CCOK301, Author at Christian Church in Oklahoma

Regional Board Celebrates Ministries

On October 20, 2018, the Regional Board heard many exciting ways regional ministries are connecting, equipping, and empowering Disciples to serve like Jesus!

Here are a few highlights!

Commission on Children, Youth, & Young Adults continues to strengthen our children, youth, and young adult ministries with camp & conference experiences for second graders through high school, retreats, and International Affairs, a spring break trip for Juniors & Seniors to travel to Washington DC & NYC. The theme for 2018 was Reconciliation. Investing in the faith our young people is invaluable to the life of the church.
The Regional Board approved a new commission on Immigration and Refugee Ministries. With the help of Catholic Charities and a few other resources, the Region already has three congregations actively engaged in the relocation and support of immigrants.
The Oklahoma Disciples Foundation has developed a grant program to help ministries around our region be adequately funded. In just two years the Foundation’s Grants Program has impacted lives, touched many and made a difference in communities. The Foundation made grants totaling $71,460.60 in 2018 and $50,648.90 in 2017. Click here to see ODF Grants at work in the region.

As followers of Christ, Disciples of Christ, we never quit wrestling with reconciliation and with the power of love and grace. Every Disciples congregation is a vital part of the Body of Christ in Oklahoma. The Region is grateful for all of the work and ministry that happens in each congregation, each community, and the world. There is no greater joy than to love our neighbors as ourselves and to serve the Lord with gladness! In a time such as this, God surely needs each of us and all of us.

CCOK3012018-12-18T12:18:21-06:00Nov 12, 2018|Regional News|Comments Off

Regional Board Makes 2019 Staff Changes

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On Saturday, October 20, 2018, the Regional Church held its Year-end Board meeting. We heard some amazing stories from our Commission leaders about Regional Church ministries and from the Area Moderators about the on-going ministries in each area of the Region. Our ministry is never done, but we sure celebrated all the ways Regional ministry is connecting, equipping, and empowering ministry through the Commissions on Reconciliation, Evangelism, Leadership Training, Clergy, and Youth, Children & Young Adults. We’ve even agreed to start a new Commission to address the needs around immigration in Oklahoma.

Giving Falls Short

Despite our good and faithful ministries, the Budget Committee reported a mighty shortfall in Disciples Mission Fund (DMF) giving. After reviewing the Disciples Mission Funding giving over the past five years (2013-2017), the pattern of giving continues to decline. This is not surprising. It is happening in congregations all across our Region, and we realize that some congregations are struggling and making budget adjustments. For the Region, the projected decline for Disciples Mission Fund for Oklahoma in 2018 and 2019 is a deficit of approximately $50,000. Importantly, DMF is the primary financial support of the Regional Church, and it is the covenant by which we all live.

Personnel Changes

The Region has been good stewards and has trimmed Regional expenses year after year. But after careful examination the Board determined there was no place to cut $50,000 except in personnel. The Budget Committee requested the Personnel Committee make some very difficult decisions. Personnel regretfully proposed to the Regional Board to eliminate three positions for 2019: two part-time positions, the Region’s Oklahoma City office Facility Manager Richard Keith and the North East Area Administrative Assistant Lori Richcreek (Broken Arrow office), and one full-time position, Associate Regional Minister Rev. Leslie Dotson. They will be employed through the end of this year. These employees of the Region have served long and well, and their presence and ministry within the Regional Church will be missed.

Beginning in 2019, the Regional Church will retain its remaining four staff members: Regional Minister Rev. Pamela Holt, Regional Associate Minister Rev. Michael Davison, Executive Assistant Ellen Beer and part-time Administrative Assistant Jennifer Gallaway.

How You May Help Your Region

There are two ways you may help your Region in these challenging financial times – prayer and a financial donation. Your donation is tax-deductible and 100% supports the Region’s ministries.

You may donate to the Region’s Annual Fund. The Annual Fund has long been a tradition in the Oklahoma Region where individuals and even congregations support us directly. You may donate securely online at THIS LINK and we also accept gifts mailed directly to the office: Christian Church in Oklahoma, 301 NW 36^th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73118. Please note Annual Fund on your check.

Or you may choose to give through your congregation. The Christmas Offering provides significant support for the Region – and 100% of the Christmas Offering supports Regional Church ministries. Please consider making a gift on December 16th and 23^rd using the offering envelope found in your bulletin. Look for the colorful bulletin insert for more details on how your gift is put to work!

God still needs us as partners to bring healing and wholeness in this fragmented and broken world. Your prayers and gifts to the Region help us walk and live as Jesus.

In the name of Christ,

Tom Stanley, Moderator Pamela Holt, Regional Minister

CCOK3012019-01-16T12:35:45-06:00Nov 12, 2018|Regional News|Comments Off

First Christian Church Yukon Calls Coy Remer as Pastor

On Sunday, November 4th, Regional Minister Pamela Holt installed Coy Remer as Pastor of First Christian Church Yukon. Coy responded to this call with gratitude and joy, and he looks forward to leading and caring for the congregation and the neighboring community.

In addition to this call, he and his wife, Jessica, are new parents to James Victor Remer! Congratulations!

CCOK3012018-12-18T12:51:13-06:00Nov 12, 2018|Clergy News|Comments Off

East Side Christian Church Sponsors 7th Annual “Cuppa-Thanks” 2018

For many, it is really difficult to work on Thanksgiving Day. East Side Christian Church will try to help the day go a little better for some of the people in Tulsa that have to work on Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers at East Side Christian Church will participate in their 7th Annual Thanksgiving Outreach Program by providing a fully layered Thanksgiving meal in a 32 oz. tub, they have named “Cuppa-Thanks!”

This year, East Side Christian Church plans on serving 700 meals, up from 600 last year! They deliver to places like QT, Walgreens, CVS, Dollar General, Braum’s, and various other businesses open on Thanksgiving Day. They also drop off meals to any of the Tulsa emergency responders they find along the way.

Would you like to be a part of this amazing community project? Sponsorship levels are available starting at $60 all the way up to $1000. For more information or if you would like to help, please contact Evan Taylor at office: 918 744 1377 / cell: 918 693 8932 or email etaylor@escc.org

CCOK3012018-12-18T12:13:48-06:00Nov 12, 2018|Congregations|Comments Off

Coffee Hour with Week of Compassion: November 15 in Tulsa

Are you interested in getting involved with Week of Compassion? Well, your opportunity has arrived!

Rev. Caroline Hamilton-Arnold (Associate Director, Week of Compassion) will be at Shades of Brown Coffee Shop (located at 3302 S Peoria Ave, Tulsa, OK 74105) from 2pm-5pm on Thursday, Nov. 15 to meet with anyone interested in learning more about Week of Compassion and how to get involved.

Drink coffee, get inspired and learn how to make a difference with Week of Compassion.

CCOK3012018-12-18T12:14:17-06:00Nov 6, 2018|Congregations|Comments Off

Nov. 13: INTEGRIS Presents: The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse

Integris Pastoral Care presents, “The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse” for clergy and clinical staff. Tuesday, November 13, 2018 from 9 a.m. to noon at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center Auditorium. No registration required for this free program.

No one should feel manipulated, controlled, shamed or condemned within the walls of their own churches or places of worship. But places of shelter and encouragement become abusive when spiritual leaders begin to use their authority to meet their own needs for importance, power or spiritual gratification. Those attending this presentation will learn how spiritual abuse develops, the subtle ways leaders and systems “hook” and control believers, scriptural help in recognizing healthy spiritual relationships and effective strategies for escaping abusive situations.

Presenters:
Jeff Van Vonderen is a highly sought after speaker and consultant both nationally and internationally. For more than 35 years, individuals, families and organizations have benefited from his skills and understanding in the areas of addiction, family systems and recovery. Van Vonderen is a featured interventionist on the A&E network’s Emmy-winning documentary series, INTERVENTION. He is the author of six books and numerous journal and magazine articles.

David Johnson is the senior pastor of Church of the Open Door in Maple Grove, Minn. A widely recognized speaker, his Growing in Grace radio broadcast is syndicated internationally.

This activity is provided through INTEGRIS Health for 3 contact hours of continuing education.

CCOK3012019-01-16T12:36:31-06:00Oct 29, 2018|Clergy News|Comments Off

Youth Sunday 2018 at First Christian Church Pauls Valley

The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Pauls Valley had an amazing Youth Sunday on October 28, 2018. They had 18 children in attendance who led the church in all aspects of worship.

The children provided key elements of worship such as the Call to Worship, Devotional messages, serving as Diaconate during Offering and also assisting with the Invitation to Communion and Offering.

The highlight was the children singing with song leader, Matt Howsley, two special songs: “Sanctuary” and “God is So Good”.

Pastor Elaine Howsley and Elder Teresa Begley assisted the group as well as many of the children’s parents and grandparents. It was a blessed event for FCC Pauls Valley’s congregation and a continuance of their monthly group known as Chalice Kids.

CCOK3012019-01-16T12:36:59-06:00Oct 29, 2018|Congregations|Comments Off

Pre-Order the 2019 Just Women Bible Study Before Dec. 1

Pre-Orders for the 2019 Just Women Bible Study are now being accepted.
2019 Theme: The Church: Mission Possible

Click HERE to order until December 1, 2018. The 2019 Bible Study will be mailed in January 2019.

This study will highlight some of the most important lessons of the early church and challenge us to apply those lessons. Although the gospels mention the word “church” only a few times, beginning in the Acts of the Apostles, the New Testament is filled with repeated stories of the first century church, along with instructions on what it means to be the church.

CCOK3012019-01-16T12:37:30-06:00Oct 29, 2018|Disciples Women|Comments Off

Hurricane Michael Relief Efforts Continue

Chaplain Jacob George (Hillcrest Medical Center, Tulsa, OK) is in Panama City, Florida volunteering his time to those impacted by Hurricane Michael. He has been assigned to Bay Medical Center Sacred Heart in Panama City.

The hospital sustained structural, roof and water damage, as well as cooling and plumbing issues, loss of information system, etc. All of the in-patients have been evacuated. The ER is being kept open with staff from sister hospitals across the country. The hospital has about 1,700 employees, most of whom have been been impacted.

Jacob has been assigned to provide spiritual care and support to employees and their families, serve as ER chaplain and to work alongside other relief agencies. The people have expressed gratitude for safety and provision as well as painful accounts of loss and tragedy.

If you feel led to provide hurricane relief support you may so do through Week of Compassion.

CCOK3012019-01-16T12:38:00-06:00Oct 29, 2018|Congregations|Comments Off

Annual Fund 2018

October 2018

There is great joy in…

connecting Disciples to God, to Jesus Christ, to one another!
equipping Disciples to serve others!
empowering Disciples to lead others to the love of God!
and giving generously to the church!

Will you make a contribution to the Regional Church’s Annual Fund? This gift may be your first or one of many. We need your investment in the Regional Church to connect, equip, and empower pastors and congregations to make Disciples who love and serve like Jesus.

The Oklahoma Region has had a wonderful year of ministry, and with your gift the Regional Church is looking forward to another faithful year of ministry in 2019 as we continue to provide leadership and guidance for Disciples, both pastors and lay persons.

The Commission on Faith in Action is already planning two mission trips to Caminante and launching Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism training throughout the Region.

The Commission on Youth, Children, & Young Adults is planning another Intersections trip for adults, and new ministries for 2019 include a Family Camp and a youth Mission Trip to South Texas in partnership with Reach Beyond Mission.

The Commission on Evangelism has been resurrected and training has begun to start new congregations.

The Regional Executive Committee has just approved a new  Commission on Immigration and Refugees. It will provide education and resources for our congregations to embrace and provide important ministry with our brothers and sisters.

Leadership Training School will take place on February 23, 2019 with our General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens as our preacher.

Your generous gift to the Regional Church’s Annual Fund  continues to provide excellent leadership for all these ministries, and more.

Our ministries connect and equip and empower Disciples around the Region as we seek to deepen our faith and to put our faith into action to transform the world, one place, one person, one heart at a time.

It is a joy to give, and the Region thanks you for your gift!

May God’s blessing continue to be upon each of us and all of us as we seek to love and serve like Jesus Christ.

Peace & God’s grace,

Pamela G. Holt, Regional Minister

P.S. You may support the Region’s ministries and faith in action with your online donation.

Jeffrey and Olivia participated in International Affairs when they were seniors in high school. As seniors in college, they joined the Intersections Trip in September, 2018, where Jeffrey, in the lobby of a New York City hotel, knelt down on one knee, looked up at Olivia, and asked, “Will you marry me?” Such joy!

CONNECTING

We are going to be rededicating our sanctuary with its improvements next Sunday. As boring as that sounds, there might be another good reason to be here on that Sunday. We have a baptism planned in worship for Mildred who was born in August of 1920. She has never been baptized. I really feel this need to scream the news from the rooftop!

EMPOWERING, Rev. Andrew Campbell, Minister, Yale Avenue CC, Tulsa

During the mission trip to Caminante in the Dominican Republic, I saw the face of God in multiple places. The volunteers who went out of their way to make sure that we were treated fairly and that we were comfortable during our stay. While we were in the day camp, we were swarmed with children and teenagers who welcomed us with open arms. They played and talked to us without any judgment. This truly touched me. These kids helped me remind myself that sometimes we have a hard time accepting others whole heartedly, but that we need to keep ourselves in that mindset of being more open with everyone we meet.

EQUIPPING, Deborah Touthang, Young Adult, Yale Avenue CC, Tulsa

The church has been such a blessing to our family. It is a joy to bless the church with our giving.

GIVING GENEROUSLY, Larry & Diane Brown, Members, FCC Chickasha

CCOK3012019-01-16T12:38:35-06:00Oct 22, 2018|Regional News|Comments Off

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