Dear NEO family, Greetings in the name of our resurrected Lord! I have heard wonderful stories of Easter in NEO. And the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is still at work in His Church. I pray you will continue to be awakened by His Spirit, live in His presence and walk in His purposes. Did you watch any golf last weekend? If so, you will enjoy this article about the Master’s Champion, Bubba Watson….     http://www.sportsspectrum.com/articles/2012/04/09/in-the-news-bubba-watson-a-heavenly-future/

NEO Training Day Saturday, April 21 9am – 3pm Broken Arrow First Church

Nazarene Safe™ provides resources to equip local Churches of the Nazarene in creating safe environments for God’s family. While a wide range of topics will be addressed through Nazarene Safe™, the initial focus is preventing sexual misconduct. The Manual of the Church of the Nazarene states that the business of the local church board shall be: “To adopt and implement a plan to reduce the risk that individuals placed in positions of authority within the church will use the position of trust or authority to engage in misconduct. The plan for each local church must take into consideration its own unique circumstances” (Paragraph 129.30).  Nazarene Safe™ is designed to help you fulfill this mandate. Leslie Hart, the official trainer for Nazarene Safe, will be the keynote speaker at our Training Day on April 21. She will speak to all participants in the morning sessions and to the children’s workers in the afternoon. Dr. Blair Spindle, youth ministries training specialist for the SNU Zone, will be working with youth workers in the afternoon. Adult workshops are also planned for adult teachers. Register for NEO Training Day through your local church.

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NEO Homecoming, June 2-4 & 9, 2012 A Celebration of Mission and Ministry

Saturday, June 2 9:00 am — School of Stewardship with Dr. Mark Lail     Building More and Better Givers: Developing Holy     Generosity in a Modern Church. An event for Pastors,     Church Treasurers and Board members. Sunday, June 3 61st Annual NEO District Assembly 5:00 pm — Registration. Delegates pick up packets. 6:00 pm — Celebration of Ministry and Ordination Service,     Dr. Stan Toler preaching. Laying of hands on three     ordinands; recognition of those getting District license     for first time; honor-ing retiree; celebration of God’s     call upon all of us to ministry. Monday, June 4 8:30 am – NEO family business with Dr. Stan Toler, General     Superintendent, presiding and preaching on The Vibrant     Church; District Superintendent Dr. Dave McKellips’     Annual Report; Sixty-one 61-second reports to the     Assembly– Lead pastors, Dis-trict Leaders; SNU luncheon     for Lead Pastors, SNU Trustees and DAB; SNU report by     Dr. Loren Gresham; Zone prayer meetings. Saturday, June 9 Youth and Missions Conventions 9:00 am – Registration 9:30 am – Service for all ages. Worship led by youth     worship band; Message by Dr. Daniel Ketchum, Global     President, Nazarene Missions International. 11:00 am – NMI and NYI Business Meetings 12:30 pm – Lunch. NMI Delegates and friends will have box     lunch, $7 each. NYI will have lunch for all of their     delegation. 1:30 pm — NMI Workshops/Inspiration                  NYI Service Projects All participants— please bring peanut butter or jelly for Manna House. For additional details, visit www.neonaz.com

Good Morning Ministry Partner! It's a game changer!   Square Peg: Why Wesleyans Aren't Fundamentalists Every Pastor, Sunday School teacher, small group leader, youth worker and board member should read this book. We are a Wesleyan people and Square Peg, compiled by Al Truesdale, will not only provide rich scholarly insight into the tenants of fundamentalism, but additional comments from current pastors provide insightful thoughts from every chapter as to why the subject discussed matters in today's Church. This book is sure to help every leader in your church strengthen their understanding of what Wesleyans believe and do not believe in an effort to address fundamentalist claims on the doctrine of Scripture, the Bible, creation and science, and to guide healthy conversations that bridge good dialog with those in fundamentalist camps. Contact me or go online to place your order for this MUST read resource. Grace to you, Matthew Zimmer | Regional Church Relations Supervisor E: msz@nph.com| F: 800-849-9827 | P: 877-338-6401 Nazarene Publishing House Your Extended Staff | www.nph.com 2923 Troost Ave. | Kansas City, MO 64109

Spring is almost here and that means Extravaganza is just around the corner May 25-28! We are excited about students from across the region gathering on the campus of SNU for fun sports, talent, and quizzing competition. Extravaganza will also include some awesome times of worship and opportunities for students to experience God through services designed to reach and teach them with special guests onetimeblind! Also, we will be heading to Frontier City (theme park) on Saturday night! Extrav participants can get in on the fun at a super discounted rate and the ticket includes an all-you-can-eat dinner at the park. Your church should received an Info Pack with a poster and more details about Extravaganza 2012. You can also find details and registration info at www.snuextravaganza.com where registration is NOW OPEN!

Who: Kamp is for children who have completed the first through the sixth grade. Where: Sky Ranch at Cave Springs, OK When: Kids Kamp : Friday, July 13 through Monday, July 16, 2012 Cost: Early Bird registration $175 (includes snacks) Late registration $195 (after June 28) Deadline for Registration: All registrations must be postmarked by June 28, 2012. After June 28 you must pay late fees. The speaker this year is Beckie Richburg.  Remedy from SNU will be doing our music and fun activities.    Our theme is "Training Kamp", "Run is such a way as to get the prize." I Cor. 9:24.  We are putting on the armor of God to enable us to win the prize. All forms are posted on our website, www.neonaz.com.

NMI Schedule for Missionaries David and Marquita Mosher: Apr. 15 - Drumright (am)                Tulsa SW (pm)         18 - Horton Chapel         19 - Bristow         21 - Vinita         22 - Claremore (am)                 Tulsa First (pm) Tulsa First Church is hosting their Faith Promise Conv. on Sunday evening, April 22 at 5:00 pm and invite all the Tulsa Zone churches.  A light dinner will be served after the service, so please contact the church with the number attending (918) 592-1606. Welcome New Staff Abby Armstrong Children's Pastor at Miami New Life Christian Writing Workshop May 19, 2012 Have you always wanted to write, but didn’t know how to get started? Here’s your chance to learn! Donna Clark Goodrich, Mesa, Arizona, author of 23 books and over 700 published manuscripts, will be teaching a daylong Christian writers workshop to be held May 19, 2012, at the Cushing, Oklahoma, Church of the Nazarene. Cost is $50. For a complete schedule and how to register, contact Donna at dgood648@aol.com, or check out her Web site at www.thewritersfriend.net. See you there. Grace and peace, Dave

Happy Easter!

I am praying for the churches across NEO as people gather this Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. I pray that it will be another time of AWAKENING in our churches. Just think...the Spirit that raised Christ from the grave is at work within us! And he wants to manifest his ability to make dead things alive again in our day. May we be continue to be awakened by His Spirit, living in His presence and walking in His purposes! Grace and peace, Dave

NEO Training Day Saturday, April 21 9am – 3pm Broken Arrow First Church

Nazarene Safe™ provides resources to equip local Churches of the Nazarene in creating safe environments for God’s family. While a wide range of topics will be addressed through Nazarene Safe™, the initial focus is preventing sexual misconduct. The Manual of the Church of the Nazarene states that the business of the local church board shall be: “To adopt and implement a plan to reduce the risk that individuals placed in positions of authority within the church will use the position of trust or authority to engage in misconduct. The plan for each local church must take into consideration its own unique circumstances” (Paragraph 129.30).  Nazarene Safe™ is designed to help you fulfill this mandate. Leslie Hart, the official trainer for Nazarene Safe, will be the keynote speaker at our Training Day on April 21. She will speak to all participants in the morning sessions and to the children’s workers in the afternoon. Dr. Blair Spindle, youth ministries training specialist for the SNU Zone, will be working with youth workers in the afternoon. Adult workshops are also planned for adult teachers. Register for NEO Training Day through your local church.

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Northwest Zone Work and Witness Opportunity in Cleveland

What: Work and Witness Opportunity in Cleveland, OK at the Church of the Nazarene. (We are not independent churches, but interdependent, organized to facilitate the mission of each local church through mutual support, the sharing of resources and collaboration. This is a project of the NW Zone but others from the District are welcome to participate). When: April 20 - 21 (the 21st is a Training Day on the District so all adult, children and youth workers will have training that day at Broken Arrow) Project Leaders: For the church, Lynn Quick, 918 629 7607 (cell); For the District, Brian Loderhose, 918-520-1361 (cell) Workers Needed: 14 each day - 4 to remove the gutters and do soffit work: 4 to paint the gym roof, 2 to tile the floor, 2 to cut trim in the classroom, 2 to lay carpet.  Plus cooks, drink carriers, chief bottle washers. Equipment Needed: Church will supply paint, carpet, tile, etc. We will need  a diesel 4 wheel drive articulating boom lift and an additional siding brake. Welcome New Staff Kathy Cott Children's Pastor at Tulsa Hills Bethany Henry Children's Coordinator at Tulsa Family

NEO March Statistics

Attendance for March                                          2011-12            2010-11           SDMI                                    3128                        2986           Morning Worship              4050                        3963

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March Financial Report

I Want to Celebrate. . .

Don Engie, Grove Lakewood Community. . . About a month ago Tammy and her daughter Daytona began coming to church @ Grove. Our oldest Daughter Lynna invited Daytona, and her mother came shortly after. Tammy immediately loved the church and the direction we were going – and understood the process we were in here. Both Daytona and Tammy asked for prayer for her husband Robert. He had not been to church in a long time due to some hurt feelings at another church. We began to meet and pray that God would change his heart.  Shortly after, Robert asked his wife to find his Bible for him. And this last week, Robert came with his family to church! This is a great young family – continue to pray with us that God would do in Robert’s heart-, what only He can do.  We have seen God add a total of 12 people here in Grove the past 2 months, and we are excited about what God is doing! Joel Heid, Dewey. . . We are seeing new families coming and express that they want to be  a part of our church.  We continue to believe that as we pray God works among us in ways that He does not if we don’t.  A. J. Gordon said  “We can do more than pray after we have prayed, but we can never do no more than pray until we have prayed.” Brad Farnsworth, Tulsa Connection. . . Sent the entire congregation into the surrounding community as a part of our morning service on March 11 to hand out food bags to needy individuals and invite people to our Easter service. Each groups of four reported back with positive results! Scott Behm, Chelsea. . . I noticed their youthful grins as two of our eldest members, a husband and wife, told me they are each cancer free now. We all praised God for the answered prayers for this couple. We celebrated the seed of love planted by Jesus as he went to go to sit at the right hand of the Father in heaven. We also celebrated the seed of hope planted by "Armadillo" Jim and Sheila Schmidt with his "Abundance Bunny" care package with the theme "I Cried Too" which was sent to each child directly impacted by the 9/11 terrorists attacks. They could have planted seeds of bitterness, but Jim and Sheila decided to plant seeds of care and compassion. Our teens took a field trip to meet Linda, a true master potter, at the Atlas Life building in downtown Tulsa; the kids said it felt like Christmas morning. The wonderful anticipation was greatly surpassed in that the teens (also my boys Brett and Andrew) were thoroughly captivated by her hands-on live potter’s wheel demonstration. We also hope to have Linda come out to Chelsea to the church in December as part of our Christmas party celebration. We had a recent high attendance day of 42 during our Sunday AM worship service when we had several surprise guests who came to help us create a live sermon demonstration. We had some wonderful excitement as we brought Numbers 21:8 to life in the church. Our children and the congregation anticipate remembering that message for a long time. We then connected this lifting to the desire to lift up Jesus as we praised the Lord. We also exalted Jesus as we heard His promise (in John 3:14) "that everyone who believes may have eternal life." Steve Davis, Sapulpa. . . 5 New Members 3–month tithe challenge continuing Increase in first-time guests Greater unity in the body Moving of God’s Holy Spirit in our services James Wilson, Pawhuska. . . Children’s ministry continues to grow. Doug Gunsalus, Glenpool South County Community. . . We are very excited about how the cooperative effort has been working with Tulsa Hills.  This is giving us the needed space and time to deliver a full ministry experience for our people. David Stevens, Vinita. . . We are having some of the best days the Church has ever seen. God is moving, people are growing as disciples. Two of our regular members approached me this month, feeling that the Lord was leading them to be baptized. Both had been baptized when they were younger, but they have grown in their faith and wanted to do this as an act of obedience. It was a glorious Sunday morning service on March 18! Christian Writing Workshop A day of facts, fun, & fellowship May 19, 2012 Cushing Church 116 E. Maple Cushing, OK Taught by Donna Clark Goodrich Author of 23 books, 700 articles, stories & devotionals For more info, contact the District Office or Cushing Church

Remembering Rick Craft

Our District family is still in shock after the unexpected loss of Rick Craft, worship leader at Tulsa First. Rick, age 44, grew up at Tulsa First and Rick “came home” to serve here as worship leader with his wife, Darla, over 17 years ago.  What a loss for Darla, Andy (19), Alex (14) and all the family! Rick's life has touched so many people and he will be greatly missed. Let's surround the Crafts and Tulsa First with our prayers. Rick's life will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 27, at 2pm at First Church of the Nazarene (2744 E. 12th St., Tulsa) Viewing will be Monday, March 26, starting at 11am. The family will receive visitors from 5-8:30pm this evening at MOORE SOUTHLAWN FUNERAL HOME, 9350 E 51st. As I was reading my daily scripture reading from Dueteronomy on Saturday, I was reminded of a couple of promises given to Joshua and the people of Israel as they faced a future without Moses. These promises are needed today for the Crafts and all of us. Duet. 31:6 says: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD you God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” And 33:27 “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Who: Kamp is for children who have completed the first through the sixth grade. Where: Sky Ranch at Cave Springs, OK When: Kids Kamp : Friday, July 13 through Monday, July 16, 2012 Cost: Early Bird registration $175 (includes snacks) Late registration $195 (after June 28) Deadline for Registration: All registrations must be postmarked by June 28, 2012. After June 28 you must pay late fees. The speaker this year is Beckie Richburg.  Remedy from SNU will be doing our music and fun activities.   Our theme is "Training Kamp", "Run in such a way as to get the prize." I Cor. 9:24.  We are putting on the armor of God to enable us to win the prize.  All forms are posted on our website, www.neonaz.com. Christian Writing Workshop A day of facts, fun, & fellowship May 19, 2012 Cushing Church 116 E. Maple Cushing, OK Taught by Donna Clark Goodrich Author of 23 books, 700 articles, stories & devotionals For more info, contact the District Office or Cushing Church