NEO District Thanksgiving Service November 24, 5pm

Dear NEO Family, I am very excited about our upcoming District Thanksgiving service on Nov. 24, 5pm ! I want it to be like Bresee’s Love Feasts, with testimonies that move people toward personal experience of God’s grace, vibrant worship in song and communion. A light meal will be available after the service for the District family. I hope you will come and participate in the worship service and fellowship, this Sunday night, November 24, 5pm at Tulsa Central Church.

One of the Key Initiatives of the USA/Canada Region is Multi-faceted Church Planting. A key component of implementing that initiative is the training provided by Dynamic Church Planting International. I have been hearing wonderful reports of the impact this training is making on Districts across the US. Dynamic Church Planting International is offering training nearby in Carthage, MO on Dec. 9 - 13. I would love to see a number of pastors and laymen join the number in attendance at this training conference. I encourage every pastor to consider receiving this training. The registration is only $35 and the Carthage Church is offering free housing (either with a family in their church or sleeping on an air-mattress in a classroom.)  While our efforts to start new churches has grown in NEO over the past seven years, we are still closing more churches than we are starting. Don’t you think God could use you to begin a new congregation or plant a new church or partner with other Nazarene churches in your area to launch a new work? What is our alternative?

Free Resources for Your Church Through ECFA.org

Marilyn McCool, General Treasurer of the Church of the Nazarene, is pleased to announce cost-free access to the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability resources. Topics like cash reserves, disaster response policies, church fraud, clergy pay and benefits, and more are addressed through valuable resources. Register at ecfa.org/Nazarene. Contact stewardship@nazarene.org with any questions.

NEO  People  News

Congratulations to Pastor Ryan (youth pastor, Collinsville) and Angela Amey on the birth of a son, Porter, on Nov 12. Congratulations to Pastor Mark (youth pastor, Bartlesville) and Ashley Sanford on the birth of JohnLuke on Nov 15. Congratulations to Pastor Dustin Wine (youth pastor, Sapulpa) and Cory Davis (daughter of Pastor Steve and Miriam) on their marriage on Nov. 16. Congratulations to Pastor Nick Williams (youth and worship pastor, Owasso Silver Creek) and Abbey Loderhose (daughter of Pastor Brian and Sally) on their upcoming marriage on Nov. 23. Congratulations to Avery Richberg (daughter of Pastor Becky and Jay, Collinsville), who was recently engaged to be married to Andy Hollinshead. Congratulations to Jason Slinker, Class of 2001 of Southern Nazarene University, who was a 2013 Alumni Awardee at SNU Homecoming. Jason went to SNU from his home church in Muskogee. Sympathy to the family of Janice Russell,  former Tulsa Hills pastor’s wife, who recently passes away after an apparent heart attack. Thanks to the Bristow Church for giving their van to Open Skies, our NewStart Hispanic Church. We are better together! NEO Disaster Response Team Meeting/Training Saturday, December 7th 8:30am Brian Loderhose invites all those interested in serving or learning more about the Disaster Response Team to meet Saturday, December 7th, 8:30am at the Broken Arrow Albany Street property. There will be an organizational meeting followed by hands-on chainsaw training with the Baptist Disaster Response Team. Bring safety gear (goggles, gloves, boots) if you have it -- some goggles and gloves will be provided.  The meeting will be moved to the adjacent McDonalds in case of inclement weather.  For questions or more information, please contact Brian Loderhose at 918-520-1361 or bloderhose@vankeppel.com.

Info/Register

The NYI Radical Mission Experience is still available for registrations!  The deadline to register is Dec. 31.  Please encourage your church and youth to register and participate in this trip.  The activities will be excellent in forming faith.  Register at www.neoknyi.com today.  All details needed are there.  For a video preview of where we will be working watch this youtube video:  http://youtu.be/6BeUDMKaRaw

Vibrant Church Seminar for Hispanic Leaders Dr. Stan Toler, presenter  Thursday, November 21, 2013 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Heritage Room of the Webster Commons On the Campus of Southern Nazarene University *a step-by-step plan for bringing your church to life! *presented in both Spanish and English *no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required and space is limited *register by contacting Patti Lopez plopez@tcnokc.com or 405-632-3307 Prayer for NewStart Opportunity As we are seeking God’s direction regarding a re-start of a Nazarene Church near Tulsa University, God is calling us to pray! Would you like to join others in prayer for this need? A weekly prayer meeting will be held on Tuesdays at 6:30pm at former Tulsa First Church, 2744 E. 12th Street. Or you can pray wherever you are. Join us in praying for God’s direction and timing. Contact Dianna Potter, dlpotter2011@yahoo.com for information or to confirm your willingness to join the prayer team. current newsletter

Giving Thanks and Thanks Giving

By David A. Busic, General Superintendent It has been said that Thanksgiving is a time to count our blessings. I do not disagree with that sentiment. We all have so much for which to be thankful. The essence of God is love, and God’s bountiful love is a continual source of undeserved and bountiful blessing. Thanksgiving begins with thanks. Even so, I am also reminded of what W. T. Purkiser once said: “Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” The Apostle Paul seems to have acknowledged the truth of this when he wrote, “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV). Thanksgiving is about being grateful for our blessings—and then blessing others through them. This is also why Christians say that giving is an act of worship. Stewardship is not just a way for the church to pay the bills. It is a way for us to express our gratitude to God and to confess that “All that I have comes from God, and by faith I trust that God will continue to provide as I become a channel of His blessings to those around me.” The Thanksgiving prayer of an unknown Christian has always moved me: “I do not thank Thee, Lord, that I have bread to eat while others starve; nor yet for work to do while empty hands solicit heaven; nor for a body strong while other bodies flatten beds of pain. No, not for these do I give thanks; but I am grateful, Lord, because my meager loaf I may divide; for that my busy hands may move to meet another’s need; because my doubled strength I may expend to steady one who faints. Yes, for all these do I give thanks! For heart to share, desire to bear, and will to live, flamed into one by deathless love—thanks be to God for this! Unspeakable! His Gift!”          Thanksgiving is first thanks, then giving. Let us use our blessings to be a blessing!

NEO District Thanksgiving Service November 24, 5pm

The District Thanksgiving Service will be on Sunday, November 24, 5pm, modeled after Bresee’s “Love Feast”.  This is going to be so much fun! Our Hispanic and English speaking congregations will be united for a wonderful service of worship, testimonies and the Lord’s Supper. An optional time of fellowship and food will be held at the conclusion of the service. Watch for more details.

Interested in Nazarene Missions?

Come find out about the many opportunities to serve overseas through the Church of the Nazarene!  The Mobilization Office of Global Mission will be conducting a Cross-Cultural Orientation at Southern Nazarene University on November 15-17, 2013.  Cross-Cultural Orientation (CCO) events are designed to assess, train, and orient those who are interested in cross-cultural ministry in and through the Church of the Nazarene. This event is required for anyone interested in serving for 90 days or longer, but we encourage anyone to attend.  To learn more, and register online visit www.MissionCorps.org and click on the Cross-Cultural Orientation tab.  For questions, call 913-577-2963.

NEO October Statistics

Attendance for October                                                             2012-13          2013-14             SDMI                            2,896               2,688             Morning Worship         3,599               3,541

view full report

I Want to Celebrate. . .

Bill Hilton, Tulsa Living Hope. . . I am encouraging the church to pray and seek the Lord's guidance regarding the open door He has prepared for us to walk through. I'm not yet positive where that door leads or what is beyond it. However, I am confident that if HE has opened it then it must be good. David Stevens, Vinita. . . Vinita Nazarene is a great place to worship! Our people care about their Church and about each other. We had an older gentleman testify that he just got saved. Our ministerial students are doing well in their studies and in their work for the Church. Casey Hollingsworth, Miami New Life. . . New baptisms and members received into membership!  We continue to experience weekly "collisions" of God's mighty Presence!  He always comes out the winner in those!  We leave feeling wrecked and undone by the presence!  We took 11 individuals from our church to the National Awakening Prayer Conference ("Encounter"!) in Dallas.  I praise God for the refilling of His Spirit in our people who attended!  I can't wait to see how this is going to affect our church!  There is so much work left for Him to do! Tim Odom, Collinsville. . . On October 5th & 6th we had our 90th Celebration/Homecoming. We had a hayride on the 5th and a great service and time together with Pastor Tommy Loving and Pastor Wayne Thomas and other pastors. We had youth pastors, Jim Winfrey and Kevin Williams, also other members who have made such an impact on our church. We had a lot of sharing and reminiscing. A reminder of the call and challenge for our church to do our best for Christ, because He has done His best for us. Cole Weston, Okmulgee. . . Fearless Marriage class is about to wrap up next month. Participation could be better, but those who have come have learned a lot. Scottie Behm, Chelsea. . . Our congregation -- they surprised me with a wonderful pastor appreciation dinner. It was a lot of fun, with great food. We celebrate and honor with great gratitude a large financial gift from the estates of long-term members, Fred and Joan Hemphill. That we are seeing God at work, answering prayer. We praise Him for His faithfulness and how we are learning to be more “Radically” dependent on Him. Brad Farnsworth, Core Church at Aspen Creek. . . We baptized 4 new people, including a mother and her two children. Steve Brown, Cleveland. . . We had a great October. Each week the services seemed to build a stronger sense of the Holy Spirit as people were praying and fasting leading up to the revival services and continued throughout the month. We had several people seeking sanctification during different nights of the revival. Many were challenged to spend more time in prayer for our community. We had an average attendance of 38 each night and many from the Pawhuska church made the trip each night to attend. I really believe that God wants to do great things on the NW Zone and throughout the NEO district. The excitement of revival has encourage many and challenged all to live a more holy and surrendered life. Larry Allen, Bristow. . .  We had our second annual Fall Festival a few days ago. We had music, a power team called Radical U-Turn, food, games for the kids, etc. We had over 150 people attend and the great news is that 30 people gave their life to Christ. One of the power teams mother came and was saved. Several new people to our church came forward and so did other members of their family that attended our church for the first time. The Holy Spirit was in attendance and the prayers and planning of our people were rewarded  greatly. It was a powerful night of fun, fellowship and God. We had two new families show up that were looking for a church and we are praising God for his goodness. Georgina Lopez, Cielos Abiertos. . .  Four people were saved this month. Yalmi Izaguirre, Regency Park Hispanic. . . We had a Friend Day with a good attendance. Gordon Mote in Concert November 10, 6pm Claremore Prayer for NewStart Opportunity As we are seeking God’s direction regarding a re-start of a Nazarene Church near Tulsa University, God is calling us to pray! Would you like to join others in prayer for this need? A weekly prayer meeting will be held on Tuesdays at 6:30pm at former Tulsa First Church, 2744 E. 12th Street. Or you can pray wherever you are. Join us in praying for God’s direction and timing. Contact Dianna Potter, dlpotter2011@yahoo.com for information or to confirm your willingness to join the prayer team. November 8-9 Info/Register Vibrant Church Seminar for Hispanic Leaders Dr. Stan Toler, presenter  Thursday, November 21, 2013 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Heritage Room of the Webster Commons On the Campus of Southern Nazarene University *a step-by-step plan for bringing your church to life! *presented in both Spanish and English *no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required and space is limited *register by contacting Patti Lopez plopez@tcnokc.com or 405-632-3307 Info/Register current newsletter

New Starts

Studies of trends indicate that a district of about 45 - 50 churches must average 1 1/2 new church plants per year or by natural attrition they will become extinct....just a matter of time.....So, what should we do to insure a vibrant future on the NEO District? And how could we do it? One of the Key Initiatives of the USA/Canada Region is Multi-faceted Church Planting. A key component of implementing that initiative is the training provided by Dynamic Church Planting International. I have been hearing wonderful reports of the impact this training is making on Districts across the US. Dynamic Church Planting International is offering training nearby in Carthage, MO on Dec. 9 - 13. I would love to see a number of pastors and laymen join the number in attendance at this training conference. I encourage every pastor to consider receiving this training. The registration is only $35 and the Carthage Church is offering free housing (either with a family in their church or sleeping on an air-mattress in a classroom.)  While our efforts to start new churches has grown in NEO over the past seven years, we are still closing more churches than we are starting. Don’t you think God could use you to begin a new congregation or plant a new church or partner with other Nazarene churches in your area to launch a new work? What is our alternative?

NEO District Thanksgiving Service November 24, 5pm

The District Thanksgiving Service will be on Sunday, November 24, 5pm, modeled after Bresee’s “Love Feast”.  This is going to be so much fun! Our Hispanic and English speaking congregations will be united for a wonderful service of worship, testimonies and the Lord’s Supper. An optional time of fellowship and food will be held at the conclusion of the service. Watch for more details.

Revival Fires are Burning in NEO!

God continues to use times set aside for renewal and refocusing in a local church. The following churches have revival services planned this month: · Chandler has Evangelist John Juneman on Nov. 1 – 3. · Claremore has Dan Bohi on Nov. 6 · Pryor has Dan Bohi on Nov. 7 · Tulsa Southwest has Evangelist Nathan Covington on     Nov. 13 – 17.

Pastors in Transition

Pastor Brian Stephens has accepted a call to a church in the Orlando, FL area. His last Sunday at Broken Arrow First is Nov. 10. Pastor Terry Habegger has moved his family to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he will be lead pastor. Central Church welcomes new worship pastor, Gregg Counce;  new discipleship pastor, Jennifer Ray; and new children's pastor, Melanie Ross. Gregg and Robin Counce Jennifer and Jason Ray with children Carrington, Anna Claire and Colson Melanie and Joel Ross with children Kyler, Parker, Peyton, and Keaton

In Sympathy

· Pastor Don Engie (Grove), on the passing of his mother this past week. · Rev. Steve Oliver, on the death of his mother, Bea Oliver. The Board of General Superintendents expression of sympathy includes the following: “For nearly 50 years Bea faithfully served God and the Church of the Nazarene as pastor’s wife, first lady of the Alabama and Illinois Districts, as general president of Nazarene Missions International, and as a strong, knowledgable leader with a heart for missions.” Mrs. Oliver’s funeral will be Sunday at 3pm at Floral Haven.

Gordon Mote in Concert November 10, 6pm Claremore

Info/Register November 8-9 Info/Register current newsletter