Oklahoma OUTLOOK | Spring 2023

Oklahoma Outlook JA N UA RY – MA R CH 2 0 2 3

Every Church

Has

Hope PAGE 17

How Can You Not Keep Going?

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Church Revitalization in Oklahoma

Love.Learn.Serve–Revitalization in Barnsdall

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Reaching the Least, Last & Lost of Oklahoma 2

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Contents From the Editor: God is into Revitalization 6 Upcoming Events 11 Love.Learn.Serve.

12 How Can You Not Keep Going?

17 Revitalization Does Not Stop 20 Missions Emphasis 26 The Rest of the Story 28 A Revitalized Cabin for Revitalized Ministers 30

Oklahoma Outlook

Around the State 33

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: Inez Freeman, Jerry Freeman, Ric Freeman, Gary Davidson, Jayson Evans, Cody Phillips, Darryl Wootton

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Oklahoma District Council of the Assemblies of God

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A Spirit-Empowered Church 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.

WE HELP YOU DISCOVER THE ANSWERS TO • Why do we exist?

• Where are we going?

• How should we behave?

• How will we get there?

• How will we engage new people?

• How will we treat them when they arrive?

• How will we disciple them?

• How will we train them to serve?

• How will we involve them in missions, both locally and globally?

• How will we help them encounter God?

IMPLEMENTING THE 5 FUNCTIONS OF AN ACTS 2 CHURCH • • • • •

Fellowship (Connect) Discipleship (Grow) Gift-Oriented Ministry (Serve) Evangelism (Go) Worship

Pastor Bruce McCarty Oklahoma Acts 2 Coordinator

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Dr. Darryl Wootton

God is into Revitalization God is into revitalization. The entire story of the Bible reveals God’s heart to birth new life. The biographies of Joseph, Moses, Lazarus, Simon Peter, and countless others illustrate this truth.

From Genesis 3 to Revelation 22, broken creation is revitalized into new heavens and new earth.

From sin to salvation, our lives are revitalized by the saving power of Jesus Christ.

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Revitalization is the act or process of giving new life. The Church of Jesus Christ is the hope of the world. Unfortunately, over time many churches become inward-focused and lose their vision to be life-giving agents of Jesus. Disagreements, disunity, disobedience, and dishonesty are seeds that grow into life-strangling weeds. The enemy uses these distractions to paralyze the church and its mission. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

How many churches in your community or county can you name that were once healthy but are now just a shadow of their former history? I believe God wants every Assemblies of God church in Oklahoma to be life-giving agents of Jesus.

Churches that are unhealthy must be resuscitated.

In 2002, Faith and I were asked to help revitalize a church. This church had been through recent hardships. Just the year prior to our arrival they experienced a major split. Deacons and staff left disgruntled to start an independent church.

Members had scattered into various congregations throughout the community leaving the finances in peril. Almost all missionaries were cut from support and the outlook was bleak. In addition, over the course of several years, church members were associated with two high-profile murders and one attempted murder. The church treasurer was found guilty of murdering his wife, the Missionette

leader. My predecessor was a faithful man of God, but the enemy had been relentless. Faith and I were advised not to go to this church that some called the “Bootcamp of the Assemblies of God.” However, we felt God’s calling to revitalize.

for his church. I believe Oklahoma is filled with churches that God has revitalized because God wants all churches to be healthy.

If your church needs revitalization, I strongly encourage you to connect with our Acts 2 ministry. Acts 2 is designed to breathe life into struggling ministries. Executive Presbyter and Pastor Bruce McCarty is leading the Acts 2 ministry in Oklahoma. If you have any questions or need assistance, please get in touch with our office and we will get you all the information for the upcoming Acts 2 forums.

Here are my Top Ten steps for a Pastor who recognizes the need for new life within a church: 1. Pray 2. Evaluate the current strengths and weaknesses of the church 3. Accentuate the discovered strengths of the church over the short term

When we arrived, the church structure was covered with 1960s-style lava rock on the exterior and interior walls.

This rock was so sharp that most people had cut their hands, arms, or suit pants on the jagged edges. We kidded that our church had regular membership and “blood covenant” membership for all who had wounded themselves. Birds and squirrels burrowed through the lava rock mortar and joined us for worship each Sunday. In addition to our usher and greeter teams, we established a “living sacrifice team.” Each Sunday this group would go early through the sanctuary with pellet guns to offer these critters as living sacrifices. One Sunday a squirrel got loose and we almost had a revival.

Although the first few years were very challenging, we would not change this journey for anything. God blessed us and we saw hundreds of first-time salvations. Eventually a new church building was opened on 48 acres. We could not have imagined this when we arrived in 2002.

We experienced nearly 18 years of weekly miracles. Our church focused on the least, the last, and the lost, and multitudes were saved and discipled. God deserves all the credit and glory. Currently, I am writing a book documenting these miracles entitled, From Lavarock to Love, Joy, & Peace – A Story of Revitalization.

4. Ask a seasoned Pastor to be a mentor for a year 5. Take your church leadership through the Acts 2 Journey 6. Identify your top 3 church needs 7. Recruit a small team to focus on those 3 immediate needs 8. Realize you are not called to entertain the saints but to reach and disciple the lost 9. Understand you will never please everyone 10. Remember God called you. YOU GET TO DO THIS! Let’s all pray and believe that God would help us have a healthy, revitalized church in every community of Oklahoma. We hope you enjoy this edition of the Outlook.

We are better together, Dr. D Wootton

Anything is possible when a struggling church unifies around Jesus and focuses on worship, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, and ministry. The power of the Holy Spirit brings true revitalization. In this issue of the Outlook, you will read stories of God’s redemptive plans

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2023 Event Calendar January

June

OSOM – OKC January 7 Shh! Retreat January 12-13 OSOM – Muskogee January 14 Speed The Light Rallies January 15 LIFE Rallies January 20 Century Leader Roundtable January 26 GM FLOURISH Conference January 28 ACMR Deadline January 31

Youth Camp #2 OSOM – OKC Youth Camp #3 OSOM – Muskogee Youth Camp #4 Youth Camp #5 Youth Camp #6

February OSOM – OKC February 4 OSOM – Muskogee February 11 OYM Conference February 17-18 OKNWM Retreat February 24-25 Sectional Council Tour: Section 3 February 6 (PM) Section 7 February 7 (AM) Section 10 & 12 February 7 (PM) Section 9S February 9 (AM) Section 2 & 4 February 9 (PM) Section 1 February 10 (AM) Section 9N February 16 (AM) Section 11 February 17 (AM) Section 6 & 8 February 20 (PM) Section 5W February 21 (AM) Section 5E February 21 (PM)

Kids Camp #1 Kids Camp #2 Kids Camp #3 General Countil &National Fine Arts

July 10-14 July 17-21 July 24-28 July 31 - August 4

August

September Credential Deadline – Ordination PK Retreat – Camp Cargill Hispanic Women’s Conference Daughter’s Conference Main Event Men’s Conference

OSOM – OKC March 4 DC Resolutions Submission Deadline March 10 OSOM – Muskogee March 11 Hispanic Pastoras Retreat March 23-25 Rural Compassion March 24-25 Fine Arts Festival March 31-April 1

April April 1 April 8 April 21-22 April 24-25 April 26 April 29

May OSOM – OKC OSOM – Muskogee Youth Camp #1

July

Girls Ministries Celebration August 12 OSSOM Graduation August 19 Century Leader Roundtable August 24 OYM – STL Mud Run August 26

March

OSOM – OKC OSOM – Muskogee Hispanic Men’s Conference Better Together Conference Senior Ministers & Elite Ladies Luncheon OCM Fun Arts

May 31-June 3 June 3 June 5-9 June 10 June 12-16 June 19-23 June 26-30

May 6 May 13 May 28-31

September 1 September 2-4 September 8-9 September 15-16 September 21-23

October OSOM – OKC October 7 District Ministers Retreat – Branson, MO October 9-11 OSOM – Muskogee October 14 OYM Youth Fest October 12-14 OKNWM Seminar October 21

November Youth Pastors Retreat OSOM – OKC Seek and Save – OKC OSOM – Muskogee Century Leader Roundtable P B & J Retreat

November 2-3 November 4 November 7-11 November 11 November 16 November 17-18

December OSOM – OKC Senior Heritage Christmas OSOM – Muskogee Missions Faith Promises Due Ministerial Credentials Renewal Deadline

December 2 December 2 December 9 December 15 December 31

*All events, dates, locations, announced speakers, times, etc., are subject to change.

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Love.

Learn.

Serve.

Church Revitalization in Barnsdall

by Evans 12 Jayson Oklahoma Outlook

“We can stay in the church.” With these words, the Byers family accepted the call to become pastors of First Assembly of God in Barnsdall, Oklahoma.

It’s not every day a pastor will move into the church they lead, but Jason Byers, his wife, Brenda, and three children, Braden, Bryce, and Jalyn, moved into a vacant classroom to begin the process of revitalizing a church that was nearly dead.

Byers was born in Los Angeles and later moved to Tulsa for his high school years. While in high school, he experienced a call to ministry at Turner Falls Youth Camp. It took time for his call to develop, but Byers eventually became a youth pastor in Mannford, Oklahoma. “When I moved to Mannford, that was my first experience at a one post office, one-stoplight town and I just fell in love with it,” Byers recalls. After 12 years, he and his family relocated to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, a similar-sized town but farther removed from a metropolitan city.

It was in Broken Bow where Byers felt his call to rural Oklahoma was galvanized. Expecting to experience the same smalltown life, he realized each community is unique in its location. “There’s an old saying, ‘If you’ve seen one small town, you’ve seen one small town,’ meaning they are all different,” Byers says. With this realization, Byers felt God was asking, “Who will go to the next rural community?”

I Will Go to the Next Small Town As youth pastor at Broken Bow First, Byers knew he would eventually become a lead pastor. After his call

to rural communities became clear, he began seeking where that call might take his family. He reached out to Dr. Darryl Wootton (OKAG Superintendent), who was a sectional presbyter at that time. Dr Wootton gave Jason and Brenda a tour of the church in Barnsdall.

“When you’re planting or revitalizing a church, you have to have this pioneering spirit. If you don’t have that, you’re not going to make it,” Byers says. “We really felt strongly from the Holy Spirit that this was the next door.” After touring the church, it was Brenda who confirmed this was their new calling, telling Dr. Wootton, “We’ve been praying, and we feel peace, just the peace of the calling on this place.” In response, Dr. Wootton asked, “There’s no parsonage. Where are you going to stay?” Brenda replied, “We can stay in the church.”

With that, the Byers family moved out of a 1,400-squarefoot parsonage in Broken Bow and into a 10,000-square-foot church. “The fellowship hall was our backyard where we played basketball, soccer and ping pong.” Byers says his kids loved the time they lived in the church, but his wife kept everyone motivated to persevere. “I was a little nervous. How’s this going to work? But Brenda was gung ho,” Byers says. “I think the spouse needs to share the calling of the pastor, especially in a small town. There’s no way this would have happened without Brenda. She came in on fire, really. Not only did her peace give me peace, but her fire for ministry gave me fire. And we fed off each other that way.”

Here to Heal Their first Sunday as pastors was Father’s Day, 2014.

At the time, the church averaged 15-20 attendees.

Although the church had experienced times of growth and renewal, his goal in the first year was to love the people that had remained faithful. “Let’s

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love the people that are here. We’re going to dress their wounds. We’re going to make this like a hospital, like an ER center,” Byers says.

Every morning, Byers would wake up and walk across the hall to the pastor’s office, where he would pray. “I remember bending over, just on the floor, right in my office, saying, ‘God, I need wisdom.’ I prayed for wisdom every day, the whole 26 months, seven days, and five hours we lived in the church. ‘Lord, give me wisdom.’”

Byers used Wednesday nights for vision casting and to share honest assessments of the church’s situation. “I think they appreciated me being open about everything with them, like, ‘This is where our finances are… I’ve got an idea to do this for ministry...What do you guys think?’

Instead of announcing it blindly on Sunday, I integrated them into the planning processes and brainstorming ideas and got them on board. There was very little pushback,” he remembers.

By the beginning of 2015, seeing a little bit of new life, Byers began to preach about reaching the community of Barnsdall, prioritizing unchurched people or those who had fallen out of church. “Slowly, our people were getting it. Like, okay, so this is going to be a new thing. And our church isn’t going to look like it did two years ago or ten years ago.”

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As Byers became more integrated into the community, the ministerial alliance asked if First Assembly would host their Thanksgiving community service. He remembers 150 people from the community in attendance and points to this night as a turning point in the church’s life. “By then, we had about 50 people (in the congregation). When they looked around, they were like, ‘Oh, this is how it used to be.’ It was like, well, we just need to keep reaching people, keep spreading the word about Jesus and His love, and I think that’s when we really started to see a shift,” Byers said.

There’s Something Sp ecial About Optimism As the church began to grow, so did the excitement of what was to come. As time passed, Byers remembers the congregation’s thinking shifted from despair to anticipating the new life ahead. He likened the excitement to opening Christmas presents that God has given. “Let’s keep opening boxes, praising God for this gift, and then using it to move forward. I think that shifted the morale of our congregation.” Byers used this newfound optimism to continue pushing the congregation to love people in the name of Jesus. “There’s always going to be that feeling of, okay, let’s rest now. We did it. We hit 50. Now, let’s just coast on this for a little bit,” he said. But he knows there is still work to be done. The church’s vision statement is “Love. Learn. Serve.” Byers continues to see how the church has rallied behind the vision.

“I think our people have really rallied behind that to look ahead to ways we can do that in church and out in the community. How can we love, learn, and serve outside the church walls and continue to reach the least, the last, and the lost.”

When asked about the future of First Assembly, Byers recalls something he is learning as he pursues a master’s degree in world ministry: Jesus never stays in one place. “Jesus is always after the next person or the next church and the next community. He’s always making connection points and what He wants is to build a huge spider web over the whole earth.”

With that in mind, Byers considers how First Assembly might multiply. One way is by partnering with other churches in his section to plant in a community that desperately needs to hear the Gospel. “I know I can’t do it by myself, but I can surround myself with people that make up for the areas I’m weak in. I can only do so much, but together we can build something great.”

It has been eight years since Jason, Brenda, and his children moved into a Sunday School classroom at First Assembly of God, and the peace God gave them then still lives on. “God has proven Himself over and over and over and over again, and sometimes I just thank Him for just drawing me back, back into His presence and not letting me go,” he says.

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How Can You Not Keep

Going?

by Co dy Phillips

Growing up in Panama, OK, Tim Painter was blessed to be raised in a family with a rich Penteco stal background. The Painters attended the Penteco stal Church of Go d in Panama, where his grandparents served as pastors for 50 years. Tim graduated high school and was playing college baseball when he realized he had lo st himself. During his second year of college he was invited to a revival. “I went and that’s really the night that I truly surrendered my life to the Lord.”

That night everything changed for Tim and the first time ministry ever crossed his mind. Tim recalls, “It was really a neat moment because when I stepped out to go and respond to what God was saying to me, I went to the front. I walked up there to him [the evangelist], and he said, ‘Come here, I want to pray for you.’ He asked me, ‘What are you coming up here to be prayed for?’ I literally wouldn’t tell him what it was. I just said, ‘God knows why I’m here.’” After about 10 seconds of the evangelist praying for Tim, he looked at Tim and said, “I don’t know anything about this young man, but God’s calling him into ministry.”

Sometime later, Tim and his wife, Lindsay, moved to Durant to finish college and attend a church where no one would know them and where they could just come and sit in the service. “I remember the very first Sunday that we showed up to this new church in Durant. I’m sitting there, and one of the people on the ministry team came by, and we were introducing ourselves and everything, and I just say, ‘Hey, we moved here for college; we’re looking for a church.’

The individual says, ‘Are you called to ministry by chance?’

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and I was like, ‘Yes.’” Admitting his calling led to invitations to preach at that church. After that season in Durant, it was full-fledged ministry for the Painters. They moved back and became youth pastors at Tim’s home church. The Painters would preach the gospel and lead multiple ministries within the Pentecostal Church of God. God led them from Panama to Talihina, where they served as youth pastors for nine months before being asked to serve as pastors.

A Turning Point After ten years of vocational ministry, Tim had to have a word from God. He prayed “God, I just want to be where you want us to be, and I don’t want to waste my time, God, or your time or being somewhere if you’ve got somewhere else for us to be.” God opened doors and directed the Painters to McAlester Northside Assembly of God to serve Pastor Brian and Nancy Smith.

Tim, Lindsay, Mattox, Moriah, Mason and Maddon Painter

During three years at Northside Assembly the Painters caught a fresh wind in ministry. “Those three years that my family was at Northside with the Smiths was the absolute turning point in our family, in our marriage, in our ministry, in becoming who Lindsay and I and our families are today.

That was the turning point for us. That was the moment I ended up getting credentialed with the Assemblies of God.” The Painters were on staff as associate pastors.

Rejuvenated for ministry, they began serving in multiple areas. Tim was preaching all the time, leading worship.

Anytime a mission trip came up, Pastor Brian and the church gave them complete liberty. “Pastor Brian, like he is my pastor. Brian Smith, even today, he’s my pastor. They

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were a very, very, very big part of us becoming who we are today. We love them so much.”

The Painters led mission trips and teams to Zambia, Kenya, Nepal, India, and more. It was in a hotel room on their way home from another mission trip that Tim and Lindsay knew God was speaking to them. “I remember we literally looked at each other in the room, the Holy Spirit began to deal with us and we knew that transition was going to come.”

When Change Comes Once the Painters felt God was about to shake up their ministry, Tim brought it to his friend and mentor, Pastor Smith. “They always wanted the best for us in every single way.” Without pursuing any opportunities themselves, they received calls from multiple churches and even opportunity for full-time missionary evangelism. Once again they reached a point where they needed a word from God. The Lord provided through the ministry of the late Mark Fitzgerald. During a Sunday night altar call, Brother Fitzgerald, who had no idea of the season the Painters were in, “grabbed me and put his hands on me and began to pray for me. He said, ‘As you step out, it will seem like there’s nothing to step on, but just before your foot lands on nothing, God will give you something to stand upon”.

Things became clearer as to the direction they should go.

They interviewed at several churches and one seemed to be the clear option until Tim received a call from Pastor Bryan Fouts at Victory Worship Center in Spiro. Pastor Fouts and the church were about to take on Calvary Poteau as a Parent-Affiliate-Church (PAC) and wanted the Painters to pray about coming to Poteau as pastors.

The Painters initially declined the offer. “Some time goes by and we’re praying about God’s direction, we’re praying all this stuff and we just can’t get peace. We can’t get peace or clarity in any direction. I got desperate, and I started really seeking the Lord, really praying, ‘God, whatever you want, please show us what you want. If it’s Africa, if it’s Poteau, if it’s wherever, please speak to us.’ I’ll never forget that day I was mowing at Northside, the Holy Spirit spoke so strongly and said ‘Poteau Calvary.’” They called Pastor Fouts on a Sunday and met with him the next day, moving forward to become pastors at Poteau Calvary as a PAC church.

Victory Worship Center took over Poteau Calvary in November 2018, and the Painters were installed in January 2019. Starting out, there was no worship team at Calvary, but Victory Worship Center sent a worship team and volunteers to help get them started in a positive direction.

Tim remembers Pastor Fouts giving permission to blame him for all the changes, “Use me. Blame everything on me for as long as you can.” The Painters remember the most

encouraging thing: “We didn’t go six months, we didn’t go three months, we didn’t go two months, we didn’t go a month before new people started showing up left and right.”

Sunday and reaches Poteau and the surrounding communities. Between the two services, they have over 250 in attendance. “Sometimes because of our experiences we think certain things, but if God’s leading us to do whatever it is, he’s got a plan. If we’re willing to change and not always just do what we’ve known as a status quo, God can take anything and make it something incredible.”

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.

Tim Painter preaching at Calvary in 2019

Pastor Fouts was clear early on, assuring Tim and Lindsay, “You are the pastor of Calvary. Go pastor that church.

We’re here if you need us. We’re going to help as long as you need us. But you go pastor that church.” Within a year Poteau Calvary had their own worship team and children’s ministry and began to see growth as God provided. It was time for Calvary Assembly to relaunch. “We relaunched the church on March 1st, 2020.” It was a huge day, with approximately 180 people from the community in attendance. Within the first year Poteau Calvary was standing healthy and independent.

Through the support of faithful attendees, OKAG churches and leaders, Poteau Calvary has exp erienced several changes in the last three years.

Then, the global pandemic slammed the door in their face and they had to shut down. When they opened back up they had around 65 people and slowly increased back up to 100. Momentum picked up again. “We grew through the entire pandemic. We grew numerically; we grew with salvations; we grew financially; we really grew in every way.

I’m telling you, from day one, everything’s been positive just going forward.” They are now vision-casting and dreaming of starting more campuses.

“We have baptized about 100 people in the last three and a half years.” Poteau Calvary now has multiple services on

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Revitalization Does Not Stop

by Jayson Evans

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When Jamie Austin returned to his childhoo d church, he didn’t even k now what church revitalization meant. Now, thirteen years after becoming the lead pastor of Woo dlake Church, Austin has a clear picture of what it means to breathe new life into a church bo dy.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, Woodlake Church is an established Assembly of God church with a long history of strong pastoral leadership and community influence. Austin spent his childhood and youth attending Woodlake. “Multiple people changed my diapers, from what I’m told,” Austin quips.

After high school, Austin attended and graduated from Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) and entered into full-time ministry. His first stop was at Owasso First Assembly, under the leadership of youth pastor Kevin Norwood. Austin recalls “doing everything from mowing lawns to cleaning toilets, to working with kids and youth.”

In 1999, Austin became the youth pastor of Lawton First Assembly under former pastor Don Barnes. “At that time in my life, I thought I’d be the youth pastor forever.”

During his final year in Lawton, Austin began to feel the Lord opening his heart to the idea of being a lead pastor.

“All of a sudden I woke up and cared about the entire church. I cared about greeters. I cared about how the kid’s ministry flowed into youth ministry when the kids graduated, where did they go in the church, that sort of thing. I cared about follow-up. I just had this global perspective of the church,” Austin says. With the help of Pastor Barnes, Austin began to prepare for what might be the next step in ministry.

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In the spring of 2009, Austin’s phone rang and the voice on the other end was that of his junior high Sunday school teacher, Dr. Richard Rosenberger. The purpose of the call was to see if Austin would be interested in coming back to Woodlake as lead pastor. Austin remembers saying he was not interested, but Dr. Rosenberger asked if he would at least pray about it. “That’s why I tell people you mess up when you pray.” After spending time in prayer, Austin could not move past the invitation. He remembers it as a true test of obedience to the Lord. “I think the Lord would have blessed me if I would have stayed, but it was just a matter of obedience, saying, ‘Yes, Lord,’” Austin says.

in the valley of dry bones, God was ready to breathe life into dead bones. With this mindset, Austin and his leadership team began to implement change with a different perspective, focusing on managing the tension between where you’re going and where you’re at. Knowing when to implement change and when to hold back became the challenge. Austin remembers one specific Easter as an example, “There are some things you just have to throttle up and trust the Lord’s going to help you get through it. There are a couple of other things. I’m laughing right now because of the Sunday we actually rented a lighting rig. Easter Sunday morning. We probably pushed that way too hard!”

Through this period, Austin relied on God’s vision to navigate necessary changes for the church. “It was just understanding that God wanted to bring this church back to life, that he wasn’t done with it, that we had to go through a process of change and growth, and painful and necessary change.”

Woodlake Church’s Original Campus Location

Nearly 20 years after leaving Woodlake Church for SAGU, Austin and his family were back in Tulsa. “I always joke it should be illegal to go back to your home church because everybody knows you.” Austin describes the church as being in a challenging situation. “The church, in many respects, was the same church I left to go to Bible college in the mid-90s,” Austin states. “My first approach was that I’d had a successful youth ministry. Man, I thought I had my arms around this. We knew what we were going to do. I think I had in my mind we were just going to be this strong, thriving church right off the bat, and that was absolutely not the case at all.”

For most of the first year, Austin remembers trying to instill change while championing the church’s heritage. One approach Austin took was to focus on the surrounding neighborhood, which had transitioned over the years. “We decided to focus on the community and try to reach the next generation,” he says. Typical for any church in a season of change, Woodlake Church experienced ups and downs.

“Some days you feel like a success, other days you feel like a complete failure. It was really tough,” Austin recalls.

About a year and a half into his pastorate, Austin woke up with a realization of the path forward for Woodlake Church.

“I think I had to set aside my idea of what the church was supposed to look like. One day I woke up and realized, God’s trying to breathe life into this church.” Like Ezekiel

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Woodlake Church slowly turned the corner to become a church full of life again. Austin says, “Woodlake is proof that God wants to bring dead things back to life.” In 2015, the congregation completed construction on a new church building, was multi-site, and began to utilize a Parent-Affiliated Church (PAC) model to reach surrounding communities with the Gospel. “Woodlake is not at all what I thought it was going to look like over 13 years later. I didn’t plan on being multi-site. That was part of the vision I think God had for it,” Austin says. Moving forward, he sees Woodlake using its resources to revitalize other churches through the PAC model and church planting. “I really feel like we’re going to leverage our resources to see church multiplication happen.”

With the benefit of hindsight, Austin now realizes he has been on a journey of revitalization with Woodlake. When asked how he would encourage someone embarking on

The journey for Woodlake church and Jamie Austin is far from over, but he is thankful for the story so far. After a recent Sunday service, an 88-year-old member of the church came up to Austin with tears in her eyes. “She comes [to church] every Sunday,” Austin recounts. “Tears streaming down her face, she says, ‘I’m so thankful I made the journey.’ So, in essence, revitalization is just as much for the people as it is for the church.”

their own journey of revitalization, Austin says, “If you’re looking to pastor a church, revitalization is going to be a priority in some area. Revitalization does not stop. It is hard. All revitalizations are different. You have to embrace the past, lean into it while pushing towards the future.”

Although it will be difficult, Austin recalls words of wisdom he received from Armon Newburn, former OKAG Superintendent and former pastor of Woodlake Church: “Trust the Lord. Be strong and courageous. That was said to Joshua.

‘Be strong and courageous. As I was with Moses, I am with you.’”

Jamie, Jen, Avery and Wyatt Austin

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Oklahoma Missions 2023

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Oklahoma Missions 2023

Itinerating Missionaries Thank you for praying for our Oklahoma Missionaries!

For more information, please contact the Missions office.

A & K

kbruton@expattravelers.org

**Sensitive Country

MC

michelle.castle@markedpath.com

Middle East

Kirk & Karla Ford

kirk@nexusministries.org

Nexus Ministries/Church Planting in Spain

Terence & Laurel Harris

tdharris04@gmail.com

Intercultural Ministries - Sensitive

Daniel & Janene Hazelrigg

hazelrigg.d@gmail.com

Mexico, Latin America/Caribbian

Cory & Angela Hogan

Hogansinmexico@gmail.com

Mexico, Latin America/Caribbian

A.J Jenkins

aaronjjenkins35@gmail.com

Mozambique

Shaun & Dawn Lee

slee@na-link.com

**Sensitive Country

Joni Middleton

jonimiddleton@gmail.com

France, Europe, Project Rescue

David & Patricia Schatzmann

dave@schatzmann.com

Pohnpei, Asia Pacific

Jared & Kaila Shoultz

jaredandkaila@gmail.com

Mozambique

Isiah Smith

iamisiahsmith@gmail.com

Netherlands, Europe

J & J Smith

hevel.jim@pm.me

**Sensitive Country

Stephen & Kimberly Snow

sk3ksnowfamily@gmail.com

Intercultural Ministries, Hispanic

David & Shirley Swafford

dswafford@cstonline.org

Coastal South America and the West Indies www.okag.org

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The Rest of the

Story

by Inez Freeman, Jerry Freeman & Ric Freeman

In 1961 Charles (Chuck) and Inez Freeman, along with their two sons, Ric and Jerry, made a life changing move from California to Oklahoma. Little did they know the eternal purpose God had in store.

Chuck ran a body shop. Initially, it was him working on cars people had wrecked. He worked hard, long hours to provide for his family. He was faithful to God and his church, serving as a deacon. He was always the Pastor’s best friend and right arm.

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In 1967, Chuck was approached by a friend, Bob Bruder, who introduced him to Light For The Lost and Sam Cochran. Sam was the founder of LFTL and, at that time, was serving as it’s president and largest fundraiser. That meeting changed Chuck’s life forever. Sam and Jerri Cochran became Chuck and Inez Freeman’s closest friends.

Sam Cochran shared with Chuck the vision he had. Souls were falling into hell, and God was calling him to win the lost through men uniting together with a common purpose. The ministry model was simple: Each LFTL Councilman would reach out through church services to solicit funds and recruit additional Councilmen. Each man would pay his way, paying monthly dues of $15, and 100% of the funds raised would be used to print literature for missionaries to use on the field. Chuck became a Light

the world to pray for the nations and specific crusades and missionaries. Chuck traveled to over 50 countries, quite literally praying around the world.

Chuck thought it necessary to instill in his sons this vision of reaching the lost, going so far as to borrow money to take them on Prayer Task Force trips. On those trips, the desire to reach the lost became a priority for Ric and Jerry.

Eventually, Chuck needed more time to travel, but it wasn’t feasible to close the business for additional days. At that time, Chuck’s son Jerry came into the business. With Jerry running the business, Chuck was free to travel more – more Districts contacted, more banquets held, more church services, and more money raised. Eventually, Chuck devoted about 40% of his time traveling to raise LFTL funds.

For The Lost Councilman and a passionate spokesperson helping raise funds.

With a desire to start LFTL in Oklahoma, Chuck went to the Oklahoma District Office hoping to speak with then District Superintendent Robert Goggin, but Brother Goggin wouldn’t see him. Chuck decided to be the first person Bro. Goggin saw every morning. For two weeks at seven a. m. Chuck would be there to open the door for Bro. Goggin, and wish him a good day. At the end of the second week, Bro. Goggin said, “You’re not going away until I talk to you, are you?” Chuck said, “No, I’m not.” Superintendent Goggin replied, “Then come on in. I can see you have some ‘stick-to-it-tive-ness.’” That began a forty-four-year friendship with four different superintendents and more than forty-four years of serving LFTL. Chuck served several terms as President and as Regional Vice President of LFTL. Through his passion, Oklahoma soon became the nation’s #1 giving LFTL district.

Light For The Lost became Chuck’s passion and reason for living. He invested his all to make it possible for the average man in the church to be a “soul winner” for just $15 a month and for missionaries never to have to spend their mission budget to print literature.

Someone once said, “Chuck was the best preacher who never had credentials.” He loved to preach the Gospel and loved winning souls even more. Chuck turned more average, everyday men into “soul winners” through the LFTL Councilman program than anyone else we know.

As a family, we have envisioned Chuck standing in heaven while millions have come by to say, “Thank you. Thank you for being a soul winner. Thank you for creating other soul winners. Thank you for doing all that you could to reach us.” *The entire Light For The Lost story can be found in the book Give Me The Book by Chuck Freeman and Bob Burke

It became the norm for Chuck to take a week off from work each month to travel to other Districts to help get LFTL started there. In the forefront of Chuck’s mind was the constant thought, “We must find more ways to spread the Gospel.”

In Oklahoma, Chuck was instrumental in starting the “LFTL Banquet”, where ribeye steaks were served to potential donors and councilman prospects. These banquets created the familiar “steak teams” where men from the local churches volunteered to grill steaks for each meal.

Through these efforts, Chuck saw millions of dollars raised in Oklahoma for LFTL. In addition, there were dozens of World Wide Prayer Task Force trips where Chuck led Councilman to various parts of

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A Revitalized

Cabin For Revitalized

Ministers

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Oklahoma Outlook

Dear Pastors and Leaders, Happy New Year! I am so excited about what God is going to do in 2023. Darryl and I want every minister to be healthy, and I am asking for your help.

Many rural Pastors cannot afford time away from their jobs and churches to sabbath.

In this very challenging culture, we want to provide a way for them to escape and be recharged. Our churches will only ever be as healthy as our ministers.

As you know, when we bought our Camp property at Sparks, the only original building was a cabin on the large lake. The original owner used this as a hunting lodge.

Over time and because it is far from the camping facility, deferred maintenance and time left the original threebedroom cabin unusable. Critters damaged the facility, and mold covered the entire kitchen. I want to use this cabin as a place of sabbath for our rural Pastors and also be able to use it for camp when necessary.

What if we could offer Pastors, especially rural Pastors, at least a one-night getaway for them and their spouses each year? In order to revitalize the cabin, I need to raise $75,000. We need 50 churches to give $500 and 25 churches to give $1000. If more comes in, we will work on the outside. Several churches have already given, and I am so grateful.

Would you pray about what your church could do? I believe that a revitalized cabin will help revitalize ministers who will help revitalize churches. Let’s bless our rural Pastors.

Thank you for being an important part of our OKAG Family.

Faith Wootton

www.okag.org

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Oklahoma Outlook

Around our State

OKAG NEWS

Pastor Reports •

Gary Walden, Faith Assembly of God, Peggs – two saved and two filled with the Holy Spirit. One girl healed of cancer in her blood. Verified by her doctor’s check-up!

Evangelist Reports •

Bob and Jan Teel – 44 saved and one filled with the Holy Spirit in October and November 2022

Prayer Request •

Fred & Janice Ticeahkie – Pray for Fred’s heart and health. Janice in need of prayer for her health and to be able to evangelize the Native Tribes.

For Sale •

25-passenger bus, 2016 Ford Econoline, Unleaded gas, 149,900 miles, $32,000, please email Pastor Luke Crain at luke@crosspoint.me

New Pastors •

Wellston – Paul Butler

Transfers Into State • •

Kennedy, Jennifer Harris, Laurel

South Texas Kansas

In Memory •

Victor A. Sweet (5/28/1954 – 12/8/2022)

•

M. Wesley Peterman (1/11/1941 – 12/8/2022)

•

Alma Joyce Weaver (10/05/1939 – 8/15/2022 Spouse of Ray Weaver

•

JoElla Parker (8/17/1938 – 12/2/2022) Spouse of Aaron Parker

•

Alberta Holybee (2/23/1936 – 12/12/2022) Spouse of Charles Holybee

Information •

Help for Pastors call (918) 758-4147 or visit www.pastoralcareinc.com.

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Oklahoma Outlook

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Oklahoma Outlook

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