2024/January by The Baptist Messenger

JANUARY 2024 • VOL. 113 | NO. 1

Joyful Sorrow Amid personal mental health crisis, WMU leader found hope and help in Christ

Julie’s Story, Joyful Sorrow

OBHC Milestones

Lori Coats & Brian Hobbs

James Swain

I NS I DE THIS ISSU E January 2024 · Vol. 113 I No. 1

MESSENGER STAFF >> Brian Hobbs | Editor bhobbs@oklahomabaptists.org >> Chris Doyle | Managing Editor cdoyle@oklahomabaptists.org >> Lori Coats | Subscriptions/Assistant lcoats@oklahomabaptists.org >> Kali Daniells | Graphic Artist kdaniells@oklahomabaptists.org >> Bob Nigh | Contributing Writer bnigh@oklahomabaptists.org

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: 37,158. 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.

3 | CONNECT

PARTNERING TOGETHER FOR THE GOSPEL― ALL OF US Todd Fisher

4 | SWORD & TROWEL FAMILY CIRCUS? Brian Hobbs

5 | UPCOMING EVENTS 6 | GREETINGS FROM OBHC

OBHC MILESTONES James Swain

OBHC MILESTONES

7 | JUST JOE

THE BIBLE AND BACON Joe Ligon

9 | JOYFUL SORROW

Lori Coats and Brian Hobbs

COVER STORY

12 | CROSSWORD/ WORDSEARCH 13 | CHURCH NEWS 14 | PASTOR IN FOCUS BRAYDEN BUSS Chris Doyle

16 | REGIONAL FEATURE NORTHWEST

Griff Henderson

17 | TAKE ACTION

SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY

URL baptistmessenger.com TWITTER/X @baptmessenger FACEBOOK thebaptistmessenger

18 | BEST OF WALKER MOORE 19| TOOL BOX

7 QUESTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS Chuck Lawless

CONNECT

Partnering together for the Gospel ALL OF US As we begin a new year, I think it is good for us to remember and focus upon the reason why Oklahoma Baptists churches exist and have chosen to partner together: to advance the Gospel. Here is something interesting about our churches and what it means in our cooperative efforts for the Gospel:

One without the other could not support the number of international missionaries and church plants that we have. One without the other could not support a university, children’s home campuses or retirement villages. One without the other could not do church camps/conference centers, an extensive Disaster Relief Ministry or Baptist Collegiate Ministry on 39 college campuses in our state. People from churches both big and small are called to the mission field and to serve our churches in ministry. Those from churches both big and small send care packages and other helps to children and senior adults being served by Oklahoma Baptists affiliates. Attendees from churches both big and small are encouraged and equipped at conferences and retreats. Students from churches both big and small attend Oklahoma Baptist University, BCMs and commit their lives to follow Christ at camps. Volunteers from churches both big and small make up our Disaster Relief teams.

One of the things I have come to appreciate most about the system of cooperation our churches have is that ALL our churches are important. Large churches have many people and large budgets but are very few in number. Small churches have fewer people and small budgets but are many in number. Without each other, neither large nor small churches could do what they do through their cooperative efforts to advance the Gospel together.

Churches in large cities reaching many people and churches in remote areas that may be the only Gospel witness in that community; churches with incredible facilities and churches with aging buildings; full-time pastors well-known in our state and multi-vocational pastors known by only a few—EACH and ALL of them are critically important in the role they play in gospel ministry both locally and globally in our cooperative efforts. I hope Oklahoma Baptists, regardless of what size or location of church in which they are a part, will value every one of our churches and count it a blessing to partner together with such a diversity of congregations to impact our state and the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We do more together for the Kingdom of God than we do apart! Written by Todd Fisher

Oklahoma Baptists, Executive Director-Treasurer

January 2024 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com 3

SWORD AND TROWEL

FAMILY CIRCUS?

TH E CH ANGING DYNAM IC OF FAMIL IES I once heard about a statue on display in a small town in America from the 1950s. The sculpture shows a mother, a father, a son and a daughter, all holding hands. The statue was named “The Normals” for how it depicted what Americans viewed as a “normal family” at the time—what is also called the nuclear family. Fast forward to today, and the average family in America looks anything but normal. According to the latest survey data, the nuclear family is on the sharp decline, with broken homes on the rise. As of 2022, there were 84.26 million families in the U.S.—but what constitutes a family looks different now than it was in decades prior. The Pew Research forum put it this way: “Family life is changing. Two-parent households are on the decline in the United States as divorce, remarriage and cohabitation are on the rise.” The article goes on to say, “families are smaller now, both due to the growth of single-parent households and the drop in fertility. Not only are Americans having fewer children, but the circumstances surrounding parenthood also have changed. While in the early 1960s, babies typically arrived within a marriage; today fully four-in-10 births occur to women who are single or living with a non-marital partner.” Consider that family life in the Bible was messed up, too. The Old Testament patriarchs displayed messy and messed-up family situations and relationships. This is not a modern problem; this is a human problem. This understanding gives us a better compassion for people, many of whom are not at fault for the circumstances in which they find themselves. It will also guard against pride or hyper-judgmentalism. The next step is for churches to uphold and promote marriage, biblical sexuality and healthy family dynamics. We do this by what we teach and how we live. If we are not living rightly, how can we expect people in our community to act any differently? Another step is to see crisis as opportunity for the Gospel. When we see a single mother struggling to raise her children, that should be our cue as churches to help. When we see a child stuck in the foster care system, that’s our cue to step up as foster parents and provide care. When we see a couple facing an unintended pregnancy, show Christ’s love to that baby and those parents. When we see grandparents thrust back into raising their grandchildren, we can assist them in every possible way. No, the “normal family” does not appear to be coming back in America any time soon—if it ever were fully there. So, we need to be the people ready to show families and individuals that God loves them. After all, that would be the normal way to point people to God. Written by Brian Hobbs

Editor of the Baptist Messenger

4 January 2024 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

UPCOMING EVENTS See what events are happening around the state! JAN. 21

JAN. 21

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

oklahomabaptists.org/life

FEB. 5

Priority of Preaching Conference OKC, Quail Springs

JAN. 22

Worship Summit at Elk City, First JAN. 25

Singing ChurchWomen West at Mustang, Chisholm Heights

oklahomabaptists.org/pastors

FEB. 1

FEB. 7

FEB. 2-4

Rose Day Pro-Life Rally State Capitol February 7

Oklahoma Student Worship Choir at Midwest City, First

State Capitol roseday.life

Singing ChurchWomen East at Midwest City, Country Estates MVP Pastors and Wives Retreat 2024 at Falls Creek Conference Center FOR MORE INFO ON OKLAHOMA BAPTISTS’ EVENTS VISIT OKLAHOMABAPTISTS.ORG/EVENTS

Advance Conference 39: An Interview

St. John Missionary Baptist Church, OKC

with Peter Williams Listen at www.oklahomabaptists.com/podcast or on... Scan Here For More Information!

March 4-5 Free Event, No registration necessary

December 2023 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

GREETINGS FROM OBHC

MILESTONES IN 2023 LEAD TO FUTURE BLESSINGS WITH OBHC Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC) had a year of milestones in 2023. Oklahoma Baptists completed 120 years of this ministry we call OBHC.

Our mission is to show and share the love of Christ to children and their families. This has been taking place for 70 years at Boys Ranch Town in Edmond and for 50 years at Baptist Children’s Home in Owasso. God has blessed this good, Gospel work with more than 150 people coming to Christ in 2023. We rejoice in God’s faithfulness throughout the years and pray for His continued favor in the days ahead.

One of the ways we look toward the future is by changing the name of our Oklahoma City campus to better reflect the ministry that takes place on that campus today. During the December OBHC Board of Trustees meeting, the board approved changing the name of the campus to The Vine. For the past few years, this campus has been completely dedicated to Children’s Hope, our ministry to single mothers and their children. Our prayer is that The Vine will be a place where all who are

served there will come into communion with Christ, and they would bear much fruit. This ministry of OBHC will continue to pursue our vision to bring Hope by providing help and homes to children and their families. Sanctity of life is one of the values that drives us as an organization. One of the ways you can join us in championing this value is through Sanctity of Human Life (SOHL) Sunday and Rose Day. SOHL Sunday provides an opportunity for churches to emphasize the Biblical value of life, and Rose Day gives us the opportunity to thank our legislators for their stand for life and encourage them to continue in that stand. You can find more information and resources at oklahomabaptists.org/life. While we are thankful for the advancement in the fight for life in our state since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the need for us to be champions for life has not diminished. In 2023, OBHC opened two new Hope Pregnancy Centers in Shawnee and Alva, and all eight centers continue to see a significant need for the ministry provided. There are opportunities for women and men to serve as volunteers in a Hope Pregnancy Center and meet people in need with compassion. You can find out more information about how to be involved in this ministry and all the ministries of OBHC at our new website obhc.org. As always, we are humbled and grateful for your support!

6 January 2024 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

Written by James Swain

President of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children

JUST JOE

The Bible & Bacon The Bible is the greatest story ever told. One of the things that makes it the greatest story is it is just chock full of great stories. Some of them we know well and can repeat verbatim. Others are perhaps not so well known but still carry great meaning. There are several Bible stories that fit that description. I don’t have the space, and you don’t have the time to talk about all of them. But perhaps I do have the space, and you do have the time for one of those stories. The one I have been thinking about the last few days happens in Acts 9:9-16. It is another story about Peter—not the one about his water walking expedition—but an interesting and important story, nonetheless. In this story, Peter climbed up on the roof of the house to pray. Once he started praying, he decided he was hungry. He was so hungry, in fact, that he fell into a trance. He was zonked out on the roof when it happened. God woke him up with a great statement: Rise. Kill. Eat. There is not a real hunter anywhere that doesn’t resonate with such a command. In fact, I don’t know of a real hunter anywhere that is not committed to following this command.

Then the story takes a bit of a twist. There was a great sheet let down from heaven that was just teeming with all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds. In fact, there were a bunch of these animals, reptiles and birds that you would never find on the menu of a Jewish restaurant. Peter actually said that he had never eaten an unclean creature, and he wasn’t about to start now. This amazing thing happened three times. Now I want you to think through this with me. Do you realize how close we were to not being allowed to eat bacon? (I’m sure there was a hog in that sheet which is not to be confused with a pig in a blanket.) Put your thumb as close as you can to your forefinger without the two touching. That’s how close we were to no bacon. That’s how close we were to a culinary catastrophe. Peter, the rascal, bragging about all he had done, and all he hadn’t done, just about blew the bacon thing completely out of the water (or maybe out of the sheet). But God is good. And thankfully, God is persistent. He obviously knew how important bacon would be to us. Thank you, Jesus, for bacon. Now I know some of you want to yell at me that this story was not about bacon. I would politely disagree and tell you that every good story is about bacon at some point. But I realize this story was also about the Gospel being taken to the Gentiles. Boy, I am glad that happened. Next time you are munching on some bacon, remember to be glad about the Gospel being taken to the Gentiles (That’s us, you know), as well. Oh, and be glad for bacon.

Joe Ligon

Senior Associate Executive Director January 2024 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com 7

Joyful Sorrow

Amid personal mental health crisis, WMU leader found hope and help in Christ

Julie Busler found herself in a place that many others have experienced, and it was only the relentless love of God that rescued her. Busler, WMU leader for Oklahoma, experienced years ago the untimely loss of both of her parents—one due to illness and the other to suicide. Like so many others facing grief, Julie felt ill-equipped to face the crisis and, instead, suppressed her feelings and tried to press forward in life.

She and her husband Ryan, who were members of Shawnee, Immanuel, had a growing family and were on mission with God. In fact, the couple, with their four children, were serving God as International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries in Turkey with a productive ministry team.

COVER STORY

From the outside, everything seemed fine. Yet it was during her time as a missionary that the strong grip of depression, fueled by grief and suppressed memories, nearly brought her life to an end, as Julie began to contemplate suicide. “That thought of suicide was an invader to the beautiful moments happening with my family,” she said, “and rather than taking it captive and making it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5), it captivated me. “My mind was so enslaved to thoughts of death that I was unable to rationally see how my horrific death would shatter the hearts of those who loved me,” Julie continued. “I was functioning but not in the healthy way God desires. What I failed to fully comprehend at the time was that when my thoughts crossed the very dangerous threshold from wishful thinking to plans, it was an emergency. I desperately needed professional help, for without intervention it would only be a matter of time before my plans birthed irreversible action. In Prov. 23:7, we learn that as a man ‘thinks within himself, so he is.’ I was becoming what I was thinking.”

Instead of feeling the normal emotions of excitement, a horrible thought crossed her mind. “While my mother-in-law is here,” she pondered, “it would be a great time to kill myself because she could help my husband get the kids home to the US… and my body.” Shortly after her mother-inlaw’s visit, Julie reconsidered her death plans. “I knew my life depended on something changing,” she said. “I told my husband just enough about my struggles for him to realize I needed professional help. He made an appointment for me to be seen by a Turkish psychiatrist, and I reluctantly agreed to go. “Yes, there was an entire spiritual side of me that needed help, but the physical side of me was finally being treated. I needed medical help to steady my brain and keep me alive, but those treatments only stabilized the physical side of me. We are incredibly complex creations, and there is a spiritual aspect of who I am that was being neglected in my treatments. Medicine was a good gift, but Jesus was my hope.”

for the world to see. I didn’t want to live this double life.” As she sat in a psychiatric hospital in a foreign country, Julie looked at her surroundings and was enlightened.

“Men and women from all walks of life sat around me with one thing in common: brokenness,” she said. “Me, a woman in ministry, sat next to a man on meth. I saw afresh that mental illness Julie found herself planning and In her new book, “Joyful is incapable of discrimination, plotting her own death when Sorrow,” Julie writes, “I was and I wondered, ‘How could I her mother-in-law came to visit trapped in this vicious cycle of go from standing in churches, them in Turkey. living one inner reality encased in a completely alternate reality 10 www.baptistmessenger.com | The Baptist Messenger | January 2024

To hear a new podcast

With loving care from her Heavenly Father, a devoted husband and family and very special friends, Julie has emerged with a powerful testimony. Today, she uses her story and her book to The medical treatment in Turkey, and later back encourage others who have experienced mental in the United States, was difficult, yet hopeful for illness. The Buslers have been able to help others facing struggles, as they share the Gospel. Julie. declaring what the Lord was doing among the nations, to a patient in a locked psychiatric ward on suicide watch?’”

“I was weak with sorrow, but the joy of the Lord was my strength,” she said. “He was providing the medical care I needed, and it was binding up my injuries. He was feeding my mind with His Word, and it was strengthening all that was weak in me. God was true to His Word by not abandoning me after all.”

In her words, “The enemy almost took me out, but to that I say with confidence, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.’” Written by Lori Coats and Brian Hobbs Photos were provided by Juliebusler.com

ast interview with Julie, visit Baptistmessenger.com/podcast

CROSSWORD & WORDSEARCH to the king 44 Hooch 45 What Nebuchadnezzar was when afflicted 48 Habituates 49 “There is a ___ in heaven that revealeth secrets” (Dan. 2:28) 50 Moved with your foot 51 Scorns 54 Goliath 55 Where king dreamed 58 “Made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a ___” (Num. 21:9) 59 “O king, live for ___” (Dan. 2:4) 61 “It came to pass, ___ Isaiah was gone out” (2 Kings 20:4) 63 “___, ___ that great city Babylon” (Rev. 18:10) (same wd. both blanks) 64 Large African river turned to blood during plagues 65 Spring flower 66 Snow gliders 67 “The valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s ___” (Gen. 14:17) 68 Build

DOWN

ACROSS

23 “Thou shouldest bray a fool in a ___” (Prov. 27:22) 25 “Being ___ together in love” (Col. 2:2) 26 “How long shall it be to the ___ of these wonders?” (Dan. 12:6) 27 Dream interpreter 30 Small keyboard instrument 34 Great ape, for short 35 Ancient of ___ 36 Sports official’s nickname 38 Slang 39 Miner’s goal 40 Lord’s table 42 Abbr. for 100 Portuguese centavos 43 What Daniel needed to stand up

1 Dardic language 6 “I was afraid, and fell upon my ___” (Dan. 8:17) 10 Mop 14 Fake chocolate 15 Actor Alda 16 “___ will I dwell; for I have desired it” (Ps. 132:14) 17 “I Daniel ___ saw the vision” (Dan. 10:7) 18 American state 19 Where Jonah was when on the ship 20 Number of days Daniel asked to eat veggies (Dan. 1:14) 21 “We have sinned, we have ___ wickedly” (Dan. 9:15)

G N

F E

J M

Z A

F V

F M

X N R E

O T B

O E

Q Q H

R O V A S

1 Beat it! 2 “___ thee to the judge” (Luke 12:58) 3 “It had great ___ teeth” (Dan. 7:7) 4 “___ his son, Jehoshuah his son” (1 Chron. 7:27) 5 Azariah’s Babylonian name 6 What Daniel did after his vision of the ram (Dan. 8:27) 7 Lotion ingredient 8 Crow’s cry 9 Metal paints 10 Broken pieces of pottery 11 First ram in Daniel’s vision pushed this direction (Dan. 8:4) 12 Region 13 Second beast in Daniel’s vision (Dan. 7:5) 22 “Thou anointest my head with ___” (Ps. 23:5) 24 “Then Daniel. . .was astonied for ___ hour” (Dan. 4:19) 25 “This is the interpretation, O ___” (Dan. 4:24) 27 Pineapple brand 28 “After thee shall ___ another kingdom”

F Q

G Z H N V

N B

U B

U S

R B

D K

C G Q W R E

R U

C M A

D A

C U E

G G W N Y

T V

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T O A

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Accomplish

Appointment

Board

Busler

Christ

Confidence

Creations

Family

Gospel

Hope

Husband

Immanuel

International

Jesus

Ryan

Shawnee

Spiritual

Treatments

Turkey

12Joyful www.baptistmessenger.com Messenger | January 2024 Julie Lives | The Baptist Medicine Mission Physical

Rescued

(Dan. 2:39) 29 Girl detective 30 A la ___ 31 The little horn of the beast had these (Dan.7:8) 32 Teacher 33 God’s miracles do this 35 Glum 37 V.P.’s boss (abbr.) 40 Deny 41 “Play skilfully with a ___ noise” (Ps. 33:3) 43 Daniel’s ability to interpret dreams was this 46 A way out 47 “Behold, one like the ___ of man” (Dan. 7:13) 48 Promissory note 50 How many times a day Daniel prayed (Dan. 6:10) 51 Baths 52 U.S. president 53 “By the river of ___” (Dan. 8:2) 54 “___ thy servants the dream” (Dan. 2:4) 55 Tree trunk 56 Little Mermaid’s love 57 Division (abbr.) 60 By way of 62 Skin

December Answers

Accomplish Appointment Board Busler Christ Confidence Creations Family Gospel Hope Husband Immanuel International

Jesus Joyful Julie Lives Medicine Mission Physical Rescued Ryan Shawnee Spiritual Treatments Turkey

Note: The word clues for the Word Search are chosen by the Messenger staff, while the puzzles and letters surrounding the clues are computer-generated at random.

CHURCH NEWS

Tulsa firefighter honored amid courageous cancer battle

Butler retires after 45 years in ministry Mike Butler, longtime Oklahoma Baptist pastor, retired Dec. 31 after 45 years serving Oklahoma and Southern Baptists. He pastored six churches, started two church plants, served 10 years on the International Mission Board and

Owasso, First Pastor Chris Wall, right, speaks during a ceremony honoring Harrison Moseby, Dec. 13. Moseby was named Honorary First Responder Chaplain by NAMB.

On Dec. 13, at Tulsa Fire Station 24, church leaders and others gathered to honor Harrison Moseby, a Tulsa firefighter who has been courageously battling a rare form of cancer since 2022. Pastor Chris Wall of Owasso, First, who is Moseby’s pastor, led the “Community Impact Ceremony” to honor Harrison and his wife Mallory. General Carver of the North American Mission Board presented Moseby with Honorary First Responder Chaplain. As of the ceremony, the cancer has continued to spread, yet Harrison is clinging to the Lord “in these next steps of our walk with Him.”

was a board member for Oklahoma Baptists and Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children.

Oklahoma Baptist retirees honored with annual Christmas banquet

On Dec. 5, the Baptist Building hosted an annual Christmas banquet for Oklahoma Baptist retirees. The handbell choir from OKC, Quail Springs provided entertainment.

2024

L NC LINE UP What is LINC?

LINC works to help equip you and those in your church to build a broader ministry with adults “linc-ing” them to a senior living community.

What LINC Offers?

• Learn to identify and implement ministry opportunities with aging adults. • LINC will equip you with tools needed to organize a program to serve the aging population. • LINC offers effective communication skills. • Understand how to empower a ministry team that can serve the various spiritual needs of older adults inside and outside the church. • LINC teaches how to minister to those in need of memory support.

ALL SESSIONS: 8:30 A.M. - 12 P.M.

Sponsored by The Pierce Institute for Transforming Life Expectancies

Choose a date and location listed that works for you. Register via

phone, or 2 email, online using the QR code.

Attend and learn

LINC can 3 how help you serve

your community.

Scan code, email, or call to register for a session. gmcneece@baptistvillage.org 405.942.3800 ext. 4207

2 /15

Evergreen Baptist Church Bixby

2 /22

Southern Hills Baptist Church OKC

3/7

First Baptist Church Ada

4/4

First Baptist Church Vinita

4/11

First Baptist Church Lawton

5/2

First Baptist Church Woodward

PASTOR

Pray for Oklahoma Missionaries

Albert & Kristin Hesskew They are serving in Krakow, Poland.

Brayden Buss Pastor of Okmulgee, First Okmulgee, Oklahoma

Scott Bryan He planted and is pastoring Tulsa, Cognizant

How did you get your start in ministry? Tarvoris Uzoigwe He serves as evangelism and apologetics ministry partner for Oklahoma Baptists.

Augusta Smith She serves as the executive director of Native American LINK

I was called to the ministry at Okmulgee, First during the missions rotation at Vacation Bible School. I was not sure how to process that call until I surrendered to it during the time of response at our associational children’s camp. When I turned 16, the church invited me to join the staff team as an intern. These were formative years in my development as a young man called to the ministry. By the time I started my freshman year at OBU, I had been on a church staff for two years and had preached the Sunday morning sermon in several different churches.

IN FOCUS What does it mean to you to now be the pastor of the church that has impacted your Christian faith and help you grow as a spiritual leader?

What did you learn about pastoring from your grandfather, Jerry Fielder, who pastored many Oklahoma Baptist churches and served more than 20 years as pastor of Oklahoma City, Southern Hills? I learned so much from him, but there are a few lessons that have become foundational components of my calling and ministry. The first is a love for the people of the church. My grandfather dedicated his life to serve the church. He told me things like, “Even the churches with wolves need a shepherd. In fact, they might need the pastor most.” In turn, I have made the commitment to love and serve the flock of God with all my heart. Secondly, he taught me the joy of preaching. He told me that the churches paid him to go to committee meetings, but he preached for free. Up until the last days of his life he longed for the pulpit. I likewise find great joy in the ministry of the Word. Finally, he passed on to me a passion for Sunday School. His philosophy of ministry, church growth, and even budgeting was based on Sunday School. I now utilize these same principles in my pastorate.

There is no geographical point on the Earth that has more spiritual significance to me than Okmulgee, First. This place and these people have shaped me into who I am today. They have been a constant supporter and a faithful ally in every season of my life. It is a great honor and joy to now be the pastor here. Our church has not been without problems, but by God’s grace we are experiencing a season of renewal and growth. The success we are celebrating in Okmulgee is made possible by the gracious provision of the Lord, by those who have gone before me, and by the steadfastness of the saints here at Okmulgee, First.

Why is it important for you and for Okmulgee, First to give through the Cooperative Program? This church has always been committed to missions and the Cooperative Program. We have embraced supporting the Cooperative Program as the most efficient way to fund missions, but we also understand its importance from a personal level. There were seasons when this church had multiple members serving full-time with the International Mission Board (IMB). The commitment has carried on into the current day as one of our members will be commissioned by the IMB not long from now. We consider it a great blessing to continue in the legacy of Cooperative Program support.

January 2024 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com

REGIONAL MINISTRY

God is on the move! Northwest Oklahoma Update

Ways to Love God Daily spending time with God in scripture and prayer. By simply obeying Him under leadership of the Holy Spirit. By repenting immediately of your sins.

Welcome to 2024! How about a simple focus from the Bible on Matt. 22:34-40.

Actively engaging in corporate worship and small groups.

It is simple. LOVE GOD AND LOVE PEOPLE. Jesus sums up the whole Old Testament with these two commandments. We must understand God’s love for us, and have Him in us, as Lord and Savior. This will allow us to genuinely love all people best.

Prioritize loving God and prioritize loving people.

Over the last year in the northwest part of the state, God has been moving in incredible ways. Through all sizes, styles, demographics, ethnicity, church after church is talking what God is doing, and they are thankful.

Ways to Love People Loving yourself so you can love others (Phil. 2:4). Loving your spouse. Loving your family. Loving your church family. Loving the lost. Loving your enemy.

Written by Griff Henderson Regional Ministry Partner

This includes all seven associations in northwest Oklahoma. God is working through and in outreach events in barns in Forgan, arenas in Cherokee, schools, tent revivals, homeless ministry in Woodward sanctuaries, home groups, Sunday School classes, foster care in Alva, Wednesday night studies. God is working through door-to-door evangelism, coffee shops in Enid, Vacation Bible Schools in Choctaw. A community youth celebration in Crescent, discipleship groups in Ponca City, Christmas celebration in Mustang. God is working through Celebrate Recovery in Edmond and through expository preaching in churches of all sizes. God takes the gifts that we have and does something greater. He doesn’t need us, but He uses us to love people and show and share the love of Jesus. What would happen if every day we chose to love God and love people? I believe God would use you like others in His revival of people. Pray a prayer everyday much like this: “Lord, send a revival. And let it begin with me. Help me to love and follow You as I share the story of Jesus and love people. Holy Spirit use me. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

16 www.baptistmessenger.com | The Baptist Messenger | January 2024

TAKE ACTION

FOR LIFE

1. On January 21, 2024, participate in Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Set on the third Sunday every January, churches across America are encouraged to emphasize the value of human life from conception to natural death.

2. Support your local Pregnancy Resource Center. There are more than 39 faith-based pregnancy resource centers across Oklahoma that help women and men choose life amid an unintended pregnancy. Look for ways to support these centers with your time and treasure. See pregnancynet.org

3. Pray for an end to abortion. Since 1973, millions of unborn children have lost their lives to abortion. Pray daily that God would end abortion, and pray specifically that people would choose life until legalized abortion ends everywhere.

4. On February 7, 2024, attend Rose Day at the Oklahoma

State Capitol. join other pro-life Oklahomans at the annual Rose Day Pro-Life Indoor Rally. Find out more at roseday.life

5. Promote foster care and adoption. Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children’s One Such Child foster care program can help you or your church make an impact for life through foster care. For more information, visit oklahomabaptists.org/life

Best of Walker Moore

Walker Moore, who passed away in 2023, wrote for the Baptist Messenger from 1998 to 2023.

More than 1,000 of Walker Moore’s beloved columns have been published online exclusively on the Baptist Messenger website. The columns are viewable for free. You can scan the QR code below or go directly to baptistmessenger.com/walker today for his wit and wisdom.

Featured articles from the Walker Moore Archives include: Rite of Passage: Steak & Shake Visit baptistmessenger.com/rite-of-passage-steak-and-shake Rite of Passage: New Year’s Resolutions Visit baptistmessenger.com/rite-of-passage-new-years-resolutions Rite of Passage: Time and Treasures Visit baptistmessenger.com/rite-of-passage-time-and-treasures

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TOOL BOX

7 questions for

Christian leaders to

ask in preparation for the Lord’s Day

Here are some key self-reflection questions for those who are preparing to preach or teach on Sunday:

Do I count all my achievements as rubbish as compared to knowing Christ? That’s where the apostle Paul landed (Phil 3:7-8). Being in relationship with Jesus meant so much more to him. . . than anything else.

Am I willing to point others to Jesus even if my name is never recorded in the story? I’m thinking of unnamed biblical characters like the persons who surely directed the synagogue leader and the bleeding woman toward Jesus in Mark 5. God used them to change lives—but He did not name them in His Word.

Is it truly my heart’s desire for people to get saved? Paul allowed us to enter his heart in Romans 9 and 10, where we learn again of his deep burden for his people.

Have I pushed away from the busyness of ministry this week to be with the Father, knowing I need His blessing and power when I stand before His people? Jesus intentionally left the crowds behind at times to pray (Luke 5:1516), and He called His disciples to do the same on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:28).

Have I considered this week the weight and responsibility of shepherding God’s people? The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we will give an account of how we cared for the souls of people (Heb 13:17). If we never pause to consider that, we will not have adequately prepared our hearts to lead.

Have I asked God through His Spirit to show me any sin that might get in the way of my Christian service this weekend? The Spirit convicts of wrong and calls to righteousness (John 16:811), and it is right for us to invite His inspection. And, by the way, you might also find helpful my earlier post about

Do I rejoice in weakness so God is my strength, or do I function most in my own strength? Paul is again helpful to us here (2 Cor 12:7-10). Indeed, he learned more forcefully in his weakness that God’s grace is sufficient. When you learn that truth, you can follow God with even more abandon. Chuck Lawless Dean of Doctoral Studies and Vice-President of Spiritual Formation and Ministry Centers at Southeastern Seminary

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was originally featured on chucklawless.com

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