Rob and Shelly have been at Bykota since 1991 having relocated to Carthage from Mississippi. Rob works in the family business at Mid-America Hardwoods in Sarcoxie. Rob & Shelly have seven children. Their youngest was adopted from Cambodia. The adoption process was a wonderful blessing and rich experience for the entire family. Rob and Shelly see Bykota as their home and extended family. Rob & Shelly’s CITH meets on Sunday nights at 6:00 p.m. for dinner. They meet for three weeks and then take one week off. Their CITH is made up from a diverse group of ages and backgrounds. Some of the participants attend other churches in the area but faithfully gather at the CITH. This group shares a common heart to see the Kingdom of God built in this area. Rob and Shelly say of their group “We are a fun, laid back group. There is lots of laughing and joking and sharing life together”.

Steve and Carolyn have been attending Bykota for several years.  Carolyn is from western Kansas and Steve is from Carthage.  Steve is an inventor and mechanical engineer. Carolyn woks out of the home.  They have two children, Scott and Trisha and six grandchildren.  Carolyn plays the keyboard and Steve is an ordained minister.  Steve and Carolyn say of their CITH "we love our CITH group and have developed a mutual accountability within it. We typically spend our evening eating a meal together, experiencing a time of praise and worship, sharing Bible study and devotional time, and spending time in prayer for each other and for those outside our CITH".

Bob and Sally began attending Bykota in 1998. Bob and Sally work in the Picher-Cardin Public Schools system, in Picher, OK. Sally is a first grade teacher and Bob is the superintendent. They have three children. Their oldest, Jacob, is married and teaching school in Plano, TX. Rachel is a junior at Oklahoma State Univeristy. Daniel is a junior at Picher-Cardin High School. Bob and Sally have lived in Miami, OK since 1988.

The CITH that Bob and Sally elder is made up of a geographically diverse group, with people attending who live in the northeastern Oklahoma communities of Miami, Picher, Quapaw, and Vinita, as well as Carthage and Joplin, Missouri. Bob and Sally say of their CITH “It is our desire to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and to allow God to minister to our regular attendees, as well as visitors. It is our goal that Christ-centered relationships be established and strengthened among our members, and that we are all better equipped to go out and impact our individual spheres of influence”.

Bob and Sally Walker
609 'O' NW
Miami, OK
(918) 542-2173
Map/Directions: [Yahoo!] [MapQuest] [Google]

Jerry and Karen Banta live on a farm near Golden City. Jerry's occupation is in agriculture and he is also a hunting guide during the winter. Karen works for Golden City RIII School District as a Parent Educator for P.A.T. Jerry and Karen also own their own e-commerce business. Jerry and Karen have two sons, Brian and Jason. Brian and his wife Amy own an auto repair shop in Golden City. Jason is a deputy sheriff in Barton County. Jerry and Karen have been at Bykota for several years. They are currently serving as elders of the church in the house that meets in Golden City.

They meet at 6:30pm on Wednesday nights

Jerry and Karen say about their church in the house "We have a meal and good fellowship. Our heart is for people to feel at home, knowing they are loved and also encouraged to experience the fullness of all God has for them."

Jerry and Karen Banta
553 S. CR T
Golden City, MO
(417) 537-4328
No Map/Directions Available