It was a joy to install Pastor Ryan Alsop at Wagoner on Sunday. This was the fourth installation in the last seven weeks (Steven Lester - Central; Joel Heid - Dewey; Mark Hiehle - Claremore). One week ago, Pastor Russell Hosey accepted a call to Bartlesville and yesterday a pastor-to-be-named-later accepted a call to Cushing. Thanks be to God for helping these churches find some great leaders to help us make Christlike disciples in Northeast Oklahoma. Now working on Cleveland, Bristow and Horton Chapel, assured of God's ever present help.

 
Pastor Ryan & Mandy, Ryleigh and Noah Alsop (Wagoner)



Pastor Steven & Rhonda, Kristin, Lindsay and Drew Lester (Tulsa Central)



Pastor Joel & Julie, Braden, Chandler, and Cadet Heid (Dewey)



Pastor Mark & Anita, Kaylin and Kaleb Hiehle (Claremore)

Vision Campaigns

Sapulpa and Bartlesville have both conducted Vision campaigns the past few months under the direction  of Pastor Curtis Martin. We are blessed to have Curtis and Lesta back in Northeast Oklahoma.

We will miss. . .

Herb Carter, a faithful servant at Owasso Silver Creek and one who served at Manna House for many years, died last week after a battle with Cancer.

John Jenkins, who for many years served as Church Board secretary at Mannford, died Sunday, October 23.

Discovery Weekend

Four of our NEO Licensed ministers will be a part of the first Discovery Weekend at Camp Bond on October 28-30. Discovery Weekend, a joint effort of the three Oklahoma Districts,  is designed to help newly licensed ministers to reflect upon who they are with their unique gifts and personality, the nature of their call and their part in a connectional church. Pastor Geoff Gunter, Pastor Larry Morris and Pastor Curtis Martin will be joining me as a part of the team leading the retreat. Pray for Joel Heid, Ryan Alsop, Cecil Wilson, and Beckie Richburg and all who are participating in this weekend experience.

Last week I joined 32 other NEO Nazarenes (representing Sapulpa, Tulsa Regency, Tulsa First, Connection and Miami) at the third Annual Prayer Conference sponsored by Crossroads Tabernacle in Fort Worth. What a glorious time of worship, repentance, praise, preaching and prayer!  I really enjoyed:

• Vibrant Worship. Although some songs were new to me, it was easy to join with brothers and sisters as they sang songs of praises to God.
• Humble prayer. Pastor Cory Jones led us crying out to God, aware that without God's presence, we are done! It is God's glory and His manifest presence that distinguish us as His people.
• Hunger for God. I was overjoyed with the total abandonment to God by leaders and participants.
• Mix of races, colors and ages on the platform. It looked a little more like heaven than many of our churches.
• Expectation for deliverance, chains being broken and lives being healed.
• Hope for the church. A hope based not on the latest techniques or strategies (although these have a place), but upon God's presence and power in the church. What a blessing to see a growing number of churches and leaders seeking God wholeheartedly.

The statewide 8046 CONFERENCE will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Broken Arrow on October 27 at The Church at BattleCreek. Exhibits will open at 8AM. The conference will provide training on how to start and maintain a foster care/adoption ministry, address obstacles and how local congregations can become invested in this significant ministry opportunity. Topics will include A Child’s Journey Through the System: How a Church Could Have Helped; A Call to Action: How Churches Can Minister to Foster & Adoptive Kids; Who Are These Kids; and Proven Methods for Ministering to Adoptive and Foster Families. Registration is FREE but required by noon on October 21.

Movie Night

October 30th, 6 pm at Drumright Church. Featuring Natalie Grant, Billy Dean, and Rachel Holder.  For movie information, click here

SUNDAY, NOV. 6 5:00 - 8:00 PM at FIREY TRAILS IN SAND SPRINGS COST: $8 - BONFIRE, HOT DOGS, SMORES, HAY RIDES, GAMES, MUSIC, AND MORE. . . Check out www.fireytrails.com for directions and site information

Anniversaries: November 13th Central Church 75th Anniversary November 20th Owasso Silver Creek 80th Anniversary Congratulations!

Date Change

Please adjust your calendar for the dates of our NYI Winter Retreat. It will be held Feb. 3-5, 2012 at New Life Ranch

​Grace and peace,

     Dave

Nazarenes Suffer in the Horn of Africa (Letter from the Board of General Superintendents) Greetings in the name of our risen Lord. We write today to ask you to join us as we pray for and give support to our church family in the Horn of Africa. Due to extreme drought, more than 12 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and Djibouti are suffering from the world’s most serious hunger crisis. Without an increased response, the situation will certainly grow worse. Children are among those most at risk. Church leaders in Africa who have visited refugee camps in Kenya report hearing story after story of mothers and fathers who have lost children because they had no food or water to give them. Many of those facing this famine are Nazarenes. Mohammed, a Nazarene leader in the Horn of Africa, has lost three children due to malnutrition in the past few years. In recent months, he has also lost his wife and four-month-old daughter. There are thousands of Nazarenes in the Horn of Africa affected by this famine. We know of 25 children of Nazarene families who have died of starvation. Local leaders expect this number to increase in the coming days. Rev. George Mureithi, one of our pastors in northern Kenya, has watched his congregation shrink from 80 members to 30. The drought has caused people to flee their homes in search of food and water. Rev. John Emuria Nanerio, also of Kenya, reports seeing children wander the streets looking for something to eat. He is discouraged, yet he is committed to serving. Pastors from the Horn of Africa, many of whom receive no salary, are committed to staying. Let us come alongside them as they provide assistance to their communities. How You Can Respond: ·         Our first response is prayer. Pray for church leaders tasked with sharing hope. Pray for parents grieving the loss of a child. Pray for physical strength for young children. Pray for local congregations seeking to serve their neighbors. ·         Give generously and sacrificially: Visit www.ncm.org to donate online. Write a check payable to General Treasurer: Note ACM1519 Horn of Africa Famine Relief in the Memo area. In the U.S. mail to:                              Global Treasury Services Church of the Nazarene P. O. Box 843116 Kansas City, MO  64184-3116

The NEO Advisory Board voted last week to encourage every church to raise $1 per member to send to help with Horn of Africa Famine Relief. The District will match this up to $5000. The NEO Missions Council voted last Saturday to give their full support to this initiative. SUNDAY, NOV. 6 5:00 - 8:00 PM FIREY TRAILS in SAND SPRINGS COST: $8 Bonfire, Hot Dogs, Smores, Hay Rides, Games, Music, and more! Check out www.fireytrails.com for directions and site information Receptions Farewell Reception for Angela & Terry Bentley Bristow Church of the Nazarene Sunday, October 16, 1:30 - 3:30 PM Retirement Reception for Dwain and Marlene Young Horton Chapel Church Of The Nazarene - Meeker, OK Sunday, October 23, 1:30 - 3:30 PM Honoring Pastor Dwain Young for his 23 years of service. Directions: Go 8 miles S. on Hwy 177 from Jct 66 & 177. Turn East on 1000 Rd.(gravel) and go 1 1/2 miles. Church is on north side of road. -- Cards and Letters are appreciated. Anniversaries Central Church 75th Anniversary November 13th Owasso Silver Creek 80th Anniversary November 20th I want to celebrate. . .  Ryan Alsop, Wagoner. . . 3 baptisms / 3 new members James Wilson, Pawhuska. . . Revival with Dr. Chic Shaver and an Evangelism seminar was a great success. At least 8 people made recommitments to Christ and 4 made first time commitments to our Savior. In addition to this our Treasurer Kelly Stuckey is making rapid improvement in her health. Praise be to God alone!!! Claude Guy, Sand Springs. . . We had an excellent time of revival with Revs. John Juneman (evangelist) and Philip Phelps (music evangelist).  There was a spiritual awakening here in Sand Springs!  Many lives were touch by the power of God’s Word and altars were flooded with tears and submissive hearts for the Holy Spirit to come and do a new work in us.  We have been reminded and challenged to keep the flame of revival burning in our lives by simply running to Jesus in all things and saying YES LORD YES, to your will and to your way!  Praise God that the One who calls us to this life of holiness, He is faithful and He is the One that does the work! (1Thessalonians 5:23-24) Joel Heid, Dewey. . . We had a Women’s Retreat the 23-24 of Sept.  Over 100 ladies signed up and attended the 2 day event.  Many testimonies and positive results.  We had much intentional prayer for this as we prayed week after week.  We started “family prayer” this Sunday.  Families/singles are randomly picked and then their picture is on the screen on Sunday morning.  We contact them before Sunday and find out needs.  We pray for them at the altar and ask the church to make them their prayer focus for the week.  We know this to be God’s will “keep praying for all the saints”, and it is part of us becoming a “house of prayer”. Tim Odom, Collinsville. . .  Had an outstanding revival with Susie Shellenberger and many lives were renewed, saved and sanctified.  We continue in a spirit of revival and looking forward to having her here again next year.  We also had three baptized this past Sunday which is always a joy. Dan Hazelton, Pryor. . . We are making a difference in the lives of two lost families that are becoming found. Angie Bentley, Bristow. . . God’s faithfulness and care in the storms of life! Monty Nichols, Muskogee. . . Muskogee First celebrated its 90th Birthday with special guest speaker Dr. Harold Graves sharing the morning message. What a fabulous experience!  We had 267 in attendance, with visitors from as far away as Sacramento, CA. So exciting to see everyone having a great time and talking and sharing stories. It makes me wonder: "What's next?" (From Glen): I will add that it was a spectacular Sunday.  Pastor Monty was right on target to stress the various ministries we are having at Muskogee.  The service was great. The lunch prepared by Kathy McEntyre and her helpers was delicious! Then we had a singspiration.  Several people sang and it was enjoyable. Just as we were thinking that is was getting a little long the teen band came to the stage.  What a way to close the day!  They were excellent!   We were amazed by the 267 number but blown away by the people who sang and the teen band. Gerald Burch, Coweta Point of Grace. . . The wonderful spirit among our church family; God bringing His people together and bonding them in His love.  People drawing closer to Christ and developing their walk with Him.  Youth excited about attending church!  Have had at least six individuals inquire about membership. Scott Behm, Chelsea. . . The Spirit of God is really moving the people in our congregation toward new personal growth. We had a wonderful baptismal service, 11 people were baptized that day. 4 by sprinkle within the church and 7 by immersion the old fashioned way in a lake. The water was a little chilly at first, but what a joy it was to see the spirit of new life pour into these people. Each person there will remember that day.We now have given away over 20 flashlights and certificates as symbols of our desire to want to be led by the light of Christ in our lives. We have had several new people start attending the church regularly and a few people starting to come back after being away from the church for an extended period. One couple is going on 50 plus days of cessation of smoking cigarettes and is now coming to support their actively involved children, who both were recently baptized. Brad Farnsworth, BA Connection. . .  During our first service at the Green Country Event Center we saw several people make a first time commitment to Christ, and over 30 people came forward to make a commitment to fully surrender their lives to the Holy Spirit! Claremore. . . Our new pastor, Mark Hiehle and family arrived yesterday, Sep. 27, and we are looking forward to great days ahead. Steve Davis, Sapulpa. . .Great Weekend Revival with Chad Bohi and Adam Smith; Report of a healed knee; Repeat new attendees finding a home here; Wonderful Vision Banquet; Greater unity in the body Casey Hollingsworth, Miami New Life. . . God’s continual outpouring of His Holy Spirit on the people of New Life.  We continue to offer the things in our “house” and He continues to provide by filling us up with His never ending oil! (2 Kings 4)  We continue to expect miracles of life change to occur regularly as our people are receptive and obedient to Him!  (16 baptisms this month!) David Stevens, Vinita. . . God is with us! He is faithful to be with us each time we meet. We are ministering to a group of families who started attending several months ago and continue to attend. A couple of our men have stepped up and committed to drive the Church van on Sunday Night and Wednesday Night to pick up children and those who cannot drive after dark.

Reports of Revival:

Collinsville recently had an outstanding revival with Susie Shellenberger and many lives were renewed, saved and sanctified.  Pastor Tim Odom writes, "We continue to in a spirit of revival and looking forward to having her here again next year.  We also had three baptized this past Sunday which is always a joy."

Pastor Claude Guy reports from Sand Springs: "We had an excellent time of revival with Revs. John Juneman (evangelist) and Philip Phelps (music evangelist).  There was a spiritual awakening here in Sand Springs! Many lives were touch by the power of God's Word and altars were flooded with tears and submissive hearts for the Holy Spirit to come and do a new work in us.  We have been reminded and challenged to keep the flame of revival burning in our lives by simply running to Jesus in all things and saying YES LORD YES, to your will and to your way!  Praise God that the One who calls us to this life of holiness, He is faithful and He is the One that does the work! (1Thessalonians 5:23-24)"

Pastor Jim Wilson and Pawhuska Church report that a recent revival and evangelism seminar with Dr. Chic Shaver were great successes. At least 8 people made recommitments to Christ and 4 made first-time commitments to our Savior.


Pastoral Transitions:
Pastor Mark and Anita Hiehle began their new assignment as Lead Pastor at Claremore the week of October 2 and will be installed on October 9.

Pastor Angie and Terry Bentley will conclude their ministry at Bristow on October 16.

Pastor Dwain and Marlene Young are retiring from pastoral ministry, with their last Sunday being October 23. Pastor Dwain has been active at Horton Chapel for 43 years, 23 as pastor!

Pastor Ryan and Mandy Alsop are already serving the Wagoner Church as pastor and wife and will be installed on Sunday, October 23.


Monthly Reports:

The September attendance reports, monthly leaders in attendance gain and pastors "I Want to Celebrate..." have been posted on the NEO Website. Go to http://neonaz.org/resources/stats-report