Asbury Tidings - It's About Time... by Asbury Church

contents

All Christians are products of

inside tidings

mission. Someone brought us the

This Month at Asbury

start at Asbury, in a Methodist

4-5

Asbury University

Church, in Tulsa, or in the United

Notes from the Journey

States. Someone obeyed Jesus who

7-25

Global and Regional

told His disciples, “Go! Make

Outreach

Disciples!” (Matthew 28:18-20) While

18-19

Pastors in Mission

Asbury Heritage

only a small percentage of us will

Communities

New Members

29-33

Calendar

34-35

Family Room

The Tidings is published monthly to convey the message of transformed lives through Jesus Christ and to inform Asbury family and friends of the many opportunities made available through the ministries of Asbury United Methodist Church. All photos by Lisa Dunham unless otherwise noted. Cover design: Sandy Wagner

Gospel. The Christian faith did not

ever become full-time Christian

Dr. Tom Harrison Senior Pastor

workers, Jesus told all Christians to be in mission to others. Since we have been blessed, it is now our turn to bless the lives of others. Not only does Jesus command us to be in mission and to pray for additional workers, but there is another compelling reason to be in mission: it gives us purpose in life. Having been on several trips, and having heard about even more, I’ve reached the conclusion that those who go on mission trips get more out of it than the good we accomplish. People return from these trips and they are so grateful for what they have but have taken for granted: electricity, water, housing, transportation, medical care, food, etc. Furthermore, they notice that Christians in other places have a deep sense of

Perceptions & Conversations The Fall Focus ‘05 entitled “Perceptions and Conversations” is a church-wide outreach strategy for Asbury United Methodist Church during the months of October and November. The goal of “Perceptions and Conversations” is for members of Asbury to introduce their unchurched neighbors, friends, family members, and coworkers to the possibility of having a relationship with Christ.

community. It is wondrous to behold. It is often a life-changing event. We do not have to leave our city to be in mission. The sense of “Going!” does not have to be traveling miles away. It can happen in our homes and neighborhood. We can “Go!” where we are. It’s not a physical event – it’s a spiritual journey. It’s about our perception of our faith – how we see it. People are in mission when they serve, when they give,

Building on the familiarity of Tom’s “Perceptions” radio spots, the pastors are asking members of Asbury to give copies of a special edition of Perceptions script s, “Perceptions and Conversations,” to those they invite into their homes for a 90minute session, each week for six weeks. The conversations will be about the book and other resources focusing on relationships and faith.

and when they talk about their faith. People are in mission

Asbury’s pastors believe this focus will be a tool to help fulfill our second objective, “Every member living to love seek and save the lost.”

THEN He told them to “Go!” Worship leads to mission, and

The themes for each week are “Friendship,” “Friendship with God,” “Trust,” “Trusting God,” “Meant for More,” and “Making a Difference.” We hope that you will prayerfully consider working with other members of Asbury in hosting, recruiting, and facilitating a group. If you are interested in participating, please contact the church office, fill out a card in the pew this Sunday, or sign up at www.asburytulsa.org

when they teach, when they counsel, and when they lead small groups. People “Go!” in mission after our hearts have been given to God in worship. As you look in Matthew 28, you will see that after the disciples worshiped the resurrected Christ mission leads us back to worship. As we celebrate Missions Month at Asbury, I hope you will understand that there is a lot more to it than meets the eye. As we worship Christ together, let us also serve Him by reaching out to others with glad and generous hearts. See you Sunday,

September is Missions Month

(See bio on pg 35)

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Guest speakers in Sunday Morning Communities each week Men’s Prayer Breakfast every Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 am in the

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CLC with guest speakers

(More on pg 35)

Women’s Prayer Time with missions focus every Monday from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm in the Prayer Room

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Asbury University Fall 2005

Colossians – Precept Upon Precept Study 13 sessions Tuesdays, September 6 – November 29 6:30 – 8:30 pm Room: 2502 Teacher: Ron Winn Cost: $15.00

Believing God

– Beth Moore Series Tuesdays September 6 – November 8 10 sessions 9:15 – 11:15 am 5220 South 68th E. Place, 74145 Teacher: Cindy Read Cost: $15.00

Biblical Studies “Transformers” Christ and His Bride: An Exposition On the Song of Songs 12 sessions Tuesdays, September 6 – November 22 10:00 – 11:00 am Teacher: Gloria Phillips Room: Parlor Cost: $5.50

Jesus in the Gospels Sponsored by Singles – open to all Mondays, September 12 – November 28 7:00 – 8:30 pm Room: 2820 Teacher: Gretchen Valentine Cost: $20.00 (scholarships available)

The Patriarchs

- Beth Moore Series Tuesdays, September 13 – November 22 6:30 – 8:30 pm Room: 2820 Teacher: Dee Dee Geddie Cost: $16.00

Kings And Prophets – Precept Upon Precept Study Tuesdays, September 6 – November 8 9:30 – 11:30 am Teacher: Nancy Staab Room: 2820 Cost: $20.00

Daniel – Precept Upon Precept Study Tuesdays, September 13 – November 22 9:30 – 11:30 am Room: 2500 Teacher: Nancy Baxter Cost: $20.00

How to Study the Bible – II Peter 8 sessions Thursdays, September 22 – November 10 6:30 – 8 pm Room: 2500 Teacher: Gail Knox Cost: $10

Mothers’ Fellowship Mondays, September 12 – November 14 9:30 – 11:30 am Room: Parlor Teacher: Esther Gene Morrison Cost: $15.00

How Do You Walk the Walk You Talk? Mondays, September 12 – October 17 9:30 – 11:00 am Room: 2820 Teacher: Christie Derr Cost: $7.00

Marriage & Family GriefShare Support 13 weeks Wednesdays September 21-December 14 6:30 – 8:00 pm Room 2818 Facilitators: Ann Schulz & Bob Brumm Cost: Free

Intimate Life Weekend + 6 October 7 – 9 (Dinner Friday through Noon Sunday) Location: Neosho River Ranch (55 minute drive near Wagoner, OK) Limited to 9 couples Cost: $50/couple Weekend Leaders: Rev. Mark & Robin McAdow; Follow-up Leaders: Richard and Mary Murphy (Childcare available for follow-up meetings)

Preparing for the Holidays Grief Workshop Sunday, November 13 1:00 – 3:30 pm in Parlor No childcare available Everyone is welcome No registration necessary Cost: Free

Successful Blending: Enriching Your Step-Family Friday, November 18 6:30 – 9:00 pm Room 2820 Childcare available (Reserve space when registering; please indicate number of children and ages)

Shepherding a Child’s Heart 8 sessions Wednesdays September 7 – November 2 ( no class October 19) 6:00 – 8:00 pm Teacher: Karen Wuellner Room: 2500

Registration Hotline 392-1191 4

Christian Living Financial Peace University 13 sessions Wednesdays August 24 – November 16 6:30 - 8:30 pm Room: 2820 Teachers: Roger Spainhower & Rick Boothe Cost: $91.00

Signing Class – Beginners 8 sessions Tuesdays September 6 – October 25 7:00 – 8:00 pm Room: 1504 Teacher: Linda Ford Cost: $18.00

Signing Class – Intermediate 8 sessions Thursdays September 8 - October 27 7:00 – 8:00 pm Room: 2201 Teacher: Karen Harrell Cost: $18.00

Asbury Family Dinners Wednesdays, September 7 – November 16 (No dinner October 19) Community Life Center 5:00 – 6:30 pm Cost: Adults $4.00 Children (2-12) $3.00 Kids under two free Maximum $20.00 per family.

Studies for Adults By Day of the Week

Stepping into Ministry Spiritual Gifts Workshop Sunday September 18 12:15 – 3:00 pm Teacher: Dee Gibbs Room: 2818 Cost: $7.00 (includes lunch)

Leadership Asbury 4 sessions Wednesdays, September 7 – 28 6:30 – 8:00 pm Room: 1506 No Cost

Colossians Sept 6-Nov 29 Signing Class – Beginners Sept 6-Oct 25 The Patriarchs Sept 13-Nov 22

Asbury Exploration Class – Sept 11, Oct 2, Nov. 6, or Dec 4 Preparing for the Holidays Grief Workshop Nov 13 Stepping into Ministry September 18

Monday PM

Equipping/Leadership

Tuesday PM

Sunday PM

Wednesday PM

Jesus in the Gospels Sept 12-Nov 28 Mothers’ Fellowship Sept 12-Nov 14 How Do You Walk the Walk You Talk? Sept 12 - Nov 17

Financial Peace University Aug 24-Nov 16 Grief Share Support Group Sept 21-Dec 14 Leadership Asbury Sept 7-Sept 28 Shepherding a Child’s Heart Sept 7-Nov 2

Tuesday AM

Thursday PM

Believing God Sept 6-Nov 8 Christ and His Bride Sept 6-Nov 22 Daniel Sept 13–Nov 22 Kings And Prophets Sept 13-Nov 8

How to Study the Bible (II Peter ) Sept 2—Nov 10

Friday PM Successful Blending November 18

New Members Asbury Exploration Class 1 Sunday session Sept 11, Oct 2, Nov 6, or Dec 4 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm Room: Community Life Center Teachers: All Pastors and Sr. Staff Childcare by reservation No Cost 5

For complete descriptions of these courses, and to learn about Wednesday night opportunities for children, pick up an Asbury University brochure at any of the Welcome Centers... or log onto www.asburytulsa.org

Notes for the Journey

Sonria, Cristo le Ama By Lisa Tresch

heard on the news the other day that the town of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico is in a state of emergency. Drug trafficking and crime is running rampant in this border town that sits across the Rio Grande River from Laredo, Texas. There were several other snippets of news stories in that broadcast, but this one hit home. I left a little of my heart there once – in 1986, when I was nineteen and filled with passion for being one of those few who worked the plentiful harvest. Two years earlier I had stood in front of my church congregation and declared myself dedicated to “special service” for God. Missions. Ministry. Wherever. God had called me and I was ready to go. Nuevo Laredo was one of those wherever places, and I went like a runner sprinting out of the starting blocks. I had grown up on missionary testimonies and Women’s Missionary Union banquets and Lottie Moon offerings (if you are unsure what a Lottie Moon offering is, ask a Baptist friend – they’ll know.) In college, we actually had a missionary-in-residence

on campus. I was surrounded by missions. I thought I was going to help God change lives – like a one of the laborers in the field working for the Lord of the Harvest. But something very different took place in this border town. It began the moment Pastor Cereceras of the Primera Iglesia Bautista prayed for us during the first hour we arrived. He put his hands in the air and began to pray in Spanish, and suddenly the God that I had known since childhood got bigger. And His world seemed a little smaller. I should have come to this realization long before age nineteen, but I hadn’t. I should have listened closer to the missionary testimonies, and paid more attention when we were studying missions during Girls in Action (again, ask a Baptist what a GA is). If I had, maybe I wouldn’t have been so awed that God was very present in a place where my language was not spoken and my skin color was not predominant. Maybe I wouldn’t have been so amazed by the obvious fact that God understands all

languages and hears prayers that I cannot comprehend. On soccer fields, in backyard Bible clubs, in the homes of the people who made up this noisy, crowded city God was very present. He had been there all along, wrapping his arms around the brown-skinned children whose eyes danced with joy at the smallest pleasures. He had already tugged at the hearts of the older boys who tried to act tough as they roamed the dusty streets on worn out bicycles. Somehow I made the naïve assumption that we brought God with us to Nuevo Laredo. But he was already there, just as he is already in every corner of the world – even the darkest places where it seems His presence could never be felt. That summer, I learned that missions is mostly about showing up. God is working in places we cannot imagine because His love extends far beyond borders. When we show up, humble and obedient, we open ourselves up to be the vessels God uses to share his most beautiful message: Cristo le ama. Jesus loves you. 6

Sunday in Tanzania, East Africa or

“i got the goat!” By Mark McAdow awoke early on Sunday July 10, and crawled out from under my mosquito netting. I was staying at the Lutheran Jr. Seminary outside Morogoro, Tanzania as a member of Asbury’s Medical Mission Team. I was the new kid on the block(literally Block “D”). It was my first trip to Africa. I was serving as the Team pastor with Cherie Feken as our fearless Team Leader and fellow Asburians: Adrena Mahu, Douglas Harper, Pam O’Halloran, Chuck Scott, Phyllis Sheffield, Gary Smith and Terry and Gerri Lawson. After a quick breakfast of light yogurt, tea, toast and millet porridge, we loaded a bus and drove over an hour to Ko – a Kami community – for Morning(and afternoon!) Worship. We arrived about 9:00 AM to the thatched room open-air sanctuary. There were boards as pews and wooden benches for the American guests. Brightly dressed people began arriving over the next two hours(2 choirs arrived from neighboring villages; 1 hour by bike, 2 hours by foot). They wore matching t-shirts as their “choir robes.”

The choirs sang beautifully with great enthusiasm and volume – acapella! They not only sang, but danced too – in place and around the Church – literally! It was amazing! A taste of heaven on earth – African style! I had the privilege of bringing “greetings” to and sharing Scripture with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Tanzania. They smiled as Grant Miller – our Tanzanian missionary – interpreted for me – both my English and Swahili! I was invited to assist with Holy Communion by Herb – the Lutheran pastor who has invested 40 years of his life in Tanzania. It was my special joy to celebrate the sacrament with our team of Lutherans, Pentecostals, Catholics and United Methodists, as well as our Tanzanian brothers and sisters. The Worship Service ended around 2:00, just in time for a special auction to raise funds for a permanent Church building on that site. People joyfully brought their special offerings to the front of the sanctuary for the auction – corn, papaya, linen cloth, watermelons, a rooster(live-barely), sugar cane and a young white goat! With the help of a local pastor, I bought

a watermelon and bid on the goat. To my surprise – I got the goat too! It was a “steal” - only $50! So what do you do with a goat in Africa? We ate it – just kidding(no pun intended!). I gave it away to a deserving family with a one week old daughter at home( Grant actually transported the goat for me – thanks Grant! Sorry about the “incident” on the way home). After the auction, we sat down to eat what I lovingly refer to as the “Tanzania Special” – white rice, beans, goat?, greens and bottled water for the Americans! We left about 4:30 to head back home – well fed physically and spiritually. On Monday, we set up a Medical Clinic in another community - Fulwe – and served 1500 people in four days – dentists, doctors and nurses, optometrists and even a “Corner Pharmacy” were available to the patients. As I returned to Asbury for worship the next Sunday, I was struck by one of the songs we sang entitled, “You Said.” One verse says, “ Ask and I’ll give the nations to you, O Lord, that’s the joy of my heart. Distant shores and the islands will see Your Light as it rises on us.” My thoughts raced back to Africa. God is certainly expanding the joy in my heart and our hearts as a Church family for the nations of Estonia, Mexico, Tanzania, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Azerbaijan. I and others experienced first hand the truth of Psalms 67:3-4, “ May the peoples praise you, O God: May all the people praise you. May the nations by glad and sing for joy, for you rule peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.” God is certainly at work in the nations around the world! Bwana Asifiwe! – that’s Swahili for “Praise the Lord!”

College Students

in mission

College Students in Missions this past summer: Christy Miller--Cross World, Germany Christy Wackenhuth--New Tribes, Mission, Brazil Thomas Duke--Swaziland & South Africa (See letter page 34.) Lacey Heatly--Student Mobilzation, India Brett Wagner--Student Mobilization, Kaleo, Florida Brittan Heatly--Student Mobilization, Kaleo, Colorado Lindsay Grabowski--South Africa, Zambia Abbey Murphy--The Traveling Team, IT Project, Los Angeles “Taking a short term mission trip is a lot like trying to take just one bite of your favorite cookie, it leaves you wanting more. My experiences in short term missions have changed my life in ways I could never have imagined. It has affected large and small aspects of my life, from changing my major to better prepare me for full time missions to not being able to go out to dinner with out thinking about how much food is wasted at the end of the meal that could be used elsewhere. God is slowly breaking my heart for the things that His heart breaks for and I’m loving every minute of it. Although it can be overwhelming at times I love that the things of this world are slowly starting to seem foreign, and that I wake up every day wanting to know more of God.” -Tori Guruswamy Christy’s first experience with missions was a spring break trip in 110th grade with Asbury youth. Since that trip Christy realizes that God’s purpose for her life is to “make disciples of all nations.” This summer Christy spent a month in Brazil living with the natives of the Canamari village. Although Christy doesn’t know where God will send her, it is in missions. -Karen Wackenhuth

Victoria (Tori) has found her vocation or calling in mission, and this would not have happened but for Asbury. As always we remain two grateful parents. -June and Lakshman Guruswamy

“Vocation or calling is a certain kind of life ordained and imposed on man by God for the common good.” -William Perkins

It is an inspiration seeing how God is using Brett! Kaleo has provided him with a wonderful opportunity to share the “Good News” with strangers and co-workers alike. It is a ministry that has proved to be a great benefit to Brett and those he’s come in contact with. Praise God! -Carl and Jay Wagner

Christy has felt God calling her into missions for a long time. This trip to Germany has been on her mind for several years and took a lot of planning and preparation. It was amazing to me how God provided everything from financial needs to incredible Christian people already serving there. The past missions trips Christy went on with Asbury involved sharing God’s word while meeting physical needs of the people. In Germany, the people she witnessed to were not underprivileged. She had a special challenge to get the attention of youth and share with them. She was surprised to find that some of the parents of the youth were not supportive of the Christian faith. She was also surprised that some of the churches in Germany were used only for formal events such as weddings and funerals and some were even headed by non-believers. I believe that God uses Christy to reach people even when she’s not actually teaching. Her life is such a good example of how Christians are learning and growing at the same time they’re teaching and sharing God’s love. -Terri Miller 8

Showing the

love of Christ t was a year of life transitions. It was a year of major decisions. It was a lifechanging year. It was 1997, and it was the year Carrie Clifford came to know Jesus in an up-close and personal way. Yes, she had known about Jesus. In fact, she’d known about him for a long time. But now he lived in her heart. Now, she surrendered all to him. Now she had a personal and living relationship with him. It was no longer just “head” knowledge; it was “heart” knowledge. And it was life changing! Not content to just “sit” on her salvation, Carrie began seeking God’s will for her life. Where did God want her to serve? How could she use her gifts and talents for the Lord? That same year, she put her faith into action and went on her first regional missionary trip to Sulfur, OK. The goal of the trip was to provide home improvement to needy families. She quickly learned that a

person does not need to go overseas or to another country to be a missionary. There is a mission field all around us and throughout the state of Oklahoma. Carrie also discovered that she loved the hands-on style of these regional outreach projects: building a fence, planting flowers or shrubs, painting a house, and serving meals. In effect, showing the love of Christ by meeting the physical needs of those in need. As the writer tells us in James 2:15, 16: Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?(NIV) Carrie loves helping people and her heart is in regional outreach ministry, especially those ministries that affect children. As Carries puts it, “Children have little or no control over their situation and surroundings.” Consequently, she is especially drawn

to those areas that focus on the needs of children. As chairperson of the Regional Outreach Council, she is constantly in motion; constantly doing something to help others. Putting her faith into action. Sharing the love of Christ by lending a helping hand. Meeting spiritual needs by first meeting physical needs. The joy in her heart is evident in her smile, and her love for Christ is evident in her actions. She has discovered another great truth, too. She has learned, in the words of Joyce Meyer, “To let go, and let God.” Our heavenly Father will take care of us. He promises to meet all of our needs. She shares her life with James, her husband of three years. They met at a Bible study for singles. What was the topic of the Bible study? The Book of James. A coincidence? No, just another testimony to “letting go, and letting God.” -Marcia Curley

“THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL, BUT THE LABORERS ARE FEW; THEREFORE BESEECH THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND LABORERS INTO HIS HARVEST.”. . . LUKE 10:2

issions. What does it mean? Oxford’s Dictionary defines it as “a particular task or goal assigned to or assumed by a person or group.” Many students in youth know it as a way to show God’s love to other people, whether those people are homeless, or just like them. Asbury Student Ministries gives the youth a lot of ways to experience this, starting with Spring Break. Before my seventh grade year, Spring Break was spent in front of the television or sleeping. In seventh grade, I got an amazing opportunity to go on a mission trip with the church to Houston, Texas. I was nervous before we left because I had never done anything so big. The bus ride was nine hours and all we wanted when we go to the church where we were staying was a good night’s rest. It felt weird, sleeping in such a strange place and to think we’d be here for seven whole days. By the next day, which was Sunday, we knew that this was going to be an awesome experience. That week, I made such great friends and we did so many things, like play with kids at a low-income housing project and spend the day at an Alzheimer’s day care. One day, we left at 6:30 a.m. to feed homeless people at a church. We truly felt God and opened our hearts to God together. We didn’t even care if we were crying because God was with us. That was the beginning of experiencing God through missions. That wasn’t the only place that we served God through missions. Earlier this year, we began going to Photos Submitted. 10

Showing God’s Love

with others the Day Center for the Homeless on Saturdays. We would pile into a people mover and a large car and drive up to the Day Center to spend the day working. We organized clothing, sorted toiletries, and helped people at the center find the clothing they needed. The Day Center for the Homeless is unique because it is the only homeless shelter in the United States that provides more than the bare necessities to the people it cares for. Another experience JuniorHighers had was Tulsa Missions, July 12-14, where we served God in our backyard. The first day, Tuesday, my group went to St. Mark’s United Methodist and read to the kids for something called Project Transformation. Then, after lunch, we went to Comanche Park, a place for kids to hang out near a low-income housing project. We played pool, air hockey, Ping-Pong, foosball, and other games.

The next day, we were told to prepare for some really hot weather. We were gardening and pulling out weeds at St. Luke’s Methodist Church. Later, we went to one of our leaders’ house and made cookies and cards to give to fireman. It was nice being inside after four hours in the hot sun. And the fireman enjoyed the cookies. The next day, which was Thursday and the last day, the first half of the day we went to John 3:16 and fed the men who went through the program there. It was great because we got to hear some of their stories, but it got us a little hungry. After a lunch we had been waiting for, we went to a place called Gatesway and hung out with mentally and physically disabled people. Sometimes it was hard to hear what they were saying, but you could tell they liked us being there. I met a man in a wheelchair and played games with him. We let him win sometimes, but

other times, he truly beat us. Even though he asked what my name was five or six times, he was a good conversationalist and loved to play Connect Four and dominoes. It was a little awkward for us because we weren’t around that very often, but it was for the people and for God and we kept our heads high, showing the love of the One who saved us. Then, that night, we had worship at the church and were off to Celebration Station to celebrate what an amazing week we had. As a junior high student, I have learned so many things that can be summed up in such a strong and powerful word: Love. Love is what God wants us to show to everyone. No matter what. To love your family, your friends, the less fortunate, or even the more fortunate, is what God wants and missions is a great way to show it. -Erin Tresch

Asbury Focus areas

around the globe our focus areas-Central/ South America, Estonia, Tanzania and Azerbaijanand four team leaders-Frank, Bill, Dave and Kevin. Read the stories of these men, and their wives, making a difference at Asbury and around the globe. Frank Lester joined Asbury shortly after his marriage to Donna Kent about 1980. Almost immediately Bonnie and Cecil Tyree, seasoned veterans, “claimed” them, nurtured them and drew them into the work of missions in our church. In 1987 Frank and Donna were asked by Mary Ann Smith to lead Asbury’s first-ever volunteer (VIM) medical missions team to Mexico. Over the next several years they led a series of teams and encouraged their daughters, as they grew older, to join them. In 1997 Frank went with Bill Abernathy and Dwight Yoder to Tanzania on an exploratory mission trip. In 1998 Frank returned to Tanzania to lay the groundwork and in 1999 he led the first medical mission team to Tanzania. Since that time Frank has gone with almost every medical team and he serves as the team leader for the Kami project-continuing to oversee the link between Asbury and Tanzania to this day. Bill and Claudia Abernathy came to Asbury in 1988 and a few years later they volunteered to represent their community, Couples for Christ, on the Missions Commission. In 1995 Asbury had a desire to pursue an “Adopt-a-People” project.

Bill offered his help and in 1997 the Kami people of Tanzania were “adopted” by Asbury. In January 2001, Bill was part of a team that explored adopting a second unreached people group and that effort resulted in the adoption of the Azeri people a year later. Bill and others have made a number of trips to Central Asia since then, and we are now supporting the international facilitator of the Azeri Partnership and also assisting in scripture translation efforts. This fall about six Asbury members will travel to Central Asia to spend about ten days on a construction and teaching mission. Bill and the Caspian Ministry Team are continuing to pray and seek God’s direction for the future of this vital partnership. Dave Wuellner had already worked in Mexico and was fluent in Spanish when he signed up for his first mission trip to Mexico with Gail Knox about 1992. He was so touched that he quickly made three more trips. Knowing that he had a passion for this area of the world, Dave took the VIM training and was soon leading teams to El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama. It was then decided to concentrate on one area at a time to develop more of a partnership with small Mexican churches, helping them grow and become self-sustaining. They began in San Fernando, then on to Monterrey to help the Methodist seminary and its students. Dave Wuellner now leads three trips a year south of the border. “This is a starting point for getting people into missions,” Dave said with characteristic enthusiasm.

Kevin and Denise Jeter came to Asbury about 1982, and, like the Abernathys, they were “introduced” to missions by serving as Missions Commission representatives from the Couples for Christ class. They continued on the Commission as “at-large” members and later Kevin chaired the Commission. In 1997 they began accompanying the youth of Asbury, including their two daughters, on Spring Break missions trips. Houston, Nashville, Jamaica and Guatemala mission trips were the norm for the Jeter family in the years that followed. In 1998 Kevin went to Estonia for the first time to do construction work at the Baltic Mission Center. He has gone back five times since then, and has been, for most of that time, the team leader for Estonia. “Our future work in Estonia will be more evangelistic in nature,” Kevin said. “We want to develop even stronger personal relationships with the Estonian ministry leaders and help their churches become more selfsupporting.” -Donna Miller

Living her Passion

for missions ncouraged by friends Bill and Trudy Brown, Nancy went on her first mission trip in 1987 to McCurdy School in Espanola, New Mexico. She worked in the office answering phones and doing general office work. That was 18 years ago. Thus began Nancy’s love affair with missions. A woman with vast involvements during her 32 years at Asbury, you can tell by the enthusiasm in her voice and the sparkle of her eyes that asking about missions has given you a glimpse into the depths of her heart. She has been to New Mexico, Kentucky, Alaska, Slovakia, Ukraine and Estonia. In each place, she found the people unique and enjoyed the richness of their culture. In Red Bird, Kentucky, an impoverished area, she found the people gracious with a vast store of folk stories and music. After going with a VIM team, she made subsequent trips one her own. Nancy also went on a several Volunteers in Mission (VIM) trips to Seward, Alaska where she helped with Vacation Bible School. In 1995, Nancy returned for the summer. Perhaps the most significant aspect of her mission experiences has been the relationships formed in parts of the former Soviet Union—Slovakia and Ukraine. In 1996, Nancy had

agreed to be a volunteer host for work groups going to an orphanage in Bosnia. That trip was cancelled. “I got a cryptic message from Larry Acton (Oklahoma VIM Coordinator) saying, ‘Bosnia, no; Slovakia, yes.’ So, we were to go to Slovakia instead. I went early before the teams arrived. I stayed with the pastor from the Ukraine, Alexander Merzliakov and his wife, Oda and their child, Julia (pronounced Yula),” said Nancy. From that initial visit Nancy formed lasting friendships that have blossomed throughout the years. Since then she has returned each year (except 2002 following 9/11). During that first trip to Slovakia the VIM teams worked on a house that was to be renovated as a church. As host, she usually let the teams work and she served primarily as the “chief bottle washer. I would clear up and put away. I couldn’t do the cooking because their foods and methods of cooking were unfamiliar. So, I washed the dishes in the sink of the bathroom of that old house and put racks over the tub where I placed the dishes to dry,” Nancy explained. Since that first trip Nancy has returned eight times. “They are like family. Julia has now graduated from high school and the Asbury UMW has awarded her a five-year scholarship so she can attend college at the University of Lugansk. “They (the UMW, the Friendship Community and the Mission Dept.) usually sent me with money to be

used to help the Merzliakov’s and their church. Once while I was there, their washing machine went out. I was able to pay for a new washer with some of the monies provided by Asbury. Another time a pastor’s car stopped working and I was able to buy parts so it could be repaired.” Recently, Nancy went to Estonia. They worked in The Lighthouse, a day center for poor children, often on the streets. There they receive licensed care, a meal, help with school work, but most importantly, attention and love. Their team scraped and painted the back of the building. They also worked at Camp Gideon where they did lawn work and made construction repairs. Nancy wants to encourage everyone to go on a mission trip. “I know not everyone can go, but everyone can do something. One year a pastor brought a group that included an 81-year-old woman. Someone asked her, ‘What do you do?’ “’Well,’ she replied, ‘I don’t do anything but I attend services and Bible studies. I just come and represent my church and other Methodists.’ “’Ah-h,’ said the pastor, ‘you have the gift of presence.’ She had worried because she couldn’t do all the work that those younger could do, but she could reach their hearts and encourage others just by her presence,” said Nancy. “My goal is to let individuals know there is something you can do— give your time, money, prayers, or encouragement. Missions began at Asbury through the efforts of three couples—Bill and Trudy Brown, Rex and Gladys Smith, and Cecil and Bonnie Tyree. Now, we’re known as a very generous mission church.” -Sandy Wagner

Dean and Jessie Cox prepare meals to be delivered to the elderly.

For the Least

of these

illie is old, frail, and of modest means. She worked hard all her life, and all she wants is to remain in her own home. She wakes up on a Monday, not with despair, but with hope, because her Meals on Wheels driver will come today. She relishes the nutritional meal, but even more she looks forward to the sound of a friend’s voice at the door and the touch of a friend’s hand. Each weekday, 2500 volunteers mobilize to feed Millie and nearly 2000 other hungry people across the Tulsa metropolitan area. The volunteers come by ones and twos to gather at fourteen geographically-based serving centers. Recently, I visited with Dean and Jessie Cox, long-time members of Asbury, about their work with Meals on Wheels. Dean and Jessie get up before the sun rises, so they can be at the church kitchen at 58th and Sheridan by seven o’clock. Jessie begins by sanitizing the tables, while Dean prepares to receive the large thermal boxes stacked with trays of food from the delivery truck. Dean checks the temperature of the food in each tray to be sure it is safely above 140 degrees.

I wondered how Dean and Jessie managed to reach the kitchen so early on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday all year long. Dean grew up on a ranch south of Dodge City, Kansas. Jessie was raised in Eldorado, Oklahoma. Early rising and hard work were a way of life in the western parts of these states. Dean attended Kansas University, and Jessie graduated from Oklahoma University. It was at a wedding, where Jessie was her college roommate’s bridesmaid and Dean the soloist, that a spark was lit, and marriage followed. Hard work continued for Dean as vice president of a plumbing supply company. After their children were older, Jessie continued her profession as a social worker. Today Dean and Jessie have two grandchildren in Dallas and one in Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, other volunteers come to help fill the individual containers and seal them before stacking the food in twenty-six thermal boxes, half hot and half cold. Thirteen teams of drivers arrive next and load a hot and a cold thermal box into their cars before heading out on their routes. After that, Bill and Mary leave one of the fourteen serving centers and

stop at Millie’s house. Bill stays in the car with the food, while Mary goes to the door. Millie opens the door with a smile. Millie and Mary chat for a minute. Mary lays her hand on the wrinkled arm and gently squeezes, leaving a love print. Mary walks briskly back to the car without looking back. It’s easier that way. Bill shifts into gear and heads to the next hungry friend. After the meals are ready for delivery, Dean and Jessie help clean up the kitchen. On Mondays they go directly from the church to Cancer Treatment Centers of America, where they will work until three o’clock. I asked, “Why do you work so hard.” One spoke and the other agreed, “It’s not work. It’s fun meeting so many wonderful people.” As I left their home, I thought, “Dean and Jessie have heard Jesus say, ‘Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for Me.’” -John C. Westervelt Editor’s note: If you would like to help Meals on Wheels as a volunteer or with a contribution, contact Asbury’s Gladys Murphy, board member, or Linda Shaffer, coordinator.

“BE QUICK TO GIVE A MEAL TO THE HUNGRY, A BED TO THE HOMELESS – CHEERFULLY. BE GENEROUS WITH THE DIFFERENT THINGS GOD GAVE YOU, PASSING THEM AROUND SO ALL GET IN ON IT! ”. . . I PETER 4:9-10 (THE MESSAGE)

Bringing Encouragement to a

wounded world ven though his name was “Tex,” he was a fan of OSU. A wellworn cap proclaimed his support for the Pokes, and was dotted with pins from states and causes. Brownish-grey hair curled out around his ears, and his beard was scraggly and soiled. Aging blue eyes bore through you and pled that you look past the thin frame, stained shirt and worn jeans … into his life, into his mind, into his heart. “I don’t have much,” he said, “but I’ve got the love of God and I want to share it with you.” He proceeded to give eight south Tulsa girls his handmade leather key chains, all the while speaking of his faith and of his hope. “These people are just like you,” Christy Capps instructed a packed room of fifth and sixth grade kids. “They had homes and families just like you, so don’t look down on them because they’re at the homeless shelter or hanging around the bus station. Chances are something very sad has happened in their lives and they’re just trying to survive.” With that, nearly two hundred VBS kids and adult sponsors headed out over a three-day period, to Tulsa’s Day Center for the Homeless, Tulsa Transit Authority and Murdock Villa. Welcome to the new VBS. When Christy, Missy Cooper, and Cathy Carney got together to design the 2005 VBS Challenge Camp, their goal was to step up the challenge, and provide opportunities for these kids to be vessels of encouragement and compassion to a

Day Center for the Homeless photo taken by Christy Campps. Photo at Murdock Village by Tony Conway.

wounded world. The results of their vision, and the work of camp directors Kathy Owens and Julie Tarwater, fairly shout for themselves. Depending on the group they were in, these VBSer’s cleaned windows and benches, passed out bus tokens, bottles of water and fruit, and played games with disabled adults. They sorted and dispensed over 1,000 toiletry items donated by Asbury families, and played with homeless children at the day center. They made WWJD bracelets, and tied them on the wrists of children and adults alike as one of our sixth grade girls tearfully whispered, “I wish I had more to give.” They and their adult sponsors ministered in these ways, and so many more …and the cause of Christ was triumphed in downtown Tulsa last June. It’s well-known that the fifth and sixth grade years are tough for kids. They’re not children and they’re not teens … they’re “inbetweens.” They want more, but they’re not sure of what. They need your trust, but struggle trusting themselves. However, in the opinion of this year’s fifth and sixth grade leadership, there’s 185 kids out there now with a little less “struggling” ahead of them than when summer first began. They’ve learned they don’t need as much as they have, that family is everything, and that God must look an awful lot like a homeless man named “Tex,” with a handful of key chains and a heart full of love. -Debbie Wallis

Serving the Poor and Unemployed

with medical care ecently a team of physicians, nurses and other volunteers from Tulsa traveled to assist a Russian community by offering their services in a free medical clinic. Some 50 individuals were seen in their first two hours of operation. Among those served was a survivor of Chernobyl; a woman whose gratitude led her to act as an interpreter, in subsequent clinics, for her Russian-speaking neighbors. Where was this clinic held? In Estonia? Somewhere in the region of the Caspian Sea? How about – midtown Tulsa. The Russian community in question is one of several sites in Tulsa visited regularly by volunteers working with Good Samaritan Health Services. GSHS reaches out to the

“working poor, the unemployed, single parents, children living at or below the poverty line and isolated seniors” – especially those without health insurance. A non-profit organization, GSHS is funded by contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations. Donated medications are used to stock the mobile pharmacy. Prescriptions are refilled for individuals at the clinics every two weeks, as supplies allow. Diane Murphy, an Asbury member, is a registered nurse who volunteers with GSHS, and serves as Asbury’s liaison with the outreach. Diane’s training at ORU prepared her to practice “nursing for the whole person: mind, body and spirit.” This mindset fits hand in glove with Good Samaritan’s “spiritually integrated,

holistic approach to healthcare.” Diane can be found at clinics working as the Intake nurse: interviewing patients to find out what symptoms they are experiencing, taking vital signs, logging current medications and most importantly, praying with those who come for care. Good Samaritan “uses the ministry of medicine and healthcare to open doors, change lives, and build relationships.” It is really no surprise then, to find out that Diane cared for and prayed with the woman who later became the clinic translator. Whether we go abroad to help those who are in need, or find places to serve others in our hometown, the mission is the same: “To offer a cup of cold water in the name of Christ.” -Lea Spencer

It is hard to pick a “favorite” mission trip. Each is unique and as different as the people who serve, the people we meet, and the places we go. Having gone to Tanzania twice (first to encourage Grant and to see our work; then to take Joshua and Jessee) were wonderful experiences. W e have been able to see great results from our investment in Tanzania. Hundreds and hundreds of people have come to Christ there. We have been able to assist in starting new churches. W e have provided for their physical needs, too. Our medical teams have done dental work, provided glasses, and distributed medicine. I can’t describe the impact of putting a water well into a village. Undoubtedly, my favorite mission experience moment was when Russ McBroom came running down the road, his voice an octave higher, shouting, “Tom! Tom! It works! They have water!” (The impact upon Josh and Jessee were also tremendous, and I look forward to Dana and Jeffrey going with me in 2006.) Our 1994 trip to Estonia had a great impact upon me. After touring a former Soviet youth camp, Phil Baxter asked the missionary how much the camp would cost. When told it was about $35,000, Phil said, “Asbury will buy it!” I was shocked! I thought, “How can we ever raise such an extraordinary sum of money?” Led by generous people like Col. Frank Tandy, in a very short period, we raised the money. That former Soviet youth camp is now “Camp Gideon” where hundreds of Estonian children, youth and adults go to a Methodist camp each summer. As I told our people in Tanzania, “W e have so much (in material goods), yet we have so little (in friendship). They have so little (in material goods) yet have so much (in friendship.” What happens when we go? People on both sides of the aisle are blessed. Mission trips are a great example of the saying, “Win-Win!” -Tom Harrison Senior Pastor

true happiness. Recently, I was able to spend time with Florencio and Maria Guzman in Monterrey, Mexico. We visited five churches in various stages of construction that Florencio and Maria have started and nurtured. How encouraged I am to see what has been accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit through the Guzmans to help little children hear and experience the love of Over the almost 40 years that Jayne and I have been a part of the Tulsa Asbury family one of the single most “life changing” experiences we have offered laity and staff is short-term mission trips. Why would I say that? There is something “life changing” that happens in the life of a Christian when they leave family and what for them is their “comfort zone” and spend 24 hours a day for however long the commitment is to invest their time, talents and love in the life or lives of others in a far different culture. We came home much more committed to Jesus and with a lifelong desire to reach others for Jesus. After Tom Harrison’s first trip to Tanzania, he told us that that he could see how happy the people were and how little (of material things) they had. I have had the same experience. Things are not what make the Christian happy. It is Jesus living in us that brings

story continued after we left. Since Byron recommitted his life to Christ, his 16 year old brother David has given his own life to Jesus and is now hearing God’s call into pastoral ministry. For me, missions is about relationships, winning people to Jesus one friendship at a time. -Dick Read Pastor for Biblical Literacy

Jesus—right where they live. I pray that Asbury will always keep reaching out through our laity to people around our world. -Bill Mason Pastor Emeritus My favorite missions memory keeps changing because my favorite is always from the most recent trip. And my favorite memory is almost always of someone that I befriended. 20 year old Byron lives with his wife and daughter in a high crime, crushing poverty area in Guatemala City. Byron was hopelessly without work for months until he found a painting job just after our mission. Four days into our friendship, with the help of our translator, Hugo, Byron recommitted his life to Jesus. Months later, I continue to fellowship with Hugo via e-mail, while he makes personal contact with Byron. And the amazing

The first mission trip I ever went on was to Juarez, Mexico my sophomore year in high school (I would return my senior year). As sophomore I am not sure I understood the weight of what I was participating in or the impact that it would have on my life beyond the fact that I was spending a week with my best friends working on a project together. As I have matured I have learned that there is no better way to experience the grace, love and presence of God than to participate in the grace and love of God. -Todd Craig Pastor with College & Young Adults My first thought about going on a mission trip was can I actually adapt to this new environment and sleep in a rugged, bare bone cabin and get up in the middle of the night and go to the outhouse (bathroom). Quite an amazing thought coming from one who said, “Lord where you send me I will go.” It was evident that I needed God’s grace to get through this week, and as usual, God did not disappoint. I had a wonderful fulfilling time and my favorite mission experience was during the Rio Bravo, Mexico mission trip

where I assisted the eye doctors by finding the correct lens for each person and placing the glasses on their eyes; their faces would breakout into these big smiles because they were able to see. One of the blessings came when I actually was able to place the glasses that I had donated on the face of a mother holding her baby on her lap. -Darlene Johnson Pastor with Women

While leading a youth mission trip one summer, I recalled how I had to be very diplomatic (meaning “tricky”) in getting this particular group of students to go on the trip. They had not had a mission experience before, so for most this was their firm experience of working for someone else without receiving compensation. In fact, it was going to cost them money for the trip expenses. Billed as a trip to SAN DIEGO (and Mexico), I took the group to Tijuana where we worked at the city dump with another mission outreach from the area. We distributed clothing and food and we washed the little children who only got baths when this ministry came to the dump. After working at the dump several days, we had one day left which we had scheduled to go to the beach. One of the students most likely to want to go to the beach asked, “Do we have to go to the beach tomorrow? Can’t we go back to Mexico to work for our last day?” When all agreed this would be best, the student said, “I feel really funny inside.” Then, after a pause he said, “I guess this is what it feels like when it says, ‘It’s more blessed to give than to receive.’” Finally, he said, “Man! This is better than a Van Halen concert!” -Dub Ambrose Pastor with Men

playground, I would tell them that I was once like them. I hope that one day Asbury will extend its mission work to Sierra Leone. -Judith Banya Pastor of Missions

One of my favorite memories of a mission trip was to Kenya in East Africa in 1986, where I attended the World Methodist Conference and then spent three weeks visiting and working in various mission stations. In Meru of northern Kenya, I visited with a young man, Stanley Emoonya, who had been converted in the mission there and who wanted to come to America to study and prepare to teach in the Methodist Hospital there. It was arranged and a year later he came to Oklahoma City University and we were honored to have him stay in our home for several weeks. Later his wife, Mary, came over and both of them completed their degrees and went back to the hospital in Meru where they are serving now. -David Thomas Pastor with Senior Adults

I have only been on one mission trip and that was to my home country Sierra Leone in February of 2002. The team was from Minnesota where I had served before. Before the war Minnesota use to send about two mission teams to my country every year. This was the first after the war. We had planned this trip before I relocated to Atlanta and so I joined them in Minneapolis for the trip. We worked at the United Methodist Eye Clinic at Kissy. It is the best eye clinic in the country. People start pouring in from the wee hours of the day. Those with the expertise assisted the doctors and

nurses in the general daily work of the clinic and the rest of us did whatever we could do around the clinic. This included a lot of cleaning equipment and putting them in order. A lot of dust comes into the clinic from the dusty environment. Every work day starts with a devotion led by one of the nurses. Dr. Lowell Gess from Alexandria Minnesota started the clinic many years ago. Dr. Gess himself lived in Sierra Leone since the early fifties. When he retired and returned to Alexandria he encouraged eye doctors in training to go to Sierra Leone for three months until an indigenous doctor was trained. Dr. Gess and his wife Ruth still go back and work at the clinic and usually stay for three months each time. Since I used to be the coordinator of work teams before coming to America, it was interesting when people would say to me: “So now you are on the other side.” As tean members looked at children playing in the dusty

Many of my trips as Chaplain for Parker Drilling would take me into the interior and way off the beaten paths where most would travel. One of these was on a Saturday morning deep in the heart of Papua New Guinea to a small village of about 400 people. I was fortunate to find an individual who spoke fairly good English so he translated as I walked about visiting with the population. After about four or five hours of holding babies, eating fresh-cut pineapple, shooting marbles with the kids, talking about Jesus, I asked, “Do you know Jesus my friend?” “Yes! I know him” Do you know him, too?” It didn’t take me long to figure out someone had been there long before me, but in a small way I was able to reinforce that earlier visit. The conclusion of this visit was, and is most of the time, that I was far more blessed by them as they ministered to me with their simple uncomplicated faith. -Sonny Plischke Pastor of Care

Students Sharing the Gospel

during their vacations ook up “devotion” in the dictionary and one of the definitions you’ll find is “feelings of ardent love.” But look at our Asbury students involved in spring break and summer missions and you’ll see a devotion to Christ that goes beyond feelings. They put it into action. Students, grades 9-12, chose to spend their spring break sharing the gospel - 77 traveled to Mexico and 44 to Guatemala. Thirty-five students were a part of “Summer of Service”, a week-long mission project providing ministry to local organizations here in Tulsa. Some of our students share their experiences:

Rachel Read - Guatemala One of my favorite moments was spending the evening with girls from Casa Bernabe, an orphanage outside of Guatemala City. They were all my age. We had a dance party, taught the girls cheers and caught an oven mitt on fire while trying to cook. Not once did a language barrier affect our relationships - we were just a bunch of teenage girls enjoying each other’s company and being silly. Their joy was a witness of God’s love to us and it made me want to share my joy with others.

Alex Points - Guatemala At the Potter’s House we paved

eight alleyways and made and handed out sandwiches (1,000 in one day!). But our most important task was sharing Christ and praying with the people. One day at lunch, I heard a young boy, who had nearly nothing, pray that the Lord would bless us! We saw immense joy in the adults - just to have paved streets. These people taught me more about faith and trusting in Jesus than I could have taught them.

Lauren Guidry - Mexico I remember a specific experience when we were in a prayer line and a young boy and his little brother came and asked us to pray that they could have food to eat. Then he broke into tears. After that the whole group took them in and throughout the week we gave them candy and treated them with lots of love, it was amazing! This trip to Mexico brought a deep peace to me, a peace with my family, my life and towards my journey to seek Jesus.

Ben Dalton - Mexico We performed a drama in the streets of Reynosa that depicted how God sent Jesus to save us from our sin. After we finished the drama, a translator told how the story they just saw really did happen! We explained

how Jesus walked the earth, died and actually rose from the dead. We formed a prayer line to pray for those who were accepting Christ or those who were just in need of prayer of healing. It was amazing to see how a simple 30-minute play impacted those people so much.

Josh Arnett - SOS During VBS at John 3:16 Mission, a boy named Jaylon was finishing up a color sheet at the end of the day. He didn’t have crayons at home or money to buy some, so a fellow student leader, Alex, said he would finish the sheet for him. As Jaylon was leaving, he told me, “Alex is my best friend.” I realized these kids aren’t surrounded by people who always care or help them understand God’s will for their lives. But I sensed a peace from God that Jaylon was going to grow up, be loyal to God and a leader for his generation. Thank you to our Asbury family for your support of student missions. Through the generous giving of your finances, time, effort and prayers, you have made an eternal investment – in the lives of our students and in lives of those people they touch. -Nikki Boyd

Making a Difference in

our world very Sunday morning volunteers load lunch sacks in the men’s choir robe room with snacks brought by Chancel Choir members. After the 11:00 a.m. service each week Floyd and Marilyn Plummer load up rolling carts with the “snack sacks” and deliver them to the Ronald McDonald House. RMH, a non-profit organization, is a home-away-from-home for families whose children are being cared for in a Tulsa hospital. The House provides a place where the whole family can stay in a home-like environment and find support as they share with other families who are also undergoing the trauma of childhood illness. Marilyn Plummer is a volunteer at the RMH. Four years ago the Plummers came to the choir with the idea of providing snack suppers for the RMH as an outreach to people who are alone in Tulsa and could use some sort of comfort. The Plummers had been supplying the snack sacks themselves but realized when the sacks became so popular at the House that they needed help. Families at RMH take the snack sacks for long

days at the hospital or eat them in place of dinner when the dinner hour is missed at the House. The Chancel Choir members cheerfully took on the opportunity to reach out. On the second Sunday of the month each vocal section brings an assigned snack—sopranos, box drinks; altos, fruit or pudding cups; tenors, granola or fruit bars and basses, cheese or peanut butter crackers. Marilyn and her volunteers work each Sunday morning putting together enough sacks for the coming week. When we began the project our biggest problem was storage space at our old church. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of the choir members who, though instructed to buy only 10-12 individually wrapped snacks, brought snacks “in bulk!” We moved music to every nook and cranny to find enough storage space for our project. When we moved to our new facility we set up a work station specifically for the snack sacks in the men’s robe room. The Chancel Choir members have faithfully brought their assignments for the past four years. Shortly after joining the choir, Marilyn

Rhodes recalls hearing about this project, “I was so impressed that that choir was doing this--and many other things. I have been around church choirs whose members thought that they did enough by just showing up every Wednesday for rehearsal and every Sunday for the service – not so with our bunch. They can’t seem to find enough to do!” The staff at RHM wrote in their July newsletter, “No words can express how grateful we are for the invaluable service to our guest families that the Asbury Chancel Choir provides.” Sometimes when faced with overwhelming needs we can feel that as individuals we have little to offer. But if everyone does just one small thing, as a group, we can make a huge impact. The choir members always go the extra mile whether it is in sharing their time, talents or financial blessings. From bringing 162 bears to the Care Ministry to taking on 95 boys from the Salvation Army Angel Tree no one had chosen, to funding the Amey Mason Memorial Scholarship, the Chancel Choir members believe that as a group they can make a difference in our world! -Marti Morris

A Beacon of Hope for Special Children

the little lighthouse By Marilyn Bartlett s a native Tulsa, I have heard of The Little Lighthouse (LLH) throughout its 32 years of operation. My first specific memory was touring the “new” facility at 36th & Yale during an open house in 1990. The children were not there at the time, so I regarded it as a lovely building with lost of nice equipment for physically challenged children. My first awareness of the scope of the Lighthouse’s ministry came when Missy Mitchell (founder Marcia Mitchell’s daughter) came to sing and give her testimony at the Mariners’ Sunday School class at Asbury. Her beautiful golden hair and golden voice thrilled the class, and we were spellbound by the testimony of her blindness and how God led her mother to develop the Little Lighthouse for her and other sightless children. Marcia Mitchell wanted the school to be Christ-centered as well as child-centered, and she hired staff that met those specifications. Throughout the years Marcia’s ministry expanded to include physical challenges other than sight impairment. Missy’s testimony spoke to my heart and gave me a wonderful insight into how The Little Lighthouse was meeting the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs of its special children. I did not know then what a personal impact The Little Lighthouse would have on our family. On October 9, 1999, our precious grandson, Danny, was born in Champaign, Illinois. He arrived about

six weeks early and was delivered by emergency C-section. When son Jonathan called us with the news of Danny’s birth he repeated to us the words of the physician, “healthy baby, healthy mommy”. We caught the first flight to Champaign and arrived at the NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit) to find a beautiful four-pound baby boy. He was small and on a “precautionary” ventilator with lots of wires and tubes protruding from his tiny body, but he looked wonderfully perfect to us. The next day our happy world crashed when the doctors informed us that Danny was not doing well and needed to be life-flighted to a higher level of care hospital. It was thought that he had a heart problem. We rushed to St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois, to meet the helicopter carrying our tiny bundle. After many days and tests, it was determined that Danny did not have a heart problem, but probably a genetic, metabolic disorder. Throughout the course of his first year, including many emergency trips to the hospital, monitors, ventilators, nasal feeding tubes, and bouts with RSV (a serious respiratory virus), a muscle biopsy was done and a diagnosis was made: a rare mitochondrial myopathy – Cytochrome C Oxidase Deficiency. In layman’s terms, he did not store energy and very easily and quickly became acidotic. The doctors were pessimistic in their prognosis: Danny would live a very short time, never smile, never move about, never react

to his environment, etc., etc. But, we felt that God had bigger and better plans than that for our Danny. Danny’s Mommy and Daddy (Christa and our son Jonathan) were heroic in their efforts to care for Danny and maximize the length and quality of his life. They moved back to Tulsa (God provided a great job for Jon) to be closer to family and began investigating their resources. In his first months Danny had already begun to smile and recognize familiar faces. He loved for people to read to him and his giggle was absolutely contagious. He would start laughing when we approached funny parts of favorite books, so we knew he was comprehending. Not only was Danny growing and developing, he was learning to move about using what we called the “Danny Scoot”. But while he was making progress, there were constant trips to the emergency room and agonizing decisions regarding his treatment, medications, and diet, as Danny was still tube-fed. His disorder was so rare that there were no set procedures to follow, so all decisions were new territory. onathan and Christa visited The Little Lighthouse and were so impressed with the loving Christian atmosphere and skilled educators that they put Danny on the waiting list. When Danny was 4, there was an opening for him and he became a student in Miss Julie’s class. What a blessing The Little Lighthouse was to Danny! The first

week was a bit traumatic for everyone. Danny and Mommy cried a lot, as they were not used to being separated. But the caring staff at TLLH comforted and cared for both of them. Not only did Danny have the physical challenges, but he was medically fragile and required close observation and attention, which was lovingly given to him. He learned to interact with other children and began using his walker to negotiate the TLLH hallways. The first year he participated in Mini-Laps. He circled the track in his red wagon. The second year he miraculously circled the track in his walker with help and encouragement from his beloved Miss Julie. Not only did TLLH minister to Danny, they ministered to the whole family. Having a special needs child can be isolating, but being involved with families in similar situations is very therapeutic. Jonathan and Christa developed many close friendships with other parents coping with the joys and problems of a special needs child. In February, 2005, Danny returned to the hospital with RSV and pneumonia. His heart weakened, and once again he was placed on a ventilator. But this time was different. Danny was not able to get off the ventilator. After a month of struggling, the decision was made to insert a trach tube for breathing. The surgeon did a beautiful job and Danny looked like a little Christopher Reeve. Unfor-

tunately, Danny’s little heart was just too weak from all the stress. He joined his Lord in Heaven on February 22, 2005, at age five – five more years than the doctors predicted that he would be with us. It was a bittersweet moment to give him back to his Heavenly Father. Danny had brought so much joy and love and taught us all lessons of courage, strength, and perseverance. However, to imagine Danny running and playing in Heaven also brought us peace. Danny’s memorial service was a celebration of the five years that God gave us with Danny. The dozens of bright, mylar balloons reminded us of how he had a happy spirit in spite of his physical discomforts. Danny’s daddy truly captured our feelings in this excerpt from his eulogy to his son: anny had more impact in his five years on earth than many have over scores of years. Watching Danny leave was a difficult thing for me-not just in Danny’s passing, but that we had been believing for a miracle that never came. It wasn’t faith in God I was struggling with, but faith that God cared to act. Why did He push us to believe for something He wasn’t going to do? Honestly, I have no idea. Sometimes when we pray, we imagine God to be a great machine, where you push a button and get a cookie. God

“D

is good, but He’s uncontrollable. So, I don’t have an answer for why our prayers for Danny weren’t fulfilled on this earth. All I know is that during his life Danny blessed everyone he touched. And now, although we miss him and are without him, he is finally able to run and jump and play with Jesus. He is in His true Father’s arms, dancing in worship to the Lord. Perhaps Danny’s prayer was, ‘I just want to be with Jesus.’ Blessed be the name of the Lord, who finally gave Danny legs to run. Go Danny, run and play with your true Father in your true home.” Our family will always be grateful to The Little Lighthouse for the love, care, and example of Christ they were to our precious angel. The TLLH charges no tuition for its students. It does not accept help from the United Way because they want to continue to deliver the salvation message of Jesus to their special children and their families. We hope that through the donations of individuals and organizations that this “Light” will continue to shine in Tulsa. Danny would like that.

Loving, Serving and Helping

those in missions sbury has a long tradition of deep commitment to missions work, sending and supporting missionaries all over the world and right here in Oklahoma. As George Verser once said, ““The bottom line in ‘mission work’ is ‘people work’…loving them, serving them and helping them become strong disciples of Jesus.” That certainly describes the goals and purpose of the Asbury Outreach Team, which provides the leadership and administrative support for Asbury’s missions work. The Outreach Team has been led by Mary Ann Smith, the Director of Global Outreach since 1986. At that time, she was serving on the Missions Commission, following in the legacy of missions-interest created by her in-laws, Rex and Gladys Smith. Mary Ann has seen God stretch her in many ways, especially while on short term missions trips. As she says, “He has taken me far beyond my capabilities so that I could only lean on His strength. He has truly been faithful to supply what I didn’t have the strength to do, and has shown His faithfulness by answering prayers for even the most trivial things.” Beth McCalman oversees the regional outreach activities within the state. Prior to coming on staff, she had been an active volunteer in the outreach ministry. She remembers distinctly God’s provision when He opened the door to serve on the Asbury

staff, and continues to see God’s hand at work on a daily basis. As Beth says, “There is always a need for funds and the hands to do the work and always the needs are supplied beyond expectations. I see such a heart for caring every single day.” Marilene Long is the VIM (Volunteers in Mission) Coordinator. Her role is to promote the VIM opportunities, recruit members for the various VIM teams, and take care of the myriad of details. Marilene’s commitment to missions grew by being a team member on several VIM teams to Mexico before coming on staff in 2001. For Marilene, “it’s so exciting to have a part in helping people serve on a VIM team for the very first time. To hear their stories of a deeper commitment to serve Christ through missions is a huge blessing. It’s awesome to see the many Asbury people who feel called to return to the mission sites year after year.” Missy Sistrunk provides administrative support to all the outreach ministries. She also helps members get plugged into the outreach ministry through In His Steps. Missy’s interest in missions began by working at Christ UMC in Memphis. She’s been on staff

for four years. Missy is encouraged by working with the congregation and seeing “so many members who have a heart for missions and are reaching out to those in need, both locally and around the world. It is awesome to see and hear their stories of how lives have been changed.” The Outreach Team is always looking for volunteers to be involved. According to Mary Ann, there are “hundreds of opportunities from simple things like sorting shampoos and lotions and collecting eyeglasses to being a team leader. Anyone can participate on a ministry team related or on our International Student Ministry, communications, missionary care, and most importantly, the prayer team.” Even more hands-on opportunities exist in Regional Outreach. As Beth says, ”the mission field begins as we leave the walls of Asbury. There are so many needs and a wide diversity of opportunities available for people with many different gifts and skill levels.” As Marilene observes, “I feel one of the key reasons that our church has been so amazingly blessed by God is because of our staff and congregational commitment to missions. We see outreach as a purpose, not a program.” For a complete list of opportunities, refer to the Red Missions Book, Outreach Ministry Brochure, or the Website. -Juli Armour

From a Mission School to Serving as

pastor of missions t’s been a long road for Judith Banya from a missionary school in Sierra Leone, to Minnesota, to Illinois and then to Georgia. And now she finds God has brought her to Tulsa, Oklahoma, specifically to Asbury, where she serves as Pastor to Missions. Her journey began, of course, in West Africa. Not born into a Christian home, her father, Jibao Gaima, was chief of her area. This was not a tribal chief like many think, but more like a governor of a region. So, while Judith had exposure to Christianity from school, she desired a spiritual experience of her own, not simply adopting the spiritual understanding of others. A key experience in her life was attending a mission boarding school beginning at age 12 where she was told about God and had the opportunity to see Christianity modeled in the dedication and service of those missionaries. “I didn’t have a Damascus Road experience. It was not sudden. No, I wanted to experience God for myself, not just go with the flow. I told God if He was there and He loved me like I had been told, I want so and so to happen to me as evidence. I was about 14 and every time I would challenge Him, whatever I asked would happen, but I always wanted more. “Even then, this was not the end. All though secondary school and into

college I continued to challenge. I had one foot in, one foot out, but I was taking my time so I had my own experience. After college I looked back and could say, ‘Yes, I love this God. I have this God now. And I could say this with confidence,” Judith explained. Judith attended Ngala University. She was the first in her family, town and area to graduate from college, earning her degree in Home Economic Education and Church Community Development. After earning her degree she became Community Development Coordinator for the United Methodist Annual Conference in Sierra Leon. Later, she continued her education attending a school of theology in her country. But there was the beginning of unrest because guerrilla warfare across the border was beginning to filter into her country. Living in the city, she felt she was safe since the raids seemed to be in the rural areas. But the increasing battles worried her children, Baindu Wilkinson and Ahmed Banya, now living in the states. They urged Judith to leave the country and come to the U.S. When she came to Minnesota to attend her daughter’s college graduation, she began to seriously consider furthering her education in theology that she had begun back home. She attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn.

After two years, she transferred to Garrett Seminary in Evanston, Ill., where she earned her Master of Divinity. For the next four years, she served as pastor to Arden United Methodist in southeast Minnesota and Wheelock Parkway United Methodist Church in St. Paul. Deciding to move closer to her son in Georgia, she interviewed with four annual conferences. “I was praying that God would send me to where He wanted. The one who called me first, that’s where I decided I would go.” Happpily, the Oklahoma Annual Conference has brought Judith to Asbury where she will serve as Pastor to Missions. “I have a passion for missions because I myself am a ‘mission product.’ I saw the care and dedication of those people and got my educational foundation. I want to give back.” The war in Sierra Leone ended in 2002. Someday, Judith hopes to return to her country, but this is a long-term goal. “I have learned no matter what I desire, I must live in the current circumstance. Now, I am at Asbury. I want to settle down and do what God wants me to do. “I find great joy in being able to help somebody to stand up and be better in a holistic way. My life is already filled with such joy because He’s given me so much,” she concluded. -Sandy Wagner

Transformed Lives

in mexico wo friendly and familiar faces traveled during this last year to two different Mexican cities but made similar journeys. Darrel Tomlinson and Jeff Dowdy are both members of Asbury’s Maintenance Team. Darrel has been employed by Asbury for nine years and Jeff for six years, and both men participated in their first mission trips this past year. Darrel’s experience came as a result of David Wuellner’s passion that everyone should experience the spiritual journey of a mission trip. In addition to Wuellner, Darrel said that “Pastor Tom and his son, Josh Harrison, were very persistent forces” in convincing him to join a mission trip. “Between Dave, Josh, and Pastor Tom, I knew I was going to have to go and things worked out for me to go on the Monterey, Mexico trip last September.” Since Josh had been a part of the mission trip to Tanzania, he pressed Darrel with, “Why wouldn’t you want to go on a mission trip?” and explained that “When I went to Tanzania, I

didn’t really want to go, but it changed my life.” Josh clearly wanted his friend, Darrel, to have the same life-changing experience that only God can do. Pastor to Men, Dub Ambrose, occasionally treats the men on Asbury’s Maintenance Team to lunch “around the world” by going to different restaurants and one day said, “Jeff, how would you like to eat real Mexican food?” Little did Jeff know that he would soon be on his way to Rio Bravo, Mexico. Along with Pastor Dub’s tenacity, Darrel vigorously encouraged Jeff to become a part of a mission team as he wanted his friend to experience the same life-changing experience. Darrel said after working days at the seminary putting in a dropped ceiling, sheetrocking walls, stripping and scraping huge doors, they ministered to the children every evening by doing crafts, serving dinner, and by putting on puppet shows. “The last night of the trip,” He recalls, “we had two pinatas, Shrek and Nemo, filled to the brim with candy. I can’t tell you how thrilled the kids were and it was so much fun to watch the kids. These people live in such poverty that they only buy enough to get through each day as they don’t have refrigerators. There is no way for them to do laundry and yet the children were often dressed in perfectly clean, bright white clothing, well groomed, and so very happy.” Jeff explained that he enjoyed using his limited Spanish vocabulary to say “good morning” and “God bless you” to any and all he met during the day. “The people smiled, shook my hand, and a lady in a wheelchair tried to stand in order to hug me,” said Jeff. He laughed about the small size of the ice cold showers and said he

had to bend over to get wet. He didn’t know he could be so thankful to get home to take a full-sized hot shower. “After working on the school building by sheetrocking and putting in doors and window frames,” Jeff explained that “the construction and medical teams met for dinner and devotion. Dub led the teams in song after talking about the day. Jeff recalls with amazement, “I had never seen anyone sweep a dirt floor before and I loved hearing the Mexican music. It is so beautiful. We sang our music for them. When we were in our living quarters, I sometimes sang Elvis with Dub’s accompaniment, but we didn’t play Elvis for the church.” Both Darrel and Jeff would like to go on another mission trip and both would like to go back to Monterey and Rio Bravo, respectively, to see the progress but most importantly, they would like to see the people. Darrel said that he is going to insist that Josh Harrison accompany him on a trip to Monterey and Jeff can’t wait to have more homemade tamales made by the construction superintendent’s wife. Jeff claims that he can’t wait to have refried beans, tortillas and eggs for breakfast again. Both Darrel and Jeff love working at Asbury, love the Lord, are grateful for the life-changing trips, and want to encourage everyone to sign-up for their own personal life-changing experience. -Judy Johnson 26

“THEREFORE, MY DEAR BROTHERS, STAND FIRM. LET NOTHING MOVE YOU. ALWAYS GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LABOR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN.”. . . I CORINTHIANS 15:58

Servants in

the harvest

firmly believe one of the reasons God has blessed Asbury so abundantly is our commitment to the Great Commission partly by way of a dynamic missions program.” Barbara Gere said this with the conviction of someone who has been deeply involved in the harvest. Giles and Barbara Gere are longtime participants in a great many areas in the life of Asbury. Space prohibits this significant list. The Geres attribute much of their vision for mission to their participation in Walk to Emmaus. This retreat taught them

“I

that they are the hands and feet of the ministry of the church. In the early 1990s, Asbury was looking at developing the fertile field of Christian opportunity in Estonia. In 1992 we brought Andrus Norak, a Methodist pastor from Estonia, to go to Asbury Seminary. Giles and Barbara were captivated by Andrus’ accounts of the Estonian church under the occupation of the Russians. As chairpersons for the Missions Commission, the Geres went on a factfinding trip in 1994. When in Estonia, Andrus showed them the land where they wished to build a center that would house the Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary as well as the Tallin congregation. Andrus told them that long ago the Estonian church gave of their meager funds to the suffering Korean church, and now the Korean church was donating $1 million to build their seminary. The Estonian Christians also wanted to buy a site that had been a Communist camp for the indoctrination of Estonian children. Giles and Phil Baxter and a few others raised $30,000 to buy this camp which became “Camp Gideon”. Estonian children are now learning about the salvation that is in Jesus Christ and

having a great time doing it. Now we have VIM teams go every summer to make improvements at Camp Gideon as well as work with the kids. Speaking of VIM trips, Barbara feels there is no better way to enlarge your vision for missions than to participate in one of these trips. Contact Marilene Long in the church office for more information on this. Giles and Barbara have also been very active on the Regional side of Missions Outreach. Giles is deeply involved in Operation Hope Prison Ministry. This outreach concentrates on helping released prisoners, both men and women, readjust to society with a new set of values. They provide spiritual and practical help with job counseling, transportation, mentoring and much more. Barbara is presently the Missions Care Team Leader. This ministry of encouragement corresponds with all Asbury-supported missionaries on their birthdays and holidays. They also find host homes for missionaries and others who visit Asbury from out of town. Giles and Barbara said they feel it is important that everyone who is part of Asbury take the Spiritual Gifts Inventory. This is a way to find a ministry that is a good fit. Take it online. Go to asburytulsa.org and click on “Get Involved”. To learn more about missions at Asbury, pick up the “Missions Outreach Yearbook 2005” in the church office. -Marty McBroom

Adult Discipleship Communities How does your community do missions...at home and abroad? Members of Discipleship Communities seek to nurture one another in living the life of a disciple. Communities are designed for warm fellowship, spiritual growth, and serving others. There are over 30 Adult Discipleship Communities at Asbury. Find and connect with a community that best meets your needs.

8:00 am Joy — RM 1508 (ages vary) The Joy Community feels blessed to lend support to Meals on Wheels, The Little Light House, Restore Hope, and Heartlight Ministries year after year. Recently the class used surplus funds for one time gifts to Cookson Hills, Bruce Olson, and Grant Miller.

Sonrisers — RM 2821 (50’s & 60’s) The Sonrisers Community provides financial support on a monthly basis to Tanzania missionaries Grant Miller and Lowell and Claudia Wertz, and to Operation Hope prison ministry in Tulsa. We also support numerous other local mission projects such as Restore Hope, Asbury Youth, & Whitman School. In the last year class members have been on mission trips to Mexico, Estonia, and China and helped at numerous local missions such as The Little Light House.

9:15 am Disciples — RM 2500 (ages vary) The Disciples Community as a group is very committed to missions, especially Youth Missions, through our prayers and finances. As individuals, several have taken the opportunity to serve the Lord abroad in the Volunteer-in-Mission. Our community was also one of the sponsors of the Adult Health Fair that was held in April of this year.

Family Fellowship — RM 1504 (Mostly Married 30’s+) Family Fellowship has a heart for missions. We have supported Grant Miller’s work in Tanzania since his arrival.

Most recently, we have donated money to build an evangelism center in the village of Fulwe, an important crossroads for Christian outreach. Locally, we help feed the homeless at John 3:16 regularly. And this past year, our class and our kids have reached out to some kids at Youth at Heart in what can only be described as miraculous. God works in wonderful ways, and He has his hands all over this relationship. September is missions month in Family Fellowship. Mary Ann Smith, Breny Burdick from the Philippines and a representative from Happy Hands ministry for deaf children will lead our discussions. We invite you to come experience what God is doing in Family Fellowship.

Friendship — Parlor - RM 1900 (65+) We recently sent a pastor’s robe with stole to Estonia, as well as money to be given to a day center for children who come from troubled homes or live on the streets of Tallinn. Mrs. Junita Lohr, widow of Nelson Lohr, a former Methodist minister, wanted to honor his memory by donating the robe and stole to Kaupo Kant of the Voru United Methodist Church in Estonia. She also sent another robe to Costa Rica with a team who has recently returned from there. In addition, a portable communion service will be given to the pastor of Living Faith UMC in Lugansk Ukraine. We know Junita’s gifts will bring honor to her husband’s memory. The class also donated two Singer sewing machines to buy used by women in Costa Rica to add to their family income. We appreciate the generosity shown by the class and believe that the blessing is experienced not only by those who receive our gifts, but by those who have offered them.

Wordfinders — RM 2818 (late 50’s+) Wordfinders supports Missions Outreach both at home and abroad. Support is given to Asbury youth missions each year. Support has also been given to Grant Miller, missionary to the Kami people in Tanzania. Support for Thanksgiving and Christmas food programs for the needy in Tulsa is given each year by our Wordfinders Community.

11:00 am The Ark — RM 1508 (20’s & 30’s) Our community has had the privilege of contributing monthly to Grant Miller’s missions in Tanzania for several years. Locally, we support Crisis Pregnancy Outreach financially and assist in various projects and needs they have. We have several community members actively involved in mission trips through the church.

CIA — RM 2319 (ages vary) Our singles community is encouraged to contribute time and effort, skilled and unskilled, to those ministries and local projects toward which we are individually attracted. Our monetary donations are directed toward improving the welfare of those less fortunate. We assist and support Asbury’s youth missions projects annually and donate to food, clothing, and toy drives. Our involvement is directed at several Methodist Circle of Care agencies, “handson” gatherings and service to kids at Cookson Hills, Project Transformation, Tahlequah Children’s Home, Frances Willard, and the Boys Ranch Rodeo in Gore, OK. Our most meaningful mission activity is our frequent Fun Daze at Asbury to benefit kids involved in Youth at Heart. Our global outreach effort extends to the international students at Tulsa University’s Wesley Foundation.

Harvest — RM 2201 (ages vary) The Harvest Community class members have recently returned from mission trips to Tanzania and Costa Rico. We got a firsthand report on Tanzania from Bo Boaz and look forward to hearing from Judy and Clyde Doyle and Monica Martin when they recuperate from their time in Costa Rico. Locally, our hands-on support extends beyond our walls to Laura Dester, Salvation Army, Happy Hands, and others whose needs are made known to us. We’ve found our best social time is spent in service to others. We’ve moved down the hall to 2201.

Mosaic — RM 2818 (ages vary) Serving is the heartbeat of the Mosaic community. On any given week you will find Mosaics serving in the Children’s area COMMUNITIES 28

Welcome to Asbury...

Geoff and Erica Logan

David and Maria Cowan

Chad and Monica Poston

Packy Cowan

Chris and Rick Fox, Jennifer & Elizabeth

Laura Beshear and Chance

we’re glad you’re here! Sunday morning and at Celebrate Recovery every Monday night, 52 weeks a year. Many Saturdays are busy as well, with Asbury’s Car Care Ministry, Home Improvement Ministry, and workday projects at Tahlequah and Cookson Hills. Another favorite is the Alpha class, led by Dawn Snyder with Mosaic table leaders who love helping others grow in faith. We partner with the Harvest Community to cook and serve breakfast at the Salvation Army once a month. Also with the Tapestry Community during Upward Basketball season, and most recently installing a fence for a new day care center at Cookson Hills, which will enable impoverished young mothers to have job training and employment. Missions are a passion of Mosaics. We enjoy being shoulder to shoulder beside our Lord in his unfinished vision. In Mosaic, everyone is shaped a little differently but just like a mosaic, Jesus fits 29 NEW MEMBERS

us all in to create a beautiful whole. We welcome others with open hearts.

Purpose Driven Fellowship — RM 2821 (30’s & 40’s) PDF endeavors to have a project each month. We keep our focus based on Asbury service needs, Tulsa community non-profit needs and then look globally at Asbury service needs. We generally provide a monetary contribution to each project we become involved in.

Singles Class Act — RM 2502 (ages vary) A couple of times a year, we collect clothing, furniture, and other items and deliver the items to the Redemption House. We’ve also worked at Frances Willard on a cleanup project, as well as making a donation to Cookson Hills to build a fence for the day care. W e have bought stock for Youth in Missions and correspond with and pray for

Kay Simmons

the Cannon family who are Methodist missionaries in Hungary, remembering all five family members on their birthdays and other holidays.

Tapestry — RM 1900 (ages vary) Tapestry, under Jodie Johnson’s direction, is well involved in outreach. With offerings, cards, letters, and prayers, we support Mike and Lari Cannon, missionaries in Budapest; Pete and Lori Ferrell, missionaries in Laos; Matt and Molly Swanson, missionaries in Guatemala; and Jonathan and Lisa Moore, in full-time music ministry in the U.S. The Cannons, Swansons, and Moores have given inspiring presentations in class. Our outreach also extends to Habitat for Humanity, Celebrate Recovery, and the Laura Dester Shelter, among other organizations.

asbury opportunities sunday mornings

Breakfast Served from 7:00-9:15 a.m. in the CLC Come enjoy fellowship with Asburians along with fresh donuts, bagels, biscuits & gravy, sausage, eggs, fruit, and cereal. $2 for adults & $1 for children 12 & under Sunday Morning Worship 8:00 am Mason Chapel (Traditional Communion) 9:15 am Sanctuary (Contemporary Communion) 11:00 am Sanctuary (Traditional) Sign interpreter provided 11:00 am Mason Chapel (Contemporary) Children and Students 6 Weeks - 4 Years 8:00, 9:15, and 11:00 am K-6th Grades 9:15 or 11:00 am 7th, 8th & 9th Grades 9:15 & 11:00 am 10th, 11th & 12th Grades 9:15 am only Adult Discipleship Communities 8:00, 9:15, and 11:00 am and Wednesdays, 6:30 pm Childcare Core Hours Effective Tuesday, September 6. Sundays 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Mondays 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Tuesdays 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Tuesdays 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Wednesdays 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

access Hands of Love Sign Choir Sundays, 6:00-7:00 pm, Rm 2821 Deaf Awareness Week Service Wednesday, September 21 from 7:00-8:00 pm in the Mason Chapel. Childcare available. Deaf, Deaf World Workshop Experience what is like to be deaf. Wednesday, September 21 from 5:00-6:30 pm in Rm 2820. Contact Linda Ford for more information and to register: uglyjug@yahoo.com

biblical literacy Asbury University Classes are available for all levels of learning. See pages 3-4 for details. Brochures are available at the Welcome Centers and on the website: www.asburytulsa.org

care and support Asbury Bear Bags Asbury Bears are not just for little kids anymore! Asbury Bear Bags with coloring books have comforted young children for many years, but now you may give a Bear Bag with a scripture-based journal included instead! Great for teens and adults. Anyone may deliver an Asbury Bear to someone who

is grieving. For more information, contact Beth at 392-1116. Cancer Support Group Sunday September 11, 4:00-6:00 pm, Parlor - For those living with cancer and their family and friends Bipolar/Depression Support Group Second and fourth Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 pm, Rm 1508 - For persons living with bipolar disorder or depression Divorce Recovery Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 pm, Rm 2319 - For those experiencing pain from a broken or lost relationship Divorce Rebuilding Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 pm, Rm 2319 - Rebuilding when your relationship ends Grandparents Raising Grandchildren First and third Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm, Rm 1508 Mental Health Support Group Wednesday, September 4, 7:00-8:30 pm., Parlor - For family members and those affected by mental illness. Family to Family Tuesday, September 27, 1:30-3:30 pm, Parlor For family members or caregivers of people affected by a mental illness GriefShare Support Group Wednesdays, September 21 through December 14 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm in Rm 2818. Facilitators are Ann Schulz and Bob Brumm. Childcare is available. GriefShare is a special weekly seminar and support group for people who are grieving the death of someone close to them. It’s a place to be around people who understand what you are feeling. At GriefShare you’ll learn valuable information about recovering from your grief and renewing your hope in the future. Call 392-1191 to register. A Place of Hope Third Wednesday of each month, starting September 21. Childcare available. This new ministry is designed for families of children who have chronic illnesses or disabilities, whether physical, mental or emotional. As the name implies, the goal is to provide a place of hope and encouragement where we can “comfort others with the comfort with which we have been comforted.” Monthly meetings will provide a regular time to hear a word of encouragement, as well as connect with others who share similar challenges. The vision is to establish a mentoring network of support, and to be able to reach out to parents of children who have been newly diagnosed. If you, or someone you know, would like to be involved in this developing ministry, please contact Roxanne at 392-1122. Mentor Moms/Young Lives First and second Tuesdays of the month, 7:00-9:00 pm in the Parlor. This is a support group for teenage moms, sponsored by Young Life.

children

Registration forms for all children’s activities are available in the preschool and elementary lobbies. Core Hours for Childcare Parents who are involved in activities or classes during these hours will have childcare provided with no reservations needed: Sundays 8:00 am - 12:00 pm Mondays 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Tuesdays 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Tuesdays 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Wednesdays 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Third Grade Bible Exploration Sundays, August 28, September 11 and September 18 from 6:30-8:00 pm in Rm 2909. Each year we offer the opportunity for our third graders to bring their parents along and spend a few nights learning about the Bible – God’s Word. We mix snacks and family fun with serious parent-child discussion on how we got the Bible, and how God desires that we use it. Don’t miss this chance to spend time together reaffirming the role that God’s Word plays in our lives as His children. Contact Patrick Jackson at 392-1161. Rock U Wednesdays, September 7 through November 16 from 7:00-8:00 pm. For 5th and 6th graders. Our Wednesday night program for 5.6 kids is designed to give early adolescents a fun, rowdy, and highly relational evening in the middle of the week. Rock U includes small groups focused on Bible study and ministry projects, games, music and topical teaching. Kids will look forward to the fun while we guide them in growing their relationship with Christ. For more information, contact Christy at 392-1166. Rock 5.6 Girls’ Night Out Friday, October 7 from 4:00-10:00 pm. For 5th and 6th graders. The cost is $12. Deadline for registration is Sunday, October 2. Hey girls! You won’t want to miss this event planned just for you and your girlfriends! We’re planning an evening filled with crafts to make and take, challenging games that teach teamwork and problem-solving skills, dinner, a movie, and some special surprises. Bring your friends, and mom or grandmom if they’d like to help! For more information, contact Christy at 392-1166. Rock 5.6 Boys’ Night Out Friday, October 28 from 4:00-10:00 pm in Rm 2901. Cost: $12. Registration deadline is Sunday, October 23. For 5th and 6th grade boys. Hey guys! You won’t want to miss this event planned just for you and your friends! We’re planning an evening filled with gross games, challenging games that teach teamwork and problem-solving skills, dinner, a movie, and some special surprises! Bring your friends, and dad and granddad if they’d like to help! Volunteer Enrichment Training Tuesday, October 18 from 7:00-8:30 pm in the CALENDAR 30

5.6 Classroom (2901). Childcare is available for children 6 weeks through 6th grade. There is no greater privilege in a Christian’s life than that of being allowed to lead someone to Christ. The final segment of our 2005 volunteer enrichment training series, “How to Lead a Child to Christ,” will equip you to do just that. Whether it’s children you’ve volunteered to serve, or your own child or grandchild, you’ll be ready. We hope you’ll make plans to attend. For more information, contact Heidi at 3921168. Asbury Children’s Choirs Wednesdays, September 7 through November 30 from 6:00-6:50 pm. Registration forms are in the children’s ministry file boxes in the preschool and elementary lobbies. Choirs for three-year-olds through sixth grade. This program involves twelve weeks of choir during the fall semester, culminating in a wonderful Christmas Pageant on December 4. We will be singing in all morning worship services, using instruments, playing games, and learning about God through music. Spread the word! Children’s choir is fun! For more information, contact Marti at 392-1147. 5.6 Crew Leaders Wednesdays, September 7 through November 16 from 7:00-8:00 pm. For 5th and 6th graders. Crew Leaders is a Wednesday night program that allows selected 5th and 6th graders the opportunity to serve the younger kids in our Kids’ Crew program. These leaders provide guidance for team games, music, storytime, and serve as small group leaders during our teaching/follow-up activities. If your 5th or 6th grader is interested in participating, contact Christy at 392-1166. Kid’s Crew Wednesdays, September 7 through November 16 from 7:00-8:00 pm. For 1st through 4th graders. Kid’s Crew is a fun, action-packed evening that offers team games and activities, along with a big group lesson time to present the importance of being doers of the Word, and not just hearers or speakers. Special emphasis is given to the development of habits in Bible reading, scripture memory, prayer, witnessing and personal application. For more information, contact Kathy (392-1165) or Jennifer (392-1170).

christian living Equip Your Teens...No Matter What! Financial Peace Junior Series - Dave Ramsey Call Nancy Staab at 392-1124 or email asburyfpu@yahoo.com if you are interested. First Step –Advisory Session Sessions are held the second Thursday of each month in Room 2821 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Bring your completed Spiritual Gifts Inventory for discussion with an advisor. To take the Inventory on line, prior to attending, see Asbury’s website. Call the registration 31

CALENDAR

hotline at 392-1192 to register for one of the Thursday sessions.

hospitality Friendly Visitors Sundays, 1:30 pm - South Welcome Center

library New Additions The Asbury Library is a wonderful resource. New additions are listed in a black notebook on the Librarian’s desk. Thank you to all who continue to contribute books to our Library.

leadership Leadership Lessons from Willow Creek September 7-28. This 4-week video-assisted course featuring Bill Hybels and other leadership speakers facilitated by the Leadership Asbury Team.

marriage & family Milestone Wedding Anniversaries Email your November and December Milestone Anniversary (5, 10, 15, 20, etc.) to patticooper@cox.net or call 392-1146. Intimate Life Weekend + Six October 7 - 9 at the Neosho River Ranch (55 minute drive near Wagoner, OK). Limited to nine couples. Cost: $50 per couple. Facilitators: Rev. Mark and Robin McAdow. Childcare available for follow-up meetings only. Open to Asbury members or visitors. The best buy around for Christian marriage enrichment. The price includes a bed and breakfast atmosphere, all meals, workbook, and special surprises. For any couple desiring more intimacy with God and one another. Six follow-up meetings will be held at Asbury on Wednesday nights following the weekend. Leaders are experienced married couples with a variety of life experiences. Call 392-1191 to register.

membership

Asbury Exploration Come to one of these classes to learn more about becoming a member of Asbury. Upcoming session: Sunday, September 11, from 12:302:30 pm. Call 392-1191 to register. Childcare available.

men Men’s Prayer Breakfast Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 am in the CLC. Join the Men’s Ministry for a delicious breakfast and fellowship. Cost: $3/person September Speakers: 9-7 Bill Johnson, speaker 9-14 Mark Springer, speaker 9-21 Dub Ambrose, speaker 9-28 Pec Clark, speaker Car Care Clinic Saturday, September 17. Serving widows/

widowers and single moms. Call 392-1122. Guys’ Night Out September 15, 6:00-8:00 pm in the CLC. Are you sleepy on Wednesday mornings? If so, then maybe you can try United Methodist Men’s new Guys’ Night Out. In an effort to get more men involved, to inform them about all the cool things we’re doing, and to have fun fellowship, we are trying a once-a-month dinner meeting. It will be a little different than our Wednesday morning Prayer Breakfast. The meetings will be held on the third Thursday of the month and each will have a different theme. The first meeting will be a baseball theme, and we’ve got Bob Carpenter tentatively lined up to be the master of ceremonies. There will be a testimony from one of our members and Tom will give a short devotion. Call 392-1122 for more information.

missions/outreach September is Missions Month at Asbury! “It’s About Time” is the theme. See page 3 for details! A & W Picnic and Prayer Walk Saturday, September 10 from 11:00 am - 1:30 pm in the gymnasium at Walt Whitman Elementary School (Asbury’s adopted school), 3924 N. Lansing. Hot dogs, snow cones, family fun and games! Donations appreciated: $2.50 per person or $10 maximum per family. Tulsa Prayer Tour Sunday, September 18 from 2:00-4:00 pm. As a part of Missions Month, join others as we go to several of the local ministries that Asbury supports to pray for them. Transportation still be provided. Meet at the South Entrance. Vans will depart at 2:00 pm Global Outreach Prayer Ministry News and prayer requests from our missionaries and ministries are sent each week to our prayer ministry list. If you would like to join and become a prayer intercessor for those serving around the world, contact Missy at 392-1163. Habitat for Humanity If you would like to be involved in this exciting and rewarding work project, Contact Beth at 392-1116. The Little Light House Mini-Laps Saturday, October 1 at 10:00 am, with a carnival following. The Little Light House is located at 36th and Yale. Call 664-6746 for more information. Laps for Little Ones Saturday, October 22 at 9:00 am, Cascia Hall Track. Come participate in this annual fundraiser for The Little Light House. Call 6646746 for more information.

missions/vim For further details about these Volunteer-inMission opportunities, contact Marilene Long, 392-1164 or Mary Ann Smith, 392-1117. Monterrey, Mexico September 24 - October 2, Construction and Mission Bible School - $875 Monterrey, Mexico September 28 - October 2, Medical - $675 Rio Bravo, Mexico November 2 - 6, Construction and Medical - $450

music

Asbury Children’s Choirs Wednesdays: September 7 through November 30 from 6:00-6:50 pm. Registration forms are in the children’s ministry file boxes in the preschool and elementary lobbies. Choirs for three-year-olds through sixth grade. This program involves twelve weeks of choir during the fall semester, culminating in a wonderful Christmas Pageant Program on December 4. We will be singing in all morning worship services, using instruments, playing games, and learning about God through music. Spread the word! Children’s choir is fun! Chancel Choir Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm, Choir Room Asbury Singing Ambassadors Tuesdays, 1:00 pm, Choir Room Asbury Power & Light Sundays, 8:15-9:00 am, Rm 1510 Clarinet Choir Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00 pm, Rm 1506 Dixieland Band Thursdays, 2:00-3:00 pm, Rm 1510 Asbury Ringers Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00 pm, Rm 2506 Celebration Ringers Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30 pm, Rm 2506 Perpetual Light Thursdays, 10:00 am - noon, Rm 2506 Carillon Quartet Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00 pm, Rm 2506 String Ensemble Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00 pm, Rm 1510 Wednesdays, 8:00-9:00 pm, Rm 1506 Orchestra/Concert Band Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm, Rm 1510 Brass Quintet Tuesdays, 7:30-9:00 pm, Rm 1510 Trumpet Choir Wednesdays, 6:30-7:00 pm, Rm TBA

prayer A & W Picnic and Prayer Walk Saturday, September 10 from 11:00 am - 1:30 pm in the gymnasium at Walt Whitman Elementary School (Asbury’s adopted school), 3924 N. Lansing. Hot dogs, snow cones, family fun and games! Donations appreciated: $2.50 per person or $10 maximum per family. Tulsa Prayer Tour Sunday, September 18 from 2:00-4:00 pm. As a part of Missions Month, join others as we

go to several of the local ministries that Asbury supports to pray for them. Transportation still be provided. Meet at the South Entrance. Vans will depart at 2:00 p.m. Women Praying Together Mondays, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Prayer Room. Join other women as they pray together. Parents Praying Together Wednesdays, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Rm 1507 Join other parents to pray for families and children. Women’s Prayer Lunch Monday, September 26 from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm in the Community Life Center. $5 per person donation appreciated. No reservations needed. College Moms in Touch Prayer Time Wednesdays, 11:45 am - 12:45 pm, Rm 1506 Altar Prayer If you would like someone to pray with you af ter the worship service on Sunday, please go the front of the Sanctuary and people will be there ready to pray with you, either at the altar or in the Prayer Room. Care Calling Callers from the Prayer Ministry will be calling the week of September 26-30 to ask if you have any special needs or prayer requests. Persecuted Church Service Sunday, September 11 from 6:00-7:00 pm in the Mason Chapel

recovery Celebrate Recovery Mondays: Dinner at 6:00 pm Worship: 7:00-8:00 pm Small Groups: 8:00-9:00 pm Dessert: 9:00-9:30 pm Hiding any hurts, habits or hangups? God never intended for you to live in bondage. Come join this supportive group of people each Monday night at 6:00 pm. Childcare available.

recreation Single Adults Volleyball Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm, Gym Adult Volleyball Sundays, 7:00-9:00 pm, Gym Walk in the Gym with Him Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 8:15-9:00 am, Gym Senior Sit and Fit Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 9:00-9:30 am, Gym Pilates Saturdays, 10:00-11:00 am, Rec Gym Wednesdays, 8:00-9:00 pm, Rec Gym Open Men’s Basketball Mondays: 6:00-9:00 pm Saturdays: 11:00 am-1:00 pm Wednesdays: 6:00-8:00 pm Arts and Crafts Mondays, 9:30 am - 2:00 pm, Rm 2821 Women who enjoy crafts are invited to come any Monday morning...come and go any time.

Participants bring lunch to share. This group has been meeting together for 13 years. Interests include watercolor painting, tatting, crocheting, embroidery, oil colors, card making, gourd painting, and even record keeping! Asbury Recreation Center - Hours Mondays

8:00 am - 12:00 pm 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Tuesdays

10:00 am - 1:00 pm 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Wednesdays

8:00 am - 9:30 am 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Thursdays

10:00 am - 1:00 pm 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Fridays

8:00 am - 9:30 am

Saturdays

10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Sundays

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

seniors Autumn in Eureka Springs October 24-26. Cost $181.50/person with 2 per room, $166.50/person with 3 per room; $158.50/person with 4 per room. Balance due August 15. Price includes transportation, 2 nights lodging, 2 breakfasts, the Great Passion Play with buffet dinner, Holy Land Tour, Thorncrown Chapel, Pine Mountain Jamboree, Abundant Memories Heritage Village, all-day trolley pass, all taxes, gratuities and baggage handling. Call 392-1122 for more information or call 392-1191 to register. Asbury Singing Ambassadors This choir for senior adults will begin their rehearsals on Tuesday, September 6 at 1:00 pm in the Choir Room. They will meet each Tuesday, with the exception of Thanksgiving week and Christmas vacation. ‘Tweenagers Monthly meetings begin September 22 at 10:30 am in the CLC . If you are between retirement and heaven, come and bring a friend!

singles

Singles Meet and Greet Sundays from 8:40-9:10 am or 10:20-10:50 am in the CLC. All singles are invited. Singles Bible Study Mondays, 7:00-9:00 pm, Rm 2820 Coffee Cup Cafe Sunday, September 4 and 18, 6:30-8:30 pm. in the Asbury Parlor. Come join Asbury singles as they fellowship over coffee and refreshments. A&W Prayer Picnic and Prayer Walk Sunday, September 10 from 11:00 am - 1:30 pm at Walt Whitman Elementary School, 4392 N. Lansing. Asbury has p artnered with Walt CALENDAR 32

Whitman Elementary School. Join other singles within Asbury in helping out with the picnic and walk. There will be food, carnival games, and music, along with other fun things for the children and families of Walt Whitman. Volunteers are needed to assist in set-up and helping in various areas. Contact Michele Caine at asmmissions@prodigy.net. Registration deadline is September 7. Labor Day Luau Picnic Friday, September 5 from 4:00-7:00 pm at Haikey Creek Park - Triplex Site (11327 S. Garnett Road). Children are welcome. Bring a covered dish to share and your own beverages and ice chest (no alcohol, please)! This annual event guarantees fun, fellowship, good food, volleyball, horseshoes, games, and Hawaiian luau music. Bring your own instruments if you like. We will have a limbo contest as well as a best costume contest. Divorce Recovery Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 pm, Rm 2319 - For those experiencing pain from a broken or lost relationship Divorce Rebuilding Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 pm, Rm 2319 - Rebuilding when your relationship ends

students

10th, 11th & 12th Breakaway Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm - Breakaway Area 7th, 8th & 9th Breakaway Sundays, 9:15-10:30 am - Breakaway Area 7th, 8th & 9th Bible Study Sundays, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm College Bible Study Each Sunday night at 7:00 pm in Rm 2319. 7th, 8th & 9th Grade Fall Retreat September 9-11 at Shepherd’s Fold Ranch. An unforgettable fun weekend that will transform your walk with God and leave you with memories you will never forget. Don’t miss this! Please check the Student Ministries area for registrations. 10th, 11th, & 12th Grade Fall Retreat September 24-25 at New Life Ranch. An overnight adventure away from the hectic life in Tulsa. Come spend some time with God, friends, and have a blast! Please check Student Ministries Area for registration.

volunteers Asbury Event Team This is a new ministry team forming that will assist in the planning and implementation of various event s at Asbury. Not only internal events, but also for events held by outside groups. Wide variety of positions available, like Event Coordinator, Registration, Volunteer Coordinator, Hospitality including theme development, decorations and food arrangements. Two events ready for planning - the Ministry Fair in September and 33

CALENDAR

a Christmas party for Asbury staff. Time commitment will be for one event at a time. The amount of time needed will vary with each event. Contact Teresa at 392-1135.

women Wednesday Morning Bible Study Wednesdays, 10:00 am, Rm 1502 Crafty Ladies September 9, 6:30-9:00 pm, Rm 2820 Women’s Monthly Luncheon Thursday, September 1, from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, CLC. Program: Spreading God’s Word, with special guest, Bill Abernathy. Scripture reference: Matthew 28:19. Women’s Prayer Lunch Monday, September 26 from 11:30 am 12:30 pm in the Community Life Center. $5 per person donation appreciated. No reservations needed. Car Care Clinic For single moms and widows. Saturday, September 17 from 9:00 am to noon. Contact Roxanne at 392-1122 by August 10. Women Praying Together Mondays from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm in the Prayer Room. Walk This Way ...and walk away with a renewed spark of light within for our family and friends to see. Saturday, October 15 from 9:00 am - 1:30 pm in the CLC. Cost: $10, with a maximum of $30 per family. (Scholarships are available). The event includes lunch, a fashion show, speakers and so much more. Sponsored by S.E.R.V.E. Call 392-1122 for details. Value of a Woman Women’s Conference: “The Blessing” Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 5 from 9:00 am - 12:30 pm. The cost is $10 and deadline for registration October 24. Professional singer, recording artist and motivational speaker, Jan Frichot, will lead us through scripture as we learn to be accepted and loved as we are. Only then can we accept and love others just as they are.

St udents Serving Students closer to home In addition to students who are serving in foreign lands this summer (see page 8) many Asbury students have served around the country. Their experiences Lauren Duke work crew, Young Life Camp, Oregon Andria Coates counselor, Kanakuk Camp, Missouri Jessica Jeter counselor, T Bar M Camp, New Braunfells, Texas Taylor Allen counselor, Kanakuk Camp Blake Area counselor, Kanakuk Camp John Stalcup counselor, Kanakuk Camp Albert McClure camp counselor, Maryland Greg Taylor camp counselor, Massachusetts A note from Lauren Duke: “We just got done with week one and new campers have rolled in for week two. Time flies when you are having fun. I’m a bit exhausted but yesterday energized me. We do this thing in Young Life called ‘Say So’. This is where all the new believers stand up at the last club, say their name and they “Say so...” then they pick up a rock and toss it into the pond representing their old life and then they take another one representing their new life and place it in the rock pile with all the new believers’ rocks. This past week we had 162 rocks added to that pile! Amazing stuff! Love, Lauren.” Aside from volunteering during the summers at Young Life camps, Lauren also serves on a Y.L. team at the University of Arkansas which targets high school students in the Fayetteville Springdale, Ark. area.

LOST SHEEP

Mary Ann and the Global Outreach Council, Wow! I can’t believe my time in Africa is already over. It went by so fast. The last five weeks of my life have been incredible. My eyes have been opened to a lot of new, and often sad, things and I’ve been so humbled to be a part of some amazing ministry. When the Lord uses you to do His good work, you can’t help but be humbled and filled with awe and joy. I witnessed lives change over this past month. I saw Christ’s kingdom move in some mighty ways. There are now young men and women in several Swazi communities that have been empowered to be leaders of hope in their schools and their communities. There are people of all ages who have been touched by the Gospel and now have the hope that comes from a relationship with Christ. There are orphans who’ve now had the chance to be loved and fed and taught about who Jesus is and who he can be in their lives. I’m so thankful and blessed by the work that God did in Swaziland and in my life as well. I’ve learned a lot more about prayer and what it means to really listen to God. I’ve learned more about God’s heart for the nations and the role that He calls each of us to play in that. I’ve learned more about myself and the gifts that God is developing in me. And I feel like I’ve been given new vision for my future and for what God wants to do with my life. I, too, was greatly empowered by this trip. So many great things happened during my month in Swaziland, and I would love to tell you more about my time there. But for now, I just wanted to thank you once more for sending me. This experience wouldn’t be possible without you. The church needs more people like you who are willing to give for the sake of the Kingdom. I’m so fortunate to have people like you in my life who care about missions and care about the call that God has placed on my heart and believe in what I’m doing. I’m so blessed and encouraged by your support. Please continue to pray for me as I am now going to work as a camp counselor, pouring into high school students, and advancing the Kingdom. Also, I’d like to ask you to be in prayer about what it might look like to support me in the future. I feel like this trip has been a step into something much bigger and that I will be going long-term to wherever God sends me in the future. So, it may be a long way off, but I’d like for you to please continue to pray – that God would continue to develop His heart in me and lead me to the area He desires, and prayerfully consider the possibility of supporting me in the future long term. Thanks for being a blessing to me and to the Lord. “… I will send them to be messengers to the nations.. ..to all the lands far beyond the sea that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. There they will declare my glory to the nations.” Isaiah 66:19 In Christ Alone, Thomas Duke

In order to keep our membership records up to date, we would like your help in locating these “lost sheep.” If you have any contact information on these members, please contact Nancy VanDyne at 392-1140 or email her at nvandyne@asburytulsa.org Puckett, Melissa Bryant 2004 Raley, Jami Acker, Glenn & Cheryl Ray, Tom & Sue Anderson, Duane Rea, Marjorie Babb, Pat & Mike Reed, Ercelyn & Russ Blaylock, Ron, Vivian, Kris & David Reed, Randy & Karen Buchnan, Edye Friesner Richardson, Marell Bush, Connie Roach, Kathy Butcher, Lowell, Shirley &Constance Roberts, Scott & Janice Byers, Anne Rogers, Doug & Evelyn Chadsey, Paul Rogers, John Cleavelin, Brian (Ewton) Romain, Al & Diane Coleman, Sharon Kay Rowland, George & Virginia Cowan, Steve Sage, Bruce Dillon, Kelley Savage, Mitchell Frederick, Clinton Scheer, Brad & Lorraine Freiburger, Michael Schelin, Jim & Telisa Frost, Kevin Schmitz, Ted & Lesley Geatches, Kathy Scott, Linda Jane Gibbons, Virginia & Jeffrey Scott, Virginia Lou Gibson, Carl & Gayla Scudder, Bob & Suzanne Glanzer, Daniel Shields, Cynthia Graham, Jamie Shipman, Robert & Jackie Graham, Karen Sisco, Rick Graham, Karen Sue Smith, Jennifer Ann Graham, Rick Smittle, Ray & Cherie Graham, Teri L. Smyth, Bob, Sally & Susan Green, Jack Spears, Donald & Dixie Gregg, Lee Steele, Mark & Stacy Guise, Leland & Patricia Surber, William E. & Teresa Gunn, Julie & Kendra Lee Thomas, Greg Hallam, Richard Thompson, David & Jerry Hansen, Laura Tolbert, Dan Edward Harrison, J. Christopher Turner, Lyle W. Hartwell, Micah Watters, Kelly Patricia Headrick, Jim & Cathy Watts, Charles & Susan Hefner, Randall Wells, Deena Hensley, Jeff Wilber, Mike, Renee, & Bethany Hubbard, Martin & Maria Williams, Michael & Deanna Johnson, Charles F. & Melissa Williams, Tom and Diana Johnson, Cynthia,Colby, Gabe & Sissy Williamson, Thurman, Joann, Susan & Jeff Kirk, Fred Winter, Charles Lee, Marti Yarbrough, Michael & Erin Lemaster, Tom Zimmerman, Larry Lewis, Janice Sue Litchenburg, Al 2005 Lowell, Shirley & Constance Ambrose, Kenneth & Stacy Malone, Rachael Aranda, Jennifer Martin, Robert L. & Marilyn Brown, Erin Fulton (James family) McCarter, Frank, Norma, Mary & Nancy Harmon, Richard & Joan McCoy, Beverly James, Darbi McNabb, Angela & Dawn Jaynes, Jeff and Adriane Mehl, Laura Currie Moore, Pattye L. Meroney, Janis Morgan, Don & Judy Meyer, Libby New, Celeste Millburn, Brandon & T.J. Nordstrom, Julie Randel Miller, William & Linda Philip, Thomas Perry Morton, Cheryl Herrington Powers, Pierson & Jean Niblack, Steve Probes, Winton Nottingham, Jon & Leslie Sparlin, Julie Olson, Richard & Jody Thompson, James Parker, Cynthia Thompson, Marsha Dean Parks, Beverly Turner, Lyle Jr. Peirson, Michael & Jaclyn Wilkerson, Kenneth, Jerrie, Scott, & Richard Peterson, Suzanne Preston, Joe, Rosetta, Lisa & Leslie THE FAMILY ROOM 34

We Rejoice... with those who have welcomed a new baby Luke Ryan Nowlin June 1, 2005 Son of Ryan and Ailee Nowlin

It’s Good for the Soul!

Dylan Charles Patman July 8, 2005 Son of Matt and Laurie Patman

Celebration Sunday - September 25

Olivia Dawn Campbell July 16, 2005 Daughter of Marcus and Melody Campbell

Music by Steel-Around Band

Carson Andrew Yalch Son of Joe and Debra Yalch

July 19, 2005

Ethan Christopher Craig July 19, 2005 Son of Todd and Stephenie Craig Jocelyn Rose Pruitt July 22, 2005 Daughter of Clay and Jennifer Pruitt

Especially for Children: Missions Exploration Tent You were shaped for serving God. But how do you know what shape you are? Have you ever had a pair of shoes that didn’t fit just right so they pinched your toes or rubbed blisters on your heels? Remember how great it felt to get home and kick off those shoes and slip into your comfy, well-worn slippers? The ones that are broken-in in all of the right places? Well, serving God should feel like that: like you are stepping into your favorite slippers (though God has been known to ask us to step out of our comfort zone from time to time!).

We Remember

Your gifts, abilities and passions were meant for serving God, no matter what your walk in

those who have gone to be with our Lord. Delores Crockett

Food Vendors

July 22, 2005

life. When you attempt to serve God in ways you’re not shaped to serve, it’s like walking in someone else’s. shoes. It’s frustrating, uncomfortable, and eventually you fall out of step. But when you take the time to examine and explore your own unique shape and use your shape to

Billie Baker

August 2, 2005

serve God, you become like the marathon runner – eyes fixed on the goal, with endurance,

Alan Kin

August 2, 2005

stamina and strength. It is our call at Asbury to expand the ministry of the church and the only way we can accomplish that is to send more workers into the harvest. It has been the desire of our hearts to

Marriage Milestones “Let marriage be held in honor among all.” Hebrews 13:4 Jim & Linda Pat Colgan September 3 45 Years Don & Linda Allison August 8 35 Years Gary & Suzanne Ruckgaber September 3 30 Years Mickey & Susan Coats August 2 25 Years Jeff & Jonna Polk August 2 25 Years Darrell & Karin Duke August 9 25 Years Scott & LeaAnn Anderson September 16 10 Years Michael & Piper Messimore September 10 5 Years

Congratulations to all couples celebrating Milestone Anniversaries this month. To report your milestone anniversary, contact patticooper@cox.net or call 392-1146. 35 THE FAMILY ROOM

get EVERY MEMBER IN MINISTRY! The past two years we worked toward that goal through IN HIS STEPS asking our members to complete commitment cards indicating where they would like to serve and we have had a tremendous response. Last year, we expanded on that theme by hosting a Ministry Fair, as we will do once again this year. The Ministry Fair is like a job fair! Each ministry area will have booths set up to showcase what they do, describe their volunteer roles and invite people to join in. The reason people don’t serve is because they are not invited! Members will also have an opportunity to peruse the booths to explore where their gifts and talents might be best used within Asbury. The theme of the fair is “Step Into Ministry” and we will highlight those areas of service that could be an entry-level or ‘first step’ experience as well as those service areas that require a deeper commitment. All who attend the ministry fair will be better equipped to complete their commitment card for 2006. Once the commitment card is received, you will receive a personal contact from the ministry area they signed up for and we will work quickly to get them into service. The Ministry Fair will be held on Sunday, September 25 from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm in the CLC. It will be fun, festive and full of opportunities to Grow, Give Back and Glorify God through serving. Step into Ministry . . . it’s good for the soul!

Rev. James Killgore brings a lifelong commitment of global evangelization, as well as years of effective ministry leadership experience, to his position as president of the Atlanta Christian Foundation. He was senior pastor of the Protestant International Church in Islamabad, Pakistan. Besides this tenure in Pakistan, Jim has traveled to more than 50 countries, giving him broad exposure to churches and ministires around the world. Jim is a teaching elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and is part of a new church plant in Atlanta. In each ministry assignment, Jim has shared his shepherd’s heart with people. He and his wife, Grace, have one daughter, Kristen. Rev. Killgore will be preaching at all morning services on September 4.