CCOK301, Author at Christian Church in Oklahoma

Oklahoma Drop Sites for CWS Buckets and Kits

Week of Compassion is responding and will continue to reach out to our partners and churches to provide emergency support and assistance in these unprecedented storms, Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana, and Hurricane Irma, which impacted several southeastern states and Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Please continue to keep these millions of people in your prayers, and thank you for your generous support to Week of Compassion.

We also continue to encourage congregations to make Church World Service Clean-Up Buckets and Hygiene Kits. (CLICK HERE for a list of the contents and instructions on assembly.) These will be distributed both in South Texas and in Florida for those impacted by the hurricanes.

Oklahoma Drop Off Points for Clean-Up Buckets & Hygiene Kits

Duncan
First Christian Church Duncan
912 W. Walnut Ave.
Duncan, OK 73533
(580) 255-6116 (Contact Ron Savage)
Drop Buckets Off by Sept. 28th

Enid
Iglesia Christiana El Shaddai
1524 N. Independence St.
Enid, OK 73701
(580) 278-8424 (Contact Francisco Hernadez)
Drop Buckets Off by Sept. 28th

Edmond
First Christian Church Edmond
201 E. 2nd St.
Edmond, OK 73034
(405) 341-3544 (Contact Gwen Shaw)
Drop Buckets Off by Sept. 28th

Oklahoma City
First Christian Church Oklahoma City
3700 N. Walker Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
(405) 525-6551 (Contact John Malget)
Drop Buckets Off by Sept. 28th

Church World Service Drop Site
OK Conference UMC Ministry Center
1501 NW 24^thOklahoma City, OK 73106

Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Drop Buckets Off by Sept. 29th

Contact:
Email: Rebekah Belase, rbelase@cwsglobal.org
Phone: Tabitha, Welcome and Hospitality Desk, 405-530-2000

Tulsa
Harvard Avenue Christian Church
5502 S. Harvard Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74135
(918) 742-5509 (Contact Courtney Richards)
Drop Buckets Off by Sept. 28th

Donate to Church World Service

Donate to Week of Compassion

CCOK3012017-09-21T10:08:25-05:00Sep 12, 2017|Regional News|2 Comments

Recent Installations

Join us in congratulating Ronnie Hopkins and John Wheeler on their recent installations.

Ronnie Hopkins was installed at First Christian Church Woodward on August 27.

John Wheeler was installed at First Christian Church Arnett on September 10.

John Wheeler and Michael Davison

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:46:09-05:00Sep 11, 2017|Clergy News|Comments Off

Update 3: Hurricanes, wildfires and world disasters

551st Multi-Role Bridge Company out of El Campo, Texas, scouts the road for water depth as his unit makes there way to a flooded Orange, Texas neighborhood where they use their boats to search for people in need of help, Sept. 3, 2017 as a result of Hurricane Harvey. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)

Blackhawk flyover of Railyard in Beaumont, TX on 9-2-17. (Video by 1st lt. Nicholas Caesar, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Southwestern Division)

Air National Guard responding to Pier Fire Fresno, CA

U.S. Air National Guardsmen follow a U.S. Forrest Service lead plane under a large column of smoke preparing to drop retardant on the Pier Fire southeast of Fresno California. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Tech. Sgt. Jeff Allen.)

U.S. Air National Guardsmen Maj. Danny Ariza (left) Capt. Nate Southwick (right) and loadmaster Staff Sgt. Garret Gillette (center) follow a U.S. Forrest Service lead plane under a large column of smoke preparing to drop retardant on the Pier Fire southeast of Fresno California (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Tech. Sgt. Jeff Allen.)

We are sharing this information to update you about the continued devastation from U.S. Hurricanes and wildfires and other world disasters. Above image credits: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team Hurricane Irma 9/6/17

Pam Holt, Regional Minister

09.07.17 11:00 am

“Listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor, who suffer most because of the unbalanced ecology.”
Pope Frances

Disasters in South Texas & Louisiana, California, India, Caribbean, Florida

Last week while Hurricane Harvey devastated south Texas and wild fires in California, monsoons paralyzed Mumbai with twelve hundred lives lost and twenty-four million people affected across India, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

As of today, Hurricane Irma has devastated several Caribbean islands.

In Puerto Rico, millions are without electricity and many are without water. There have been ten reported deaths.
Caminante, located in the Dominican Republic, has been severely affected. Caminante is a Global Ministries partner and one our Region supports and visits each summer.
And now Florida is preparing for Hurricane Irma’s wild and chaotic presence this weekend.

Week of Compassion is responding and will continue to reach out to our partners and churches to provide emergency support and assistance in these unprecedented storms.

Please continue to keep these millions of people in your prayers, and thank you for your generous support to Week of Compassion.

We also continue to encourage congregations to make Church World Service Clean-Up Buckets and Hygiene Kits. (CLICK HERE for a list of the contents and instructions on assembly.) These will be distributed both in South Texas and in Florida.

Oklahoma Drop Off Points for Clean-Up Buckets & Hygiene Kits

Duncan
First Christian Church Duncan
912 W. Walnut Ave.
Duncan, OK 73533
(580) 255-6116

Enid
Iglesia Christiana El Shaddai
1524 N. Independence St.
Enid, OK 73701
(580) 278-8424

Edmond
First Christian Church Edmond
201 E. 2nd St.
Edmond, OK 73034
(405) 341-3544

Oklahoma City
First Christian Church Oklahoma City
3700 N. Walker Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
(405) 525-6551

Tulsa
Harvard Avenue Christian Church
5502 S. Harvard Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74135
(918) 742-5509

Donate to Church World Service

Donate to Week of Compassion

CCOK3012017-09-07T15:59:59-05:00Sep 7, 2017|Regional News|Comments Off

Crossroads Kids Grief Camp, October 6-8, 2017

Healing for Grieving Children and their Families at “Crossroads Kids” Grief Camp

Crossroads Kids’ weekend camp helps children and families in grief learn, heal, and grow after the death of a loved one.

On the weekend of October 6th – 8th, in Guthrie, OK, Crossroads Kids will host a weekend camp for children and families in grief after the death of a loved one. The 3-day, 2-night grief camp provides children ages 6-12 and their families with a healing environment designed to facilitate communication and provide children with a safe place to experience, share, and understand their grief in order to begin the healing journey.

By incorporating therapeutic activities into a fun camping experience, Crossroads Kids allows children to connect with peers who are also experiencing grief. It is a time for children to share their experiences in a safe place while developing coping skills to take with them when they leave. “Our kids and families are able to not only share their loss with others who are experiencing similar situations but learn coping skills and techniques they can take home with them.” states Jo Carolyn Chambers, LCSW, a licensed master social worker and Oklahoma Crossroads Kids camp director.

To provide the best healing environment for the children and their families, every Crossroads Kids camp is structured as follows:

Every camp maintains a 1:2 ratio of staff to children to ensure ample supervision and support.
All camp activities and therapeutic groups are overseen by credentialed, master’s level social work and psychology staff.

If you are interested in having a child attend one of Crossroads Kids’ weekend grief camps, contact Meredith Fields Lawler at (888) 658-4888, or visit crhcf.org/Crossroads-Kids/ for more information.

About Crossroads Kids: Founded in 2015, Crossroads Kids is an initiative of Crossroads Hospice Charitable Foundation and is dedicated to honoring the validity of child and family grief by facilitating the healing process. Crossroads Kids has been instrumental in helping children and families across Oklahoma achieve healing after the death of a loved one.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:46:14-05:00Sep 7, 2017|Congregations|Comments Off

Celebrating Service Anniversaries and Retirements

Service Anniversaries:
Join us in congratulating Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Don Heath for their many years of service as they celebrate their service anniversaries. Thank you both for your many years of service and your continued leadership serving your congregation!

Rev. Jesse Jackson celebrated 21 years with East Sixth Street Christian Church in Oklahoma City. Rev. Jesse Jackson was celebrated with his congregation at East Sixth Street Christian Church on Sunday, August 27, 2017.

Rev. Don Heath celebrated 10 years with Edmond Trinity Christian Church. Don’s celebration was held at Edmond Trinity Christian Church on Sunday, September 10, 2017.

Pictured left to right: Rev. George Young, Rev. Mary Heath, Rev. Don Heath, Regional Minister Rev. Pam Holt

Retirement Celebrations:
We celebrate Rev. Debi Powell-Maxwell (Former Pastor at FCC Yukon) and Rev. Jann Osborn (Former Associate Pastor at FCC Yukon) as they both begin retirement from FCC Yukon. Rev. Jann Osborn will begin her chaplain residency at OU Medical in September.

Rev. Debi Powell-Maxwell and Regional Minister, Pam Holt at Debi’s Retirement Ceremony

Rev. Jann Osborn and Regional Minister, Pam Holt at Jann’s Retirement Ceremony

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:46:19-05:00Sep 7, 2017|Clergy News|Comments Off

Pastor’s Pathway Silent Retreat, Oct. 23-25

The Pastor’s Pathway Silent Retreat for clergy will be held October 23-25 at Red Rock Canyon Methodist Camp in Hinton, OK. Silence begins after worship on Monday, October 23rd afternoon and ends Wednesday, October 25th at 11:00 am. Scriptures and other materials on silence and encouragement are slipped under doors throughout this time of silence. Bring what you would like to do during the silence and snacks to share.

Cost: $165.50 per person. Each person gets their own room. The cost includes dinner on Monday, all meals on Tuesday, and breakfast on Wednesday. All linens are provided.

For further details and to reserve a spot, contact Christine Pomaville as soon as possible. 405-248-6282 / revbell@hotmail.com

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:46:24-05:00Sep 5, 2017|Clergy News|Comments Off

General Minister’s Thoughts on DACA in the U.S.

9/5/17 From General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens:

“I mourn for the wound that is opened in the hearts of the more than three quarters of a million youth and young adults who, with their families, grieve because of the President’s unwillingness to maintain the work sustaining and education encouraging and community supporting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA recipients are our neighbors in nearly every community. They are our classmates in nearly every college, university, and seminary. They are our friends in our workplaces–sometimes whether we know it or not. And they are key leaders in our churches; brave and faithful and full of determination to contribute consistently to build up the strength of their families and neighborhoods and congregations. Our relationships with these fine young people and their families help us to fulfill our call to welcome the sojourner and experience unity among the diverse tapestry of communities in our church and nation.

“Therefore, the President’s decision to end the DACA program without certainty of legislative action to protect those who have come forward to receive DACA status seeks to bully the breath from their life hope, and to browbeat our efforts to follow scripture’s command for hospitality.

“Likewise, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients are our church pastors, leaders, and strength from Haitian, Salvadorans, and other backgrounds. Therefore, threats from the administration to eliminate TPS for vulnerable populations are unmerciful. They harm our faith family directly and seek to replace the economic healing and health offered through TPS with danger and even potential death if recipients are deported to disastrous conditions in their homeland.

“DACA and TPS recipients have followed the calling of God in Jeremiah 27:9 to ‘seek the welfare of the city to where I send you;’ and our faith compels us likewise to support the well being and healing of those who offer their gifts generously to our nation. We therefore urge immediate passage of The DREAM Act of 2017 by Congress which would offer stability to the lives of immigrant leaders, and we are committed to continuing work for compassionate immigration reforms that can support family unity, offer a stable future to hardworking immigrants, and enable them to fully utilize their God-granted gifts without fears of deportation.”

To follow this issue, go to the Disciples Home Missions Refugee and Immigration Ministry page

CCOK3012017-09-05T11:51:32-05:00Sep 5, 2017|Regional News|1 Comment

Forest Park Christian Church-Tulsa partners with Family Promise

Forest Park Christian Church in Tulsa became the seventh church, and the first Disciples of Christ Church, in the Tulsa area to sign an agreement with Family Promise, an organization helping homeless families across the nation.

Family Promise is a holistic approach to the crisis of family homelessness. Their programs address the range of issues that affect low-income families. These include direct services, educational curricula, prevention programs and more.

Family Promise uses churches to provide housing and food for families. In order for Family Promise to operate in a city, they need the commitment of 13 churches in the area who are willing to house and feed families from evening through early morning each day for 4 weeks throughout the year. Churches provide volunteers, food and a space for the families to have dinner, engage in family activities such as homework, game time, reading, or watching movies, pack a lunch for the next day, sleep and eat breakfast. During the day, families go to the Family Promise day center where they shower, do laundry, engage in educational curriculum, prepare for job interviews, work on locating housing, etc.

Family Promise has been fulfilling their mission of “helping homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response” since 1986 and to date they assist over 67, 000 people each year across the nation. Due to their “intensive case management and community support, more than 74% of the families they serve find housing in less than nine weeks.”

Forest Park is proud to join Family Promise in an effort to be a part of the solution to family homelessness in Tulsa, and encourages other churches or interested volunteers to consider joining the initiative as well.

For more information on Family Promise, visit their website at FamilyPromise.org.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:46:29-05:00Sep 5, 2017|Congregations|Comments Off

Pastoral Letter from Week of Compassion and the General Minister

O God, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home: even as our prayers rise with each morning’s sun for those left battered and bruised, we bow our heads in humble thanksgiving for the generous partnership of Disciples everywhere. Fount of every blessing, pour out your streams of mercy on every heartfelt gift and every inundated home, that all might know you as our help in ages past and our hope for years to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

September 1, 2017

Dear Church,

This past week our hearts and minds have been filled with images of our siblings on the Texas Gulf Coast who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey. Our prayers went out for these communities as we watched homes submerged underwater: elders stranded in waterlogged buildings; churches, usually places of refuge and worship, rapidly flooded. We saw rescue workers, neighbors, and strangers risk their own lives to save the lives of others.

Some of us have feelings of dismay, overwhelm, despair, or anger; we cannot comprehend how so many are hurting. Yet, we are also coming together, in prayer and generosity. That is where hope lies. God is in our coming together, as Church, to respond when our family is in need.

Right now it is still too early to know the full scale impact of Hurricane Harvey, and we will not know for weeks, but this is what we know right now:

While most of the damage has been in Texas, 13 million people from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky are estimated to be affected by rain and flooding
Rescue teams have evacuated than 10,000 people from flooded homes
As of Friday, Harvey has claimed 47 lives, and FEMA does not know how many people are still missing or awaiting rescue
More than 32,000 people are currently living in shelters, and 365,000 Texans have registered for FEMA assistance

Among Disciples:

Three churches have sustained severe damage, and roughly 12 more have had moderate flooding, water intrusion, and roof damage.
More than 100 families connected to our congregations have had flooding or other damage to their homes.

As we have been reminded by many emergency responders, now is not the time to come to Texas. Affected communities are busy enough without having to coordinate logistics for outside volunteers. Housing is also at a premium for evacuees and emergency personnel. The commitment and compassion of outside volunteers will be critical in the coming months and years, mostly long after the headlines have moved on, as we clean up and begin repairs. In the meantime, we – Week of Compassion staff, Vy Nguyen, Caroline Hamilton-Arnold, as well as Interim National Hispanic Ministries Pastor, Lori Tapia, and I, your general minister and president – have been reaching out to pastors and congregations to help assess need, pray and encourage these shepherds in the midst of this storm.

Week of Compassion staff have received phone calls and e-mails from so many of you asking what you can do to help as the disaster has unfolded, and we thank you! Disciples from across the U.S. and Canada have offered to come down and provide relief, because sitting still is difficult for us. It is in our DNA to help.

Please know that through your prayers and gifts to Week of Compassion, you are already present in Texas, where we are supporting the relief efforts led by our congregations. Responses include providing shelter, distributing food and cleaning materials, offering emotional and spiritual care, and helping those who have been able to return to their homes begin the process of mucking them out.

The whole Church is committed to the long-term recovery. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells us that the Samaritan not only rescued the man on the Jericho road he suffered attack, but he provided funds to ensure the man was supported in his on-going recovery. (Luke 10:33-35) In the next few weeks, Week of Compassion will work closely with local churches, area ministries, regional staff, Disciples Volunteering, and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), as well as Disciples Church Extension Fund, National Benevolent Association and Pension Fund, to rebuild these communities in the years to come. It is who we are and how we have done it, together, as a church family, after other disasters — Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Joplin tornado, smaller flooding events, and now Hurricane Harvey.

Please continue to keep the people affected by the storms in your prayers. And please continue to donate to Week of Compassion as 100% of your gifts will be used in the weeks and months to rebuild. Whenever we serve sisters and brothers in need, we are the presence of Christ. Together, we are there in Christ’s name.

Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President

Vy Nguyen, Executive Director, Week of Compassion

(Download a copy of this letter.)

Donate to Week of Compassion

CCOK3012017-09-05T11:19:19-05:00Sep 5, 2017|Regional News|Comments Off

Ordination Ceremony for Zenobia Mayo

Join us in congratulating Zenobia Mayo on her recent ordination.

The Service of Ordination to Christian Ministry for Zenobia Elizabeth Guess-Mayo took place on August 27th at First Christian Church Tulsa. Regional Minister, Pam Holt and Associate Regional Minister, Leslie Dotson officiated the ceremony. The Rev. Dr. Stephanie Crowder, co-pastor of Park Manor CC in Chicago, IL gave the sermon.