CCOK301, Author at Christian Church in Oklahoma

Update #2 Hurricane Harvey

Coast Guard Hurricane Harvey Beaumont, TX

Coast Guard helicopter rescue Beaumont, TX Hurricane Harvey

Beaumont, TX area 8/30/17 The Coast Guard responds to search and rescue requests in response to Hurricane Harvey.

(U.S. Coast Guard photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Giles. Used with permission.)

Coast Guard rescue Port Arthur, TX Hurricane Harvey

Port Arthur, TX 8/30/17 Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Davis, assigned to Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team New Orleans, rescues a child in support of Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy by Maritime Safety and Security Team New Orleans/Released. Used with permission.)

We are sharing this information to update you about the continued devastation from Hurricane Harvey.

Pam Holt, Regional Minister

08.31.17 11:50 am

Things are quite grim in far SE Texas today after three days of extreme rains.

Beaumont is essentially stranded with the water system compromised.
Port Arthur and Orange took a hard hit.
Flooding is still occurring in Houston, but people are starting to be able to get around.
Schools in Katy have been postponed for several weeks.
Port Aransas has suspended schools in their area for this school year due to damage.

The list is endless. Income and banking are now moving to the top of the list. Jobs and services are lost. I am so appreciative of all your donations and efforts to encourage Week of Compassion and Church World Service giving.

Texas is resilient but this is going to be a very long haul. Please continue prayers for us.

Grace and peace,

Zena McAdams
Interim Regional Minister
Christian Church of the Southwest

Donate to Church World Service

Donate to Week of Compassion

CCOK3012017-08-31T16:44:54-05:00Aug 31, 2017|Regional News|Comments Off

Immediate Needs for Hurricane Harvey: How You Can Help

A Message from Regional Minister Pam Holt

Downloads

Video Transcript – Please feel free to use excerpts of Regional Minister Pam Holt’s message

How to Assemble Hygiene Kits & Clean Up Buckets – Instructions and contents for assembly

Week of Compassion Logo – Use this logo in your outreach

Mail Checks To:
Week of Compassion
PO Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206

Make Payable to Week of Compassion

Donate Online to WOC

When one member suffers, we all suffer . . .

Imagine what you might see inside this sanctuary. It is Cypress Creek Christian Church in Spring, Texas.

There are many of our brothers and sisters suffering in south Texas from Hurricane Harvey. We all know someone in this area – they are either family or friends who are impacted by this unbelievable storm.

Oklahoma folks know what devastation is, and we also know what it is like to be on the receiving end of grace and acts of kindness. Because we are compassionate and generous disciples of Christ, we are anxious to help our brothers and sisters in great need in south Texas. And we are all asking “What can we do?” Right now, the waters are still very high, and while the clouds have parted to reveal blue sky, people are still being rescued from danger.

What We Recommend

While there are many needs and many pleas on FaceBook, in consultation with Rev. Mary Hughes Gaudreau, Oklahoma Conference of Church’s expert on Disaster Spiritual and Emotional Care Ministries, Vy Nguyen from Week of Compassion, Josh Baird from Disciples Volunteering, Rebekah Belase local representative for Church World Service, and Zena McAdams, the Interim Regional Minister of the Christian Church in the Southwest, we are recommending the following:

PRAY. Keep the millions of victims of this storm in your prayers. Pray for all the rescuers, the first responders who are working on the ground and who are exhausted yet determined. Pray for the Red Cross and the Salvation Army who are in urgent mode. Pray for city officials who are already thinking about the long-term clean up. Pray for all the livestock and pets who were abandoned.

STAY. Out of concern and a desire to be useful, we want to go and help. Now is not the time! The situation is dangerous and is ongoing even though the sun came out on Tuesday afternoon. Volunteers at this time put themselves at risk and create additional challenges for rescue and emergency crews. Volunteer opportunities will come later for clean-up and long term recovery. We will listen for mission opportunities in the days and weeks and months ahead.

DONATE. Give to the Week of Compassion. On Sunday morning, please make an appeal to church members to make an extra donation to Week of Compassion. Remind folks to designate the donation to US Storms where 100% of their gifts will go to help communities rebuild after storms such as Hurricane Harvey. For the days ahead, be creative and host a church yard sale and donate all the proceeds to Week of Compassion.

MAKE.

Hygiene Kits and Clean Up Buckets.

Remember the 120 hygiene kits that we made in April 2016 at Regional Assembly? Church World Service is sending 150,000 hygiene kits to Texas. They need more. Gather your resources and make hygiene kits to be shipped to Texas. Follow this link for instructions or download it at the link above.

In just a few days, Clean Up Buckets will be needed. Church World Service has 1,500 clean up buckets, which is all that they have. CWS is in desperate need of more clean up buckets. We need to make more! In the next few Sundays, organize and make clean-up buckets. CWS will need these buckets by September 30th. Follow this link for instructions or download it at the link above.

Where to take them? We will publish a drop off point for these buckets in the near future. Arrangements are being made right now. Just get started!

GIVE BLOOD. You can always give blood at your local blood donation station and designate it Hurricane Harvey.

These are the first steps to being the hands and feet of Christ in South Texas.

Please know that this is a situation where the needs for help will change, almost daily. We will do our best to keep you informed so that you can continue to be faithful disciples of Christ, and guide your congregation to love and serve like Jesus.

Pam Holt, Regional Minister
Michael Davison, Associate Regional Minister
Leslie Dotson, Associate Regional Minister

CCOK3012017-08-31T11:39:23-05:00Aug 31, 2017|Regional News|Comments Off

How to Support Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief

You can support Hurricane Harvey disaster relief by making an online donation to Week of Compassion HERE. You may also donate to your congregation by designating your offering as “Week of Compassion for Hurricane Harvey”.

Week of Compassion currently responds to disasters around the world approximately once every one and a half days. Recent major disasters receive much of Week of Compassion’s attention and resources.

Your gifts to the Compassion Response Fund and to ‘Where Most Needed’ enable Week of Compassion to respond immediately to disasters and emergencies – ‘big’ or ‘small’ – as they arise. Designated donations enable continued support through the work of church partners who continue to respond under some of the most difficult and dangerous circumstances imaginable.

You can read more about Week of Compassion HERE.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:46:38-05:00Aug 28, 2017|Regional News|Comments Off

Save the Date for 2018 Regional Assembly & Leadership Training School

Mark your calendar and alert your congregation that April 28, 2018 the Oklahoma Region invites everyone to the combined 2018 Regional Assembly and Leadership Training School.

This year we’ve created a single event to host a variety of training workshops with the regional business of Oklahoma’s biennial Regional Assembly. Participants will experience the energy and enthusiasm of one of the nation’s top clergy during worship! Plus we’ll have exceptional workshops for lay leaders and clergy that you’ve come to enjoy.

New Covenant Christian Church is graciously hosting our event and is excited to welcome us to their beautiful facility in north Oklahoma City.

So be sure to reserve Saturday, April 28, 2018! We are also planning special activities for the Friday before and will keep you posted as they develop. (Download the Save the Date slide for use in your worship service)

Stay tuned as our 2018 RA/LTS team moves into action and plans this exciting event for next spring!

Pam Holt, Regional Minister

P.S. Have a workshop idea? Submit it to office@okdisciples.org

CCOK3012017-08-17T09:53:08-05:00Aug 17, 2017|Regional News|Comments Off

Education Matters!

Join us as we pray for students and teachers returning to school. We also pray for congregations engaging in new fall ministries.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:46:44-05:00Aug 15, 2017|Congregations|Comments Off

Central Area Disciples Women Meeting: August 22, 2017

You are invited to join the Central Area Disciples Women on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at First Christian Church in Midwest City, 11950 E. Reno (Reno and Anderson Road) for their August Area Meeting.

Schedule of Events: 9:30am: Coffee Fellowship, 10am: Meeting, Noon: Lunch

The Lunch Menu: Baked potato bar, Salad and Dessert – Cost of Lunch $8

Program: Guest speaker will be Heath Pike, Administrative Director, Oklahoma Family Network.

In Kind Service Project: Collecting items for families served by Oklahoma Family Network: rattles, ornaments, small board books, bags of candy, gas gift cards, $5 Starbucks gift cards, journals, neck pillows, blankets, bus pass cards, small ornaments for decorating children’s rooms.

Please RSVP to: Floydette Seal (844-2885) or Carolyn Christie (478-5284) by August 14th.

Pay at the door: Cash or checks payable to: FCC Midwest City CWF

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:46:49-05:00Aug 14, 2017|Disciples Women|Comments Off

Another Successful Caminante Mission Trip Completed

The Region is pleased to report another successful Caminante mission trip has been completed. Eight people from Oklahoma traveled to the Dominican Republic to work with Caminante in their community-wide summer fair. The group traveled on Saturday, July 22 and returned on Monday, July 31 and Tuesday, August 1. Tropical storms in Miami caused their return to last two days.

The summer fairs were held in different neighborhoods around Boca Chica. The fairs are similar to our Vacation Bible Schools including crafts, games, discussions, snacks and lunch.

Each week 225 – 350 children between the ages of 4 years – 15 years old participated. They spent their time working with children for five days, spending time with the care-giving staff of Caminante, and visiting with Sister Denisse about her priorities for the local children. Sister Denisse informed those traveling with Caminante that her first priority is to reduce social and economic racial prejudices directed at Haitian children.

From 2013 – 2016 Caminante had 14 homework rooms supporting about 500 children between the ages of 5 years – 12 years old. Many of these children are Haitian. Eight of these homework rooms were funded by a grant from USAID. Unfortunately, this grant was not renewed in 2017 resulting in closing eight homework rooms leaving only only six homework rooms. Continued financial support is always needed. If you choose to support this ministry with supplies or money please contact Don Johnson at (580) 402-2612.

The Region would like to thank all of the donors who supported this trip as well as the staff that helped behind the scenes. We recognize Rev. Don Johnson and Rev. Loma Sullivan for all their efforts to make this Caminante trip happen. A special thank you to everyone in the Oklahoma Region that made this trip successful, Rev. Pam Holt, Lorna Hernandez, Kelsey Cameron, John Goebel and all the supporting staff.

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CCOK3012019-03-18T15:46:54-05:00Aug 8, 2017|Mission|Comments Off

Join the ODF $50,000 Endowment Challenge!

Join the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation (ODF) Endowment Challenge!

Phillips University Legacy Foundation (PULF) has launched a match challenge to support PULF’s endowment with the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation (ODF). From now until September 30, 2017, ODF will match 50 cents of every dollar donated to the “Phillips University Legacy Endowment fund.”

This permanent fund provides annual income for the benefit of the “Legacy Scholarship” program through PULF.

Read more about the match program here: http://okdfdn.org/wp-content/uploads/Spring-2017-ODF-Newsletter.pdf, or make your online donation here: https://okdfdn.org/giving-opportunities/donate-now/.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:46:59-05:00Aug 8, 2017|Regional News|Comments Off

You’re Invited to A Gathering of Retired Ministers Sept. 19, 2017

You are invited to a gathering of retired ministers on September 19, 2017 in Norman, which includes a tour of the National Weather Center, lunch, and a meeting to talk about participation in the Regional Communications Network.

The day will begin with a 90 minute tour of the National Weather Center (located at 120 David L. Boren Blvd #2400, Norman) at 10am and is limited to 35 people. The tour will be filled with the first 35 people to respond to this invitation. Spouses are welcome.

Immediately following the tour, we will reconvene in the patio section at Rudy’s BBQ located on Highway 9 at 3450 Chautauqua Ave, Norman.

Following lunch, we will head over to First Christian Church Norman located at 220 S. Webster Ave, Norman, (3.4 miles from Rudy’s) to review details of the networking plan for the Regional Communications Network.

If you choose to forego the tour and/or lunch you are still welcome to meet at FCC Norman around 12:45pm.

RSVP to Rev. Bill Shields (event coordinator) at (405) 820-5693 or email BLShields@aol.com.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:47:03-05:00Aug 2, 2017|Clergy News|Comments Off

A Note from Rev. Pam Holt About General Assembly 2017

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2017

Thank you to all ONE HUNDRED FORTY Oklahoma Disciples of Christ who attended General Assembly 2017 in Indianapolis. That is quite a presence for Oklahoma! A special thank you to the EIGHT delegates who were nominated by the Regional Board to attend the event on behalf of the Region: Larry & Diana Brown, Peggy Clemons, Debra DeGroot, Chelsea Gray, Janelle Gillesby, Randy Holt, and Sandy Malget.

This was a historical assembly as the Disciples of Christ elected its first African American woman to serve. And it was an emotional assembly as we all expressed our deep appreciation for The Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins’ tenure, and welcomed The Rev. Dr. Teresa Hord Owens as its next General Minister and President. It was a beautiful exchange of leadership unlike any other.

There were many other reasons everyone enjoyed this Assembly: reuniting with friends colleagues, seeing family, engaging workshops, celebrating in worships with exceptional sermons. I am sure everyone will share a different moment to highlight. I have three favorite moments to highlight here. The first is from Monday night’s worship in the Convention Center. After wonderful singing, hearing a heartfelt, fervent sermon by the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, partaking in communion, and offering our gifts, everything in that large space got quiet. As my eyes lifted from the offertory prayer, there on center stage sat the Rev. Dr. William N. Blue Eagle McCutchen, in his wheelchair, ready to send us forth with a blessing. It was a moment of being proud and deeply comforted at the same time.

The second moment to highlight is that same night when over fifty of us from Oklahoma gathered in the JW Marriott bar for some refreshment, conversation, a group photo, and a robust singing of OKLAHOMA! It was very fun, very loud, and seemed to draw attention from all who were in the bar who joined in! There is never any doubt where we are from!

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

The third moment to highlight is when The Rev. Geoff Brewster and The Rev. Dr. Lisa Davison, both from PTS and Oklahoma, were surprised when they were each recognized and honored with The Rev. Michael Schloff Award at the Disciples Alliance Q banquet.

There are so many more highlights to share from many perspectives! We all came home tired but energized, and very grateful that we are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:47:07-05:00Jul 20, 2017|Regional News|Comments Off

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About CCOK301

A Message from Regional Minister Pam Holt

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When one member suffers, we all suffer . . .

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