Sunday morning will mark a change at Grace Ministries when Dr. Denver and Charlean Callahan pass the staff to Bishop Tony and Pina Hodgson.

Tony Hodgson was born in Grapevine, Texas, and served in the U.S. Nay from 1979 to 1984. He started ministering in 1983.

Hodgson received his Bible training at Lee College (Lee University) and earned a certificate for pastoral counseling from the Western School of Ministry. He is an ordained Bishop with the Church of God.

Hodgson came to be a part of Muskogee in October 2005.

He has been a national conference speaker, chairman of the Chaplaincy Board of Muskogee Regional Medical Center, keynote speaker for several community groups and serves on the state evangelism board in Oklahoma for the Church Of God.

Hodgson’s ministry has expanded to several countries. His preaching is viewed over the Web weekly. He mentors young men and women who are coming up in the ministry. He and his wife of 25 years, Pina, have two children, Danielle and Jonathan.

The Callahans’ history with the church dates back to April 1963, when they were asked to preach at the Pentecostal Church of God at 936 S. K St.

“We fell in love with the people, and the burden came heavy on our hearts for them. We accepted the pastorate of the church,” Denver Callahan said. “The church was small and without running water or inside bathrooms. There was no air conditioning, just fans in the windows.”

With less then $100 in the building fund and group of people ready and willing to make sacrifices, construction began on the building.

With the addition of a growing number of children in the church’s daycare center, more construction was in order.

“We were so sure of the plan God had for that congregation, that my wife and I personally bought some lots on 401 Independence and gave them to the church to build the new church on,” Callahan said.

“Before we could build the new church, a parsonage was needed. The people worked hard to make us a place to live. Everybody worked, the elderly men helping do rafters to the women putting down hardwood floors. Soon a four-bedroom parsonage was finished. Everyone worked hard and gave what they had.”

When it was time to build the new church at 401 Independence St., there was no money for a contractor, and Callahan took on that job.

“The people were so wonderful to work just as hard as I did. We worked all winter on the building,” he said.

Ice hung from the rafters as they were put up. The ladies cooked meals and took them to the job, so the men could eat and keep working.

“In 1966, on Easter Sunday, three years from accepting pastorate, we moved into the new church at 401 Independence” Callahan said.

Callahan had a vision for a church that would seat 1,000, so 10 acres on Peak Boulevard was purchased with the plans of purchasing the other 10 acres north of the church.

“We moved into the Grace Cathedral Church on Peak Boulevard in 1991, and because of potential health problems, we resigned the church in 1992 with that vision still in my heart.”

Hodgson was sent to complete the second half of the vision.



If you go

WHAT: The passing of the staff from Dr. Denver and Charlean Callahan to Bishop Tony and Pina Hodgson.

WHERE: Grace Ministries, 800 W. Peak Blvd.

WHEN: 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

ETC.: Fellowship and food following the service.

INFORMATION: 682-3623.