The Contact 3-27-24

THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST

Weekly

Volume 6, Number 13 • March 27, 2024 • www.okumc.org

Scout Sunday stars an impressive girl group 2

The renewing power of summer camps 4

E HERbs, K CLIC ts, jo even for more! and

Church planters inspired and empowered at Exponential Conference 6

Save the Date Employment Passages Appointments

Apprentice Project 2024 8

Page 2

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

March 27, 2024

Scout Sunday stars an impressive girl group

BY MARLYS CERVANTES

F

irst 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.”

Director of Communications: Joseph Harris Multimedia & Web Manager: Andrew Himes Editor of Publications: Jena Barber Communications Specialist: Tabitha Beckman 1501 NW 24th, Oklahoma City, OK 73106

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.

Send news to editor@okumc.org.

Submission deadline: Each Monday.

Next publication date: Apr. 3.

Stories and photos by the editor unless otherwise noted.

Cover art and graphics by depositphotos.com.

Subscribe online at www.okumc.org.

Page 3

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

March 27, 2024

Scout Troop 501 at First UMC in Ponca City is making a difference in the community. Submitted photos.

Page 4

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

March 27, 2024

The renewing power of summer camps

BY KC CURRY

H

ave 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 KC Curry gives a devotion at Bartlesville District of us in The Great Camp in 2015. Submitted photos.

Commission.

God and God’s people. Seeing the “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong United was youth live into the abundant life playing as our song of sending forth they have been promised is one and I remember praying the words of the many gifts of the Easter promise. that were sung, “Spirit, lead me Just as the prophet Isaiah said, where my trust is without borders, “See, I am doing a new thing! I am let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me. Take making a way in the wilderness me deeper than my feet could ever and streams in the wasteland.” (Isa 43:19) wander, and my faith would be As Easter people, we believe made stronger in the presence of my that all things will be made new Savior.”

In that prayer and in that time of through the power of Jesus’ worship with my fellow campers, a resurrection. The joy of the Easter resurrection is not only celebrated thin space was born. at the end of each Lenten season, Now, as a young adult, I have it is also celebrated in the lasting the incredible joy of being a small communities that are formed at group leader for Camp Spark at our Oklahoma United Methodist Canyon Camp. I have been able Conference camps. 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

Page 5

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

KC Curry and a group of young adults added end ramps at Canyon Camp, allowing mowers better access.

March 27, 2024

KC Curry and Katie Steen pose after a full day of fun in the sun with kiddos at Mobile Day Camp.

Page 6

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

March 27, 2024

Church planters inspired and empowered at Exponential Conference

I

n 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, 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 Bo Ireland, Lazarus Community that cultivated a holiness of heart and

Page 7

life through relationship.”

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

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.”

March 27, 2024

filled me with ideas to implement to my context of ministry,” explained Rev. Jen Logsdon-Kellogg, Araujo.

Microchurch Planter Araujo added, “Dr. Bessie Rev. Jen Logsdon-Kellogg, whose Hamilton was an excellent host. new church plant officially started It was a true joy to share this Rev. Dr. Elvyn Hamilton, Quayle experience with sisters and brothers this month, said the timing couldn’t UMC be more perfect. “During the prein Christ who are also living our their Rev. Dr. Elvyn Hamilton, pastor conference workshop, I participated call.” at Quayle UMC, looks forward to in an interactive class that is very Rev. Dr. Elvyn Hamilton echoed specific to the kind of church I intend new visions and development of faith that sentiment, adding, “I feel the communities. “I attended the track to plant, namely microchurches or conference is great for anyone which emphasized urban ministry. house churches.” considering new ways for growing I learned about discipleship from a She learned about networks of impactful churches in the Oklahoma fresh perspective.” microchurches and was inspired Conference.”

“Church planting can be Hamilton added, “One thought by others with established challenging,” explained Rev. Dr. microchurches in their communities. conveyed the idea that children and Bessie Hamilton. “Attending a youth are capable of reaching their “Pastors, planters, and leaders conference like Exponential can peers. We often think adults have to had the opportunity to connect with provide pastors and planters with a lead the way. We need to empower other church planters, pastors, and time of renewal, encouragement, and our young people to engage other leaders, which can lead to valuable young people through discipleship.” spiritual refreshment as they worship, relationships, partnerships, and pray, and connect with God and others Rev. Josue Araujo, First UMC collaborations,” added Rev. Dr. in the community of faith.”

Bessie Hamilton. “I think networking Oklahoma City “The prayer is that these leaders Rev. Josue Araujo, pastor at First allowed them to learn from others’ will return back to the conference experiences, share insights, and find UMC in Oklahoma City, was inspired ready to implement creative ideas they by the relevance of the speakers and support and encouragement.” gathered from the conference to their workshop topics.

“During one main session, the own context,” concluded Hamilton.

“The conference absolutely lit a presenter shared an incredibly inspiring story of faith and obedience fire under me. It affirmed my calling, it drew me closer to Christ and it when he was imprisoned in Zimbabwe,” explained LogsdonKellogg. “His own story was The Oklahoma Conference of the UMC sent its first-ever contingent to Exponential full of courage and persistence Conference, a gathering for new church planters and innovators. Submitted photo. 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

Page 8

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

March 27, 2024

Apprentice Project 2024 An opportunity for ethnic churches and students to team up and create new multicultural projects

BY JACQUIE DEVEREAUX

T

he 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 Tayvion Devereaux, intern at Quail Springs was implemented UMC and Langston University Wesley student,

by Rev. Dr. Bessie presented his final project, “Communicating Hamilton, the associate for Change,” about sharing the Black church For her 2022 Apprentice Project, student Suyeon Kim, OU Wesley student and Quayle director of connectional tradition in gospel music and spirituals with preaching.

Submitted photos.

UMC intern, shared her experience with ministry for New Faith “The Power of Korean Prayer,” or Tongsung Communities and Kido. Submitted photos.

Multi-Ethnic Initiatives intern will be invited to bring and her team. develop their gifts for leadership based their passions and perspectives The 2022 pilot project created on their own cultural background and to the congregation. an opportunity for three students personal passions and gifts.

The ultimate task of each intern to begin thinking about ministry The committee is in preparation will be to propose a project that they from different perspectives while for the 2024 project that is targeted developing spiritually, personally, and feel would aid ethnic congregations in to begin in May and run through developing multicultural/multiethnic professionally.

July. Interns will work a total of eight The success of the pilot program has relationships within the community. weeks at 15 hours per week and are The project asks that an ethnic inspired the ELCC committee to again expected to be at the placement church college student shadow an ethnic offer this opportunity. We are excited on Sundays (at least six Sundays) for pastor in a church setting. Assisting to assist ethnic students in thinking the pastor and leadership with various worship or another day of the week. about what they were created to do activities and programs in the church, and the steps needed to get there. The the intern will be encouraged to

Page 9

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

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.”

March 27, 2024

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.

An opportunity for your church or student 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.

Participants shared a meal after the OKUMC Apprentice Project Closing Ceremony in July 2022, at Quayle UMC in Oklahoma City.

Watering the Earth :

S TA R T W I T H V I S I O N A N D A P U R P O S E

CONTACT US TODAY TO PROVIDE FOR THE MINISTRIES OF YOUR CHURCH AND LASTING GOOD IN YOUR COMMUNITY

OKLAHOMA

METHODIST

F O U N DAT I O N

405-525-6863

•

W W W. L AST I N G G O O D.O RG

Page 10

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

March 27, 2024

Ministry in a Minute

A spot to share your ministry moments with the rest of the conference

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.

Page 11

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

March 27, 2024

Short-form video for your digital ministry 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.

Google Ads and the art of digital outreach 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.

EXPERIENCE LIFE AT ITS FINEST, EVERY DAY. Life at Epworth Villa is all about freedom. Freedom from home maintenance and chores. Freedom from having to drive all over town. Freedom from worrying about future needs. And when you’re free to live your best life, it’s amazing the joy that each day brings.

Experience the freedom you deserve and check out our spacious cottages and beautiful apartments at EpworthVilla.org.

14901 N. Pennsylvania Avenue | Oklahoma City, OK 73134 | (405) 225-3038 |

Page 12

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

March 27, 2024

Call to Action Don’t forget to register for the Church & Society Retreat! The retreat is April 5 and 6 at Canyon Camp. Deadline to register is March 28. Scholarships are available.

Register now for Annual Conference 2024. Hotel space may be limited, so be sure to reserve yours today.

Share your event or job opportunity in the Contact.

For consideration, email your listing to editor@okumc.org.