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APRIL 2024 • VOL. 113 | NO. 4

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SUMMER CAMPS PREVIEW

2024

Falls Creek is focused ‘totally’ on God, serving and growing in Him

CrossTimbers to offer campers vision of missions ‘here, near and far’

INSIDE THIS ISSUE April 2024 · Vol. 113 I No. 04

MESSENGER STAFF Brian Hobbs | Editor bhobbs@oklahomabaptists.org Lori Coats | Subscriptions/Assistant lcoats@oklahomabaptists.org Bob Nigh | Contributing Writer bnigh@oklahomabaptists.org Sabrina Cranford | Creative Lead scranford@oklahomabaptists.org

CONNECT WITH US Online | baptistmessenger.com Twitter/X | @baptmessenger Facebook | thebaptistmessenger

03 | Connect

BECAUSE OF THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM Todd Fisher

04 | Sword and Trowel

EMERGING FROM OUR WINTER OF DISCONTENT Brian Hobbs

06 | Affiliate

THE LORD HAS DONE GREAT THINGS OBHC

07 | Just Joe

A LIFE LESSON WITH AN OVEN ELEMENT Joe Ligon

08 | Cover Story

SUMMER CAMPS PREVIEW Baptist Messenger Staff

12 | Mother's Day Offering OFFERING HOPE OBHC

16 | Puzzles

CROSSWORD WORD SEARCH

17 | Church News

The Baptist Messenger (ISSN 0744-9518) is published monthly by the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, 3800 N. May, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73112-6506.

Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Circulation last issue: 37,016.

Individual subscriptions are available upon request. When writing for a change of address or a subscription renewal, please include a copy of your mailing label. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Baptist Messenger, 3800 N. May, Oklahoma City, OK 73112-6506. Phone number is 405 942-3800 While the Baptist Messenger attempts to provide advertisers of integrity who furnish quality products, it is recommended that buyers be cautious, do research and get references to any advertiser with which they are not familiar. Publication of an advertisement in the Baptist Messenger does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or businesses.

Member, Baptist Press News, Evangelical Press Association, Oklahoma Press Association.

18 | Pastor In Focus NICK JOHNSON Chris Doyle

20 | Regional Ministry 7A'S OF CONFESSION Buddy Hunt

22 | CP GIVING REPORT 23 | Toolbox

21 | Missionary Prayer Guide

HOW CAN YOUR CHURCH BE INVOLVED IN GLOBAL MISSIONS? Mike Wall

CONNECT

Because of the Cooperative Program There are some today who do not want the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to have a future. The internet and social media are replete with posts, articles, and comments from some who want to see the SBC crumble and burn predicting, even hoping for, the demise of our convention and the Cooperative Program. According to them, no amount of reform or effort will make the convention something worth continuing to exist.

I disagree. Yes, the SBC has its problems and flaws.

However, I strongly believe our convention is something very much worth contending for and participating in to make it an even stronger force for advancing the Gospel across the globe.

A major reason I believe this is the Gospel impact of the Cooperative Program (CP) and its genius of allowing a church of any size in any location the opportunity to be part of something greater for the Kingdom of God than it could be by itself. Most of our churches could not afford on their own to fully support even one family on the international mission field.

But through the CP and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, there are more than 3,600 men and women serving as fully funded missionaries with the International Mission Board along with their 2,700 children. This can only happen because tens of thousands of SBC churches have made a commitment to cooperate in their mission giving.

The CP enables the planting of many new churches every year and chaplaincy work through the North American Mission Board. It helps support our six seminaries, making it possible to give SBC students training for ministry significant discounts in tuition. Closer to home, Oklahoma Baptist churches give through the CP to also support ministries like: Falls Creek where last summer more than 2,600 students committed their lives to follow Christ; CrossTimbers where children hear the Gospel and are taught about the importance of missions; Baptist Collegiate Ministries on 40 Oklahoma college campuses where students are coming to faith in Christ and being discipled; Disaster

Relief where people experiencing some of their most difficult hours after a natural disaster are helped, encouraged and told about the love of Jesus by our volunteers meeting their physical needs. In addition, our state convention is able to provide resources, services, conferences, retreats and other ministry to Oklahoma Baptist churches and pastors because of the CP. The gospel ministries of our affiliates OBU, OBHC, BVC, and WatersEdge are also helped through CP giving.

In short, the SBC is worth participating in and contending for because so much is at stake. Think of what would happen to all the missions and Kingdom work both locally and globally if the SBC and CP ceased to exist.

Yes, we have problems, differences and disagreements in the SBC, and these are not unimportant. Yet, our convention is worth our best efforts and participation to find the way forward that is biblical, cooperative, and anchored in the reason we chose to come as a convention in the first place—the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its advance in every community and nation across the globe.

Thank you, Oklahoma Baptists!

For your belief in and giving through the Cooperative Program.

Let’s continue to value its worth and our cooperative partnership as churches.

We truly do more together for the Kingdom than we do apart!

Written by Todd Fisher Executive Director-Treasurer

The Baptist Messenger | baptistmessenger.com

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SWORD AND TROWEL

Spring is one of my favorite times of year. With the outdoor activities, beautiful trees and flowers in bloom—and the opportunity to celebrate our Risen Savior Jesus each Easter—I just love the Spring!

It is such a hopeful and optimistic time. Yet recent public opinion research indicates that the average person is living in what could be called “winter of discontent,” to borrow a phrase from Shakespeare.

According to a new Gallup poll, “the American public is largely dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S…. and they are now slightly less satisfied with their overall personal life than they were in the few years before.”

Beyond the poll numbers, I talk to more people of all ages— people I know who used to be generally cheerful or easy to please—and they are continually grumbling and grumpy.

Certainly some of this unhappiness can be understood and attributed to the challenging state of the economy, of politics and the overall moral decay in society today. Likewise, social media has given a louder voice to people voicing their dissatisfaction.

If we are not careful, Christians also can lapse into to this state of discontent, as well. Satan comes along and makes us wish for what we don’t have and tempts us to wish away what we do have.

We think things like, “If I only had that job, not this job I have, then I’d finally be happy.” Or, “If my relationships were more like what my neighbor has, then I’d be happy.” Or, “If only this problem in my life would change, then I would finally be satisfied.”

C.S. Lewis said, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” Ultimately, in this life we will

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struggle, and our hope, help and contentment has to come from the Lord.

The Apostle Paul put it this way, “… for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:11-13).

When we are thankful amid all circumstances, it brings God glory. The unbelievers in the world would sit up and take note if Christians are content people.

In order to see the “winter of discontent” give way to springtime, it will take each one of us looking to the Lord each day. Corrie Ten Boom, who lived in extraordinarily difficult circumstances and times said, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God, you’ll be at rest.”

Today, let the joy of the Lord spring up in your heart.

Written by Brian Hobbs

Editor of The Baptist Messenger

events

UPCOMING

EVENTS

See what events are happening around the state!

May 28 CrossTimbers Children's Mission Adventure Camp Session One Begins oklahomabaptists.org/ childhood/crosstimbers/ June 3 Falls Creek Youth Camp Session One Begins oklahomabaptists.org/fallscreek/

June 9-12 SBC Pastors Conference & Annual Meeting Indianapolis, IN sbcannualmeeting.net/

April 25 Community 94 Oklahoma Baptist Building May 2 Global Missions Theological Study at OKC, FrontLine May 5 Oklahoma Baptist Symphony Tulsa, First May 26 - 29 (Session 1) Associational Children's Camp Falls Creek May 29 - June 1 (Session 2) Associational Children's Camp Falls Creek For more info on Oklahoma Baptists’ events visit oklahomabaptists.org/events

Engaging the Church in Missions EPISODE 42

Mobilizing the people of God to fulfill the Great Commission is the heart of every pastor. It also may be the most difficult pastoral task! How pastors motivate and mobilize the church for Great Commission work.

LISTEN AT oklahomabaptists.org/podcast or on...

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A F F I L I AT E

The Lord has done great things…

PSALM 126:3

The Vine (formerly Baptist Children’s Home, OKC) exists to show and share the love of Christ to children and their families. Every day, the staff at The Vine is serving to connect single mothers and their children to community, the church, and ultimately, to Christ.

The ministry at The Vine has proven to be an effective and impactful platform for the Gospel as we serve to reunify single mothers with their children and keep families intact that would otherwise be in jeopardy of fragmenting, Brent Parsons, Executive Director of The Vine.

The Vine offers family-focused care, a ministry developed to help single mothers and their children, who may have limited or no support.

The goal is to help these families become productive and more self-sufficient by providing a stable and nurturing place to live while equipping, assisting and teaching important skills. Areas include parenting skills, career development, spiritual development, church involvement, relational needs, money management and education.

Whether serving mothers and their children, children in a cottage-style setting, men and women facing an unplanned pregnancy, or providing foster care training and support through church partnership, OBHC strives to bring Hope by providing help and homes to children and their families.

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JUST JOE

A Life Lesson

with an oven element

My wife is convinced I have the ability to fix stuff. So, she is always asking me to fix something. When I “fix” something it usually means I spend a lot of time and money trying to figure it out and end up calling in a professional to finish the job.

Many years ago, we discovered the element in our electric oven had gone out. I could make a joke here about we didn’t know how long it had been out because Gayla didn’t do a lot of cooking but that would get me in some serious trouble. So, I won’t make that joke.

Gayla informed me I needed to fix the element in the oven. I was hoping no one would have a replacement element, and we could just go buy a new oven. But no. The first stupid appliance store I called just happened to have one.

I bought it.

Back home, I checked to make sure the oven was turned off, which I thought would mean there was no electricity lurking in the oven. I opened the oven door. I straddled the oven door, stuck my head into the oven and found where the element was connected at the back by two nuts. (Some of you are thinking that means there are three nuts in the oven now). I got my pliers and started to work.

Things were going swimmingly while I was loosening the nut on the left side of the element. Then it happened. Somehow, my pliers contacted both of the nuts at the same time. Until that moment in my life, I had no idea that just turning off the oven did not stop the flow of electricity in the oven.

So, I completed the circuit, and electricity surged through me.

Then I immediately raised up and hit the top of the oven with the back of my head. My pliers disconnected from the element. I started down. Somehow, my pliers reconnected with the element, and I started back up until I hit the top of the oven with the back of my head again which started me back down.

On my way down, my pliers reconnected to those two nuts that started the whole thing in the first

place. I completed the circuit again.

But this time, thanks be to God, I fell out of the oven. I kind of landed on the open oven door, which had a weird little spring action that threw me out onto the floor.

I landed on my back at the feet of my dear wife. She looked down at me and said, “Is there anything I can get you?” There are a million answers to that one, but as evidenced by the fact that I am still married to the woman, I just blinked my eyes a lot and mumbled something.

When I finally recovered, I flipped every breaker in the house and waited about 30 minutes just to make sure any excess electricity had drained out. I repaired the oven element and used some baling wire to tie the oven door closed. It wasn’t safe for anyone to be in there.

You know the Lord gives us all different abilities, skills and talents.

We are always better off using the ones He gave. And we are always better off when we ask others with different abilities, skills and talents to do what we can’t. Life just seems to work better that way. Kind of like the Lord planned it.

Written by Joe Ligon

Senior Associate Executive Director

The Baptist Messenger | baptistmessenger.com

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COVER

2024 FALLS CREEK IS FOCUSED ‘TOTALLY’ ON GOD, SERVING AND GROWING IN HIM The theme for the 2024 Falls Creek summer youth weeks may cause some to recall 1980s lingo or stereotypical surfer slang. In reality, the theme describes the nature and character of God. Todd Sanders, Falls Creek program director, said “Totally” was selected as this year’s theme “to help students take a journey into and respond to the truths of who God is.”

“In a world that is uncertain, that is always changing, that is volatile, our God is totally different,” Sanders said. “Each week at Falls Creek this summer, we will discuss how God is ‘totally knowing, totally present, totally caring and totally capable.’ We want to help students respond to the truths of who God is and be more anchored (in Him) in a culture that provides few anchors.”

Psalm 139:17 is the verse of which the theme “Totally” has its focus, which says “How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!”

Falls Creek will once again feature a notable slate of speakers with a variety of newcomers to the summer youth weeks and veteran camp preachers. Some are Oklahoma pastors; some are nationally-known among Southern Baptists, and there are evangelists who have been effective in delivering evangelical messages to young people.

Week one features Chip Luter, who serves as senior associate pastor at New Orleans, La., Franklin Street, under the leadership of his father, Fred Luter, Jr. Luter has been a camp speaker and recently spoke at Falls Creek in 2023 during the Spring Retreat for college students. The worship band for week one will be So We May.

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Duncan Blackwell, pastor of Elk City, First, will make his Falls Creek speaking debut as the week two speaker. Blackwell has been at Elk City, First since April 2022 and delivered the annual sermon at Oklahoma Baptists Annual Meeting in 2022.

Worship Collective will be the worship band for week two.

Cody Brumley, pastor of Jenks, First, also makes his speaking debut at Falls Creek during week three. Brumley returned to Jenks, First in 2022 after pastoring in Little Rock, Ark. He was executive pastor in his previous role at Jenks, First. Carson Wagner, who is the worship pastor at Jenks, First, will join Brumley at Falls Creek to lead worship during week three.

COVER

International Mission Board (IMB) President Paul Chitwood has spoken at Falls Creek in the past, but this will be the first time he has spoken during the summer youth weeks for week four. Sanders said having Chitwood speaking at Falls Creek this summer demonstrates the “great relationship” Falls Creek has with the IMB. Cody Dunbar, worship pastor at Yukon, TogetherWe, is a Falls Creek regular and will lead worship during week four.

Ryan Fontenot made his first speaking appearance at Falls Creek in 2022 and has quickly become a favorite speaker. He is an evangelist who has been involved in Southern Baptist work in Texas and returns to be the camp speaker for weeks five and seven. Worship Collective returns to lead worship for week five, and Roberson, a husband-wife duo, will be leading worship for week seven.

Jamie Dew, president of New Orleans Seminary, will be the camp speaker for week six. Dew has been to Falls Creek in the past for Collegiate Week, but this will be his speaking debut for the summer youth weeks. Nate Jernigan is on staff at New Orleans Seminary as an assistant professor of music and worship and will lead worship during week six.

Zack Randles will be the final speaker at Falls Creek this summer for week eight. A pastor in Washington, D.C., Randles will make his second appearance as a Falls Creek summer speaker. He will be bringing Denver Duncan, the worship pastor at his church, to lead worship during week eight.

Falls Creek will once again offer a variety of recreational activities for campers, as well as breakout sessions covering a wide range of topics such as dealing with grief and loneliness, how to study the Bible and other general spiritual growth opportunities.

Missions Mobilization will be another returning emphasis this summer, connecting campers with sending opportunities. A new feature will focus on Disaster Relief (DR), helping students and leaders be aware of the importance of this Oklahoma Baptists ministry. Falls Creek will offer a practical mission project where participants make care bags and write messages of encouragement that DR volunteers can give to disaster victims.

“As always, we will do evangelism training throughout the week,” Sanders said. “We will have opportunities in the afternoons where our staff has the chance to engage students in evangelistic conversations.”

Sanders and other Falls Creek leaders expect a “totally” great summer. More information about the Falls Creek youth weeks can be found at oklahomabaptists.org/youthcamp.

The Baptist Messenger | baptistmessenger.com

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COVER

2024 CrossTimbers to offer campers vision of missions

‘here, near and far’

DAVIS—This summer, near Davis, thousands of children will learn about where God is at work “here, near and far.” CrossTimbers Children’s Mission Adventure Camp is poised for an especially impactful summer, according to CrossTimbers Program Director Sarah Hagar.

“From the time these boys and girls step on the CrossTimbers campgrounds until they leave, they will learn about the Gospel and the importance of missions.” said Hagar, who is now in her second summer in this role.

CrossTimbers is a longstanding camp program offered by Oklahoma Baptists and supported by the Cooperative Program, designed for children grades three through six. CrossTimbers had its origins as a Royal Ambassadors camp, and the strong emphasis on missions continues to this day.

“I am particularly excited about the missions stops, where the campers hear from real-life missionaries and ministry workers,” Hagar said. “We will focus on what

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the Lord is doing here in Oklahoma through Disaster Relief, and what is happening in North American missions in Nicaragua, as well as internationally.”

One of the goals of CrossTimbers is to give the campers a vision for missions that translates back to their communities. “We want to raise up a generation of kids with an authentic walk with God who actively serve others and be on mission,” Hagar said.

All told, there are 12 sessions of CrossTimbers, each which lasts three nights, four days. Churches across the state will bring groups of boys and girls and sponsors. CrossTimbers provides great activities for campers to enjoy in a fun and safe environment.

Activities include a ropes course, target sports and water activities.

“The children of this generation—called Gen Alpha— are in a high-tech world, bombarded by screens and media,” Hagar said. “Camp is a great time they can unplug from all of that and hear from the Lord.”

COVER

Session Speakers Session 1 | May 28 – May 31

Grant Findley Session 2 | June 1 – June 4

Christian Lloyd

Camp speakers include pastors from Oklahoma (see listing), and there will be powerful times of worship through music. For Hagar, the most rewarding part of CrossTimbers is the evening chapel and other times where she sees students responding to the Gospel and having other spiritual conversations.

CrossTimbers leaders place a high priority on the preaching of the Gospel, the Scriptures, prayer, Christian service and missions.

Session 3 | June 7 – June 10

The theme of 2024 CrossTimbers is “Made New,” based on 2 Cor. 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”

Session 4 | June 11 – June 14

“When we think about being made new in Christ, we are letting go of the world and the sin that entangles us,” Hagar added. “We are putting our identity in Jesus, and that’s what we hope and pray each of these campers experience.”

Mark Jones

Corry Duncan Session 5 | June 17 – June 20

Jeff DeGiacomo

For more information about CrossTimbers, visit oklahomabaptists.org/crosstimbers.

Session 6 | June 21 – June 24

Joey Dean

Session 7 | June 27 – July 30

David Skinner Session 8 | July 1 – July 4

Tom Hollis

Session 9 | July 8 – July 11

Nathan Copeland Session 10 | July 12 – July 15

Rob Dunning Session 11 | July 19 – July 22

D.J. Walter

Session 12 | July 23 – July 26

Prophet Bailey

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Helping“Miracles“ Happen One Life at a Time

a family adopting a son and a daughter. The next phase of their life was no less action-packed and devoted to raising their kids.

BJ Matthews, resident at Baptist Village of Oklahoma City, knows intimately how stressful it can be when you’ve meticulously planned your finances for retirement only to be hit with one detour after another. BJ was sure she and her husband had saved plenty for retirement, but life took a few twists and turns, and she was left feeling depleted, financially and emotionally.

Shortly after BJ’s mom passed away, Robert contracted West Nile virus and fell very ill. It wasn’t long before Bob’s care required constant attention, and he too was moved into a long-term care community. The unexpected cost of her mom’s care followed with her husband’s long-term care, nearly $3,000/monthly each, left BJ worried about her own financial security.

She was born Elizabeth Myrtle 87 years ago in Wichita, Kansas. At the vulnerable age of four, her dad passed away.

A few short years later at the age of nine, her mother died, and Elizabeth found herself living with her 18-year-old sister.

Bob passed away in 2013, and in 2016 BJ moved to Baptist Village. As the years went by, she could see her savings would not last. She didn’t want to leave Baptist Village, but she didn’t think she’d have a choice. She was scared and didn’t know what to do.

Elizabeth turned to her Girl Scout leaders, Jack and Imojean Thomas, for support. Unknown to Elizabeth, her mom had asked the Thomas’ to raise Elizabeth after she was gone.

The Thomas’ happily agreed, and Elizabeth Myrtle asked to change her name to Betty Jo (BJ) Thomas.

A team member encouraged BJ to apply for the Larry and Edwine Adams Assistance Fund. This fund is provided to qualifying BVC residents as a special resource to help meet essential living needs. BJ was hesitant, but she applied and was approved. She says, “Baptist Village gave me the second miracle of my life.” BJ continued saying, “there’s nothing but love at Baptist Village.”

BJ stayed active in Girl Scouts, and after graduating high school, she enrolled at Emporia Teaching College, what is now Emporia State University in Kansas.

After college, BJ began teaching but felt a calling to do more. She applied to work for the Department of Defense (DoD), and in 1956 her career took her overseas to teach and counsel children whose parents were deployed by the United States military. Over the next 15 years, BJ spent time in London, Turkey, and England.

When BJ’s mom needed constant care she moved into a long-term care community. Her mom was not prepared for the cost, and BJ took the responsiblity to pay for her mom’s care using the savings and trust accounts she and Bob had set back years earlier for their own retirement.

The Adams Assistance Fund is 100% donor funded by gifts from our faithful supporters. Without your help, residents like BJ would be forced to find other living arrangements. BVC is honored to offer this help to our residents.

‘‘

Upon her initial arrival in England, BJ met a man named Robert Matthews (Bob). Bob was working as a teacher for the DoD as well, and while they worked in different locations for much of the time, BJ and Bob became friends.

After years of assignments in different countries, they both ended up back in England. Bob had mentioned marriage on several occasions before, but it was at this time, BJ knew it was meant to be. They married in Bob’s hometown in Pennsylvania.

BJ and Bob lived in England for the next several years before returning the United States. They made their home in Oklahoma City, both accepted teaching positions at Heritage Hall school, and started

Baptist Village gave me the second miracle in my life.

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In addition to swimming, Sarah enjoys spending time with her goat, Sky, and her pig, Brooklyn. Before living at BHG, Sarah had never worked in agriculture before. She had to learn how to properly train her goat and pig for show competitions. “It was pretty complicated at first,” she said.

“But after each competition and as I spend time with my animals every day, I get more comfortable and used to how I need to train them.”

The Art of Expression Sarah is really proud of how she has grown in expressing her feelings since she moved to BHG. She has begun to use art as a way to express her feelings and thoughts when she cannot find the words to say. “Before coming here, I struggled to express my feelings,” said Sarah. “Now I use art as a way to express myself. I sit down and just let my hands say what my brain is thinking. I have always been interested in art, but now it has become so much more important to me.”

The

Art of

EXPRESSION Sarah* is a spunky 13-year-old girl who lives at Baptist Home for Girls (BHG). She loves coffee, playing clarinet and expressing her emotions through art.

When she was two years old, Sarah was adopted by her aunt – who she refers to as her mom. Sarah was an only child and spent a lot of time playing alone. When she moved to BHG, Sarah had to adjust to living in a cottage with up to seven other girls. However, she quickly began to appreciate the sisterhood found in her cottage. She remarked, “At home I had no one to hang out with – I had to play games by myself. Now, I have people my age I connect with and can talk about things with.”

Sarah has lived at Baptist Home for Girls since July 2023. She settled into life on campus fairly quickly, but a particular campus perk definitely made the transition easier. “I thought my first few days here went pretty well, and then after a couple of days, we did my favorite thing, which is swimming. I love having an on-campus pool,” she said.

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She is not only learning how to express her feelings, she is also learning a lot in the daily bible studies her houseparents lead in her cottage. Her houseparents, Steve and Nickolee Roberts, taught her the SPECKA method of examining a passage. Sarah explained, “When we use the SPECKA method to look at a Bible passage, we note the Sin mentioned in the passage, the Promises from God, the Examples we should learn from and follow, the Commands God gives us, the Knowledge we gain from reading the passage and the Application we should take away from reading the passage.”

Sarah became a Christian last year and enjoys going to church and watching The Chosen with her cottage on Sunday afternoons. She appreciates the community she’s found with the girls in her cottage and desires to grow not only in her relationship with others, but with Jesus too. “I recently heard my pastor preach on how much God loves us,” said Sarah. “He has forgiven us so much and loves us even when we mess up. I hope I can be like that to others.”

Prayer Requests Please pray for Sarah to have patience with other people “It’s hard to be patient sometimes,” she said. Please pray for Sarah as she continues in her walk with Christ. Please pray for boldness in expressing her feelings and sharing what God has done in her life. *Name changed to protect privacy.

About Us! About Us! OBHC OBHC’s mission is to show and share OBHC the love of Christ to children and their

2024 2024A DIFFERENCE. YOUR HELP MAKES YOUR HELP MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

For more than 60 years, Oklahoma Baptists have celebrated Mother’s Day in an extraordinary way through the Mother’s Day Offering.

For more than 60 years, Oklahoma Baptists have celebrated Mother’s Day in an You have trusted Communities and Oklahoma Baptist Homes for extraordinary way Baptist throughVillage the Mother’s Day Offering.

Children to provide physical and spiritual care daily for more than 2,800 children andhave senior adultsBaptist in Oklahoma.

You trusted Village Communities and Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children to provide physical and spiritual care daily for more than 2,800 children Working and OBHC will serve others in need with your gift. If BVC and seniortogether, adults inBVC Oklahoma. and OBHC are ministries that represent you and your heart, will you consider participating in the offering this year?

Working together, BVC and OBHC will serve others in need with your gift. If BVC and OBHC are ministries that represent you and your heart, will you consider participating in the offering this year?

Choose your best way to support the 2024 Mother’s Day Offering!

Choose your best way to support the 2024 Mother’s Day Offering!

At church

By check

At church

By check

Let’s Connect!

Email: mdo@obhc.org Let’s Connect!

Phone: (405) 942-3800 Email: Online: mdo@obhc.org www.okmdo.org Phone: (405) 942-3800 Online: www.okmdo.org

Online okmdo.org Online okmdo.org

Mail: Mother’s Day Offering 3800 N. May Avenue Mail: Mother’s Day Offering Oklahoma City, OK 73112 3800 N. May Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73112

Enclosed is my check for the 2024 Mother’s Day Offering

Name: Enclosed is my check for the 2024 Mother’s Day Offering Phone: ( Name: Phone: ( Email:

)

OBHC’s familiesmission is to show and share the love of Christ to children and their OBHC cares for children affected families by abuse, abandonment, neglect OBHC cares by forproviding children affected or poverty safe and by abuse, abandonment, neglect nurturing homes. OBHC also helps or povertythrough by providing safe and children its single-mother nurturing homes.Hope OBHCPregnancy also helps family program, children through its Ministry, single-mother Center, Foster Care and family program, Hopefor Pregnancy LifeWize curriculum middle and high Center, Care Ministry, and school Foster students.

LifeWize curriculum for middle and high school students.

BVC The gifts donated to BVC through the

BVC Mother’s Day Offering, provide financial The gifts donated to BVCthrough throughthe the assistance to residents Mother’s Offering, provide financial Larry andDay Edwine Adams Assistance assistance residents throughseniors the Fund. Thistofund helps ensure Larry Edwine Adams Assistance haveand a roof over their head, a safe place Fund. fundand helps ensure seniors to callThis home, a living environment have a roof their head, ato safe place where theyover are encouraged serve toGod calland home, a living environment oneand another. where they are encouraged to serve As Oklahoma’s largest not-for-profit God and one another. provider of senior adult housing and As Oklahoma’s largestsenior not-for-profit services, BVC serves adult provider senior adult housing residentsofage 55 and better at 12and services, BVClocations serves senior adult four Oklahoma and through residents and better at 12 in-home age care55 locations.

BVC’s mission Oklahoma locations and through four is to enhance lives by serving God, in-home care and locations.

BVC’s mission serving you, serving together. is to enhance lives by serving God, serving you, and serving together.

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Email:

okmdo.org okmdo.org

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PUZZLES 49 You can whistle a happy one 50 Late-night host Jay 51 “My people are __ to backsliding from me” (Hos. 11:7) 52 Aaron’s son 54 “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the __ of God” (Rom. 10:17) 56 Watchdog agency 57 Humorist Bombeck 59 Do not let your faith do this 63 Insult, slangily 64 Good fight of faith, for example 65 In Jerusalem were “devout men, out of every __ under heaven” (Acts 2:5) 66 Hog’s home 67 “I have neither __ on usury” (Jer. 15:10) 68 Compact

CROSSWORD

DOWN

ACROSS 1 Hair locale 6 Volcano spew 10 Data storage devices 13 Made neater 15 Car rental agency 16 Sower’s need 17 One devil possessed, biblically 18 Scam 19 Take flight 20 Do not do this concerning good works 22 24 Across’s mentor 24 Former persecutor of Christians 26 Dr. Zhivago’s love

28 Norwegian capital 29 Prays 30 Bethany follower of Jesus 31 Church table 32 Miner’s find 33 Place for hats, maybe 34 Sports ministry org. (Abbr.)

35 Wind-powered apparatus 37 “Thou shalt be his __ unto all men” (Acts 22:15) 41 Long, long time 42 Trespasses 43 __ Grande 44 Emission 47 Turfs 48 Eutychus’s seat (Acts 20:9)

1 Bible scholar’s degree, maybe (Abbr.)

2 Spy org. (Abbr.)

3 Sum up 4 Edge in science 5 Do not cast one before swine 6 Ten Commandments, for example 7 Bird sanctuary 8 Lithuanian capital 9 24 Across often went there 10 __ died for us 11 Cameroon seaport 12 Detector 14 Genetic code 21 Frozen dessert 23 “Ryan Express” baseballer 24 South American nation 25 Teen suffix 27 Noah’s float 29 Automated tasker, for short 30 German novelist Thomas 31 Bible book written by Luke 33 Response to 24 Across’ preaching, often 34 Fish features

36 City of studious Christians (Acts 17:10–11) 37 Often neglected woman in Acts 6:1 38 Ireland 39 Nile Delta element 40 Sun (Lat.) 42 “He...spared not his own __” (Rom. 8:32) 44 “Harness the horses, mount the __!” (Jer. 46:4 niv) 45 Pastor’s place 46 Fearful 47 Sunday morning oration 48 Stately 50 24 Across audience size, often 51 Communion element 53 Missionary need 55 “Considerest not the beam that is in thine __ eye?” (Matt. 7:3) 58 “Go to the __, thou sluggard” (Prov. 6:6) 60 Relation 61 VW model 62 SSW opposite

LAST MONTH ANSWERS

WORDSEARCH

WORDS ACTIVITIES

EVANGELISM

ADVENTURE

FALLSCREEK

AUTHENTIC

GOSPEL

BAILEY

HAGAR

BAPTIST

MINISTRY

BIBLE

MISSIONS

CAMP

SANDERS

CHAPEL

STUDENTS

CHILDREN

SUMMER

CHITWOOD

TOTALLY

CROSSTIMBERS

WORSHIP

DAVIS

YOUTH

DEW 16

April 2024

News Church

TRIBUTE

Everett Leon Landrum, 85, died on March 13.

Funeral service was March 17, at the Cleora Baptist Church. Leon served in pastoral ministry including in Oklahoma. He was ordained to the Gospel ministry by the Big Cabin Baptist Church. He and his wife Bonnie served several years as house parents for the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children. They also welcomed many young people into their life and home throughout his 50-year ministry.

CHURCH NEWS

YEC trains 1,000-plus students to share the Gospel

On March 22-23, Oklahoma Baptists hosted the Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC). More than 1,000 students, from more than 70 churches, participated in the evangelism equipping and training event held at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center. Students learned practical helps to share the Gospel with their friends and peers through various general sessions, led by Ryan Fontenot, as well as breakout sessions on topics including global missions, apologetics, personal evangelism and others. For more information visit www.oklahomabaptists.org/yec.

CHURCH NEWS

PAULS VALLEY, BEATY SEES BAPTISMS. Pastor Glenn Alley of Pauls Valley, Beaty said the church has been working with Baptist Village Communities’ (BVC) Pierce Institute and the LINC (Loving, Inspiring, Nurturing, Caring) ministry, which trains church leaders to connect with nearby senior adult communities. Through this BVC relationship and recent revival meetings at Beaty, the church observed five adults, all over the age of 75, follow the ordinance of believers baptism. 1) Pastor Alley, second left, along with Greg McNeece of BVC’s Pierce Institute, left, counsels the baptism candidates before the March 10 worship service; 2) Chris Finley, chaplain at Baptist Village of Oklahoma City, top left, leads at LINC training, similar to the one that members of Beaty attended to learn about ministering to senior adults.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS

NEW AFFILIATE Watts, Ballard Baptist Church, pastored by Vinnus Hilderbrand, is now an Oklahoma Baptist church.

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The Baptist Messenger | baptistmessenger.com

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PASTOR

Who do you consider your Oklahoma Baptist mentors, as you have progressed in full-time ministry?

The Lord has been good to place many Oklahoma Baptists in my life. In my early years, my pastor Jeremy Smith at Eastwood went above and beyond in showing me by example the basics of ministry and expository preaching. After Eastwood, I had the privilege to serve under Hance Dilbeck at Oklahoma City, Quail Springs. Hance mentored me through the process of becoming a pastor and instilling in me a love for feeding, leading and caring for the flock of God. Hance consistently taught me to “let the Word do the work” and was always a reliable source of wisdom. Finally, I was blessed to take several seminary courses with Todd Fisher who taught me preaching, New Testament and hermeneutics. After he was my professor, he was always a phone call away for advice and wisdom in ministry.

In Focus

NICK JOHNSON

Pastor of Lindsay, First Baptist Lindsay, Oklahoma

How did you get your start in ministry?

When I was a freshman in college, my home church, Lindsay, Erin Springs, gave me an opportunity to serve in youth ministry during the spring and summer months while they searched for a new youth pastor.

I did not have a clue what I was doing, but it was an important time in my life that God used to affirm His calling in my life! During my time at Oklahoma Baptist University, I was called to my first official ministry position at Midwest City, Eastwood as their youth pastor.

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April 2024

d r o w e h T ” k t e r “l the wo do

”

How are you and your church involved in serving the community and advancing the Gospel?

One way we recently served our community was through a Great Day of Service. We took a Sunday to serve our community and completed around 30 different jobs from basic lawn care, city park repairs, main street clean up, painting at the school and other minor construction and repair jobs all over Lindsay.

This day allowed us to serve and minister to several people. Another thing we are doing this year during Holy Week is hosting a Good Friday walkthrough experience called “Embrace the Cross.” There will be several different stations for people all over the community to learn the history of Jesus’s crucifixion and to reflect on the importance of His sacrifice for our sins. Everyone who comes will hear the Gospel and will have an opportunity to connect with one of our ministers.

Why is it important for you and Lindsay, First to support the Cooperative Program?

We support and value the Cooperative Program because we believe we can do more together than we can do on our own. The people at Lindsay, First love to hear about the work of Oklahoma Baptists as well as stories from the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board because of their participation in giving through the Cooperative Program.

HOW

you

CAN PRAY FOR

OklAHoma pastors 1. Pray for his family.

Ask God to help him love and lead his family well, making the most of his time in the home.

Ask the Lord to give him the courage to put off the trivial matters of ministry, so he’s fully engaged as the husband and father God calls him to be.

Ephesians 5:25 and Psalm 127:3-5

2. Pray for his walk with God. Pray that he will devote himself to prayer and Bible reading first and foremost before he begins his day of ministry and family time.

Philippians 4:6 and Psalm 119:9

3. Pray for his schedule.

Pastors prepare engaging sermons, have people to visit in hospitals, worry home-bound members will fall through the cracks, and are attempting to follow up with visitors. Pray that God will help him manage his schedule well to spend time with his family and lead his church family.

Ephesians 5:15-17 and Psalm 90:12

4. Pray for his sermon preparation & delivery Pray that God gives him focus and perseverance in sermon prep, as well as clarity and wisdom as he aims to rightly handle the Word of God. Pray God will fill him with passion and conviction as he declares the Good News to encourage the saints and lead the lost to love and follow Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:15, Psalm 119:18, Hebrews 4:12, & Mark 16:15 Research.lifeway.com/2022/01/04/5-ways-topray-for-your-pastor-to-start-the-new-year/

Nick Johnson pictured with his wife Erin and their children The Baptist Messenger | baptistmessenger.com

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REGIONAL MINISTRY

7 A’s of Confession As I have continued working and serving with churches, I have come to recognize that many church problems are actually relationship problems among members.

Living at peace with God, ourselves, and others is essential for our witness for Christ. Everything God does He does in love. He is always working things out for the good. Even amid conflict, if we allow Him, He will work things out for our good. Acts 2:23 reminds us that God is always in control. That verse says, “this Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Through the death of His Son Jesus, He worked out our salvation.

To be able to live at peace with God and others, we must learn and practice the discipline of confession.

Confession brings freedom and gives us hope that broken relationships can be restored. Confession must always be sincere and from the heart. It is important to remember that we are sinful, and through Christ’s death on the cross we have been forgiven.

For most of us, confession of sin is a daily practice.

Psalm 139:23-24 should be our daily prayers: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Ken Sande has put together the 7 A’s of confession.

You can use them as a checklist for making good confessions, ones that are freeing and reconciling.

Confession that is Godly can transform our heart and lead to a change in our behavior.

7 A’S OF CONFESSION ADDRESS everyone involved who has been affected by your sin or with whom you need to be reconciled.

AVOID if, but, and maybe. In other words, don’t make excuses for your behavior or what you have done.

ADMIT specific actions and attitudes that have caused you to sin or led to the broken relationship.

ACKNOWLEDGE the hurt you have caused by expressing sorrow to the person you have hurt.

ACCEPT the consequences of your actions. Do what you can to make things right.

ALTER your behavior. In other words, change your attitudes and actions. Have a plan of repentance that leads to change.

ASK for forgiveness and allow time. At this point, you turn everything over to the other person. It may take time for them to accept your forgiveness, so that reconciliation can take place.

Finally, don’t confess just to make yourself feel better.

Always do it to glorify God, to minister to others, to bring healing to others and to comfort those you have wronged. As a result, you will find freedom. Proverbs 28:13, “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

It is important to examine ourselves honestly and confess our sins when we are wrong. Confession is not easy, but it can bring freedom and help us to be reconciled to others.

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April 2024

Written by Buddy Hunt

Oklahoma Baptists Regional Ministry Partner

PRAYER GUIDE

MISSIONARY

Prayer Guide

Join us throughout the year in praying for our missionaries, serving locally and around the world!

Amy Cordova

Karla and Darrell E

OKLAHOMA

HIMALAYAS

How to Pray...

Karla and Darrell serve in the Himalayas, spreading Jesus' message and aiding locals in health and business.

How to Pray...

Amy Cordova, of Oklahoma Baptists, empowers women in local churches to spread the Gospel, believing their role is vital for impacting generations through faithful service in Christ.

• Pray the people of the Himalayas will know Jesus and make Him known.

• Pray Amy, her husband, Rick, and their three children will thrive as a family.

• Pray believers will see how God provides for them so they will stay in country despite economic challenges.

• Pray Amy’s ministry to missions and women will be fruitful.

• Pray local churches will grow in numbers, spiritual maturity, and strength.

Prophet Bailey

English as a Second Language Ministry

OKLAHOMA

How to Pray...

Prophet Bailey supports pastors and young adult leaders in Oklahoma, helping them disciple young adults and improve men's ministry efforts statewide.

How to Pray...

English teaching in Oklahoma aids non-native speakers in securing jobs and meeting basic needs, fostering relationships and Gospelsharing opportunities.

• Please pray for the men’s retreat as Prophet and his team reach and encourage men.

• Pray for ESL teachers as they share and show the love of Jesus to people who may never have heard of Him.

• Please pray the Lord will raise up workers to reach young adults.

• Pray the Holy Spirit would work in the lives of ESL students so they will see and know Jesus.

• Please pray for Prophet as he looks to help both of these unique groups.

• Pray God will use ESL ministries as a pathway to bring internationals into His churches.

The Baptist Messenger | baptistmessenger.com

21

Dear Oklahoma Baptists,

2023 CP GIVING REPORT oklahomabaptists.org/ cp-2023-giving

I am continually amazed by the generosity of Oklahoma Baptist churches giving through the Cooperative Program (CP). At the QR code link, you can access a detailed report of all of the giving in 2023.

The Lord is using Oklahoma Baptists giving through the CP to advance the gospel in our state and around the world. When your church gives through the Cooperative Program, it supports much needed missions and ministries in Oklahoma—including Falls Creek, CrossTimbers, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Disaster Relief, church planting, evangelism and more. Every day we hear reports of people who are coming to faith in Christ and being discipled through the many shared ministries of Oklahoma Baptists.

We are truly doing more for the Kingdom partnering together than we can apart.

Serving Jesus with You, Dr. Todd Fisher, Executive Director-Treasurer Oklahoma Baptists

2024 DPA GALA

For The Love of Adoption

08.29.2024

BUY TICKETS NOW!

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April 2024

SPECIAL GUEST: STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN

TOOLBOX

How can your church be involved in global missions?

Sending missionaries around the world is not something new for Oklahoma Baptists. As a matter of fact, it is something that God has done throughout our Baptist history. It’s a part of our DNA. It’s who we are.

Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board, recently said to me, “Mike, we are so grateful for Oklahoma Baptists and the quality and quantity of missionaries that you guys have sent over the years.”

He’s right. We have Oklahomans scattered everywhere and still sending. The amount of sending we have done, and are doing, presents us with another exciting opportunity.

One of our primary goals of the Global Missions office is for us to connect Oklahoma Baptist churches with Oklahomans serving around the world. At the same time, we want to provide on-ramps for our churches to fulfill the Great Commission. We can do this in various ways.

We are asking Oklahoma Baptists churches to send one person from each church. That would allow us to send more than 1,800 people in the next 12 months overseas. Can you imagine the difference we can make if we send 1,800 missionaries preaching the Gospel to the lost and encouraging the local church?

At the same time, we are asking our churches to take one. We have churches right now who have volunteered to take others with them on their mission trips from other churches. This is an amazing display of

unity, working together as Oklahoma Baptists to fulfill the Great Commission.

This also reminds us to be one. As we mobilize people to the nations to serve as missionaries, it reminds us that someone doesn’t have to get on a plane to be a missionary, but that we are missionaries in Buffalo, Atoka, Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Something else we provide are entry-level short-term mission trips to the Americas, Europe, North Africa and Asia. If you are interested in any of these, please contact the Global Missions office at 405/942-3800 Ext. 4377. These entry-level excursions will give you the tools you need for your church to begin shortterm mission work.

We are excited to walk alongside those who feel called to serve in long-term missions. As Oklahoma Baptists, we have the responsibility to train, equip and encourage our full-time missionaries as we hold on to our end of the rope, so they know they are cared for and encouraged to fulfill God’s call on their lives.

We want our churches to know that the Global Missions office is here to support and empower each church to go overseas on short term trips but also send well-trained missionaries.

It’s an honor to serve you.

Written by Mike Wall

Oklahoma Baptists Global Missions Partner Photos provided from the International Missions Board

The Baptist Messenger | baptistmessenger.com

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1 Gift + 1 Ministry Lasting Results

What ministry is dear to your heart?

Supporting children? Education? Funding Missions?

Whatever your cause, a single charity fund (SCF) is the perfect giving solution for those seeking to make a continuing impact on a specific ministry. A SCF acts like a savings account for your charitable giving that focuses on a single charitable beneficiary and lets you determine when to make distributions from the account to ministry. SCFs are an excellent option if you are considering a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from a traditional IRA since standard donor advised funds cannot accept QCDs. LEARN MORE AT: WatersEdge.com/SCF or 800-949-9988