Stranger’s Rest Church Wichita Celebrating 70th Anniversary

Wichita’s Stranger’s Rest Missionary Baptist Church is celebrating its 70th anniversary this month with a concert, a black tie gala and special services with guest ministers held over two weekends this August.  .

It was in the summer 1954 when Rev. Curtis Williams felt the call to lead a group of about 20 baptized believers from Plainview to form a new church.  They met at the YMCA at 1221 N. Cleveland, in Wichita and named the church Strangers Rest Baptist Church. 

Since that humble beginning, Strangers Rest has had two more homes, the first at 1943 N. Ash and the current location, at 2521 N. Grove. It has been served by five pastors: Rev. Williams, Rev. C. B. Brookins, Rev. Albert Scott, Rev. F. Earl Hutchinson and the current Senior Pastor, Rev. Earl L. Burkhalter.

Each pastor contributed accomplishments that brought Strangers Rest to its current status.

Rev. Brookins moved the church to its current location, which had been the Church of the Nazarene.  

Rev. Scott started a religious educational school and had a vision for a greater church campus. He died suddenly while preaching a revival in Denver, CO. before realizing his dream.

Rev. Hutchinson had a vision and a plan. He started a “By Faith Building Fund” by contributing the first $1,000 and challenged the members to make pledges. Within two years a new building and sanctuary were completed and the exterior of the old building was renovated.

Rev. Burkhalter, a Wichita native, accepted a position as Interim pastor in 1989 and a few months later he was installed as full-time Pastor. 

“I had never pastored before, but by God’s grace, I was able to lead companies and congregations through rough waters. Now, 35 years later, I’m still navigating Strangers Rest Church by the Lord’s grace,” Burkhalter said.

Rev. Burkhalter and his wife, Carolyn, have four daughters, 16 grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

Under his leadership, the church has fully paved a parking lot with sidewalks all around the church, added administrative parking and completed the renovation of the original church building into what is now C.B. Brookins Fellowship Hall.  The church sound system has been enhanced, they’ve purchased a new church van for outreach ministry, replaced air conditioning units and paid off the mortgage.

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the church began sharing their Sunday services via conference call and Facebook.

The Celebration

The celebration of  70 years of Strangers Rest history begins  with a pre-anniversary concert on Sat., Aug. 17, 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary.   The concert will feature Clifton Fisher and Total Restoration Singers with special guest Cherrie Dennis Baldon. 

The black tie gala and 70th anniversary banquet will be held on Sat., Aug. 24, 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Plaza, 549 S. Rock Road,Wichita.  The Rev. Dr. F.D. Sampson Sr. of Houston will be the guest banquet speaker. 

Tickets, which must be purchased by Mon., Aug. 19 are $50 each or $500 for a table of 10. To purchase tickets call (316) 265-9116 or (316) 265-7981.

Guest pastor for the 10 a.m. anniversary celebration on Aug. 25 will be Rev. Sam Holmes from Paradise Baptist Church, Tulsa. The 4 p.m. closing celebration will feature Pastor Leland Brown from Tabernacle Bible Church, Wichita.