Our great church began in Enid in 1947 under the leadership of Elder Hulon Mitchell in a a little house near the railroad tracks on Ash Street, in Douglas Addition. Elder Mitchell, with his family and a small congregation, started Church of God in Christ #2. The members were as follows: Elder Hulon and Sis. Pearl Mitchell and family, Church Mother Sis. Roberta Freeman, Sis Ruth Trotter and Family, Sis Lillian Jackson and family, Bro. Edgar Bell and children, Sis. Barrett, Sis. Floradeen Trotter, Sis. Lucy Owens and children, Sis. Inez Ricks, Sis. Mildred Gaines, Minister Ernest, and Sis Clara Smith. Sis. Kathrine Culpepper and Keith, the Carr Children, and Mrs. Olla Phillips and Family. y. Elder Mitchell was the Pastor of The Church of God In Christ #2 for one year. He was then called by Bishop A. L. Hearne to go to Paul’s Valley, where he served as Pastor for about one and a half years. After serving in Paul’s Valley, Elder Mitchell was sent to Perry to serve as Pastor. The saints stayed together by going house to house and praying until God sent a Pastor. 

In Early 1949, Elder Lee Boyd re-established the church located near the railroad tracks on Ash. There were not many saints to work with, but Elder Boyd had a dream to build a church in the Douglas Addition. The saints began to work toward the dream. Numerous projects were put into action. The children, under the direction of Sis. Katherine Culpepper, assisted in fundraisers. Birdie Cole gave lot numbers 19 & 20 to the church in 1960. The lots were located on North Johnson and Chestnut. Afterwards, a small house was bought from Mr. Jc Jackson. In the church, a wood and coal heater was used for heat. The saints continued working along with the twenty children who enjoyed working in the church. During this time, Elder Boyd walked over· the ground, prayed and dedicated it to the Lord. He always said 15 years was not too long to wait on the Lord. The Lord had given Elder Boyd a vision, which included the following instructions: to build the church, a young man would come help him, and that the Lord was going to fill the church, even though he might not live to see it.

Elder Jimmie Norwood moved his membership from First Church of God in Christ Enid, OK to Church of God in Church #2 in late 1963, early 1964. He and Elder Boyd started the preparations for building the church. Projects were put on from every facet of the community to raise money to erect the walls of the church. On May 30, 1965, the church had a building fund for blocks, in which each member donated blocks. Those participating in the building project were: Elder Lee Boyd and Sis Mildred Boyd, Elder Jimmie Norwood and Sis. Charlene Norwood, Elder Willie, and Sis. Margareta Thomas, Deacon Robert, and Sis Estelle Christopher, Minister L. P. and Sis. Mary Murray, Sis. Lucy Owens, Sis. Donna Carr, Mother Katherine Culpepper, Sis. Louise Turner, Sis. Mary Nugen, Sis. Millie Toliver, Sis. Donisha Carr, Mother Eloise Carr,  and Sis. Jesse M. Coleman. The Church was erected and dedicated, and the name was changed to Westside Church of God in Christ.

January 1966 – Souls added to the church were as follows: Sis. Georgette Brown, Sis. Mary Belcher, Bro Robert Robins, Bro. Bobby Driver, Bro. Steve and Sis. Maggie Sanders, Sis Audrey Swan, Sis. Lizzie Austin, Sis. Rose Smith, Sis. Marie Rich and Sis. Carrie Holt. Westside Church of God in Christ was also blessed with financial blessings from residents of our fair city. September 1966 – The first baptizing occurred in our new church building with Elder Lee Boyd (Pastor), Elder Jimmie L. Norwood (Assistant Pastor), Elder Robert Christopher (Head Deacon), and Mother Katherine Culpepper (Record Keeper). On this glorious day, the Lord blessed, and among those baptized was Sis. Edna Frazier, Sis. Mary Nugen, Bro. Robert Robins, Bro. Steve Sanders and others from Bishop A. L. Hearne’s church in Tulsa, OK.

After Westside C.O.G.I.C. was built, Bishop Hearne contacted Elder Jimmie Norwood in 1966 about going to Spencer, OK. To pastor the House of Prayer Church of God in Christ, a church that was without a shepherd. Bishop Hearne appointed Elder J.L. Norwood Pastor of House of Prayer COGIC in 1967. He later moved the church from Anderson Road to 11815 Northeast 50th, in Spencer, OK where he built a new edifice and changed the name to Holy Temple Church of God in Christ.

1966-1970 – Westside COGIC continued to grow and be blessed by the Lord. During the next few years, Elder Boyd’s health began to fail him. He saw the need and stepped down, remembering the promise he made to God that he would step down, so the church could keep growing. He elevated Elder Jimmie L. Norwood to the position of Pastor of the Westside Church of God in Christ in 1970. 

I 970-1989 – Elder Jimmie Norwood, the Builder ( a mason contractor, and bricklayer taught by God), was now the Pastor. He was a fasting and praying man who stayed before God. Westside continued to grow under his charismatic leadership. One of his desires was to go to the Holy Land. He was blessed to go on two occasions. After his second visit to the Holy Land, God gave him a new ministry direction. God used him mightily through healing and ministry, soul-winning, and miracles for Christ. In 1980, God led Elder Jimmie Norwood on a 14-day fast without bread or water. The fast took place at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ in Spencer, OK. Medical examiners said he should have lost all body functions and died within 10 days, but God sustained him. On the 14th day, newspapers a major magazine were there to see if he would walk out of the church; after he walked of the church, the reporters failed to print the story. Elder Jimmie Norwood shared the story with the saints of how on the 1 0th day God took him out of his body and carried him sightseeing and sat him at a table full of fruit and said, “eat”, and he did eat. God showed him many things during the last four days of his fast. Elder Jimmie Norwood shared his experiences with both Churches.

God also allowed Elder Jimmie Norwood to build a church for a Mission in Haiti. He had another phenomenal experience with the power of God. This time, God allowed him to go into the Haitian wilderness to the witch doctor’s church. The witch doctor acknowledged him as a Man of God and finally let him look inside, where he saw people floating in mid-air. These people fasted for Satan, but thanks be unto God, Elder Jimmie Norwood realized that greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world; therefore, Satan and all of his demons could not touch him. 

January 1986 – Elder Jimmie Norwood asked God for a testimony, and he was stricken with cancer. He weighed 210 pounds and went down to 110 pounds of skin and bones. When he was finally taken to the hospital, his kidneys and liver were dead, his blood count was 5, and his doctor said there was no way he could live overnight. He told the doctor he was not going to die; he had preaching to do. God raised him up, and he traveled all over the United
States for 3 years preaching the goodness of God!

June 3, 1989 – God called to rest, Elder Jimmie L. Norwood, a great pastor, friend to all, a man of God. For 6 months, Westside Church of God in Christ was without a pastor. Numerous men of God were sent in, but God chose Elder Derwin L. Norwood, Sr., son of the late Elder Jimmie Norwood, to be pastor of Westside Church of God in Christ. Before his death, Elder J. L. Norwood had been in contact with his son and sharing God’s Wisdom
with him.

December 28, 1989 – Bishop Derwin Norwood, Sr., was installed as pastor of Westside Church of God in Christ. This young man with an old head in knowledge of the way of Holiness came from Denver, CO–leaving his means of natural support (in the aerospace industry), trusting God for support, and moving his family back to Enid, OK. Bishop Norwood relocated his family, which included his wife, Sis. Debra Norwood; sons, Derwin Jr, Otis, and Deshawn; and daughter, Shanel. 

In 1999 – Pastor Norwood was promoted to Superintendent of the Ponca City District. In this position, Pastor Norwood has blessed the churches in the district and has focused on strengthening the saints. He has also brought financial support to each of the churches during the district fellowships. His most recent appointment was made this year. He was appointed Chairman of the Board of Superintendents of the Oklahoma Northwest Jurisdiction. He has already incorporated anointed teaching and leadership during the jurisdictional meetings, while supporting Bishop Lee Vicker Broom’s vision for the jurisdiction.

During his years as pastor, Bishop Derwin L. Norwood, Sr. finished the work of the church that had been started by his father. He followed guidance from God as he remodeled the church and added 4500 square feet to the edifice. Some of the remodeling changes included the following: the Pastor’s Study was moved; a choir stand was added; the cafeteria was built, a concrete parking area, which included a handicap ramp was added on the eastside of the church; two vans were purchased for the church; desks were built for all the classrooms; the trophy case located in the fellowship hall was finshed; a new concrete expanded parking area on the west side of the church was poured, and many other facility improvements were accomplishments. 

On September 1, 2012 an agreement was made to allow Opportunities, Inc. Head Start Program, a comprehensive child development program, to use classrooms and the Fellowship hall to strengthen families through the Family and Community Partnership Services. The program promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children. It also provides education, social services, health, and opportunities for family
involvement for underprivileged children. On July 1, 2014, Big Five Community Services, Inc. took over the Head Start Program and is currently operating the program as Enid Westside Head Start. 

The vision continues, Bishop D. L. Norwood, Sr. stated, “It is time we begin to support our own, by providing a place for the elderly to live close to the church and creating jobs for our young people. West-Side Church of God in Christ purchased six ( 6) lots for the future expansion projects. The lots were purchased to build Golden Age Homes and a Daycare Center. Bishop Norwood believes in the old path and seeks God through fasting and prayer. He yearns to see the power of God fill the Temple, just as he has done in times past, because God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. 

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