Misty Foley-McKenna and Rev. Shannon Speidel (Associate Minister, Central Christian Church Enid) have been featured in Oklahoma Gazette for their work for the Coalition for Reproductive Justice, advocating for women’s, family health care rights.
Article written by Laura Eastes on February 1, 2017
Article published by Oklahoma Gazette
Picture by Garett Fisbeck
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) came into existence on the American frontier through immigrants. Our teachings of faith and practice come first from scripture which call us to offer radical hospitality: to welcome and provide for the stranger in our midst, and to love our neighbor, stranger or enemy, as ourself. As followers of Christ, who fed the hungry and the thirsty and who welcomed the stranger, our faith calls us to do the same.
As our General Minister and President, Sharon Watkins, explains, “we have upheld this commitment to offer hospitality to well over 40,000 refugees since the time of WWII, and have done so by providing housing, employment, mentoring, contributions, prayer, and friendship,” and we have offered and experienced many faces of God’s grace and love through our faith and practice.
While we are grateful for our national security which strives to keep our nation safe, and while we support their system that oversees and implements the vetting process, an executive order by the POTUS that unnecessarily oppresses our brothers and sisters who are refugees or immigrants strikes the very core of our faith teachings and practices as ambassadors of Christ.
Our pastors and congregations strive for unity and cooperation among diversity, and we will continue to ardently pray and advocate for the rights and welcome of the vulnerable immigrants and refugees to be in our midst.
Pam Holt
Regional Minister
Mark your calendar for April 7-8, 2017 for the Oklahoma Disciples Men’s Retreat at Central Christian Camp & Conference Center in Guthrie, OK.
The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Thomas Jewell. The theme for this year is “Are you Afraid!!!”.
Please complete and return this form with payment, payable to Disciples Men, by March 15, 2017.
You may mail your registration form (2017 retreat registration) and payment to:
Christian Church in Oklahoma
Attn: Disciples Men
301 N.W. 36th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
You may also register online at this link
It’s that time of year again! Congregations are requested to submit the annual Year Book report to the General Church for publication in the 2017 Year Book.
Why It’s Important – Your congregation is granted 501(c)3 status thru the General Church of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) uses the Year Book to verify your congregation’s non-profit status.
You may submit your form online or complete the form and mail it to the Regional Office and we’ll do the online submission for you. All information is transmitted electronically so your help in taking the quick and easy online steps is a great help!
The deadline is March 15th. Click here to locate the Congregational Reporting Login (or refer to the instructions that accompanied the blue Year Book form.)
Questions? Call Jennifer or Ellen at the Regional Office (405)528-3577 or email us at office@okdisciples.org
To mail your form please send it to Atten: Year Book, Christian Church in Oklahoma, 301 NW 36th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73118-8661
Rev. Feille graduated with a Masters of Divinity from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in December 1996 and was ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in January 1997. Rev. Feille served First Christian Church, Garland, Texas as part time Youth Minister and full time Associate Minister; Arlington Heights Christian Church, Fort Worth, TX as Senior Minister; and Senior Minister of Azle Christian Church, Azle, TX Rev. Feille has a passion for missions and has been on Mission Trips to Bosnia, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kenya and many places in the United States.
Rev. Feille has served as the Chaplain for the Disciples Women Fellowship of the Trinity Brazos Area Board, Southwest Region of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); on the Youth Ministry Council for the Trinity Brazos Area; on the Patient Advisory Committee for Texas Health Resources; adjunct teacher at Brite Divinity School in Homiletics; and as a member of the Steering Committee for Rippling Hope a newly formed nonprofit organization. Rev. Feille has been a director/counselor/ keynoter at retreats, camps and conferences in the Trinity Brazos Area, North Texas Area, Central Area, Costal Plains Area and the Northeast Area of the Southwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She currently serves on the Executive Unit of the Commission on Ministry for the Upper Midwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and on the board of Church Extension Fund for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Join us in celebrating First Christian Church Norman’s 125th Anniversary.
We hope you will make plans to participate in these special events as the church gives thanks to God for 125 years of ministry in Norman.
It was a packed house on December 11th at the First Christian Church in Luther for the one and only performance of the play, “A Christmas to Remember” performed by church members, some of whom revealed their considerable acting talents for the first time.
The play was written by Pastor Johnny Melton, the play delivered a spiritual message and a reminder about the importance of community. The script was packed with laughs, and tender moments that brought a tear.
The audience fell in love with the plucky and hard-working “beauty operator” Doris, played by Abby Danielle Mendoza. Her customers Bernice, played by Madison Dae McConnell, and Blanch, played by Donita Mackey, helped tell the story and depicted the usual characters of a sweet small town.
Sweet comic relief came from “the bride” Sasha Renae Wilson who played Patty. Fellow actor Colbey MIchael Alan Chartney affably played two roles of the doctor and Patty’s husband-to-be.
Karley and Scott Fesler were wonderful as the parents of Leslie, their special needs adult daughter who has the gift of seeing the good in people, and rainbows in mud puddles! The role of Leslie was played by Carla Goldsmith. Her authentic portrayal of the beautiful Leslie endeared the audience to the preciousness of having a childlike faith.
Gus Sumner is no bum, even though he played one very well in the show. He also played Santa and shared one of the messages of the play, to give of yourself to bless others.
Andy, played by Chistian Yeager played a good sidekick to Leslie and Kelly Melton “preached” as the guardian angel.
The lighting and set design were very clever using the space provided. This group of actors and crew acted professionally and never missed a cue.
It’s too bad there was only one performance of this show. It was that good. But with every seat filled, and many standing, more than 100 family members, friends and theater lovers enjoyed the Sunday night show.
Pastor Melton said he was so proud of all of the actors and crew. He thanked the crowd for coming, and shared that his dream is to start a community theatre in Luther. With this kind of talent, it could happen.
It is inspiring to see our Youth participating in drama and the arts.
Thank you for your gift to the Annual Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)in Oklahoma.
The Region of Oklahoma is thriving! Your gift helps to sustain vibrant and visionary leadership and support to over 280 pastors and 150 congregations.
Your gift helps provide:
To learn more about the many and varied ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma, I invite you to browse the many news articles on our home page.
Thank you for your generosity!
This year, the faculty of Phillips will help participants think about our times in which Christianity is undergoing the most profound changes in inner and outer expressions since the 16th century.
Thank you for your interest in the 2017 Remind & Renew conference.
The Wednesday dinner is SOLD OUT. We are unable to offer further seating for this portion of the conference.
There are a limited number of seats still available for the conference presentations, including the free public lecture on Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 7 pm, featuring a panel presentation with all Remind & Renew speakers tackling “95 Theses (or at least 8) for 2017”
Please contact Mary McGilvray at 918.270.6405 for information about attending the conference.
NO REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for the free lecture portion of this event.
Rev. Drs. Jerry Black and Les Brown were honored by the Commissioned Ministers Training Program board for their long time contributions and support of the Commissioned Ministry Training Program. Jerry began organizing this program and Les stepped in to continue leading the program. Both Jerry and Les will continue to teach classes for CMTP.
Rev. Dr. Les Brown
Rev. Dr. Jerry Black