The Messenger is mailed to nearly 45,000 households and is the third largest newspaper in Oklahoma in terms of paid subscriptions. Clarence P. Stealey moved to Oklahoma from West Virginia in 1909 to start the publication. The first edition of the newspaper coincided with the first annual meeting of the Oklahoma Southern Baptist Convention on May 12, 1912. The Baptist convention purchased the paper from Stealey for $5,000 in 1919. The newspaper is currently staffed by editor, Brian Hobbs, managing editor Bob Nigh, associate editor Chris Doyle and advertising director Karen Kinnaird.