Dear NEO family,
This
past Sunday I was privileged to speak for the opening service or our New
Start Church, Open Skies Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Georgina Lopez is
dynamic and gifted and, as expected, overwhelmed. J
Pastor Otoniel Dannemann and Fuente de Vida have been great help in getting
the church started and providing temporary workers.
Several
people came forward at the end of the service to joining Pastor
Georgina as the core team in this new faith venture.
At
least five individuals/families saw the church sign and came as guests for
the first service. I love the way Georgina welcomed their visitors. It took me back
to days at KC First Church when layman Dick Fields would so warmly welcome
each visitor by name. Every visitor introduced at Open Skies was welcomed
with a warm ovation and later many handshakes.
Let’s
pray for Pastor Georgina and her team that they will reach the Hispanic
Community around TU with the gospel!
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Engage
the Word is an exciting and easy way to deepen your connection to
God and others through daily reading of His Word. This 40-day emphasis is
uniquely designed for individuals, families, small groups, and congregations
to develop life-long habits of daily Scripture engagement. Through a simple
online registration process, you will receive daily Scripture passages which
will take you through God’s story from Genesis to Revelation. Be part of a
global family who, beginning September
29, 2013, will journey through Scripture together. To be a
part of this incredible journey as a church with printed resources,
click here.
To be part of this incredible journey electronically, click here.
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Manna
House a Vital Part of NEO District Church of the Nazarene
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It is
hard to believe that Manna House is entering its 14th year of
service! I can still remember being in Advisory Board meetings where the
vision, plan and logistics were being developed. The ministry developed out
of Faith Church of the Nazarene and was adopted by the District as our
compassionate ministry center. I have to be honest and admit that I had no
vision for the number of families Manna House would touch in a typical week
fourteen years later. Look at the quarterly statistics
– 882 families served, 37,377 lbs of food distributed and 2,855 pieces of
clothing distributed the past three months - and marvel with me at the way
God has used this ministry! I have volunteered at Manna House on several
Tuesdays in 2013 and I have seen the families served and the appreciation
they have. So, I say thank you to the NEO District for your vision and
support.
Of
course, the keys to any ministry are the leadership and volunteers. We have
super leadership and dedicated and skilled volunteers at Manna House,
beginning with our director, Howard Essary and his wife, Vicki. The Essarys,
like many of the volunteers, are “retired” but finding great purpose and
meaning as they offer a cup of cold water (and food and clothing) in Jesus’
name. Are you amazed as you see that in the last quarter we have had
1,691 volunteer hours? These good people could sit home and watch TV or go
golfing, but they take seriously the challenge to see God’s glory spread
throughout our city. I am so grateful for each one. Would you like to
volunteer one day a week? Contact Howard and discuss future possibilities.
Manna
House has a great reach, yet operates on a shoe-string budget. The District,
a few churches and some individuals support Manna House on a monthly basis.
Howard is always so appreciative of the money given. But the need is
continuing to grow and the expenses are growing, as well. Requests for help
have gone up 20% the last couple of years and expenses have increased 30%. I
would ask that readers pray about whether Manna House could be a part of
the regular monthly giving of your family and church (Manna House is an
approved Missions Special). Please send all contributions directly to:
Manna House Ministries
4921 East Admiral
Place
Tulsa, OK 74115
And
although Manna House is in Tulsa, any church on the District can refer families
to Manna House for assistance (contact me if you need referral forms).
I met
with our Advisory Board this week and we are starting to dream about ways to
expand our Compassionate Ministries. Part of being “Radical Together”
involves following Christ, Wesley and Bresee is concern for “the least of
these”. We want to build on the success of Manna House by expanding into
other needed ministries in our city. Pray for us...and pray with us about how
together we can make a difference for the Kingdom.
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NEO
August Statistics
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Financial
Stewardship for August
Received
year to date 2013-14
NEO
Budgets
$ 58,716.55
WEF
$ 83,217.44
P&B
$ 34,886.40
SNU
$ 30,061.56
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I
Want to Celebrate. . .
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Bill
Hilton, Tulsa Living Hope. . . We had 37 this
past Sunday, including one new family of 5 children and a grandmother.
We have rearranged rooms and furnishings to accommodate the new growth.
Despite no cooling in the sanctuary, we still had a great time of singing and
worship.
David
Stevens, Vinita. . . How precious to enjoy our children
and grandchildren! It is just as fulfilling to see our “children in the
faith” grow and carry on the faith. Two people in the Vinita Church are
studying for ordination. There is a positive attitude in the Vinita Church.
Steve
Davis, Sapulpa. . . New guests every week; salvations;
answers to prayer.
Casey
Hollingsworth, Miami New Life. . . Amazing
services! God continues to pour out His Spirit on us as we continue to
maintain a spirit of desperation for the Presence! People are
worshiping with a freedom like I have not seen in our church. He is
changing our lives and we are seeing the fruits of His work! We will continue
to "press in" and receive the life giving words of Jesus! We
can't wait to see what happens next!
Scottie
Behm, Chelsea. . . (1) The faithful service of our
people who volunteered throughout the summer in our three VBS Saturday
events, the Claremore Church (who provided leadership volunteers and a bounce
house), Shawn Couch (his horses, leading them, keeping our kids safe), Cherri
Murray and Opal (Master Gardeners who helped with our outdoor classroom
garden projects.) Then also Sarah, Margaret, Louise, Orville, Linda, Jewell,
Nancy, Jim, Jenny, Kimmy, Amber, Colton, Madi, Jalen, Chubs, Rasean,
Sam, Kiara, Andrew, Tyra, Taylor, Pete, Penny, Dennis, Starla, Shallon,
Cotton, Carol and Brett. (2) Sarah and I enjoyed taking part
in the Pastor and Mates district retreat. We want to celebrate our
congregation for allowing us to go, and we also want to thank our friends,
Delmar Bowman and Linda Heriford, for providing pulpit coverage.
Steve
Brown, Cleveland. . . We had a wonderful
August in Lord. We held a two day VBS on Friday and Saturday evening. We had
seven children each night, nine children altogether. We had 14
adults/teens involved in all the different areas. On Sunday we had some of
the children attend and they helped lead the adults in worship through the
songs and motions they had learned. We have had a family start to attend as a
result of one child who attended the VBS. (It has been at least three years
since there was a VBS here, and we thank Central for the use of their
material.)
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Simulcast
live at SNU Tulsa
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Parenting Seminar at Tulsa Hills Church
Tickets are $20/person before 10/19; $25 after 10/19.
Groups of 10 or more receive $2 off per ticket.
Seating is limited so buy early!
To register, call Tulsa Hills church office: 918 445-1793
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