Summer in Pictures: OKUMC Camps Provide Memories Worth a Thousand Words
Camp Spark campers learn archery skills.
Photo by Courtney Blacksten.
Growing in Grace campers have fun on the new pond with a paddle and fishing rod. Photo by Meagan Durham.
Clue Campers have fun with their group photo. Photo by Cassidy Christy.
Splash time at Sonshine Camp! Photo by Amber Staehle.
Game time at Growing in Grace Camp. Photo by Meagan Durham.
Mean mugging at Joy Camp. Photo by Susan Robinson.
In worship together at LEAD Camp.
Photo by Reese Herndon.
Fun with clay during Spirit Skills at Camp Spark. Photo by Courtney Blacksten.
Bible story presentation at Joy Camp. Photo by Susan Robinson.
Team building reaches new heights at LEAD Camp. Photo by Reese Herndon. Getting ready for a game of checkers at Sonshine Camp. Photo by Amber Staehle.
Four Square at LEAD Camp!
Photo by Reese Herndon.
Flamingos and leis are a great combo at Clue Camp! Photo by Madison Elis.
Spending time with scripture at Clue Camp.
Photo by Cassidy Christy.
Discovering the joy of ketchup at Sonshine Camp. Photo by Amber Staehle.
Fun in the pool at Clue Camp.
Photo by Cassidy Christy.
Sleeping bags and pillows are camp essentials for Sonshine Camp.
The holy moment of prayer at Sonshine Camp. Photo by Amber Staehle.
Photo by Amber Staehle.
Keeping Jesus close at Camp Spark. Photo by Courtney Blacksten.
Down at the beach at LEAD Camp. Photo by Reese Herndon.
What Would Jesus Do?
This, probably.
Since 2007, members at St. Paul’s UMC in Ponca City have been quietly going about changing lives in a very real, concrete way. That first project was a porch rebuild. Another followed the next year. In 2009, builders partnered with Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), applied for grants, and got to work. Chuch Clark and RSVP director Rocky Hudson made sure the program would provide wheelchair and walker ramps to recipients at no cost.
Steady Growth
For the next five years, the group built about 10 ramps per year. This was very impressive work, with three to five volunteers building each ramp.
Ramp must be the operative word, because the group really ramped up their efforts - growing steadily in production through the years. With referrals from RSVP, healthcare agencies, and the church, the early workers were kept busy.
The work team grew, and in 2015, the workers created 18 ramps. By 2016, they made 28 ramps. In 2017, 52 ramps and six hand rails were installed by this group of talented, eager individuals. As the number of ramps to build increased, so did the number of volunteers who made the time to help out.
Since 2017, the group has built more than 50 ramps each year, averaging one per week.
In addition to ramps and hand rails,
the team has seven portable ramps that can be quickly deployed for temporary use.
How It Works
The ramp team purchases materials, and then submits those receipts to RSVP for reimbursement - there’s an RSVP Ramp Fund! The fund is supported by multiple businesses, foundations, and individuals.
The cost of materials is approximately $485. The group endeavors to abide by ADA guidelines for building ramps, which specify slope, width, height, etc.
While most ramps and handrails are built for seniors, a handful through the years have been for children and young adults, most of whom have been low-income households.
The program supports every walk of life, and covers ground in Ponca City, Newkirk, Blackwell, Tonkawa, Marland, Kaw City, White Eagle, Red Rock, Burbank, and Shidler.
“Over the years we have grown more efficient in our ramp building as we learned and acquired optimum equipment (donated) for our work,” said coordinator Bill Thomason. “We acquired a trailer and built storage units mounted on the trailer for our equipment, and mounted a generator, such that the team is immediately ready to go each week. St. Paul’s UMC furnishes storage in the garage for our trailer and equipment and provided the generator and funding for the trailer.”
Blessed to Be a Blessing
The group has a waiting list of over
Builders and recipients proudly pose with ramps provided by a team of volunteers at St. Paul’s UMC in Ponca City - and beyond. Submitted photos.
40 people wishing to have ramps built, and they don’t believe one ramp per week will be often enough to keep pace with those requests.
“We now plan our building by giving first priority to those who cannot leave their home due to inability to negotiate their stairs,” explained Thomason.
He added, “This work has been a blessing to our team in that there is a great joy in seeing someone come down the just finished ramp in their wheelchair or walker to get out of their home on their own for the first time since they lost their mobility.”
There’s More to Do
With all the work yet to do, Thomason sees this as an opportunity for church groups to work from the template St. Paul’s has created through the years. See the blue box (RIGHT).
From Coordinator Bill Thomason
“My thought is that most communities have a significant need for some group to build ramps (at low
cost or no cost) for those with mobility issues. Also I suspect many churches have the resources and available volunteers to conduct a ramp ministry. Currently, six of our regular crew is from St. Paul’s and nine are from other churches.
“We started out with three to five working on a ramp, hauling materials in a small pickup truck to the site the day before, and then hauling saws and tools to the site on the workday. The tools were personal tools that the guys already had. It would take one or two days to build the ramp.
“Over the 14 years, we acquired more efficient tools, a purpose built trailer with tool storage, a garage to store the trailer and tools, more workers (usually 8-10 on each ramp) and more efficient work methods such that most ramps are completed in four hours, just in time for a group lunch. If the ramps are small (20 feet or less), we will build two that day.
“If a group at a church is interested in taking on a ramp ministry, we would be very glad to assist.”
Thinking of starting a ramp ministry at your church?
Reach out to coordinator Bill Thomason at bill.thomason60@ gmail.com or 580-767-9491.
Invite Thomason and his team members to speak to your church about the logistics and the joys of building ramps for those in need of them.
Schedule a site visit on most any Monday to see, live and in person, what it takes to build a ramp.
Enjoy the mentorship, experience, and advice of the St. Pauls Ponca City UMC team.
Sending Your Students Off Well: Faith Life in College
BY ELIZABETH HORTON-WARE
As the summer draws to a close, college campuses across the state are gearing up to welcome new and returning students for the fall semester. At The Wesley at OU, the hustle and bustle have already begun—students are finalizing their preparations, and campus staff and faculty are putting the finishing touches on their plans. This is an exhilarating time for everyone who lives by the academic calendar.
However, alongside the excitement, there is often a sense of anxiety among parents, youth directors, and families who are sending their students off to this new chapter in life.
The transition into college can be a pivotal moment in a young adult’s faith journey, as many who were raised in the church may begin to drift away from active participation. It’s a challenging reality that leaves many feeling that all they can do is pray—pray that the love of Christ and the church that has been nurtured in them will be enough to sustain their faith.
As you prepare to send your child off to college, it’s essential to have some important conversations about faith and church life. Here are a few questions that might guide these discussions:
• Why is church important to you?
• How does participating in church impact your faith life?
• What hopes do you have for your child’s relationship with Christ?
• Visit the Campus Ministry or Church: Stopping by the campus ministry or the church your child is most likely to attend can make it easier for them to return. Familiarity with the environment and meeting the staff beforehand can make all the difference.
• Share Their Contact Information: Encourage your child to share their contact details with the campus ministry. This simple step can help them stay connected.
• Support Behind the Scenes: There are often ways to support the ministry indirectly, such as helping to purchase supplies, sponsoring events, or providing snacks during stressful times like exams.
Churches: Continued Support for Your Students
After 15 years of serving as a campus minister, I’ve gathered some insights that might help parents, families, and churches better prepare students for this significant step in their faith and life journey.
Parents and Family: Faith Conversations and Practical
Your child may not have considered how they will stay connected to their faith after leaving home. It can be helpful to ask if they have a plan for church attendance or participation in a campus ministry, such as a Wesley Foundation. Approaching these conversations with an open mind and heart can foster trust and openness, helping you transition from seeing your child merely as your son or daughter to recognizing them as a sibling in faith—a brother or sister in Christ.
Here are some practical tips for supporting your child’s faith journey:
Churches, your work doesn’t end when students leave for college! The commitment to raising children in faith extends into their young adult years. Here’s how you can continue to support them:
• Connect Before They Leave: Begin the process of connecting your students with campus ministries before they even know where they’ll attend. Invite campus ministry representatives to speak at your church or youth group meetings.
• Send Them Off with Care: Providing care packages, including information about nearby churches or campus ministries, helps students feel more at home and supported in their new environment.
• Stay in Touch: Make sure
you’ve sent in your students’ contact information to the campus ministry or local church. It’s never too late to share their names and keep the connection alive.
• Visit and Support: Youth directors and pastors can make occasional visits to campus worship services, offering a familiar face to students. Sponsoring a meal at the campus ministry in honor of your students is another great way to show support.
• Pray for Them: Midterms, finals, and the start of the semester are particularly stressful times for students. Including them in your church’s prayer lists during these periods is a wonderful way to keep them close in spirit, even when they are far away. A letter, a gift card, or a care package sent during these times can provide much-needed encouragement.
• Listen to Their Stories: When students return home, take the time to listen to their experiences. Ask about their studies, how their worldview is expanding, and whether they have found a place to grow in their faith.
CONNECTING YOUR STUDENT WITH CAMPUS MINISTRIES
Check out this directory of campus ministries across the state.
Fill out this form to ensure your college student’s information is passed on to campus ministries.
Closing: A Call to Prayer
As we send our students off to school this fall, especially those heading to college for the first time, let us all remember them in prayer. Let us pray that the seeds of faith planted in them will continue to grow and
flourish. May their relationship with Christ be strengthened, and may they find communities of faith that will nurture and support them in this new season of life.
Together, let’s cover our students in prayer as they embark on this exciting and challenging journey.
Two Oklahoma Clergy Earn Certified Renewalist Credential
Culmination of three-year leadership empowerment and spiritual formation program
On July 19, 2024, fourteen church leaders were awarded a Certificate of Congregational Renewal, and earned the credential of Certified Renewalist through Creating a Culture of Renewal®. Two of this year’s recipients are from the Oklahoma Annual Conference, including Rev. Jack Terrell-Wilkes and Rev. Jinx Barber. This is the third year this credential has been awarded, bringing the total to 64.
Certified Renewalists have successfully completed a rigorous three-year leadership empowerment and spiritual formation process that accelerates vitality and interrupts church decline, while empowering congregations to shift their culture from one of reluctance and resistance to one of renewal.
To receive the Certificate of Congregational Renewal and be designated a Certified Renewalist, a church leader must demonstrate their mastery of three content areas: Congregational Intelligence, Leadership Smarts, and Culture Shifting. The program requires participation in annual opening and closing retreats, monthly webinars, monthly mentoring sessions, mentoring other church leaders, as well as leading their congregations
in a visioning process that results in the church successfully meeting a deep need in their community. Those receiving the credential have also presented a portfolio showing their personal and congregational growth.
“Receiving the Certificate of Congregational Renewal and being credentialed as a Certified Renewalist is no small feat,” said Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter, founder of Creating a Culture of Renewal and elder from Mountain Sky AC in Extention Ministry. “These Certified Renewalists are courageous and pro-active. They’ve proven their ability to shift the culture of their ministry settings, improve the spiritual, missional, and financial well-being of their congregations, and create and execute a vision, inspired by God, that impacts their communities in profound ways.”
The 14 include: Rev. Amy Terhune, Rev. Becky Weamer, Rev. Dr. Brian Sixbey, Corrine Kyler, Rev. Jack Terrell-Wilkes, Rev. Janell Bloem, Rev. Jinx Barber, Rev. Joe Cailles, Josie NeillBrowning, Rev. Julie Sanders, Marcia Armstrong, Rev. Princeton Abaraoha, Rev. Rose BrowerYoung, and Susie Goodwin.
The Certificate of
Congregational Renewal is gaining visibility as Certified Renewalists are increasingly sought by Bishops’ cabinets and other appointmentmaking bodies.
For those interested in receiving their Certificate of Congregational Renewal and being credentialed as a Certified Renewalist, information can be found at www.cultureofrenewal. com or by emailing office@ rebekahsimonpeter.com.
Creating a Culture of Renewal®, founded by the Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter in 2011, is an awardwinning program with a proven track record. She and her team have worked with thousands of pastors, laity and denominational executives from a variety of denominations across the United States and Canada.
Rev. Jack Terrell-Wilkes
Rev. Jinx Barber
As a part of our dream for revitalized congregations and new leaders, we are currently recruiting our next class of participants in this important program.
If you are interested in participating in this three-year renewal course, please reach out to Rev. Dr. Derrek Belase (405-714-1554; dbelase@okumc.org) before the end of August. While the conference covers a majority of the cost for the program, there is a cost to participants.
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.
Call to Action
The Ministry Center will be closed Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day. We are grateful for the labor of all who work to keep things running. For Labor Day resources, click here.
Sponsor a Thursday Lunch at the TU Wesley!
Help us feed college students!
If your church is looking for a way to support young people, consider sponsoring a Thursday lunch at the TU Wesley this fall! There’s two ways to provide a meal:
Bring a meal!
If your church wants to cook and serve a meal, we request a main dish, a vegetarian dish, and a dessert. We do have a few students who cannot eat gluten, and if that can be accomodated, that would be great! The students also love fruits and veggies. Wesley provides all the cutlery, cups, napkins, and plates as well as salad and lemonade/water.
Have a lunch catered!
If you are not in the Tulsa area (or you’re not a fan of cooking!) and would like to have a meal catered, please contact our Director, Rev. Emily Robnett, at emilyrobnett@wesleytu.org.
To help, sign up here
Share your event or job opportunity in the Contact For consideration, email your listing to editor@okumc.org.