First United Methodist of Ponca City is the host church for Scout Troop 501, a very active BSA troop made up of young women. The church recently held Scout Sunday to celebrate the group, and they led part of the worship service and explained some of what they do and how the church assists them in their mission.
Becky Frazier of the church’s hospitality committee set up a wonderful display in the welcome center to ensure all members would realize it was a day of celebration, with cupcakes added for a reception following the service.
During the worship service, Lily Davenport, Senior Patrol Leader, explained the mission of the organization and how the church fit into it by providing various types of support, such as a place to meet, various needs during projects and transportation for their trips. FUMC is the chartered organization for Troop 501. Davenport coordinated others for the day’s events.
Caitlin Cannon led the flag ceremony, and color guards were Kiersten Carver, Phoenix Castro,
Yesenia Estrada and IssaBella Martinez. After the completion of the worship service, the young women of the troop met with church members to visit informally at the reception.
When talking about the group, Scout leader Tamara Bucher says, “It is exciting to be part of this troop. The girls think they are the only ones learning new things, but I find myself learning new things all the time! They inspire me to try things and to push myself to do things I didn’t think I was still capable of doing. They are fearless and live by the mantra that it is okay to cry when things get tough, but that they must cry and carry on. Perseverence is one of their strongest skills.”
That idea of fearlessness and leading the way through with perseverence is real with this group.
Troop 501 has the honor of producing the first female Eagle Scout in the state of Oklahoma, Journey King.
Scoutmaster John King says, “Troop 501 is an elite crew of girls that believes in teamwork. They call themselves the Mavericks because they are self-reliant and independent and courageous enough to blaze their own trail.”
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Scouts can be found, rain or shine, day or night, serving others. On this trip, they camped in the freezing cold at Lake McMurty.
At FUMC we hope to help with some of the resources on the journey as they forge their paths.
There is much they do in the community, such as assisting at meals at the church, working at the monthly fly-in breakfasts at the airport that raise money for scholarships for Flight Academy, and taking care of the community’s old flags with a ceremony after a Court of Honor, just to name a few. These young women are a shining example lighting a trail that others can follow.
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is making a difference in the community. Submitted photos.
Have you ever encountered a “thin space?” A space in which you feel the divide between Heaven and Earth lessen? A space is where you were made aware of the fact that you are standing on holy ground?
Celtic Christianity describes thin spaces as “those rare locales where the distance between Heaven and Earth collapses—where the veil between Heaven and Earth becomes transparent and there is a peace and presence from God that is almost tangible.”
I have been attending summer camps through our conference since I was a sophomore in high school (about eleven years ago now!). In each of my camping experiences, I have felt God’s presence amid these thin spaces.
I have walked with Jesus in many ways throughout my time in the camping ministry. I started off going to summer camp as a youth at Egan in Tahlequah, OK. I was very new to the Christian life and new to the experience of a church summer camp.
I embraced every moment I could get, from the silliness of the mud pit to the sacredness of the cross in the quiet stillness of a new day.
I was also blessed to experience
the vastness of Lake Texoma’s Cross Point Camp as a camper for CYME (now known as LEAD).
That year’s theme was “Therefore Go,” emphasizing the importance of mission to the world. I remember understanding how important the mission that Jesus gave each of us in The Great Commission.
“Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United was playing as our song of sending forth and I remember praying the words that were sung, “Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith would be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.”
In that prayer and in that time of worship with my fellow campers, a thin space was born.
Now, as a young adult, I have the incredible joy of being a small group leader for Camp Spark at Canyon Camp. I have been able to experience the power of God’s renewal through the youth that come into the week a little hesitant, and leave feeling a lot of love from
God and God’s people. Seeing the youth live into the abundant life they have been promised is one of the many gifts of the Easter promise.
Just as the prophet Isaiah said, “See, I am doing a new thing! I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isa 43:19)
As Easter people, we believe that all things will be made new through the power of Jesus’ resurrection. The joy of the Easter resurrection is not only celebrated at the end of each Lenten season, it is also celebrated in the lasting communities that are formed at our Oklahoma United Methodist Conference camps.
KC Curry and a group of young adults added end ramps at Canyon Camp, allowing mowers better access.
In another first for the Oklahoma conference of the UMC, a delegation of New Faith Communities leaders attended the Exponential Conference - the largest new church gathering in the world - earlier this month in Orlando, Florida.
Rev. Dr. Bessie Hamilton, New Faith Communities Director, Event Organizer
Over 30 countries were represented at this event. “It was an honor to take so many of our leaders from the Oklahoma conference,” said Rev. Dr. Bessie Hamilton, New Faith Communities director and organizer of the Oklahoma contingent. “This is the first time we have ever taken pastors and leaders from the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church. We took 12 pastors and leaders who are either part of the New Faith Communities ministry team, a planter, those doing creative and innovative work, or ones who may be considering planting. It was a powerful and uplifting event”
Further, Hamilton added, “Exponential Conference is a gathering focused on church planting and multiplication. It typically brings together pastors, church leaders, and practitioners to learn, network, and collaborate on strategies for growing and multiplying churches.”
Rev. Dr. Beverly Woodard, Cushing UMC
Among the many topics available at the conference was “Women in
Ministry: Cultivating a DiscipleMaking Movement.” Rev. Dr. Beverly Woodard, pastor at Cushing UMC, marveled at how much she got out of that one small piece of the conference.
“We are to be disciples who make disciples who make disciples,” asserted Woodard. “As women, we are to be careful not to fall into being oppressed, thinking it is being humble. We must expect the same rewards for our work that men receive, unapologeticaly.”
“Each day carried a fire of its own,” she avowed. With 14 pages of notes, Woodward has multiple takeaways from the conference.
“The class on ‘Rearing Supernatural Children’ taught the importance of starting everything with prayer; being careful of who are around your children; parents creating rituals that are holy in their home; teaching children to pray for someone who is ill; allow them to attend Holy Spirit camps and other such opportunities; giving them a Bible to take to sleepovers so they can continue to have their daily devotion with God; reading holy stories and discussing them; giving them a solid theology and talking about the deep things of the Spirit; letting them know they are the sent ones, that Jesus is more powerful than the devil; and equipping children to hear Jesus for themselves. We are not pressuring kids; we are preparing them!” she stated.
Bo Ireland, Lazarus Community
Bo Ireland, pastor at Lazarus Community, attended a workshop on developing a scrappy, multicultural ministry with David Docusen from the Neighborlieness Center in Charlotte, N.C.
“I was empowered with tools that I can put into practice at The Lazarus Community to reach persons in my neighborhood through social justice and cultivating honest conversations that lead to understanding “the other” and loving them as Christ,” shared Ireland.
“I found the workshop on overcoming differences very beneficial. In our climate of polarized viewpoints, I found hope in how we can love our neighbor and push through hesitations to have difficult conversations and develop surprising friendships with diverse people as we cross dividing lines with the love of God, empowered to bring kingdom transformation into our everyday relationships.”
Ireland found inspiration for his own ministry. “I intend to lead The Lazarus Community in becoming a ‘scrappy church’ that reaches our neighborhood through what Docusen calls ‘Neighboring.’ This method of evangelism connects neighbors by seeking to meet physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs, gaining understanding of each other and seeking a common good. I found myself thinking of how Christ practiced holy resistance in crossing religious, cultural, and economic barriers that resulted in conversations that cultivated a holiness of heart and
life through relationship.”
Rev. Jen Logsdon-Kellogg, Microchurch Planter
Rev. Jen Logsdon-Kellogg, whose new church plant officially started this month, said the timing couldn’t be more perfect. “During the preconference workshop, I participated in an interactive class that is very specific to the kind of church I intend to plant, namely microchurches or house churches.”
She learned about networks of microchurches and was inspired by others with established microchurches in their communities.
“Pastors, planters, and leaders had the opportunity to connect with other church planters, pastors, and leaders, which can lead to valuable relationships, partnerships, and collaborations,” added Rev. Dr. Bessie Hamilton. “I think networking allowed them to learn from others’ experiences, share insights, and find support and encouragement.”
“During one main session, the presenter shared an incredibly inspiring story of faith and obedience when he was imprisoned in Zimbabwe,” explained LogsdonKellogg. “His own story was full of courage and persistence despite personal danger, which resulted in huge changes for his community. But he used the story to point out that the people who saved and served him in prison were discipled by one other person who had humbly and persistently, many years before, collected Bibles and visited the prison to share Christ through scripture and conversation and prayer. Another presenter walked us through a time of meditation in which
Jesus reminded me not to let fear or busyness distract me from following the mission to which he has specifically called me, even though it is new and unconventional.”
Rev. Dr. Elvyn Hamilton, Quayle UMC
Rev. Dr. Elvyn Hamilton, pastor at Quayle UMC, looks forward to new visions and development of faith communities. “I attended the track which emphasized urban ministry. I learned about discipleship from a fresh perspective.”
Hamilton added, “One thought conveyed the idea that children and youth are capable of reaching their peers. We often think adults have to lead the way. We need to empower our young people to engage other young people through discipleship.”
Rev. Josue Araujo, First UMC Oklahoma City
Rev. Josue Araujo, pastor at First UMC in Oklahoma City, was inspired by the relevance of the speakers and workshop topics.
“The conference absolutely lit a fire under me. It affirmed my calling, it drew me closer to Christ and it
filled me with ideas to implement to my context of ministry,” explained Araujo.
Araujo added, “Dr. Bessie Hamilton was an excellent host. It was a true joy to share this experience with sisters and brothers in Christ who are also living our their call.”
Rev. Dr. Elvyn Hamilton echoed that sentiment, adding, “I feel the conference is great for anyone considering new ways for growing impactful churches in the Oklahoma Conference.”
“Church planting can be challenging,” explained Rev. Dr. Bessie Hamilton. “Attending a conference like Exponential can provide pastors and planters with a time of renewal, encouragement, and spiritual refreshment as they worship, pray, and connect with God and others in the community of faith.”
“The prayer is that these leaders will return back to the conference ready to implement creative ideas they gathered from the conference to their own context,” concluded Hamilton.
The Apprentice Project of the Ethnic Local Church Concerns (ELCC) committee of the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church offers the opportunity to connect ethnic college students with ethnic pastors and churches. The program was implemented by Rev. Dr. Bessie Hamilton, the associate director of connectional ministry for New Faith Communities and Multi-Ethnic Initiatives and her team.
Tayvion Devereaux, intern at Quail Springs UMC and Langston University Wesley student, presented his final project, “Communicating for Change,” about sharing the Black church tradition in gospel music and spirituals with preaching. Submitted photos.
For her 2022 Apprentice Project, student Suyeon Kim, OU Wesley student and Quayle UMC intern, shared her experience with “The Power of Korean Prayer,” or Tongsung Kido. Submitted photos.
The 2022 pilot project created an opportunity for three students to begin thinking about ministry from different perspectives while developing spiritually, personally, and professionally.
The success of the pilot program has inspired the ELCC committee to again offer this opportunity. We are excited to assist ethnic students in thinking about what they were created to do and the steps needed to get there. The
intern will be invited to bring their passions and perspectives to the congregation.
The ultimate task of each intern will be to propose a project that they feel would aid ethnic congregations in developing multicultural/multiethnic relationships within the community.
The project asks that an ethnic college student shadow an ethnic pastor in a church setting. Assisting the pastor and leadership with various activities and programs in the church, the intern will be encouraged to
develop their gifts for leadership based on their own cultural background and personal passions and gifts.
The committee is in preparation for the 2024 project that is targeted to begin in May and run through July. Interns will work a total of eight weeks at 15 hours per week and are expected to be at the placement church on Sundays (at least six Sundays) for worship or another day of the week.
If you are an ethnic student or church that has the desire to participate in this leadership experience, now is the time to learn more about the Apprentice Project. Jacqueline Devereaux, the MultiEthnic Outreach Coordinator will be leading the efforts and can be contacted at jdevereaux@okumc.org.
FROM LEFT: Rev. Jen Logsdon-Kellogg, Rev. Dr. Bessie Hamilton, Rev. Michael Long, and Rev. Derrek Belase. Rev. Long served as mentor to Tayvion Devereaux at Quail Springs UMC.
Jazlyn Yarbrough, OCU Wesley student and Charis Alive intern (CENTER), with Rev. Erica Thomas, associate pastor at Quayle UMC and Rev. Victoria Lee Ting, pastor at Charis Alive UMC, taught members at Charis Alive how to cook soul food. Her project was the “Romans 15:7 Project.”
Elk City UMC sets up a display every Easter season with empty Easter baskets. Congregants are encouraged to take a basket home, fill it with goodies, and return it to the church. Many provide their own baskets. The baskets are then delivered to the local food resource center, HELP Inc., where they are distributed to area children who can benefit from the gift. The members and the children in the community are super hoppy about this Easter tradition! Submitted photos.
In this podcast, host Ryan Dunn offers practical tips and a seven-step process for creating impactful short-form videos to enhance digital outreach and foster meaningful online relationships for the church in the digial era. Click here to listen.
Rev. Jen Swindell shares her expertise on maximizing the powerful tool of Google Ads to reach new visitors and nurture community. Google Ads offers a grant of $10,000 per month in advertising for eligible nonprofits. Learn more here.
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