'All we have left is the dining hall': Fire claims Kiowa tribe members' historic church

Yahoo

24-03-2025

Faith leaders of Rainy Mountain Kiowa Indian Baptist Church held services in a dining hall Sunday morning after their 131-year-old Baptist church, now demolished, burned to the ground the day heavy winds and wildfires devastated communities and destroyed hundreds of properties throughout Oklahoma.
Fallen power lines had struck the back of the Kiowa County church and started an uncontrollable fire in the late afternoon of March 14.
"The winds were so high out here, gusts of 75 to 80 miles an hour," Pastor Gerald Haunpo said. "We had some power lines hidden behind the church that, I guess, rubbed together or sparked, and rubbed on the roof of the back of the church, and that's what sparked the fire."
The fire spread rapidly, he said, and left little to salvage of the historic property off Aim De Co Road in Mountain View, where tribal member Gotebo composed the first Kiowa hymn, according to historical records.
Natalie Bear, 50, a church caretaker, recalled how she and her 13-year-old granddaughter first sensed the church was in danger.
"My granddaughter and I were outside prior the fire, because we were putting out a fire that got hollowed out from a piece of wood that got a spark and caught fire," Bear said. "Then, we smelled smoke and we thought, 'Maybe we should go check the church.'"
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Bear and her granddaughter spent several minutes in and around the church but couldn't find the source of smoke, she said. Her husband called the fire department and hurried her out of the building. It took around 25 minutes for the fire department to reach the area, she said.
"All we have left is the dining hall," Sharon Hunter, the church treasurer said.
The Gotebo dining hall, located just behind the now-shattered remnants of the Rainy Mountain Kiowa Indian Baptist Church, received considerable window and roof damage but remained sturdy enough for leaders to do some patch-up work and continue church services.
Haunpo said he was glad firefighters managed to save the space.
Tribal and church leaders began cleanup efforts Saturday, bringing in heavy equipment to move the remnants of the church. Elders told church leaders to consider rebuilding the church, which now has been burned twice ― last week and in 1948 ― at another location. Haunpo expects the congregation will decide to move.
The pastor added that the church has started fundraising efforts aiming for $15,000, but he said he believes it would take around $20,000 to $30,000 to bring the building back to an "ideal condition."
"They dug ― we dug ― a deep, deep hole and pushed everything in ... But when it's all said and done, everything that was there in the church is going to be buried right where it stands," he said.
The church was one of many properties destroyed during multiple raging wildfires throughout Oklahoma during March. Four deaths and the loss of hundreds of homes and structures have been blamed on this month's wildfires and strong winds.
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In January 1894, the Kiowa tribe donated 160 acres of land and with the help of the American Baptist Church organized the Immanuel mission, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. Several months later, in November, a chapel was built and soon after it was renamed Rainy Mountain.
In its early years, the church was led by the Rev. Howard Clause, who would set up mission stations in Red Stone, Saddle Mountain and Cache Creek throughout his 27-year career. The church fostered "Christian identity that incorporated Kiowa culture," according to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
"Generations of Kiowas, beginning with the earliest converts, made this church their spiritual home and their families today continue in this manner," the church said in a news release.
Haunpo said though old records were not present in the church during the fire, there were other objects, plus newly purchased Bibles, a donated communion table and memories of loved ones.
"There were some sentimental things in there, some things of value," the pastor said. "Luckily ... no one was hurt. No one was injured."
Community members, including many families from the Kiowa tribe, were shocked by the fire and the loss of the church, Haunpo said. Many attend Sunday services every week and have celebrated special occasions like birthdays, weddings and dedications at the church, he said.
"Though most of the elders have passed away, their families have stayed connected in so many ways," he said. "Even if they live far away, even out of state, they still consider this their home church. When you think of all the historical significance, and I believe the introduction to Christianity and first convents, this church had a powerful impact on them, because they know where it all began."
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Kiowa County community mourns loss of historic Baptist church