Northeast Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene

Dear NEO Family, I trust you had a wonderful celebration of Thanksgiving. Gloria and I joined her family in Branson for a couple of days. We enjoyed good food, laughter and dominoes, along with a trip to Silver Dollar City. I didn’t have opportunity to go on many rides, but I loved the Broadway-style stage productions  of A Dickens’ Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life! As you know, both shows highlight how God can use us as impact players for good in our world. I am thankful for the way God can use all kinds of media to stimulate growth. This week, I feel especially thankful for the way God can use good books to change us. Two books I have read in the last few weeks have challenged me be an impact player for Christ by living an upside down life. If you haven’t read Crazy Love by Francis Chan or Radical by David Platt, I highly recommend them both. But don’t read them if you aren’t open to your world and faith being shaken (in a positive way)! My biggest fear is that I will be stirred but not changed. Please pray for me that I will not be content to settle for less than radical obedience to Christ. I also read Shift by Daron Brown last week. I have given a copy to all of our pastors and trust it will be helpful to them and our local church leadership. As the author says, the purpose of the book is not to offer a recipe for church growth. Instead it is a report of common ways the Holy Spirit is working in some churches today. I trust you will be encouraged and challenged by this fine book! Grace and peace, Dave

NEO November Statistics

Attendance for November                                    2012-13               2011-12         SDMI                           2718                    2931         Morning Worship         3429                      3774

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I Want to Celebrate. . .

David Stevens, Vinita. . . Small (tiny) church ministry requires patience and flexibility. The live-in friend of a relative of some of our members was placed in hospice care due to cancer. Her husband, a cousin to some of our people, expressed a desire to be saved and baptized, and his live-in partner also stated this desire. We went and prayed with them, three including a daughter. Two weeks later (this past Sunday) we held a baptism service in their home with family present. Due to her weak condition we could not immerse, so I used a white flower and sprinkled them. God blessed the time with His presence and His touch. Since praying to be saved the man has stopped drinking, and others testify to a change in him. Also this has opened doors to other members of the family. Thank God for the special moments of ministry. Don Engie, Grove. . . The heart of Christ He has developed in the people here at Grove Nazarene. I am so humbled to pastor such loving, caring, and compassionate people – who love God and want to serve Him by loving others. In November we had a privilege to give away 10 Thanksgiving Baskets to families in our community – as well as provide a home for a family who were living in their car. He continues to open doors – and I pray we will continue to respond in obedience. Casey Hollingsworth, Miami New Life. . . Wednesday nights have been committed to prayer.  People are desperately seeking God, and God is honoring that desperation with His powerful Presence.  We are spending time learning about the power of prayer and then spending sweet time in His presence at His altar.  Fruit is and will continue to be birthed as a result of "pressing in" to God! Cole Weston, Okmulgee. . . New visitors, and new outreach efforts taking place. Nathan Farmer is coming into his own leading the youth group, and I am supporting him in his efforts. Scottie Behm, Chelsea. . . Our teens hosted a church-wide traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner.  They led a passionate blessings message, including their personal witness about what Christ has done in their lives. Our worship team and I participated in the Chelsea Community Revival - we focused on personal evangelism and sharing Christ with our neighbor.  (We used two key scriptures:  “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house” Acts 20:20 and prepare yourself “...  he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”  2 Timothy 2:21) Christmas Alive Fridays & Saturdays Nov 30 - Dec 22 6-9pm Join us for a free hay ride that will take you on a trip through time and witness the story of Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men and a beyond-the-manger look at Jesus of Nazareth.   Muskogee First Church of the Nazarene 2700 E Peak Blvd.   Call 918-682-2592 for more information. December 2 6pm Drumright Church Mike Howard’s brother, Chuck Howard, has produced another movie starring John Schneider of Dukes of Hazard.  The movie is “Luke Warm”. Drumright church will be showing it this Sunday evening, Dec. 2, at 6 pm.  New Pastor Tony Siebels will be installed as Pastor at the Pawhuska Church of the Nazarene on December 16th.  We welcome Tony and his son, Anthony, to Northeast Oklahoma!