2023/January

MESSENGER STAFF

Brian Hobbs | Editor bhobbs@baptistmessenger.com

Chris Doyle | Managing Editor cdoyle@baptistmessenger.com

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Chris Forbes | Staff Writer cforbes@oklahomabaptists.org

Tori Hamilton | Art Director thamilton@baptistmessenger.com

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: 39,579. 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.

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Connect: Why we serve together

One of the interesting things I have the privilege of doing as executive director-treasurer is to attend the board meetings of our four Oklahoma Baptist affiliates: Oklahoma Baptist University, WatersEdge, Baptist Village Communities and Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children—not to mention our own board of directors meetings.

In each of these meetings and in being on various campuses, I’ve been blessed to hear testimonies of lives changed by the Gospel through the ministry and work of each of these affiliates. Here is just a sample of some of those testimonies from the past year:

• A child who had no home because of abuse or neglect now lives in a caring environment and loves the youth group at church.

• A young, expectant mother with no support in her life wondering what to do and where to turn found people who told her of the value of the life in her womb, gave her a place and resources to live and walked with her through a fear-filled time of her life.

• A young woman called to missions at Falls Creek and a young man called to pastor a church both found a university that educated them from a Christian worldview and trained them in their calling, giving them opportunities for practice and experience.

• A homeless single mother who battled addictions for years found people who cared for her and her child, gave her a place to live and job training, and introduced her to Christ in whom she found identity and hope.

• An elderly widow whose husband faithfully pastored small churches their whole lives was in need

of resources to survive and a community to love her, and she found both.

• A family whose home was destroyed by a flood felt hopeless and wondered what they would do, having no insurance, when men and women wearing yellow shirts arrived and worked on their house free of charge.

• College students, who came to school to play sports or get an education to give them a lucrative career, heard the Gospel on campus and found something far greater than anything the world could give them.

All these testimonies are strong reminders of why Oklahoma Baptist churches choose to partner together: to fund and facilitate missions and ministries to advance the Gospel and see lives changed for God’s glory. This is why we chose to come together in 1906 and why we still work together today.

The beauty of our partnership is that every one of our churches—large and small, rural or metropolitan, new or old—all have an important part to play in what we do for the Kingdom. Oklahoma Baptists learned long ago that we can do more for the Kingdom together than we can apart. When we are focused on the message and mission God has given us, we are at our very best. May that especially be true in this coming year!

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

A new year has begun, and people everywhere have made resolutions to eat better, exercise more, read their Bibles daily and kick bad habits.

On March 7, Oklahoma voters will have the opportunity to kick a cultural bad habit to the curb before it gets worse. To be specific, voters will consider State Question 820, which would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in our state. Here are some reasons why voters should reject SQ 820.

SQ 820 is unwise and unnecessary. Oklahoma already has more marijuana dispensaries than any other state in the nation. SQ 820 would expand marijuana’s reach in our state, making Oklahoma “go to pot” even further. Oklahomans should reject the goal of making our state a “pot-smokers paradise” and, instead, focus on keeping it a pleasant place to raise a family.

Recreational marijuana creates easy access to a mind-altering, addictive substance that has proven adverse effects on the user, their families and communities. Recreational marijuana has been linked to addiction and proven to be a gateway to other risky behaviors. Legalization has led to increase casual use among Americans and an even greater surge among those who use cannabis heavily.

This state measure comes with empty promises and disguised consequences. Proponents of the state

no’ to

question have used phrases to advance their drugs’ cause, phrases like “sensible laws,” “the tax revenue will help education.” Socially liberal proposals promise good end results, but they often end up being empty promises that invite further social harm and breakdown.

Approving recreational marijuana means removing important legal barriers for trafficking these addictive, mind-altering drugs. Recreational marijuana leaves neighborhoods and schools vulnerable for exploitation.

Last November, messengers to the Oklahoma Baptists’ Annual Meeting approved a resolution against recreational marijuana. The resolution expressed alarm “at the rapid advance of acceptance of marijuana in our state… We pray that Oklahoma will put legal barriers between addiction and the communities it devastates, and that the church will work with Christ-centered ministries to reach people who are addicted to substances.”

On March 7, Oklahoma voters should share that same resolve. They should ‘just say no’ to SQ 820!

Brian Hobbs Editor of the Baptist Messenger

Rite of Passage Imitators

If you want to know what is going on with your adult children, just talk to your grandchildren. They’ll tell you everything.

I like taking my grandsons out one by one. Sometimes I will take the oldest out for breakfast and, at lunchtime, exchange him for the next one.

One Saturday, I took our 9-year-old grandson out, and we had a great time. Titus the Honorable is the old soul of our grandkids. He likes old cars, old clocks, old electronics and old Poppy. I was taking him back home when I told him I wasn’t sure what to do with his 6-yearold brother, Cohen.

“Poppy, Cohen is easy,” Titus said. “Just give him $2 and take him to the dollar store. He’ll spend half a day making up his mind.”

I wonder where he heard that before.

But guess what? He was right. Before the afternoon was over, Cohen had picked up every toy at least once and several twice. After he made his final choice, it was time to take him back home.

Not long ago, Adrian, the mother of my grandkids, had a hectic day getting the two older boys up and off to school. River, 3, was lying on the couch watching the chaos when his mom walked by. “Hey, babe!” River yelled.

“Yes, River?”

“Could you pleaaaaassssseee give me a glass of chocolate milk? It’s been one of those mornings!”

I wonder where he heard that before.

Titus’ third-grade schoolteacher gave each child in her class $3 with the instruction that they all find a way to bless someone. No matter what they did, the goal was to use the funds to help someone else.

Titus had an idea. He wanted to serve hot chocolate and cookies to the families in the waiting room at the local hospital. His mom made a call, and the hospital approved Titus’ project. He is now in the process of finding sponsors to help him with the $150 this ministry will cost.

I wonder where he saw this before.

Children listen and watch the adults around them. They become imitators.

Titus has spent many Wednesdays watching his mom run a clothing room and food pantry. He has seen her love on the homeless and less fortunate. He has been with her as she brought food to someone who was sick or took in a child whose single mom had lost her babysitter.

Jesus learned from His Father’s example too: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19). And Paul told the Thessalonians, “You became imitators of us and of the Lord” (1 Thess. 5:6a).

Whether we like it or not, our children will imitate what they see. Let’s imitate good things for them or we may only hear, “Could you pleaaaaassssseee give me a glass of chocolate milk? It’s been one of those mornings!”

Walker Moore

Author

& Messenger Columnist

Email | walker@back40.org

Pastor Skylar Spradlin of Weatherford, Trinity said it was “an ordinary day” when he and another church staff member discovered a fire that broke out in the church’s sanctuary Nov. 1, 2022.

“We were working, and I’m glad because if worship pastor Larry Jones hadn’t been there, I would not have known anything had happened from my office until it was dangerous,” Spradlin said.

Spradlin first saw a flicker of fire in the ceiling above the platform in the sanctuary, before realizing smoke was filling the sanctuary. “I went to grab a fire extinguisher,” Spradlin said, “and by the time I returned, the fire was already over our heads and spreading so fast.”

The two got out of the building and called 911. “The firefighters tried to contain it,” Spradlin said, but the fire had already spread. After a significant time of the firefighters battling the fire, the building was a total loss.

In the hours following the devastating fire, Spradlin said they received great encouragement from the Weatherford community, as well as Oklahoma Baptists.

The very next day, Todd Fisher, Oklahoma Baptists executive director-treasurer, expressed support for Spradlin and his wife Jamie, publicly presenting the church with a $5,000 check from Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief to help defray costs associated with the fire.

Fisher also gathered Oklahoma Baptists staff members to pray over the couple at the Baptist Building, and announced that another pastor who is retiring had offered Spradlin his entire pastoral library, since Spradlin’s was lost in the fire.

Spradlin, who has served as lead pastor at Trinity since 2015, notes that the church is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Though the building may be gone, he said the church’s ministry will continue.

The congregation is still holding Sunday services, meeting at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry building at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Sunday worship attendance has remained strong, with an average attendance of 75.

In an open letter of gratitude to Oklahoma Baptists, Spradlin said, “Some events are life changing. They leave an impression that does not go away… Our church building caught fire. All that was left were a few

books and some financial records. In a matter of minutes, our congregation effectively became homeless.”

He went on to say, “For the first time, our people were experiencing what many other churches around the world experience regularly—an uncertainty about the future, confusion about the present and a strange sense of sorrow at something we know to be unnecessary to the work of the Gospel.

“Unlike many church plants, our people had never existed in a temporary space or in a state of extreme flux. Yet, this is where we are now.

“While the fire was of monumental importance to our emotional, physical and spiritual outlook, it is not what has left the biggest impact—at least not on this pastor. Instead, it has been the kindness of God’s people poured over us in the days since that has made the deepest mark.

“Such motivational kindness has been sustaining as we navigate a road we have never travelled and make decisions we were never prepared to make. In fact, if it weren’t for the kindness of sister churches and ministries, we would be in much worse shape. Yet, sister churches and partnered ministries have gone above and beyond to strengthen and sustain us.

“As Baptists, we always talk about unifying around missions. We rally to our missionaries and prioritize

spreading the Gospel. We can confidently say that the mission of spreading the Gospel to the whole world is the singular glue that holds us together. I have often heard that our unity is for one purpose—fulfilling the Great Commission.

“Many sister churches, and many individuals, have rushed to our side in our time of need. They have given money. They have allowed us to borrow equipment. They have prayed for us. They have given us space to grieve and promised to come to our aide in the future.”

Spradlin continues to notice God’s provision as the church works through insurance claims and other issues. “God provides daily reminders that He is going to take care of us,” he said.

This trying time for Spradlin and Weatherford, Trinity shows that even when fires destroy a church building, the church can rise from the ashes and still be part of advancing God’s Kingdom.

Todd Fisher, left, prays for Skylar and Jamie Spradlin during a meeting with Oklahoma Baptists staff members.

The benefits of teaching theology in the local church

Most pastors begin their ministries with high hopes. We envision studying for hours to feed our people well through preaching. Further, we dream of leading small group studies, developing teachers and training the next generation. And to be sure, we have every intention of instructing our people in theology and helping them to be rooted deeply in the doctrine of God’s Word.

It is not that these dreams ever fade away; it is simply that they often get crowded out. The endless barrage of meetings, crises, and emergencies have a way of making us focus on the immediate, often to the neglect of the eternal.

No church is steeped in theological education by accident. It results from a relentless determination to make it so. Consider making necessary changes to your schedule and ministry to awaken your dreams of teaching your people biblical theology purposefully and strategically. This is not done simply to make our people intelligent; theology is taught to help them know God better, love Him more deeply and follow Him with greater passion.

We began a purposeful two-year Bible training program at my church several years ago called, The Institute. It has made an immeasurable impact on our people. I have seen dozens of benefits within our church. Here are a few of the benefits.

1. The congregation knows the Lord better and is protected from false teaching. There is so much accessibility to preaching today, which is both a blessing and a danger. While excellent teachers are available through the internet, so are false teachers. Scripture reminds us that pastors are to be working to help our people grow in biblical discernment (Eph. 4:14). When theology is taught in the local church, our people are rooted in the Word of God.

bands desire to be strong, spiritual leaders in their homes, but most simply do not feel able to do so. A lack of training leaves many men unable to teach their families, and churches are weakened. Yet, when churches have ministries that train our men in theology, the result will be husbands and fathers who are competent to handle the Scripture, and their families will follow. I’ve heard stories from wives whose husbands have graduated from The Institute, and it’s thrilling to hear how this training has impacted their homes.

3. Pastors are forced to remain lifelong students. When the congregation is trained in biblical theology, it is both an encouragement to the pastor and a challenge. The pastor must see that he continues to learn and grow. Too many churches get stagnant because the pastor has ceased to be a student. Teaching theology in the local church ensures that the pastor must continue to sharpen his skills and deepen his knowledge as he leads his congregation in theological education.

There are many more benefits that come from having theological education in the church. I pray that this article awakens your vision to lead your church to be steeped in theological training. It will not happen by accident or without your leadership. I hope you will be encouraged to serve your congregation in this way!

Staton Senior Pastor of Mustang, First

Michael

Greetings from BVC Would it be OK to ask?

Sometimes when I have a request to make of a person, I begin the request by saying “Would it be OK if I asked…?” It’s almost like I am asking permission to ask.

I think older adults in our society often feel like that. They think they need to ask if it’s OK to continue to do what they are doing at a certain age. They may even feel that way about serving in the church.

I don’t exactly know why this is so. Maybe the world is negatively influencing both senior adults and the church. Perhaps we think the word “retire” somehow means coming to the end of our usefulness. I am very hopeful that we can transform our expectancies in this stage of life.

Senior adults should be encouraged, empowered and given opportunities to serve. It should be an expectation. When I was a teenager, I prayed and asked the Lord how He wanted me to serve; and He answered me! I’ve asked that same question all my life and hope to keep on asking.

When Caleb was 85 years old and back in the promised land, he boldly asked God to “give me this mountain.” He was just as willing and purposeful as when he was a much younger man.

We do not often think of a person who is in their 80s taking a new ministry assignment. Why do we see many senior adults seemingly say, “I’ve done my part” and appear to resign themselves to the sidelines? Rather, we should live with the wonderful expectation that we are

so blessed by God that He would use us to serve all our life as we are physically able. The Great Commission is always the mission, and our spiritual gifts are for all of life. May we be so bold as to ask God, regardless of age, how He wants us to serve.

Have you ever seen the joy a 77-year-old child of God experiences when they go on their first mission trip? It is the exact same joy a teenager who is 17 experiences. Is the prayer to the Lord “How would you have me serve” the same for a 77-year-old as it is for a 17-year-old? I think it is! There are more senior adults in our churches than ever before who have more quality years to serve.

Vance Havner, one of the great Southern Baptist preachers of another era said in his biography, “retirement age is supposed to mean that I should sit in a rocking chair, wait for my social security check and reminisce about the good old days. I have no thought of retiring. I would say with Caleb, ‘give me this mountain’!”

What a great and joyful call—the opportunity to participate in God’s plan of redemption.

How old are you?

It doesn’t matter. Don’t be afraid to ask!

Bill Pierce President of Baptist Village Communities

ACROSS

1 “Fourth part of a ___ of dove’s dung” (2 Kings 6:25)

4 Clomp 9 “Ye shall ___ down their altars” (Judg. 2:2)

14 “Ye tithe mint and ___ and all manner of herbs” (Luke 11:42)

15 Toil 16 Jesus still ___ the sick

17 And so forth 18 Type of acid 19 Pop (3 wds.) 20 “To be discreet, ___, keepers at home” (Titus 2:5) 22 “With her much ___ speech” (Prov. 7:21) 24 “Hide it there in a ___ of the rock” (Jer. 13:4) 25 Radar echo 27 “___ hold of this” (Eccl. 7:18)

Word Search

46 Hairdo 48 “Took off their chariot ___” (Ex. 14:25) 49 Qualm 50 “Passing through the ___ near her corner” (Prov. 7:8) 52 “The ___ of a wise man’s mouth” (Eccl. 10:12) 56 “Good works for necessary ___” (Titus 3:14) 57 Acts preacher (abbr.) 58 Mined metals 59 Caress 60 Condensed (abbr.)

61

63

64 Child

31 Writer Bombeck 32 Large hotel room 33 “The man is near of ___ unto us” (Ruth 2:20) 34 River 36 Unclean animal (Deut. 14:8) 38 College teacher or lecturer 40 Parable about man ___ laborers (Matt. 20:1) 42 Sentimental 43 “Words of the Preacher, the

son of ___” (Eccl. 1:1) 44 “___ the rivers run into the sea” (Eccl. 1:7) 45 Harmony 47 God ___ cattle of thousand hills (Ps. 50:10) 51 “Causeth his wind to ____” (Ps. 147:18) 53 “Discerneth ___ time and judgment” (Eccl. 8:5) 54 “For ___ hath man of all his labour” (Eccl. 2:22) 55 Owiee! 57 Acts to impress 59 Many ___ of animals on ark 62 “Clouds return ___ the rain” (Eccl. 12:2) 65 Samaria to Moab dir. 66 “He ___ with him the space of a month” (Gen. 29:14) 67 David’s son ___ Ecclesiastes 68 Downwind 69 Tie 70 Flying toys 71 “I have not ___ with vain persons” (Ps. 26:4)

DOWN 1 Nativity scene 2 Solomon was an ___ 3 Soothe 4 Strip 5 “Neither could any man ___ him” (Mark 5:4) 6 Kimono sash 7 First day of Creation (abbr.)

8 “There was no ___ under the sun” (Eccl. 2:11)

9 Siamese

10 “The ___ of the wise is in the house of mourning” (Eccl. 7:4) 11 “The living creatures ___ and returned” (Ezek. 1:14) 12 “A wise child than an ___ and foolish king” (Eccl. 4:13) 13 Jericho to Beersheba dir. 21 “Applied mine heart to know, and to ___” (Eccl. 7:25) 23 Hairy mammal 25 Baseball’s short hit 26 “Highways ___ waste” (Isa. 33:8)

28 John was ___ to Jesus 29 “The ___ himself is served by the eld” (Eccl. 5:9)

30 Jerusalem to Peniel dir. 32 “My ___, be admonished” (Eccl. 12:12)

35 Exclamation 36 __ Lanka

37 “Their ___ made no lamentation” (Ps. 78:64)

38 “Their ears are ___ of hearing” (Matt. 13:15)

39 Capital of Norway 40 “God also ___ set the one” (Eccl. 7:14)

41 ___ league school 42 Talk

43 Dah’s partner 45 Alphabet 46 Hairdo

48 “Took o their chariot ___” (Ex. 14:25)

49 Qualm 50 “Passing through the ___ near her corner” (Prov. 7:8)

52 “The ___ of a wise man’s mouth” (Eccl. 10:12)

56 “Good works for necessary ___” (Titus 3:14)

57 Acts preacher (abbr.) 58 Mined metals 59 Caress 60 Condensed (abbr.) 61 Promissory note 63 5th day of Creation (abbr.) 64 Child

McNeece to lead BVC’s Pierce Institute

Baptist Village Communities (BVC) announced Greg McNeece is the inaugural executive director for the Bill and Susan Institute for Transforming Life Expectancies. The Institute was established to help Oklahoma Baptist churches meet the increasing needs of senior adults within the church and to minister to those outside of the church. “BVC could not have found a better, more qualified person to lead The Institute as we expand the ministry,” said Bill Pierce, president of Baptist Village Communities.

Noteburning at Tulsa, Woodland Acres

Tulsa, Woodland Acres observed a noteburning ceremony after the church’s loan to WatersEdge was paid off for a $2.4 million renovation. Pictured in the ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 4 is Pastor Kriss Haymes, building project director Mark Griffin and chairman of deacons Gordon Edwards.

Griff Henderson

Kyle Gipp

TRIBUTE

Kyle Gipp, 43, died Dec. 8. Funeral service was Dec. 12 at Seminole, Indian Nations. He was associate pastor at Seminole, Indian Nations.

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS BOOK PUBLISHED. Emmitt Mckenzie, an evangelist and Oklahoma Baptist, has a new book published. In ‘LIFE: It’s Not Supposed to Be Like This,’ Mckenzie shares his personal story of pain and how Jesus changed his life. Mckenzie, pictured with his wife Belen. His book is for sale on Amazon and other book retailers.

CHURCH STAFF CHANGE TIM TUTTEN is pastor of Hollis, First.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS NEW CONGREGATION. Guthrie, Garden City is now meeting. Wes Robertson is pastor.

Around the State

Emerson Falls

Northwest Regional Ministry Partner Oklahoma Baptists

I have had the privilege of being the regional ministry partner in Northwest Oklahoma for the last three years. Seven associations and 375 churches make up this region.

When we think of Northwest Oklahoma we think of Guymon, Woodward, Alva, Enid. In addition, Ponca City, Kingfisher, El Reno and the OKC metro are included in this area. I appreciate these great churches and pastors advancing the Gospel in the larger towns through evangelism, discipleship and missions.

But in this article, I want to emphasize the towns that are “one Baptist church towns” in Northwest Oklahoma.

Towns like Mooreland with hundreds of youth and children in attendance on Wednesday night. Like Forgan, where powerful evangelism opportunities are continuing to happen.

Like Helena, where multigenerational worship is taking place. Like Cherokee, where the Gospel has been prioritized for decades. Like Hennessey, which prioritized being healthy to reach the next generations. Like Tonkawa, where supporting the BCM is essential.

If you are a part of a “one Baptist church town,” take the responsibility of reaching people with the Gospel, discipling the next generation seriously.

It is worth it. Jesus is the answer for the world today!

Native American Ministry Partner Oklahoma Baptists

As the Native American ministry partner, I work to empower the 191 Native American churches affiliated with Oklahoma Baptists. Struggling churches are experiencing revitalization, and new churches are being started, using a mission points strategy.

The key to healthy churches is to encourage pastors to become effective leaders. Encouragement is provided on a personal level and a professional level. Finding and developing new leaders is a constant process. A ministry pipeline teams new leaders with experienced leaders.

The Robert Haskins School of Christian Ministry has a Native American track. Learners are equipped in practical ministry skills in the context of Native American culture. Graduates of the Haskins School are serving in ministry in Oklahoma churches.

Oklahoma has five Native American associations. Empowering churches and encouraging churches is accomplished in partnerships with the Native American Associations. Churches not affiliated with a Native Association are encouraged to affiliate with an association in their geographic area.

He serves as executive director-treasurer for Oklahoma Baptists.

Walter Wilson

He is pastor of Lawton, Friendship and serves as the African American ministry partner for Oklahoma Baptists.

In Focus:Kenny Mossman

Kenny Mossman worked in college athletics for nearly 40 years. Twenty of those years were at the University of Oklahoma in administrative roles.

He serves as the southwest regional ministry partner for Oklahoma Baptists.

Amy Petersen

She serves as the ministry wives ministry partner for Oklahoma Baptists.

Jacob Boss

He serves with the International Mission Board in London, England.

Last year, Mossman made a major career change and currently serves as pastor of Carnegie, First. He’s experienced many ministry opportunities in his first year as a pastor. Last summer, Carnegie, First had a revival and saw many people make life-changing decisions for Christ.

“One of the best aspects of revival is the unity it promotes among the body,” Mossman said. “By coming together for several days, we enhanced that sense of community that molds a church into a team. Few things are more encouraging to a pastor than to see that kind of atmosphere in a church.”

Mossman appreciates how supporting the Cooperative Program (CP) is another way that promotes unity at Carnegie, First.

“We’re located in a small, rural community, but because of the CP, we’re not bound by size or location,” he said. “When we see news of a missionary working in a foreign land or a disaster relief team restoring communities and lives, we feel blessed to be part of those efforts. That has always been one of the advantages of the CP, but it means even more to me now in our current church.

“(Our people) want to be engaged in a wide variety of ministries in many different places, and they have the genuine sense that they’re being used by God in important Kingdom work right here in Oklahoma and all over the world.”

Todd Fisher

Brett Selby

Pray for Oklahoma Missionaries:

UNCHURCHED OKLAHOMANS

TWO TYPES OF UNCHURCHED: DECHURCHED AND NONES

Unchurched Oklahomans can be divided into two groups: people with a church background and people who do not have any church background. Ministry researchers have coined two terms for these unchurched groups:

THE DECHURCHED: These are people who have attended church at some point in their life but have not been active for some period of time. They often hold beliefs that are consistent with Christianity, though they may not have an accurate understanding of the Gospel or have a personal relationship with Christ. In Oklahoma, 60 percent of the unchurched fall into this group. We estimate that approximately 2.3 million Oklahomans are dechurched.

THE NONES: These are people who have no religious affiliation of any kind. They may have never attended church in their life. In our state, as hard as it might be to imagine, 40 percent of the unchurched have zero affiliation with any religion. Based on this research, an estimated 930,000 Oklahomas, about 23 percent of the state’s total population, are “nones.”

SNAPSHOT OF RELIGIOUS PARTICIPATION IN OKLAHOMA

of our state. Based on the results of our study, we estimate that about 40 percent of Oklahomans have a regular involvement with church, 31 percent were formerly involved with church, 23 percent are unaffiliated with any religion (Nones), and approximately 6 percent of the state are involved with a religious group other than Christianity.

*EDITOR’S NOTE: Research and information based on a 2018 statewide survey of 2,975 Oklahomans, published in the book, ‘The Hidden Harvest: Reaching different people groups.’