CCOK301, Author at Christian Church in Oklahoma

Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Training – March 9, 2018

The Christian Church in the Southwest and Brite Divinity School invite you to attend Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism Training facilitated by Sandhya Jha and David Bell.

DATE: Friday, March 9, 2018

TIME: 10 am to 4 pm

WHERE: Bass Conference Center at Brite Divinity School

COST: Registration fee: $20 and includes a light lunch ($10 for Brite students)

WHO: Who should attend? Clergy and laity are welcome! Clergy will receive continuing education credits for this class.

For more information or to register click HERE or call the Christian Church in the Southwest at 817.926.4687

Rev. Sandhya Rani Jha is a respected and inspiring speaker, preacher, workshop leader and a pro-reconciliation/anti-racism trainer with the Christian Church (DoC). Sandhya serves as Director of the Oakland Peace Center, a collective of innovative non-profits working to create justice and peace in the city of Oakland and the Bay Area. She is the author of Pre-Post-Racial America: Spiritual Stories from the Front Lines and Transforming Communities: How People Like You Are Healing Their Neighborhoods.

Rev. David B. Bell is Minister for Indigenous Peoples Concerns at Yakama Christian Mission, Washington, and a pro-reconciliation/anti-racism trainer with the Christian Church (DoC). In the multi-cultural community of the Yakama Reservation, the mission offers a social justice ministry to create opportunities for young people and seeks to change systems outside the reservation through programs which challenge systemic racism.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:04-05:00Feb 15, 2018|Congregations|Comments Off

Oklahoma Disciples Women Encounter Event Update

The Oklahoma Disciples Women met on Saturday, February 10, 2018 for their Encounter Event at Wildewood Christian Church.

The theme this year was “Disciples Women Have Heart”. Pastor Dwayne E. Rodgers (Senior Pastor at Wildewood Christian Church) welcomed the women to the church.

Dr. Nathan Grantham discussed “Women’s Heart Health” followed by a panel that included dietitians. Two workshops were offered. Rev. Noel Gray led a “Prayer and Meditation” workshop. Sandy Moyers led a workshop titled “Prayer Beads”.

Installation of State Disciples Women Officers was led by Rev. Pam Holt and Rev. Leslie Dotson. Rev. Brenda Denson led the Communion Service.

Thank you to all who joined this event and made it such a success!

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:13-05:00Feb 12, 2018|Disciples Women|Comments Off

Safety & Security: Wildewood CC Offers Free Workshop

Wildewood Christian Church is raising safety awareness by offering free resources for prevention of and response to an active shooter in a House of Worship.

Did you know that violence in houses of worship is on the rise? In the United States we have had 92 deaths and numerous injuries in the past ten years.

Do you know how to create a balance between your mission and crime prevention efforts? A congregation should not worship in fear, nor should the worship experience be altered to the point of distraction with guard dogs, metal detectors, or armed security officers guarding the entrances to the sanctuary.

Do you have a current Emergency Operation Plan for your site? Wildewood Christian Church is offering free resources to teach congregations how to write an Emergency Operation Plan and give examples that will provide an overview of how to be prepared before, during, and after an incident.

The two-hour presentation covers:

What Makes a Secure House of Worship?
Survival Mindset
What you can do to Prevent a Shooting
Historical Perspective of Shooters
Five Stages of a Shooter
Knowing Who’s Who in Your Pew
What’s an Emergency Operation Plan?
Creating a Vulnerability Assessment of Your Site
Are You Ready?

If you are interested in scheduling a presentation at your location, or need more information, contact: Jim McBride Office (405) 425-7589 Cell (405) 823-5729
Email jim.mcbride@okohs.ok.gov

OKLAHOMA OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY
www.homelandsecurity.ok.gov

At Leadership Training School 2018, two additional classes on this topic will be offered. More details to follow soon on the Region’s LTS Website.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:18-05:00Feb 12, 2018|Congregations|Comments Off

Save the Date: Disciples Men Retreat April 6-7, 2018

You are invited to the the Oklahoma Disciples Men Retreat on April 6-7, 2018 at Central Camp Ground in Guthrie, OK. The theme this year is “Careful What You Pray For”.

The Retreat will begin at 5pm on April 6th and end at noon on April 7th. You may fill out the attached 2018 retreat registration to register by mail. Cost is $39.95 for first time attendees and $69.95 for all other attendees.

Online registration is available HERE.

Friday, April 6:

Registration at 5pm
Dinner at 6:30pm
Speaker: Joshua Payne, Swat Team Leader with the F.B.I will lead a discussion on Church Security
Wrap up by 9pm

Saturday, April 7:

Group meal
Keynote Speaker: Pastor Dwayne E. Rodgers

Dwayne Rodgers, Senior Pastor Dwayne E. Rodgers from Wildewood Christian Church is passionate about the Word of God, which is evidenced by his sermon delivery and his desire to see the church at large increased in saved souls. Not only is he a dynamic preacher and speaker, but God has blessed him with great leadership and administrative skills and an ability to teach and explain the Scriptures for varying levels of understanding.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:23-05:00Feb 8, 2018|Disciples Men|Comments Off

Ready to Join 2018? Stop Writing Paper Checks and Give Online!

The Oklahoma Region has made giving easier! Online giving is now available through Givelify. Givelify is an app that makes giving as easy as 3 taps. TAP. CLICK. DONE.

To get started:

Download the Givelify app for your Iphone/Android. For instructions watch a short video HERE
Create your account
Enter your financial information that you would like to use for your donations
You are now set up to give as easy as TAP. CLICK. DONE.

There are 4 categories available to give to the Oklahoma Region with Givelify:

Annual Fund
Youth & Children’s Ministry
Caminante
Other (For Special Gifts or Memorial Gifts)

The Givelify App also offers an option to set up recurring gifts, so it is easy to give monthly or on your personal schedule.

If you are interested in learning more click HERE.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:27-05:00Feb 8, 2018|Regional News|Comments Off

Year Book Forms Are Due March 15, 2018

Year Book and Directory forms are important to maintaining your church’s 501(c)3 tax status with the IRS. Submission Deadline is March 15, 2018. The General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) votes and approves the list of member churches, church agencies and institutions published in the Year Book for submission to the IRS. This assures contributions to your congregation may be properly reported as tax exempt to the IRS.

Choose a Way to Submit:

Online at http://disciples.org/yearbook/ then click on the link under Congregational Reporting for English, Spanish or Korean. To file online you will need your CHURCH PIN # found near the top left corner of your Year Book Form, which was mailed to each church on January 24th. If you need help finding your PIN # please contact the Regional Office for assistance. 405-528-3577.
Email a scanned copy to the Regional Office to be received by March 13th: office@okdisciples.org
Fax a copy to the Regional Office to be received by March 13th: 405-283-1668
Mail the form to the Regional Office to be received by March 13th. Christian Church in Oklahoma, 301 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73118-8661

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:32-05:00Feb 7, 2018|Congregations|Comments Off

New Nebraska Regional Minister Called: Rev. Christopher Morton

The Regional Board voted unanimously to call Rev. Chris Morton to serve as the next Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska, beginning in April. Chris has served as a pastor of congregations in Indiana, Minnesota and Washington, and in senior leadership and/or executive director of ecumenical and interfaith organizations in Minnesota and Washington.

Additionally, Chris has been executive director to a few secular nonprofit organizations, and for nearly 10 years provided organizational development consulting to a variety of not-for-profits. He will move to Lincoln and will begin his ministry in Nebraska in early April.

Much appreciation is expressed to the search committee, co-chaired by Eileen Kunz, (pictured with Chris at left,) and Gayle Gengenbach, (right).

“Chris brings to us the needed balance of pastoral care, administrative ability, fund-raising experience and a vision for future ministry,” Eileen said. Other members of the committee were Jay Mitchell, Daryl Lauber, Ann Pope, and Phyllis Dunlop.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:38-05:00Feb 6, 2018|Regional News|Comments Off

Join the Fun at CYF Day 2018 at TCU in Fort Worth, TX

You and your youth group are invited to CYF Day 2018 at TCU! CYF Day is a longstanding tradition at TCU in which students come to campus for a day, get a tour, have lunch on campus, learn all about TCU while getting to meet current students and staff, worship as a community, and of course go to a baseball game (Go Frogs)!

CYF Day is FREE and is open to both high school and middle school students this year.

CYF Day will take place on Saturday, April 7, 2018 starting at 9:00a.m. at University Christian Church, 2720 S. University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76109.

Breakfast and coffee are available before the admissions information session! Activities are available for middle school students that may not want to sit through an admissions information session.

Please RSVP HERE by March 25. If you are traveling from outside DFW and need a place to stay for the night, please email JOSHUA.T.JACKSON@tcu.edu to coordinate. TCU is working with local churches to arrange lodging for groups, as needed. TCU will also provide entertainment ideas in Fort Worth throughout the weekend for the groups that are interested.

For more information email JOSHUA.T.JACKSON@tcu.edu, LEA.MCCRACKEN@tcu.edu, or dalton.goodier@tcu.edu for more details.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:39:40-05:00Feb 1, 2018|Youth|Comments Off

Register Today for “Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate” Seminar with Dr. J. Clif Christopher

Oklahoma Disciples Foundation is pleased to announce that Dr. Clif Christopher, noted author, pastor and certified church growth consultant, will be the featured speaker at a Foundation-sponsored stewardship seminar at First Christian Church, Moore, Oklahoma, on Tuesday, March 6, 2018. You don’t want to miss an opportunity to hear Dr. Christopher share stories and insight about his experiences within the church relating to generosity and stewardship.

Dr. Clif Christopher

Mark your calendar now and plan to attend. Please register HERE by February 23, 2018.

Dr. Christopher founded the Horizons Stewardship Company in 1992 following a challenging career in pastoral ministry. He serves as the company’s CEO to this day. In his twenty years as a pastor, he led numerous major building and capital campaigns. Since founding Horizons, he and his strategists have led consultations in over 2,000 churches, conferences, synods and diocese in all phases of building, finance, and church growth raising billions of dollars for ministry.

Dr. Christopher is a certified church growth consultant and has earned the coveted title CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive). In 1995, he was given the National Circuit Rider Award by the United Methodist Church for outstanding leadership in developing vital congregations.

He has personally worked in over 42 states and is a frequent speaker at stewardship seminars around the country. He is the co-author of the book Holy Smoke, the author of Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate, Whose Offering Plate Is It?, Rich Church – Poor Church and The Church Money Manual.

Dr. Bill Easum, noted consultant and author, said, “No one knows more about local church stewardship than Clif Christopher.”

Mega church pastor, Adam Hamilton said, “When I have a stewardship question, I call Clif Christopher.”

Foundation director, David Atkins said, “Clif is one of the most effective communicators in the field of church fundraising today.”

Author and highly successful pastor, Mike Slaughter said, “Clif Christopher is one of the top authorities on church finance and stewardship in America.”

Abingdon Press has described him as “The leading voice of finance and stewardship in the Christian Church.”

Clif has been an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church since 1975, is a combat veteran of the Gulf War, and is married and living in Little Rock, Arkansas.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:41:43-05:00Jan 29, 2018|Regional News|Comments Off

Oklahoma Disciples Foundation Grant Applications Due Feb. 15th

In 2017, ODF implemented a grant-making process to provide funds for Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma related programs, ministries and missions. Over the years, several permanent endowments have been established by donors or through closed church memorial funds with specific, varied purposes to provide ongoing funding to the Foundation’s grant program. The endowments support ministries and missions for children, youth and young adults as well as provide for the education of clergy, laity and congregations on the guidance and art of spiritual giving. Endowments also provide funding to benefit healthcare ministries for seniors, church innovation and ecumenical spiritual education for students. View the endowment summaries at the link above.

Please see the summary below of estimated grant funds available this year. The deadline for applications for 2018 Grant Funding is 5:00 p.m., February 15, 2018. Links to current Grant Guidelines, 2018 Grant Application and Grant Scoring are available HERE. The grant program awards funding based on events or programs with potential to make the greatest impact. A grant-making committee of current and former ODF board members reviews applications and makes recommendations to the ODF board of directors. Grant checks will be mailed by the end of March.

Email Julie Bowers at jabowers@okdfdn.org to be included on a list of interested parties for email updates. Or call 405.525.6530 for more information.