The First Christian Church at 2501 N. Park Lane welcomes George Dosher and his family from New Market, Indiana, to Altus, minister their church. “Ministry is a combination of leadership and servant-hood, and that is my goal,” says Dosher, minister of 26 years.
Originally from Colorado Springs, Dosher met his wife Michelle in Denver where she grew up. They have been married 25 years, and moved to New Market, Indiana where they lived for almost 13 years with their three children, George, 16, David, 14, and daughter Charisa who is 10 years old.
After being in Altus only two weeks, Dosher “loves the weather,” he said. “When we left New Market, when we were loading the truck, it was about zero degrees, plus wind. There were light flurries when we left and snowed it more after. So we love the weather here.” He sometimes shows off on Facebook and posts pictures of the 50 and 60 degree thermostat readings from his phone, he joked.
“And I love the people here,” he added. “They’re more like the people in Colorado, so Michelle and I feel like were at home. People in Altus really display South Western graciousness.”
Although Dosher and his family will miss their close friendships and connections with the people from their church, he explained, “The Church and I are a good fit for each other. Each church has certain things they need from their minister, and each minister has certain gifts.” While here on tour for a weekend he liked the development of Altus, much like a hub between Lawton and Wichita Falls, Texas. “This town has a lot to offer. We really enjoyed the people we met and had a blast with them.”
Dosher said, “I enjoy teaching, and helping people understand the bible better, and to understand what God is really getting at in the Bible. I think the message for a number of years has kind of gotten lost in the church, is how much God really loves us. For a long time there was that ‘let’s scare people into becoming Christians,’ not ‘let’s understand that this is a loving God who wants a relationship with us and wants us to better our lives. The things that God asks us to do are always ultimately for our own good.”
There is also a great sense of enjoyment he feels when he knows that he has helped someone. Early one Sunday morning around 5 a.m., Dosher received a phone call from the hospital Chaplain about an hour away from where he lived, explaining that a member of their church lost their baby during delivery. He immediately left his house and drove to the hospital to console the family during this time of loss. “What can you say at a time like that other than, ‘I’m sorry,’ and ‘what can we do to help?” The couple asked that he call both of their parents on their behalf. “I made a call to this dear, sweet, grand-mother to be and had to tell her the baby died.” He made more phone calls as well to other family members. He also called the funeral director and made special arrangements. “Even though there was nothing I could do to make things good for them, I could see that I made a difference.” Situations like this can be challenging for Dosher as well.
There is also a challenge to balancing work and family, and admits he can be a “workaholic.” “If I’m not careful I can be back at home working another three hours on something I was working on at work.” Still, he makes time to be with his kids and his wife. Being a minster for The First Christian church is “just as vital,” Doesher said. “But I do consider my most important ministry to be my kids.”
In his personal life likes playing the bass guitar, running, kite flying, woodworking, and photography. He looks forward to many outings with his family to the museums and parks in Jackson county.
He likes a variety of musical genres and groups, from the Doobie Brothers to Boston. His all-time favorite band is a Christian rock group Petra that gained world-wide popularity in the 80’ and 90s, who formally disbanded in 2006. “They were the ‘go to’ band,” he said.
He expressed that “Ministers ultimately are regular guys. We do something different for a living but were not necessarily totally different people.”
The First Christian Church “is a loose organization of churches,” Dosher explained. There is no hierarchical structure. “Our basic idea is very back to the bible oriented. We look to the church from the book of Acts as the model of how Jesus literally wanted the church to be structured.” He mentions that of course there will be some differences and alterations.
Currently Dosher is working on “revitalizing a Wednesday night program,” starting at 5:30, different people will take turns each week in preparing meals, afterwards holding a bible study for adults and kids. Next week’s program will begin with a “Concert of Prayer,” a blend of bible study, prayer, and live music.
Sunday morning services are held at 10:30 a.m., with Sunday School beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday evening’s meal is served at 5:30 p.m.
For more information you can goto www.altusfcc.org
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