Gospel Ministry

Ministry Wives Weekend provides ‘Sisterhood’

2 C /// PREVIEWED ON COVER HURCH TOOLBOX 3 C PEOPLE & HURCH NEWS

>> by Chris Doyle

MANAGING EDITOR

Oklahoma City, Northwest hosted the annual Ministry Wives Weekend, Sept. 25-26, providing an opportunity for refreshment and support for wives of Oklahoma Baptist ministers.

More than 140 ministry wives attended, representing more than 90 churches from across the state. The theme of the weekend retreat was “Gift of Sisterhood,” which Amy Petersen said helped ministry wives know they have a special bond.

“Feeling alone is one of the most prevalent challenges that ministry wives face,” said Petersen who serves as Oklahoma Baptists’ ministry wives ministry partner. “This weekend provided opportunity for ministry wives to make connections, as well as o ered practical tips for growing friendships—a sisterhood—in ministry. But before we can reach out to others, we need to reach up to Jesus because He is the source of everything we need.”

Jacki King was the speaker for the weekend. Her

OKLAHOMA

These ministries have ongoing opportunities for volunteers: Tulakogee Conference Center, Wagoner—John

Hewitt, 918/462-3212 or john@tulakogee.com Hospitality House of Tulsa provides family centered lodging, emotional and spiritual support for family members of patients traveling to Tulsa for medical care—918/694-8888 Hospitality House of Oklahoma provides loved ones incarcerated in McAlester. Lodging available—918/429-0142 OK Jail & Prison Ministry needs volunteers to go into the jails and share the Gospel each week— 405/917-2242 or ojpm@ojpm.org

Pray for International Missionary Will Thompson*

CLASSIFIEDS

NEWS & CULTURE

>> PHOTOS: JULIE TOWERY 1) More than 140 ministry wives gathered for fellowship and to worship; 2) Attendees shared a meal together; 3) Jacki King taught husband is Josh King, lead pastor of Con- lessons from Genesis and Philemon at the weekend retreat. ministry at their church and hosts a podcast called “At The Table,” which focuses on sharing stories of VOICES urday morning, featuring Petersen; Julie Dilbeck, wife of Hance Dilbeck, executive director-treasurer women leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention. with Oklahoma Baptists; Samantha Gardner, wife of

King taught from Genesis 2-3, during the Friday night Eli Gardner, pastor of Mannford, Lakeside Southern; session, identifying shame and deception common and Simi John, wife of Jayson John, pastor of Noramong church life. King emphasized the freedom that man, New Life Bible. The panel discussed struggles comes from resting in the truth that God “chases us in and triumphs in growing friendships in ministry. love and uses our brokenness to bring about His glo- Comments were seen on Facebook from those who ry.” On Saturday, King taught from Philemon on how attended the weekend retreat. One attendee said, to nd community or “grow a sisterhood in ministry.” “This was one of the more poignant Ministry Wives

“We dove in deep,” King said about the lessons Weekends for me. The Word was timely, and the Lord she taught for the weekend. “We sought truth to knew exactly what I needed to hear. I’m thankful for our lies, and we decided to ght for the beauty of this ministry to ministry families in our state.” the bride of Christ. It’s not always easy, but it is ab- Others said the weekend event “was just so persolutely unwaveringly worth it.” fectly timed…amazing,” and “…was a beautiful

Courtney Tice who currently leads worship at Bro- event that meant so much! It refreshed, challenged ken Arrow, BattleCreek, led times of worship through and encouraged me so much!” music at the weekend retreat. Tice teaches high school For more information on the Oklahoma Baptists’ and middle school vocal music at Inola Public Schools. ministry wives ministry, visit oklahomabaptists.org/

The event included a panel conversation on Sat- ministry-wives.

VOLUNTEER MISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES

for the physical, spiritual needs of families with

DISASTER RELIEF

Training:

Pre-registration is mandatory.

Classes are limited in size.

Masks must be worn, and temperatures will be taken.

Oct. 17—Newcastle, First-1650

N. Main, 73065

Nov. 7—Madill, First-210 S. First

St., 73446

Visit okdisasterhelp.org to register Campers on Mission:

Campers on Mission is a fellowship of Christian campers sharing their faith while doing mission activities. Email mvanzandt@ oklahomabaptists.org for info.

way, Ark., Second. She leads a women’s

Pray for Will and Marie Thompson, and their children, 8 and 5. The Thompsons oversee the work in Russian-speaking areas. The family serves in Russian Bible Church, which has grown from 22 to 35 small groups over the last two years. * Name changed for security purposes.

Pray for National Missionary

Drew Cunningham

Drew and his wife Shannon have four children and are planting a church in Santa Cruz, Calif., where less than 4 percent of the population know Jesus.

For Powerpoint slides of Prayer Guide, visit www.oklahomabaptists.org/cp

Unhindered: Abbreviated annual meeting (Nov. 10) still poised to advance the Gospel

>> by Sta

Like many aspects of this year, the 2020 Annual Meeting of Oklahoma Baptists will be unique. The event, which marks the 114th annual meeting of Oklahoma Baptists, which was previously scheduled for Nov. 9-10, will now take place as an abbreviated, one-day meeting.

Messengers will gather on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Broken Arrow, First (100 W. Albany Street) for the abbreviated annual meeting, a schedule which was recently set by the state convention’s board of directors. The newly-approved schedule will feature times of preaching and essential business, including o cer elections.

Oklahoma Baptists joins other Southern Baptist Convention state conventions to change annual meeting plans in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic; multiple state conventions have altogether cancelled or postponed their annual meetings.

2020 Theme is ‘Unhindered’

Hance Dilbeck, executive director-treasurer for Oklahoma Baptists, said, “The theme for our convention meeting is ‘Unhindered,’ based on the last verse in the Book of Acts.”

Acts 28:31 says, “Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.”

Dilbeck added, “Paul, in the Book of Acts, encountered geographic, political, cultural, ethnic and re>> by Jimmy Kinnaird

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction”—Will Rogers. Church planting is chaotic in the best of times.

Launching during a pandemic is taking it to another level. But when it comes to the Gospel, it is better to move ahead into the unknown than to sit and wait for certainty. Oklahoma City, Thrive Community had its rst public service on Sunday, Sept. 13, at an Oklahoma landmark, the Will Rogers Theatre. The building opened in 1946 as a single screen movie theatre. It is now an event center which has been home to several successful church launches. Perhaps one could say that the theatre never met a church plant that it didn’t like. Why start another church in Oklahoma City, and why start one during the Coronavirus pandemic? “The church life we had experienced did not go deep enough in living out the Gospel in the everyday, ordinary grind of life,” Founding Pastor Tyler

Barnes said. “My wife and I began to be burdened about that.” Barnes came out of a parachurch ministry that

/// PREVIEWED ON COVER

ligious obstacles to his work. Yet, the Truth kept marching on—the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ kept on advancing, unhindered.

“In this year of obstacles and adversity, live with con dence that the Gospel is unhindered, especially if we will share it with openness and with boldness like prisoner Paul. I pray that Oklahoma Baptists will plan to join us for this important Annual Meeting.”

Program and sermons

The annual pastors’ conference and various fellowship events and meals previously scheduled have been cancelled. The 2020 o cers to the Oklahoma Pastors Conference will continue to serve in 2021 and plan that future event.

Sermons at the Annual Meeting will be delivered by Hance Dilbeck; Blake Gideon, senior pastor of Edmond, First, who is serving his second one-year term as state convention president; and Andy Taylor, pastor of Broken Arrow, Arrow Heights.

“While we are disappointed that COVID-related factors have inhibited our plans to meet as we typically do, we believe the 2020 meeting, though shortened, will be uplifting and unifying for our pastors and churches. We need strong participation this year from Oklahoma Baptists,” Gideon said.

Messenger registration information

The Oklahoma Baptists Annual Meeting consists of church members who are elected as messengers

1

was community focused and relational focused.

However, he was shocked by the lack of deep community in church and really missed it. For the last year and half, Tyler and his wife Chotsie have been working to build a church community that is relational and missional.

Thrive Community’s mission is to be a family of deep-rooted disciples who champion the forgotten and make Christ known. They do this in part by how they are structured. On the one side, Thrive has

to represent their local church body in business decisions during the meeting.

Church members interested in serving as a messenger can contact their church o ce for information. Every elected messenger will receive a messenger booklet and voting ballots upon check-in at Annual Meeting. Only elected messengers have voting privileges at the Annual Meeting.

Messenger pre-registration is open for churches to register their elected messengers prior to the Annual Meeting, allowing for a quick and easy onsite check-in process. To access pre-registration, visit sbcworkspace.com. For questions contact Kdie Nix at knix@oklahomabaptists.org.

Onsite check-in begins Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 10:30 a.m. Pre-registering online and early check-in are strongly encouraged. The program itself begins Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Other key meeting information

Childcare is o ered, by reservation, for children birth through kindergarten for the afternoon session. To register for childcare, please ll out the form online at oklahomabaptists.org/annualmeeting. For questions about childcare, please contact Broken Arrow, First at 918/258-4575.

Childcare is free, but pre-registration is required by Monday, Nov. 2. A list of local lodging options is published on the Annual Meeting website.

ing, visit oklahomabaptists.org/annualmeeting.

OKC, Thrive Community launches during pandemic

>> PHOTOS: PROVIDED 1) A mother escorts her two daughters to the Thrive Community’s inaugural public meeting; 2) Thrive launch team members welcome guests to the new church gathering; 3) Thrive launch team members and planters pose for a group picture; 4) A technical volunteer directs audio and video for the public service and online live feed; 5) Members of the church’s worship team lead the 130 people congregation.

For more information about the 2020 Annual Meet-

2

sought to remove the separation between sacred and secular. On the other, the church emphasizes that every life and everything in life is important.

Barnes explained it this way, “When you come to a church gathering or community group, and if you can be unguarded and authentic, you will meet the unguarded and authentic Jesus. When you come to a space and you feel safe—safe enough to be authentic—you then can actually encounter the authentic Jesus.”