NEO Team Update
The past two Sundays I have had the privilege of worshipping with Sapulpa First Church of the Nazarene and Bartlesville First Church of the Nazarene. Both churches are flourishing. Both have great lead pastors and pastoral staff. But the reason I believe they are flourishing is because the pastors are helping equip and send everyday ministers into the mission field.
The Scriptures are clear when Peter writes, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). Each one is gifted to minister to others. Unfortunately, we often don’t function like “each one” is essential for the ministry. We function like only a select few are gifted for ministry and the rest are called to support the gifted few in their work.
Engagement, not just attendance, of all is the key for us in the Cycle To Resurgence. If we are expecting our pastors alone to bless our community, bring people to Jesus and become Christlike disciples, not much will be accomplished! The hub of the cycle is all Nazarenes mobilized in unity.
We need to reawaken the biblical idea that all of God’s people are called to ministry and are sent on mission, and that their mission field starts where God placed them in their everyday lives. That’s not a disavowal of ordained ministry, but a restoral of the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers––a belief that forms the foundation of Protestantism, yet is too often underemphasized, even ignored. Instead, we need to recover an orientation of ordained ministry existing for the purpose of equipping congregations for ministry.
I’m thankful for mobilized Nazarenes and to an article by Ed Stetzer in Outreach Magazine for helpful insights.
-Dave McKellips
Your Mission Could be from your Driveway
David Winn, Member at Tulsa Hills, highlighted on Joni and Friends’ Podcast
No matter what your hardship is today, you can find a way to make your hard road to Calvary a little smoother, whether through great or small efforts. It could be a notable act of service or something as simple as waving from your driveway like Joni’s friend, David.
Listen on Apple Podcasts here.
If you’re not familiar with Joni Eareckson Tada, she became a quadriplegic at the age of 17 from a diving accident. That was 56 years ago. This amazing woman has helped so many disabled people on their journey. She runs a non-profit, giving over 200,000 wheelchairs away to people in 3rd world countries along with other ministries to those in need.
Sapulpa First Kicked off Small Groups with a Group Leader “Family Feud” Game
Bartlesville First Ministry Fair Launch Sunday
Church News to Celebrate
On Sunday, Sept. 10, Regency Park celebrated paying off their mortgage.
The church paid off $800k mortgage in 5 years and 3months. Pictured are Treasurer Rich Clark, Former Pastor Geoff Gunter and Interim Pastor Clark Howe.
Pastor Keith Schubert has accepted the call to be the next lead pastor at Regency Park.
Keith, Ragan (who will be worship leader), Anna (Sophomore at Indiana Wesleyan) and Amos (Freshman at Victory Christian High School) are in the transition process and will begin ministry at Regency Park the week of October 9.
Tulsa Hills Church welcomed Kasey O’Donnell as the new Worship Pastor last Sunday. Kasey, Amanda and their precious kids are returning to Tulsa Hills after a few years serving as youth and worship leaders at Wagoner.
Tulsa Hills also honored Christy Thornton and Naomi Mackenzie, who have worked together in leading Tulsa Hills in worship for the past 24 years.
Wagoner Church is pleased to welcome newly ordained Darren Smith to serve as Youth Pastor. Darren, Carrie and family have previously served Tulsa Regency Park for eight years and have been an integral part of the District family.
Bartlesville First welcomes Megan Barrett as Children’s Pastor.
We welcome Megan, her husband Andy and children, Briar and Beckett, to NEO!
Megan comes to us from Bethel, Ohio and was ordained on the Southwest Ohio District on July 25.
Our next Prime Timers event is September 23rd at Sapulpa Church of the Nazarene Family Life Center. Registration begins at 11:00 A.M. and the event will conclude at 4:00 P.M. The first 24 to register will receive a figurine from The Americana Collection (Liberty Falls). At the registration table, we will also have a jar for everyone to guess the number of items in the jar. A prize will be given for the winning guess. We will try to announce the winner at 3:00 – you must be present to win at that time.
The entreé, side dishes, and drinks will be furnished. We’re asking our attenders to bring a dessert of your choice. The menu will be BBQ brisket, pulled pork, links, and bologna. Side dishes will be compatible with the meat selections.
After lunch we will have a cornhole tournament and game time. Please bring your own games and invite people you may not know to join your group. Double-loss elimination is the plan for cornhole and will probably modify the throwing distance. Practice up and win a first or second place prize!
Register by Monday the 18th by calling Sapulpa Church at 918-224-0300 or Kendall Moseley at 918-625-0509.
Kids Mission Day 2023 is coming up on October 21, 2023.
For Kids Kindergarten – 6th grade
Please pre-register HERE.
We are celebrating the 75th anniversary of collecting an Alabaster Offering this year. Please use this link to give to Alabaster.
District Resourcing for Becoming Christlike Disciples
Saturday, November 18
10am – Noon
Led by Kevin Harney, Author of Organic Disciples