Northeast Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene

Dear NEO family,


Greetings in the strong name of Jesus! How thankful I am to be connected to Christ and His family! When we go through trials or disasters (personal, family, church or community), God is available, adequate and totally reliable.

I preached last Sunday from Isaiah 40:28 – 31. Isaiah reminds a people in exile of the incomparable riches of God: "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength" That truth is good news for us in 2011!

If you have not seen the long report from Nazarene News on the recent tornadoes in Joplin and Oklahoma, I urge you to go to read it today: http://www.ncnnews.com/nphweb/html/ncn/article.jsp?id=10010334

The article will bless you to see the tremendous outpouring of support by Nazarenes in the Midwest, including a great number from NEO, and also help you know how to avoid misguided help that slows down the needed aid.

A week from tomorrow we begin NEO Homecoming 2011. I am so excited about what God has in store for us as we come together as a family for inspiration, fellowship and insight. In 2 ½ days we will have:

• Missionary Bob Skinner from the Ukraine (did you know he played football for Boise State?)

• REMEDY from Southern Nazarene University

• The preaching and leadership of General Superintendent Jesse Middendorf

• 60th Anniversary cake and punch on Sunday night

• Encouraging reports from every NEO pastor and District Leader

• The challenge for NEO in 2011-12

• Plus updates from Southern Nazarene University, Nazarene Publishing House, Nazarene Theological Seminary, the Nazarene Foundation, Nazarene Bible College, Manna House and more. (Isn’t it a treat to be a part of a connectional church!!)

And don’t forget the peanut butter and jelly for Manna House and crisis care kits to replenish the supplies of Nazarene Disaster Response.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend. I can’t wait to have the family gather a week from tomorrow! You are loved!

Dave McKellips