Oklahoma OUTLOOK

Oklahoma Outlook FALL 2023

Cover

A Global

MISSION

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Reaching the Least, Last & Lost of Oklahoma The World!

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Contents From our Pastor: On Mission 6 2024 Event Calendar 8 Will You Partner With Us? 10 This is Why You Give 13 Eradicating Bible Poverty 19

Oklahoma Outlook Oklahoma Assemblies of God 8701 N. Kelley Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73131 The Oklahoma Outlook is published by the Oklahoma Assemblies of God. Publisher: Dr. Darryl Wootton Editor: Phil Taylor Designers: Jayson Evans, Chris Ainsworth Contributors: Gary Davidson, Jayson Evans, Cody Phillips, Darryl Wootton

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The Heart of the Country 23 70 Years of Impact: The Legacy of OSU Chi Alpha 26 Missionary Snapshot 30 Meet John Easter 31 Missions Emphasis 32

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©2023

Oklahoma District Council of the Assemblies of God

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On

MISSION A Message from Our Pastor 6

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We must be ON MISSION. We must be about the Great Commission. Mission is defined as ‘the business with which a group is charged.’ The prefix ‘co’ means ‘with.’ The Great Commission means that we are a people ‘with mission.’

Jesus gave us our mission. Matthew 28:19-20 states, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Our Assemblies of God network was founded to expedite this global task that Jesus left us. Our founding fathers declared that the goal of the Assemblies of God is to be “the greatest evangelism that the world has ever seen.” Our Oklahoma Assemblies of God family has produced world-changing missionaries for over a century.

Our churches have launched global workers around the world to preach the Word. Only eternity will tell what our predecessors accomplished as they stayed ON MISSION. Now, it is our time. Under our watch, we must be ON MISSION. Often, I hear people refer to our mission in the plural.

People express that they are excited about “missions.”

Pastors declare that their church is focused on “missions.”

I understand this innocent expression. It is easy to refer to the plural form of the word mission because we have so many missionaries and mission agencies. However, many years ago, as a local pastor, I intentionally used the word ‘mission’ in the singular. Jesus did not give us two or three missions. He gave us one. There are several components to the mission, but there is only one mission.

The components of our mission include going to where the Lord leads us, making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching followers to obey Jesus. Jesus declared this mission very simply while He was on earth. Jesus said, in Luke 19:10, that He came to seek and save those who are lost. Is that your church’s mission? Is that your ministry’s mission? Is that your mission? A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. A multiple-missioned church is a calamity waiting to happen. We cannot please God and the world. We please God when we stay ON MISSION.

The OKAG exists to share the Gospel to the least, last, and lost. We must finish the task. We are not running out of resources. We are not running out of money. We are running out of time.

Will you take time at the end of this year to assess your mission strategy? Is your church ON MISSION? Does your commitment to personal evangelism reveal you are ON MISSION? Do your finances indicate you are personally ON MISSION? Where our treasure is, that is where our heart is also. May the heart of the Oklahoma Assemblies of God always be to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

May we see multitudes come to repentance. May our Heavenly Father send a harvest of souls to the glory of God. Join me in prayer that the OKAG will always stay ON MISSION.

Dr. Darryl Wootton OKAG Superintendent

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2024 NETWORK CALENDAR

January

March

Shh! Retreat January 4 Oklahoma School of Ministry (OSOM)–OKC January 6 OSOM–Muskogee January 13 Hispanic School of Ministry–McAlester January 13 Speed The Light Rallies January 14 Women’s Ministries LIFE Rallies January 19 Century Leadership Roundtable January 25 Girls Ministries FLOURISH Conference January 27 ACMR Deadline January 30

OSOM–OKC March 2 Council Resolutions Submission Deadline March 8 Hispanic School of Ministry–McAlester March 9 OSOM - Muskogee March 9 Hispanic Women’s Conference March 22-23 Good Friday (Office Closed) March 29 Easter March 31

February OSOM–OKC February 3 OSOM–Muskogee February 10 Hispanic School of Ministry, McAlester February 10 Next Gen Conference February 16-17 Hispanic Training for Church Leaders February 17 Hispanic Teaching–OKC February 17 Hispanic Teaching–Tulsa February 24 Women of Valor Retreat February 23-24 Women’s Ministries Day February 26 OKAG Sectional Tour: Section 5E & 5W (PM) Section 2 (AM) Section 1 (PM) Section 8 (AM) Section 9N & 9S (PM) Section 10 (AM) Section 11 (PM) Section 4 (AM) Section 3 (PM) Section 6 (AM) Section 12 (AM) Section 7 (PM)

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February 5 February 6 February 6 February 8 February 8 February 20 February 20 February 22 February 22 February 26 February 27 February 27

April Fine Arts Festival April 5-6 OSOM–OKC April 6 GM Names Due for Celebration Awards April 10 OSOM–Muskogee April 13 Hispanic School of Ministry–McAlester April 13 Hispanic Men’s Conference April 19-20 Better Together Conference & Council April 22-23 Women in Leadership Luncheon April 22 Ordination Investitures April 23 Heritage and Elite Ladies Luncheon April 24 Administrative Professional Day April 24 OCM Fun Arts April 27

May National Day of Prayer May 2 OSOM–OKC May 4 OSOM–Muskogee May 11 Hispanic School of Ministry–McAlester May 11 Pentecost Sunday May 19 Memorial Day (Office Closed) May 27

June

October

OSOM–OKC June 1 OSOM–Muskogee June 8 Hispanic School of Ministry–McAlester June 8

Pastor Appreciation Month OSOM–OKC October 5 Renew Minister’s Retreat October 7 - 9 OSOM–Muskogee October 12 Hispanic School of Ministry–McAlester October 12 OYM–Youth Fest October 18-19 Women of Valor Seminar October 19 Light for the Lost Night October 27

Youth Camps: Camp #1 Camp #2 Camp #3 Camp #4 Camp #5 Camp #6

May 26-29 May 29-June 1 June 3-7 June 10-14 June 17-21 June 24-28

November

July Independence Day (Office Closed) Credential Application Deadline Deadline for Celebration Registration Affiliate Church Summit National Fine Arts–Columbus, OH Kids Camps: I-Camp (Ages 11-14) Kids Camp #1 (Ages 8-12) Kids Camp #2 (Ages 8-12) Kids Camp #3 (Ages 8-12) Little Radicals (Ages 6-8)

July 4 July 5 July 10 July 13 July 29-Aug 2

July 2-5 July 8-12 July 15-19 July 22-26 July 29-30

August Girls Ministries Celebration OSSOM Graduation STL Mud Run PK Retreat

August 10 August 10 August 24 August 31–Sept 2

September Labor Day (Office Closed) Century Leadership Roundtable Credential Deadline–Ordination Daughter’s Conference Nationwide Girl’s Ministries Events Hispanic Pastoral Leadership Retreat Men’s Conference

September 2 September 5 September 6 September 20-21 September 25-26 September 26-28 September 27-28

Global Workers Appreciation Month Youth Pastors Retreat November 1-2 OSOM–OKC November 2 Compassion Conference November 8-9 OSOM–Muskogee November 9 Hispanic School of Ministry–McAlester November 9 Church Multiplication Launch–Tulsa November 12-14 OCM Made for This Retreat November 15-16 Century Leadership Roundtable November 21 National Evangelist Conference November 21 - 23 Thanksgiving Holiday (Office Closed) November 28-29

December Evangelist Appreciation Month OSOM–OKC December 7 Senior Ministries Heritage Christmas December 7 Hispanic Ministers Christmas Party December 7 OSOM–Muskogee December 14 Hispanic School of Ministry–McAlester December 14 OKAG Faith Promises Due December 13 Christmas Holiday (Office Closed) December 24-25 Ministerial Credentials Renewal Deadline December 31 For event details, visit www.okag.org Dates, locations, and times are subject to change

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WILL YOU PARTNER WITH US? I recently came across a message I gave at St. Mark’s Church in Dublin, Ireland in May 1992! We had received word of the passing of Sister Pearl Roberts, a charter member of First Assembly of God Church, Broken Bow. Our family was introduced to Sister Roberts in February 1964, when I was a newborn Christian. This beautiful lady, steeped in God’s word, became an advocate and intercessor for our entire family. She took our Mum under her tutelage, mentoring her in the word and prayer. Over the years, her influence and encouragement enabled us to overcome many challenges. When we felt God directing us to Ireland, she reminded us that from the first time we became acquainted, she knew God had a “mighty work” for us. She supported us through her giving and intercession our first twelve years in missions. Now, this mighty warrior and intercessor who had our back for 32 years was gone.

That Sunday morning, I challenged our congregation from Ezekiel 22:30, “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.” In the 6th century BC when Ezekiel lived, there was no one found to “stand in the gap,” but in 1992 in St. Mark’s there were many that rallied to their pastor’s admonishment. Two key individuals, Ellen Sullivan and Anna Farrell responded specifically, and although Anna is now with the Lord, Ellen continues to pray daily for our family. Suffice it to say, there have been moments when

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all seemed lost, but these warriors and others “stood in the gap” and the tide was turned.

We have documented evidence in Ireland of at least seven churches that are today flourishing and have planted daughter congregations. Long before we arrived at least two people were praying earnestly for a church. One man who immigrated from Tullow, Ireland 55 years ago, prayed daily that a church would be planted in his community.

Just a year ago Discovery Church, Galway, sent a group to plant in Tullow. Imagine the tenacity and faith of a man who prays for 55 years and now he sees the fruit of his prayers!

Friends and colleagues often compliment Wilma and I for our role in the raising up of a national movement in Ireland. We appreciate those remarks, but we are both aware “we aren’t that good.” Ireland was once called the “graveyard of evangelical missionaries.” We could have been like scores of others that went to Ireland and returned home disillusioned and broken. We have absolutely no doubt that except for those that “stood in the gap” we could have never seen more than we ever dreamed transpire in that wee island nation.

As I researched my files for this article, I found the letter that David Wilkerson had written shortly before his death.

Entitled “Helpers in Prayer”, he wrote of a man who along with hundreds of others prayed for his ministry. He left no doubt in his reader’s mind that the key to his prophetic and life-giving ministry was that army of helpers in prayer. Quoting from the apostle Paul in Romans 15:30, “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your

prayers to God for me.” Strive as used here means to “struggle with me as a partner in prayer.”

WILL YOU PARTNER WITH US IN STRIVING TOGETHER IN PRAYER FOR OUR OKAG GLOBAL WORKERS? Yes, our 100+ global workers need your financial assistance, but it is critical that we undergird each of our missionaries at home and abroad with our prayers!

On our website, OKAG.org, you will find a list of our global and local missionaries for whom you can “stand in the gap.” Alternatively, you can contact our office 405.475.1132 for a copy. For the safety of those serving in sensitive areas, we will simply share their initials. You can be assured that our strong God will hear and know their initials as you pray. I also encourage you to note the Buddhist Hindu Initiative that is included with this article. I pray we see many intercessors raised up from around our great state.

What is the priority?

While the statistics are staggering, no number set can adequately describe the human need among those of Hindu and Buddhist worldviews. Longterm spiritual fruit among these precious peoples requires Christian believers focused on the same personal ministry that Jesus used in His time on the earth. This priority emphasizes establishing the Church among all Buddhist and Hindu peoples everywhere.

Gary Davidson OKAG Missions

Buddhist Hindu Priority Goals and Objectives AGWM, an agency with over 100 years of missions history, is organizing to see breakthroughs in the Buddhist and Hindu worlds. The Buddhist Hindu Priority promotes the on-the-field needs for prayer partners, new global workers, and funds.

For this priority, AGWM has three major goals:

• • •

to resource and relate to 50,000 prayer partners. to welcome 150 new global workers sent to work among the BHP peoples. to raise funds so that the most urgent needs for ministry among the Buddhist and Hindu can be met as quickly as they are raised by our regional leaders.

Learn more at https://agwm.org

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“This is Why

YOU GIVE” An Interview with Phil and Sarah Taylor

For 38 years, Pastor Phil Taylor served as lead pastor of Carbondale Assembly of God in Tulsa, OK. Carbondale gave over $17 million to Assemblies of God World Missions during his ministry.

Shortly after his retirement, Taylor sat down with his daughter, Sarah Taylor, and Network Superintendent Darryl Wootton to discuss his heart for missionaries and how he encouraged his church to focus on the Great Commission.

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Darryl Wootton: Welcome, Pastor Phil Taylor and Pastor Sarah Taylor. We’re honored to have you here with us and celebrate a new season after 38 years of lead pastoring. You are off to the races in this brand-new chapter.

Phil Taylor: People keep asking, so what are you doing? I tell them I’m smiling a lot. I walk around with a sigh of relief. Someone gave me a candle for my retirement that said, “It smells like that’s not my problem anymore.” I bless all these pastors. I pray anytime I pass a church, God bless that pastor and congregation because I know the responsibility.

Darryl Wootton: In full disclosure, you were my pastor and were crazy enough to hire me many years ago. Sarah was in that youth group that I served with my wife, Faith, so we feel like family here today.

Phil Taylor: Absolutely.

Darryl Wootton: We could talk about many things, but today, we want to discuss missions, world missions, and missionaries. It was Lindell Warren who said Carbondale is the Antioch of the Oklahoma Assemblies of God. What are your thoughts on how missions played an important part in your ministry?

Your daughter caught the vision and became a world missionary, but was that from the beginning?

Phil Taylor: We can go back to 1976 when I became the youth pastor.

We started with a focus on Speed the Light. I’d grown up listening to missionaries. My mom’s sister was a missionary to Nigeria in the ‘40s and ‘50s and later to Malawi. I grew up thinking missionaries were heroes. I joked about it with Bob Cobb and Ray Brock. I said, “When I was a kid, I thought my Aunt Cledith and the two of you, the Brocks and the Cobbs, were winning the continent of Africa by yourselves.”

Darryl Wootton: Exactly. The great trinity of these three.

Phil Taylor: Missionaries were always heroes, so as a youth pastor, we started focusing on raising money for Speed the Light.

The first time we raised $2,500 for Speed the Light, we were so excited. Carbondale had never done that before, and total missions giving in some of those years, as I remember, was maybe $25,000.

So it’s always been there, that heart for missions. When we became pastors, we asked, “How do we increase the amount of money we’re giving? How do we take on new missionaries?” I don’t know that we were as strategic about all of it as we could have been or should have been early on, but it was just I knew this was the heart of God. We’ve got this great commission to go into all the world, and how are we going to do that? We’re going to send people. We made room for missionaries. We had at least one missionary a month, and encouraged people to give.

Sarah Taylor: It’s interesting what you said about the strategy. You didn’t have a long-term strategy, but there were very specific and intentional things you did within that time. I can even remember before I came on staff, just as a young person, I knew you had kind of looked at the areas of the world and recognized that we don’t support any missionaries in this area of the world and felt like we need to put an emphasis on that. Let’s search out where we have AG missionaries. Carbondale isn’t supporting that area of the world, and that can’t be right because we’re supposed to support the whole world. So you very intentionally said, let’s find someone, and let’s begin to support them in that area.

Darryl Wootton: Sarah, you grew up with Cobbs, Brocks, and your aunt.

What was it like for you to grow up at Carbondale from the beginning with mission exposure? What was that like for you?

Sarah Taylor: I can remember my dad talking about how giving to missions is the best thing that you could do with your

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money. And giving your life to the Lord and to his call and that trophies and plaques weren’t worth anything. These were the three big things. He’d always say, “I don’t know why they’re spending money to buy plaques to give us for missions giving. Just give that money to missions.” This was what I always heard.

We’d take mission trips from the church, and if we were riding in a Speed the Light vehicle, I’d say, “This is why you’re giving.” We tried to make it visible to people to see this is how we’re making a difference in people’s lives by giving to missions.

I remember being so impacted that I went home, and I thought, “Dad said trophies and plaques aren’t worth anything.” It’s not like I had so many. I had my Missionettes trophy. We used to get a trophy when we became an honor star (and a tiara).

Then I had one that was given to every person on my T-ball team. That was my one foray into sports. I packed those trophies away because dad said they are not worth anything.

Phil Taylor: Maybe I should have clarified when I said that.

Sarah Taylor: I put those away as a middle schooler and then started giving my money to missions. I remember my very first job. A friend in the youth group had taken this job and she was a high schooler and a couple of years older than me.

She said I should apply for this part-time, after-school job.

I remember praying, “Lord if you’ll help me get this job, I will give that money to Speed the Light.”

That just became part of what I did then. Even as a student, recognizing we give to missions because you can’t do anything better with your money than to give to missions. That’s what was instilled in me. That love for Speed the Light was instilled. When I got to Ireland and received a Speed the Light car, there was a feeling of sowing and reaping.

Darryl Wootton: So beautiful.

Phil Taylor: When we’d receive the offering after a missionary spoke, I’d always say, “We don’t say a lot about money here, but I’ll never apologize for asking for money for a missions offering. We need to support these people. They’re sacrificing to go, and we’re going to sacrifice to send.”

Darryl Wootton: It’s amazing. Some of the team did the math, you would never do this, but during your years as Pastor, Carbondale Assembly gave over $17 million to Assemblies of God World Missions. This is not counting all the other things that Carbondale is very generous in, in mission initiative, evangelism, and other things. How do you reflect on that?

Phil Taylor: There’s no sense of pride about it because it wasn’t my money, but people caught the vision to give. They were always so generous because their hearts were stirred by the missionaries and the great need to take the gospel to the whole world.

We tried to keep that in front of people, that this is what it’s about, this is the mission of the church and our people caught the burden and the vision of that. I’m fully confident that as leadership changes at Carbondale, the church will continue to see the vital role of missions.

It’s about sowing and reaping. I tell pastors, if you need more money and more people, then you need to sow money and people. If you can send people to the mission field, or you can start another church or bless another church by sending people and money, good, then people and money are what you’re going to reap.

And so we did. www.okag.org

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Sarah Taylor: I have to tell the story just because it perfectly embodied what it was you taught me. I had come home after my freshman year in college. My dad had fallen that summer and torn the quadricep muscle in his leg. As a result, he was out of church for a few weeks, recovering. I had gone to church that Sunday night on my own, and it was a missionary speaking. I thought, “You know what? I am now clearly a grownup and I can do whatever I want. I don’t have to come to church if I don’t want to.” So I left with another person after the worship and had dinner. I got home from service, and I was walking up the stairs when Dad said, “Hey, how was church tonight, Sarah?” I said,

Phil Taylor: I’m trying to think back over the years of times when the finances got really tight, we always said, let’s see if we can do this without cutting missionaries. They’re at a disadvantage, particularly if they’re on the field and they get a letter saying, “Hey, you just lost $100 worth of support.”

What are they going to do? They have to stop what they’re doing to pick up the phone and call to see if they can generate that money from somewhere else. It’s about priorities and we were determined to make sure we were giving to missions, regardless.

I would say “Expect God to provide if we put his work first.” Then challenge your people. “I know this is hard, and the economy is crazy right now, but if we give to missions, God’s going to bless us in every area.” It’s the same thing as the principle of tithing. If we obey the Lord in this, it’s the Lord’s tithes and our offerings, we’re going to give him this, and then he’s going to give back, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. We were confident of that and we saw the Lord provide.

Sarah Taylor: And the way that you modeled that in front of the church.

You would always, even once we started giving online, Phil Taylor writes a check. You would hold the check up in both services. Everybody saw it. And you would say to the ushers, “Come get my money.” You modeled that in every mission’s offering. I’m putting my money where my mouth is and where my heart is.

“Worship was really good.” I’m halfway up the stairs and he said, “How’d the missionary do?” I’m thinking, “How do you know? Did the Lord tell you?” I said, “Well, Dad, actually, I left, and we went and had dinner, and I didn’t actually stay.” Dad said, “You know what, Sarah? It’s the principle of sowing and reaping. Someday, you’re going to be a missionary, and you’re going to want somebody to give in your offering and be there for you.”

We sow and we reap. It was such an important lesson at that moment: this is how this works. If you expect people to give to you, then you need to give to others. If you expect people to listen to you, then you need to listen to others. That was a key lesson and a key moment right there.

Darryl Wootton: It’s just the heart of Jesus, right? Pastor, if you were talking to a new pastor and budgets are tight, how do we balance keeping our missionary support within our budget?

What would be your wisdom to them?

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Phil Taylor: We gave our money and we also gave our daughter as a missionary for 11 years. First, as an MA and then as a fully appointed missionary. That’s what He asked of us. Whether it’s giving our money or giving our children or whatever else, that’s what missions is about.

Darryl Wootton: It’s such a blessing to get to be under you, Pastor Phil, and still consider you as a shepherd to me and my family through some critical times of life. But watching that, just your passion for missions and missionaries, we tried our best to translate that to the church that we pastored.

One of the high points for me looking back was when we were getting ready to relocate and build a building. The treasurer on our board said in a meeting, “Now you realize when we start building this building that Wootton is not going to let us cut back on missionaries. If you guys start talking about it, it’s a waste of time.”

I learned from you. Why would we build a building to reach people for Jesus by cutting people who are trying to reach people for Jesus? So even through a building program, it was God’s grace, but we were able to not cut a missionary at all. Some churches are challenged with how do we balance the evangelism need here at home

versus across the sea and Carbondale’s been this beautiful picture. Again, the Antioch, Lindell said. How have you balanced that we’re going to reach people across the street and across the sea?

Phil Taylor: We did kind of intentionally look to say, how do we balance this out with our giving? We don’t want to neglect the people across the street or people around the world.

We tried to look at the 10-40 window, where the majority of people are, but not enough missionaries. We tried to be intentional to see if we can help get missionaries to underserved areas. But we always wanted to balance it with the people next door who need Jesus. For instance, Carbondale has done a yearly Day of Hope. Sarah was responsible for originating that. We take a Sunday and invite the community to come in. We have people from the church who serve as guest hosts, and they’re with our guests the whole morning.

Darryl Wootton: That’s powerful.

Sarah Taylor: I think that throughout all of that, when we begin to truly be Jesus in our world, we see that the principle of “bothand” has always been at work. So it isn’t a question of missions or local outreach. It’s a question of “both-and”.

So we leave people here to continue doing the work, and we send people out. It’s never a question of whether one is more important or how can we forsake one for the sake of the other. It’s “both-and”, because that’s the model of scripture. There’s never anybody being excluded or left out or left behind. It is “both-and”.

They visit as they eat a meal together. They get a family picture taken and we provide a free oil change for their car and we give them groceries and new shoes and haircuts and we have an area where they receive prayer. We do that because we say Carbondale is a place of healing, hope, laughter, and peace and we want our community to see practical evidence of that. I remember years ago one of our ladies had gone to the grocery store down the street, and she had on a tee-shirt that said, “Carbondale Assembly of God.” The woman who was the checker asked, “Do you go to that church?” Our lady said, “Yes.” The woman’s eyes filled with tears and she said, “My granddaughter goes to an afterschool program at Carbondale, and the other day she came running out to the car, and she had a new coat on, a winter coat. I asked her, ‘Honey, where did you get that coat?’ And she said, ‘My friends at Carbondale gave it to me.’ The woman said, “I just want to thank you for what you did for my granddaughter.”

That’s how the church is supposed to rub up against the community. And we see that as being missional. It’s caring and serving, sharing good news at home and around the world.

Sarah Taylor: It’s a mark of the Messiah when good news is being preached to the poor. When John the Baptist is in prison, he sends his disciples to find out, “Are you really the One? Because this is not looking quite right. I’m in jail.

So I’m just checking.” And Jesus says, “Yeah, go back to John and report what you’ve seen. You’ve seen the lame walk, you’ve seen blind eyes that are now seeing, and you’ve seen people raised from the dead.” But in that same list, just as mind-blowing, is the fact Jesus says good news is preached to the poor! It was so revolutionary. It was a mind-blowing moment that good news was being preached to the poor. www.okag.org

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Eradicating

BIBLE POVERTY

By Jayson Evans

The heart of the Assemblies of God lies in its mission to spread the Gospel to the farthest corners of the Earth.

For North Church, a congregation in Oklahoma City, this mission is not just a calling, it’s the essence of their faith.

In a world where access to the Word of God remains a privilege for many, North Church has embarked on a journey to eradicate Bible poverty. Their partnership with Every Tribe, Every Nation (ETEN) is at the forefront of this mission, bringing the Bible to heart languages in Gabon, West Africa.

This foundational belief is what ignited North Church’s passion for missions. They recognize that the Gospel’s transformative power can potentially change lives, communities, and entire nations. To fulfill its mission, North Church partnered with Every Tribe, Every Nation (ETEN), an organization committed to eradicating Bible poverty by providing access to God’s Word in every heart language.

According to Gary Nelson, ETEN Chairman, a heart language is “what your mother spoke to you in.” There are over 7,000 known heart languages in the world.

Pastor Rodney Fouts of North Church understands the biblical imperative of missions and evangelism. He firmly believes that taking the message of Jesus Christ to the world is not an option but a fundamental aspect of the Christian calling. “We have no option as followers of Jesus Christ. We have been directed by our Lord and Savior to go and take this good news to the far-flung ends of the world,” Fouts said.

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ETEN has set an ambitious goal: to have 95% of languages with a complete Bible, 99.6% with a New Testament, and 100% with some form of the Bible (written, oral, or sign language) by 2033. This audacious target isn’t driven by numbers but by a profound desire to ensure that every person on Earth can access the Word of God in a language they understand. Nelson shared insights into the organization’s vision, “It’s a pretty awesome responsibility, but it’s not that we’re trying to meet a date. Every day, people live in darkness without God’s word, and we can make a difference.”

right now.” The North Church team shared this vision and opportunity with the congregation and the people also took hold. The church committed to translating the Bible into two heart languages in Gabon, West Africa. Over the past four years, North Church has contributed $1.1 million to see these translations come to life.

When asked about the church’s strategy for casting the vision for this project, Fouts said there were several factors to consider. The first is that the lead pastor has an obligation to continually present the Church’s mission to spread the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. “There should be a constant reminder to the people sitting in the chairs every week to understand what Christ has commanded us to do, what we have been commissioned to do. So, if you’re doing that as a pastor on a weekly basis where your people understand their mission, their calling, then when you begin to share missions projects like this, it’s just natural to jump on board and say, ‘Yeah, we’re going to do that.’”

Fouts also acknowledges that Nelson and another member of ETEN’s board, Mart Green, attend North Church, which gives ample opportunity to bring them on stage to present updates on their projects.

Another method North Church has implemented is to take the 12-verse challenge. ETEN has broken the cost of translating a single scripture verse to $35. Fouts and the team have challenged adults, teenagers, and children to commit to giving $35 a month for a year. “This is not for the wealthy few; this is for every single person who has a heart for the world and taking the good news of Jesus Christ to the world,” said Fouts.

North Church’s partnership with ETEN has already yielded significant results.

The endeavor began with translating the book of Luke into these heart languages. It will gradually expand to include the rest of the New Testament.

Fouts said partnering with ETEN was an easy decision for their church. “I grew up understanding that there are two things that will last forever: the soul of every person and the word of God. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the word of God will remain,” Fouts remarked. “God is providing this incredible opportunity to partner with something that is one of the greatest things happening on the planet 20

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Both Fouts and Nelson stress the urgency of the mission. While significant progress has been made, the clock is ticking. ETEN’s goal to have a Bible in every heart language by 2033 is ambitious but achievable.

They urge churches and individuals to get involved now to ensure that this life-transforming mission continues at an accelerated pace.

For churches interested in partnering with ETEN, several options are available. First, they can explore the areas of the world where translation work is needed and select a project that aligns with their church’s mission and vision. If a church already supports missionaries in a specific region, they can consider translating the Bible for that community.

Alternatively, churches can let ETEN guide them to areas where translation projects are essential. Nelson is excited about the possibility of partnering with new churches, “The compelling case here is if you individually or you as a church want to get involved in something that lasts forever, there’s less than a handful of things you can do.

Translation is one of those. If you want to rock somebody’s world and live with them forever, just get involved.”

In Fouts’ view, pastors have a unique role in inspiring their church members to participate in missions endeavors, whether through financial contributions, prayer support, or direct involvement. “The best thing you can do for your people is challenge them to take this good news to the world,” Fouts said. “Whatever that mission endeavor is, ask them to give. You have not because you ask not. Ask them to give, ask them to be a part, and you will see the fruit of that ask.”

North Church’s journey to eradicate Bible poverty through missions and translation serves as an inspiring example of what can be accomplished when a church fully embraces its mission. Their partnership with Every Tribe, Every Nation highlights the Gospel’s transformative power and the profound impact of making God’s Word accessible to every heart language. The mission is not limited to a select few; it’s a calling for all believers. Nelson gives a final word

Gary Nelson & Pastor Rodney Fouts

of encouragement to pastors, “Sometimes we think we talk about money too much and about giving, but don’t rob me of the blessing of getting involved in something like translation that’s rocked my world because somebody brought it up, and normally it comes from the pastor.

You never know what game changer you’ll find sitting out there waiting for you to bring them an opportunity.”

It’s a call to action that resonates with the essence of Christianity—sharing the hope, love, and salvation found in Jesus Christ with the world. By partnering with organizations like ETEN and embracing the mission of Bible translation, churches and individuals can play a pivotal role in bringing God’s Word to those who have yet to hear it, ultimately transforming lives and communities for eternity.

To learn more about ETEN, visit eten.bible

www.okag.org

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The Heart of the

COUNTRY Why Rural Churches Supporting Missions is Vital

Missions has always held a special place in the heart of the church. Regardless of the size or location of a congregation, the mandate to spread the message of Christ to the ends of the earth remains a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith. In a recent discussion with three seasoned pastors—Daryl Lee, Kevin Akins, and Cordell Hines—we delve into the importance of supporting missions in rural churches. Their insights shed light on the unique challenges and opportunities these congregations face as they navigate the path of global evangelism.

Below is an edited portion of the conversation.

Jayson Evans: How important is it that rural churches support missions?

Daryl Lee: Supporting missions is crucial for rural churches because we understand and realize it’s part of the great commission. We’re all called to be part of the great commission and do our part to send and to reach outside of our walls, to reach those in the mission field. If a rural church is missing out on that, they’re missing out on doing the great commission.

Kevin Akins: Impact. There are so many ways that when you partake in giving to missions or helping with missions, it impacts everything. It impacts the individual who gets to give. It impacts the church as a whole. It impacts the missionary that does get to go as well. The rural area must understand that it doesn’t matter how small they are; it’s how big God makes it turn out to be in the latter term.

Cordell Hines: It’s essential. If you’re not involved in missions, no matter what else you’re doing, you’re not a healthy church.

Jayson Evans: What are some of the challenges with giving to missions in your context?

Cordell Hines: I don’t know if there’s a big difference between a rural church’s hurdles and an urban church or a suburban church. Still, I think there’s a mindset sometimes in a rural church that we can’t do much, and there’s a mindset that it doesn’t matter, and those two mindsets have to be over.

They believe, “Well, if we don’t do it, some bigger church will do it.” But rural churches can do amazing things in missions and must be involved.

Jayson Evans: How do you communicate the need for missions giving in your churches?

Cordell Hines: We do it primarily with faith promises. We do two Sundays yearly, telling them, “You’re making a faith promise.

This is based on faith. If the income doesn’t come in, you don’t have to give it, but if it does, you give it.” And then

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Cordell Hines, Daryl Lee, and Kevin Akins

we teach you to pray that God provides this. I stress it is a faith promise. It helps build their faith. I had one lady who kept a record of it for 12 months. God just supernaturally brought finances to her family. They made a faith promise that was staggering for me. I didn’t think it would come in, but it did. It was amazing how God just provided for them to do it. And when they make those faith promises, they see God answer. It builds their faith. We may have limited resources, but God doesn’t.

Daryl Lee: What’s sad is sometimes, as a pastor, I put a limit on God. I look at our congregation, I see the widows, or I see those on social security and those that are limited financially, and I wonder, “How will we take care of these missions needs?” But when we give people an opportunity to give to missions, it’s amazing how God brings his funds to supply and care for those needs.

Jayson Evans: What are some creative ways you have raised awareness of a missions need?

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Daryl Lee: Whenever we’ve gone on mission trips, that’s the most creative I’ve seen people get. We had a bunch of guys who wanted to go on a missions trip, and we went out and scrapped metal, collected metal, and took it to the scrap yard. Amazingly, they did that on their weekends. They gave up their weekends to provide funds. But I’ve got a group of ladies–the average age in the group is probably 70 years old–they get to the church, do bible study, pray for our missionaries, and start doing crafts. They call themselves the P31 group, the Proverbs 31 group. And it’s all focused on missions. All the crocheting they do, all the quilting they do, all the sewing they do, they turn around and sell it. That group has provided enough money for us to support two missionaries for several years.

Kevin Akins: Our church does a few things. My wife is very artistic and very organized and just an incredible lady. She has a heart for LIFE (Ladies Investing For Eternity), helping provide housing for missionaries. She put together a Styrofoam house that has all the different rooms in that house. Once a year, we present the house to the people, and we let the people buy the furniture for the home. We have seen vis-

itors on that Sunday, and they’ll purchase towels or wash rags or something. Every year, we’ve been able to give over $4,000 to LIFE. Our children saw that and wanted to do something on their own for BGMC (Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge).

They do a thing that’s called a convenience store parking lot sweep. We contacted the store, and they walked across and picked up all the change in the parking lot. It’s not much, but they are doing it, and that’s what matters most.

We have a mission board with a picture of every missionary we support. We keep it in front of the church. We’re constantly talking about missions and putting it in front of them. It never stops.

Kevin Akins: Those rural guys way out there, even they can do something. I love what Daryl says: do something, even if it’s one missionary. And if you sponsor just one missionary, then call that missionary. Get that missionary to come to your church. Relate to that one missionary. After that one gets settled in, you will do two. Go on a trip with them.

See it. Go be a part of it; it’ll change your life forever.

Missions changes people. It will impact you. It will impact your church. It will impact your community. It will impact your finances. It’ll impact your prayer life. It’ll impact your relationship with God. Choose missions every single time.

It changes you.

Daryl Lee: And that’s what it takes. It takes the pastor and those in leadership to say, “This is what’s important. This is important enough to us that we will focus on it.”

Cordell Hines: Once a month, we bring in a missionary. We pray for the missionaries regularly and allow people to answer the call to missions regularly. And then, often in my sermons and stuff, I’ll use missionaries’ stories for illustrations. We try to keep missions in front of the people almost constantly, but we’ll bring in a missionary once a month.

Jayson Evans: How would you encourage a pastor to make sure missions is focused on in their congregation?

Cordell Hines: You will not be a healthy church without doing missions.

And as you do missions, you get less selfish and less self-centered, and your whole church gets less self-centered. So, it makes the church healthier. It’ll help the church get a burden for the lost, not just overseas or in a mission area, but in your community. It will strengthen and revitalize and make your church healthier and better.

You’re doing more for the Kingdom of God when you’re involved in missions than anything else.

Daryl Lee: My challenge would be to start somewhere. We get the mindset: “To do missions, I must do this much.” Our missionaries will take $10 a month. They’ll take $25 a month.

And we need to start somewhere. It’s amazing when we can find that missionary and say, “This is our missionary.”

That becomes the heartbeat of the church. All of a sudden, it opens doors, and God begins to bless and take care of, and long before you know it, that one missionary at $10 a month has ballooned and become ten missionaries at $50 a month. God can do that as we pray and let ourselves look outside of ourselves, and God can use it.

EVERY CHURCH HAS NEXT-LEVEL POTENTIAL LET US HELP YOU...

• • •

Reveal – Engage in an assessment process to discover and discern your church’s current reality.

Recalibrate – Create your process for the future by engaging in an Acts 2 Journey® Cohort Resource – Receive tools to implement your vision for continuing health and missional effectiveness.

Contact Pastor Bruce McCarty Oklahoma Acts 2 Coordinator kames@owassofirst.com

www.okag.org

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70 Of Impact Years

The Enduring Legacy of OSU Chi Alpha

By Cody Phillips The price of a gallon of gas was 27 cents.

Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn topped the movie box office. New York City adopted its first “three-colored” stoplights. Billy Graham was breaking segregation laws around the nation at his crusades. Our world and culture has changed in many ways since 1953, but here in the Oklahoma Assemblies of God Network, there is one ministry with a legacy that has lasted 70 years and continues to thrive today–Oklahoma State University Chi Alpha.

In 1953, a group of Assemblies of God students attending OSU felt led by the Holy Spirit to host a bible study on campus. That bible study became what is now known as OSU Chi Alpha. These students are remembered as pioneers. They set out to reconcile students to Christ, equipping them through Spirit-filled communities of prayer, worship, fellowship, discipleship, and mission to transform

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the university, the marketplace, and the world. The Oklahoma State University chapter of Chi Alpha (along with Missouri State University) is the longest-serving Chi Alpha chapter within the Assemblies of God fellowship.

Recently, OSU Chi Alpha hosted a reunion party on campus to celebrate their 70th anniversary as a chapter. Current and former OSU Chi Alpha students (dating back to the ‘60s) were in attendance. Brandon Garrett, who serves as the current OSU Chi Alpha director, is a testimony of how Chi Alpha can impact a person’s life. After speaking with him, one thing is certain for their ministry: culture changes but the need never does.

College is a time of exploration and self-discovery. Chi Alpha ministries provide a supportive and nurturing environment for students to explore their spirituality, ask questions, and deepen their understanding of their faith.

College can be a lonely and overwhelming experience, especially for those far from home. Chi Alpha creates a sense of community and belonging and offers a place where students can connect with like-minded peers who share their beliefs and values. Chi Alpha is specifically focused on reaching college students and providing them with a Christian community, spiritual support, and opportunities for growth in their faith. Garrett states, “While

campus ministries are typically associated with a specific religious tradition, they can also be a space for interfaith dialogue and understanding. Chi Alpha offers students from different religious backgrounds opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations and learn about other faith traditions.”

English, want to make American friends, and want to learn about our culture and our religion. These students are at the doorstep for ministerial missions work and marketplace missions work. The college campus is the most strategic mission field. In addition to reaching international students on campus, Garrett mentioned during his time at OSU they have taken several missions trips to Thailand and Costa Rica to pioneer new Chi Alpha chapters or provide aid and assistance to the already existing chapters.

Garrett likes to say his job as OSU Chi Alpha director is “to protect the investment the local church has already made in the next generation and to cultivate them into their next phase of ministry, wherever the Lord leads.” Continuing this legacy requires the same partnership with the local church to continue to develop and deploy the next generation. Garrett often tells his students that Chi Alpha isn’t a substitute for the local church, but it is supplemental to the ministry of the local church. “While we encourage each of our students to be plugged in and involved in a local church, we see Chi Alpha as an extension of that church, as a way for students to grow in community but also grow in ministry.”

Chi Alpha is known for its presence on many college campuses and commitment to helping students integrate their faith into their college experience. After filing through decades worth of photos, one thing became clear to Brandon: there is a deep legacy of OSU students actively reaching their full potential to win the lost on their campus.

Brandon remembers “hearing story after story of God not only using Chi Alpha, but God using students to see their campus as their mission field and raising missionaries within the student body. These stories of life change echo through seven decades of God’s faithfulness.” This exemplifies OSU Chi Alpha’s legacy.

To last and grow during 70 years of ministry, the ministry must change with the culture while prioritizing the mission. As Garrett said, “A sustaining legacy is not about just a certain season and the ‘good ole days,’ but legacy comes from sustainability through the Holy Spirit that outlasts a certain group of people or season or decade.” He gives credit for the sustainability of OSU Chi Alpha to the students’ creativity and taking initiative in the culture and the ministry. “Chi Alpha believes what Paul teaches, to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry…” Brandon believes this is why Chi Alpha, not only at OSU but around the country, is the best way to raise, train, and send out missionaries to the ends of the earth.

Historically, Chi Alpha sees an increase in the blessing of God when they focus on reaching the people of the world.

George Barna says international student ministry is an “opportunity of a lifetime”. International students speak

The legacy of OSU Chi Alpha and Chi Alpha Ministries serves as an invitation to be part of what God is doing on college campuses across the state and to be part of what God wants to do for Oklahoma’s next 70 years of campus ministries. By forming strategic partnerships, local churches and Chi Alpha can create a supportive and enriching environment for college students, helping them grow spiritually, and empowering them to positively impact their campuses and beyond.

To learn more about the ministry of Chi Alpha, connect with your local Chi Alpha chapter, or learn how you can get involved, visit xaoklahoma.com Cody Phillips has been in ministry for over ten years and has served in many different roles.

Currently, he and his wife, Lindsay, are serving as Executive Campus Pastors at The Bridge Bricktown in Oklahoma City.

www.okag.org

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Life Save the Date!

2024 LIFE Rallies Friday, January 19, 2024

SPECIAL PROJECT: AGWM–PROJECT RESCUE ANTI-HUMAN-TRAFFICKING MINISTRY

LADIES JOIN APPROXIMATELY 2,000 OTHER OKLAHOMA WOMEN AND PLAN TO ATTEND THE EXCITING 2024 LIFE RALLY NEAREST YOU! – 14 SIMULTANEOUS DINNER RALLIES–ONE NIGHT. LADIES’ INVESTING FOR ETERNITY. COME BE A PART! – A DELICIOUS HOT MEAL WITH FRIENDS FOR ONLY $15!

– PRIZE DRAWINGS. – INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER AND VIDEOS. – THIS IS YOUR NIGHT TO SUPPORT OVER 200 U.S. & FOREIGN MISSIONARIES AND THEIR FAMILIES AND TO HELP FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION BY BEING A “SENDER!” (1 COR.3:8) – SPECIAL 2023 PROJECT: PROJEC OKLAHOMA ASSEMBLIES OF GOD LAUNCH OF ORPHAN-CARE W/ BACKYARD ORPHANS! – MORE INFO ON VENUES, WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN NOVEMBER.

OKAG.ORG/LIFE 28

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MISSIONARY SNAPSHOTS is doing something unique in our time. Bible translation is a ministry where we can leave something behind that will live on far longer than we will – the Word of God in every language. Thank you for partnering with us!

Tim and Lynley Hatcher

OKAG Missionaries serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators This year, we celebrate 25 years of serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Teenagers played bamboo flutes, drums, ukuleles, and guitars, marching toward the dedication service for the Ambonese Malay New Testament. As the New Testament was given to the people attending the service, the room erupted into cheers of thanksgiving, some with tears, celebrating the Word of God coming in their language.

We rejoiced, too, because we trained this Bible translation team.

There are 7,000+ languages worldwide, and 1,268 languages still do not have one verse of the Bible. To reach those remaining people groups with the Gospel, we need a whole lot more Bible translators! We are honored to have trained (and continue to train) hundreds of new Bible translators at Wycliffe training schools and events in Dallas, TX; St. Petersburg, Russia; Chiang Mai, Thailand; the Netherlands, Ethiopia, Brazil, Peru, and a few places I cannot mention for security reasons. We have checked and guided (and continue to check and guide) 200+ new Bible translations for their ministry impact profiles.

More languages have just received or are about to receive the Bible right now than at any other time in history. God

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Greg and Susan Tiffany

Oklahoma XA State Directors and Campus Missionaries at Rose State and Oklahoma City Community College This year, as we celebrate 70 years of Chi Alpha in Oklahoma and the nation, Greg and Susan’s lives have been impacted by many who have paved the way. The emphasis on campus evangelism and discipleship continues to be the focus to see campuses transformed by the power of Christ. This vision to see lives changed propels them to reach every campus possible, both at the junior colleges in OKC and campuses across Oklahoma. There are 16 XA ministries in Oklahoma, and we are praying for more. We encourage everyone to pray “Luke 10:2” that laborers will be raised to reach this incredible mission field. Thanks for your prayers and support, and if we can serve you, we’re only a call or e-mail away.

Until every campus knows JESUS!

INTRODUCING AGWM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

JOHN EASTER

By Gary Davidson

While there has been steady growth in all regions of the world, AG churches in Africa have experienced the greatest growth in the last ten years. The tremendous growth has largely come because of aggressive emphases on church planting and training of national ministers.

In 2011, John was appointed strategic leader with AGWM Africa and executive director of Africa’s Hope, a resource organization supporting educational initiatives in 46 African nations through more than 380 schools, equipping more than 23,000 students annually. John also served as executive director of the Association for Pentecostal Theological Education--a multidenominational accrediting body for theological institutions in Africa.

Pastor Darryl and I recently connected with the newly elected Executive Director of Assemblies of God World Missions, Dr. John Easter, and his wife, Cheryl.

Dr. Easter spent an hour in February with our entire OKAG mission team, from which his wisdom and humility touched us. John is the eighth Executive Director in our illustrious 108-year-old history. His name now included with such legendary individuals as J. Roswell Flower, Noel Perkins, and J. Phillip Hogan. What a joy it was to share time with John and Cheryl, and we left with a feeling that, as with Esther, they’ve come to the kingdom “for such a time as this.”

Since 2021, John has served on the AGWM Executive Committee as Director of Partnership Development, helping church leaders and ministry networks align God’s people with the mission of establishing the Church among all peoples everywhere.

John and Cheryl have three sons, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren. As they begin this new season of ministry, they have asked for prayer that they may know the mind of Christ in the many decisions they must deal with daily, discernment in responding to the needs of over 2400 global workers and that the peace of God will rule in their hearts. We encourage our OKAG family to remember John and Cheryl Easter in your prayers.

After pastoring in the United States for ten years, John and Cheryl began serving as career missionaries to Malawi in 2000, leading, training, and mobilizing church planters. www.okag.org

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ITINERATING MISSIONARIES THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR OUR OKLAHOMA MISSIONARIES! FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE MISSIONS OFFICE.

Garrett Boren garret1129@gmail.com Thailand KC contact OKAG Missions **Sensitive Country Kirk & Karla Ford

kirk@nexusministries.org

Nexus Ministries/Church Planting in Spain

Chris & Amy Hales

halesforeurope@gmail.com

Europe

Terence & Laurel Harris

tdharris04@gmail.com

Intercultural Ministries - Sensitive

Bethany Hines

bethany.hines@lacagwm.org

Latin America Caribbean

Cory & Angela Hogan

hogansinmexico@gmail.com

Mexico, Latin America/Caribbian

Rebekah & Scott Howell

rhowell@backyardorphans.org

Orphan Care

A.J. Jenkins aaronjjenkins35@gmail.com Mozambique Shawn & Dawn Lee

slee@na-link.com

Canada/Montreal, Quebec

Joni Middleton

jonimiddleton@gmail.com

France, Europe, Project Rescue

Adam & Sarah Quinn

hello@thequinn.family

Latin America Caribbean

M & R

contact OKAG Missions

**Sensitive Country

David &Patricia Schatzmann

dave@schatzmann.com

Pohnapei, Asia Pacific

Isiah Smith iamisiahsmith@gmail.com Netherlands, Europe J & J

contact OKAG Missions

**Sensitive Country

Stephen & Kimberly Snow

sk3ksnowfamily@gmail.com

Intercultural Ministries, Hispanic

Micheal & Jaylynn Sperry

sperry1232@gmail.com

Chi Alpha UCO

www.okag.org

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We Are

A network of Churches and a family of Ministers focused on fulfilling the Great Commission 36

Oklahoma Outlook