Transformed Lives NEO NYI Summer Ministries What do you think of when you hear the word summertime? As a youth pastor we think busy time! This summer has lived up to the meaning of busy time. From summer camp to fireworks tents to NYC, it was hard to catch our breath, but we made it. All of these events were well worth it. Teenagers lives were changed and transformed! The coolest thing is that it didn’t just start this summer. It began in all of our youth groups on Wednesday night services. I have heard really great stories on our district of how God is working amongst our youth. Glory be to God! The summer kicked off with a night of worship at Core church where over 100 students and adults gathered for a night of worship. What an amazing way to kick off summer! Then a week and......

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Dear NEO family, Our youth camp, Sacred Spaces, was held last week at Camp Bond. A special thank you to: God, for all the spiritual victories and breakthroughs! NYI President Ryan Amey and staff for planning and leading a great camp. It was not only helpful spiritually, it was fun! All the pastors and youth sponsors who gave of their time to serve our youth at camp. What a gift! Speaker Nate Cook, the band Kaleo and the Camp Bond staff. Pastor Nate not only gave superb messages, but he also gave every student a link to a free book to help them make space for God to carry on the good work He began in their lives at Camp. All the students who participated. One of the Camp Bond workers told me that the NEO campers were the kindest and most cooperative group with which she had worked!......

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NEO District Advance Despite storms and flooding leading to Saturday’s DA activities being postponed, Northeast Oklahoma enjoyed Sunday and Monday’s events at District Advance on June 2-3 with Dr. Carla Sunberg, General Superintendent. We experienced spiritual renewal through the messages and worship services, conducted assembly business, ordained two elders, and recognized one elder’s credentials. A huge thank-you to all who gave of their time and talents through attendance, delegation, workers, and leaders to make 2019 District Advance a success! 2019 Ordinands Front row: Indya Morton, Dianna Surratt, Kristy Hostler Back row: Dr. Carla Sunberg, Brian Morton, Daniel Surratt, Wes Hostler, Dr. Dave McKellips, Jim Thornton NEO Election Results   Thank you to all who allowed their names on the ballot for consideration, and congratulations to those elected:   Advisory Board Ordained Ministers: Steve Brown, Russell Hosey Laypersons: Jeff Jankowski, Jerry Wilburg   SDMI Board Clergy: Anthony Beville Layperson: Janice......

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Saturday’s Ignite Activities are being Postponed. District leadership has made a prayerful decision to postpone Saturday’s events to a later date. We are anticipating opportunities to help with clean-up efforts this Saturday and beyond on each Mission Area. Assembly will continue as planned on Sunday and Monday. In the midst of the storm, we want to come together for worship on Sunday evening. What a time to celebrate our hope in Christ. Monday will include a morning worship service, reports of God’s activity in our midst this past year, elections and ending with a powerful service of ordination. See schedule below. Sunday, June 2 5:00 pm – Assembly Registration open for Delegates and NMI voting 6:00 pm – IGNITE Service w/ Dr. Carla Sunberg    (Childcare Birth-age 5  Pre-registration) Monday, June 3 8:00 am – Registration open for Delegates and NMI voting Café open for Coffee and Snacks 9:00......

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Ignite, our District Advance, is designed for everyone in your church! The renewal services on Saturday morning, Sunday evening, and Monday morning are planned with you in mind. The workshops and “best practices” luncheons on Saturday, June 1 are offered to equip the laity in the church for their ministry! Even the business sessions on Monday are prepared to offer inspiration and encouragement. Check out the Schedule!   What could happen if 5 or 10 people in your church would hear Mark Bane’s passion for evangelism and practical stories of how God uses ordinary people? How could your discipleship be impacted if 5 or 10 people gained new insights on balanced learning communities? What if your NYI, NMI, Children’s Workers or outreach team could get just one practical idea to use during the “Best Practices” sharing over lunch on Saturday?   Everything about Advance 2019 is on the website.  ......

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Dear NEO family, The church year has ended and pastors and lay leaders have been working diligently on all the reports due. Now is the time to celebrate all that God has done! Our annual ADVANCE is a great time to do so. Look over the schedule, reserve your meals and child care, and anticipate a powerful time of refreshing from God. I am excited that this year on Saturday we will invite our elementary, middle school and high school students to join us for the Evangelism Multiplication Training. What a great opportunity for our kids and students to find out how God can use them to impact their schools and neighborhoods. We can’t wait til Assembly to give thanks for what God is doing, so read these reports from Pastors on our district: District churches reported 48 salvations for the month of April, including 26 at Core and......

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Getting a Team to Self-Destruct by Eric Geiger A team that fights with itself wastes an incredible amount of time and energy. When a team or church or group fights, everyone loses. Energy is stewarded away from what is most important and given to tearing one another apart. Instead of rallying in the same direction around the same mission and values, time is diverted toward backbiting, politics and watching your back. Thus, a team that is divided will rarely accomplish the mission they say they have embraced. Their lack of trust slows them down and corrupts their culture. A lack of trust will crush the effectiveness of a team. Here is an example from the sports world. Hang with me if you are not a sports fan because it is a great example… Kobe Bryant is known as one of the most ruthless competitors to play basketball. Not only was he......

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Should You Invite People to Church? Perhaps we should stop encouraging people to just invite friends and neighbors to church.  When delivered without intentionality, these generic invitations become just as flat and shallow as the following exchange with the checker at the grocery store: “How are you and how was your weekend?” “I’m fine and it was great. How was yours?” “Mine was great as well. Thanks.” How many times have you had exactly this exchange or something similar to it?  This is the epitome of platitude – words with no substance. Generic invitations to church can end up being just as emptily received and responded to. Imagine instead, that you were tuned in to the upcoming sermon topics. And, similarly, you were tuned into the relationships you have with the non-Christians in your life. Tuned in to the extent that you could actually recognize specific sermon topics that would......

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Rolling a Large Stone Up a Steep Hill The work of reaching out to our world is hard.  Let’s be honest, although every biblical Christian in the world declares that sharing the message of God’s love is a priority, most of us have a hard time keeping this on the front burner.  Keeping our focus off ourselves and on those outside of God’s family is like rolling a large stone up a steep hill. This might sound a little fatalistic, but it is true. Few things we do as Jesus’ followers are harder than keeping our hearts revved up for evangelism. It has been said that vision leaks.  When it comes to evangelism, it would seem there is a bigger hole than in most areas.  We can be fired up and committed to share God’s message of love with others, and a month later, our evangelist prayers and efforts......

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