Dear NEO family,


Greetings in the strong name of Jesus. I hope the Dads who are reading this had a wonderful Father’s Day yesterday. I had a super week leading up to Father’s Day as my three children, two son-in-laws and my two granddaughters were at my house for a “staycation”. My kids are a blessing to me and make being a Father a delight.

My 22 year old son did not give me the kind of Father’s Day present that Gerry McIlroy received from his 22 year old son! That's okay, David, I wouldn't trade you for Rory. Didn’t Rory play unbelievable golf at the U.S. Open! I loved the scene after the final hole when father, Gerry, looked upon his son with a big, on-going smile and then father and son embraced. As I watched it, I thought of my partners in ministry in NEO who are serving God so faithfully! I pictured our Father smiling at you with pride and joy and embracing you, telling you how much He loves you. He really does delight in you. I hope you sense him singing over you today and showering you with words of love and affirmation.

Yesterday Gloria and I had the privilege of being with the wonderful people of Point of Grace Church and Pastor Gerald and Lou Burch. God is blessing the church. I reminded the Coweta church that we are not independent churches. The NEO District is made up of 50 interdependent local churches, organized to facilitate the mission of each local church though mutual support, the sharing of resources and collaboration. You demonstrated that again with your special love offering to help the five churches who had not met their giving goals for the Pensions and Benefits. With the District match, we will be sending in almost $9000 this week to help these five churches with their P & B giving goals this year. As of this writing, we have money for all but one church to fully reach their goal this year. That is the power of a TEAM – together everyone accomplishes more!

Summer camps are coming soon:
Kids Kamp at Sky Ranch, July 14 - 17
Camp Catylyst (Youth) at Camp Bond, July 22 - 25

Prayer Concerns/updates:

• Margie Granger (retired song evangelist) has passed away. Her funeral was on Saturday in Silver Springs, Texas
• Christy Thornton had surgery last Tuesday and is now recovering well at home.
• David Stevens has had one surgery to repair a detached retina. An additional tear has been discovered and a new surgery to repair it is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21 at St. Johns.
• J.J. James has accepted a call to pastor the Temple, Texas First Church of the Nazarene. J.J. and Heather’s last Sunday at Claremore will be on July 31, 2011.
• Kim Powers (Talhequah) had Carpal Tunnel surgery last week. Kim is doing well, but frustrated trying to do everything with her left hand!

Hope you have a great week! You are loved!
Dave McKellips

Dear NEO family,
It was great to be together for Homecoming 2011! We were so blessed by the messages of Bob Skinner and Jesse Middendorf … the reports of victory by our pastors … the NMI workshops and NYI fun …the worship led by Silver Creek Youth Worship Band, Remedy, James Peterson and Steve Davis …the interaction with SNU and denominational leaders… the chance to be together as a family. Thanks for your presence, support and prayers.

Giving to Others. NEO Nazarenes are a generous bunch! Wasn’t it great to hear that the NEO District has paid 112% of our Giving Goals for World Evangelism! And we are trying to get to 100% on our 2011 – 11 Pensions and Benefits Giving Goal. Going into Assembly, we needed a little over $13,000 to reach our goal. The District offered to match every dollar given. To date we have received almost $4900! If we can raise about $1500 more, with the District’s match, we will reach our goal. Today we received a check from one of our Retired Elders equal to the amount of his monthly pension. Isn’t that just like our retired elders, always willing to give and sacrifice! That’s why we need to be there for them and get our giving total up to 100% of the goal!

New Pastors.

• Pastor Joel Heid has accepted a call to serve as Pastor of the Dewey Church.. Joel is already preaching in Dewey and trying to sell his house in Tulsa so he, Julie, Braden, Chandler and Cadet can move to Dewey.

• Pastor Monty Nichols has accepted a call to be lead pastor at Muskogee First, where he has been serving as Youth and Worship Pastor. Pastor Nichols will be installed this Sunday and Sharon, Sara, Shelby and Sydney do not have to move!

Our Monthly Statistic Report for May is posted on the NEO Website. You can find the report at http://www.neonaz.org/resources/stats-report  . Here is what our pastors are celebrating:

I WANT TO CELEBRATE...5/2011

Brad Farnsworth, BA Connection. . . 9 salvations during month of May ; 9 C3 Life Groups meeting weekly; 14 committed to Partnership Covenant on May 22; 1 baby dedication on Mother’s Day.

Steve Davis, Sapulpa. . . Financial Peace University; 2 New Ladies Bible Studies; Beginning new Bible Study for Men; Great time of vision clarification; Beginning to see God answering prayers in a new way; All-church Passover celebration; Children’s Easter Musical; Blessed Easter Sunday; One new salvation
Cole Weston, Okmulgee. . . We are getting the membership rolls under control, adding new classes and restructuring others; family class is being shifted around to better meet needs of working parent; Youth Center continues renovation

Angie Bentley, Bristow. . . The Father’s faithfulness and loving-kindness at all times and the successful end of our first year of Caravan’s!

David Stevens, Vinita. . . God is moving in our Church and in our community. We had a higher averages for April and May ’11. The Spirit in the services has been wonderful, powerful. God is delivering, helping, healing. It is an honor to serve the Lord!

Scott Behm, Chelsea. . . In May, the highlight was our Mother’s Day service. The love and admiration shared through personal witness created a very moving service. Several testimonies about Mom’s and their holiness leadership provided in the family and in the church. One particularly moving testimony was shared by a daughter with her arms around her Mother’s shoulders (who was sitting in her wheel chair), caressing her saying “I wish you could have known my mom when, before she had Alzheimer’s.” The Lord was at work in growing and restoring many relationships that day.

Jim Thornton, Tulsa Hills. . . Took at team of 20 to help in Joplin. Faith in Action Sunday ministered to two families connected to people in the church as well as visiting a nursing home. Very effective day.

General superintendents' radio program spreads message of holiness. "The Way of Holiness", a program featuring the Church of the Nazarene's Board of General Superintendents, began airing January 1 on the Oasis Radio Network based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Part of a larger communications strategy being developed by the Board, the purpose of the radio and podcast program is to spread the message of holiness.

"The message of holiness is much needed in our world today," said Stan Toler, general superintendent. "Richard S. Taylor once said that 'holiness is as necessary for the spiritual life as food is for the physical life.' The Way of Holiness offers an encouraging word to hearts that are hungry for this message."

OASIS and Sky Angel currently broadcast the minute-long program at 7:50 a.m. CST Monday through Friday across the U.S., featuring a different superintendent each month. Podcasts and previous programs are available at http://www.isaiah358.com/ .

The program schedule for the next seven months is:
June Jerry D. Porter
July Jesse C. Middendorf
August David W. Graves
September Eugénio R. Duarte
October Stan A. Toler
November J. K. Warrick
December Jerry D. Porter

Prayer concerns:

• Pastor Rodney Amos’ brother, Matt, stepped on an IED overseas; he is alive but lost both legs below the knee. He is in Germany with severe trauma to groin/leg/fractured hip.
• Fire casused extensive damage to the house of Tommy and Delores Loving two weeks ago in Republic, Missouri. The Lovings, who formerly pastored in Muskogee, will be displaced for about six months while their home is rebuilt.

• New Pastors

• Churches involved in Pastoral Search – Tulsa Central, Bartlesville, Cleveland, Cushing and Wagoner.

Thanks for your partnership in the ministry of Christ in NEO! You are loved!

Dave McKellips