Mission Trips, VBS, Flood Relief Collection & Backpacks for School

Where did the summer go? Our congregations are busier than ever as they serve locally and beyond our borders. There is so much that happens between June and August. Here is a snippet of  Oklahoma Disciples at work, service, education, and presence.

Harvard Avenue Christian Church, Tulsa

July 20-25, 9 high school students and 2 leaders served in Black Mountain North Carolina with disaster relief from Hurricane Helene. The team did repairs and learned about disaster responses in communities.

Jamaica Mission Trip

Members of First Christian Church Stillwater, First Christian Church El Reno, Central Christian Church, Enid, First Christian Church, Luther, and First Christian Church Guthrie carried out a summer mission trip to Jamaica, under the leadership of Sondra Ladd, Sr. Minister FCC Stillwater with American Caribbean Experience (ACE). ACE is intentional about providing a variety of projects and we had a large team so we divided into groups with the exception of all teams combining for the VBS closing celebration. Projects throughout the week included a vacation bible school at one of the ACE partnership schools; clearing farmland for cattle grazing; work with the microbusinesses on the farm; beach clean up (it’s sea weed season and LOADS of trash comes in with the sea weed); a mobile infirmary delivers soup, juice and provides conversation to local shut ins, painting was done at the ACE campus house and a group organized school supplies and donations.

First Christian Church El Reno & First Christian Church Sulphur

FCC El Reno joined FCC Sulphur, FCC Pauls Valley, and FCC Duncan for Water weekend and then continued their Serve/Learn/Play trip where a prayer labyrinth was build in memory of Late Pastor Tim Kowalski.

Pastor Tim had built a labyrinth at Texoma Christian Camp. The red bricks were from that labyrinth and the white bricks match the bricks from FCC Sulphur and were used to replace the damaged wall after the 2024 tornado.

First Christian Church El Reno had 7 team members that joined other Disciples to serve in Jamaica through construction projects and leading VBS.

Texas Flood Relief

Crown Heights Christian Church, OKC, put out a call for cleaning supplies and other goods to deliver to Texas to assist in the relief effort after the Guadalupe River flood. They reported that “We filled our van, took the seats out and loaded it to the top, loaded a big truck and covered trailer, they were full, no room to spare and also delivered a $4,000.00 check. It’s been amazing! All this in 2 weeks, people were so, so generous!” Supplies and funds were delivered Monday, July 21, 2025.

Donations of supplies and funds came in from 5 Central Area Disciples congregations including

  • Crown Heights Christian Church
  • First Christian Church of El Reno
  • First Christian Church of Guthrie
  • First Christian Church of Midwest City
  • Nicoma Park Christian Church, plus 3 non-Disciple congregations.

Wildewood Annual Backpack Giveaway

Wildewood Christian Church’s (OKC) Annual Backpack Giveaway took place Saturday, July 26, 2025 where the Outreach Ministry, alongside other church-supported ministries and volunteers, served over 250 students and parents across Oklahoma City, offering complimentary immunizations, haircuts, voter registration, and educational guidance for students seeking enrollment in STEM programs, as well as providing supplies they need for a successful school year.

First Christian Church Alva Youth Mission & Camp

Middle school and High school youth groups traveled to Kansas City for their mission trip.  The congregation sponsors a church camp experience at Boiling Springs State Park for members of their church and the greater Alva community.

First Christian Church Norman VBS & Youth Mission Trip

VBS Compassion Camp in late July.  The youth group traveled to Albuquerque, NM, to learn about Cross-Cultural Bridges with Be the Neighbor.