NEO Team Update
District Assembly 2025
We are thankful for a wonderful Missions Convention and Assembly on June 6 & 7. Bartlesville First Church modeled hospitality and excellence as our hosts. Special thanks to On-site coordinator, Sonya Jenner, Lead Pastor Steve Spangenburg, Office Administrator, Karen Dimond and the dozens of BFC volunteers who served us so well. Dr. Crocker preached and led with distinction. Jason Pierce and the worship team led us into the presence of God. The delegates showed great flexibility as they adjusted to the use of a District App to follow the agenda and reports. Christy Thornton was our leader is use of the Toolbox and App and deserves immense thanksgiving. District Secretary Jim Thornton, along with the NEO staff of Gloria McKellips, Katrina Schuber and Michelle Proctor all worked with efficiency and determination to make everything go smoothly. And best of all, God was with us!
For the third year in a row, we showed evidence of the Cycle of Resurgence impacting NEO Churches. “The News was Good!!”
- We received 187 members by Profession of Faith.
- We had 390 Conversions, an increase of 81 or 26% over 23/24 church year.
- 233 people were baptized, an increase of 53 or 37%.
- Our average of those participating in weekly in-person worship was 3206, an increase of 136 or 4%.
- Our average of adults in weekly discipleship groups was 3047, an increase of 983 or 48%.
Congratulations to those Ordained, Sybil Hawkinson, Deacon, and Kaleb Haskell, Elder. The following were elected to the District Advisory Board: Elders Steve Spangenburg and Austin Troyer; Laypersons Jeff Stewart and Kara Stephens. Joe Gschwandtner was reelected to serve as Nazarene Discipleship Chairperson for the District and the following laypersons were elected to the council: Janice Bell and Alycia Finkbeiner.
The link to all of the District Assembly Videos is: https://bfcnaz.org/media/series/t5n7kwp/neo-district-assembly-2025
If you were not a delegate, you can still download the District App. It will have all the reports from Assembly, including that of District Superintendent, Dave McKellips, and also have information that will be useful to you year round. To download the My District app on your phone or tablet, use this link: http://www.districttoolbox.com/app, then do the following: Create an account (be sure to remember your login information, we will not have that), and select our district, Northeast Oklahoma. Login and take a look around.
Youth Camp 2025
More Good News from SNU
- Nursing – Southern Nazarene University (SNU) is pleased to announce that its baccalaureate degree program in nursing has been granted a full 10-year accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). This represents an extension of this prestigious accreditation through June 30, 2035.
- Debate – Finishing 27th ranked in the country and number one in Oklahoma! SNU beat OU by 10 points and UCO.
- Athletics – Abriel Thrash finished 6th in the entire nation in the Women’s NCAA DII Heptathlon, breaking her own SNU record in the event, scoring 5,377 points and earning First Team All-American honors!
- Housing – The Maintenance team has been working diligently to prepare the dorms for the arrival of new students in the fall. SNU is projecting to be at 100% in our residential quarters this fall.
- Advancement – Endowed Scholarship Fund Giving is currently at $1.455 million, significantly ahead of our $1.2 million goal. A key highlight: A $390,000 estate gift was received to support SNU’s Ministry Intern Program endowment.
- Church Relations – The Equip Experience (June 1–4) – 54 high school students who feel called to ministry gathered on campus for an inspiring time of worship, learning, and discerning God’s call. Thanks to the generosity of friends (thank you, Jim Hollowell and friends), this event was offered at no cost to participants. Special thanks to Dr. Steve Johnson for his vision and leadership.
NEO KIDS CAMP – July 14 – 17, 2025
WORK AND WITNESS GUATEMALA
August 8 – 16, 2025
