Northeast Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene

Cheering on our Heroes

I just returned from a week of vacation. Gloria and I stayed with Gloria’s sister and her family who live in La Quinta, CA. Part of the reason for the timing of the visit was the BNP Paribas Tennis Classic being held a few miles from their home. I had never before attended a major tennis competition. I spent three days at the tennis courts and saw almost all of the top players in the world. I was not disappointed. One more thing crossed off the “bucket list”.. The top three men’s players of the world – Nadal, Federer and Djokovich – all have a huge fan club. They are unbelievably talented and have winsome personalities. Whenever word leaked out that they may be coming to a practice court, the nearby stands were soon packed. It was not unusual to hear someone cry out, “We love you, Rhapha!” or “We love you, Roger!” I have to tell you it was a huge thrill to see these talented players up close. But I spent some time thinking about who I wish the heroes of our society are. I wonder when the last time a faithful Sunday School teacher heard someone in the audience yell out words of love and appreciation. What about the pastor who consistently brings a word from the Lord to his congregation and who responds compassionately when pastoral care is needed? Or the mom or dad who stays up through the night with a sick child or puts their own desires for a newer car on hold to pay for a child’s braces or college education? There are many heroes in our midst every day! Let’s take time to cheer them on and express our love and respect! Grace and Peace, Dave

Letter from our General Superintendents regarding the Easter Offering

To Nazarenes around the world: As we approach this year’s Easter celebration, the presence of our risen Lord is being felt throughout the Church of the Nazarene. During General Board meetings last week, your passion for missions, your prayers, and your giving made it possible for your church to: Declare our presence in three new world areas—now 159 total. Commission 14 new global missionaries. Continue to make the 737 WEF-funded and contracted missionaries already on the fields a high priority. These decisions underscore our commitment as a denomination to being a holiness and Great Commission church. “Through the Cross” is the theme for the 2012 Easter Offering. We encourage everyone to give, even if you are already participating in faith promise. An extra gift will go a long way toward “making Christlike disciples in the nations.” Would you lead your church in special prayer, asking God how much He wants your people to invest in this Easter offering for missions? The Board of General Superintendents is grateful for your generous and sacrificial giving, Thank you! May God bless you and your church as together we recall the death and resurrection of our Savior— Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the only true and living God. The Board of General Superintendents Church of the Nazarene

February Statistical Leaders

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I Want to Celebrate...

Don Engie, Grove Lakewood Community. . . We are just getting started here, but we have already seen some signs of new beginnings. There are people who we are seeing come on a Sunday that we have met during the week. One person considers himself to be an atheist, but spent over two hours talking with me after a service about God and His Word. We have begun Children’s Church on Sundays and now have a steady group of children coming. God is working, and we are simply trying to be faithful and obedient to where He leads. Jim Thornton, Tulsa Hills. . . Rev. Kathy Cott has been hired as our new Children’s Pastor - first Sunday is March 4; very strong attendance during February; new families continue to check out THC. David Stevens, Vinita. . . God is blessing our services. My wife, Carol, agreed to lead our Church in prayer during the 40 days of prayer leading up to the District SRW. She went to the Church each Sunday for Prayer at 9AM. Johnny and Debbie Borgstrom joined her. God blessed and answered their prayers, and our Church has been improved. The increase in average attendance is only one indicator of how God is moving in Vinita Nazarene. Joel Heid, Dewey. . . I sense the Lord moving among us more and more.  We continue to emphasis prayer and seek to embrace all its potential as promised by the Lord.  We are finding that prayer brings more faith, and it is faith that pleases God.  We love this quote from E. M. Bounds, “When faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live.”  We want our faith to “live” so we must be intimate with Him.  Daniel Henderson said “Ministry that doesn’t spring from intimacy is simply activity without the touch of eternity.” Casey Hollingsworth, Miami New Life. . . 65 plus New Lifer's accepted my 10/10/10 challenge.  We have committed for the next 10 weeks to spending 10 minutes a day in God's Word, 10 minutes a day in prayer, and increasing our weekly giving (which I encouraged and took on myself to increase by 10%).  We have seen God to be faithful and true in "throwing open His floodgates in blessings!"  I truly believe the best is yet to come as God's people get desperate for Him! Steve Davis, Sapulpa. . . Sent 24 to NYI Winter Retreat 14 people took 3–month tithe challenge Repeat new attendees finding a home here Greater unity in the body Moving of God’s Holy Spirit in our services 2 new small groups started Scott Behm, Chelsea. . . We celebrated and anticipated Spiritual Awakening Services all month, which the Lord blessed in many ways. We had 24 people renew their dedication to walk in the light of Christ and to help lead others to do the same on 2/26/12, almost everyone present.  Knowing no matter how we are lost or hidden that the Lord comes to us just as and where we are, to love and accept us.  (Hannah Whitall Smith references “The Secret of a Happy Life” as having a profound effect in her life.  The Secret is – “It is simply ceasing from all efforts of our own and trusting in the Lord to make us Holy.” “Through the Lord Jesus Christ we are more than conquerors” and our part is “believing, resting, abiding and obeying.”) We celebrated the life of Jim Heriford and praise God, that Jim affirmed his faith, for God’s healing of relationships that occurred in the family through Jim’s profession of forgiveness shared and a family member’s specific request for that forgiveness. Awakening services Two of our people came forward to request a fresh filling, a spiritual renewal, of the Holy Spirit.  A teenage girl and myself. The Lord led three to ask for physical healing of diabetes, neck/back ailments and pain. The Lord led two of our teenage girls to pray for their family members for financial and medical afflictions. The Lord led a young adult granddaughter to be prayed with by her grandparents. Awakening Services Preparation The Lord has blessed our Wednesday night bible study using the Chic Shaver- “For the Spirit-filled and Sanctified Life” series. Our people loved the daily devotional emphasis during the month, which provided many blessings. Brad Farnsworth, Connection. . . First  prayer gathering with Garnett Church of Christ was a huge success; dinner/prayer gatherings on Wednesdays are going great, with good individual prayer participation. Monty Nichols, Muskogee. . . A great February.  We baptized four young people this past week.  God is working in our people.  We are excited about March!