On Sunday, July 17, Linzy and Carla Slayden celebrated 30 years of serving at Friendship Baptist Church in Owasso, OK. The day was full of festivities to mark the special day. All 22 members of the Slayden family were back in town to help in the celebration. Son, Jon Slayden, preached during the morning worship service. Grandson, Isak Slayden, taught the youth ministry. Son-in-law, Lance Harrington, taught the young family class. Daughter, Rebecca Harrington, wrote a song for the occasion and sang it during the worship service. Several presentations were made, including the children’s ministry presenting 30 roses to Carla Slayden, a commemorative plaque, and the couple was given a cruise to be enjoyed later this year. Lunch on the grounds followed the morning services.
Slayden commented, “I look back to when I was first getting started; I was focused on just getting by one week and one Sunday at a time. Now when I look back over the past three decades, I see God’s grace and His hand over all that has been accomplished here.” Slayden reflected on his first year of ministry at Friendship. “For the first year, 52 weeks in a row, every week we had either someone saved, someone baptized, or someone join the church.”