and prayer is Purcell and the surrounding communities are people who display freedom and joy in Jesus, living out the gospel.

“That includes forgiveness, love, grace, acceptance and all those things that Jesus has shown us,” the pastor said. “He welcomes all.”