CCOK301, Author at Christian Church in Oklahoma

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

Urgent Response Needed: Pension Fund Releases Important Information About Healthcare Zones

The Pension Fund is moving forward with the concept of Healthcare Zones for Disciples of Christ pastors and church employees across the US. Please note: this is not a restart of Churchwide Healthcare. Through Gravie, Healthcare Zones will be created across the US. The only way this can be effective is for pastors and church employees to express their interest by sending an e-mail to healthcare@pensionfund.org by August 15th.

If you think you might have need for healthcare, or different healthcare for 2018, please read the letter Zones Communication July 17 2017 from the Pension Fund for more information, and if interested, please send an e-mail to healthcare@pensionfund.org.

From your interest, you will be sent an e-mail to complete additional information. This is not a commitment; it is the only way to create the zones and assess the premiums. If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Minister or the Pension Fund.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:47:12-05:00Jul 17, 2017|Clergy News|Comments Off

8 Travel for July Caminante Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic

Please join us in praying for the upcoming Caminante Mission Trip taking place July 22-July 31 in the Dominican Republic. We would like to lift up Bret Carter, Jmikel Thompson, Jessica Coats, Rebecca Foust, Don Johnson, Allison Wenthold, Taylor Anderson, and Linda Catlin in prayer as they prepare to travel to the Dominican Republic to be the presence for the Region in this important children and youth ministry.

Caminante was founded by Sister Denisse in the mid 90’s in the city of Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic. This city is made up of vast contrasts, beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise waters that attract tourtists, but it continues to have a 35% unemployment rate due to the shutdown of sugar cane processing plants in the 90’s leaving many people struggling for work and the means to support their families.

Because of unemployment, children 10 years and younger drop out of school to shine shoes and sell trinkets on the beaches to financially support their families. “Homework rooms” were created by Sister Denisse to educate the local village children. Many children still work on the beaches in the morning, then come to school in the afternoon.

These homework rooms have been successful in keeping the children in school and out of trouble.

Sister Denisse has also created a vocational school supported by local businesses and former recipients of Caminate’s programs. A variety of job skills such as sewing, cooking, baking, computer technology, web site design, pharmacy tech and cosmetology training are taught which lead to good paying jobs.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma has supported Caminante since 2008. We have provided almost $9,000 in financial support each year and have sent over 60 volunteers on mission trips to Caminante. We thank all of the donors who helped sponsor Caminante with money and supplies. Your support is very much appreciated and we can’t wait to update you on the amazing work that will happen during this July mission trip.

CCOK3012019-03-18T15:47:18-05:00Jul 11, 2017|Mission|Comments Off