Dale Denwalt
Daily Elk Citian

Danny Washington's stayed in motels, an airport, a restaurant and student union.

Along the way he's pitched his tent at state parks, slept in campers and a school gym.

He's even crawled into a storm cellar and football concession stand. One night, he stayed in a grain elevator.

"Not the elevator itself, but on-site," said Washington, who walked through Elk City this week as part of his personal mission to preach the gospel.

Washington, a native of Bartlesville, is on a two and a half year trek around Oklahoma. The idea for a walking ministry hit him when he was at a church camp in Maryland in the summer of 2009. He hopes to hit all 1,073 cities and towns in the state.

So far, he's been to 317 in 278 days.

"Most of my ministry is outside the walls of the church," he said. "I'm what you might call a street minister."

Whenever he gets to a new town, Washington likes to make a religious connection that can help him on his journey.

"The Lord gave me a plan to go with the vision. I like to make contact with a church leader, pastor or youth minister when I come to a community early on," he said. "I learn about the community through their eyes."

That helps with the place to sleep.

"I really enjoy staying in churches and I stay in churches quite a bit. I don't enjoy staying outside very much this time of the year," said Washington.

The 30-something Baptist youth minister is walking in concentric circles around Oklahoma, tracing an outline of its borders. He's already made one round and visited every town in the panhandle.

"I'll be working my way toward the middle like a bullseye," he said.

He's been back home once. After a seven-month stretch, he finally found himself close to Bartlesville, close to home.

"It was tough. I knew the mission was still going. But it was good to see everyone," he said.

Along the way he stops to talk to local folks, handing out religious tracts. Washington believes he was called on his mission to share ideas about creationism and being born again. He's proud of helping 30 people receive the Lord.

"That certainly stands out to me," he said.

Washington couldn't say when he would be leaving Elk City, just that it would probably be Wednesday. Maybe Thursday.

"A lot of what I do is living one day at a time," he said. "I go through any doors God opens up, and I'm trying to be led by God's spirit one step at a time."

The next steps will take him to Sayre. Then Mangum, and further south. His only steady plans include ministering, hitting every town along the way and walking there, unless there's a ride.

"I have the attitude that if God wants me to get somewhere faster, he'll provide a way," said Washington. "The Lord's provided many rides, but I don't hitchhike."