Better
Together
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I
have read a few articles this week on Nazarene ecclesiology (it will be a
point of discussion at upcoming gathering of District Superintendents). One
writer referred to our representative form of government as
“congregationalism modified by episcopacy”. Local churches largely retain
control of their own affairs but are subject to a common government.
A
lot happens in each of the 28,130 local Nazarene churches, but what happens
when we work together is amazing.
·Together
we have 2.15 million members in 159 world areas.
·Together
we recorded 2,789,928 evangelistic contacts last year which led to 728,286
decisions for Christ.
·Together
we support 712 missionaries and sent 9,307 mission volunteers last
year.
·Together
we sponsored 60 medical clinics and hospitals.
·Together
we provided 5 graduate seminaries, 31 undergraduate Bible/theological
colleges, 14 liberal arts institutions, 2 nursing training colleges and 1
teacher training college. All schools combined had 52,439 students.
I
am thankful to be a part of a connectional church. We are better together.
Of
course, we see the benefits of working together on the District as we provide
camping programs like we did this summer for our children and youth, as we
join in spiritual renewal efforts, training of pastors and laity and
missional endeavors.
Recently,
two of our pastors sent me unsolicited notes that spoke of the camaraderie we
seek among our pastors. One new pastor mentioned a neighboring pastor who he
said is becoming a “treasured friend”. He spoke of how excited he was that
the church he pastors was speaking more of being a part of the global church
rather than just an isolated congregation. Another fairly new pastor shared
information about a fellow pastor who was hurting and said, “This is a close
group of pastors in NEO.”
I
pray that this sense of being on a team, with others walking alongside us to
encourage and support, will grow. One of the reasons we have Ministers and
Mates retreat each year and insist on your pastors participation is because
we have to spend time together to develop this sense of “connection” and
“team”. Thanks for making it possible for your pastors to attend this year’s
retreat, August 23 – 25, in Branson. We are better together!
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Dr.
Gresham to be Honored
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Congratulations
to Southern Nazarene University President, Dr. Loren Gresham, who will be
inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame, on October 15,
2013. We are so blessed to have Dr. Gresham as our leader.
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Living
the Life:
Spiritual
Formation Defined
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Monday, August
26
7:00
p.m. CDT
This
webinar with Dr.
Mark Maddix will explore a definition of spiritual formation and the
associated practices needed in order for someone to be formed and transformed
into faithful disciples. Attention will be given to engaging in a holistic
approach to spiritual formation that includes inward, outward, and corporate
practices.
Click here to register. Once you register, you will receive an e-mail with all the information you will need to join the webinar |
Prime
Time Event
|
August 30
Please
promote this event at your church. Dinner reservations must be PREPAID
by August 25th. Contact John Williamson at johnw10021@yahoo.com or 918-859-3600
with questions or reservations.
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Thank
You
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NE Oklahoma District,
Thank
you so much for the love expressed to our family through your generous giving
to make it possible for our family to be together for my Dad’s
home-going. It was a glorious time together and God was truly honored!
Blessings,
Harmon & Cindy
Schmelzenbach & the family of Joe Thornton
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God
is Answering Prayer for the Bristow Church
a
report from Pastor Larry Allen
Two
months ago our board, as a part of the goals for this year, decided that our
church needed more prayer. As a result of this, we asked for a church-wide
commitment for our church to fast one meal a week and pray for our specific
church needs. We open the church up on Mondays and we have had several pray
partners either praying at our church or at home each Monday.
Some
of the many prayers that God has answered are as follows:
1.
We had an awesome VBS with over 40 children attending, many from non-churched
environments. Thirteen of these children gave their hearts to Jesus Christ.
The entire expense was collected from outside funds and contributions and our
kids raised $191 for Manna House.
2.
We have had a couple come forward to begin working with our teens. We
have cleaned out and set up an area in our back building for teen meetings
and we have already set up an outreach program for them to help us recruit
Sunday school children in a public housing area.
3.
We were able to hire a talented and spirit-filled worship leader for our
Sunday AM services. He will begin in two weeks and has a full band that says
they will follow him to Bristow. We already have a drummer and our new
worship leader wants to renew a praise team for our church. His band
will play for all of our outreach events beginning with our fall festival.
4.
We have a professionally-trained couple that will begin teaching CLT classes
next Wednesday night.
5.
We will begin a membership class also next Wednesday night and take in new members
next month.
6.
We had a great VBS/Sunday School picnic last Sunday in our local city park
and concluded it by baptizing 3 adults and 4 children in our city lake.
Our
next prayer request is for a dependable van to pick up 21 children for our
Sunday school. We have two old vans that neither will pass inspection. We
have a man that has volunteered to pick up children once we have a dependable
mode of transportation.
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Congratulations
to Regency Park on a Great Faith Promise
Pastor
Geoff Gunter reports: “Our faith promise goal was 55,500. We had commitments
totaling $73,300, with 4 regular families out of town. Our missions
council planned for months and Dan Ketchum did the best job I have seen in
years.”
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There
is a Tulsa Journey Guide cookout on Thursday, August 22nd, from
6:00-8:00 p.m. at 7420
E. 46th Place in Tulsa. We will be recruiting and
equipping 100-200 Journey Guides to lead men AFTER the Promise Keepers
event. If you would like to be a part of this movement, join us
at the cookout. RSVP to Frank Khalil at 918-595-3592 or at fkhalil@influencers.org. Contact Jason Powers
with any questions: 918-316-5899.
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Join
us at Clary Fields Golf Club on September 23, 2013 in support of sending our
district students on a mission trip to Nazarene Indian Bible College in 2014.
All proceeds of this tournament will go to supporting that mission.
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