Mission Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Christian Church in Oklahoma

Refugee & Immigration Ministries Update

Nationwide: More and more immigrants and refugees are entering the U.S. Many being allowed to enter who were waiting on the Mexico side under the “Remain in Mexico” (MPP) mandate. In the last four weeks, border organizations have seen a large increase in family units crossing and being processed.

Reunification of families: is still under work, with slow results meeting frustrating previous practices.

Border organizations: are seeing greatly increased numbers of individuals released into the U.S. Most in Texas are trying to recover from the devastating cold and being without food, water, heat, and utilities. They are working non-stop to catch up from lack of needed electricity to operate much needed computers for processing, communicating, finding shelters and facilities, family and friends to receive immigrants and refugees.

Check out the administration’s ambitious bill: US Citizenship Act of 2021, introduced by Senator Bob Menendez and Rep. Linda Sanchez.

Our regional status: Our refugee family from the Congo was determined as ineligible for any state or federal benefits. Catholic Charities has dropped them from any programs available as of Jan. 1^st. The family has no food benefits or cash assistance benefits for items such as electricity, phone, and non-food items (toiletries, cleaners, household items, clothes, diapers, and infant formula.) Thankfully, several churches have given sponsorship of apartment rent and we are asking for more support in groceries and utilities.

In December two of our pastors Colton Lott, and Daniel U’Ren, in the midst of a snowstorm, helped a young couple with a newborn receive temporary housing and meals in OKC while having to appear at an ICE check-in. An amazing member of First Norman, Neil Johnson, agreed to drive during the snowstorm to pick up the young family in Ft. Worth- saving them from a long bus ride and a late night with an infant and agreeing to get them to their appointment! No one was informed the ICE office was closed due to Covid-19 and the couple had to reschedule. While in OKC, their sponsor in Louisville KY declined to receive them. They are temporarily residing in OKC and awaiting their next check-in.

There are many families awaiting sponsorship on the border to be released. If you believe your church family could receive one, please contact Rev. Mary Heath (revmaryheath@att.net) or visit our RIM Resources page here. It is a great responsibility and a great affirmation of the one family of God.

Thank you, my Disciple friends for your love and support.

Rev. Mary Heath, Chair
Commission on Refugee & Immigration Ministries

CCOK3012021-03-08T16:06:59-06:00Mar 8, 2021|Mission|Comments Off

March Prayer with Global Ministry Partner Phyllis Byrd

Merciful God, we look for your strength and guidance at a time when the whole wold is affected by Covid-19. We pray for the vulnerable members of society, who are most impacted by the virus.

We lift up the member os the world family who are:

homeless,

refugees,

migrants,

We bring to you all who are sheltering at home; especially those for whom home is dangerous because of violence. We pray for all who are living in areas in the world where healthcare is not available or affordable. We pray for those who don’t have access to running water, for farmers, and all other essential workers.

God of new things, we come to you during such a kairos moment in history. We come at a time when the universal Church is being called out of the ineffectual retreat that some have found comfortable. We are called out of the echo chambers of our coffee hours and from the endless sound/fee god documents we produce, to a deeper reflection of the meaning of the cross in this day and time.

We are being called to move beyond the pageantry of Easter to the revolution it ignited in the world. Transforming God, we are in desperate need of the stimulus check. Stimulate us with fresh and new articulation which will lead your children to action. Revive your church, to a 365-days-a-year Pentecost experience. A Pentecostal experience which will blow away the spirit of complacency and stimulate the whole church to be Spirit-driven and cross-shaped. Blow upon your church as we boldly participate in confronting the evil powers of poverty, injustice, greed, and inequality and work to build a more just human community.

Finally, O God, we don’t want to go back to normal, we stand open to your metanoia, a change in the mindset in our life. We pray these things in the name of your Son, our liberating Lord and Savior.

Amen.

Michael Davison2021-03-08T08:00:27-06:00Mar 8, 2021|Mission|Comments Off

The Toothbrush and the Electrician: Caminante Works

Before and After Moments

We all have had before and after moments, particularly after tragedies like the Oklahoma City bombing, church shootings or tragic accidents. And when we were close to people affected by these tragedies, nothing was the same in the “after”.

That’s how people who visited Caminante feel. You go to a homework room where 20 children, who have been denied education, are now being given a second chance. You sit beside little children and help them with their coloring. Afterwards, they give you a hug and say “Gracias amigos”. And later you realize, that a few of these children, without Caminante, would have fallen into sexual exploitation or sexual trafficking. Closeness changes you and changes how you see this mission.

Your group gave me a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste.

More importantly, hope for a better future.
Thank you Oklahoma!

The Toothbrush and The Electrician

In my 2019 visit to Caminante, a young man sat down beside me at dinner. He said through a translator, “You probably don’t recognize me. I was 10 years old when your group gave me a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste and more importantly hope for a better future. Because of Caminante, I completed my education. Now, eleven years later, I am an electrician at the large cement plant on this island.” (In the factory world, electricians are often the most skilled and highly paid workers and they have the utmost job security.) “I came here to shake your hand and say thank you Oklahoma. You gave me and my family a good future.” His story is why people, who saw how Caminante makes a difference, ask for your help.

Providing Education and More

COVID-19 continues to devastate jobs in the tourist business in the seaside town of Boca Chica where Caminante is located. In addition to education and social services, Caminante is now also providing food, medical and personal hygiene supplies to families they serve. COVID has made the work of Caminante more difficult, more expensive and more urgent.

We’ll Double Your Donation

People who have seen the before-and-after as a result of Caminante, have put up $5000 in matching money for contributions in 2021. As a result, the difference you make with your donation is doubled.

As an individual, will you donate to our ministry in Caminante?
Would your church like to donate to our ministry in Caminante?

Make your check payable to  Christian Church in Oklahoma – Caminante

Send it to:
Christian Church in Oklahoma
301 N.W. 36th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Would you like to learn more? We are pleased to speak about Caminante at your Sunday School, in worship or at a Fellowship dinner.

Thank you for your continued generosity. Your generosity changes lives.

Rev. Don Johnson
580-402-2612

CCOK3012021-03-04T15:26:30-06:00Mar 4, 2021|Mission|Comments Off

February Prayer with Global Ministry Partners Maria and Nishan Bakalian

Nishan and Maria Bakalian, serving in Lebanon with the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, are two of our Global Ministries co-mission workers. In the summer of 2019, they were back in the U.S. attending Disciples summer camps sharing their stories, faith, and lives. Our Region hosted Maria and Nishan for a week of summer camp. Maria at Chi Rho/CYF at Texoma Camp and Nishan at CYF Camp at Central Camp.

For Christmas this year, the Region received two gifts related to Global Ministries. The first was our insurance company, the UCC Insurance Board, who made a contribution to Global Ministries in honor of the Oklahoma Region. The second was from Global Ministries who created a collection of business cards, each with a mission co-worker’s or home-based staff’s photo, name, place of service, favorite scripture, and website to read about their mission, and who also published Nothing Can Separate Us, a book of prayers written by each mission co-worker and home-based staff. As a way to connect with our siblings around the world, we will be highlighting our mission co-workers and home-based staff and joining them in prayer.

God, our rock, our refuge, our hope,

As we wander through this wilderness, doubting we will ever emerge into a place of promise and joy, the voice of fear wells up within us, overpowering your strengthening presence. We cling to you as we seek that voice resounding in our hearts and reflecting in our actions. Remind us anew that this earthly reality is one that you faced in Christ Jesus. From birth, to the cross, and through the resurrection from the dead you showed us that even death cannot stand in the way of your victory. Help us to live in your victory, as we take care to protect others from disease, some of us risking our lives to do so. Inspire us to extend a hand to those whose greatest burden may be one of affording daily bread, or paying tuition, or finding and keeping employment, or caring for someone very old or very young. May your self-giving love be perfected within us, casting out all fear. May the coverings we wear never cover the radiant beauty of Jesus emanating from hearts filled with the grace and truth of your spirit.

Amen.

Nothing Can Separate Us, Global Ministries 2020.

Michael Davison2021-02-08T08:32:38-06:00Feb 8, 2021|Mission|Comments Off

Congregations Foster Feet

Foster Feet, a ministry of Central Christian Church in Enid, recently donated 63 pairs shoes and socks to First Christian Church Midwest City to support their “Christmas for Others” program. Every Christmas, for the past 50 years, “Christmas for Others” has provided clothing, shoes and other necessities to families in the Midwest City area. This year, they will serve 60 families with over 200 family members. In 2020, Foster Feet will have provided over 900 new pair of shoes primarily to children ages 4 to 17 in Garfield as well as several other counties in Oklahoma.

In 2020, the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation provided grants to both of these churches for these ministries. This is a good example of how Disciples of Christ churches in Oklahoma, with the help of the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation and the Christian Church in Oklahoma, make a difference by working together.

Michael Davison2020-12-07T14:09:16-06:00Dec 7, 2020|Congregations, Mission|1 Comment

Friends of Caminante

May 12, 2020

Dear Friends of Caminante,

We always thank you for your support of the Oklahoma Region’s ministry to Caminante in the Dominican Republic, both with your prayers and your contributions. We also want to let you know how this ministry has been changing because of the world-wide coronavirus pandemic.

For obvious reasons, the Region cancelled both the Spring Break and July 2020 mission trips to Caminante. However, this mission needs the financial support of the Oklahoma Region more than ever. The remainder of this letter will outline Caminante’s current situation, Oklahoma’s continued financial support, future mission trips, and matching gifts.

Caminante’s Current Situation

The Oklahoma Region joined with Global Ministries in walking alongside Caminante in the Dominican Republic more than ten years ago through People-to-People Pilgrimages and through annual, ongoing financial support. Through the Global Ministries People-to-People Pilgrimage program, Caminante graciously has hosted individuals from the Oklahoma Region in order to help gain a better understanding of the current realities faced by families in Boca Chica. Caminante has created ways for participants to learn how Caminante is working to protect the rights of children and the displaced, and providing a space for creativity and learning. Through reflections from adults of all ages who have gone on a pilgrimage to the Dominican Republic, it is clear Caminante has had a positive influence on the understanding of God’s global mission for church leaders and members from the Oklahoma region.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire globe, the effects in the Dominican Republic, as in other places, will be lasting and even more challenging. Amid this unprecedented time, the work of Caminante will be more relevant and more critical for their community. The support from the Oklahoma Region for sisters and brothers in Christ at Caminante in the Dominican Republic will be a symbolic and tangible gesture of continued solidarity and partnership with Caminante in this new reality.

Oklahoma Region’s Financial Support of Caminante

Since 2008, the Oklahoma Region has provided $7,200 annual support to Caminante. In 2019, this annual support was increased to $9,000 to help meet Sister Denisse’s #1 priority.

In 2020, The Oklahoma Region will send $9,000 to Caminante to continue our support in the ministry and partnership we share.

We are only able to do this by your continued support, alongside the Region, the Commission on Faith & Action, Central Christian Church in Enid, and the Oklahoma Disciples Foundation grant.

Future Mission Trips

We celebrate that 2019 mission trips to Caminante continues to engage the lives of the participants as they hear God’s call to serve: two trip participants made the decision to go into overseas missionary work; one participant became a youth minister and is an active fundraiser for Caminante; one participant became an active fundraiser for Caminante; a retired ordained minister is exploring more calls to active ministry.

While mission trips are engaging and life-changing, due to the world health crisis, we do not know when we will be able to travel again. Thus, we will need to reimagine our ministry and mission partnership with Caminante in this new reality.

Matching Gifts

As the Oklahoma Region continues its support of Caminante in 2020 and 2021, we need your help. We are asking you for a monetary gift to continue to support this mission to help the children of Caminante. We are excited to let you know that your contribution will be matched by a generous donor who has offered to match all gifts, up to a total of $2,000. This is a wonderful opportunity to give!

Thank you for your support of the Oklahoma Region’s mission to Caminante. Please send your contribution to Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma, 301 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 or electronically at okdisciples.org. Either way, please make the designation “Caminante.”

In addition to your donation, please continue to keep Caminante in your prayers.

Additional Questions

If you have any questions about Caminante and how it is dealing with the coronavirus, you may contact Don Johnson at donj@centralenid.org or Madison Rubino at madison.rubino@gmail.com. Madison (shown in picture above) visited Caminante on the 2019 Spring and Summer mission trips. Because she is fluent in Spanish and is passionate about this ministry, she has recently talked with Sister Denisse and other Caminante staff.

Peace & God’s Grace,

Rev. Don Johnson Rev. Tom Stanley Rev. Pamela G. Holt
Caminante Leader Moderator Regional Minister

CCOK3012020-05-20T11:47:42-05:00May 5, 2020|Mission|Comments Off

July 2020 Caminante Mission Trip!

The March 2020 Caminante mission trip to the Dominican Republic has been cancelled. However, the summer mission trip will take place July 19 – 25, 2020. If you feel led to travel with this ministry, please call the Regional Office at 405-528-3577. There are scholarships available.

Those traveling to the Dominican Republic for the Caminante mission trip will help with the fair that serves around 300 children and teenagers over a three day period. While in the Dominican Republic you would participate in the following activities, including making coconut jewelry with Haitian teenagers, visiting a sugar cane plantation community, visiting the Caminante vocational school for hair braiding and haircuts, going to church Sunday evening in Boca Chica, and visiting Santo Domingo to tour the cathedral, the fort, and Christopher Columbus’ home.

You would also help take food to “street kids”, spend time with Sister Denisse, visit homework rooms, visit a major league baseball development camp, and play with the local children on the beach. As always the group will bring dental supplies for 300 children, baseball equipment, clothing, and school supplies.

The trip is for recent high school graduates through people in their early 80’s. The total cost is about $1,800 per person and partial scholarships are available.

If you feel led to join this ministry, call Rev. Don Johnson 580-402-2612 or the Regional Office 405-528-3577 for more details.

CCOK3012020-02-10T10:40:06-06:00Dec 10, 2019|Mission|Comments Off

Caminante Mission Complete!

The recent Caminante mission trip to Boca Chica, Dominican Republic was a safe and blessed journey. A special thank you to Bret Carter, Molly Carter, Madison Rubino, and Cecelia Tolley for traveling to serve others in the Dominican Republic. They worked with the children in the Caminante homework rooms and brought much needed resources to them. Most importantly, they showed them the love of Jesus with their kindness and sharing their time.

Madison Rubino, a Spanish teacher, blessed the trip by sharing her gift of language. Her gift quickly removes the language barrier, and provides an instant connection with the children. We give thanks for Bret, Molly, Madison, and Cecelia, choosing to share their individual gifts and talents with the Oklahoma Region, as well as with the children of Caminante.

We would also like to thank Rev. Don Johnson, Shauna Becker, and Beverly Rubino for their tireless fundraising work to fund this trip. We are so thankful for all of those that supported this Caminante mission trip, both in prayer and financially.

We thank the Lord for providing the resources to continue this worthy ministry. Oklahoma Disciples Foundation, Faith in Action Commission, and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma provided generous grants and scholarships. Caminante also received many gifts from churches and individuals, which provided scholarships and money for teacher supplies. Without sharing the gifts, talents and money of those in our congregations and community, these trips would not be possible.

Click HERE, if you would like to make an online donation to Caminante to provide resources or scholarships.

CCOK3012019-08-08T13:33:22-05:00Aug 7, 2019|Mission|Comments Off

Join Us in Prayer for the Upcoming Caminante Mission Trip

Please join us in prayer for Bret Carter, Molly Carter, Madison Rubino, and Cecelia Tolley, as they prepare to depart on July 21 for the Dominican Republic to bless the Caminante Ministry. We pray for their safe travels to and from Boca Chica and a blessed summer community fair for the children in Boca Chica.

This summer community fair serves around 300 children and teenagers over a three day period. While in the Dominican Republic the group will also help make coconut jewelry with Haitian teenagers, visit a sugar cane plantation community, visit the Caminante vocational school for hair braiding and haircuts, go to church Sunday evening in Boca Chica, and visit Santo Domingo to tour the cathedral, the fort, and Christopher Columbus’ home.

CCOK3012019-07-24T10:24:35-05:00Jun 6, 2019|Mission|Comments Off

Space Available to Join the Upcoming Caminante Mission Trip in July!

The next Caminante mission trip to the Dominican Republic will take place July 21-July 27. There is space available if you would like to work with the Caminante staff in the summer community fair.

This fair serves around 300 children and teenagers over a three day period. While in the Dominican Republic you would participate in the following activities, including making coconut jewelry with Haitian teenagers, visiting a sugar cane plantation community, visiting the Caminante vocational school for hair braiding and haircuts, going to church Sunday evening in Boca Chica, and visiting Santo Domingo to tour the cathedral, the fort, and Christopher Columbus’ home.

You would also help take food to “street kids”, spend time with Sister Denisse, visit homework rooms, visit a major league baseball development camp, and play with the local children on the beach. As always the group will bring dental supplies for 300 children, baseball equipment, clothing, and school supplies.

This is a very safe trip. The trip is for recent high school graduates through people in their early 80’s. The total cost is about $1,800 per person and partial scholarships are available.

If you feel led to join this ministry, call Shauna Becker 405-820-3178, Don Johnson 580-402-2612 or the Regional Office 405-528-3577 for more details.

CCOK3012019-04-30T11:15:39-05:00Apr 30, 2019|Mission|Comments Off

Mission

Before and After Moments

Your group gave me a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste.

More importantly, hope for a better future. Thank you Oklahoma!

The Toothbrush and The Electrician

Providing Education and More

We’ll Double Your Donation

More importantly, hope for a better future.
Thank you Oklahoma!