2023/May

Connect: Pray for church camps!

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Rite of Passage: 6 phases of senior adulthood

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Greetings from BVC: BVC celebrates 65 years

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MESSENGER STAFF

>> Brian Hobbs | Editor bhobbs@baptistmessenger.com

>> Chris Doyle | Managing Editor cdoyle@baptistmessenger.com

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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: 39,158. 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.

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Connect: Pray for church camps!

The first time I ever went to church camp I was 14 years old. I was a new Christian and in the infant stages of my understanding of the Bible and what it meant to be a follower of Christ.

My church went to Centrifuge Camp at Glorieta in New Mexico that summer. It was a long way from home, and I was nervous not knowing what to expect—but I sure was glad I went. I had never experienced anything like it before!

The worship services, the challenges to deeper obedience to the Word, fellowship with other Christians my age and quality time with my youth group made a huge impact on me and my desire and determination to follow Jesus deeply. Four years later, I was in Glorieta again as a senior in high school, and during one evening of camp, I clearly sensed God’s call to serve Him as a pastor. I will forever be grateful for the way God worked in my life as a young man at church camp.

Fast forward to today, and I am still amazed at the way God works at church camp. Thousands of students hear the Gospel proclaimed every summer at Falls Creek, CrossTimbers and associational camps across our state. Many commit their lives to follow Christ in salvation, sense God’s call to ministry or missions and have their faith deepened in ways that impact the remainder of their lives.

Oklahoma Baptists understand the value and importance of church camp—that’s why we must commit to pray for these camps as the summer begins. Since I became executive director last year, I have seen up close the spiritual warfare that surrounds these camps, particularly Falls Creek, and how Satan hates them. The enemy actively opposes these places

and programs where countless students have been and are being brought to Christ.

I want to challenge Oklahoma Baptists to make a serious commitment to pray for our camps this summer. In this culture today, how vitally important it is that we have camps proclaiming the truth and hope that can only be found in Jesus! Pray for the Gospel to be clearly proclaimed and students to respond. Pray for life change among students and adults. Pray for the summer staff and administration who work so hard at camp. Pray for churches and sponsors as they prepare for and lead student groups at camp.

Will you make a serious commitment now to make a plan to pray this summer for camps? How important that is! I am praying for one of our greatest summers ever at camps this year.

Pray for OBU!

After the April 19 tornado that did major damage to Oklahoma Baptist University’s campus, I issued a letter to Oklahoma Baptists, asking them to pray for and support OBU. Read more here: baptistmessenger.com/obu-status

Todd Fisher Oklahoma Baptists Executive Director-Treasurer

Sword & Trowel Reaching the ‘Nones’ & ‘Dones’

In his popular podcast “The Briefing,” Albert Mohler recently analyzed U.S. Census data and other polling information now available concerning faith and religion. He said, “The big story of the last 30 years or so consistently has been the rise of the nones, N-O-N-E-S. Those who check the box ‘none,’ as in no religious identification.”

Another big story to observe is a trend among people who were reached for Christ, attended church but no longer do. A pastor described this group as the “dones.”

There are many people who today feel “done” with church. A recent article by Lifeway reported that, “On average, U.S. Protestant churches report current attendance at 85 percent of their typical Sunday morning crowds in January 2020, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.”

Somehow we have come to a place in the church today in which we are losing the reached. With the phrase “losing the reached,” I, of course, am not saying that saved people are losing their salvation. Instead, I refer to those Christian believers who have dropped out of church.

This phenomenon of church attenders dropping out has happened with regularity among young people, with an estimated two-thirds of young adults who attend church for at least a year in high school will stop attending church regularly for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22.

But we are seeing something new: we are seeing people of all ages simply check out. It’s possible COVID closures broke people of the good habit of going to church (Heb. 10:25); or religious scandals have turned the “dones” off to organized Christianity. It’s also possible a bad personal experience has become a barrier to attending.

Whatever the case, the “dones” need the church, and the church needs them. Pastors and church members must reckon with this trend of the “dones” and prayerfully seek the Lord in how we can best reach them.

The recent Oklahoma Baptists’ Advance Conference talked about the link between evangelism and discipleship, and that holds the key to reaching both the “nones” and the “dones.” Moreover, both groups want to and need to see Christians living with better moral integrity.

To that end, together let’s renew our focus and dedication to reach the “nones” and reach back out to the “dones”—so that people all over this nation and world may by won to the Lord Jesus, for His glory.

Brian Hobbs Editor of the Baptist Messenger

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Upcoming Events

MAY 23

MAY 28-31

Associational

Children’s Camp Falls Creek Conference Center accok.org

JUNE 5-9

Falls Creek Youth Camp (Week 1)

Falls Creek Conference Center oklahomabaptists.org/ youth/falls-creek

JUNE 11-14

SBC Annual Meeting

New Orleans sbcannualmeeting.net

Board of Directors’ Meeting Baptist Building

MAY 25-27

Camp Perfect Wings at CrossTimbers, Davis

MAY 30-JUNE 2

CrossTimbers (Session 1) at CrossTimbers, Davis

JULY 30-AUGUST 3

Indian Falls Creek at Falls Creek Conference Center

FEEDING

Giving Strength to and Gaining Strength from One Another

Something powerful happens when people and churches work together. oklahomabaptists.com/category/feeding-and-leading/ LEADING

Things a Pastor Should Think About When Making a Nursing Home Visit

Both of my grandmothers spent a few years in nursing homes during their final years on earth. During part of that... oklahomabaptists.com/v/

Rite of Passage 6 phases of senior adulthood

I find this season of my life very interesting, and I have observed a pattern among my friends: the six phases of senior adulthood.

Phase 1—Senior Adult Discounts: This phase occurs when we start telling our friends where to find senior discounts. We become almost giddy when we learn that most Goodwill stores give us between 1525 percent off on Tuesdays. The 10 percent discounts at Waffle House, Arby’s and Burger King are our staples. Did you know you can get up to 20 percent off at Jack in the Box? Yes, you can find a covey of senior adults flocking to any one of these locations on the appropriate day at the appropriate time.

Phase 2—Reruns: The next level of senior adulthood is watching your favorite TV shows from the past. You start out with old color TV shows such as “M.A.S.H.,” “Happy Days” or “The Carol Burnett Show.” Later, you shift to black-and-white programming: “Gunsmoke,” “Perry Mason” or “I Love Lucy.” This is also the stage of life where you quit watching the Oscars because you don’t recognize any actors or movies receiving awards.

Phase 3—Birdwatching: This phase caught me off-guard. Many of my friends own bird feeders, and I swore I would never go down that lane. Then my wife gave me a bird feeder for Christmas, and I had to set it up. Now I find myself sitting by our picture window

CHRISTIAN

Edmond First Baptist Church

LIFE CONCERNS: Child/Family, Marriage, Stress, Depression, Anxiety, Anger, Grief/Loss, Aging, Relationships

Dr. Ron Cruse, Ph.D. Psychology

Dr. Craig Robison, EdD LMFT/LPC

Laura Piatt, MA Counselor LPC

Aimee Walker, MS Counselor LPC

every morning, counting what types and how many birds are feeding and yelling at the squirrels.

Phase 4—Obituary Watching: When we gather at our local senior discount eatery, someone always asks, “Did you see in the paper that so-and-so has passed away?” At this stage of life, we all nod our heads; while drinking our first cup of coffee, we check to see how many friends we have left. Then the conversation turns to the time of the visitation, the funeral preacher and who is going.

Phase 5—Labeling Everything: My wife has started taking pictures of our so-called valuables and writing down where we got each item and why it means so much to us. I hear as we get older, we will put names on these items to indicate which person gets what when we pass away. This may be a kneejerk reaction to our parents’ passing; they left behind a whole household of stuff that we had no clue about what it was or where they got it.

Phase 6—Jesus Versus Your Family: I can see this phase coming into my life soon, but I am not sure I am there yet. This is when you would rather have Jesus come to see you than your family. You have loved Jesus, served Him and know that He has gone to prepare a place for you. You know that He is coming to make you whole and complete. And your favorite verse in the Bible in Revelation 22:20b, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Walker Moore

Author & Messenger Columnist Email | walker@back40.org

CrossTimbers welcomes new program director, plans to help campers dwell on ‘things above’

CrossTimbers Children’s Mission Adventure Camp is back for 2023! The camp theme will be “WHATEVER!” Based on Phil. 4:8-9, the theme will help children learn to dwell on things above and how to follow Jesus in WHATEVER comes their way.

CrossTimbers focuses on reaching and equipping children for God’s purpose. Throughout each session of camp, the program focuses on Scripture, worship, relationships and opportunities to learn how to live missionally after camp.

Alongside this mission, CrossTimbers seeks to have FUN each day at camp. Between chapel and devotional times, campers participate in rope, target and water activities.

Each camper will also go through three mission stops throughout the four-day session. Based on Acts 1:8, the mission stops at CrossTimbers focus on local, national and international mission locations, supported by the Go Students program through Oklahoma Baptists. This year’s mission stops will focus on Deaf Culture/Ministry, Utah and Portugal.

Each year, CrossTimbers encourages campers not only to focus on learning about missions but also giving to missions. This year’s camp offering focuses on loving orphans. Based on James 1:27—”Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction”—campers will have the opportunity to give to an orphanage in Portugal.

Campers will help meet the needs of orphans by providing things like meals, clothes, education, transportation, birthday, Christmas gifts and more. Children from all over Oklahoma will come together to demonstrate Christ’s unconditional love to at-risk children in Portugal!

Oklahoma Baptists is pleased to welcome new CrossTimbers Program Director Sarah Hagar. She has served in children’s ministry for more than 10 years.

Hagar began her ministry serv ing at Lawton, First, and for the last eight years, she has served at Bethany, Council Road. Not only has Sarah taken groups to CrossTimbers, but she has served on the CrossTimbers Planning Team for 10 years as well.

When asked about taking this new role, Sarah stated, “CrossTimbers has always been one of my favorite weeks of the summer. I am excited to see God move in the lives of kids and sponsors over the course of the entire summer. I pray that many will come to know Christ and deepen their faith while at camp.”

CrossTimbers strives to provide a great camp experience for children and churches. Make sure to join in on all the summer fun by attending CrossTimbers in 2023!

Visit

for more information on CrossTimbers.

Sarah Hagar

202 3 F AL LS CR EEK TO F OCUS ST U DENTS ON THE LORD

The summer youth weeks at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center, near Davis, will once again be an impactful time for Oklahoma Baptists. Thousands of young people will be coming to the Arbuckle Mountains, and what they will hear this summer will be a powerful, yet simple message.

Todd Sanders, Falls Creek program director, said the theme of camp this summer will be “Jesus. Period.”

“I’m excited about camp this summer and what the Lord will allow us to continue to be a part of,” Sanders said. “We have been praying for God to move this summer. This year, we are reinforcing with students the emphasis of the disciple-making lifestyle through personal evangelism.”

Based on 1 Tim. 2:3-7, “Jesus. Period,” Sanders said, is putting the focus on the Lord, who is the center of the Christian faith.

“We want to apply Jesus in our everyday space, letting Him be involved in our lives, and then sharing Him with others,” Sanders said.

The theme is already being promoted by many students across the state. Sanders said they are applying stickers of the “Jesus. Period” theme on Bibles, in classrooms and on cars. Even some athletes are promoting the theme through eye-black while competing on baseball and softball fields.

This unique promotion is already bearing fruit. A youth minister asked a young person if they would like to go to Falls Creek this summer. Not only was the young person interested in going, they also made a profession of faith in Christ.

New features at camp this year include new topics for breakout sessions. Campers will be able to attend breakouts that cover loneliness, self-worth and identity, disciple-making, student leadership, as well as regular topics that campers enjoy, such as apologetics.

As far as new recreation activities, curling, pickleball, five-on-five soccer tournament, flag football and three-on-three basketball tournament will be added to the regular camp offerings.

Missions mobilization will once again be an emphasis at camp, connecting students with sending opportunities. This focus will now be featured at the pavilion, allowing for more campers to be involved. The Mission Center also will provide opportunities to connect students with mission work.

With the emphasis being on Jesus this summer, Falls Creek will continue providing the opportunity to advance the Gospel, offering the invitation to all young people to attend camp.

“As Oklahoma Baptists we need to continue to see Falls Creek as a welcoming and safe avenue to make a serious impact with the Gospel,” Sanders said. “There is plenty of room for more churches to be involved and for more kids who need to come this summer.”

For more on Falls Creek Youth Camp, fol low @okbaptistyouth on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook or visit oklahomabaptists.org/ youthcamp .

FALLS CREEK 2023 SPEAKERS & BANDS

WEEK 1

Worship: The Worship Collective

Preaching: Shane Pruitt

WEEK 2

Preaching: Nick Person

WEEK 3

Preaching: Tom Richter

WEEK 5

Worship: Robertson

WorshipWorship:TheCollective

WEEK 4

Preaching: Ryan Young

Worship: The Worship Collective

Preaching: Shane Pruitt

WEEK 7

Preaching: Todd Fisher

Preaching: HB Charles, Jr.

Worship: Common Worship

Worship:Robertson

WEEK 6

Worship:SoWeMay

WEEK 8

Preaching: Jeff DeGiacomo

Worship: So We May

Pastor’s Page

How pastors can address cultural topics with care and confidence

Being a pastor can be hard. Not only are we trying to keep up with the lives of our local church mem bers, but we also want to share God’s Word, reach our communities, as well as live faithfully.

Meanwhile, pastors and church members alike are barraged with messages from our culture that seek to sell them on lesser “gods,” like sex and prestige. If we fail to adequately address controversial topics in the culture, we will not be able to faithfully represent God’s Word in our cultural conversations that are difficult.

If we fail to address topics like sexuality, our people may falsely assume the Bible has nothing to say on these topics, God doesn’t care what we do in these areas, or we shouldn’t talk about these topics in the church. Yet the Bible is not silent on difficult cultural topics. So how can pastors address difficult cultural topics with care and confidence?

Do it. Oddly enough, the easiest, yet most difficult step in addressing difficult cultural topics is just doing it. If we are going to help shepherd our people through the dark valleys of this world, we first must be willing to go through them ourselves. Be willing to take up difficult topics. Be willing to preach through texts that address difficult cultural issues, not around them.

Ground the discussion in God’s Word. We don’t have to formulate the greatest opinions or ideas about how to navigate today’s constantly evolving cultural topics. Today’s hottest trends and issues are

Don’t just find a proof-text, rather ground your message in the entire Gospel narrative and show how the Bible speaks to a particular issue. If people are going to argue, make them argue with the Bible, not you.

Make the ground level at the foot of the cross. While we are certainly called to speak the truth, we are also called to do it in love. We are not going to represent God accurately if we come from a posture of accusation or offensiveness. Remember, you’re a sinner too. Apart from the grace of God, you too would be blinded from the truth and celebrating your idolatry.

As we address difficult topics, we must remember and readily admit that we are all broken sinners. We aren’t telling people to rise to our level; we are admitting that we are all broken and in need of a Savior. The ground is very level at the foot of the cross. We are trying to trust and follow Jesus together. We invite others to follow with us.

Do the hard work of pastoring in the day, time and culture in which God has placed you. Preach the Bible, and when it speaks to a difficult cultural issue, be faithful in speaking about it as well.

Ryan Smith

The Tom Elliff Center for Missions is pleased to invite ALL Pastors to a “Smokin’ Joe’s Dinner” Tuesday evenings in June and July at Falls Creek.

Meet TECM representatives!

Hear from Elliff Center students who are preparing to serve on the mission field! Learn how students who make career missions decisions both at Falls Creek or in the future can be equipped, trained and on the mission field in four years.

Tuesday Evenings in June and July | 5:30-6:15 p.m.

First Floor Event Center

Includes FREE dinner and a special gift, but please register via QR code.

From the Church, through OBU, to the World

Pastor, Broken Arrow, Arrow Heights

Greetings from BVC BVC celebrates 65 years of serving senior adults

From humble beginnings in 1958 to major advances in the field of aging services, Baptist Village Communities (BVC) is celebrating 65 years of enabling and empowering senior adults through service to God and one another.

“This exceptional 65-year milestone has been achieved through God’s grace and the hard work and dedication of 600 servant-minded team members,” said Bill Pierce, longtime BVC president. “BVC and Oklahoma Baptists are dedicated to advancing the Gospel by offering quality housing and healthcare services to senior adults. We are honored that so many have chosen to live in a BVC community, and we do everything we can to make it the best experience possible.”

What started as an idea by God in the hearts of two dedicated Baptists, Will and Nora Baskett, has grown to be the largest not-for-profit provider of senior housing and services in Oklahoma.

The Basketts’ donated 68-acres of land in Hugo and rallied the residents of southeastern Oklahoma to raise $65,000. Oklahoma Baptists donated the remaining $35,000 to complete the project. Construction of Baptist Village of Hugo began in November 1958.

Over the next 26 years, God provided and people generously donated land and financial gifts allowing BVC to expand locations to include Oklahoma City, Owasso, Lake Texoma, Ada, Cleveland and Okmulgee.

In 2003, BVC and Broken Arrow, First broke ground to provide a campus in Broken Arrow—another example of Oklahoma Baptists working together. Baptist Village of Broken Arrow opened in 2010.

To accommodate the growing need for memory support and senior living services in western Oklahoma, BVC constructed a campus in Elk City in 2016. The land was provided to BVC by Elk City, First.

Blessings continued, and in 2017, BVC acquired residential living campuses in Cordell, Grove and Miami. These villages allowed BVC to increase support for senior living needs in rural Oklahoma.

BVC provides services to more than 1,500 residents daily on 11 campuses across the state. BVC campuses offer residential living, assisted living, rehabilitation, memory support and long-term care. In addition, BVC operates Entrusted Hearts Help at Home—providing personalized in-home services to more than 1,000 people.

Most recently, BVC launched The Bill and Susan Pierce Institute for Transforming Life Expectancies. Named in recognition of the Pierce’s 33 years of serving BVC, the Institute will provide focused help to minister to senior adults more effectively in and outside the local church.

“We have many to thank for helping BVC reach this milestone,” Pierce said. “We would not be here without God’s call and provision, our residents, a great team, friends of BVC, Oklahoma Baptists and a sincere desire to serve others. BVC was founded on a call from God to enhance lives by offering a safe and secure place for senior adults to live, while opening their hearts and minds to continue to serve God in retirement.”

Baptist Village Communities is a Cooperative Program ministry of Oklahoma Baptists. BVC continues to be a leader in the rapidly changing field of aging services. The mission is to enhance lives by creating opportunities to serve God and others. BVC campuses remain affordable, with a focus on moderate income Oklahomans. More information can be found at baptistvillage.org.

Tammy Janvrin Baptist Village Communities Director of Communications

Crossword

48 “The feet of him that bringeth ___ tidings” (Isa. 52:7)

50 VW car model

51 “___ ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth” (Isa. 1:30)

52 King that Isaiah prophesied under (Isa. 1:1)

56 “The ___ against the honourable” (Isa. 3:5)

59 Whalebone

63 “The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ___ my child die” (John 4:49)

64 Trumpet blast can do this (Ezek. 33:3)

66 Military division

67 A person’s spirit often does this after hearing a prophet’s words

68 Wipe

69 Isaiah does this with God’s name

70 Not cons

71 “Wherefore look ye so ___ to day?” (Gen. 40:7)

72 Foot sleds

73 Lawyer (abbr.)

DOWN

1 Sheer, triangular scarf

2 Ethan ___, furniture brand

3 Holding device

4 Three make a tablespoon (abbr.)

5 “Then shalt thou ___ thyself in the Lord” (Isa. 58:14)

6 A temple candlestick, bowl, or lamp, e.g.

7 “They ___ not the bones till the morrow” (Zeph. 3:3)

8 Rice wine (var.)

9 Compact bundle

10 “___ and sing, ye that dwell in dust” (Isa. 26:19)

11 “I will also command the clouds that they ___ no ___” (Isa. 5:6) (same wd. both blanks)

12 River Moses’ basket oated in

13 Eye infection (var.)

21 “Thy speech shall whisper out of the ___” (Isa. 29:4)

22 Sticky black substance

25 Dens

27 Esther and King Xerxes did this

29 “Seek ye the Lord while he may be ___” (Isa. 55:6)

30 “They shall beat their swords

___ plowshares” (Isa. 2:4)

31 Skin lesion

32 “___ yourselves, and wonder” (Isa. 29:9)

33 “___ hast thou made us to err from thy ways” (Isa. 63:17)

34 “Come unto me: hear, and your ___ shall live” (Isa. 55:3)

35 Knitting stitch

36 Dunking cookie

38 An atheist says God doesn’t do this

39 Agricultural nancial org.

43 Pride

God’s Word

57 ___ mater saved” (Isa. 45:22)

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.

Watts, First serves community

The town of Watts is located less than 10 miles west of the Arkansas border. Watts, First is reported to be the only church still meeting in the town, and this body of Christ is serving its community.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, Watts, First gives away food. “The cars start lining up at 8 a.m.,” Pastor Mike Finley said, “and we don’t even start giving food out until 9:30.”

Finley said between 35 and 50 cars will come to the church’s food offering. The local police reported that the only time Watts has a traffic problem is when “the church is giving away food,” Finley said.

“We have been doing this for three years now,” he said. “We usually have around 15 workers from the church. We are in the poorest part of Oklahoma, and we believe our sovereign God has placed us here for a reason—to love our fellow man and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Griff Henderson

TRIBUTES

Marilyn Austin

Marilyn Austin, 80, died April 16. Funeral service was April 21 at Oklahoma City, Village. She served in the Oklahoma Baptists Stewardship office before retiring.

Roland Behnke

Roland Behnke, 90, died April 18. Funeral service was April 26 at Frederick, First. He served as pastor of many churches with his last pastorate at Frederick, Bethel in 2002.

Northwest Regional Ministry Partner Oklahoma Baptists

One of the most powerful chapters in the Bible to me is John 17. Jesus prays for us to have unity—more than anything else! He knew what we would still need 2,000 years later.

All long-term healthy churches in northwest Oklahoma have long term unity as their testimony. They genuinely love God and each other. Perfect? No way. There is sin in each of us, and that is seen throughout the church. But churches that refuse to have the barrier of disunity as a long-term problem are way down the road to church health.

Recently, my wife Shari and I worked together on a project in our backyard. Historically, this kind of project might cause a “little” friction between us. But not this time. We talked about our plan; we knew our roles; we listened to the other; we were flexible to be successful in this project. Success! How? We knew what we wanted the end to look like! This not only applied to the project but also to our relationship.

Healthy Christians remember whatever our role in the church may be to prioritize unity, so, as Jesus said, “that the world may know You have sent me and have loved them as You have loved me” (John 17:23).

Aubie McSwain

Aubie McSwain, 87, died April 11. Funeral service was April 15. He served as music minister at Weatherford, Northside and later at Del City, First Southern for 14 years.

Leslie Peevyhouse

Leslie Peevyhouse, 92, died April 3. Funeral service was April 7 in Durant. He served more than 50 years in pastoring with his last pastorate at Kiowa, Harpers Valley in 1990.

Emerson Falls

Native American Ministry Partner Oklahoma Baptists

The Native American Baptist churches were hit hard by the pandemic. However, they are now experiencing a renewed vision for their work. Spring revivals still play an important role in the ministry of Native American churches. Churches are feeling a time of refreshing. As the revival season draws to a close, it is time to prepare for summer camps and conferences.

Many Native people have come to know Christ because of family camps and conferences. Others have been called to ministry and missions while attending camp. Family camps play an important role in the life of our churches. Please pray for the camps listed below. If possible, attend one of the camps. You will be welcome. Continue to pray for our Native churches.

June 5-9: Muskogee, Seminole, Wichita Association RA, GA, Acteens Camp, Henryetta.

June 10: Following the Trail Men’s Day Camp

July 3-6: Choctaw Chickasaw Family Camp, KBA Assembly, Talihina.

July 3-7: Western OK Indian Family Camp, Binger.

July 5-8: Cherokee Association Family Camp, Tahlequah.

July 10-14: Muskogee Seminole Wichita Family Camp, Henryetta.

July 30-Aug 3: Indian Falls Creek, Davis

In Focus: Bradley O’Dell

In the days leading up to Easter Sunday, many Oklahoma Baptist churches organized various outreach events to share the Gospel and invite people to attend church.

In southeast Oklahoma, Valliant, Trinity held its second annual Easter Egg Hunt outreach event, which drew more than 110 guests and church volunteers.

In Valliant, like in all areas of Oklahoma, reaching people for Jesus in the “Buckle of the Bible Belt” can prove challenging, according to Valliant, Trinity’s Pastor Bradley O’Dell.

“Many people in Oklahoma have the impression that they already know Jesus and think they are saved,” said O’Dell, who has served at Valliant, Trinity for nearly 11 years, “so reaching them for Christ or getting them to see the importance of plugging into church can be difficult. That is why outreach events provide such a great opportunity to share with them about the Gospel and about our church.”

O’Dell was saved at a young age and called to ministry as a youth. “I grew up in church, and when I was 14 or 15, the Lord began to call me to ministry,” he said. “Right after I graduated high school, I finally surrendered to that call. I went on to study at the University of Central Oklahoma and then attended Southwestern Seminary for my M.Div.”

O’Dell is married to Crystal, and they have three children. He has pastored two churches, including Findley, First and Valliant, Trinity. He has served as a volunteer in Disaster Relief and has served on the board of directors for Oklahoma Baptists.

O’Dell believes the Cooperative Program (CP) is vital for churches of all sizes. “Even though we are a small church, we know our CP giving makes a significant impact in missions and ministry in the state around the world,” he said.

OK Disaster Relief Volunteers are always ready to help those impacted by natural disasters.

Oklahoma Baptists serving in Central Asia

Alfred Biswas

He is the planter and pastor of Edmond, First Bangla

Derek Crawford

He serves as the director of missions in Enon Association.

Pray for Oklahoma Missionaries:

Falls Creek FAITH FACTS & HIGHLIGHTS

2,641,441 TOTAL ATTENDEES

SINCE 1917

Falls Creek Summer Camp originally started with 1 session each summer. Now there are 8 sessions every summer.

Falls Creek Summer Camp Sessions lasted for 2 weeks from 1917 until 1962. They have been 1 week sessions ever since 1963.

Camp closed 1943-1945 due to World War II.

GRAND TOTAL CALLED TO MINISTRY: 38,979 GRAND TOTAL PROFESSIONS OF FAITH: 77,937 GRAND TOTAL DECISIONS: 290,132

Take Your Pick

There have been 10 Falls Creek Program Directors since 1917.

Todd Sanders serves as the current Falls Creek Program Director.