NEO TEAM UPDATE
District Discipleship Day
District Discipleship Day is just over 3 weeks away, and it’s time to think about…food! While DDD itself is free, on-site meals will cost $10/person. Lunches will be provided by Chick-fil-A, with the following options available: (1) Chick-fil-A sandwich, (2) 8ct. Chicken Nugget, (3) The Cobb Salad, (4) The Market Salad (Gluten-free). Box lunches will include chips, a cookie, and bottled water. Salad lunches will include bottled water.
We are sending the lunch link to churches instead of individuals so that there is not confusion from people getting registered multiple times and so that each church can gather and submit payment together. All lunch orders are due by August 11th and payment for lunches needs to be postmarked by August 12th. Please send payments to Central Church of the Nazarene, 7291 E. 81st St, Tulsa, 74133.
What else will we do during lunch at DDD?
Let me share a major focus of DDD for this year at this point. We are aiming to connect people across the district with others doing like ministry. We have several thoughts on how to accomplish that, but the core thought is to have people who do like ministry eat in the same area at lunch time. We will share which area is designated for which group during the keynote session. There are people in this district that may not know anyone else that does a similar ministry but are longing for someone to mentor them, encourage them, and pray with them. Would you help us in making lunch at DDD an opportunity for this person to meet a person who can fulfill that role?
Thank you for coming alongside us in ministry to Northeast Oklahoma,
Joe Gschwandtner, NDI President
Transitions
Collinsville has called Rev. Ryan Amey to be their next Lead Pastor. Ryan was installed on July 28 (thanks Dr. David Roland for filling in for a sick DS!) Let’s pray for Ryan, Angela, Rylie and Porter in this transition.
Miami New Life has called Rev. Matt Lee to be their next Lead Pastor. Matt, comes to us from Mid-America Nazarene University where he has served as Resident Director and Adjunct Professor. Previously he has served the church as a Pastor, Youth Pastor and Missionary. Matt will start September 1.
Sympathy to the family of Rev. Charles Wayne Alger on his passing. Charles and Joyce have served many years in a volunteer role at Regency Park.
After 12 Years of Leadership as our District Children’s Director, Beckie Richburg is stepping down. Beckie has led numerous council meetings and camps, championed us in implementing Nazarene Ministry Safe, begun worship nights for kids and loved on children and workers. We appreciate Beckie (and Jay) and hope you will reach out to her and express your appreciation. beckie@collinsville-nazarene.com
Blessing Our Community Grants
Thanks to a generous donor, the USA/Canada Region has already given over $200,000 to local churches that are reaching out and blessing their communities in creative and contextual ways!
Here are some of the ways grants have been used across the region:
- Beginning ESL programs
- Starting regular community dinners
- Providing space and essentials for unhoused neighbors
- Starting community fitness programs
- Providing grief support groups
- Beginning recovery ministries
- Starting sports ministries
The list is long on how churches are creatively loving their neighbors and building relationships with them, and we are hearing reports of how the Spirit is moving ahead of churches to soften the hearts of neighbors to hear and experience the love of God for them.
There are still $500 and $1,000 grants available. For all the details and an application, click below.
Thank you Beckie Richburg and our Children’s Council
for planning such a meaningful camp for our kids!
2024 Ministerial Forum @ SNU
September 16-17, 2024
You are invited to join us once again on September 16-17 at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene for the 2024 Ministers Forum.
We are preparing a fantastic event with inspiring keynote speakers and breakout session presenters. I have no doubt that you will thoroughly enjoy them along with a great time of worship. Our goal is that you leave inspired, encouraged, and equipped!
So register now, and remember to invite your entire ministry team, volunteers, and others you know who might benefit from this time of renewal. Also, retired ministers, spouses and district superintendents are free!
This is one event you don’t want to miss!
The link to the registration is below. I hope to see you there!
NEO School of Ministry Class
“Becoming a Holy People”
Monday Evenings, 6–9pm,
Starting Sept. 30
District Office or Zoom; $200
One of the distinctives of the Church of the Nazarene, is that we are a holiness people. But what does that mean? Is that still something that matters today? How do we help the people we will minister to understand that concept? These are some of the questions we will address in the class.
This will be a very intensive class and will run five weeks. We will try to accomplish the work in four weeks but will reserve the last week if necessary. The class starts Sept. 30 and will go until Oct. 21 (or the 28th if needed). I will attach the student guide with my contact information on the syllabus main page. This is a vitally important class with what the churches are facing today. Come prepared to participate and learn. I look forward to seeing you all on Sept. 30. – Bret Metcalfe
Future Classes in English
- Preaching the Story of God, taught by Keith Schubert, beginning Nov 4.
- Leading the People of God, taught by Austin Troyer, beginning Jan 6.
- Administering the Local Church/John Wesley’s Theology, beginning Feb 17.
2024 ABBA HOPE WALK
In NEO we have people serving the mission field right here in NEO through District Compassionate Ministries. Among them is Pathways of Hope Immigration Center that opened in 2023 to help immigrants in their desire to become and remain documented.
Pathways is looking for volunteers who have a desire to become certified to legally counsel immigrants in this process. To do so there is a 40-hour class (at current Pathways cannot absorb the cost of providing this training but would love churches to help sponsor people wanting to go through it and help support the ministry in general) and then at least 40 hours of shadowing/watching an already certified advocate (free).
Rev. Dianna Potter is the Director and has a vision for growth of the ministry by using satellite locations in other churches and/or going to other churches to do basic consultations on Sat or Sun. Dianna is also a volunteer doing this part time, she would love to retire to do this full time, but current income of ministry does not support this and limits the number of clients she can handle. Your support would make that dream possible by either allowing her to supplement income so she could take more days off without pay (she can let other employees pick up extra income by working for her – she has done this at her expense to attend church, district and ministry events/meetings) or if possible, retire early and go full time.
For those who do not know Dianna’s story she was born and raised in NY, saved at 28, called to ministry in various capacities almost immediately, started seminary in NY in 1997, came into the COTN in 1998, transferred to Nazarene Theological Seminary in 2000 due to urging from God during the preceding years to be a missionary to the mission field coming here, graduated in 2006, relocated to Tulsa in 2009 and has served as associate pastor in various churches in the Kansas City and Tulsa areas, plus as Director of Campus Mission (mostly to International students) a District outreach at TU before covid and now she is serving as the Director of Pathways of Hope.
Won’t you join her by supporting and volunteering for this work of reaching the nations through Compassionate Ministry.
Website: www.pohneo.org
Contact # 918-221-9648 please text.
(P.S. Being bilingual is helpful, but not mandatory. Dianna is not bilingual.)