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Church news
Tulsa Metro Baptist Network (TMBN) recognized Darryl DeBorde for more than 40 years of service as secretary of TMBN. The reconition happend at TMBN’s annual celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 1. DeBorde, left, was presented a plaque and a gift certificate for a trip for two to Branson, Mo., from Charlie Cruce, director of missions.
CHURCH STAFF CHANGES
JOSH BROOKS is pastor at Anadarko, Bethel.
GARRETT BRADLEY is pastor of Oney in Caddo Association.
JAVAN SHAW is interim pastor of Swan Lake in Caddo Association.
CONGREGATIONAL NEWS
NEW CONGREGATION. Enid, Iglesia Bautista Agua Viva is a new affiliate of Oklahoma Baptists. Javier Lopez is pastor.
ANNIVERSARY. Claremore, North Park Trinity celebrated its 60th anniversary on Oct. 23
TRIBUTES
Charles Echols
Charles Echols, 76, died Sept. 6. Funeral service was Sept. 13 at Lawton, First East. He served 39 years pastoring Southern Baptist churches.
Ruth Green
Ruth Green, 89, died Oct. 25. Funeral service was in Missouri. She and her husband James served as international missionaries for 14 years. Jim also pastored several Oklahoma Baptist churches.
Randy Tompkins
Randy Tompkins, 76, died Oct. 17. Funeral service was Oct. 20 in Louisiana. He served Oklahoma Baptist churches in Henryetta, Ada, Bethany, Tulsa, Enid and Jenks.
Faye Westfall
Faye Westfall, 79, died Nov. 16. Funeral service was Dec. 3 at Carney, First. She was the wife of retired Oklahoma Baptist pastor, Floyd Westfall from Yukon.
Around the State
Brett Selby
It is my privilege to serve the 395 Oklahoma Baptist churches and 10 associations in the southwest region. Through their efforts, God continues to advance the Gospel in a variety of ways. First, Gospel advancement is occurring as Oklahoma Baptists in the southwest region respond to need, and secondly, as they seize ministry opportunity.
Responding to need: On Nov. 1, Weatherford, Trinity suffered catastrophic loss of their facility due to a fire started by an electrical short. Oklahoma Baptists responded both tangibly and spiritually. Pray for the church in the days ahead as they navigate difficult decisions in their rebuilding effort.
Seizing ministry opportunity: Two churches in Grady Association (Blanchard, Ridgecrest and Minco, First) are seeing significant community impact in their Wednesday night services. On a recent Wednesday night, the combined attendance of the two churches included more than 240 children and 185 students.
Pray for all these churches in their respective seasons of adversity and advance that God might be glorified through their faithful witness.
The Oklahoma Baptists African American ministry has grown by leaps and bounds.
I was blessed to start and lead this ministry in 2017, and it has been a blessing to the churches and pastors it serves. Over the years it has grown from 16 active participating churches to more than 70.
We are here to be a partner with the other Oklahoma Baptists ministries in reaching all souls with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We have hosted several conferences, including the National African American Fellowships board meeting last spring, featuring Willie McCLaurin, who serves Southern Baptists as Great Commission Relations/Mobilization leader, as well as interim president of the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. We also hosted Lifeway’s Big Results Sunday School Conferences in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa, featuring Mark Croston.
We will continue to seek ways to serve, partner, encourage and equip African American churches to meet their full potential serving God’s people everywhere.
