Watonga Church of the Nazarene is undergoing some changes. Not only has the exterior been revamped after storm damage, but there is also a new pastor leading the flock.
Jared and Sondra Burch came to live in Watonga about a month ago, bringing their three sons, ages 11,9, and 6 to become part of this community.
Sondra, however, was not a newcomer. She grew up here as Sondra Wood, the daughter of Steve and Janet Wood and a graduate of Watonga schools.
Jared has spent 22 years as a youth pastor. He went to high school in North Dallas then attended Southern Nazarene University at Bethany. Sondra was also a student at SNU, but the two met later when she attended church at Lakeview Park, where Jared was a youth pastor. They have been married 13 years.
Jared was pastoring at Yukon when the minister at Watonga, Kason Oakes, resigned for another position. The Nazarene Church district superintendent called him about the opening and started the ball rolling.
“We started that process, praying through it,” Jared said. “We felt like it was where God wanted us to be. And I’ve always been one who wanted to be where God wanted me to be.”
He originally had reservations about living in a small town but said he and the boys have adjusted seamlessly.
For Sondra, it was coming home since she grew up attending the Watonga Church of the Nazarene.
There are many advantages to living in Blaine County, the family discovered. They all enjoy hiking and the youngsters like fishing. That makes the area with its parks and lakes a natural fit. When school starts, Sondra will serve as the secretary at Watonga High School.
Jared said the family is really getting to know and love the community. “We are so glad to be part of a community where our family can grow up,” he said.
“One thing I love is the sense of community. They value relationships and that’s an aspect of small town life I wasn’t familiar with, how easy it is to meet people and see someone you know everywhere you go.”
Meeting days and times for the Church of the Nazarene have been updated in the church directory, listed below.