Get Away Campout
October 19-21
Cancelled Events
Is post-pandemic time busier than pre-pandemic time? People continue to add activities and events to their personal schedules and family schedules as the rush to “make up” for two years continues. Two events planned during the Labor Day weekend did not have enough registrations for the Region to go forward with planning and to host. Family Camp and Intersections are cancelled for this year.
There are many opportunities for you to be involved in the ministry of your local congregation and the Region. Help your congregation and the Region with your presence, your voice, and vision for the planning of upcoming and future opportunities to connect, equip, and empower Oklahoma Disciples as we love and serve like Jesus.
Last Day to Register for Family Camp: August 18
Spend the Labor Day weekend with Disciples from around the Region at Family Camp. This weekend is designed to introduce Church Camp, and provide time away before the fall school routine takes hold of family life.
Family Camp is an intergenerational
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
$100 per adult ages 11 and Up
$75 per child 10 and under
Registration Extended to August 18
IAS 2024: Church-State Relations
What’s Included in the Fee?
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RT Airfare & Amtrak Fare
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Subway, Bus, & Uber/Lyft, Cab Fares
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Lodging In Washington D.C and New York City
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Entrance Fees
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Formal Seminar Days
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Show at the Kennedy Center
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Two Broadway Shows
Meals [B/L/D daily]
On Travel Days participants pay for one meal.
Participants are also responsible for individual snacks or drinks between meals.
International Affairs Seminar
March 15-23, 2024
It’s an election year. There is no better time to discuss the relationship of participating in a secular society and following the way of Jesus. How does this show up in our Government’s separation of Church and State (or not)?
IAS is offered to youth in grades 11 and 12. This study trip focuses on a theme and provides participants with a cohort learning experience visiting Washington D.C. and New York City. Participants can expect to walk 60-70 total miles during the trip as they traverse the cities visiting museums, Government offices, tourist attractions while learning about the study theme. Each evening includes a debrief with adults about the experiences of the day.
The trip is limited to 15 youth and a minimum of 10 are needed. Download the flyer for all the information. Contact Rev. Michael Davison if you have questions.
Registration Opens August 16
Registration Closes September 29
Click Here to download the Flyer
Cost: $2000 per person
What Should I Expect?
Expect to be challenged, to experience information overload, be exhausted, and be energized.
Expect meaningful conversations, laughter, and interesting food.
IAS is a study trip. Seminar days are primarily classroom experiences with guest speakers that provide information or experiences to teach participants about the topic and prepare them to be a resource for their local congregations.
IAS is a lot of walking! Personal responsibility for your well being, physical and mental, is important to fully experience the trip because it is designed as a group experience. Like church camp, this trip can create friendships that stay connected into adulthood.
SUCCESS! Church Camp Matching Fund & CYF Charter Bus
Matching Fund
A Matching Fund challenge was created through generous donations from the Northeast Area, and from the close of Midwest Blvd Christian Church to support camp this year. Persons and congregations from around the Region contributed to the matching fund that enabled the Region to discount an additional $71 off the fees for church camp this summer.
Matching Fund Donors
Rev. Joshua Bell
Rev. Geoff Brewster
Rev. Michael & Rev. Dr. Lisa Davison
Regina Dokus
Rev. Julia Jordan Gillett
Eric Gray
Ronald Hadwiger
Kathy Standridge
Linda Sutherlin
Mary Ann Ward
Canadian Co Disciples Congregations
First Christian Church Cherokee
First Christian Church Ponca City
First Christian Church Prague
Oklahoma Disciples Women
CYF Conference Charter Bus Donors
Though generous gifts, the Region is able to provide a charter bus for CYF Conference campers without passing that cost to families and congregations.
Bus Donors
Central Area
Oklahoma Disciples Women
Oklahoma Disciples Foundation Grant
Northwest Area
May 15: Last Day to Register for Church Camp
Today is the last day (May 15) to Register for Church Camp. The Region organizes and sponsors our Outdoor Ministry program (Church Camp) at three different sites. We offer a camp experience for everyone between grads 2-12, and this Labor Day we will offer our first ever, Family Camp, at Camp Christian.
REGISTRATION CLOSES at 11pm tonight or when a camp is at maximum capacity. Learn more about our Outdoor Ministry program and see the current camp registration numbers at the Families & Youth webpage.
Questions? Contact Rev. Michael Davison (mdavison at okdisciples dot org).
READY TO REGISTER? CLICK HERE
Intersections of Faith and Immigration August 31-Sept 5, 2023
The Intersections trip visits New York City this year (Aug 31-Sept 5)
Intersections will focus on immigration, nations, and internationalism. The traveling scholar this year is Dr. Lisa Barnett, Assistant Professor of American Religious History at Phillips Theological Seminary. Colton Lott and Tara Dew are the trip leaders. Both serve at First Christian Church El Reno.
Intersections borrows it’s design from International Affairs Seminar and welcomes adults 21 and older. Participants can expect education about the topic that will challenge your perspective, and conversations with Disciples from Oklahoma that respects everyone’s point of view. Intersections is a “co-learners on a journey” trip that is individual and communal.
Intersections is a trip on the move. Each day will have one educational experience for the entire group with exploring or other options determined by participants. Intersections includes a lot of walking, traversing stairs, escalators, and elevators. Ground transportation via the NY Subway and walking are the least expensive ways to travel the city and will be part of the trip. Ride share services like Lyft, Uber, or cabs are at the participants expense. Breakfast is provided daily at the hotel, while all other meals are at the participants expense. See below about what is included in the fee.
The Itinerary Includes:
- Ellis Island
- Tennament Museum
- 9/11 Museum
- United Nations
Fee Includes: Housing (shared room – two beds / or single), Breakfast daily, Itinerary Entrance Fees, some ground transportation, and a Broadway show. Couples registering for the trip should register one at the single fee, and one for the shared fee.
Shared Room: $1300 pp
Single Room: $1850 pp
Participants cover travel costs to and from New York City and meals except breakfast.
Questions? Contact the Regional Office to be in touch with Rev. Michael Davison or Rev. Colton Lott.
6 Congregations Receive Reconciliation Grants
Reconcile:
1. to restore, settle, or resolve;
2. to make consistent.(1)
Oklahoma Disciples continue the work of reconciliation through serving our neighbors locally and around the world. The Commission for Faith in Action met in April to review Reconciliation Grant applications for this year. Faith in Action celebrates providing a total of $9150 in grants to these congregations that applied.
Enid, Central Christina Church ($3400)
- Enid Welcome Table is a weekly ministry that provides a sit down, served meal on Sunday evenings for food insecure neighbors in Enid.
- Community Hero Project supports the police, fire fighters, and student pilots at Vance Air Force Base with snack baskets. The project invites police and fire fighters to interact with congregations and the community outside of emergency situations to build trust.
- Teen Neurotypical and non-Neurotypical Integration/Socialization will partner teenagers to help the typical teen grow in understanding and acceptance of the non-typical. The non-typical will gain friendship, socialization, and understanding of their community. With the help of adults this program will raise awareness in the community about the needs of non-Neurotypical youth and that Central Christian Church is a welcoming place for everyone.
Enid, Christian Church of the Covenant, Iglesia Christiana El Shaddai, University Place Christian Church, Central Christian Church ($1000)
- VBS is one of the most important projects in the life of the church each year. Many churches are struggling with having enough volunteers to provide a great quality VBS. In 2022, Disciples in Enid hosted a joint VBS that welcomed 60 children and 40 adult volunteers. A reconciliation grant supported this work. This summer, First Presbyterian Church will join the VBS program. The membership and location of the participating churches is very diverse. University Place Christian is in the east side of Enid – a low-income area with a large African American and Hispanic population. First Presbyterian is a typical, affluent “downtown church.” Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai, is a Hispanic church, Central Christian Church and Christian Church of the Covenant are “middle-American” churches experiencing demographic change. Bringing together children, teenagers and adult volunteers from these diverse churches will promote understanding and acceptance and inclusion.
Midwest City, First Christian Church ($2000)
- The congregation participates in careportal.org, a care-sharing portal connecting people with local opportunities to serve vulnerable children and families in their communities. It may be rental assistance, transportation assistance, dollars for diapers, clothing, or formula.
Stillwater, First Christian Church ($2000)
- First Christian Church has worked with ACE (American-Caribbean Experience) in Jamaica for many years. This year, they are expanding the trip and hosting other congregations (FCC Chandler, FCC El Reno, Central CC Enid, FCC Luther, and Eagle Heights). and have a group of 50 going on the trip. Groups will work on a variety of projects including tutoring, child sponsorships, VBS, micro-businesses, health and wellness clinics, farming and construction. Last year one of the little girls at VBS told a member of our mission team “I thought white people were all bad, but you are very kind and loving. I hope you’ll come back again.”
Caminante, a minister supported by the Commission on Faith in Action ($750)
- Caminante is an ongoing mission priority for the Commission for Faith in Action and the Region. Funding helps support work with local children and adults to learn skills that can help secure jobs in the tourist industry. In the past, the Region helped build “homework rooms” that provided space and leaders to help children with their studies. Covid ceased yearly trips by Oklahoma Disciples, but with as the pandemic ends and an intern from our partners at Global Ministries is in place, yearly trips may begin again.
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1. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, s.v. “reconcile,” accessed May 8, 2023, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconcile.
Church Camp Update: April 24th (Camp Rates Increase Today)
Church Camp Fees Set to Regular Rates Today
There was a surge of registrations for all our Church camp experiences last week! Chi Rho Camp is nearing capacity and our other camps are also filling up. Camp Registration is OPEN until May 15th. But, our registration fees (rates) are increasing today as we enter the next phase of camp preparation. Our camp directors are beginning to finalize their schedules, work with the curriculum with their volunteer counselors, and think about what needs to be purchased for their camp.
It is also time for Rev. Michael Davison to get the Camp t-shirt design prepared and shirts ordered from our vendor here in Oklahoma. We do our best to support local businesses when needing to make purchases for our camps.
Learn More and stay connected to the Region’s program ministries for children, youth, and families by visiting the Families and Youth webpage.
If you have questions about any or our program ministries for children, youth, or families, please contact Rev. Michael Davison (mdavison at okdisciples dot org).
Matching Gift Supports Camp This Summer
Camp is a holy place where children and youth experience an intentional Christian community based on love, acceptance, inclusion, worship, play, and meeting the Divine. Help us make this opportunity more financially accessible for all Disciples children and youth in Oklahoma.
The Northeast Area Council has offered a matching gift of $5000. This generous gift will be combined with a gift of $3000 from the closure of Midwest Boulevard Christian Church for a maximum of $8000 to be used as matching funds to help raise $16,000 (our estimated cost) for adults to be counselors and directors for the 2023 camping season. We are asking individual Disciples, congregations, and Area Ministries to contribute, so that all of the $8000 can be used as matching funds and help further discount the cost of camp for families and congregations.
CLICK HERE to make your gift today and help lower the final cost of camp for congregations and campers. Or, send a check made out to the Christian Church in Oklahoma and memo, Camp Matching Fund 2023.
The Commission for Children, Youth, and Young Adults is seeking ways to make our summer church camps more affordable for our families and congregations. The adults that give of their time and their energy to organize, staff, and lead Discovery Camp, Junior Camp, Chi Rho Camp, and CYF Conference are not monetarily charged when they come to camp to donate their time. However, the camp sites still charge the Region for the adults. That cost has been passed on to the campers throughout the years. This way of paying for the adult volunteers is no longer sustainable for our families or congregations.
In early May, congregations receive an invoice for their campers that have registered for a camp. Funds from the match will be divided by the number of campers registered on May 1st, and applied to the invoices sent to congregations.
Questions? Contact Rev. Bill Hemm, Chair of the Comm for Children, Youth, & Young Adults or Rev. Michael Davison.
