ENID, OK - The new senior pastor at First United Methodist Church is bringing a new worship experience to his faithful congregation in Enid. He invites anyone in the area to attend a service and find out what all of the buzz is about.
Rev. Devon Krause was raised in Okeene and completed his seminary studies at St. Paul School of Theology at Oklahoma City University. From 2007 to 2012 he served in Enid for the first time as youth director. He then went on to Elk City for five years and Norman for three years before making his way back to Enid.
Krause felt called to the ministry in seventh grade by a young pastor that had just gotten out of seminary. The new pastor used references that peaked the interest of Krause which made him feel like pastoring was something he could do.
By the time Krause entered his senior year in high school things were happening that left a bad taste in his mouth about church and he ended up going to college as an agnostic. He never really left the church but stayed connected through friends that were involved in campus ministries.
Krause said, "I think the greatest gift for me growing up was the opportunity to have the freedom to doubt and for people not to assume that I'm a bad person." The people in the campus ministries allowed him to ask the difficult questions about God, science and other faiths. This helped lead him back to the ministry.
"I'm not always here to give you the neat answer, we're on a journey of faith and so if I can encourage people in their walk with God that's probably my biggest goal," Krause said. Krause is only 35 and one of the youngest pastors FUMC has had.
Rev. Krause describes himself as a kinesthetic learner, so he always thinks about the different ways he can teach, from using ridiculous suits and slides to creating interactive opportunities for people to volunteer. One of the biggest compliments that he gets is that the kids are paying attention in church.
Krause summarizes his ministry with the word "relevance", staying relevant with an age old message that still speaks to people today. He enjoys bringing those messages to life.
First United Methodist Church is a beautiful building but can be intimidating, making some people assume that you have to fit a very fine mold to attend. Even though the church still has many important traditions Krause is creating a new relaunch. Services are now blended with traditional and contemporary pieces.
Krause is married to Lauran and they have two daughters — Audrey, 5, and Halle, 3. He's a huge Batman fan which you'll notice immediately as you enter his office. The walls are covered with Batman memorabilia and there's even a Batsuit!
Another of his offices is filled with props and costumes that Krause uses during his sermons. It looks more like a room you would find in a theater. He tries to engage different senses in the worship experience and adds a flare of suspense for good measure.
Church services can now be viewed live on YouTube for those that are not ready to leave their homes. Those that choose to attend in person will find a safe place for worship with masks being required and social distancing being used throughout the sanctuary. Worship times are 9:00am and 11:00am on Sundays.
First United Methodist Church is located near downtown Enid at 401 W. Randolph. Learn more about the church at Firstchurchenid.com or like their Facebook page here.
Rev. Devon Krause looks over just a few of the props he uses during his sermons.
