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Called, Appointed, Equipped, Sent: The Call Conference reaches 400-plus Oklahoma students
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>> by Staff
SHAWNEE—Moses, Gideon, Isaiah, Paul. The Bible is full of examples of people who were directly called to ministry leadership by God. On August 28, more than 400 young people who have sensed God’s call on their lives gathered for The Call Conference.
Meeting at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU), The Call Conference is an annual conference hosted by Oklahoma Baptists that is designed for individuals who are exploring or pursuing a call from God to ministry leadership.
The theme of the 2021 conference was “Appointed,” based on Isaiah 42:6. (“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness. I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations.”)
Brian Baldwin, youth missions and evangelism ministry partner with Oklahoma Baptists, was encouraged by the way the Lord moved through the conference.
“We encouraged all middle school, high school, college students, and adults who feel that God may be calling them into ministry to attend. This year, we saw hundreds of young people from churches across Oklahoma take part, and we are so encouraged with the turnout,” Baldwin said.
“The conference offered students two largegroup sessions and breakout sessions geared toward helping them recognize and put into practice God’s call on their lives,” he noted.
The day-long event included keynote speakers, breakout sessions and more. Among those sharing a keynote address was Gateway Seminary President Jeff Iorg.
Iorg—who wrote the book “Is God Calling Me?”— shared biblical precepts with students about discerning their call to ministry. He explained that while all Christians are called to grow and serve, some are called by God to ministry leadership.
Offering a definition of a call to ministry leadership, Iorg told students it is “a profound impression from God that established parameters for your life and can only be altered by a subsequent superseding impression from God.”
Other keynote speakers included OBU President Heath Thomas, who talked about growing in their calling; and Vedaste Ndamiye, a ministry speaker and leader who spoke on how to follow a ministry call faithfully.
The conference’s breakout sessions helped attendees recognize and put into practice God’s call on their lives. Breakout topics included children’s ministry, youth ministry, evangelism, understanding God’s call, missions, “pursuing a call that looks different,” “women & ministry,” worship and more.
“We have many churches and missions organizations that are having a hard time finding qualified people to fill positions and roles that they need,” Baldwin said. “The torch of missions and ministry leadership must be passed well to the next generation of kingdom leaders.
“The Call Conference is a crucial step toward establishing a ministry pipeline in our state. We had another large group of students indicate a call to ministry at Falls Creek (summer youth weeks). The Call helps them take the next step forward and equips them for the future. It also is a fantastic
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>> PHOTOS: TONY DILLARD 1)Jeff Iorg shares how Christians can discern their call to ministry; 2) More than 400 young people gathered at OBU to attend The Call Conference. chance for our ministers to invest in them and start thinking about future ministry leadership.” The Call Conference was did not take place in 2020, due to the pandemic. Attendance increased from 250 at the last time the event took place to 450 this year. “Each student went home with books and resources to help them discover and deepen their call even further after they get home,” Baldwin said. “The majority of the attendees had never been to The Call Conference before.” Numerous Oklahoma Baptists who participated in the event were greatly encouraged by the day. Matt Wolff, youth minister at Tulsa, South Tulsa, said, “The Call Conference was powerful for my students who attended. Bennett, my son, came forward on Sunday morning to surrender his life to missions.” “At the conclusion of the event, there was a special time of anointing, when each participant received a tiny little oil bottle,” Baldwin said. “It was a reminder of the experience and that they are anointed and appointed to serve our King and His cause. It was powerful.” For those who took part in the 2021 The Call Conference, everything indicates this event will have a lasting impact—and on the Kingdom of God as future ministry leaders are called and sent. >> PHOTOS: CHRIS FORBES 1)Cayo Cavalcante presents his ‘Vision Frame;’ 2)Send Oklahoma planters cohort include, from left back row, Charles Campbell, Stephen Shaw, Scott Bryan, Adam Mask, Cavalcante; from left front row, Lisa Shaw, Melissa Bryan, Grace Mask and Larissa Cavalcante.
>> by Chris Forbes
STAFF WRITER
SAND SPRINGS—A cohort of four new Send Oklahoma Network planters gathered Aug. 28 at Sand Springs, Church that Matters to encourage one another and sharpen their church planting strategies. The group was comprised of two church planters, two replanters and their wives.
The Send Oklahoma Network is a partnership between Oklahoma Baptists and the North American Mission Board to plant and replant churches in Oklahoma.
The planters and wives at the training event were Cayo and Larissa Cavalcante, who are planting Deepen Movement Church, an international church in Edmond; Scott and Melissa Bryan are serving together to plant Cognizant Church in west Tulsa; Stephen and Lisa Shaw who are replanting Broken Arrow, Sequoyah Creek; and Adam and Grace Mask who are relaunching Coweta, Community.
This group had been meeting since early spring through online and in-person meetings, and 1 they gathered for final meeting that was organized by Charles Campbell, director of development equipping for the North American Mission Board’s Send Network Planter Development Team, and Rusty Gunn, Send Oklahoma Network catalyst.
“I am excited to partner with Oklahoma Baptist and leaders like Rusty Gunn” Campbell said. ” I am a product of Oklahoma Baptists. Back in the day, I had a youth pastor who walked alongside of me in high school. He gave me opportunities to grow and lead. I love seeing how Send Network Oklahoma continues to help train and coach planting couples to plant healthy, multiplying churches.”
At the meeting, each planter was given an opportunity to present a “Vision Frame” presentation and practice a presentation they developed for enlisting partners to join them in their ministry work.
“The Vision Frame is a tool built by Will Mancini in his book ‘Church Unique,’” Campbell explained. “We got permission to build it into the Send Network Training. It has been a critical tool to help the planters articulate the mission of their church plants, the values of the new works, the strategy to engage their communities to make disciples and send them out.
“The training tool also helps participants identify the marks and measures of a healthy disciple,” Campbell continued. “It helps them communicate strategic vision, so thinking five years, three years, one-year focus and a 90-day rhythm of implementation to accomplish the five-year vision.”
Each planter was given 15 minutes to present their vision frame, and then the group took 10 minutes to debrief the experience and give feedback to help them improve. At the end of each presentation and debriefing, the group spent time of prayer over the planting couple led by one of the other planters. Campbell said he sees potential for church planting in Oklahoma. “I look forward to the days ahead where we will see more churches catch the vision for developing disciples who go out to unreached people and places of Oklahoma and bring the
Good News of Jesus,” he said.
Gunn, who is also pastor of Sand Springs, Church That Matters, agreed, “Some things that stand out to me from the gathering are hearing about the clear call that each planter has on their life, the diligence they are showing to prepare for the task ahead, and the broth-
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erhood being formed through their journey together.
“I expect each of these planters to plant fruitful, multiplying churches,” Gunn continued. “They have the vision, have laid the groundwork, are working the plan, and are depending on God. Send Oklahoma is growing with sending churches, partnering churches, and new planters being discovered, developed and deployed at an increasing rate.”
At the conclusion of the cohort gathering, Gunn announced that there was a cookout fellowship planned and that the event host church, Church That Matters, was donating $1,000 to each planter present.
“Church That Matters is committed to being open handed toward church plants,” Gunn explained about the act of generosity. “We believe the seeds we are sowing into these four church plants will bear much fruit.
“I pray this gift and our continued support helps these planters, their wives and their churches know that they have another church who is standing with them, believes in their work and will do what we can to help them accomplish their vision. We instructed the planters to take half of this gift to meet a personal need for their family and the other half to apply to their church’s ministry.”
>> by Staff
COOKIETOWN—Arbuary Ritter, who has been the pastor of the same church in southwest Oklahoma for 60 years, recently announced his retirement.
Ritter, pastor of Randlett, Union Valley near Cookietown, is reported to hold the longest recorded pastoral tenure among Oklahoma Baptists and the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
On Sunday, Aug. 22, a special retirement service and reception was held for Ritter. In attendance were Ritter’s family, as well as leaders from Comanche-Cotton Association, area churches and the state convention.
Walter Wilson, pastor of Lawton, Friendship, preached the service and later described the occasion as “a great evening with some great men for a great man.”
Troy Taylor, director of missions in Comanche-Cotton, said, “Today was Arbuary and Jane Ritter’s celebration at Union Valley Baptist Church. Arbuary has pastored here for 60 years. The longest serving pastor at one church in the entire SBC. The church did an outstanding job honoring their pastor and wife. It was an awesome day. Thank you Jesus!”
James Swain, who serves Oklahoma Baptists as associate executive director of church relations, also was in attendance and offered his appreciation for Ritter.
“What an honor to be a part of the celebration of the longest tenured pastor in Oklahoma and Southern Baptist life,” Swain said. “His tenure is a testimony to him and his wife Jane’s faithfulness and the graciousness of the Union Valley church family. He demonstrated the shepherding leadership of 1 Peter 5:3 by not lording over the flock but being an example to them. He is definitely worthy of the honor received, and I am praying for God’s richest blessing on him in the days to come.”
Ritter reflects on God’s faithfulness
In a story published by the Baptist Messenger in 2018, Ritter talked about God’s faithfulness during his ministry service. Both he and the church have stood the test of time.
“There is absolutely nothing in town but the church anymore,” Ritter said when asked about Cookietown.
Ritter grew up in Marlow, attending Marlow, Eastside as a young boy, and at 15, he made a profession of faith in Christ. Ritter said it wasn’t long before he felt the Lord calling him to preach, so he told the pastor at Eastside.
“He told me, ‘Okay you’re surrendering to preach, you get to preach next Sunday,’ and that’s when I started,” Ritter said with a laugh.
As a high school student, Ritter pastored his first congregation at Denton in Mullins 1 Association from 1955-57. He was ordained at that time, on March 29, 1956. One unique thing Ritter remembers of his time as a preacher in high school was preaching his own senior class’ Baccalaureate service.
“It was an honor to be asked to do that because it was proof that my classmates noticed, since I gave my life to Christ, I had been living for the Lord,” Ritter said.
Ritter then spent a few years preaching at Pernell in Arbuckle Association, and then served at a church in Geronimo, preaching for the first time at Union Valley, from 1958-60.
In this time Ritter got married, had children and graduated from the University of Oklahoma. Ritter has done many things vocationally in his life, while he filled the pulpit.
He was a teacher in Texas, and eventually a school superintendent in Belleview, Texas. “It was 66 miles from Cookietown, and I drove it every day,” Ritter recalled. He also served as a police chaplain for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
After Ritter finished his master’s degree, he accepted the position as superintendent of Big Pasture Public Schools, and many Big Pasture students attend church in Cookietown today. He has lived and worked in that community for 60 years now.
“The Lord has blessed us, and we have expanded and grown, even though almost no one lives in Cookietown anymore,” Ritter said.
Just a few years back, Union Valley finished construction on a new youth building and has future plans to build an additional basketball pavilion, all signs that “the little church that could” continues to thrive. The church continues to attend Falls Creek youth camp and other ministries.
Ritter said the church serves a meal each Wednesday night, when people gather and fellowship.
The question many may have when hearing about the life story of Ritter is, “How?” How does a pastor stay at a small-town church for 60 years, when such churches often seem to be a revolving door of pastors?
Ritter says, “It’s not just a preacher who has been at a church for (these) years. A lot of it has to do with a church that has kept a pastor for (these) years.”
The congregation at Union Valley is not made up of only farmers or ranchers like one might assume of a rural church. Ritter said there are teachers, engineers, a pharmacist, government workers and more who come from surrounding areas to Union Valley to worship as a body of believers.
“The Lord has just blessed us,” Ritter said when asked what his secret is. “You follow the leadership of the Lord and don’t run off on your own. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to serve here full-time, part-time and bi-vocationally through the years. I’ve never felt the Lord calling me anywhere else.”
When asked what piece of advice he would offer to a preacher just beginning their journey of serving the Lord he said, “The biggest blessing comes from being at the church where God wants you (to serve). It doesn’t necessarily have to be the biggest church. I was going to be an evangelist, but instead God permitted me to be a pastor, and a lot more responsibility comes with that.”
Ritter said he has done many things and learned many things throughout his life as a preacher, police chaplain, school superintendent among many other vocations.
But most of all, Ritter said being in ministry is not about you, or what you can accomplish on your own. “Don’t aspire to greatness or think ‘I need to go to a bigger, better church,’” he said. “Just follow where He leads, and He will make your path straight.”
Those driving south of Lawton, nearing the Oklahoma-Texas border on a Sunday or Wednesday are welcome to stop at Union Valley for a small taste of what keeps this faithful body of believers coming back to Cookietown year after year.
Ritter offered some advice to guest travelers, though. “Don’t blink or you might miss it!”
At this retirement milestone, it is evident that God is at work in this corner of Oklahoma through one man’s years of faithful service, even as He is at work across the globe.
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>> PHOTOS:PROVIDED 1)Arbuary Ritter, center, is joined by his wife and faithful members of Randlett, Union Valley. The members pictured were children when Ritter started his pastorate at Union Valley in 1958.; 2) Randlett, Union Valley, near Cookietown, faithfully serves its community and continues to thrive.
Moran makes impact, teaching 55 years at Muskogee, First
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>> by Chris Doyle
MANAGING EDITOR
MUSKOGEE—In 2015, Joanne Moran was featured in the Muskogee Phoenix in the paper’s “Okie from Muskogee” section. The paper highlighted how Moran taught kindergarten 1 Sunday School for 47 years.
Currently in her 55th year, Moran remains a favorite Sunday School teacher at Muskogee, First who is now teaching grandchildren of her former students.
“I didn’t know you could quit,” Moran said jokingly about faithfully teaching Bible lessons to kindergarteners. “I thought you taught until you died or Jesus came back, and neither of those things have happened yet.”
Moran wrote kindergarten literature for Lifeway Christian Resources for 15 years, and she was a regular conference leader, helping other teachers prepare for Sunday School.
“I love conference leading because I love to train teachers,” she said, and Moran is convinced the more training a teacher experiences the more likely the teacher will continue teaching Sunday School.
“Trained teachers stay,” she said. “If they are trained, they will stay because they see the importance of teaching. I don’t want to just entertain children. It’s important, 2 especially today, for them to learn the Bible. You only have one hour a week, but I believe you can make a difference in a person’s life in one hour.” Moran will spend several hours a week getting ready to teach her class. Her husband would say to her, “I wonder what it would be like if all teachers did this,” and her response would be, “There would be a lot of happy children if they did.”
For Moran, it’s all about the relationships she has made with her students, as well as with the parents.
James Swain, Oklahoma Baptists’ associate executive director-church relations group, recently served as transitional pastor at Muskogee, First, and mentioned a young family recently started attending the church. He said Moran had a little girl from this family in her class.
“I think that connection (Moran) made was key, not only to connecting with that family but helping them recover from a difficult situation,” Swain said. “Joanne is faithful. Every Sunday she is prepared whether she will have two kids or 20 kids. One of the things that impressed me most is I would go by her room and visit, and there would be people coming by—children and adults. Obviously she’s influenced a lot of lives.” Bill Pierce, president of Baptist Village Communities, has known Moran for the majority of his life, since Muskogee, First is his home church. Pierce claims Moran “is the real deal.” “(She is) the best example of using your spiritual gifts in the church throughout your life that I know,” Pierce said about Moran. “She is totally committed to the call.”
Moran is willing to try new ways to communicate with her students and their parents. A kindergarten student once showed Moran how to use the camera on her phone. She now has a Facebook group page where she posts pictures and sends messages to families of her students.
“I really believe in outreach,” she said. “Parents will respond quicker to Facebook than to any other way. I’ve been doing this a long time, but you still have to find new methods to try along the way.”
Moran is an Okie from Muskogee who is also a faithful servant, advancing the Gospel for 55 years.
>> PHOTOS: PROVIDED 1) Joanne Moran applies music in her Bible lessons; 2) Moran introduces a former student to her great-grandson, Henry.
CLASSIFIEDS SEPT. 26. Oklahoma City, Olivet will be celebrating its 111th anniversary. The Sunday morning service will be centered arond music, ministries and memories, beginning at 10:30 a.m. At 4 p.m., the church will have a concert presented by “Symphonix,” a new chamber orchestra directed by Karen Khanagov. His journey to America from Azerbeijan in 1991 was made possible by the faith community, with his sponsor being Del City, First Southern. Khanagov will be sharing his testimony during the
VOICES concert. During the concert, State Rep. Forrest Bennett will present a citation to Olivet, and a new carillon will be dedicated. OCT. 3. The 28th annual Tulsa Together event will be at Tulsa, Gilcrease Hills. The event is being organized by Rev. W.R. Casey, Jr., who said program elements will include Todd Fisher, pastor of Shawnee, Immanuel, as speaker, and music by the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma. A mass choir consisting of individuals from various churches and backgrounds is also being planned. Small group discussions will begin at 5 p.m., with the unity service beginning at 6 p.m. There is no charge to attend. Call information Rev. Casey at (918) 951-7407.
NEWS & CULTURERed Oak, First hosts Masterpiece women & girls ministry Church anniversary Coming event
>> PHOTO: LINDA MORGAN
>> by Linda Morgan
MEMBER, RED OAK, FIRST
RED OAK—Red Oak, First Masterpiece Women & Girls ministry met recently for an evening of Bible study and craftiness. The fun began with a catered Mexican buffet. As the ladies enjoyed their meals, Leigh Montgomery, wife of Pastor Johnny Montgomery, presented a Bible study.
Then, the artwork began. As the women and girls prepared their crafts, laughter, chatter and sheer joy was heard through the building. A good time was had by all.
As the evening ended, they displayed their treasured creations with pride. Additional activities are planned for ladies and girls. For more information visit redoakfirst.com.
Bible literature drive
OCT. 1-31. For the entire month of October, a ministry called Bible Rescue will be hosting a “Love Packages” Bible drive. New/used Bibles and New Testaments; Christian devotional/study books; church curriculum; children’s Bibles and Christian books; as well as CDs and DVDs will be accepted. Love Packages collects and sends used Christian literature and Bibles to more than 154 countries. For more information, contact Nick and Lynn Klapp at 918/732-9077 or rescuebibles@gmail. com. Or visit lovepackages.org.
SOUTHWESTERN SEMINARY
Fall Preview Day
OCTOBER 22 | FORT WORTH, TX Explore campus. Meet your professors. Experience Southwestern. Get the answers you need to live your calling.
Learn more and get registered at SWBTS.EDU/PREVIEW
CLASSIFIEDS NEWS & CULTURELigon leads vow renewal at Golden Oaks Village
VOICES
>> PHOTO: PROVIDED
Joe Ligon, right, performs a vow revewal ceremony at Golden Oaks Village with six couples participating.
ENID—Joe Ligon, interim executive director-treasurer for Oklahoma Baptists, participated in a unique ceremony on Aug. 22.
Golden Oaks Village, a property under consultation of Baptist Village Communities, hosted a vow renewal ceremony with six couples participating.
According to Elaine Johns, director of sales and marketing at Golden Oaks Village, the senior community, has 10 couples as residents who are celebrating more than 600 years of marriage.
One couple is the longest married couple in Oklahoma at 79 years. Johns said it is possible the couple may be the longest mar-
ried couple in the country.
“At this renewal event, we had more than 1,700 years of marriage in attendance with 34 couples from our independent living side of our community,” Johns said. “Our hope is to inspire others by these couple’s love and commitment to each other through the sacrament of marriage of a one man/one woman union.”
CHURCH NEWS
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
GRIGGS DEATH. Clayton Griggs, BAPTIST ARCHIVETHE OKLAHOMA 56, died Aug. 21. Funeral service was Aug. 28 at Muskogee, Southeast. He recently served as director of missions in Muskogee Association, which he considered his dream job. He spent most of his life in ministry, including serving as youth minister for several Oklahoma Baptist churches. He also served as pastor for several congregations in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. He was a strong man of faith who was committed to winning others to Jesus Christ. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Tammy and his daughter Haley Anderson.
WHALEY DEATH. Vernon Whaley, 79, died Aug. 18. Funeral service was Aug. 23 at Rush Springs, Vimy Ridge. He served as pastor at many Oklahoma Baptist churches including Cedar Valley in Caddo Association; Marshall, First; Boynton, First; and Canute, First. He also did mission work in Utah. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sue; his son, Kevin Whaley; his two daughters, Nickie McCoy and Cara Harper; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
CHURCH STAFF CHANGES
J.D. DUNSWORTH is youth minister at Lawton, Northside.
AURA SILKEY is children’s director at Lawton, First West.
HALEY WAYERSKI is communications and media minister at Ada, Trinity.
MICHAEL WEINSTEIN is pastor of Lawton, Olivet.
Northeastern State BCM celebrates 100 years of ministry
Northeastern State University’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry (NSU-BCM) is celebrating 100 years of ministry with a Centennial Celebration during homecoming, Oct. 1-2. The celebration will include an impact service, homecoming parade watch party, Noonday and several other nods to NSU-BCM traditions. Former NSU BSU and BCM students are invited. Visit the NSU-BCM Alumni Facebook page—facebook.com/nsubcmalumni—for more information or email stafford.autumn@gmail.com or call 918/231-5649.
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RESORT MINISTRIES CHAPLAINS TRAINED
Al and Shairon Dickey, chaplains with Christian Resort Ministries (CRM), recently took part in a retreat and training event. The Dickeys, who previously served in churches in Oklahoma, are trained chaplains who work in aspects of resort, RV and leisure ministry. CRM offers programs that include church services in RV parks, youth activities, children’s vacation Bible school and work projects. For more information about CRM, visit crmintl.org.
WORD SEARCH
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.
K I Y B C Q O B I G X A X T H O M A S V I L O E G L C A O I M Y D D G G K C L P H H M X V A Z Z B Q E U E D J Z L E C N E R E F N O C X P W U S Q V S A L N Z I L P L F Y U L B I F G A T E W A Y L T R D K I P P S E G T Z W O S E M D T M D B O T T L E E B L P O Q C I Q C M A F F P T I D E E P E N U V R A E Y V A S O V A I O B O E X L G Q A T F F F B S C P S L R V H V A P D S G R U E I G M G D D W G H W I L E H S K H E Z W A E A P Y D S O T A O E L I T P V C V M N L D R Y D P S B R E G H W O A G I P V I I C G V Z O J F I B S H G T O P A H V J K U Z N E V A N G E L I S M R G A F S N V L J T R C Z U O L P W O T F J I S I K A W D I C E K Z I O R G U J J F J I B D J B I S S G N O N E Z O D Y K S N U K C B L L F O M L Z U I N E A I G L J E D D E Y C W H V G S T U D E N T B M E O M J X K N K V X O X R H T S I T P A B J D B A L D W I N T P F E V F
BaldwinBaldwin Baptist Bottle Call Conference Deepen Discover
Baptist Evangelism Bottle Gateway Gideon Iorg Isaiah Leadership Ministry Missions Call Moses Oil Oklahoma Paul Pipeline Profound Shawnee StudentConference Thomas University
Deepen Discover Evangelism Gateway Gideon Iorg Isaiah Leadership Ministry Missions Moses Oil Oklahoma Paul Pipeline Profound Shawnee Student Thomas University
