Dear NEO Family,   We are only a few days away from our 2018 Advance. You may want to know more about a few of the speakers from off the District.   Drs. Chuck and Carla Sunberg   Carla Sunberg was elected 43rd general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene at the 29th General Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana in June, 2017. At the time of her election, Carla was president of Nazarene Theological Seminary. Previously, Chuck and Carla  served as pioneer missionaries to the former Soviet Union, co-pastors of Grace Point Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana and co-district superintendents of the East Ohio District. Carla was born in Germany, daughter of missionaries, ordained on the Russian North District, and educated in the USA (MNU) and England (Masters and PhD from Nazarene Theological College and the University of Manchester). Her heartfelt passion is a life of holiness and service for......

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Congratulations to Graduates from our Clergy Families   Maiya Baker, Homeschool High School   Jerika Brown, Cleveland High School   Braden Heid, Kansas State University   Chandler Heid, Caney Valley High School   Cameron Madaffari, Skiatook High School   Morgan Marquis, Union High School   Owen Mueller, Homeschool High School and ICTC   Shelby Nichols, SNU   Kyler Ross, SNU   Peyton Ross, Broken Arrow High School Schedule Saturday, June 2 8:00–9:00 am               Registration for Delegates / Café open for Coffee & Snacks 9:00 am–5:00pm         Summer Daze for kids  Birth thru Age 12 9:00–10:30 am             IGNITE Service w/ Roger Hahn 10:45–11:45 am            IGNITING a passion for Christ’s Mission w/ Chuck & Carla Sunberg 11:45am–12:45pm    Lunch – Chick-fil-a Box Meal (catered) Meal Worksheet-Delegates & Guests Includes breakout sessions for SDMI, Children’s Workers, NYI Workers 1:00–2:00 pm          ......

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Is Advance a good investment of your time? Here are just a few of the positive comments shared after the 2017 NEO Advance: I thought this “Advance” event was the best thing I’ve experienced while serving on our District. Everyone in our sphere of relationships repeatedly expressed how much they appreciated the spiritual renewal, workshops and District Assembly. … What a beautiful blending of inspirational worship, sharing, teaching and business. Thank you for offering childcare. It makes attending the services possible for my wife and the weekend is far greater when we can go together. Loved, loved, loved the format and content of our district advance!!!!! District Assembly was a huge breathe of fresh air, and my crew and I came away very encouraged. What a tremendous weekend it was! As it was my first assembly on the NEO District, I wasn’t sure what I was in for, but......

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Schedule Saturday, June 2 8:00–9:00 am            Registration for Delegates / Café open for Coffee & Snacks 9:00 am–5:00pm      Summer Daze for kids  Birth thru Age 12 9:00–10:30 am           IGNITE Service w/ Roger Hahn 10:45–11:45 am          IGNITING a passion for Christ’s Mission w/ Chuck & Carla Sunberg 11:45am–12:45pm     Lunch – Chick-fil-a Box Meal (catered)  Meal Worksheet-Delegates & Guests Includes breakout sessions for SDMI, Children’s Workers, NYI Workers 1:00–2:00 pm           Workshop Session #1  Workshop Descriptions NMI – Presidents – What Do We Do Next — David Stevens & Council NYI – This is How We Do It — Various Youth Pastors NYI – Students: Sharing your Faith with Others — Eric Hawkinson SDMI/NYI – How to Understand the Bible — Roger Hahn SDMI – Introduction to Love and Logic — Matt Angell SDMI/NYI – NazSafe — Kathy Cott HISP – Estrategias de Crecimiento de la Iglesia — Dannemann/Correa GEN – Best Practices......

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Dear NEO Family, This week is the last week of the 2017-18 church year. I am sure all of us look back on the past year with both thanksgiving and regrets. I am reminded often of the challenge of Paul to the church of Philippi and Northeast Oklahoma: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. When we gather in a few weeks for our annual Advance, we will spend time rejoicing in the way God has helped us this past year and......

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We rejoice in the passion NEO Churches are showing for Christ and His mission. In their monthly reports, Bartlesville, Broken Arrow Core, Chelsea, Cielos Abiertos, Drumright, Fuente de Vida and Tulsa Hills reported salvations. Think of all the parties in heaven! And BA Core and Okmulgee reported baptisms. May God continue to honor our prayers and bless our efforts to scatter the seed of the gospel! Offering of Encouragement for Bristow NEO Nazarenes are such a generous people. Our District Advisory Board recently asked our churches to consider taking an “Offering of Encouragement” to help Bristow accomplish a miraculous purchase of facilities (See Pastor Anthony Beville’s video). Mannford, Sapulpa and Tulsa Central have already committed over $1000 each! Wouldn’t it be great if we could raise at least $20,000 as District churches to match the $20,000 gift from the District (which comes from the sale of the Nowata parsonage this......

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Recent Events Extravaganza NEO Skate Party Collingsworth Family Concert Okmulgee Baptism of 4 men Farewell Reception for Pastor Steve Davis, Sapulpa God Specializes in Using People Like You! Recently, my friend Scott Sherwood wrote the following entitled, “Not Too Old”: Mark is a young husband, father, and a part-time pastoral staff member at his church. Five years ago, he and his wife did not attend church. He was invited to church by an older man in his 70’s during a chance encounter at the local Applebee’s. Enoch, a young construction contractor, had dropped out of church. When he returned to church, he was discipled using Chic Shaver’s Basic Bible Studies by an older man in his 70’s who would later stand up as Best Man at this young man’s wedding. Terry made a decision to follow Christ for the first time in his life after his wife died way......

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In This Issue Mind Shifts that Unlock Outreach Potential Monthly reports from our churches Extravaganza – why do 1000 teens gather at SNU? Info on NEO Skate Party, Locker Room for Men and Primetimers’ upcoming Trip to Branson Mind Shifts that Unlock Outreach Potential: From Us to Them This week I was reminded that negative attitudes and ways of thinking can block evangelistic activity and prevent a church from taking the good news to its community. One mind shift that is needed in some churches is the switch “from us to them”. Have you heard people in your church say, “Pastor, what about us? Don’t forget about us!” Kevin Harney says, “The problem is that far too many Christians believe the church exists first and foremost for them. They might not always say it, but deep inside they think the real purpose of the church is to meet their needs,......

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Dear NEO family,   What a joy it is to be a part of the team of Nazarenes in Northeast Oklahoma!! Our vision:   – Every person waking up each morning praying, “God, anyway you can use me today, I’m available!”   – Every family a beacon of God’s love.   – Every church a mission center.   Pastor’s Forum Monday, March 5th  —  at SNU-Tulsa (or Collinsville Church)  —  9am-Noon Bonus afternoon session on Church Security 1:30-4pm Register   Last Sunday, Gloria and I worshiped with Pastor Otoniel Dannemann and Fuente de Vida. This vibrant congregation has helped start many of our eight Hispanic congregations and yet they continue to fill their facility week after week. They have a passion for evangelism and baptized 53 people this last year! They also have a clear discipleship strategy which features use of The Masters’ Plan. Their worship is vibrant and......

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This Update Includes  – SCATTER, Does something need to be changed? – IGNITE, Service for spiritual renewal Feb. 18 – EXTRAVAGANZA 2018 – SPARK, Equipping children’s worker – News from across the District – Marriage Detox, Feb. 23 and 24 – COMMUNITY BIBLE EXPERIENCE (CBE) Are you satisfied with the evangelistic passion and fruit in your church? If not, don’t you think something needs to be changed? Dick Vermeil became head coach of the St. Louis Rams in 1997 after a fifteen-year absence from all of coaching. He was infamous for 3- to 4-hour practices in full pads every day of the week. He worked his players so hard that before one game in 1998 against the Bears, the entire team had a meeting about whether they should even play! They had 9 wins in 2 years. So, he changed… He cut down practices to 1.5 hours no matter......

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