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THE SERVANT

CONNECT E DITIO N NO. 22 .07

JU LY 2022

MO NTHLY NEWSLE T TE R

A NOTE FROM OUR SENIOR MINISTER

WE ARE CALLED T O B E A P E O P L E O F. . .

HOPE

SUMMER GREETINGS MY FRIENDS, I hope you are well. I also hope you have been able to stay cool as the summer temperatures begin to rise. Just today, two of my friends told me how the air conditioning at their home stopped working. The same thing happened to my family last summer. These disruptions seem to come when the temperatures are the highest, and our emergency fund is at its lowest or at a point when the timing could not be more disruptive.

Dr. Matthew Mitchell Senior Minister

06-09 Servant Kids

10-13 Servant Students

14-18 Missions in Action

As we journey through the summer months, I want to encourage you to pause and think about what might be going on in the lives of the people we encounter. On any given day, you and I may meet the happiest person we have ever met, and a few minutes later, we might bump into someone having the most challenging day of their life. Never forget, we are called to be a people of HOPE. Romans 15:13 (NIV) states, “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” I love how the scripture states, “so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” When I struggle to find hope, I love to turn to my favorite John Wesley quote: “The best of all, God is with us.” When I pause and ponder the depth and truth of this statement, I realize God is with me no matter what. From this statement, I often begin to pray the “Lord’s Prayer” or profess the “Apostles’ Creed.” These simple actions help bring me back to a place of hope and faith. I often forget how easy it can be to restart my day by focusing on following Christ. A simple reset is a helpful way for me to encounter the Holy Spirit and find the overflow of hope reverenced in Romans 15. As the daily temperatures rise, so will the challenges in many people’s lives. One of my daily focus points in my walk with the Lord is to be better at sharing the OVERFLOW of HOPE I have received from Jesus Christ. The word overflow means I have an abundance to share! Thus I must ask, what are each of us sharing this summer? Your smile, your phone call, maybe a large fan for a friend waiting for the AC repairman to show up...maybe you have a spare room and your AC is working better than ever? Each of these questions and many more are ways to share hope in someone else’s life. I am not exactly sure what question is the best one for you at this moment, but I want to encourage you to ask yourself if others would see you as a person overflowing with hope? If so, share, share, share! We could all use a little more hope. If you are having trouble finding hope, I invite you to contact the ministry staff for a conversation. I am continually amazed to discover how when people come looking for advice, hope, or a faith check-up, their day is quickly reset in a way leading them much closer to Christ. I hope to see you Sunday, and never forget, God is with us!

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SUMMER HOURS:

For the summer, Sunday worship will be held in the Celebration Center at 10:00 a.m. There will be one more special Sunday of Food and Fellowship during the ten weeks. A meal will take place immediately following the 10:00 worship service. The meal is free to all who attend, but reservations are recommended. Registering by clicking on the QR Code.

• AUGUST 7 – BACK TO SCHOOL B.B.Q BASH

PRECEPT INDUCTIVE STUDY SERIES

AS SILVER REFINED STUDY BY KAY ARTHUR | LED BY NANCY HARRIS August 17, 2022 – November 30, 2022 Wednesdays (In-Person), 9:30 a.m. | North Adult Room 12 Are you disappointed that life isn’t turning out like you planned? You can be defeated by life’s unavoidable disappointments, or you can become stronger because of them. Kay Arthur paints a graphic picture of the dangerous downward spiral of disappointment that can lead to discouragement, depression, or even despair. But you can learn to break that cycle and embrace disappointment with a faith that recognizes the trials of life as tools that God uses to make you—as silver refined—a reflection of His goodness. If you want to learn how to embrace life’s disappointments and become stronger in your faith, then this is the study for you!

DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS AUGUST 11, 2022 To register, email Nancy Harris at nancyquilter@cox.net or text Nancy at 405-420-5463. Please include name, address, cell number.

WATERFALL REMOVAL On July 7, the removal of the three-story waterfall in the concourse began. The waterfall has been leaking for some time, and after consultation with multiple contractors, the removal of the waterfall was approved as part of the repairs and renovations currently underway. Water from outside the facility and directly from the waterfall have caused damage over the years to the facility. Unfortunately, the extent of total damage will not be fully realized until after the waterfall has been removed. Due to these realities, two crucial steps will take place. (1) The waterfall will be removed, and all interior structures associated with and near the waterfall will be inspected for more extensive damage. (2) All damage will be repaired, and a high-quality sheetrock finish will be constructed where the waterfall was located.

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Have you signed up for one of the informational meetings regarding Church of the Servant and the future of the United Methodist Church? If not, you can sign up today at ServantOKC.org/meetings. In a June 8th email to the congregation, we informed the church of the Leadership Board’s decision to begin a discovery and discernment process surrounding the issue of continued affiliation or disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church and the Oklahoma Annual Conference. As a part of that process, we want to schedule a series of informational meetings to discuss the issues facing Church of the Servant. To promote conversation and allow space to ask questions, we are limiting the size of the meetings to fifty (50) people with registration required. We will offer as many meetings as necessary to meet the demand for them among the congregation.

The initial schedule for the discussions is as follows: •

Wednesday, July 27 (6:00 pm)

•

Sunday, July 31 (12:00 pm)

•

Wednesday, August 3 (6:00 pm)

•

Sunday, August 7 (2:00 pm)

•

Wednesday, August 10 (6:00 pm)

•

Wednesday, August 17 (6:00 pm)

•

Sunday, August 21 (12:00 pm)

You can sign up in the following ways: online at ServantOKC.org/meetings, by emailing Rachel Gillespie at rgillespie@churchoftheservant.com, or by calling at 405-728-4746. Reservations for a given meeting will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. It might prove helpful if an entire Sunday school class signs up together. Communicate the dates within your group and work with Rachel to find a time-slot that meets the need of your class.

ServantOKC.org

SERVANT KIDS Report LOOK WHAT WE DID... JUNE 8TH—MOVIE NIGHT Kourtney Aller Director of Servant Kids

After a dreary and rainy Wednesday, it was a bright spot in our day to gather for a movie and snacks with friends!

SERVANT KIDS SUNDAY MORNINGS Servant Kids meets in person each Sunday morning this summer at 10:00 and/or 11:00 a.m. All kids will be downstairs for the summer. Two-hour programming is available. The same topic will be covered all morning long, but each hour will have different activities and videos to reinforce the lesson. This is a great option for parents who want to attend both a class and worship service on Sunday mornings. Drop your kids off between 9:45-10:00 and pick them up again at noon! Virtual options are available on our website each week. If you can’t make it in person on a Sunday morning, check out the lessons and videos online at ServantOKC.org/KIDS!

Josh Snodgrass Assistant Director of Servant Kids

UPDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND OTHER INFORMATION, SO YOU DON’T MISS OUT ON COMMUNICATION ABOUT EVENTS! CONTACT KOURTNEY TO CHECK OR UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION AT KALLER@SERVANTOKC.ORG OR 405-728-4715.

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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! WE POST UPDATES, INFORMATION, PICTURES, AND MORE, SO DON’T MISS OUT! GO TO @SERVANTKIDS ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM! SIGN UP FOR TEXT ALERTS BY TEXTING @SERVANTKI TO 81010.

ServantOKC.org

JULY HAPPENINGS… MAKE WAVES

SUNDAYS IN JULY AGES 3 YEARS THROUGH KINDERGARTEN Last month, we began teaching preschoolers that they can make waves that can change the world! July brings even more stories to teach our preschoolers how they can make waves with the help of Jesus. This month we will learn about kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Yes, these can be tough to choose, but when Jesus is my friend forever, Jesus can help me do everything. That is what we want our preschoolers to know. And, when they do choose love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, our preschoolers will make waves that can change the world! Our memory verse this month comes from John 14:6 and says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.’” This month, we will learn about how Jesus can help us choose kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We will also learn how Jesus can help us show God’s goodness. Who can help us do everything? Jesus can help us do everything!

MAKE WAVES

SUNDAYS IN JULY GRADES 1-5 This summer, we will learn about the connection between MAKING WAVES and God’s character, as shown through God’s big story. Resilience is getting back up when something gets you down. We were created in God’s image. God sent Jesus to show us the best way to be human. But God knew we’d need help. That’s why God sent us the Holy Spirit. With the power of the Spirit, we can produce fruit that points others to Jesus. Every month, kids discover something about God’s character and how they can reflect or respond to that character because they are created in God’s image. Our memory verse comes from Philippians 1:6 and says, “God began a good work in you. And I am sure that he will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns.” We will learn how to show kindness to everyone and how to show God’s goodness to others. We will discuss how to be faithful so others can count on you and how God can give you the strength to be gentle. God gives you the power to have self-control. We can’t wait to see you this summer!

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STILL TO COME...

JUMP IN! MAKE WAVES WITH JESUS! JULY 22-24, 2022 “Jump In! Make Waves for Jesus!” is a weekend VBSlike kids day camp experience for incoming kindergarten through fifth grade. The camp is Friday, July 22 through Sunday, July 24. Our time together will include Bible lessons, games, crafts, small groups, and more! • FRIDAY, July 22nd, from 5:30-8:15pm (dinner & snack provided) • SATURDAY, July 23rd, from 9:00am - 3:00pm (lunch & snack provided) • SUNDAY, July 24th, from 9:30am - 12:00pm (snack provided) Our time together will include Bible lessons, games, crafts, small groups, and more! Participants will receive a t-shirt. The cost is $10, which includes supplies, food, and a shirt. Register online by July 17th! Let’s have some summer fun together and learn how to make waves for Jesus!

SERVANT STUDENTS 6TH - 12TH GRADE

DISCIPLE 2022

Heather Winner Director of Servant Students

Skyler Rodriguez Assistant Director of Servant Students

Would you like more information about Servant Student Ministries? Contact Heather at hwinner@ServantOKC.org or Skyler at srodriguez@ServantOKC.org.

Last month, we had the opportunity to take 25 students and leaders to Disciple! Disciple Camp is for middle school students (going into 6th grade through those who just completed 8th grade). This camp takes place at Camp Heart O’ Hills, just outside of Talequah. During the week, students gathered for small groups, worshiped together, and got to end the day with some late-night recreation activities. One of the greatest aspects of this camp is that students get to interact with others from churches throughout the state. Community is one of the emphases of these camps, where the students are in small groups and teams with others not from their own church. It is always great to see our students interacting and reuniting with others from different churches. However, the best part of camp is always seeing our students worship the Lord. Each night, we have church chat right before late-night recreation. This is a time where each church gets together individually to discuss the day, share stories, highlights, and pray for one another. Multiple times throughout the week, students shared that their daily highlight was worshiping together. Even though they could not fully describe it, they could feel the presence of the Lord moving in the place of worship. There is no better reason to take a group of middle schoolers across the state than that, giving them an opportunity to worship and be in the presence of God. Even though we just got back, we are already ready for next year! Skyler Rodriguez

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MISSION DC

hen we began planning Mission DC, we knew God would move in ways beyond our expectations. After experiencing an incredible mission trip in Chicago a year ago, Skyler and I earnestly prayed for the students who would say “yes” to this trip of a lifetime in our nation’s capital. We had no idea what God had in store for us, but let me tell you, it was full of His faithfulness. The trip began with an introduction to the church and community we would be serving. As a predominately Hispanic population, students and leaders were introduced to Pastora Diana Wingeier- Rayo, the congregation of our host church, Hughes United Methodist, and the community of Wheaton, Maryland. We worshipped together during both of their services – their traditional service and their contemporary Spanish service. Both were incredibly powerful, though

experiencing a worship service in another language was both fascinating and empowering for all involved. The final song sung in Spanish was Do it Again by Elevation Worship, a song many of our students and leaders knew well in English. It felt as though heaven was invading the worship space as multiple languages were crying out to God singing: Your promise still stands Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness I’m still in Your hands This is my confidence You’ve never failed I’ve seen You move, You move the mountains And I believe I’ll see You do it again You made a way, where there was no way And I believe I’ll see You do it again

This was the perfect note to take us into a week of VBS. But before we could begin preparing the church, we took some time as a team to bond. We took on The Adventure Park in Sandy Springs for an afternoon of obstacles, rope courses, and zip lines. This was a great way to get to know one another and face some fears before the week ahead. It was very telling of what our time would look like – facing the nerves of beginning something new, conquering fears of potential language barriers, and the need to help and lean on one another. When we returned to our host church, we began prepping and planning for the week ahead. Dividing into rotation groups and crews, our students prepped and planned what they needed to do with the VBS curriculum we provided. ...continued on page 12

ServantOKC.org

GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS

MISSION DC The VBS theme was Yee-Haw, a western-inspired vacation Bible school that focused on how God gives good gifts as shown through the Gospels. We had stations that worked together to instill in children how loved and gifted they are by God. These groups included Bible Adventures, a time where the day’s scripture was brought to life; Crafts for Christ, a time for the children to create a masterpiece that displayed the focus of the day to take home; Projects with Purpose, a time for more creating to occur but with a purpose to give back to the nation, the community, and their homes; Saddle Up Sports, a time for groups to let out some energy, run around, and play games. These rotations were available for our crews of elementary-aged children to learn of God’s good giving while bonding as a crew and with their leaders. Each day began with a time of worship and games at the Son West Round-Up and ended with more worship and games with the Closing Corral. In the end, our students and the children just loved being together; no matter what the activity was, it was a beautiful sight to step back and see the Holy Spirit move. With all the dancing, all the games, all the lessons, and all the YEE-HAW, the love that was shown throughout the week of VBS was something that crossed every language and relationship barrier. By the end of the week, there was clear exhaustion, but even more, there was clear gratitude for what God did every single day.

As we wrapped up our time in Washington, DC, we got to visit some of the most famous monuments and museums including the Washington Memorial, the Lincoln Monument, the Natural History Museum, and the Bible Museum. We obviously wished we could have done so much more, but the most important thing to do was witness the glory of God within our nation’s capital – and that was experienced time and time again. Our final morning at Hughes UMC ended with us worshipping and praying together. We took another moment to intentionally thank God for this time, but also to inspire one another to continue in the mission of making disciples just as they had done throughout that week. Students were anointed and encouraged to see that they weren’t ending their time of mission that day, rather they were beginning another mission back home. Our prayer coming out of Mission DC rests in that commission that: a servant’s heart was formed and renewed within all of those who participated and that all might continue to recognize the faithfulness of God in every situation.

Heather Winner

SERVANTOKC.ORG/AFGHAN

M I S S I O N S 14

A 4TH OF JULY TO REMEMBER Through our work with the Afghan sponsorship committee of Church of the Servant that has been assisting Afghan immigrants, we have encountered many interesting people. One such man has been Feroz Bashari. Feroz worked for the American Embassy in Afghanistan and was on the last flight out of Kabul. He is very knowledgeable and speaks English extremely well. He has been helping us create videos for Afghan immigrants to explain to them about life in America and to help them with the adjustments they need to make. To do this, we have been working with a videographer, Anna Nguyen, and her husband, Joe. We decided to invite them all to a 4th of July luncheon celebration to show them what a family Fourth looks like in America. What we did not know at the time we invited Feroz and his family was that he had put on large celebrations for up to 1500 American troops. Feroz and his family of 7 brought stories of Afghan culture with them. Anna and Joe have backgrounds in Vietnam and Ukraine and brought that immigrant perspective to the get together. We had them over along with our oldest son’s family and everybody had a very good time getting to know each other. For the children, there was a mixture arts and crafts, playing games, and water activities. The children got along extremely well, even better than we had hoped. Cecilia, who has had a lot of professional experience working with children, put together a

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variety of games and crafts. And the adult conversation was highly stimulating and invigorating. Our make-your-own sundae with a variety of toppings was the hit of the luncheon. It is our hope that Afghan settlers will find a place for themselves in American society and that they will be welcomed warmly by American families. Feroz is such an educated and multilingual person that he is perhaps better prepared to adjust to the U.S., but all of these families are going to need some friendship and American hospitality to make them feel comfortable here. The Afghan women, who have tended to be more socially secluded than the men, are experiencing considerable homesickness at being separated from extended family. This is because back home their normal day-to-day routines are tightly interwoven with their mothers, sisters, aunts, and other female relatives. Most of these relatives still live in Afghanistan, so they particularly need some friendship extended to them. We are including two pictures that we took (page 15). It was our Kodak moment. I think it reflects the goodwill and the feeling that we were all experiencing because of this special 4th of July celebration. The project is ongoing. Published videos can be seen at www.afghanguide.org. Ed and Cecilia Beckham

SUMMERTIME NOTES MEALS ON WHEELS AND AFGHAN MINISTRIES The following notes briefly highlight some of the activities our Church family has supported this summer in these ministries. Meals on Wheels added four new clients in June. While these transitions are often sad, there is great pleasure that accompanies meeting and serving new friends. Thank you for your continued support either through your ongoing Fish donation or by being one of the approximately 30 Church members who deliver meals. One Afghan father now has his Oklahoma driving license and one father has his learner’s permit. New glasses really can help you pass an eye test. The Afghan children’s summer school ended the last week of June. Their English is rapidly improving and all are very much looking forward to the next school year. One of the Afghan families visited the Blue Zoo Aquarium at Quail Springs Mall. While the Zoo was great fun for the family, eating a Chick-fil-A ice cream cone in the food court and riding an escalator for the very first time were both close seconds. The escalator ride was really exciting. For any old movie buffs, imagine the escalator scene from Crocodile Dundee. Thank you for your continued service, support and prayers! Cathy Maxwell

ServantOKC.org

M I S S I O N S UPDATE ON UKRAINE MINISTERS & CHURCHES Many in our congregation will remember during the period 2007-2012, Church of the Servant served as a partner church to three small Methodist churches in western Ukraine. Several of you have asked about the status and well being of the churches and their pastors since the start of the war with Russia, not only did we provide supplemental salary assistance to the three pastors serving these churches, but also exchanged mission teams with pastoral visits from these ministers and key personnel. Needless to say, we developed lasting friendships with many there. These churches are on the western edge of the Ukraine, snuggled up against the borders of Hungary, Slovakia and Romania in the Transcarpathian mountain area. So far, other than a few random rocket strikes, they have been

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removed from the major areas of conflict. Lviv, which has been frequently mentioned in media coverage, is approximately 50 miles north and east of these churches. The churches in the cities of Uzhgorod and Kamyanitsa are still viable and quite busy. They have been attempting to assist and provide for refugees coming from the eastern part of the country as the battles continue. Pastor Vasily Vuksta and his wife Ala continue to serve these churches from their home church in Kamyanitsa. Their oldest son has left and come to the U.S. to Sacramento where he seeks assistance for his home church. Pastor Vova Vuksta and his wife Carmen and their two children relocated to Slovakia about two years before the outbreak of war, but continue to assist with the inflow of refugees to

that country. Vova’s parents remained in Kamyanitsa. Pastor Sergei Bogomaziuk and his wife Esther had relocated to Sacramento prior to hostilities to seek help here for their daughter who needed special educational needs offered here in the U.S. Our translator, Vasylyna Babich and her husband, Danik and their two children, left Ukraine at the start of hostilities, went to Germany, and then on to Sacramento via Tijuana, where they have joined an aunt already living there. They were last seeking work permits and housing. Vasylyna and Danik’s parents both remained in the Ukraine where they have homes and businesses. All ask that we pray for them, their churches and congregations, and for peace in Ukraine. Any assistance and prayers are always appreciated. Stan Mortimer

KENYA HERE WE COME! JUNE 15 – 29, 2023 After a very long wait, Church of the Servant is scheduled to return to Maua Methodist Hospital next summer. An information meeting will be held on Sunday, September 18 at Noon in Community Hall. Jessica King and Ann Knutson will be leading the trip. Ann and new Servant member, Susan Barnes, were able to join a Methodist team from Fort Worth who went to Kenya this past June at the same time we will be going next year! From Ann Knutson: It was wonderful to see the friends we’ve met over the years both at the hospital and the small hotel where we stay. While COVID has not resulted in the terrible death toll in Kenya that it has in other places, the financial toll is devastating and ongoing. Kenya’s top industry is tourism, and no one came for 2 ½ years. One of our drivers, Justus, is certified in the hospitality industry to navigate horrible roads as well as provide information about all the animals we see while on safari. During the past 2 ½ years, he sold oranges at a roadside stand and his wife sold used clothes to survive. It was heart breaking to hear. It happened to be his birthday while we were on safari and Susan arranged to have a birthday cake for him at dinner, complete with Maasai dancers to bring it to him! The whole team agreed that we saw him wipe away tears. The next morning when we gathered together, he thanked us again for the cake and said that it was the first time he had ever had a birthday cake. Oh, the things I take for granted! Stories like that are one of the reasons I keep going back to Kenya. I am constantly reminded to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in everything I do. It’s far too easy for me to become complacent about all that we have.

Susan with Justus at the Equator

In addition to the regular trip that Servant will take, Susan Barnes has scheduled a trip for nursing students at UCO for May, 2023. This has been a longtime dream of hers and she spent much of her time at the hospital meeting with the Primary Tutor (director) of the Health Sciences School, talking with Florence who is the Nursing Officer in Charge (NOIC) of the hospital (Mary Gitari retired and Florence is her replacement), as well as talking with Kathie Mann, the volunteer missionary, who makes the hotel, medical camp, school de-worming etc arrangements for all the teams. Please consider becoming involved with this most amazing partnership! Start with prayers and see where you are led! For more info, contact Ann Knutson at annknut@gmail.com.

M I S S I O N S

Ann planting trees on hospital grounds ServantOKC.org

M I S S I O N S 18

WHIZ KIDS’ TUTORS ARE AWESOME! Here are some reasons why Bob & Janie Johnson love being Whiz Kids tutors: “We were both drawn to Whiz Kids knowing that the first few years of a child’s life are critical for learning. This past year, particularly because of COVID, has been difficult. These children are at least 1-2 years behind. Because of limited time with our children, we can’t teach them to read, but hopefully the personal connection and encouragement that we try to provide will at least open them up to a new world and a desire to read and learn.” Please consider joining us this coming school year. Whiz Kids Recruitment Sunday is August 14th! Carolyn Hays | chays25@cox.net

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to a Late

at Games and Things

a lovely luncheon, with games and an auction

Wednesday, August 17, 2022 from 10:30AM to 2:00PM

at Church of the Servant 14343 MacArthur Blvd. Tickets are $25.00 RSVP by Friday, August 12th Send checks made payable to SAWA to: Jill Walker, 1707 Dorchester Place, Oklahoma City, OK 73120 Contact Jill Walker at jwalker@macciniconstructioncompany.com

Church of the Servant 14343 North MacArthur Boulevard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73142-9725

SUNDAYS @ 10AM

LIVE STREAM Sunday Mornings @ 10AM servantokc.online.church Facebook.com/ServantOKC