May Digital 2026

DIGITAL EDITION | MAY 2026

DIGITAL EDITION | MAY 2026

APRIL RETREATS HAVE GOSPEL IMPACT Spring Break: A Time of Sending and Gospel Impact Todd Sanders

Let the Wind Keep Sweeping Down The Plains Rusty Gunn

May 2026 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

The Heavens Declare The Glory of God Keith Hess

APRIL RETREAT ROUNDUPS In April, Falls Creek Conference Centers hosted three retreats for Oklahoma Baptists: College-Age Students, Women’s and Men’s ministries. These events provided a time of rest and fellowship for those in attendance.

FALLS CREEK SPRING RETREAT DAVIS—On the weekend of April 10-12, nearly 700 people attended the annual Falls Creek Spring Retreat. This event brings together collegiate and young adult groups from church and campus-based ministries across the state for a weekend of worship and fellowship.

Each year, the Spring Retreat hosts speakers from across the country. This year’s featured speakers were Ryan Santling, pastor of Eastside Baptist Church, Fort Smith, Ark.; Tom Elliff, former president of the International Mission Board; and Trey Hedrick, Baptist Collegiate Ministry director at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Praise was led by Common Worship.

The main sessions and smaller breakout sessions allowed students to recharge their spiritual battery while enjoying all Falls Creek has to offer on the campgrounds.

Other activities included a trivia night, silent disco, and tournaments for volleyball, 3-on-3 basketball and soccer.

Spring Retreat attendees also had the opportunity to be the first to experience Falls Creek’s new Adventure Park ropes course elements.

Falls Creek Spring Retreat provides focused, intentional discipleship partnered with solid biblical teaching in a casual and fun environment. The event continues a longstanding tradition of equipping young adults to grow in their faith as they prepare to be sent out.

“This retreat offered a great opportunity to challenge students as they scatter for the summer across the United States and around the world,” said Chad Coleman, State Director for Oklahoma Baptist Collegiate Ministries.

“Whether serving on mission trips, working summer jobs, or returning home, students were encouraged to see themselves as sent to share the Gospel wherever they go.”

This year featured a commissioning service on Saturday night. After Elliff brought an excellent message from Matt.

9:35-38, Coleman told the story of Andrew Fuller vowing to “hold the rope” for William Carey when he moved to India and kicked off the modern missions movement.

May 2026 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

Each student and leader received a piece of rope as a reminder to hold the rope for those who are going with prayer and support. Coleman then called everyone who would be doing missions to stand. Representatives from each mission team came forward, and the group collectively prayed over them. It was a powerful visual as hundreds stood and were sent out by their peers.

WOMEN’S RETREAT HELPS PARTICIPANTS “This year, we saw women respond in salvation and other spiritual decisions, which is always the most meaningful ‘DRAW NEAR’ TO GOD On April 17-18, more than 2,000 women gathered at Falls Creek for the annual Women’s Retreat. The retreat encouraged women to ‘Draw Near’ to God with confidence, hold fast to hope and encourage one another.

In addition to in-person attendance, more than 40 host churches around the state participated in the Women’s Retreat through local events that tapped into the content offered at the retreat.

Many women responded with professions of faith and other spiritual decisions. Each year, the retreat is designed to help women be grounded in God’s Word, strengthen their faith and be encouraged to live out their calling.

Oklahoma Baptists Women’s and Missions Ministry Partner Amy Cordova believes the year’s retreat was as impactful as ever.

“My favorite part of the retreat is always seeing women come together around God’s Word. There’s something powerful about women of different ages, backgrounds, and churches sitting side by side, being encouraged and reminded of truth together,” said Cordova.

This year’s Women’s Retreat theme was “Draw Near” inviting women to grow closer to God and to others.

Cordova emphasized the quality and impact of the event speakers. “We had an excellent group of speakers. The Lord really moved at the retreat.”

The 2026 Women’s Retreat featured speakers including Jennifer Rothschild, who has authored 20 books and Bible studies; Sheila Walsh, an author, Bible teacher and Christian broadcaster; Jeff Iorg, Author and President and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee; Andrea Lennon, Director of Lifeway Women; Sandy Wisdom-Martin, Executive Director-Treasurer for national WMU; Angela Sanders, Christian author, speaker, and ministry strategist; Samantha Decker, author and Bible teacher; and Jamy Fisher, Bible teacher who serves in ministry alongside her husband, Oklahoma Baptists Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Fisher.

May 2026 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

part of the weekend,” added Cordova.

Each year, an offering is taken up during the retreat.

This year, Women’s Retreat attendees generously gave nearly $15,000 to the offering. The funds will go to the International Mission Board (IMB) Eastern Edges Team and Disciple Making Training for Leaders.

“These generous donations help us partner with national leaders to host gatherings that encourage and equip those serving in rural communities. From fishermen to church leaders, God is raising up men and women in a war-torn country to shepherd His people and share His Word,” said Cordova.

Cordova added, “One new addition for this year was two pre-session breakout panels on Friday afternoon.

One was led by Women’s Minister, Morgan McGhee, from Yukon, Together We, focusing on the importance of community within the church. The second panel was led by Oklahoma WMU President, Kennedy Lehew, and included IMB missionaries, offering practical insight into how we can better care for and pray for those serving around the world.”

The Women’s Retreat also highlighted an urgent issue in the church and society today: loneliness.

According to sources, “In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness an epidemic, warning that its health impact is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Chronic loneliness increases the risk of heart disease, dementia, stroke, depression and premature death.

Strong, meaningful connections are essential to our overall well-being.”

Cordova emphasized that “the church is the cure, connecting with Christ and with each other.”

For all those at Falls Creek or participating at host churches, the Women’s Retreat drew each one closer to God. For more information about the Women’s Retreat, visit https://www.oklahomabaptists.org/women/retreat/.

MEN’S RETREAT INSPIRES ATTENDEES TO BE IMAGE BEARERS OF CHRIST On April 24-25, hundreds attended the annual Men’s Retreat at Falls Creek Conference Center. This provided a weekend of discipleship and brotherhood for Oklahoma Baptist men.

The theme for this year’s retreat was “Man Up,” reflecting on 1 Cor. 16:13, a continuation from last year’s theme, “Man Down.” The theme verse says, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong,” encouraging men to stand against the world’s tainted meaning of manhood and embrace Christ’s definition of being a man.

Breakout sessions focused on evangelism, apologetics, men’s ministry, grandparenting and more. The sessions challenged and equipped men to better mirror Christ and be strong leaders.

“For believing men, ‘manning up’ means pursuing Christlikeness and embracing our God-given roles and responsibilities no matter how difficult it is,” said Prophet Bailey, Oklahoma Baptist Men’s Ministry partner.

In addition to the breakout sessions, two main sessions were held. The first featured Eric Hernandez, former Lead Apologist for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and Lewis “Lew” Sterrett, founder and CEO of Sermon on the Mount Ministries.

Hernandez and Sterrett focused on how men can better show Christ in their lives; Hernandez focusing on being godly men even when no one is watching and Sterrett reminding men to always look to the Lord for guidance.

The second main session featured Todd Fisher, Oklahoma Baptists Executive Director-Treasurer, and Danny Gandara, senior pastor of Del City, Sunnylane. Fisher warned men of the subtle dangers of drifting away in their walk with Christ, while Gandara highlighted that a godly man is defined by his motives and by placing his faith in the right person.

Outside of these sessions, men also participated in activities such as fishing, pickleball, shooting sports, archery and more.

For more information about Oklahoma Baptists Men’s Ministry, visit https://www.oklahomabaptists.org/men/.

May 2026 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

SPRING BREAK: A TIME OF SENDING AND GOSPEL IMPACT

by Todd Sanders, Falls Creek Program Director & Oklahoma Baptists Youth Ministry Partner

Spring break is often associated with rest and routine— but for students partnering with GO Students, it became something far more significant: a front-row seat to the Gospel at work.

Whether through construction, building bridges with the community, distributing thousands of outreach flyers, or hosting community BBQs, each act contributed to creating opportunities for the Gospel could take root.

Across two mission efforts in Oklahoma and Kansas City, nearly 200 Oklahoma students and leaders from 15 churches didn’t just learn about living on mission— they experienced it firsthand.

One standout moment came when students helped provide a fully restored 12-passenger van to a church plant—directly answering a prayer from its pastor. It was a tangible expression of partnership, generosity, and God’s provision. Altogether, teams invested in ministry needs and demonstrated mission work is both spiritual and practical.

Danielle Wilson, coordinator for the Mobile Missions project in Tulsa reported in Tulsa, 117 GO Students and leaders from nine churches partnered with Mobile Missions Network, Church Inside Out, Church Inside Out @ Red Fork and Church Inside Out @ Verdigris to reach Tulsa, Verdigris and Claremore, immersing themselves in everyday spaces—neighborhoods, apartment complexes, parks, and street corners untied to make Jesus known.

Through partnerships with local ministries like Church Inside Out, students led “Camp Inside Out” gatherings where games, songs and Bible stories became bridges to deeper Gospel conversations. What started as simple engagement quickly became meaningful moments of connection, as students discovered the power of presence, consistency and joy.

Beyond organized gatherings, students stepped boldly into public spaces, offering prayer at intersections, initiating conversations with strangers and hosting “grill walks” turning free meals into opportunities for listening, encouragement, and sharing hope. Many students entered the week unsure of how to start a Gospel conversation.

They left with a new confidence, having seen firsthand that people are often more open than expected.

God’s work wasn’t just visible around them—it was unmistakably happening within them. Evening worship gatherings overflowed with testimonies of boldness, transformation, and faith.

One of the most powerful moments came with the first baptism through these ministry efforts in Claremore.

During the week, 16 professed Christ as Savior, including two missionaries there to serve for the week. This is a humbling reminder that the Gospel reaches both sides of every conversation.

In Kansas City, another group of students partnered with church plants in a new project. Their combined physical service and Gospel advance made an impact. They renovated ministry spaces, canvassed neighborhoods, and helped prepare for church launches.

May 2026 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

What makes partnering with GO Students so meaningful is this blend of impact: lives changed through the Gospel, churches strengthened for long-term ministry, cooperating with other churches and students transformed into confident, everyday missionaries. These projects reveal a powerful truth—when students step out in obedience, God moves in ways that extend far beyond a single week.

Mike Jones, coordinator for the new Kansas City project said, “I would absolutely encourage every Oklahoma Baptist church to engage with GO Students by becoming a sending partner and hosting trips, sending students, and continuing to give regularly through the Cooperative Program” One can also give to GO Students through the Student Mission Offering each summer.”

Spring break may have ended, but the mission continues in the hearts and lives of students confident and willing to live on mission wherever they go.

INDIAN FALLS CREEK: A NATIVE MINISTRY UNIQUE TO OKLAHOMA

by Jennifer Barnett, Chairperson of IFC Board of Directors

Across Oklahoma, the name Falls Creek is recognized and associated with the youth camps that host thousands of young people each week throughout the summer.

Unfamiliar to many people is Indian Falls Creek – the week hosting peoples representing over 50 tribal Nations from across North America.

Indian Falls Creek (IFC) is unique among the summer camps. First, IFC is a family camp that offers programming for campers of all ages. It is a beautiful sight to see multigenerational families – from infants, small children, teens, parents and grandparents – attending camp together. Many grandparents bring grandchildren as primary guardians and when parents must work.

Hosting the whole family also allows church families to cultivate stronger bonds across generations for continued ministry at home. This ministry is vital, as it is estimated that less than 10% of Native peoples are confessing Christians.

The shared goal of proclaiming Christ among the Nations most encourages the IFC family of churches. Cultural diversity among the tribal nations brings interesting interaction, programming, and “iron sharpening iron” moments. Throughout the week, tribal singing and dress are more visible ways this diversity is evident.

IFC is a rare time when many leaders are together in one place, which offers leaders the opportunity to support and encourage each other in-person as well as plan ways to do so outside of camp. Campers come from across North America for this week of camp, which allows friendships, ministry support partners, and other non-IFC Native ministry opportunities to be cultivated during week.

As an organization, IFC is entirely volunteer led – from its Board of Directors to support workers that annually attend as campers yet serve across daily programming to make camp a success. Attending with their own families, Board leaders personally understand the weight on families to attend camp.

To support churches and families, IFC hosts an annual Golf Tournament to support programming and scholarships, and it is introducing a Capital Campaign to fund scholarships that assist with registration fees.

There are multiple ways to support the ministry of IFC. Please pray for the churches and families as they prepare spiritually and physically to attend and the over 90% that are unreached.

May 2026 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

Attend a day of camp or an evening service. If you are looking for a place to serve this summer and want to consider a mission trip to IFC, please talk with us.

Come play, bring a team or be a sponsor in the 2026 IFC Benefit Golf Tournament at Firelake Golf Course south of Shawnee on Friday, June 5. More information is available on the IFC website.

Please consider contributing to the IFC Capital Campaign.

Through this designated fund, IFC can better steward the funds to support campers’ ability to attend. Online giving is accessible on the IFC website, and more information about the campaign available by contacting Emerson Falls (efalls@oklahomabaptists.org). Learn more at www.IndianFallsCreek.org

LET THE WIND KEEP SWEEPING DOWN THE PLAINS

by Rusty Gunn, Send Network Oklahoma Church Planting Catalyst

Last spring, while driving through the far western Oklahoma panhandle, I had to slam on my brakes and pull over.

In a wide-open field stood two windpowered machines, one towering, sleek, and modern; the other smaller, simpler, and easy to overlook.

Yet both were turning. Both were catching the wind. Both were doing exactly what they were designed to do. The image has stayed with me.

The smaller windmill reminded me of the many normativesized churches, and even house churches, spread across our state. They may not carry the visibility or scale of larger congregations, but they are steady and faithful. In rural Oklahoma, small windmills often draw water from deep beneath the surface to sustain livestock and in some places, even households. In much the same way, these churches faithfully draw from the deep well of God’s Word, week after week, offering life-giving truth to the people they serve.

The towering turbine, on the other hand, catches more wind, produces more energy, and may provide power for an entire grid. They represent larger churches, those with more reach, broader influence, and greater resources. We thank God for them. Their capacity allows them to impact communities, support missions, and mobilize people on a significant scale.

But here’s the truth we cannot miss: size does not determine value. Faithfulness does.

In church planting, this reality becomes even clearer. Some new churches are prepared, equipped, and resourced to launch large. Others begin with far fewer people and resources, sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of philosophy or strategy, and sometimes simply out of capacity. Neither approach is better or more important than the other. Both are needed. If we are going to reach

May 2026 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

and minister to the full landscape of lostness across Oklahoma, from urban centers to rural communities, we will need both kinds of churches.

And both share the same dependence.

Neither the windmill nor the turbine produces its own power. Their effectiveness is entirely dependent on the wind.

The same is true for the Church.

As Zechariah 4:6 reminds us, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” The real power behind any church, large or small, is not its structure, strategy or size. It is the Holy Spirit.

Whether a church gathers 15, 50 or 5,000 people, when the Spirit of God is at work and the sails are lifted, there will be movement. There will be life. There will be Kingdom impact.

So smaller and normative-sized churches don’t need to envy the “turbines.” They were never meant to be that tall. But they were created to turn—to draw living water and to serve their communities faithfully in the power of the Spirit.

At the same time, larger churches must be careful not to overlook or undervalue these smaller works. The Kingdom is not built on prominence but on partnership. Healthy large churches recognize the vital role smaller churches play in reaching places and people they may never reach on their own. They celebrate them. They partner with them. They invest in them—financially, relationally, and missionally—because they understand that multiplication, not just accumulation, is the mission.

And when churches of every size catch the wind together, there is movement that can shake the plains and stir the heavens.

THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD: HOW CREATION POINTS TO THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

by Keith Hess, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics Oklahoma Baptist University

Is it rational to believe in God or do we need take a blind leap in the dark? I believe it is quite rational. While we know that God exists through the testimony of the Scriptures as well as the Spirit within us, we can also know that God exists through the existence and design of the universe.

First, the very existence of the universe testifies to the existence of God. In my philosophy course, I tell my students that if rocks exist, then God exists.

How so? Things like rocks, trees, people and planets are all dependent things. That is, they do not exist of their own accord but depend on other things for their existence.

This includes the universe! It exists, but not of its own accord. And while we can explain one dependent thing in the universe by another dependent thing (for example, a child by its parents), if we want an ultimate explanation of reality, we need to appeal to something that is outside of the universes and is the source of all things.

Consider an analogy. If you want to hang a chandelier, you need more than a chain. You need a ceiling as well.

While one link in the chain supports another link, unless the chain is hanging from the ceiling, the chandelier will fall. In the same way, God is the source and support for the universe and everything in it.

Second, the order of the universe testifies to the existence of God. In his 1802 book entitled Natural Theology, William Paley asks us to imagine walking across a field and coming across a watch. Even if you’d never seen a watch before and even if you didn’t know how they worked, Paley claims that you could reasonably conclude that the watch was

May 2026 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

produced and designed by an intelligent being. Why? Because it has features that indicate design such as complexity, order, and function.

In the same way, since natural objects possess complexity, order and function, this indicates that they are produced by an intelligent being as well.

Consider DNA. It is the blueprint for life. Scientists speak of it as a language akin to the language found in a book. It seems more reasonable to believe that this language was produced by an intelligent Creator then a blind, physical process.

Or consider the universe as a whole. Physicists say that it is finely tuned to a precise degree for life to exist. This did not just happen. No, it is more reasonable to believe that it was finely tuned by God. So, the existence and design of the universe point to God as the Creator. This is a claim that Bible supports.

According to Psalm 19:1-2 and Romans 1:19-20, creation testifies to God’s existence and attributes. And in Acts 14:14-18, Paul and Barnabas claim that the weather and seasons that make growing food possible points to God’s provision.

In other words, the Bible claims that God’s existence is apparent in the things that he has made. Thus, our belief in God is quite reasonable. The evidence is all around us.

DECISION TO DISCIPLE MAKING

by Todd Sanders, Falls Creek Program Director & Oklahoma Baptists Youth Ministry Partner Gospel proclamation and invitation are a hallmark of Falls Creek Youth Camp.

time missions and ministry. The impact is generational and global.

Each night in the summer, students respond to the Good News of Jesus and begin a new life in Him.

Leaders and churches have an incredibly rich opportunity to turn a week of camp into an on-ramp to a disciplemaking pathway, helping students who are changed by the power of God, pursue the Lord, connect in relationship, grow in their experiential knowledge of life in Christ, and release into the disciple-making life God has designed for His followers.

Decisions and Gospel work at Falls Creek do not end there. Students make other decisions in obedience to the Lord’s leading and have many opportunities to grow spiritually beyond their first steps of faith into further steps of obedience. Falls Creek Youth Camp serves as a fertile ground for release into life as a disciple maker.

A youth camp week offers over twenty added growth moments through various trainings, missions education and mobilization, breakouts on numerous topics related to areas of the Christian life, decision encouraging, prayer and evangelism opportunities and resources that help students take next steps into everyday life back home.

Added growth and release opportunities also happen in cabins. Many leaders use Falls Creek Youth Camp as a way to hand over leadership and investment to students, allowing them to make disciples by serving on the decision team, teaching in cabin, giving their testimony, presenting the Gospel or leading small groups.

Mission sending is a major emphasis at Falls Creek Youth Camp. Students can connect with mission action steps at one of three mission venues which include prayer for the nations, practical mission projects, missions education, giving to the student mission offering and more.

For more than 20 years, the heightened attention to missions has resulted in hundreds of churches and thousands of students mobilized through mission efforts for over 20 years. This missional emphasis of calling out the called allows Falls Creek to continue to be among the largest sending grounds for students and adults to full

May 2026 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

Pray that God continues to move this summer at Falls Creek. For more information, visit oklahomabaptists.org/ youthcamp

YOU’RE INVITED! OBU and Oklahoma Baptists at SBC in Orlando!

TUESDAY

June 9, 2026 7 pm SeaWorld Park

Join us for a special gathering in conjunction with the SBC annual meeting!

THIS EVENT WELCOMES

Oklahoma Baptists Messengers OBU Alumni and Friends Guests of WatersEdge

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

SPONSORS

May 2026 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

CHURCH NEWS ELK CITY, MAIN STREET CELEBRATES 55TH ANNIVERSARY On Feb. 15, Elk City, Main Street celebrated its 55th Anniversary.

Since opening its doors in 1971, Elk City, Main Street has been faithfully serving its community. Bryan Pain, Oklahoma Baptists’ Regional Ministry Partner (left), presented a certificate from the Oklahoma Baptist Historical Commission to Larry Parvin, pastor of Elk City, Main Street, during the church’s anniversary celebration.

SBC LEADERS GATHER TO STRATEGIZE ON COOPERATIVE PROGRAM ENGAGEMENT

Southern Baptist Leaders gathered April 20-21 at the Hyatt Regency DFW Airport for a Cooperative Program Engagement retreat. Numerous leaders from across the SBC and state conventions participated. Among the speakers was pastor Walter Wilson, African American Ministry Partner with Oklahoma Baptists.

IBC WOMEN: ‘DARE TO REPAIR’

This will be a free event for women to come learn about basic home and car maintenance and have someone available to discuss home financing. “We will have contractors available to demonstrate and answer questions about plumbing, HVAC systems, home repairs and car maintenance,” said IBC member Dianna Black. This event will be a great way for women to gain confidence in taking care of some basic maintenance on their own.

May 2026 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com