Conference E-Newsletter
July 2020 - Volume 3, Issue 7
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The purpose of the Oklahoma Conference is to
"Proclaim, Disciple, Live With Christ
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Oklahoma Camp Meeting 2020 is going virtual! The COVID-19 pandemic has raised all kinds of questions about when large groups will be able to meet, or even whether people will be ready for that. In spite of the uncertainty, the spiritual food and camaraderie—the tradition of camp meeting—is still important. While we won’t be meeting in person at Wewoka Woods Adventist Center, we’re already planning an interactive, online experience that will encourage and connect us.
What does "virtual" mean? Programming will be accessible from your desktop computer, your tablet, or your cell phone. Churches can even host viewing parties! It all is still happening in July, with programming for all ages. We hope you'll plan to join us for a new way of doing camp meeting. Watch our website, Facebook, and publications for more details as we get closer to "preparing for His coming".
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Wewoka Woods Adventist Center is offering families the opportunity to come down to the camp and enjoy horseback riding, tubing, canoeing, pool swimming, crafts, nature class, archery, disc golf, and mountain biking for one day. There is no fee for anyone to attend, but please consider making a donation of any amount to help cover a portion of the expenses to run the program. Bring your spouse, children, or grandchildren out for a day. Space is limited, so register your family soon!
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We are excited to announce that we are having a summer camp program at the end of July. Camp will be a little different as we will have to follow new health guidelines and procedures. Our team is working hard and planning ahead in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control (
cdc.gov) and state health department to ensure the safety and well being of our campers and staff during their time at camp. Registration is open and will be limited to 60 campers for each week.
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The North American Division Children’s Ministries Department and AdventSource have partnered with the Texas and Oregon Conferences to deliver Heroes Home Edition, an exciting Vacation Bible School that families can enjoy in the safety of their own homes.
From July 6-10, 2020 the North American Division will host a division-wide live VBS program using Heroes Home Edition. Each day’s program will include all the songs, skits, Bible stories, and activities that kids look forward to at VBS.
Heroes Home Edition will be available online or as a free download at
HeroesHomeEdition.org
on July 6, 2020. It will include a practical guide for using technology and hands-on learning to experience Heroes VBS at home!
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We are tentatively planning a Young Adult Retreat at Wewoka Woods for the middle of August. Stay tuned for details to come in the next few weeks.
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Pastor Bailley Schmidt has accepted a call to serve at the Ardmore Seventh-day Adventist Church along with his wife Karissa Schmidt. They are recently married and are excited to begin their ministry here in Oklahoma.
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Tulsa Community Service Center Dedication Gives Big With Go Fresh
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TULSA-
Despite the sweltering summer afternoon sun, Sabbath, June 27, turned out to be a beautiful day as God’s people shared His love in caring service for their fellow man. Several members from at least 10 Tulsa area churches; our conference leadership; and the
Tulsa Community Service Center (
TCSC) board came together to dedicate the new TCSC facility. The new facility took 14 months of planning and hard work to remodel and pass Tulsa permit inspections, finally obtaining a maximum
occupancy
of 99 persons. It is now officially open to provide health, medical, optometry, legal, and spiritual services, along with cooking classes and a food pantry. TCSC hopes to provide dental services within the next year as well. Everyone at the dedication ceremony received a blessing listening to violin music from Sean Shin and AnnaRose Jones, an introduction by Elder Apple Park, prayer by Elder Carlos Portanova, an inspirational history of the center by Elder Park and Bill Carlile, and a motivating dedication sermon and prayer by Elder James Shires. Through the love of God, we were encouraged to love others and provide for their needs as if we were serving Jesus himself as described in Matthew 25:35-40.
The TCSC goal is to serve our community and its
inaugural event to fully dedicate the center was a massive food giveaway organized by the TCSC board and the Go Fresh company. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Go Fresh company was awarded a $50+ million grant from the FDA to help farmers get their goods out. The farmers were unable to distribute their products to restaurants, schools, etc. that were closed due to the shutdowns. The farmers were going to lose their goods, lose money, and the people impacted by the closings also needed food. Go Fresh brought a truckload of 1,500 boxes of food, about 28 lbs. each, for a total of approximately 20.25 tons. Based on the cost of $34.97 per box, a total of more than $50,000 in free food was distributed to our community.
Our team helped stage rows of cars in an Office Depot parking lot, around the backside of Office Depot, and down 21st street to our new facility. Kids with signs on Sheridan and 21st street directed people into Office Depot to line up for the food giveaway. Others handed out questionnaires as the cars entered the TCSC lot. Another team retrieved the forms and directed them to the food distributors. We had eight teams of food distributors split into two rows ready to receive each car and give them a box of food and milk, one per family. The boxes contained potatoes, onions, lettuce, butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, half and half, and a carton of milk. With this arrangement, God’s love, and people willing to serve, we gave away all 1,500 boxes in three hours to many happy people in the Tulsa area. I witnessed great teamwork, loving hearts, hard, sweaty work, and smiling faces on both those serving and those receiving, which produced a blessing for all. We ask for your prayers and your physical and monetary support to continue to serve our community and hopefully expand our services.
The center is located just west of 21st and Sheridan streets at 2015 S Lakewood Ave, Tulsa, OK. For full details on services provided, how to get involved, or to stay informed about events, visit the Tulsa Community Service Center on Facebook,
By Brit Whittington
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Explore Your Passion!
Southwestern Adventist University
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Southwestern Adventist University has offered Christian education in Keene, Texas since 1893. The beautiful campus is home to personable professors, technologically-advanced classrooms, 58 majors, and many ways to get involved both on campus and abroad. Southwestern is perfectly situated to provide you with the atmosphere and tools necessary to obtain your degree and live a life substance and service. Come visit our campus and experience the Southwestern difference for yourself! For more information, call 800-433-2240 or apply online at
www.swau.edu
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NAD Issues Response to Recent Deaths and Racial Turmoil in U.S.
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The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America is responding to the tragic killings of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, George Floyd in Minnesota, and other recent events that clearly document the racial divide destroying the quality of life for so many and the very fabric of our democratic society.
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Stupid Money TV
Episode 7: Credit Cards
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Watch as John Mathews, Vivian Johnson, and Diana Santos discuss credit cards. Learn how to look at credit cards as a tool and how to use them to your advantage.
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GC Votes to Reduce Budget
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Faced with troubling projections pointing to steep declines in contributions from most regions of the global Adventist Church as a result of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Adventist leaders moved to recommend cuts in the world headquarter's operating budget, including a reduction of some personnel.
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NAD Committe Votes a Stimulus Package of $10 Million
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On June 23, 2020, the North American Division (NAD) Committee voted a stimulus package of $10 million to provide financial assistance to the division’s conferences through its unions. This comes at a time when COVID-19 has impacted many Adventist members and entities.
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House where Parkland Seventh-day Adventist Church was organized on December 8, 1895. The house was the home of Sam and Nancy C. Powell. Pictured are Sam, Nancy and their oldest daughter Maggie Alice Powell.
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Healthy homemade fruit popsicles made with five ingredients or less! Four delicious recipes to choose from: strawberry, watermelon, lemon, and coconut. An easy and refreshing treat to help you cool down from the heat.
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Please share your church and school activities by emailing pictures and stories to
Communication@Okla-Adventist.org. Invite others to sign up to receive our
E-Newsletter by visiting our conference website at
www.okadventist.org. The sign-up form is at the bottom of the home page.
Daniel Ortega,
Communication Director
Yesenia Ortega,
Newsletter Manager
Caroline A. Fisher,
Newsletter Editor
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Communication@okla-adventist.org
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