Dear NEO family,

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebration, despite the snow, ice and cold temperatures.

Marion Guy, beloved pastor and evangelist, and father of Pastor Claude Guy, went home to his eternal reward on Wednesday, January 6. Marion pastored in Claremore, Coweta and Tahlequah on the NEO District. His funeral will be on Monday, January 11 at 11am at the Sand Springs Church of the Nazarene.

January is Spiritual Renewal Month in Northeast Oklahoma. The theme is “Never the Same; A Life Changing Encounter with Jesus Christ.” I hope you are profiting from the daily devotionals. This Sunday evening at 6pm we will have gatherings for worship and prayer on each of our five Zones. We trust these times of corporate prayer will be another opportunity to encounter the living Christ. Then we will gather for services for renewal with Susie Shellenberger on January 29 – 31. Go to the website for all of the details (http://www.neonaz.com/)

I love the opportunities of a new beginning a new year brings. Let’s make it a great year: set some goals; write them down and place them where you will see your goals at least weekly; develop plans to help you fulfill your goals; and tell a few trusted friends what you are attempting to accomplish so they can encourage you throughout the year.

I was reminded this week how our attitudes and actions can make even the unpleasant experiences of our lives an opportunity for growth. Pastor Otoneil Dannemann told me yesterday how Gloria used her time of confinement in Argentina to grow physically and spiritually stronger. She exercised daily, including doing hundreds of sit ups; she studied the Bible and read many helpful books; she developed a wonderful intimacy with God, deeper than she had know before; and she saw God work in miraculous ways for her release. Was it an easy year? Definitely not. But we rejoice at the way Gloria placed herself on the potter’s wheel and allowed God to shape her and work in her trials for good!

Many of our other pastors share reasons for celebration in their churches:
I want to celebrate. . .

Harold Johnson, Cushing…We had 41 in attendance for our Christmas Program.

Brad Farnsworth, Broken Arrow Connection…messages are reaching people’s hearts and making changes; people are being challenged with each message.

Jim Wilson, Pawhuska…We were busy this month with Christmas celebrations and outreach. This time of year is stressful, but the looks on the faces of those impacted are so worth it.

Angela Bentley, Bristow… I want to celebrate the many blessings of the Lord showered on us in this year of great growth and transition. We are a comeback church experiencing the Presence of the Lord in our services, a renewed passion for Sunday School, increased – almost doubled attendance averages at our Sunday worship services, an excitement in the people about what God is doing in our congregation, and a genuine and growing bond of love amongst the people for the Lord and one another. God is so good!

Casey Hollingsworth, Miami New Life… We broke ground on our ‘New Life’ family center. It has created much excitement and unity within our church. We have had $120,000 committed to the building project and are looking forward to having many more ministry opportunities which we believe our new building will help to create.

David Stevens, Vinita…The wonder, hope, and impossibility of the story of the birth of the Son of God always makes me pause. In all the thinking, exploring, and understanding that mankind seeks, there is no way to completely understand this cosmic paradox. “God made in to flesh.” Is what the Magi said in the “Nativity Story,” “The greatest of Kings born in the humblest of places?” And as Gaither put it so well, “Maybe, so that we would come to Him and not be afraid.” The gospel “Good News” is still so vital! God loves us enough to die for us, and all we have to do is accept His free gift: “A cradle in the shadow of a cross.”

Nathan Burns, Owasso Silver Creek…We gave to others this Christmas and raised $8,000.00 to build a well in the Solomon Islands. This well will give water to over 300 people.

Cole Weston, Okmulgee… We have three new people over the past month attending, and I’m hoping that we can start a membership class soon. I’ve spoken to one about it, and hoping for enough to make a class.
Work continues with BA to do a work project at the Youth Center, which would be a great benefit to our dilapidated facility. Our Christmas children’s program went well, and the cantata was great also. I love seeing my folks excited again about doing things for their church and the glory of God.

Gordon Smith, Dewey… Our emphasis for Christmas was, “All I want for Christmas is for ________ to be saved!” We are praying for the salvation of many souls. We are gearing up to train ourselves in evangelism, and we are church moving beyond the walls of our church proclaims the words of Christ to “Repent and Believe in the good news!” God is doing a new thing at D-Naz!

Dan Hazelton, Pryor… some forgiveness taking place in some individuals, offering for fixing up teen house at $1150 with a goal of $1500, good teamwork in pulling off an outreach event called "A Night in Bethlehem", a lot of love shown to my family from the congregation.

Don Cowan, Sapulpa…The beginning of a new early worship service on Sunday mornings. The blessings of connecting with our community through Community Care, Angel Tree & Freedom House

John Whitsett, Tulsa Central… Our “Light of Hope” Arts Ministry Christmas worship experience, our Children’s Christmas program, went extremely well and contributed to our higher than normal numbers. Plus, our Small Group Christmas Communion was very well received.

NEO Leaders in Average Attendance Gain (over December, 2008)

Sunday School/Discipleship
Bristow +25
Broken Arrow First +21
Hominy +17
Horton Chapel +14
Owasso Silver Creek +14
Wagoner Cornerstone +13
Collinsville +10
Skiatook +9
Vinita +8
Okmulgee +5

AM Worship
Tulsa Central +108
Bartlesville +41
BA Connection +36
Bristow +35
Wagoner +20
Miami New Life +14
Collinsville +12
Okmulgee +11


Children’s Bible Quizzing: We held our 3rd Area Bible Quiz this past week end, Dec. 12. We had 23 Red Level and 29 Blue Level quizzers. We had eight churches participating – Bartlesville, Broken Arrow, Central, Claremore, Cleveland, Family, Owasso Silver Creek, and Pryor. Jesse Ewton from Family Church had three perfect rounds!!! Our District Quiz will be on January 16, 2010. This quiz will qualify them for Regionals on June 12. Congratulations to all the quizzers, parents, coaches and directors for their work in teaching our children the Word. Rachel Bess


Forever For Real, Feb. 6, 2010
Encourage your congregants and friends to join Oklahoma Marriage Initiative for a FREE relationship strengthening workshop for couples that are married, engaged or dating on Saturday, Feb. 6, 9am - 3pm at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Tulsa. See the link below for details or to register. http://www.foreverforreal.com/about/index.html

Southern Nazarene University is launching a new online MBA in Health Care (MBA - HC) program starting Feb. 20. 2010, designed to reach professionals who desire to pursue a career in management in a health care organization or are currently working for health care organizations and desire to increase their effectiveness as managers and/or professionals. You can earn an MBA in Health Care online in as little as 19 months or on-campus in as little as 22 months. Gain the knowledge and skills health care professionals need to lead organizations and secure your future with an MBA in Health Care. For more information call 405-491-6358 or log on to http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102900226979&s=852&e=001vM89uBwb7oJO7q8NHb3MbQCOVMQZfnBGZmZNutoi8kvnH5ZTCHt5f77t97c4Nlqd0NURf72rXwjLRqtl901WFTOjaicdQvvyrnUKeHb4yIXtGxIuOCsUmA==.

The late Jim Rohn's inspiration lives on from his writings ("Idaho Farm Boy Makes It to Beverly Hills."):
"If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree."
"Character isn't something you were born with and can't change, like your fingerprints. It is something you weren't born with and must take responsibility for forming."
"A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better."
"Failure is not a single cataclysmic event. You don't fail overnight. Instead, failure is a few errors in judgment, repeated every day."
"Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness—great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation and great joy."
"Learning is the beginning of wealth. Learning is the beginning of health. Learning is the beginning of spirituality. Searching and learning is where the miracle process all begins."
"If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary."
"Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better."
"Better understated than overstated. Let people be surprised that it was more than you promised and easier than you said."

Keep warm …especially your heart!

Dave McKellips