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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This Update Includes – SCATTER, our mission – fio imago dei, NYI Winter Retreat – IGNITE, service for spiritual renewal Feb. 18 – SPARK, equipping children’s workers – Marriage Detox, Feb. 23 and 24 – EXTRAVAGANZA 2018 – COMMUNITY BIBLE EXPERIENCE (CBE) A pastor was determined to get his congregation more outward-focused and to encourage them to share their stories outside the walls of the church. He designed a simple process that encouraged his folks to share their faith stories with others.   First, he taped a piece of butcher paper on one of the walls of the sanctuary (pretty fancy, right?). Second, he made felt pens available to use by the butcher paper. Third, he told his congregation that every time they performed an act of kindness in Jesus’s name or prayed for someone’s need (this prayer was not one of silence but done with the permission of......

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This Update Includes -Service planned to seek racial healing and reconciliation -A pastor and spouse celebrating 50 years of marriage! -Winter retreat for youth -Ignite Service for spiritual renewal -Affordable training for those who work with children A year and a half ago, Unite My City hosted a breakfast for pastors which was designed to start the conversation regarding racial reconciliation.  Tulsa Hills Pastor, Jim Thornton, met another Pastor there by the name of Marcus Howard.  During that breakfast, their hearts just connected and they began meeting together. Since then, they have shared a combined service last June and have continued to foster this relationship.  Last October, Pastor Jim sensed God’s leading to have a combined service with about 4 other churches.  The purpose – seeking God’s healing for our churches and community. NEO District Event February 18 A survey of over 800 Nazarene clergy entitled, “A Study of......

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A Challenge for the New Year I just finished reading Tod Bolsinger’s excellent book, Canoeing the Mountains, Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory (thanks for the great birthday gift, Marla). I expect I will be sharing several insights from this book for several months. Let me share today two paragraphs from the last chapter that seem so appropriate for NEO church leaders (the primary readers of this newsletter) as we begin 2018: Leadership into uncharted territory requires and results in transformation of the whole organization, starting with the leaders.  If we want the organization and communities we serve to thrive, focus on what God needs to do in you, change in you, makeover in you so he can use you in his mission. Focus on how you need to grow in technical competence, relational congruence and adaptive capacity, and especially focus on what you need to leave behind, let go......

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May your Christmas be blessed with peace, joy, hope and love! From your NEO District Office Staff, Dr. Dave and Gloria McKellips, Marla Shepherd and Sharon Gunter On the way home from church, a little girl asked her Mom, “Mommy, the pastor said that God is bigger than we are, is that true?” The mother affirmed that it was true. “He also said that God lives in us, is that true?,” asked the child. Her mom answered, “Yes, that’s right.” A bit puzzled, the little girl then asked, “Well, if God is bigger than us and lives in us, won’t He show-through?” That’s a question that only you and I can answer. Does He show-through in you? New Year’s Eve Party is at Tulsa Central RSVP by January 5th NEO November Statistics    ...

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December, Organic Outreach and Your Church ​December is here, which means Christmas is directly ahead. What a great season to carry the momentum and enthusiasm forward from our Organic Outreach Rally! More people attend Church at Christmas and Easter than at any other time of the year. Whether you joined us for the Organic Outreach Rally in October or not, as Christians, we should be examining how we engage with those who otherwise never set foot in a church. Walt Bennett, Executive Director of Organic Outreach, suggests the following: – For those in this category who actually have a relationship with Jesus Christ, but are not seeing the purpose in coming together in Christian Community (and most likely not seeing their purpose in living out a Christian life through all the days in-between), prepare your congregation to welcome them warmly with grace and love and create an experience that leaves......

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