Dear NEO family,

What a joy it was to be with the NEO family this week for our Annual Celebration of Mission and Ministry! My congratulations to NYI President, Jonathan Odom, and NMI President, Debbie Martin, for outstanding conventions. And thanks to Jim and Christy Thornton and Vicki Crossland for all you did to make Assembly go so smooth. Don’t we have great leaders in NEO!

What will be your favorite memories of the three days of meetings and services?

• Rev. Monte Cyr’s messages calling us to join Christ’s mission.
  
• The Central youth worship and drama team picturing Christ’s pursuit and protection of us.
  
• Aaron Horton and the Central Church choir reminding us of the “Happy Day” when Christ began his transforming work in our lives.
  
• Five NEO youth sharing the incredible ways God is using them.
  
• Debbie Martin calling us to let Christ be our vision.
  
• Celebrate Recovery Ministries sharing “Cardboard Testimonies”.
  
• Collin Campbell and the Family Church Worship Team leading us in heartfelt worship.
  
• Dr. Nina Gunter challenging us that the holiness movement is in our hands to keep alive.
  
• The ordination of Jason Hill, Stephen Hundley, Michelle Proctor and Jeff Wooten.
  
• The Minister’s Choir singing “In Christ Alone” or Darren Melton singing “I Will Not Forget Thee”.
  
• The reporting and prayer in the Zone Cluster meetings.

I invite you to relive some of your memories as you look at pictures from the three days:

Great Commission Rally/ NMI Convention
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Abt2TZizYsWTKHg

District Assembly and Opening Service w/Cardboard Testimonies
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Abt2TZizYsWTJ4g

NYI Convention, May 31
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Abt2TZizYsWTJwA

Ordination Service
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Abt2TZizYsWTKWg

Yesterday, Gloria and I had opportunity to have lunch with 15 of our retired elders and their spouses.God is still working in and through them. Six still serve on staff in local churches. Others teach Sunday School, minister in their homes and via the phone and internet. What a great group!

Last Sunday, Gloria and I enjoyed worship and a barbeque luncheon with Pastor Jim Kent and the Southwest Church. We always enjoy their hospitality.

Tulsa Southwest, May 31, 2009
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0Abt2TZizYsWTKPA


We have many prayer needs as a District family:

• Debbie Martin’s son, Johnathan, received his first treatment for his AAT Deficiency-related Emphysema this week. Debbie reports: “Everything went well with no allergic reactions. Praise the Lord!The cardiologist report came back with no apparent heart damage. Praise the Lord! Pulmonologist report; lungs sound clear, tremendous improvement over the past month. Praise the Lord! It will take several weeks of infusion treatments before we know how successful this will be in treating his emphysema. We have been told Johnathan will need these infusions for the rest of his life on a weekly basis. I am standing of Gods' word for complete healing. Thank you for praying in agreement for healing, but also asking God to have His will. Johnathan will remain on oxygen for another month and then begin tapering off as he continues his treatment. This has been as exhausting week, however, tonight I am resting in Gods' peace and trusting in Him. Psalm 91: 1.2 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!"
  Our sympathy to the family of Nazarene Elder, Bailey Cantrell. Bailey had been in a nursing home for some time and passed away this past Wednesday. Funeral services will be Saturday, June 6, 10 am at Bartlesville First.
  
• District Treasurer, Bud Lauhon, is having an echocardiogram this week to try to determine source of dizziness and heart trouble he is dealing with.
  
• Sally Loderhose (wife of Elder Brian, Associate Pastor at Silver Creek) is now home from the hospital after dealing with arrhythmia.
  
• Jack Bess (spouse of Rachel, Children’s Pastor at Central) had surgery because of infection in his hand from a spider bite. Jack is now recovering at home.
  
• Jesse Madaffari, pastor in Skiatook, had to miss Assembly as he is recovering from his recent hernia surgery.
  
• Family Church, Pryor and Okmulgee are in times of pastoral transition.

In case you have not heard, Dr. Stan Toler was elected yesterday to be District Superintendent of the Southwest Oklahoma District. He has accepted.

Hope you have a great Lord’s day with your church family! You are loved!

Dave McKellips