NEO January Leaders

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I Want to Celebrate. . .

David Stevens, Vinita. . . One year ago I was able to report some new families were attending. Today I can report that those families have been regular attenders this year and we are talking about membership for them. Our emphasis on prayer for the 40 days leading up to SRW is really having a good effect on the services. James Wilson, Pawhuska. . . We have begun our Acts 29 Campaign. Focusing on how we can continue to carry the message of the Gospel into a broken world and how Jesus is transforming our lives and meeting needs. Brad Farnsworth, Connection. . . More people are accepting areas of leadership within the Body; 65 coats collected for Rosa Parks Elementary School children. Casey Hollingsworth, Miami New Life. . . God continues to work in great ways in our church.  We are having so much fun as we seek God together as a church body.  We don't know what His Holy Spirit will do next.  We had a young lady who is all but an atheist come to the altar this past Sunday seeking God.  (Guess you really can't call her an atheist anymore!!!)  She's not a Christian yet, but I have faith that it won't be long! Scott Behm, Chelsea. . . My son Andrew (7) took Sarah by the hand and said, “Come on, Mom” during our service last Sunday.  Andrew came forward to give his life to Christ.  What a joy Holiness in the Lord is to our daily living.  As we experience God’s gifts of grace, the Lord leads us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and strength.  That is our goal this month in our coming and going to confess and profess the love we receive and have for our Lord Jesus Christ by His grace.  We had a good representation at the zone concert of prayer and the Lord really blessed that service and our people through His presence.  Thank you Pastor Mark Hiehle and the Claremore church for hosting our wonderful zone concert of prayer service.  We are starting the year right by doing an 8-week Chic Shaver Wednesday night Bible study “For the Spirit-filled and Sanctified Life” with completion of the study tied to the beginning of the District Spiritual Awakening Services in February. Oto Dannemann, Tulsa Fuente de Vida. . . Around 30 members of our church participated in the Daniel fast. We were in fasting for 21 days eating just vegetables, fruits and water. Thank God the Holy Spirit was moving in our pray time each day. All the days during the fasting, the church was open to pray 6-7 pm, Thursday 6-9 pm, and Saturday 6-8 am. Steve Davis, Sapulpa. . . Sending 25 to NYI Winter Retreat Breaking the 200 in attendance barrier Repeat new attendees finding a home here Greater unity in the body Moving of God’s Holy Spirit in our services Jim Thornton, Tulsa Hills. . . 18 teens and 3 sponsors going to winter retreat New drummer and additional keyboard player in worship New families just coming out of curiosity Making some much needed upgrades to computers, kitchens and restrooms 120 in church on the Sunday I was in NM.  Might start making emergency trips more often. Joel Heid, Dewey. . . Our prayer group on Wednesdays has grown and those involved know it takes perseverance and faithfulness.  We did a”prayer walk” through our neighborhood for one service and it is helping us to look outside of ourselves. Dan Hazelton, Pryor. . . Back in September we started Drive-Thru prayer.  On Thursday mornings from 8-10 we set up a booth outside the church, put up signs, and people pull over for prayer.  I get busy trying to attract people to come in the front doors -- I figured it was time to go out to them.  It has become a real highlight of my week to pray with new people.  Quite often they express such great gratitude like we just threw them a life preserver.  One man who stopped in has become a follower of Christ, kicked his drug habit and comes to church each week.  Last week a newspaper reporter stopped in, took pictures and did an interview.  I hope that publicity will further our reach into the community.

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February 24 - 26 Friday 7pm / Saturday 6pm / Sunday 5pm

Ladies Brunch Saturday, February 25th at 10am Michael V's Restaurant 8222 E. 103rd Street - Tulsa Speaker: Joy Wisehart Early bird registration $20 by Feb 20th /$25 after Children’s Services Something for all ages! We are bringing in outstanding children’s workers (Big Blast Children’s Ministries) who will be working with our children’s workers to provide excellence in our ministry to kids (4 yr-Grade 6) and a nursery is available during each service. Meals Friday at 5:45 Broken Arrow First is preparing a Potato Bar with all the trimmings along with drink and desert Saturday at 4:45 Central will be serving BBQ Chicken, Corn, Cinnamon Apples, Salad, and Bread The cost is only $5 per meal. It will help us if you will make reservations for the meals through your local church. Youth Incite Friday, Feb 24 At Central following the service Cost: $5 - includes pizza, soda, and games -- dodge ball tournament, kinnects, wiis, and playstations, open gym, games tables, volleyball. . . a great time of fellowship with one another! Prayer Room A prayer room will be available each night of the services. Free Book Room A room will be available where you can bring books you would like to give away or look for some gems to take home. The Booth Brothers in Concert Claremore Church February 23 at 7pm New Staff Pastor Mark and Ashley Sanford have accepted the call to be Pastor of Youth at Bartlesville First Church. It is great to have this talented young couple back on the District with their girls, Emma and Olivia!

"The Best of Times"

I began a phone appointment a few days ago by asking my friend/agent how he was doing. He said “it is the best of times; it is the worst of times” and we spent the rest of our allotted time discussing why. I Googled the phrase and discovered articles written about how it was the best and worst of times for Romney, the Tea Party and others; I even saw a post written by author Mark Gilroy who formerly lived in Tulsa and taught Sunday School at Central. The quote by English Novelist Charles Dickens in “A Tale of Two Cities”, written in the 1800’s but describing the times of the French Revolution, seems to fit many eras and circumstances. The phrase would fit our world today in many ways, but right now I sense that these are great days in NEO. This past weekend we had almost 200 youth and sponsors at the Mid-Winter Retreat. I was impressed with the work of our Directors, Ken Behrens and Nick Williams, and thrilled with the great team of youth pastors and sponsors God has given us. And the NEO youth are second to none. These are great days in NEO because of the investment we make in children and youth and because these young people are responding to God’s grace and call upon their lives. These are also great days because of the great team of leaders we are assembling on the District. We experienced high turnover of pastors and staff members in late 2010 and 2011. Most positions are now filled and God has blessed us with quality men and women of God. God is using our leaders to help us stretch and grow as high impact churches. These are also great days because of the way NEO Nazarenes are crying out to God in desperate prayer. We are now over halfway through our 40 Days of Prayer with Fasting. I love hearing from our members regarding how they are fasting and I love hearing of breakthroughs in lives and churches in NEO. To God be the glory! I recently reread Henry Blackaby’s book, What the Spirit is saying to the Churches. He says on p. 51:  “God had begun to show us He had much to do through our church if we were willing to hear Him, believe Him, obey Him, and trust Him to provide for our needs... The core is this: By adjusting our lives to the presence and activity of our living Lord, one day at a time. As we hear Him and believe Him, and as we see God at work, we make whatever adjustments are necessary in our lives and in our church in order to join Him in His activity.” NEO Nazarenes are hearing Him...trusting Him....obeying Him, signs that revival is on the way.

Activities

Ladies Brunch Saturday, February 25th at 10am Michael V's Restaurant 8222 E. 103rd Street - Tulsa Speaker: Joy Wisehart Early bird registration $20 by Feb 20th / after Feb 20: $25 Children’s Services I was visiting with someone at winter retreat about AWAKENING weekend, and they said they would have to see if they could arrange childcare. I reminded them that we have already taken care of that – we are bringing in outstanding children’s workers (Big Blast Children’s Ministries) who will be working with our children’s workers to provide excellence in our ministry to kids (4 yr-Grade 6) and a nursery is available each service. Meals Your schedule is packed. We want to help by making affordable meals available on Friday and Saturday evening of AWAKENING weekend. On Friday, Broken Arrow First is preparing a Potato Bar with all the trimmings along with drink and desert. On Saturday evening Central will be serving a meal.  The cost is only $5 per meal. It will help us if you will make reservations for the meals through your local church. Youth Incite Friday, Feb 24 at Central immediately following the service Cost: $5 - includes pizza, soda, and games! Free Book Room A room will be available where you can bring books you would like to give away or look for some gems to take home. Transitions Congratulations to Pastor Ryan and Mandy Alsop (Wagoner) on the birth of a son, Thomas Isaiah, 8 lb., 1oz. and 20 inches long!  He joins big sister Ryleigh and big brother Noah in the Alsop family. Lauren Edwards will begin as Tulsa Central's Children's Pastor this month.  We welcome Lauren and Kyle and children, Trace and Alyssa to NEO!