Uncrowned Community Builders

Reverend Epron June Provo Monson was born June 19, 1929 to Artemus and Lovie Mae Nelson Provo. She lived in Oklahoma City until her death, July 22,2005.

A graduate of Douglass High School, Rev. Monson attended Langston University School of Religion, and in 1997, graduated from the American Christian College and Seminary with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology.

She married Herman, Monson, Sr., and was the mother of five children. Herman and one daughter are deceased.

In 1977, Rev. Monson acknowledged her call into the ministry and in September 1977 began "The Voice of Praise Radio Ministry with Evangelist Epron Monson." The broadcast has aired every Sunday since that time.

In October 1981, Rev. Monson became a licensed minister in the State of Oklahoma, among the first African American women to do so. In March 1991, she founded the Voice of Praise Baptist Church, was later ordained as Pastor and thus became the first African American woman to pastor a Baptist Church in Oklahoma.

Pastor Monson was also the first African American female to serve as Chaplain for the Oklahoma State House of Representatives and the Oklahoma State Senate in May 2001. Rev. Monson became the first woman President of the Progressive Oklahoma Baptist State Convention (POBSC) and the first female State President in the Southwest Region of the Progressive Convention.

Pastor Monson was President of Church Women United in Oklahoma, a member of the Board of Directors for the Ambassadors Concert Choir and the Mother-to-Mother program, a member of the Community Advisory Committee for Lincoln National Bank and a volunteer with the American Bible Society.

Rev. Monson was awarded the Freedom Award during the 2003 Progressive Oklahoma Baptist State Convention.