October 2016

OKLAHOMA OUTLOOK | 1

OKLAHOMA

OUTLOOK OCTOBER

LFTL (Sec. 12) LFTL (Sec. 11) LFTL (Sec. 10) LFTL (Sec. 9) LFTL (Sec. 1) LFTL (Sec. 5) LFTL (Sec. 4)

Publisher H. Franklin Cargill

October 17 October 18 October 20 October 24 October 25 October 27 October 31

Designer Jayson Evans Copyeditor Renae Elmore

NOVEMBER

LFTL (Sec. 2) November 1 LFTL (Sec. 8) November 3 Youth Pastors Retreat November 3-5 School of Ministry (OKC) November 5 LFTL (Sec. 4) November 7 Credential Celebration (Sparks) November 12 Spanish School of Ministry (Tulsa) November 12 Century Leadership Roundtable November 17 PB&J Retreat November 18-19 LFTL (Sec. 6) November 21 Thanksgiving Break (Office Closed) November 23-25

DECEMBER

School of Ministry (OKC) December 3 District Senior’s Heritage Christmas December 3 Spanish School of Ministry (Tulsa)

December 12 Missions Faith Promises Due December 15 Christmas Break (Office Closed) December 24-26 RR Junior Missions Camp December 28-31 SALT (Dallas) December 28-31 Ministerial Credentials Renewal Deadline December 31

GENERAL PRESBYTERS

SECTIONAL PRESBYTERS

H. Franklin Cargill Superintendent

Raymond Frizzelle Section 1

Craig Dacus Assistant Superintendent

Keith Williams Section 2

Darryl Wootton Corporate Secretary

Terry Bradley Section 3

EXECUTIVE PRESBYTERS

Bob Yandell Section 4

Bruce McCarty Ron McCaslin MINISTRY DIRECTORS Chad Brodrick Church Ministries Doug Everaard Youth Ministries Dean Guthrie Children’s Ministries

P.O. Box 13179 Oklahoma City, OK 73113 405.475.1100 www.okag.org

Darren Pilcher Executive Pastor Missions Susie Purkey Women’s Ministries

@OKDCofAG OklahomaDistrictCouncil

ORDAINED FEMALE PRESBYTER Deborah Burke

Jamie Austin Section 5E Mike Buie Section 5W Jeromye Jackson Section 6 Jimmy Keith Section 7 Kelly Coffey Section 8 David Brooks Section 9N Duane Elmore Section 9S Don Barnes Section 10 Ric Freeman Section 11 Arlis Moon Section 12

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SUPERINTENDENT

THE

DREAM

During the Fall Ministry Tour the vision was cast for THE

DREAM PROJECT as the second major construction campaign for our camp facilities. Hundreds have already been presented with this information. I am excited about our future as we continue to minister to the children and youth of Oklahoma!

The success of THE NEXT GENERATION has allowed us to envision the possibilities of continued expansion and development. Those with a passion for youth have stepped to the front and provided funding that has allowed us to complete the first phase. The miracle has not been the buildings but the true story is told by the number of lives touched!

During our camping season, consisting of 10 weeks this past summer, over 7,000 attended at least one week of camp!

YOUTH CAMP RESULTS

The second major phase of construction will include a gymnasium designed as a storm shelter. Considering our Oklahoma weather, I would contend that this building is a necessity as it will be built to withstand a F5 tornado.

Safety is a primary concern during storm seasons and one of the major paths seems to be along and in the direction of the Turner Turnpike between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. We desperately need this additional building which will have an approved capacity of a minimum of 1,000 people. The thought of housing all the campers in one location during threatening weather alerts offer a tremendous sense of security.

In addition we are trusting to raise sufficient funds to construct a first-aid station, an administrative office, and at least 12 hotel-type rooms surrounding and attached to the gymnasium. This longawaited project will allow an opportunity for church staff retreats and marriage conferences as well as increasing adult housing space during our camp season.

Plus we are planning for a helicopter pad that will be constructed should it ever be needed for emergency or crisis situations.

To the delight of thousands of campers, we are designing two water features – a large splash pad development near the current concession pavilion and a swimming pool located on the east border of our plat that will have an occupancy rating of 250. Both of these provisions will be used as designated by administration during the 100 degree days of summer!

KIDS CAMP RESULTS

Please watch for continued announcements and specifics as together we transition contributions and fund-raising from THE NEXT GENERATION - TO - THE DREAM PROJECT. EMBRACING, EMPOWERING, ENCOURAGING, ENABLING, EQUIPPING – our future!

FRANK CARGILL DISTR ICT SUPE R INTE NDE NT F R ANK . CAR G IL L @O K AG . O R G

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MISSIONS

A LEAD E RS H IP FAS H ION

STAT E M E NT Some months back, I was privileged to attend an inter-

denominational meeting representing the greater Oklahoma City area. Pastors and leaders from the United Methodist, Southern and Free Will Baptist, Nazarene, and Church of God fellowships were included in this gathering. It was most refreshing to have dinner, share stories, and learn from each other. A particular part of the evening involved praying with someone outside of your tribe. Well, it did not take me long to make my way over to a Baptist pastor and ask if we could pray for one another. To say that this prayer time was an incredibly memorable experience would be an understatement. What made it worthy of remembering was what my newfound pastor friend did after we prayed together. He abruptly stripped my paper nametag from my coat lapel and stuck it on his lapel while taking his nametag and sticking it on me. Then he said, “I’m proud to be associated with you. We are brothers.”

I was speechless and moved emotionally. We embraced and exchanged contact information with the good intention of following up with each other.

This endearing man reflected what I want to put on every morning before I leave for the day – HUMILITY. 1 Peter 5:5 says, “And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” The audacious act of intentionally wearing my nametag and being willing to be called by my name communicated one of the best parts of being a leader who is a Christ-follower first. Dramatically demonstrating this idea of identifying and associating with is inseparable to Christhonoring leadership.

What does this kind of leadership look like in your context?

How aware are you of others’ needs and how often do you endeavor to meet them?

What idea or suggestion have you genuinely accepted/adopted lately that was not your own?

When was the last time you said “Thank you” and tangibly showed your gratitude?

How often do you admit mistakes and say “I’m sorry?”

Where are you learning and who are you learning from?

When was the last time you resisted the spotlight in order to give someone else the microphone?

DARREN PILCHER M IS S IO N S DIR E C TO R E X EC UT IV E PASTO R DA RR E N . P ILC H ER @O K AG . O R G @ DA RR E N P ILC H E R

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Let’s face it, leader, and deal with the obvious: We need the favor of God when it comes to leading others. But when we slyly put ourselves above others, internally claim to be superior, and cling selfishly to our positions, we inevitably will experience the headwinds of God’s resistance. What we really need, however, is the wind of God’s Spirit at our backs, blowing with the ample grace to help us lead effectively. And, this help begins when we clothe ourselves in humility.

Joseph Stowell, in his book Redefining Leadership: CharacterDriven Habits of Effective Leaders, writes, “In God’s kingdom, pride is not in vogue! Humility is the latest fashion trend for up-to-date shepherd-leaders.”

You’ve heard the term Dress for Success, but the three-piece suit of pride – selfishness, competition, and isolation – ironically keeps us from our best. Become more relatable in your approach by wearing a humble attitude among those you are privileged to lead and know. That’s the leadership fashion that will make the statement that matters all day long.

RECOMMENDED READING

Redefining Leadership Joseph Stowell

FINANCE

ACC OUN TA B I L I T Y Everyone needs accountability because everyone is

ultimately accountable. Accountability is objective and serves one single purpose; to cut through the fog of self-deception and keep us honest. Our ability to deceive ourselves in any area of our life is unbelievably easy to do, and when we build a life with no accountability we are setting ourselves up for failure every single time.

We understand accountability when it comes to issues of morality.

As leaders, accountability must dive deeper into all aspects of our personal and professional lives. In fact, I will argue, the more elevated your leadership position and the more autonomy you gain, the greater your need for accountability.

Accountability must dive deeper into all aspects of our personal and professional lives.

I have had a group of people like this in my life for a number of years. I love them because they love me enough to make me mad.

We meet as regularly as we can, and we make it a priority. We are different in more ways than I can count. We don’t think alike. We are not the same age. We don’t do the same jobs. We don’t have the same hobbies. Our kids are not the same age, and our families do not really know each other. We talk, we laugh, we dream, we argue, and we push each other in the right direction. I am grateful for these men because they make me better.

If you are not accountable to someone, begin to try and find someone today. It may take some time, but it is well worth the effort in the long run. The worst place any leader can be is at the top of the pile with all of the autonomy and all of the authority and zero accountability. This is an almost certain recipe for failure.

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When you start out in ministry, you have a lot of things working in your favor. You have a high degree of passion, coupled with a high level of supervision. This generally means that accountability is built in. Let’s be honest, in the beginning there is no shortage of people standing in line to tell you how you should think, behave, and lead.

However, the longer you lead and the more influence you develop, something begins to happen. You begin to earn a higher and higher degree of autonomy and authority. With that autonomy and authority, we quickly come to the place where there are fewer and fewer people with a voice to speak into our lives. This is precisely when accountability is needed most.

The lesson for leaders is simple. Be intentional about bringing people into your life to keep you honest. You need to give these people permission to not only pray with you, but also call you out when you are wrong. These people need to know about you as a spouse, as a parent, as a person, and as a leader. Let these people dig deep and push at your soft spots. These people need to care about you deeply while at the same time be thoroughly unimpressed with who you are.

800-821-1112 cepnet.com/LowestRates CEP is a nationwide financial ministry serving the churches and individuals of the Assemblies of God since 1950. It is independently owned and operated by 59 member districts of the Fellowship. © 2016 Church Extension Plan

KEVIN CONNER F INANCE & O PE R ATIO NS K E VIN. CO NNE R @O K AG . O R G @K E VINSCO NNE R

OKLAHOMA OUTLOOK | 5

CHURCH

IT WASN ’T S U P P OS E D TO BE

LIKE THIS Imagine what would be going through the mind of the

disciples! They had a plan for Jesus, throw out the Romans and let the good guys take over Israel again. They anticipated kingdom restoration and eagerly wanted to claim the important roles that Jesus had promised to them in Luke 22.

After a massive supernatural redirecting of their lives on the Day of Pentecost, the disciples began to see the fulfillment of their continuing purpose. Salvations, Baptisms in the Spirit, Discipleship, Worship, Prayer and Fellowship marked the early church, which naturally caught the attention of everyone they came in contact with. They had become a church of influence, which brought positive and negative results!

Through the first three chapters of the Book of Acts, we see a marvelous revival report and no doubt there was a growing expectancy of greater things happening in the days to come! But then…chapter 4 happens. Peter and John are arrested because the Sadducees were “greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”

Everything was going well, they had an amazing Sunday, but Monday came. Can you relate?

Often in ministry there is a huge difference between expectation and reality. No doubt, the disciples had the same jolt to reality that many of us face. Their first taste of opposition came and they can sense the potential persecution against their mission, and message.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this!

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people,” Yet Jesus warned them and us that opposition was going to come and that we should not only be ready for it, but to expect that it would happen. Our challenge is not how we avoid opposition, but how we respond. Our response determines our influence.

CHAD BRODRICK C H URC H M IN IST RIE S C H A D. B RO DRIC K @ O K AG. O R G

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Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, Acts 4:8 (NLT) Through the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and power, Peter and John adapted to the changing surroundings, and learned that in every circumstance, how to serve the Lord, no matter what situation they found themselves in. This is a lesson they would be putting into practice for the rest of their lives.

Regardless of where we are in ministry or maturity, we cannot anticipate fully what God has ahead for our lives. We simply learn that we cannot prescribe an ideal situation and then ask that God will place us in the midst of it. As much as we would like to program our lives like the holodeck on the Enterprise, we must learn to fit in where and when God needs us and be faithful to our message and ministry. Our reliance on the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit is the key.

Blessings!

WOMEN’S

SELAH

SUSIE PURKEY WO ME N’ S DIR E CTO R SUSIE . PUR K E Y@O K AG . O R G

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YOUTH

YOU T H PASTOR’S

RETREAT Why you should ESCAPE, RELAX, & CONNECT at Youth Pastor’s Retreat!

ESCAPE: There are moments when you need to retreat with your family for some rest and refueling, but there is also a need to spend time with your peers in an environment that allows you to escape, but also engage with other youth pastors on a personal and fun level.

SCHEDULE Friday, NOVEMBER 4 5:00PM 6:00PM 7:30PM 10:00PM

MEET & GREET AT PLENTY MERCANTILE ROOFTOP DINNER SESSION WITH TODD CREWS LATE NIGHT AT EDMOND SPRING CREEK

Saturday, NOVEMBER 5 11:30AM 12:30PM 1:30 PM 3:30PM 5:00PM

LUNCH & GIVEAWAYS SESSION WITH TODD CREWS FREE TIME IN BRICKTOWN THUNDER PRE-GAME AT STARBUCKS THUNDER VS. TIMBERWOLVES IN SUMMIT BOX

RELAX: Some of the greatest moments in your ministry are those times when you can take a deep breath and relax. This retreat allows you to just be who you are around other leaders, with no expectations of performance or having to be “the man or woman!”

- Late night will include pick-up games of basketball, a coffee and dessert bar and a special session for ladies only!

CONNECT: Have you ever said to yourself, “I really should go have lunch and spend some time just getting to know them?” or “I want to get to know other youth pastors in my area, I just don’t know where to start.”

- You are responsible for your hotel and parking fees.

If you have ever said or thought these words, you’re pretty normal, but let me encourage you to be a part of YPR2016.

- Thunder tickets will be awarded on a first come-first serve basis through registration. We have 22 tickets to giveaway! The first 11 youth pastors to register for YPR2016 will receive a pair of tickets!

- Friday dinner and Saturday lunch are provided at no cost to you! If you are attending the Thunder game on Saturday evening you will also receive all-you-can-eat hot dogs, popcorn, cookies, and pop water during the game.

- Childcare will not be provided.

DOUG EVERAARD YO UT H M IN IST RIE S DO UG . EV E R A A R D@ O K AG. O R G @ DO UG E V E R A A R D

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CHILDREN

W E ARE GOD’S

HANDIWORK Recently my family and I were on vacation. We had decided

to hit the road and head east. We thought Tennessee would be a cool place to explore, so we loaded up the car and headed on down the road. There were some sure places not to miss on our list of things to do. On the first leg of our trip we found ourselves in Memphis. The night we got into town, we headed over to Elvis Presley Boulevard for a quick peek of the gates of Graceland, and then we searched for Beale Street which is known as the “Birthplace of the Blues”.

While on our late night drive, we drove past a huge neon sign that said “Gibson Factory”. We then realized that it was the Gibson Guitar Factory. With a little investigating, we found out that they did tours of the facility during the day. So we decided to put it on our to-do list for the following afternoon. I am so glad we decided to go.

The next afternoon, we found ourselves walking through the Gibson Factory learning how Gibson guitars are made.

The production process is incredible. We saw everything from start to finish. From the first sheet of the wood that makes up the front and back of the guitar, to the putting on of the strings and fine tuning, I noticed how carefully and patiently they worked on those guitars.

Every step of the way, they would carefully handle each one. It didn’t look or seem like a mass production process at all. This particular Gibson factory only produces around 60 finished guitars a day, but it is about a 30 day process for one guitar to be made.

The final process for each guitar that leaves the building is to be played. I sat and watched the individual that had this job. He would carefully tune each string until it was ready to play, and then would spend 3 to 5 minutes playing every kind of riff you could think off. Jazz, Rock, Country, Classical, and R&B - you name it; he hit it in that limited amount of time. It’s as if he was testing the guitar’s ability to handle whatever style that could possibly be played on it. That’s when it hit me. The creators of these incredible instruments have no clue who or where they are going to. It could be a seasoned musician that has been playing for years or a 10 year-old beginner who has never held a guitar in his life.

Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. We are God’s handiwork, created in His image, to do things that He has arranges for us to do. The Bible says that the steps of the righteous are ordered of God. If we remain righteous in all aspects of our life, God will continually prepare the next steps that we are to take throughout our life.

Aren’t you glad that God loves us so much that after creating us with care, precision and purpose, he wants to be a part of who we are and what we do? God also gives us the ability to handle whatever situation that we are put in as well. We can rejoice in the fact that God is never finished fine tuning and shaping use to be used as His instruments in this life. Even on the occasion that we hit a sour note or fall flat, he is still there to tune us up and be ready for the next song.

DEAN GUTHRIE CHIL DR E N’ S DIR E CTO R DE AN. G UTHR IE @O K AG . O R G @O CMDE AN

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IN MEMORY

Richard Dean McElhannon 8/28/1962 - 9/2/2016

Reverend Richard Dean McElhannon was born on August 28, 1962 in Cordova, Alaska to Reverend Edgar and Nadine McElhannon.

He passed away on Friday, September 2, 2016 at the age of 54 at his home in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

Rick was raised in a minister’s home living in Alaska, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He attended Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas. He married Rhonda Posey on July 30, 1982.

Rick served as a youth pastor in Dumas, AR and Hampton, AR before becoming the senior pastor of the Assembly of God in Gravette, AR. He pastored Cross Pointe in Sapulpa, OK. For several years, the church sponsored a Master’s Commission program in which Rick mentored many young ministers.

Rick is preceded in death by his mother, Phyllis Nadine McElhannon and his mother-in-law, Annie Posey; his grandparents, Rev. Marvin and Rosetta McElhannon and Lee and Ollie Walls.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Rhonda Posey McElhannon; daughter, Lindsay and her husband, Rev. Chris Mathis and their children, Olivia, Emily and Ethan of Sand Springs, OK; son, Richard C. McElhannon and his wife, Leanne, and daughters, Kylie Jo and Lily of Pryor, OK; daughter, Katie Spencer and her husband, Stephen, and their daughters, Addisyn, Gracie and Isla Mae of Sapulpa, OK. He is also survived by his father, Rev. Edgar McElhannon and his wife, Ruth, of Colorado Springs, CO; a brother, Reggie McElhannon of Springfield, MO; a sister, Regina Lang, and her husband, Jeff, of Benton, LA and their children, Courtney Vincent and Jeffrey Lang; step siblings, Robert Kersey, Cindy Caton and Jayson Kersey; a father-inlaw, Curtis Posey and numerous other family members and friends.

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MINIST E RS’ SPOU SE S Wilma “Jean” Hatley

Spouse of the late W.O. Hatley 3/08/1922 – 9/02/2016

Carolyn L. Harris

Spouse of Larry Harris 6/8/1948 - 9/10/2016

Evelyn L. Douthitt

Spouse of the late John Douthitt, Jr. 1/08/1931 – 9/11/2016

Kathleen Cornell

Spouse of the late F. C. Cornell 5/10/1924 – 9/13/2016

OKLAHOMA

DISTRICT NEWS PRAYER REQUESTS Clint gray - healing for Deanna Murray, provision for new building, special unspoken request and youth leader.

Lloyd Winkle - healing.

Charles Kilgore - healing from five by-pass surgery.

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

PASTORS’ REPORTS Shawn Deese, Pond Creek, reports one rededicated, one baptized, three new members, and one healed.

Raymond Frizzelle, Miami, reports two adults saved in regular service, 25 children saved, and 11 filled with the Holy Ghost in Children’s Church and Kid’s Camp.

Oren D. Jackson, Watonga, reports several healed.

Monroe Lowrimore, Sallisaw, reports one saved in Wednesday night service and three baptized in water.

Robert Teel, Tishomingo, reports seven out of 10 first time campers at Kid’s Camp were filled with the Holy Ghost and one saved.

Gary Mullen, Sallisaw, reports five saved in regular service and two filled with the Holy Ghost.

Menno Miller, Peoria, reports one rededicated and three baptized in water.

CONGRATULATIONS Reverend Curtis and Shirley Ophus announce the birth of their first grandson, William (Liam) Mason Rodgers, born September 9, 2016 at 9:19 AM weighing 7 lbs. 10 ozs. and was 20” long.

Liam was welcomed by big sisters, Sophia and Adleigh.

NEEDED People to join Ignite Church Dream Team in Norman that will launch January 2017. All areas of ministry needed.

Contact Rodney Hutcheson 405-756-4112 or email rhutcheson@rocketmail.com

EVANGELISTS’ REPORTS Alex Hanna reports 3600 Arabs and Muslims were prayed for.

Thirty-five were healed from cancer, 125 healed from auto immune diseases, 75 were filled with the Holy Ghost and some were resurrected from the dead.

Dale Floyd reports 47 men and women saved in August.

Charles Parker reports one saved at Keota.

Dan Parker reports healings of seizures, restless legs, pain, and deafness. A child’s feet were healed instantly and the next night his alcoholic mom came to revival and was saved. Many others were saved and filled with the Holy Ghost in revivals in July and August in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

TRANSFERS Welcome Ronnie Boggs Benjamin Bradley Jeremy Cox Gayle Repp

From Kentucky Iowa North Texas Alabama

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