Dukes' legacy of good still going strong

Over 50 years ago, the community of Oak Orchard held weekly sermons in local homes with families and friends who were looking to be closer to God. When the guests surpassed the space, Silas Dukes, a local businessman and revivalist, was asked to step in and help. “He saw there were a lot of places to do bad, but not a lot of places to do good,” said church administrator Linda Mansker. Within a few years, he, along with help from the community, had built the still standing, non-denominational Community Church of Oak Orchard.

In 1965, the original building was opened, which is now the sanctuary. The church expanded in 1974, and has expanded since then as their family has grown. Since the inaugural service 50 years ago, there have only been two pastors: Pastor Silas Dukes and Pastor Allen Miller. Dale Dukes, son of Silas Dukes, is a member of the church as well. “There’s a lot of heritage her and dad knew that somewhere down the line he would not be here, so he selected Allen Miller as his associate. Miller served alongside Dukes in the church until Dukes’ death in 1996.

“There is a lot of community interaction. It’s really great,” said Miller of the community church. Oak Orchard Community Church works with local residents in a variety of programs, including TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly), Alcoholics Anonymous and Agape.

Every Sunday sermon starts with community and church announcements, which are quickly followed by a memory verse, which churchgoers are encouraged to memorize and implement in their lives throughout the upcoming week. Sometimes, Pastor Miller will call upon the congregation to speak in front of the church regarding God and the sermon. “[Silas] believed you should be ready to preach, pray or die at a moment's notice, and would come and ask you to speak as you walked in that day,” said Miller, and he now continues this tradition. “It’s so great to see how Allen has grown and what he has done with the church,” said Dukes.

Now, the Oak Orchard Community Church boasts about 150 members, but 173 were seen out celebrating the church’s anniversary. Guests come from near and far to be a part of the Oak Orchard family, and one even traveled from his home in Wisconsin to be a part of his first church once again. Greg Pianka attended the very first service in the Community Church of Oak Orchard and was happy to be back. “The Church, the singing, the music, the atmosphere, it’s just as I left it 23 years ago,” said Pianka.