The Contact 7-10-24

THE OKLAHOMA UNITED METHODIST

Weekly

Volume 6, Number 28 • July 10, 2024 • www.okumc.org

Training that saves lives 2

God has given us a New Day Camp 4

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

Save the Date Fort Gibson Youth Say, “Send Us!” 6

Employment Passages

Ministry in a Minute 10

Appointments

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

July 10, 2024

Training that saves lives and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. n last week’s Contact, Chaplain The Oklahoma Michaela Drain had a thoughConference trainers offer provoking and informative this one-hour course called article on the prevalence of mental “Gatekeeper” training. health issues in our youth and young According to the Surgeon adults.

General’s National Strategy Our Social Principles encourage for Suicide Prevention churches to not ignore this topic. In the (2001), a gatekeeper is section on the Nurturing Community, someone in a position to we find these admonitions: “We recognize a crisis and the encourage pastors and faith warning signs that someone communities to address this issue may be contemplating suicide. through preaching and teaching. We urge pastors and faith communities to Talk Saves Lives is the newest provide pastoral care to those at risk, program we have endorsed. It is survivors, and their families, and to offered by the American Foundation those families who have lost loved for Suicide Prevention. ones to suicide, seeking always to This hour-long education program remove the oppressive stigma around provides participants with a clear suicide.” understanding of this leading cause of One way to do that is through death, including the most up-to-date training in your local context. Two research on suicide prevention, and suicide prevention models are what they can do in their communities endorsed by the Oklahoma Conference to save lives. and through which training can be Participants will learn common risk offered to local churches. factors and warning signs associated with suicide, and how to keep Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) themselves and others safe. is an easy to remember set of 3 simple Laity and clergy across our steps anyone can learn to help save a conference are trained in both life from suicide. programs and are willing to offer them Just as people trained in CPR and to your local church settings. the Heimlich Maneuver help save Please note these trainings are for thousands of lives each year, people adults. Should you want training for trained in QPR learn how to recognize youth and younger people, we work the warning signs of a suicide crisis with the Oklahoma Department of

BY REV. DR. DERREK BELASE

I

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

depositphotos.com

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to offer those.

Contact Rev. Dr. Derrek Belase (dbelase@okumc.org) if you are interested in this to be put in touch with a trainer.

Rev. Dr. Derrek Belase is the executive director of Connectional Ministry at the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Send news to editor@okumc.org.

Submission deadline: Each Monday.

Next publication date: July 17.

Stories and photos by the editor unless otherwise noted.

Cover art and graphics by depositphotos.com.

Subscribe online at www.okumc.org.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

July 10, 2024

If you are thinking about harming yourself or attempting suicide, tell someone who can help right away Call 911 for emergency services, go to the nearest hospital emergency room, OR call or text 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline . The Lifeline provides 24-hour, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Support is also available via live chat .

If you have a family member or friend who is suicidal, do not leave him or her alone. Try to get the person to seek help immediately from an emergency room, physician, or mental health professional. Take seriously any comments about suicide or wishing to die. Even if you do not believe your family member or friend will actually attempt suicide, the person is clearly in distress and can benefit from your help in receiving mental health treatment.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

July 10, 2024

God has given us a New Day Camp

BY ALANNA IRELAND

“

New day . . . God has given us a new day . . .” As Pastor Adam Shahan led campers in the “New Day Song,” written years ago by Alan Johnson specifically for New Day Camp, I really felt like this year’s camp was a new beginning, not only for campers, but for everyone in attendance. The Spirit was moving among leaders, nurses, deans, teen leaders-in-training, and volunteers alike.

Between the packed schedule, the heat, and the problems that can arise when folks come together even under the best of circumstances, leading at any camp can be a challenging experience.

New Day camp, which serves children of parents who are currently incarcerated or have a history of incarceration, can offer additional challenges.

Campers often come to camp with heavy burdens, and it can be difficult to earn their trust. This year, the pastoral team decided to kick things off after Sunday night’s volunteer training by praying over and anointing the volunteers for the week ahead. God’s presence seemed to be among us as we prepared for campers to arrive on Monday morning.

Although the week was not

without challenges, some stressful and many heartbreaking, a spirit of peace seemed to move through the leaders and volunteers as they dealt with each one with love and grace. Likewise, a spirit of enthusiasm for worship and for God seemed to spread among the campers. I was reminded that the word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek enthousiasmos, which means to be inspired or filled with the Spirit of God. Even the oldest campers were singing the incredible worship music provided by Adam and paying rapt attention (for the most part) to the morning devotion and evening sermon.

I heard similar reports from other adults as campers moved through each day’s activities.

This year’s camp theme was “Love

God. Love self. Love others,” based on the parables of Jesus. We started each morning with a devotion introducing the day’s theme and parable and giving the camper’s a fun assignment to practice throughout the day. These included things like thanking God (and maybe even dancing a little) when we felt joy during the day, noticing negative self-talk and changing it to thoughts about how Jesus would speak to us (followed by giving ourselves a hug), and doing acts of kindness for others.

In the evening, the sermon expounded upon the day’s lesson and then we took communion together. It was such a blessing to see campers practicing the love of God, self, and others and sharing about their experiences.

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One of the things I came to enjoy about getting to help the pastoral team at New Day camp is that it’s not just a chance to minister to campers, but to minister to leaders and volunteers as well. After communion each evening, we would walk throughout the camp offering the elements to those who were unable to come to worship.

The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

July 10, 2024

All week, we laughed together, incredible resilience and how God prayed for one and other, and shared was creating opportunities for “new the Lord’s Supper “to go.” I came days” all around us. home exhausted but feeling renewed after seeing the changes taking place in the lives of those with whom I shared this incredible week. As I heard the stories of our campers and our volunteers alike, I was amazed by their

CJAMM will host two Back-To-School Bash events for New Day Campers, the children of currently or formerly incarcerated parents. They are seeking donations of school supplies, snacks, and funds for a Slip n Slide. Every contribution, no matter how small, will greatly assist in making this event a success. These events are crucial for CJAMM to maintain a connection with the campers year-round. Thank you very much for your support! If you would like to donate or volunteer, please contact anne@cjamm.org or (405)525-3522.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

July 10, 2024

Fort Gibson Youth Say, “Send Us!”

BY HANNAH CAWHORNDEARDORFF

O

mission week.

We hope this story can inspire other United Methodist churches and open doors for future connections with other congregations and communities.

n the week of June 24-27, the Fort Gibson United Methodist youth set out to do mission work for people within their local communities, inspired by From Jennifer Parker: Isaiah 6:8.

“Our mission team was Since Covid, our Church has able to build a wheelchair seen its challenges in various ways. ramp, remove storm debris However, with the recent momentum from several homes, and flow of the Divine Spirit, our clean up two yards, paint parents and young people did not a house, and do some want to allow the financial strife of projects at our church “traditional mission trips” to keep during our local mission them from sharing the mission trip together and shared devotions. Some experience with the next generations of week. of our favorite evenings were spent While the work done during a the church. sharing insight with each other such as mission trip is needed and rewarding, Parents and youth leaders “where did you see Jesus today?” On the most rewarding work is done in coordinated a local mission with the hearts of all involved. Some of our one particular day, a storm blew in and retreat-style attributes, allowing wreaked havoc on trees in our area. willing congregants to get involved in volunteers are retired or out of school It felt like Jesus had placed our various ways. This was a huge team exactly where they were blessing because not only did It felt like Jesus had placed our with the tools and talents they it allow various generations to possessed to help our friends in team exactly where they were fellowship together in the midst need that same day. I know my with the tools and talents they of service, but it also allowed family will treasure this local those not able to travel or take possessed to help our friends in mission trip and remember it as a off work to be involved. time we were blessed.” need that same day.

The Send Me Mission has inspired our youth group to prioritize missions throughout for summer break, while others had the rest of the year and implement to take vacation or unpaid time off to service into their gatherings more commit to the week-long adventure. often. Through this experience, We began the mission trip as our youth director, Lori Alred, acquaintances with many in our group, has made various connections and but left as friends and brothers and plans to maintain relationships with sisters in Christ. Being able to serve local nonprofits in Muskogee and others with my church family fills my Tahlequah. cup and is one of the reasons why I We also included a statement love my church family. from one of the mothers who was During the week, we had all meals instrumental in the planning of this

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

July 10, 2024

Youth and leaders from Fort Gibson United Methodist Church built, painted, cleaned up storm debris at just the right time, and learned more about each other, themselves, and the love of God. Submitted photos.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

July 10, 2024

3 Clues for Reaching New Believers establishing relationships. Most energy goes outward. Without new people, there 1. Recognize that your size matters is no future for the church. How many but is not determinative. new people attend each Sunday? If no new Congregations of all sizes reach new persons attend one Sunday, there is reason believers regularly. It may be true that it is for concern. Now, fast forward decades or easier for some churches than others based perhaps more than a century. Attendance on the size of the congregation, but also patterns and expectations are different. significant may be population growth or There may be a Sunday with no new decline in the surrounding area. The age persons or perhaps two, three, or more of the surrounding population can also Sundays without a visitor. The church still matter, with a younger population making continues. Pretty soon you barely notice professions of faith more common. A having no guests. Then having a visitor church’s passion for all to experience becomes the exception. It may well be God’s love through Christ matters most, time for every congregation to behave like regardless of the size of the congregation. a church just starting that must engage the community and make an impact on as 2. Pretend your church has just many lives as possible—every week. begun.

New churches survive by engaging 3. Don’t wait for new people to come the community, meeting people, and to you.

BY LOVETT H. WEEMS JR.

Today, for a majority of new people in congregations, their first exposure to that church was not through a visit. Their first encounter could have been through a community outreach of the church, or an online service, or, most likely, a church’s website. How well are you reaching people in these three ways? How many people active today first engaged your church through those or other ways? It is no longer sufficient to wait for people to come to you. Fewer will do that each year.

But pay attention to how the quality and quantity of your ministries can capture the attention of others.

This article is an excerpt from the article 3 Clues for Reaching New Believers from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. Read it here.

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

ARE YOU READY? Join us & fellow church leaders September 25-27, 2024 at Resurrection in Leawood, KS for a transformative experience – including dynamic speakers, practical sessions and vibrant community to equip you with the tools and renewal you need for a new day in ministry.

IS IT FOR YOU?

Work or volunteer for a church?

Passionate about sharing God’s love with your community?

Eager to meet others who share this purpose? Then, Leadership Institute is uniquely designed for you!

HEAR FROM DYNAMIC SPEAKERS!

Adam Hamilton, Brian McLaren, Kara Powell, Candace Lewis, Kenny Jahng, Blake Bradford, Jim Ozier, Yvette Thibodeaux, and many more!

leadership.sharechurch.com | Leawood, KS

July 10, 2024

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

July 10, 2024

Ministry in a Minute

We checked out social media this week and found VBS all over the place: Clockwise, from top left: Shawnee Wesley UMC, First UMC Durant-Caddo, New Hope UMC, and Sunny Lane UMC. Please send us photos of your VBS fun!

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

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

July 10, 2024

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The Oklahoma United Methodist Contact

July 10, 2024

Call to Action The South Central Jurisdictional Conference is July 10-12, in Rogers, Arkansas.

Learn more and watch the livestream here.

The 2024 mentor training will take place on August 1, 2024, from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Oklahoma Methodist Ministry Center located at 1501 N.W. 24th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73106. This training is for candidacy, provisional and local pastor mentors.

You can register here.

The 2024 Candidacy Summit will take place on August 2-3, 2024, at the Oklahoma Methodist Ministry Center located at 1501 N.W. 24th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73106. This training is for declared candidates, certified candidates and provisional members. You can register here.

Find out more about both of these from the video on page 11.

Share your event or job opportunity in the Contact.

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