Dear NEO family,

Greetings in the strong name of Jesus. I hope you are enjoying these beautiful fall days! For many of our churches, September has been a month to focus on revival and renewal. Sand Springs Church is having revival services with John Juneman and Phillip Phelp this week (7pm each evening, 6pm Sunday). Pawhuska had a wonderful revival week with Dr. Chic Shaver on Sept. 4 – 11. Miami and Sapulpa just finished revival services with Chad Bohi. I believe their reports will encourage you:

Report from Pastor Casey Hollingsworth and Miami New Life Church: It's hard to put into words and especially into a short paragraph the things of God I've been a part of this past week in our revival. Our people were very receptive to God, hungry for His Word, and very obedient to the Spirit's leading in our services.  What a recipe for the Spirit to break out and do His thing!  And that's exactly what He did! It was not uncommon for our services to go some 3 plus hours.  We were not in a hurry to leave as we knew we were a part of something special. Seekers lined the altars and pews each and every night.  Chad Bohi even stayed for another night for an "unscheduled revival" service.  I had the privilege of baptizing 15 people in Sunday's "New Life Celebration “service (This was a spontaneous/unannounced baptism service.  Very awesome!).  I was also baptized as a testimony to God's transforming work in my life.  I also had the privilege of leading 5 totally unchurched young adults to the Lord.  I hope to have the opportunity to share their stories at some time!  God is leading myself and the New Life church into uncharted waters and it's a great place to be!  For the first time in my life, I truly feel and understand what true ministry is all about!  Thank you God! Chad is coming back in December because we both feel and believe in what God is doing and is going to do in the New Life Church.

Report from Pastor Steve Davis and the Sapulpa Church: What an incredible time with the Lord. God used Chad Bohi in a powerful way, using the flow of God's word to pierce our hearts, God brought us to a place of brokenness and humility. The altars were full each service and many received great help. It was exactly what we needed at Sapulpa Church. One lady reported that God healed her knee during one of the services. May God be continually praised for all he has begun in us.

Other brief updates:

·         We had a wonderful day in Dewey last Sunday as we installed Pastor Joel Heid.

·         Wednesday evening I led the Pastor/Church review for the Okmulgee Church and Pastor Cole Weston. The review was positive and instructive and we look forward to more fruitful days of ministry for Cole and Ambre in Okmulgee in the years to come.

·         I met with the Bartlesville Board twice this week and they have extended an invitation for a candidate to meet the congregation.

·         Muskogee First will celebrate their 90^th Anniversary this Sunday with Dr. Harold Graves speaking.

·         Sam Book and the Claremore Church did a great job of hosting our Men’s Skeet Shoot last Saturday.

·         The first Children’s Bible Quiz of the year is this Saturday, Oct. 1.

·         Kid’s Mission Day is Saturday, Oct. 8.

·         Our NMI President, David Stevens, received the following note from Richard Sowder, Coordinator of Nazarene Disaster Response: Thanks for your leadership in NMI in northeast Oklahoma! Thanks especially for the 115 cases of Crisis Care Kits that NEO sent to Texas!!! The timing was perfect.

·         NYI President, Ryan Amey reports: We have the dates of June 15-18, 2011 at Camp Bond with our speaker being Jim Chapman!  We are pumped! 

Jim Cooper, my friend and Superintendent of the Southwest Oklahoma District, sent the following words of exhortation to his pastors this week

 I hope it is very clear that I believe when it comes to church purpose and methods that our motto should be, "Mission First". Everything should serve the mission of Jesus, His commission to us....which I summarize by "seek, save, serve, disciple".

However, this is not to exclude the quality of life within "the four walls". What happens "inside" the church is important too. In fact, in a world where the Church suffers from a poor image among the populace (not a new thing since the Early Church was known in the Roman community as cannibalistic, incestuous atheists because they regularly consumed the body and blood of Christ, married their "brothers" and "sisters" ) ...but in this world of negative views of the Church it is important that even the relational quality of the insiders is about our mission...and has a powerful voice. It would serve each of us as pastors to assess the relational quality of our congregations and apply ourselves to raising the positive vib and depth of love expressed within the Body. "Loving Relationships" is one of the eight characteristics of a healthy church determined by the study of Natural Church Development and "Fellowship" is one of the five core values of any church....but of more import is this word by Jesus,  "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). Might be time to check the Body's relational quality...for the sake of the Jesus mission. Mission first, but....settling conflicts, connecting people, stimulating caring, even a Pastor's relational warmth...the "inside" of our churches speak to the "outsider".

May God help NEO churches to be known by their love for one another. That is one of the marks of genuine revival.

You are loved!

Grace and peace,

  Dave

Dr. H. David McKellips

District Superintendent, Northeast Oklahoma

6705 E. 81^st St., Suite 130

Tulsa, Oklahoma  74133
918.496.0022 Office
918.810.7095  Cell

www.neonaz.com
 

Dear NEO family,

Greetings in the strong name of Jesus! It has been a few weeks since I sent out my “weekly” email update. I apologize for the lack of communication, especially in the midst of so much activity on the District.

The August statistical report for the District has been posted on our website, along with the top ten gainers in attendance gain in Sunday School/Discipleship classes and in worship services and the pastors “I Want to Celebrate...”  Go to http://www.neonaz.org/resources/stats-report

to see the complete report.

New Pastors:

• ·   Last Sunday Gloria and I were at Central Church to participate in the installation of Pastor Steven and Rhonda Lester. What a wonderful day with close to 350 in attendance, wonderful worship and preaching, and a catered dinner (Ted’s Escondito!) in their new gym afterwards. Pray for Pastor Lester and this great congregation as they begin to rebuild and reach out to their community.
• ·         This Sunday we will be in Dewey to ‘install’ Pastor Joel and Julie Heid. Pastor Heid has been preaching at the church for three months but has only recently been able to begin serving full time as Pastor. The church is being built on prayer and seems united and focused for future spiritual and numerical growth. Let’s pray for them.
• ·         Pastor Mark and Anita Hiehle have accepted a unanimous call from the Claremore Church and will begin serving there on October 2.
• ·         Pastor Ryan and Mandy Alsop have accepted a unanimous call from the Wagoner Church this past Sunday. Pastor Ryan has been serving as Associate Pastor for the past couple of years.
• ·         Pastor Marilyn Rogers has accepted an associate position with Pastor Wayde at Tulsa Southwest.

Other transitions:

• ·         Pastor Dwain and Marlene Young are retiring from pastoral ministry at Horton Chapel. Pastor Dwain has been active in the Horton Chapel Church as a lay leader and then pastor for 43 years! Pray for this pastor and church during this time of transition.
• ·         Pastor Angela and Terry Bentley have resigned from the Bristow Church. The Bentleys have served with passion and distinction in Bristow and we believe God has good days ahead for them and for this church.
• ·         Yesterday morning Jan Sanders passed away after her battle with Alzheimer’s. Dr. Sanders wrote on Facebook:  “At 10:06 my sweet heart of 54 years breathed her last breath. My lovely Jan Sanders was the joy of my life and the most faithful companion anyone could have ever had.” The funeral service for Jan will be Friday at 1pm at Central Church. I would ask that you remember Dr. Sanders, daughters Terri and Traci, and the family in your prayers.

Upcoming Events on the District (check the website regularly for updates www.neonaz.com ):

• ·         Chad Bohi is in revival at Miami today and Wednesday and this weekend at Sapulpa (Sept. 16 – 18).
• ·         This Saturday, beginning at 9am, the NEO Men’s Skeet Shoot will be held at Claremore. If you have not yet registered, please do immediately with Sam Book    Sam@koehlerpro.com.
• ·         Muskogee Church will be celebrating their 90^th Anniversary on Sept. 25 with Dr. Harold Graves, Guest Speaker.
• ·         Davenport Church will have revival services with me and Marcus Whitworth on October 2 – 5.
• ·         The first Children’s Invitational Bible Quiz of the year is Oct. 1 in Bartlesville.
• ·         Kid’s Mission Day is Saturday, October 8.
• ·         Sapulpa is sponsoring a Prime Timers trip to Branson on October 18 – 20. Call Essie at the Sapulpa church (918.224.0300) for more information.

Giving for Others:

• ·         Troy Farmer took over 115 boxes of Crisis Care Kits to Texas on Monday morning to help the churches with relief efforts.  
• ·         Your World Evangelism Giving Goal for 2010-2011 was $380,181; you sent $423,783. This means you have contributed 111.5% of your goal!
• ·         Your Pensions and Benefits Giving Goal for 2010-2011 was $137,377. You have sent $134,233. This means you have contributed  97.7% of your goals.

Thanks for your generosity! You are loved and appreciated!

Grace and peace,

  Dave

Dr. H. David McKellips

District Superintendent, Northeast Oklahoma