Dear NEO Nazarenes,

After many months of preparation, it is finally here - Centennial Celebration Sunday. As I hear of all of the creative ways you are celebrating this special day, it makes me want to be in 44 churches on Sunday. I will have the privilege of being with Pastor Doug Gunsalus as we launch our restart in Glenpool. Pray for the SoCo Community Church as they attempt to be an impact church in South County.

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. SNU is having a Pastor Appreciation Day on Tuesday, October 14. We conclude the month with a fun-filled retreat for our pastors. I trust every church will make efforts throughout the month to honor our pastors and let them know how much we love and appreciate them.

Your educational budget payment benefits SNU students from NEO! As you may know, when our District pays over 90% of our educational budget, the amount paid over 90% is awarded back to SNU students from our district. The total amount over 90% this year was $8,549.29, giving our 27 students a grant of $316 for the year. Thanks for your generosity which allows us to assist our worthy students.

I WANT TO CELEBRATE…

Don Cowan, Sapulpa: We had our 3rd Annual Block Party and had a great turn out. We were able to minister to 77 teens and adults and 55 children in our neighborhood though free music, food and games.

Jim Wilson, Barnsdall: We are forging ahead with our goal to pay all budgets this year and doing well enough that it may happen early.

Jim Wilson, Pawhuska: Our 2nd Bi-annual Biker Breakfast was a grand success with 125-130 Bikers in attendance, and $300 in unsolicited offerings. We continue to strive to show the love of Christ to this section of our community. Our next Breakfast is in May. We also raised $1000 for our Alabaster offering (which was our goal and a record high for Pawhuska).

Gerald James, Claremore: Finally breaking ground on our new parking lot and family life center. We baptized four new converts. We had 20 people joined our church last weekend and about 10-15 more will be joining this weekend.

John Whitsett, Tulsa Central: I want to celebrate... Outstanding participation in Serve People Sunday (over 200 people signed up to serve at a dozen different projects around the metropolitan area). And some of those who were outwardly skeptical of the idea when it was first announced had a change of heart as a result of participating in the day. There was a real buzz and sense of momentum about the day, and I believe we’ll see positive repercussions from it.

Brett Rickey, Tulsa Family: Great weekend. We set a goal of 100 salvations for 5 weeks beginning Sept 7. To date, at least 40 have said yes to an invitation to receive Jesus and more have come back home. We baptized 20 Sunday night in a little lined pit we dug on the land. The steel on our building will go up beginning this week.

H Gordon Smith III, Dewey: The baptism of Robert Hahn Jr., a 13 year old young man that has taken the step to say to the rest of the world that he has decided to follow Jesus! A couple is going to have a re-commitment wedding ceremony in October because God is renewing their marriage and family! God has taken a family that was on the brink of falling apart and this is their testimony: “We want to pass down a greater heritage than the heritage that has been passed down to us!” Praise God for people who are standing up for Jesus! The fragrance of Christ-like love is abundant in the hearts of the people!

Angela Bentley, Bristow: On September 3rd 16 of our children and youth made personal decisions for Christ! On September 28th we baptized 11 of them, with nine more planning to be baptized soon! Some of our young people are really starting to grow spiritually and we are detecting a sense of hunger in many of them. I believe God is bringing revival and He is beginning it in the hearts of our young people and those who work closest with them.

Casey Hollingsworth, Miami New Life: Great centennial pre-celebration services and small group studies.

Don Nichols, Tahlequah: Preparation for our Centennial Celebration continues. The whole community seems excited about our celebration.


Don Cowan, Sapulpa: Celebrating our 100th anniversary with the community of Sapulpa. We continue to work with South County Community Church

David Stevens, Vinita: Progress on the building repairs is going well; About 60-70% complete. We changed the order of the Morning Service and added worship choruses. Everyone is making comments about how much they like the new style of service. Carol Stevens (pastor’s wife) is doing very well and often walks without her cane around the house. She still uses it at work and out in public to help with balance. Her therapy is focused on building muscle strength now.

Stephen Hundley, Cleveland: We kicked off our new vision and a new ministry (Community Groups), which meet on Sunday evenings. We are excited about the response, so far. We were averaging 30 on Sunday Evenings. This month we averaged 43. Un-churched, pre-Christians have attended a couple groups. Praise God! People who wouldn’t ordinarily come to a church building came to church in someone’s home. That is what it’s all about…reaching people for Christ!

Wayde Normandin, Chelsea: We put a new roof on the church this month. The old roof was damaged by hail and declared a total lost by our insurance company. New family attending the church.

Jim Thornton, Tulsa Hills: Another baby dedication. THC is becoming baby-central around here. Fresh passion for God’s presence in the life of the preacher.

NEO Leaders
September 2008

Church S. S.
1. Claremore +41
2.RP Hispanic +35
3. Pryor +20
4. Drumright +18
5. Broken Arrow +14
6. Dewey +9
7. Regency Park +8
8. Sand Springs +5
9. Nowata +2
10. Hominy +1

Church AM
1. BA Connection +102
2. RP Hispanic +40
3. Claremore +25
4. Dewey +15
5. Broken Arrow +13
6. Sand Springs +8
7. Mannford +3
8. Chandler +2
8. Collinsville +2
8. Drumright +2
9. Skiatook +1

Pastor Geoff Gunter of Tulsa Regency Park is organizing a W&W trip to the TX coast for November 10-15. AT this point the work project will depend on the progress up to that point but the work could consist of clearing trees, removing debris from previously flooded houses and remodeling. Each participant will be responsible to raise support for their own expenses and possibly provide money for some materials. Arrangements are being made to sleep in a church. Please email Geoff at Pastorg@regencypark.org if you have any interest.