april 2012
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april 2012 For the past year, the leadership of the church has been studying our opportunities for growth and what adjustments are appropriate to respond to those opportunities. I will update you on some of that work, particularly some results from the Barna study. There were two parts to that study. The first was a telephone survey with over 1000 residents within a 10 mile radius. The second part was the online survey taken by current Asbury attendees. We want to thank the almost 1800 people who participated. What we are learning from these studies will be of great value. Let me first give you some demographic information for the Asbury participants. The participation by age: 28% age 45 or less, 43% age 46-64, and 29% age 65+. The distribution across worship services was consistent with actual attendance numbers. 14% regularly attend but are not members. Participants with a long tenure at Asbury (20 years or more) were overrepresented compared to our membership. This will be important in the interpretation of results. The level of education and income for Asburians are much higher than for the Tulsa community. We are significantly underrepresented relative to the community for those ages 18 to 27. Results showed what many of us know. The congregation holds Tom in extremely high regard. He also enjoys a good reputation in the Tulsa community. The community survey showed that Asbury is relatively well known in the community and perceived favorably. By far the most often-mentioned characteristic of Asbury is “big.” We are also known as a traditional church. This adds to the challenge of attracting young adults. Only 4% of young adults perceived Asbury as the best church. Tom’s Perception series has been heard by 1 in 3 adults. It is heard by some of the hardest to reach segments. Being a big church is, of course, not bad in itself. There are advantages that come with size, notably the ability to offer a number of high-quality ministry opportunities. Two points. It is unavoidable that Asbury will be characterized as big. But we also want to be known for something more significant. The increasing scope of our local outreach ministry is one opportunity. Secondly, being big poses additional challenges for visitors to Asbury. Some visitors find our church intimidating and hard to navigate. We can do a better job of minimizing those barriers. Asbury has been described as friendly but not hospitable, which can be briefly defined as treating people as honored guests. That assessment may seem unfair or even wrong to those of us with a long history at Asbury. But our study verifies it to be a fact. Closely related to hospitality is the subject of assimilation, i.e., how we assist and guide new people into the life of the church. Improvement is needed here also. Evidence suggests that we have missed opportunities with many visitors who have visited but not returned to Asbury. These are not simple issues and cannot be addressed without significant engagement from the congregation. We are working on plans for improvement. You will hear more about this in the months ahead. A somewhat surprising result from the congregational survey was that only 33% said that they “strongly agree” with the statement “when people are members of Asbury, their lives are transformed.” Obviously, we would like that number to be higher and are studying possible explanations. One explanation for this is that many lives are being significantly transformed; we just don’t do a good job telling those stories. Our communication team will help us get much better at telling these stories. Evidence of transformed lives is one of the things most attractive to someone looking for a church home. Perhaps the most important finding from the Barna work is this statement taken from their report: “Ensure that everyone involved is on the ‘same page’ with regard to the goals, strategies, and priorities for the church.” This is partly a matter of communications, something that we are continuously working on. It also indicates that our strategies and priorities need improved consistency and coherency. That work began early last year and is continuing. Many things are working well. Asbury is blessed with resources, committed people and many opportunities. These points were strongly confirmed by the studies. But we need to make some adjustments in order to be good stewards of the “talents” we’ve been given. As these adjustments are figured out, we will invite your participation. Asbury is full of people who want to grow personally, who want to see others grow, and who want to see Asbury grow. That is a great thing. Thank you. Dwight
Contents A Word From Tom Harrison Senior Adults Three Asburians We Are Following Communities Transparency. Accountability. I Received Mercy S.M.I.L.E., Though Your Heart is Aching Asbury Singles Ministry Asbury's Prayer Ministry Asbury Adds 17 New Members Small Groups: A New Way to Fellowship The Women's Ministry at Asbury Grandpa John Recipes of the Month Whereabouts Is Wesley Opportunities Special Announcements
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We need you! Do you have a story of what God has done in your life? Please contact us and tell us a little bit about what God has done. We will all be encouraged by hearing stories of what God is doing in the lives of those around us. Are you a writer or someone who enjoys writing? The Communications Department is always looking for someone to do an interview and write a story for us for Tidings. Have you noticed that we’ve been making some changes in Tidings? Please give us your feedback— both good and bad. Email kmains@asburytulsa.org or call 918.392.1140. Asbury Tidings is a monthly publications designed to tell stories of lives being transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. You may read back issues by visiting www.asburytulsa.org. Editor: Asbury Communications Department, 918.392.1140, kmains@asburytulsa.org Graphic Design: Tim Jurgensen, tjurgensen@ asburytulsa.org Photography: Mark Moore (mark moore.photo.net) Guest Contributors: Jim Asbury, Hollie Brobst, Jan Carr, Glen Grusendorf, Albert Kahl, Diane King, Gail Knox, Ginna Langston, Esther Gene Morrison, Ann Murphy, Jon Odom, Nancy Shield, Jim Small, Joanne Stadler, Wayne Werner
OPPORTUNITIES
A Word From Tom Harrison
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his month has THE Sunday of the Christian year – “Resurrection Sunday.” The resurrection of Jesus was the single most important event in human history. It’s impossible to minimize this statement. 1 Corinthians 15 is a “must read” chapter in the New Testament. Paul expresses the Christian hope so very well. He puts it all on the line with this statement: And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. (1 Corinthians 15:14) I’d encourage you to read this entire chapter. It’s a fascinating glimpse at the impact of the resurrection. If Jesus isn’t resurrected, then the entire faith is worthless. If He isn’t resurrected, He is just another dead Messiah. Those were a dime a dozen. If Jesus isn’t raised from the dead, then let’s close all of the churches, silence all of the preachers, quit singing the hymns, quit praying in Jesus’ Name, stop giving our money, eliminate evangelism efforts, and stop trying to win our children and others to Christ. But, Paul argued, Jesus is not dead – HE’S ALIVE! And Jesus appeared to all kinds of folks – to the women at the Empty Tomb, to the Disciples, to the two men on the road to Emmaus, to 500 at one time, and even to Paul. Since Jesus is alive and is the only Person to have ever come back from the dead – He has an exclusive claim. He’s not just one among many gods. He is utterly and completely unique. He has the sole credential of resurrection. No one else can say that! So what? Even if we exercise, eat right, and live to a ripe old age – we’re STILL going to die. Jesus popped this question once: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world…and lose his soul?” Most people want to believe that there’s something more than just this life. Those who believe in Jesus feel the resurrection validates
His promises for all time. If someone dies and comes back from the dead, they’ve got my attention. In this case, Jesus has more than my attention – He has my commitment. Someone could tell you about a new diet which can greatly improve your health. Someone could tell you that you won a boatload of money. Someone could tell you that your favorite sports team won the World Series, or that the person you’ve most loved wants to marry you, or that you’ve gotten the promotion or the dream job or the trip of a lifetime. All of these things would be events to celebrate. But, in comparison with the Resurrection – well, there just isn’t any. The Resurrection is not an earth-bound existence. The Resurrection is about a heavenly gift and a transformational existence. It’s not just “news” or even “good news”–it’s the “greatest news of all.” How does a person go to heaven? It’s by giving your life to the One who has overcome death, and by clinging to Him for the rest of your life. He’s our Savior. He’s our Lord. He’s the Resurrected Christ. We celebrate His day: the Day of Resurrection. April 8th. I’ll look for you at Asbury. Why don’t you bring a friend with you that day! Dr. Tom Harrison, Sr. Pastor
New Road Series Prayer Journal, April 16 Through August 5 We will be “On the Road,” taking some “Detours,” and right back “On the Road Again” over the next 16 weeks starting Monday, April 16, in the upcoming prayer journal. The newly designed Road Series Prayer and Study Journal will serve as a fun itinerary for the whole family to guide you through each week. You will see devotions written by Asbury pastors, staff and members. You will encounter questions that will invite you to go deeper and apply the daily readings to daily life. If you don’t go too fast, you’ll come across Historical Markers beside the road with helpful information about the characters and places you’ll see. You will even have the chance to go the Extra Mile with your family and friends in activities that make your faith more tangible.
As a part of our 50th anniversary celebration, we are featuring our adult, discipleship and small groups ministries in this month’s Tidings.
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SENIOR ADULTS
Sowing “Seeds” of Love The Seeds and the Sowers by Joanne Stadler, Sr. Adult Ministry Co-President
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eniors, seeds, sorting, and sacking, what do all of these have in common? On a Friday afternoon at Asbury in Room 2818 all of these elements of God’s abundant love came together as our Asbury Senior Adults separated, measured, counted and placed in resealable bags eighteen varieties of vegetable garden seeds for two hundred and twenty families in need. Every Spring, for several years, our Senior Adults have supported our Methodist Global Ministries Project at Cookson Hills Center, under the direction of Rev. Meri Whitaker. The Center provides and distributes garden seeds to the families in the surrounding area. In turn, each family plants the seeds, tends the gardens, and harvests much-needed food for their families.
there at Cookson Hills commented, “If I didn’t raise that garden, we wouldn’t eat. I’m just thankful to God that I can still work a garden.” Another recipient said, “The food I raise from my garden I share with an older couple who live near me and are not able to do the work to keep up a garden.” As we share and sow God’s seeds of love we pray they fall on good soil and our recipients will not only sow and tend their garden seeds producing an abundance of food for themselves and their neighbors, but that they will also nurture His Word and love in their hearts. “But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” – Matthew 13:23
In February for the past eight years or more, fifty plus volunteers have been busy sharing in this opportunity to demonstrate God’s love as we serve Him. This year as we came together for these several hours and enjoyed fun and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. As the afternoon unfolded, we heard Jan Lakin say, “May the Lord bless each seed and may it bring nourishment to each and every family member.” Jan Steffensen commented, “I’m so sold on this project. I plan to help every year.” Funds for the Garden Seed Project are solicited from fifteen communities and the Tweenagers. The project requires funds of over $1,000 for the seeds, equipment and consumable supplies. In the event donations exceed our needs, the additional funds are given to Cookson Hills for their supplemental garden there at the Center. Upon delivery, one recipient of the garden seeds
Susan Holloway: “I think it is fantastic to be able to help people help themselves. This is my second year, and I decided last year I would come every time they do it because it is such a wonderful program.” Peggy George: “It is a privilege to do such a simple thing and provide food for families and children who have no other source.” Nellie Ardle: “This is my fourth year to do this and I love it!” Paula Goree: “I am amazed how many people cooperate to make this project go so smoothly.” Linda Schaffer: “So many people turned out that we didn’t have too much to do.” Jan Steffensen: “I’m so sold on this project, I plan to help every year.” Les Clutter: “I’ve done this many years. It is a challenge to get things done “alone” for other people, and this brings us all together working side by side to help others.”
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Three Asburians We Are Following For One Year Christian: The Illusion of Backsliding - Rwanda Jesus has had me in a process of looking back at the last couple months of what I would have called some backsliding. He has been showing me how even though it hasn’t felt like an emotional high, I have still grown so much. I have seriously grown in some ridiculous ways. Now that He’s starting to give me some perspective, the idea that I thought this was “backsliding” is preposterous. I am writing this blog mostly for my fellow squad-mates. I know that a ton of us have fallen prey to this illusion of backsliding. The reality though is just that we aren’t riding that emotional high anymore. We are cruising along at a mature pace and we are still growing. Look back at the last couple of months, do you really think you are the same or less of a mature person in Jesus than you were two months ago? No! Sure, Jesus might be doing some less glamorous stuff in you but you are still a changed person who continues to be changed. At least that is the reality that Jesus has been showing me about myself. Jesus continues to show me that worship is my favorite way to hear His voice. Honestly though, the word “worship” has become such an all-encompassing term for me these days. The reality, yes, is that my entire life should be worship to the Lord. Every single thing that I do SHOULD be worship to Jesus. But worship can look so different too. Worship can be a very broad term that doesn’t quite narrow things down enough to effectively communicate what I’m talking about or it can be a term that is far to specific to encapsulate all the things I mean when I use the word.
Rachel: Visit from parents Life in South Asia has been especially exciting this past month. The Read parents came to visit for eight days, and we had a blast. I think they were able to have the true South Asian experience ranging from scary auto rickshaw rides to ancient
temples to monkeys and ending with the typical food poisoning experience. The most special part of the trip was the opportunity for them to spend time with all of the wonderful people that I work with and truly see how faithful God has been to me by placing me in this office. February also brought multiple rescues to our office. We were able to recue 55 people from slavery in the month of February and will begin the rehabilitation process next week. God is so good!
Kayla: Valentine’s Day in Venezuela This month I found out that Venezuela celebrates Valentine’s Day, AKA “Día del Amor y la Amistad.” Knowing this, I helped plan a campus outreach on the 14th which focused on love, relationships, and how students could come to know God in an intimate way. My team and some Venezuelan students divided into groups and walked around campus asking students their opinions on love, dating, and the meaning of Valentine’s Day personally to them. After asking these questions, we invited them to come and hear about how God relates to all of this. We gathered in a classroom and heard from one of our national interns Oscar about how God chose us first and loves us perfectly, more than anyone else ever has or will. We listened as he told us that God will never leave us or stop loving us. And that only through Jesus can we be fully satisfied. After Oscar’s talk, we divided into smaller groups and discussed what Oscar said and how that applied to our lives. Hearing students share their opinions was great, and we got to know some students we had never met before! God really showed up for us.
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COMMUNITIES
Wordfinders Find the Word by Diane King
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he Wordfinders community was formed in 1979 as a class for “couples and singles, forty-five years old and up.” Their name is evidence of this community’s love and high regard for the Word of God, and their Bible study time on Sunday mornings has been led by strong Bible teachers. “Our teachers teach strictly from the Bible,” says Johnna Himes. “Hence the name Wordfinders,” adds Mary Herrold. “I love Wordfinders class. One of the many reasons is due to our three excellent teachers. They are all quite different in their manner but they are all very knowledgeable of scripture and scripture interpretation for [those of] us [who] are less informed, but want to learn more,” declares Jim Hannigan. “They not only teach but encourage, inspire and challenge us, not to just read but to study and apply the message of Jesus in our daily lives.” Sally Hickman, another Wordfinder, expresses what the teaching has meant to her this way: “I can’t tell you how much their teaching has enriched my faith walk. The depth of the Bible studies and how it has affected my life, well, my husband and I had no idea of what we had been missing before we came to this group!”
Donna Hannigan testifies to the care and love she receives here. “Wordfinders mean so much to me because they are an exceptional group of people led by exceptional teachers. They are prayer warriors.” “Our class has always been generous in giving to mission projects,” states Mrs. Himes. “We have an extra offering basket on the last Sunday each month that is for youth missions.”Mrs. Herrold adds, “Our class gives a big amount to youth missions. A fund was established years ago [in memory of] a class member’s deceased daughter, Susan J. Hammond. We take up an offering once a month for this fund, which is invested for the purpose of giving to youth missions.” Currently in 2012, the Wordfinders community has about 130 members and averages about 60-70 in attendance each Sunday. Come visit this group Sunday mornings in Room 2820 at 9:15. They’ll greet you with open arms!
True to Asbury’s 3B model, Wordfinders community is about more than the believing, but also promotes a strong sense of belonging among its members. They have several regular monthly gettogethers for playing bridge and a form of canasta together. If you happen to walk down the hall of Asbury on just the right afternoon of the month, you might hear the pleasant sound of hearty laughter coming from a room of Wordfinders ladies having a great time of fellowship with each other. Caring for each other completes the important belonging element. “We try to contact those who miss the class for several weeks to make sure they are all right, and we provide food to those having surgery or are ill,” she adds.
ONE OF THE FUNNY THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE NAME OF THIS GROUP: We have Wordfinders and many other communities with various names chosen by the members, including Women of Faith. Every week, volunteer Nancy Reese sorts through the mail addressed to the communities and places it into the binders. Sometimes mail from other outside groups soliciting support get the community names confused. Nancy came to me one day a few years ago, unsure of where to put one such letter. Giggling, she handed me an envelope addressed to “Women Finders”! We decided this must be a new single men’s group!
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COMMUNITIES
When Christians Explore Together by Diane King
One little girl who received a brand new coat wore it to school on a cold day, and Lin noticed the price tag hung off the back of it. She discreetly told the little girl that she forgot to cut the tag off. “Oh no, I didn’t forget,” she was told. “I wanted to leave it on to show everyone this is a new coat. I’ve never had a new coat before!” The Christian Explorers community has grown to 125 members in 2012, with an average attendance of 50-60. In order to have a greater level of intimacy and more time for Bible study, there are 4-5 small groups that meet during the week in homes outside of regular Sunday class time.
Christian Explorers — A warm, enthusiastic community of couples, singles, and married/singles who have a passion for spiritual growth through in-depth Bible study, fellowship, and both local & global outreach. (50s–60s) Room 1335 Sunday mornings at 9:15
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ay back in the “old days” when dinosaurs roamed the earth (1998), a small band of brothers (and sisters) who desired a small group setting in which to study the Bible decided to start a new Sunday morning class. “We still called it a ‘Sunday School class’ back then,” says Bob Crane “There were many Sundays in the first year or two when there were two or four people present, and I’m not sure any of the early group had a vision of what the class could become. Most of us just thought it would be nice to start a new Sunday school class with some friends at Asbury.” This new class for middle-aged couples and singles was originally called Christian Home Improvement. Diane Taylor remembers, “Some of us decided we really wanted to stick closely to the Bible in our lessons. We took turns and rotated teachers within the group,” a practice that continues to the present. As the group grew, so did the opportunity to meet needs by serving others, both inside and outside their membership.
One of the many strong suits of Christian Explorers today is the plethora of excellent Bible teachers among its members who take turns teaching the class throughout the year. There are several who are seminary degreed and/or former pastors and ministers. Others are experienced professional teachers who have studied and taught the Bible for many years. In case you may be thinking this is a very serious bunch, DON’T. They are talkative, outgoing, and love to have fun together. They regularly have parties and socials, including a yearly trip to Branson together. Belonging and caring for one another is as natural as breathing to them. Their gregarious nature has led them to get, um, a little rowdy a few times in public places. But in case they have gone a little too far with their noise, they have a quick answer prepared for anyone they may have disturbed: “We are from Boston Avenue (UMC)!” Perhaps Bob Crane describes this community best: “What a wonderful group of committed Christians CE has become over the past years…this is an answer to prayer and a reminder that when we let God guide us there is no limit to the blessings He will provide. To say that we’ve come a long way from those early days is the understatement of the year, and to meet, be in fellowship and become friends with such a great group of believers is one of the vital parts of the Christian journey for Debbie and me.”
Over time, Christian Explorers (CE) have been involved in many service and mission projects. Some of these include helping out at the Boys’ Ranch, Seed Project, Redemption Dinners. Operation Hope, and most of the members helped at the last Christmas Store held at Asbury. One of the main projects that continues throughout the year is taking care of the apartment at Exodus House, furnishing it, making sure it is outfitted with needed supplies, and providing a safe place for its resident to attend community if he/she chooses. The generosity of the group shines when members bring needs they encounter in their working world. Lin Gray teaches at a school for low-income children, and she noticed that many of the children did not have suitable outerwear to keep them warm in cold weather. Christian Explorers responded by buying coats for the children.
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Transparency. Accountability. by Kay Mains
These two words echo through the testimony of Frank Field. Although many know he has been on every men’s mission trip to Rio Bravo, Mexico, since April 2008 (now as a co-leader) and is involved in Celebrate Recovery, some may not realize that Frank has not always been a Christian, faithfully serving the Lord. However, God is faithful in not only redeeming our past but using it to form our ministry and service to others, helping spread the Gospel in ways unique to us. Frank describes most of his life as living as a lost sheep, without God. To the outside world, his home life seemed normal—with a father who faithfully provided material possessions for his family. But his father failed to impart the faith in God that we all need in order to build our lives on a strong foundation. He never saw his father reading the Bible or praying. Frank’s role model, his father who was a highly functioning alcoholic, taught Frank well; he eventually adopted drugs as his method of unwinding and dealing with the stresses of work and life in general. After marrying in 1990, having two children, and receiving promotion after promotion (his dad had taught him to be a good worker!), he eventually was required to pass a drug test to advance his career. He stopped using the drugs, passed the test, and vowed to quit taking drugs. But that didn’t last. Things changed again in 1992 when Frank was diagnosed with complex migraines, even losing a portion of his vision. Pain medication was prescribed, and this soon became his new way to self medicate—and it was legal! He visited a number of different doctors, getting prescriptions for both pain and sleeping pills from each one. Frank would attend church on Christmas and Easter but still had no clue who God was. “My family needed a spiritual leader, but I was seeking everything that was not of God. I was an isolated man without any real friends.” Another promotion led Frank and his family to Tulsa in 1999, and with his wife Cinderella’s prompting they began visiting Asbury occasionally in 2000. Cinderella got involved at the church and served on the Asbury Women’s Council. She would ask Frank “when are you going to get involved?” As the years passed, the marriage was not going well. In 2005, the job stress was higher than ever, and his marriage worse than ever. Frank decided to solve his problems by filing for divorce. After meeting with a pastor at Asbury, he was convinced to stop the divorce. Because Frank saw his wife as the real problem,
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things didn’t improve. “I was in deep denial. I knew how wrong it was to use the drugs. I wanted to stop and kept telling myself that tomorrow I would, but on my own, I could not do it.” Romans 7:18 says “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” February 2008. Because he was having additional problems at home, not only with his wife but with his teenage children, his wife asked him to call Glen Grusendorf at Asbury, the leader of Celebrate Recovery to get help with their son. They met for lunch to talk about his problems, which in his view were his wife and children. Glen would listen and say “Hey, Frank, they are not here, you are. Let’s talk about you.” Glen talked with Frank about who God was, told him a little bit about CR and encouraged Frank to join a class at church called “Men’s Fraternity—the Quest for Authentic Manhood.” Since the class had just formed, Frank decided to attend. God was nudging him out of his comfort zone of isolation. And he started to learn something new—God’s definition of being a man, husband and father as revealed in His Word. After being invited a number of times, Frank finally went to a CR meeting. “When I heard something about getting real and sharing, my wheels were turning.” He had never said anything to anyone about his prescription drug problem. And if he fixed it himself, no one would ever need to know about it. In April of that year, Glen convinced Frank to go on a mission trip with the men to Mexico. Stepping even further out of his comfort zone, and to the surprise of his wife, he went. He met more men on that trip, some of them also went to CR. Another nudge from God A month after the trip, while sitting at work, Frank realized he could not stop the drugs on his own. He met with Glen and admitted that he was powerless in the face of his addiction and needed help. Transparency. He stopped taking drugs that day; Glen held him accountable. He has not taken any pain killers or sleeping pills since that day. It took transparency before God and man (in this case Glen), and accountability to a group of trusted men of God. Just a few weeks later, Frank surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” But all the problems were not solved. Frank’s marriage was still in trouble. He was coming out of the fog of drugs and learning what would make him the husband and father they needed. For the good of his family, however, he agreed to move out of the house. He was determined to use this time apart to work on his new-found relationship with God, allowing God to change him. He met with his accountability group, attended a 12 Step Study program, and most importantly, earnestly sought God. When he reached Step 8, he accepted God’s forgiveness, forgave those who had hurt him, and truly accepted himself. He also laid all his sins, failures as a husband and father, and his pain from the past at the feet of Jesus. And he left it all there. Philippians: 3:13 “But one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead, I
press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Throughout this time, Frank never gave up on his marriage. He chose to just trust God. He and his wife went to counseling and worked on things in their marriage. His wife started going to CR with him. His son and daughter attended a CR program for teens call “Life Hurts; God Heals.” But there was still more work to do to repair the past, and Frank’s failure to lead his family in God’s way and make Him the center of their lives and their family caused a second separation. During this time, his wife was able to leave some of the past at Jesus feet as Frank had done. “We have fought hard for our marriage and have taken the marriage covenant with God very seriously. We have both had many chances to end the marriage but instead we have trusted God, His Word, and with His help, we have persevered.” Frank now leads a men’s CR group for addictions. It’s only when those in the group step out of denial and can be transparent with one another and with God, and then allow themselves to be held accountable for their actions that true change can occur. “The key is accepting responsibility for themselves, not blaming others.” First, however, you have to find out what all that even means. You have to connect with other men and you also have to find a place to serve, giving to others. Frank’s wife had always wanted to get remarried in a church, so on their 20th anniversary, Frank planned a trip to Hawaii, and even arranged for them to renew their vows with a pastor (they had married in a court house initially). God was placed firmly at the center of their marriage. “I can truly say that our marriage has been transformed; it is better than ever.” “God’s Word, prayer, serving, staying in community with a team of like-minded men believers are the four pillars of my recovery and my growth to become more like Christ.” It took transparency before God and man; it took accountability; Frank needed to serve others; and he needed, above all, a relationship with God. “My goal is to carry this message to others so they can find the freedom and restoration of a marriage and family in Jesus that I found.” Frank’s wife is bringing a ministry to Asbury and other churches called Surrender the Secret. It is a biblically based post-abortion healing program ministering to those women who have had abortions. His son is currently in Kuwait as a combat medic in the army. Last year he was in Iraq. He’ll be home in June. God’s work not only changed Frank but this change impacted his family as well. “As a man goes, so goes the family.” Frank is proof of this. Are you ready to get involved? Celebrate Recovery meets at Asbury every Monday night from 6:00-9:00 pm, beginning with a dinner. And the men are going on another mission trip to Mexico on April 18th -22nd. Sign up today. But you have to move out of your isolation and take the first step. God is nudging you.
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I Received Mercy
by Jan Carr
Recovery from Cancer 01/18/2012 It was almost 10 years ago, when I attended my first Celebrate Recovery training class. When it was my turn to introduce myself, I said, “My name is Jan and I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ and I am working on…” I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t have a clear picture of who I was. I also wasn’t a believer in Christ and I hadn’t read the Bible since being baptized in high school. I was over 40 years old. Celebrate Recovery changed my life. I learned to accept myself where I was and to try not to be perfect. I developed a hunger for scripture and love for my LORD Jesus Christ. I used to pray to God when I needed or wanted something, expecting Him to conform to my will. When God didn’t do what I wanted, then it was His fault I was so unhappy. My husband, Steve, calls that praying to God as if He were a cosmic Santa Claus. I learned to keep a running dialog with God, to seek His will in all things, through His Word or through tough lessons learned. As a child, my family went to church only at Christmas and Easter. Therefore, I never learned any of the old gospel songs. Through Celebrate Recovery, I learned to love the praise and worship songs and began to listen to them daily. I thank God for Celebrate Recovery, for it gave me a strong foundation in the LORD to prepare me for what was to come. In October 2010, I found a lump on my left breast. I thought it felt a little different and contacted the doctor to have it examined. My doctor felt 98% positive that it was a cyst and sent me to get a mammogram. It took until November to get the testing completed. At that point, they determined it was not a cyst, but was probably Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. This is a tumor that does not spread and can be removed easily. It wasn’t until the MRI that we found an Invasive Cancer had been hidden below the tumor and was growing quickly. It grew from 4 cm to about 7 cm in a matter of weeks. It also had spread to my upper back, lower back and hips. I could tell where the cancer was in my spine because it was painful. A lymph node in the middle of my chest also tested positive for cancer.
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The biopsy revealed that the cancer was Triple Negative, meaning that no specific cure was available for this Stage IV Cancer. When my oncologist, Dr. Alan Keller, told me the results of the tests, he had tears in his eyes. With over 30 years experience in oncology, I was his 2nd Triple Negative patient, and the other one had to leave the state to be treated. This was “not good.” A large cancer care hospital in Tulsa said that they did not take patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer because it was a rare cancer. The outcomes were poor, with a majority of patients with cancer that had metastasized living only 9 months, with none of them surviving over a year. Without God’s divine intervention I was terminal. Because of the size of the tumor, surgery was not an option, and Dr. Keller prescribed chemotherapy to see if it would be of benefit. Because of the severity of the cancer, I did not have to follow a specific protocol, and was placed instead, on Carboplatnim and Taxol, a regimen used for patients with ovarian cancer. The plan was to have 7 hours of treatment at the beginning of a 4 week cycle, then have 3 hour treatments for weeks 2 and 3. On week 4, there would be no treatment, with the goal to allow my red and white blood cells to rebuild after the toxic chemo. This was to last 6 months. After seeing Dr. Keller, I prayed to Jehovah Raffa, which is God’s healing name. I prayed that if it was His will that he would save me. I prayed David’s prayer: Psalm 5:1-3 Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice: in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
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At 3:30 a.m., I heard, “Get on your knees.” (firm voice)
surgeon, told Steve that 2 of the lymph nodes looked as if they had been cauterized! So… ye of little faith, the burning was not the cancer, but the cure!
I said, “I’m good.” I heard, “Get on your knees.” (firmer voice) I said, “I can pray from bed.” I heard, “Get on your knees because you have been shown mercy.” MERCY! By golly, I was on my knees, sobbing. My husband, Steve, felt my back and he said, “You are sick! You are sick! You are burning up!” But I said, “No, I’m happy, I’m happy”! “I’ve been shown mercy!” I was so thankful that our LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love according to Psalm 145:8, for I still had difficulty understanding the extent of His gracious gift. Two weeks later, I had a spine MRI to see the extent of the damage from the cancer. It was totally negative. Dr. Keller ordered a full body bone scan, and that was negative also! The tumor shrank 2 cm in 1 round of treatment. Dr. Keller said that if he had just met me, that he would be hard pressed to diagnose cancer.
Following 30 radiation treatments, each lasting about 45 minutes, I am now living the life our Almighty Father had planned for me. He has cured me of a rare, deadly cancer and charged me with telling people of His lovingkindness, mercy, and power over all things great or small. This was never a battle. God won from the get-go. But let me stress, I am not the miracle—but a miracle was manifested in me! God gets all the glory! Psalm 40 says: I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in Him.
Even so, I struggled to trust that this deadly cancer was going to be eradicated. I thought maybe God healed my spine, but did not believe that I was healed throughout.
By His grace, I am healed. By His mercy, I am healed. By His stripes, I am healed. Jesus died on the cross for my sins. He died on the cross for your sins. There is nothing that He cannot overcome, if it is His will. Whatever was intended to harm can be turned to good for the saving of many lives. Hear my story of God’s miracle and believe. Believe that He is your help, your rock and your redeemer, too.
The scripture from Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. I had to remember that I was a child of our Almighty God, not a statistic. As long as I focused on Him, then I was able to place my ongoing fears in God’s hands.
I am so thankful that God spurred me to go to Celebrate Recovery despite my lack of understanding of His greatness and of the role of Jesus Christ in my life. Through CR, I received a spiritual toolkit, the Bible, that would become the foundation of my faith and would provide me with a window into the incomparable richness of His grace expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).May all of you be blessed beyond your imagination!
Because of His mercy, I was able to work full time, despite taking chemo. I rested in His scripture that He gave me to hold on to… I was expecting Psalm 23:4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil for thou art with me, thy rod and staff comfort me. Instead, the scripture He placed on my heart was Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
I am grateful to many people: many good friends, friends in my Mosaic community and pastors who prayed over me, and provided ongoing prayer and support during this past year, my family, and especially my beloved husband, Steve, who continued to believe that this miracle was possible, despite my attempts to limit the incredible power of our Almighty God. He is truly a gift from God!
To God be the glory!
Wow, hope and a future. That was more than I could expect. It was difficult to imagine a future when I had lost all my hair on my head and body, and was having nose bleeds! After 5 rounds of chemo, Dr. Keller discontinued treatment because the tumor was totally gone! I had to negotiate, however, to get it stopped because this was not according to normal medical protocol. The modified radical mastectomy followed, with 20 lymph nodes removed. All were negative, praise the LORD. During treatment I had told God that the cancer burned, and I heard, “What makes you think it is the cancer?” Dr. Frame, the
Before cancer
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Ash Wednesday, 2011
Ash Wednesday, 2012
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S.M.I.L.E., Though Your Heart is Aching by Hollie Brobst
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at King Cole said it best, “Smile, though your heart is aching.” And that’s just the message one Asbury member is hoping to send as she discovers life after divorce, and helps other divorcees S.M.I.L.E. through the hard times as well. After 10-years of marriage, Kellie Austin discovered her husband had been unfaithful and watched as the life she once knew suddenly changed around her. The Louisiana native grew up in a Baptist church, went to an all-girls Catholic high school and a Methodist college. She never thought divorce would be the answer, but also knew her marriage was spiraling out of control. She says she had to protect her daughter, Abigail, at the time just 2-years old.
not letting all the ‘what ifs?’ into your head.” Being a single mom with full custody of a 2-year-old, and no family in the area for support she dove into every opportunity Asbury had to offer. Her evenings and weekends were filled with community and fellowship focused on single parents, divorcees and even younger singles looking for a place to belong. “If the Singles Ministry wasn’t there, I wouldn’t be here,” Austin recalls. “I went through ‘Divorce Rebuilding’ for two years. That’s four times through the book! And every time I was in a different place in my healing.”
During that time, she was attending a local Catholic church and realized she wasn’t getting the support she felt she needed. That’s when God stepped in. Austin came across an article in the newspaper, a 12-week coping with divorce seminar provided by another local Catholic church. She immediately signed up. As she began to grow with the women in the group, one of them, who had also been attending “Divorce Rebuilding” at Asbury, invited the ladies to join her. It didn’t take long before Austin was a fullfledged Asbury convert!
As Austin grew within the church, her daughter did too.
“Every night I would try to do something at the church,” says Austin. “It was just keeping your mind focused on the positive and
They may lead a busy life, but Abigail says her mom always finds time for her. They share a love for Christian music and listen to it
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“When we started going to Asbury, Abigail just thrived,” she says. “She was like a sponge. She loved it.” Abigail didn’t just thrive at church, but in her home life as well. As the years went by she began attending Wright Christian Academy. The now spunky 8-year-old keeps her mom busy with voice lessons, gymnastics, volleyball and horseback riding lessons!
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Asbury Singles Ministry on the way to school every morning, go horseback riding together, and they always take time out to play with their dogs. When asked how her mom has changed since attending Asbury, Abigail responds, “She’s a happier mom now. She has lots of friends there.” Abigail wasn’t the only one noticing the change. Church leaders found Austin to be so inspirational they came to her to help start “Salt & Light”, a community for singles in their 30’s and 40’s. “Not only has she learned to make the best of being a single parent, but she has the passion to help other people do the same. She has such a heart for this ministry. It’s a blessing to work with volunteers like Kellie,” says Charlene Giles, Director of Care and Marriage. While Austin helped grow the “Salt & Light” program, she says she still missed that single mom support group. She was then given the opportunity to help start another Asbury community, S.M.I.L.E. (Single Moms in the Lord’s Embrace). The group is designed to provide fellowship for one-hour, then the women are given two additional hours to leave campus and do something for themselves, whether it be a trip to the grocery store, dinner with a girlfriend or just some quiet time to breathe, all while their child is in the safe care of the church.
by Jim Small
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y connection with Asbury began in 1990 when I moved to Tulsa. I am a life-long Methodist with some gaps in my attendance. I visited Asbury and other churches infrequently until my divorce after 25 years of marriage. I quickly realized that I would need help and prayers to pull me through my anger, fear, self-doubt and rejection. In 1997 Asbury’s Divorce Rebuilding program drew me in and provided great comfort, healing and direction during a difficult time in my life. To return the blessing, I have now co-facilitated about 700 weekly meetings over 14 years with the help of several wonderful lady co-facilitators. Most new participants were deeply suffering and helping them gave me great satisfaction and made me grow and want to do more. I soon realized the power of servant leadership and focused my efforts. Many local singles find Asbury through Pastor Tom’s radio messages, our web site and word of mouth from other singles. They look for connection, spiritual healing and groups where they can learn, socialize and grow. I have also hosted many relationship study groups and holiday dinners for singles in my home. These opportunities allowed me to meet, greet and guide other singles. They became my special “family” and I learned to be a better person by observing and interacting with them. I have witnessed the spiritual transformation of thousands through Asbury’s classes and programs. I am proud to see so many who have actively participated in our classes and programs become community leaders, Stephen Ministers and find new, inspired lives like I have. I am a CPA/MBA (a numbers guy) but I can get quite emotional when I see the progress of those I have helped. I have truly been blessed.
While not currently dating anyone, Austin says she now knows what she’s looking for: a spiritual head of the household, someone who is strong in their faith and a good family role model. “They always say, a thirsty horse will drink dirty water,” says Austin. “You can always lower your standards, and you’ll find somebody. But we’re taught to write down our non-negotiables, write down the things you are not willing to budge on. Know what those non-negotiables are, and you’re more likely to not lower your standards.” Through the trials and tribulations of divorce, the heartache and pain of failed relationships, Austin found a strong church family with Asbury that will never let her down. As the song goes, “You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just S.M.I.L.E.”
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Asbury’s Prayer Ministry I have participated in numerous prayer vigils for the youth mission trips which were especially touching for me. We were provided with individual student’s pictures, where they were going and why they needed prayer. This not only made me feel connected to the student I was praying for, but I knew that someone was praying for my daughter (who was also on a trip) in the same way. I love that Asbury understands that these trips would not be nearly as life changing for all involved if it weren't for the prayer support.
One of the things I love about our church is that we not only have 'a' prayer room - but we have THREE prayer rooms, each one unique. I also appreciate the prayer cards that are provided with scriptural prayers to pray. Sometime you are so burdened, you just don't know what to pray. These cover things that most people pray for like for husbands, wives, children, schools, church and our nation but also include topics like praying for people in times of calamity, loneliness, military, missions, higher education, the entertainment industry, reconciliation, overcoming sin and other life challenges that people face.
Participating in prayer vigils for the past six years ago has been a great blessing. It constitutes a special time when I can connect with God for specific ministries and know that I play a part in the success of that particular event. The church is a living organism, not an organization, which has been created by God to make a spiritual impact on our world near and far. This can only be accomplished by pray. Only the working of the Holy Spirit through the Word, testimony and action can bear authentic spiritual results that will last into eternity. –Wayne Werner
I have to say it makes me smile that I have gone on several occasions to all three prayer rooms to try to find a place to pray and they were all occupied! That's a good problem to have.
I have been especially blessed by the Acts 29 Prayer book ever since its beginning, years ago. I receive the weekly Global Outreach prayer list and the Sunday prayer requests via the Internet. All of these guide my prayer life and help me emphasize the special, up-to-date needs and praise reports of our church staff, members and missionary families. I strongly encourage all members to make use of these and other prayer aids.
–Ann Murphy
–Esther Gene Morrison
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The prayer room at Asbury is a sanctuary within a sanctuary for me. When I go there, I feel closer to the Lord. Many, many times, I can fall prostrate before Him. The prayer room is a safe haven far away from all the noise of our lives where I can be in the presence of the King. –Nancy Shield
the mission team as well as they slept securely in their beds. And when the hour was up, I had the opportunity to write a personal note of encouragement to the ones that I had been praying for. I learned some things from the experience that I took back with me from that prayer room. I discovered the joy of reading scripture to the Lord and of verbalizing requests so that the sound of my own voice fell on my ears. The entire world was shut out, and I was alone with my God. –Gail Knox
We all grow up saying our prayers at night, blessing our food before we eat, but reading about how Jesus went off to pray alone really impacts me. Our Savior wanted to be alone with God. If Jesus wanted to be alone with God and I strive to be more like Jesus, shouldn’t I want the same thing? To be a part of a prayer ministry that is so focused away from me and toward the people here at Asbury humbles me. My conversations with God have become so much more personal, a one-on-one with my Dad. He truly directs my path, when I am willing to be still and listen to His direction.
The prayer rooms are very special to me. I have had life changing moments and healing from prayer that started in those very rooms. I’ve also had the chance to lead others to Christ and pray for them in their time of need. It is so easy to feel the presence of the Lord in those rooms. The atmosphere is very conducive to a spiritual experience once the door is closed and you’re there in His presence. It’s a very special place and time for me.
–Ginna Langston
–Glen Grusendorf
One of the most difficult aspects of prayer for me is keeping my mind from wandering. If you know me, you know that my mind is in over-drive most of the time. When I signed up for a prayer vigil for the youth who were on mission in Mexico and across the nation, I had little faith that I would be able to pray for a solid hour. I just decided it was time to let God make it happen. Since Asbury provided a security guard outside the prayer room in Venue68, I selected an hour in the middle of the night when it is most difficult to get volunteers. It turned out that I was so blessed because of this decision. As I drove from my house to the church to pray, it was like I was the only person on the road. Already I was experiencing a serenity I will never forget—being totally alone with God. I slipped through the secured door of the prayer room and discovered candles were flicking and I could hear water trickling in the little fountain on the shelf. I signed in and picked up my instruction page. The next time I looked at my watch my hour was up. And, I didn’t want to leave. I know what you’re thinking. “You fell asleep; that’s why the hour passed so quickly.” No way. God took over the hour, moving me gently around the room to the different stations that had been so thoughtfully laid out. As I knelt or sat at each, I read aloud from the selected scriptures, learned about the students that I was specifically praying for, read their comments on the wall and asked God to protect each and every one of them. I could feel my thoughts not only getting through to God but to
Since coming to Asbury in 2004, I have continually been challenged to step out of my comfort zone. Getting involved with the different prayer ministries was one of those "out of comfort zone" areas. In doing so, it has helped me learn many different prayer types and uses and has gotten me to focus more on Scripture than ever before. I have found many meaningful prayers in Scripture and enjoy now writing prayer from Scripture. –Albert Kahl What have I gained in prayer life...my thoughts go back to 2 years ago this past December. Our prayer warrior team follows the ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication) method to prayer...and then we pray. We pray for ministries, pastors, ministry leaders, friends, spouses, friends of friends. We have been doing this for over two years. The benefit to this prayer was a strengthening of my walk with Christ. I don't feel like I'm an expert at prayer but do feel blessed to have prayer in my life. It is a key piece of my walk and I'm thankful for that.
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–Jim Asbury
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Asbury Adds 17 New Members on February 5 During Asbury’s 50th anniversary service, February 5, 17 people made the decision to join Asbury. That day, membership at Asbury reached 8,065. Geri Arnold I moved from Florida to Tulsa a year ago, just a couple weeks before the blizzards. I begin to think I was insane to leave such nice weather. I came from a church that I really enjoyed and was involved in several volunteer programs and study groups. My husband passed away in 2008. A couple years later, after much prayer and soul searching, I decided it was time to move and be closer to my family who live in Tulsa. When I first came to Tulsa, I started searching for a church. I visited Asbury, which was very difficult to walk into that big church all alone and not knowing anyone. I was just over-whelmed by the size of the church. So I began to visit other churches, but God kept leading me back to Asbury. One day Joan Henning, my neighbor, said she would like to take me to a class which she thought I would enjoy the Seekers Class. She introduced me to several women who invited me to sit with them. I went back the next Sunday and prayed that I would remember the name of just one person I had met the previous Sunday. When I got there, Mary Barron was waiting for me, took me by the hand and led me into the class. I was just amazed at how friendly everyone was to me and welcomed me as though I had always been a part of their group. So I quickly knew this was my place where God had been leading me. In just a short time, I found that the Seekers Class is the friendliest, caring and fun group, I have ever been a part of. My life has been blessed greatly by being a part of this community. I am also involved in the Tweenagers programs, participated in a Beth Moore class, and helped with the hosting for the 50th anniversary reception. There are so many opportunities to get involved. It didn't take long after getting to know so many friendly people and participating in smaller groups for me to know that Asbury was where I belonged. My son and his family have
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been attending Asbury for a few years, so when I told him I was moving my membership to Asbury, we agreed to do it together. That was very special to me. It was just a coincidence that the timing of our decision happened at the same time of the 50th anniversary celebration. Previously when people ask me where I go to church, I told them I was attending Asbury Methodist Church. They would always say to me, "oh, that church would be too big for me." But I have found the size of the church doesn't matter. The solution is to just get involved in as many small groups as possible. I surely found my place in a larger church, and feel very comfortable and accepted there. Now I feel so blessed and love to tell people that "Asbury is my church." Asbury is a place to learn, serve, enjoy fellowship and worship with other Christians, and most importantly, to grow in my faith.
Roy and Angie Brashears My husband and I are from Tulsa, so we had heard of Asbury and already had many friends who were members as well. Because I kept hearing such great things about the children and student ministries, I was very interested in getting my children involved. We visited Asbury for a little over a year when we decided it was time to join.
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I came on staff at Asbury in November 2010 as the Director of Communications. Because I was on Asbury’s 50th anniversary committee and had such a wonderful time with fellow staff and church members, my family and I thought joining on Asbury’s 50th anniversary would make it a very memorable occasion.
Sharon Masterson I had been visiting Asbury for over a year when I decided to join. It just worked out that it was the anniversary celebration. I was invited to Asbury by long time friends Jan and Sig Schwier. This is the third time I have lived in Tulsa after moving here in 1972, l981 and 2009 after 16 years of living in New Mexico. The Schwiers got me involved in the Seekers Community where I discovered some old friends and made new friends. I look forward to Tom's wonderful messages each week and like the study guides provided. I love Asbury's outreach both locally and globally and look forward to getting more involved in church activities
Reggie & Marion Hampton After we moved from Cornelia, Georgia, where we attended the Ebenezer UMC, in Clarkesville, Georgia, in 2010, we began searching online for a new home and began attending Asbury in July 2010. We love the UMC and wanted to find one that fit us. We had never been in a church body this large, but from the very beginning, God kept us coming back. We felt a strong draw to bring our family here to worship. It was difficult for us to cut out ties with Ebenezer and make the decision to join Asbury, then Tom called Reggie to wish him a Happy Birthday. It was then that Reggie and Tom spoke about membership. Tom stated - sounds like Feb 5th is the perfect day. We agreed. The love of each other, a feeling of acceptance, caring congregation, friendly, a place where you just fit in--that is the strength of Asbury. We tell many about our church, show them how to watch online services, also how such a large congregation is just a bunch of people attending church for the sake of attending, but lots of small communities bound together in Christ. This is Asbury! It is amazing that when many people describe their church, they tell you about the pastor (Tom is wonderful, but he is not the church), they tell you about the music program (Hart and Marti and all that music adds to worship but is not the church); or they tell you about fellowship dinners, meals, food, etc, etc. These are also awesome but they are not the church.
Josh and Gini McFarland My wife and I were searching for a church when we both mentioned that Tom Harrison's Perceptions were great on the radio and decided we should visit. Upon our visit we were welcomed by several ushers and had a great follow up email sent by Tom himself. We visited for about four months before making the decision to join. Asbury has a number of strengths. One is just the large number of members. There is also strength in a pastor (Pastor Harrison) that makes complicated things seem so simple and makes people see that life doesn't have to be so serious.
Asbury truly is a community of Christ bound together in love and purpose.
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Small Groups: A New Way to Fellowship at Asbury by Jon Odom
As Asbury’s focuses this month on adult and community ministries, I’d like to share a few stories of transformation from one of our newest community opportunities: Small Groups. In case you weren’t aware, Asbury is now helping people to join new home-based small groups through an event called GroupLink, which takes place several times a year. These small groups meet in homes and have fewer people than the communities on Sunday mornings. If you’d like to learn more about them at Asbury, visit www.asburytulsa.org/SmallGroups or contact Jon Odom (JOdom@asburytulsa.org).
“J’s” Story I must admit that when I was told by my wife that she had signed us up for GroupLink, I was a bit nervous. See, I am a “new” Methodist. I grew up in the Catholic Church and find myself much more “comfortable” there than in my new-found Methodist church. To say I was uncomfortable was an understatement. Boy, was I wrong! Over the course of almost a year, our small group has become one of the highlights of my week. I have become closer to God, found a new relationship with the Bible and made some wonderful friends. For many reasons, I was never a devout reader of the Bible. It wasn’t a large focus during my upbringing even though I attended a
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Catholic school and participated as an altar boy at mass. At home, I just never used my free time to read the Bible. I didn’t know there was a “1 Timothy,” let alone a “2 Timothy!” Therefore, during many of our first small group lessons, I spent a good deal of time just trying to find a particular verse we were covering. To their credit, the members of my group understood and met my struggles with encouragement instead of judgment. I made several visits to the local stores to purchase study Bibles, and my phone now has four Bible apps on it! I’ve read more out of the Bible the past year during these meetings than I had for 20+ years as a Catholic. My small group has made me feel more connected in my relationship with Christ. I’m definitely still a beginner, but my small group is now the foundation of my course of study. Having a group to not only help but also hold me accountable for my course of study has been rewarding. For the first few weeks of small group, we shared our testimonies and learned more about each other. Having that background has helped us to better understand and help each other during our studies. When I go to Asbury on Sunday, I now see familiar faces welcoming me. It’s not uncommon for our small group to sit together for service and then even grab lunch together after.
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Best of all I am able to share my new experiences with my wife. We enjoy our time together at small group and the opportunity to discuss our current lessons. Who knew shopping for study Bibles could be entertaining…but it was. We have both greatly enjoyed everything our small group has brought to our lives—a sense of community, good food, great friends, and of course, a new found connection with Jesus.
“D’s” Story Before choosing to be part of a small group, I honestly thought I could handle this spiritual journey on my own. I was raised Catholic, but when I went off to college, I stopped going to church altogether. I completely lost touch with my faith until after my girls were born (now 13 and 15). We started going back to mass regularly, but it never made sense. So we just stopped going. Two years ago, my life fell apart, and I had no spiritual foundation to keep from going into a deep depression. My husband of 18 years was battling cancer and at the same time our marriage was falling apart; several of my friends lost their jobs, and I thought I was going to get laid off. I watched a family member become dangerously addicted to pain pills and saw firsthand how their small children became innocent victims. In addition to everything, my teenage girls were going through their own drama, and I became overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness. I was crushed; my life went dark; I could see no way out. After months of crying, I decided to put my complete trust in God and see if he could help me crawl out of this dark evil mess I found myself in. I read a scripture that screamed out to me, Ephesians 6:10-18: “…put on the full armor of God so that you could take your stand against the devils schemes…so that one day when evil
comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” So that day I began building my armor. It seemed like a slow process, like turning around a cruise ship at mid speed, but I started going to VenuePM regularly. I tried tenaciously to get my friends and neighbors to go to church with me every week, but no one really seemed interested. I knew I needed people in my life with the same desires, but I couldn’t find them. I needed friends that I could talk to about God regularly, who would pray and be on that same journey with me. I was lonely. Spencer Smith, Jon Odom and Todd Craig were always talking about connecting with others through small groups, and I finally realized that’s what I needed to do. I attended a GroupLink one night last September and found myself in community with six wonderful women! We meet every Wednesday for a quick meal together at the CLC, Panera or our homes. We share how God is leading our lives in our own unique directions. We reflect on the sermons and share hidden treasures with each other. Our group also stays connected through emails, group texts, Facebook, and Twitter. If we’re attending the same service, we will sit together like family. One treasure our group shares is an app that was mentioned by Noelle Kilgore (who helps lead worship at VenuePM with her husband Ben) called “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. It’s a powerful devotional, and it helps our prayers and discussions come to life. Just today I read “The more completely you devote yourself to Me, the more freely you can love people.” Being part of a small group has helped me build a strong shield of faith and protection for when those evil forces try to take a hold of my heart again and drag me back down into darkness.
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The Women's Ministry at Asbury by Kay Mains
Lynette Hudson and Karen Ward are both involved in the women’s ministry here at Asbury. They became involved in different ways and for different reasons. Until three years ago, Karen lived in Ohio, actively involved in a smaller Methodist church. She loved the camaraderie, fellowship and the teaching. When she moved to Tulsa, she had a choice to make—wait for an invitation from someone and remain isolated until that happened or be proactive and seek out a way to get involved again in women’s ministry. She chose the latter. Karen stated, “Women need that special bond, someone who will listen, other women to fellowship with and share Christ with. You can get the social aspect elsewhere, but you really need God to be the basis of friendship. There is great power in talking about Scripture and praying together.” Karen found the phone number for Lynette Hudson and called her about visiting a Women’s Council meeting, just to see how the ministry was operated and the various activities that were available. She liked what she saw. From the time she walked into her first event, she found the women friendly and inviting. It didn’t take long until friendships began developing.
always have that option. But it also means that here at Asbury, you may have to take the first step to get involved. How? 1. Mark on the VIP pads you fill out at service that you are interested in being contacted. Karen will get in touch. She says that rarely does anyone respond back to her, but if you do respond, she’d love to get together with you, maybe have lunch, and tell you about the activities you might enjoy the most. 2. Stop by Connection Corner and see what is coming up. 3. Make an effort to attend the next event. Young or old, you will benefit. Research shows that most people come to an event because they have been personally invited. That’s much easier. But you may need to walk into a room without knowing anyone. Rest assured, however, that someone will reach out to you. We all need fellowship of other believers. So, beginning today, reach out of your comfort zone. Don’t wait to be invited—just come!
Lynette had worked with various groups before. Her passion, particularly, was for the elderly. “Some feel they are no longer needed or wanted, but we need their passion for Christ.” They often have the wisdom to identify another woman who needs fellowship or needs to regain their hope. Or sometimes, a woman just needs to talk with another woman. The women’s ministry is different that the UMW which has monthly meetings. They work primarily on events, drawing women into fellowship with that method. They are, however, governed by the same council. “Women in the church are unique with different gifts. But these gifts don’t often show until we get together,” said Lynette. Women today are pulled in so many different directions that attendance in the events is declining. We are also a “community” church not a “neighborhood” church so that also affects attendance. Her desire is to target younger women who need to find a mentoring relationship. People use to stay in one community for most of their life—they had a history there. Our mobile society has left us with a big void. You have to work to seek out friends and establish friendships with Christ at the core. Some people come to Asbury to hide; they don’t want to be involved. Because this is a large church, people are able to do that, and it’s all right--a personal choice. In a smaller church, you don’t
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TIDINGS, A PR IL 2012
GRANDPA JOHN
Raise Up a Child by John C. Westervelt
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elda and I moved our family into a new home in Tulsa’s Sungate addition during the summer of 1964. At that time, most of Sungate was still open fields. In the fall Mary Kim began the first grade at Jonas Salk elementary school and Paul began the third. The neighborhood children all walked to school with their friends. During the rainy season, the old-fashioned mothers made the children wear their boots. Knowing that the children took a short cut home through the fields, Nelda told Mary Kim on this day to stay on the sidewalks because the fields would be muddy. After school a helpful woman rang our doorbell to tell Nelda, “Your little girl is stuck in the mud in the middle of the field two blocks away.” Nelda put the shovel in the back of the car, even though she had never used one. By the time Nelda arrived, Mary Kim had not been successful in pulling her feet out of the stuck boots. Mary Kim explained, “I just followed my friends!” as Nelda purposely marched toward her. From Mary Kim’s vantage point, the shovel mounted over her mother’s shoulder appeared as a weapon of sorts. Nelda began to dig with fervor, breaking a few nails at first, but quickly becoming adept at using the shovel. She freed Mary Kim from the suction of the mud, which came over the tops of the boots and down inside her new school shoes. The engineering design decisions on Apollo support equipment had been relatively easy that day. The tough decision was to follow my greeting at the kitchen door. Nelda, standing at the stove, told her story. Mary Kim repeated her defense, “I just followed my friends!” This parent on this day under these circumstances decided that Mary Kim would pay half the cost of new shoes. I would pay the other half. The compromise gave due punishment, but let Mary Kim know that I cared enough to help. The six-year-old explained, “Dad, I don’t have any money.” “You can pull weeds. You save them in your little bucket, and when I get home from work, I’ll give you a quarter for a bucket full.” Several weeks of after school weed pulling paid the debt, and my daughter began to use the sidewalk at the slightest hint of rain. The lesson was apparently learned. As adults, my children returned home for the holidays. Around the dining room table, I heard the rest of the story. After weeks of honest labor, when Mary Kim couldn’t easily fill her bucket with weeds from my yard, she topped it off with weeds from the vacant lot across the street. This adult child now explained, “Dad, you just said weeds.” There were a thousand other decisions made in raising up a child. Some better. Some worse. With God’s help the child became a responsible adult. In late June, I shall move to Crestwood on the campus of Oklahoma Methodist Manor. I will be leaving my house, but my memories, including those of a six-year-old daughter, will remain with me forever.
Other stories at www.jwestervelt.com
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RECIPES OF THE MONTH
The following recipes are taken from the Asbury UMW Cookbook. Copies of the cookbook can be purchased for $20 at the gazebo on Sundays or at the front office. Proceeds support Asbury’s church projects, scholarship program, and local and global missions.
Honey Mustard Pork Chops 3 tsp. flour ¼ c. orange juice ¼ c. honey 2 T. Dijon mustard 4 pork chops, ½-inch thick
Basil Seasoned salt 2 Golden Delicious apples, cut into 1/8ths 4 carrots, medium, diagonally sliced 1 Reynolds oven bag
Pre-heat oven to 350⁰. Shake flour into oven bag. Add orange juice, honey and mustard to bag. Squeeze bag to blend ingredients. Place bag in 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle pork chops with basil and seasoned salt, then place in bag. Place apples and carrots in bag around pork chops. Close bag with nylon tie. Cut 6 (1/2-inch) slits in top of bag. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Submitted by Carolyn Nixon
Happy Easter! Coconut Cake 1 yellow cake mix ½ c. sugar 1 ½ c. milk
2 c. flaked coconut 1 (8-oz.) tub of Cool Whip
Mix cake as directed on package and bake in a 9 x 13-inch pan. Cool 15 minutes. In saucepan, combine sugar, milk, and ½ c. coconut. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute. Poke holes in cake with fork. Carefully spoon hot mixture over cake allowing liquid to soak down in the holes. Cool Completely. Fold ½ c. coconut into Cool Whip and spread over cake. Sprinkle with remaining coconut. Chill overnight in the refrigerator. Submitted by Kathy Galegar and Naomi Culver Coconut Cake was my Dad’s favorite. My Mother always made this cake for Christmas and for my Dad’s birthday. This is a very moist cake and can be made ahead and put in the freezer. Take the cake out of the freezer a day ahead and let it defrost in the refrigerator. I serve it with strawberries during the summer. Enjoy! – Kathy Galegar
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Whereabouts Is Wesley?
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Wesley has been all around the world during the past two months. Throughout his many travels, he seems to always have a smile on his face!
Wesley is... 1. Getting ready with the 2nd Saturday Team 2. Keeping Don Hubbs company at Asbury 3. Hanging out with his barber buddies at OTC (Oklahoma Technical College) 4. Helping out where he can at Cornerstone 5. Spending time with Harper Horton after lunch 6. Patiently waiting to board his flight in Dallas 7. Visiting a public school in Thailand with Christina during a mission trip 8. Arriving at Bangkok International Airport in Thailand with Jan Thavornrat 9. Checking out a restaurant in Thailand 10. Visiting a Church in Chiang Mai, Thailand 11. Standing with Peter Thavornrat next to a 5 headed dragon while visiting a Buddhist temple in Thailand 12. Having fun in Dubai 13. Overlooking the beach in Hawaii 14. Taking it easy with a good book after a long trip
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OPPORTUNITIES
Asbury Opportunities RECYCLING PAPER
GENERAL INFORMATION
Recycle unwanted paper products. Three bins are available, located in the south and east parking lots.
BREAKFAST
Come enjoy fellowship with Asburians along with fresh donuts, bagels, biscuits & gravy, sausage, eggs, fruit, and cereal. • Served from 7:00–9:00 am in the CLC • $4 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY
The Asbury Library is a wonderful resource. Thank you to all who continue to contribute books to our Library.
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
8:00 am 9:15 am 9:15 am 11:00 am 11:00 am
Mason Chapel (Traditional Communion) Sanctuary (Contemporary) CLC - Open House Worship (Acoustic Worship, Casual Setting) Sanctuary (Traditional) Venue 68 (Modern with sign interpreter)
OJT (OVERCOMING JOB TRANSITIONS)
When someone asks “How are you doing?” it sounds like “Have you found a job yet?” God has created each of us uniquely for a specific purpose and some people are still seeking that. We can help. • Third Tuesday each month, 6:30–9:00 pm • Room 2319 • Contact Russ Knight at OJTJobs@gmail.com
SUNDAY EVENING WORSHIP
6:00 pm
DOORS OF ASBURY POSTERS ARE AT THE WELCOME CENTERS...
FREE! Suitable for framing.
Venue 68 (Modern)
ACCESS
SUNDAYS FOR CHILDREN AND STUDENTS
6 Weeks–4 Years K–6th Grades 7th, 8th & 9th Grades 10th, 11th & 12th Grades
8:00, 9:15 and 11:00 am 9:15 or 11:00 am 9:15 and 11:00 am 9:15 am only
FRIENDS IN CHRIST COMMUNITY
ADULT DISCIPLESHIP COMMUNITIES
Adult Bible study, belonging, and serving together • Sunday at 8:00, 9:15 and 11:00 am • Options during the week - Tuesdays at 6:00 pm, Wednesdays at 6:00 pm SURGERY OR HOSPITALIZATION SCHEDULED?
Be sure to let Asbury know ahead of time by calling the church office at 918.492.1771 so your pastors can be in prayer for you. When you enter the hospital, please designate Asbury as your church. The after-hours pastoral emergency line can be reached by calling 918.492.1771, selecting option 6, and leaving a message for the pastor on call. THE GAZEBO IS OPEN
CDs of Tom’s message of the day are available immediately following the worship service - $3. UMW Cookbooks available for $20. Additional volunteers needed.
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HANDS OF LOVE SIGN CHOIR
• Sundays, 5:30–6:30 pm, Family Room
• Sundays, 11:00 am, Room 1507
BIBLE STUDY Check out our adult bible studies listed in our RoadMap brochures found at all welcome centers or online at www.asburytulsa.org/ AdultMinistries/Roadmap.aspx. Here are some ongoing studies you may attend at any time: MEN’S BIBLE STUDY
Our study Honor Begins at Home draws from the movie “Courageous,” and focuses on men making the bold/courageous choice to lead their families in a Godly manner. • Wednesdays 6:00-8:00 pm • Room 2821 • Facilitators: Brock King and Greg Ruley
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BELIEVERS BIBLE STUDY
Study on the Imperatives of the New Testament: Meanings, Objectives and Applications • Wednesdays, 6:00–7:30 pm • Room 1508 • Instructor: Don Herrold WOMEN OF THE WORD
Join Darlene Johnson as she leads an open Bible study focusing on the practical application of the Scripture sermon series. • Wednesdays, 10:00–11:00 am (No childcare) • Room 2818
CARE AND SUPPORT HELP REACH THOSE HURT BY ABORTION
If you have a passion for helping reach women who have suffered the pain and heartache of abortion, attend the one-day Certified Leader’s Training Program of Surrendering the Secret, a postabortion Christian based eight-week healing program. Pat Layton, the author of the program, will be at Asbury to give you the tools you will need to lead hurting women through the process and their journey to recovery. Sponsored by Asbury’s Care Ministry. • Monday, April 23, 8:30 am–4:00 pm • Community Life Center • Cost: $100 for training + mini-leaders pack or $175 for training + full leaders pack. Cost includes continental breakfast, refreshments and lunch • For more information, go to www.surrenderingthesecret.com NIGHT OF HOPE
Spend an evening with two leading women in the ministry for LIFE as they share their stories of the pain and heartache that comes from abortion. Pat Layton, founder of Life Impact Network and author of Surrendering the Secret will be joined by Shari Rigby, actress from the film, October Baby. They will explain the vital need for a post-abortion healing ministry, reminding us of God's grace, mercy and forgiveness and that every LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL! Sponsored by Asbury’s Care Ministry. • Monday, April 23, 7:00–9:00 pm • Venue68 Auditorium • No cost • For more information, go to www.surrenderingthesecret.com S.M.I.L.E. (SINGLE MOTHERS IN THE LORD’S EMBRACE)
Join us for a DVD series and book entitled “21 Principles of a Healthy Single Mom.” You will learn to apply specific, workable guidelines so you can flourish spiritually in the midst of overwhelming circumstances. Each principle/video session is self-contained, and you may begin attending at any time. • Third Thursdays, 6:00–8:45 pm • Parlor
• Childcare provided • $12 for book • RSVP to Kellie at asburysmile@ymail.com HEALING HATS/BALL CAPS
An Asbury ministry created to provide hats to cancer patients who have lost their hair. “Home spun with knots of love, woven together with help from above!” Simply knit, crochet or sew a hat or decorate a ball cap of your choice and drop it in the collection box located next to the Gazebo. Find more information in the literature rack attached to the collection box. In addition, the following groups meet regularly for fellowship, while using their creative ability to make hats: • Crochet Group –– Second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm –– Room 1506 –– Contact Sue Fisher at healinghatsmin@aol.com or 918.455.2816 • Ball Caps (If you can cut and glue this is for you!) –– Fourth Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 am –– Room 1507 –– Baseball caps and decorating items available –– Contact Sue Fisher at healinghatsmin@aol.com or 918.455.2816 VISITS TO ASBURY MEMBERS
Asbury has a group of volunteers (Asbury Connection) who regularly visit people who are homebound, in nursing homes or in assisted living facilities. • Contact Adrena at 918.392.1144 or amahu@asburytulsa.org PRAYER CARD MINISTRY
Send cards with God’s encouraging words and our prayers to those who are ill or going through hard times. • Usually meets first and third Mondays at 9:30 am • Room 1508 • Contact Gwen Mohler at 918.258.5479 or grmohler@aol.com MILITARY CONNECTION
Please join us in praying for our troops in harm’s way and their families. Periodic care packages and monthly encouragement cards with God’s Word are sent to Asbury-related military personnel. The Prayer Ministry also covers them in prayer. Send complete name and address to: • Jo VanDeWiele at 918.459.0888 or Gwen at grmohler@aol.com DIVORCE RECOVERY
For those suffering from the early, highly emotional stages of divorce and separation trauma. • Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 pm • Room 1335
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OPPORTUNITIES
• Childcare available • Contact Malia Miller at 918.494.9596 or malia.miller@ sbcglobal.net DIVORCE REBUILDING
For those ready to rebuild their lives after separation or divorce. • Thursdays, 7:00–8:30 pm • Room 1335 • Childcare available • Contact Jim Small at 918.697.4220 or divorce-rebuilding@ cox.net MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES
For family members or caregivers of people affected by a mental illness. • Usually meets the fourth Thursdays from 1:30–3:00 pm • Parlor • Contact Linda Lytle at 918.298.2707 or lllytle@wildflower.net ASBURY BEAR BAGS
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. • Contact Sue at suemorey@yahoo.com
CHILDREN Registration forms for all children’s activities are available in the preschool and elementary lobbies. CORE CHILDCARE HOURS
Parents who are involved in RoadMap classes during these core hours will have childcare provided for children 6 weeks–12 years of age with no reservations needed: • Sunday 8:00 am–12:00 pm • Monday and Tuesday 9:00 am–12:00 pm • Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 6:00 pm–9:00 pm SUNDAY MORNING VOLUNTEERS
Children’s Ministry is actively pursuing classroom, security and hospitality volunteers. We have two rotations: Alpha (1st and 2nd Sundays) and Omega (3rd and 4th Sundays) at both the 9:15 and 11:00 class times. • Contact Abby Sluice at 918.392.4583 or asluice@asburytulsa.org MAD ABOUT JESUS! (KINDERGARTEN AND 1ST GRADE EVENT)
Come get mad about Jesus! We will have an evening of amazing science experiments, crafts and fun to illustrate truths in our
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faith. The kids will even perform an experiment to make their own snack. We will meet in the upstairs children’s ministry area. We will need adult scientists to assist in our laboratories. • April 27, 5:30–8:00 pm • Upstairs children’s area • Kindergarteners and first graders • Registration deadline April 11 • Contact Stephanie Long at 918.392.1171 or slong@ asburytulsa.org MURDOCK VILLA VISITS
4th, 5th and 6th graders can serve at an assisted living housing project once a month where the majority of the residents have physical disabilities. Space is limited to the first 10 students. Make sure you sign up early and have your permission slip signed. • Sunday, April 22, 12:30 pm • Belong 4.5 Rock 2909 • $5 for a pizza lunch • Contact Abby Sluice at 918.392.4583 WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE
Join us for worship in the chapel—kid style. We combine music, high energy and a Bible lesson in a setting that encourages kids to learn about worship. Our lessons will tie right into what we are doing on Sunday morning. If you were registered for the fall semester, you will not need to complete a new form • Wednesdays, 7:00–8:00 pm (will not meet March 21) • Mason Chapel TAKE FLYTE, 4TH, 5TH AND 6TH GRADERS
Join us as we fly through a series made just for you—“FLYTE: faith, life together” Bible study is made just for you. We’ll talk about heaven, family and more. Discover for yourself how to apply the Bible to your life. Your early registration helps us have the correct number of study books. • Wednesdays, 7:00–8:00 pm • Room 2901 • Cost is $8.00 • Contact Abby Sluice at 918.392.4583 MISSION MINDED CLASS
4th–6th graders can come explore mission opportunities in the Tulsa community. We hear from different agencies one week and then help by creating something to meet their needs the next. • Wednesdays, 6:00–6:50 pm (no class on March 21) • Room 2909 • Cost is $10 per week • 918.392.1131 or cphillips@asburytulsa.org CELEBRATION STATION
Celebration Station is a 52-week complementary children’s
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program to Celebrate Recovery. While adults explore topics that bring healing and wholeness, kids discover the same truths in ageappropriate ways through worship, crafts, games and activities. • Mondays, 7:00–9:00 pm • Faith Zone • Contact Eryn Wallis 918.392.4588
Couple-to-Couple (required premarital meetings).
MEMBERSHIP ASBURY EXPLORATION
Do you have a heart to help children with special needs? If so, the Children’s Ministry needs you to volunteer. • Contact Dotti Westerberg at dottiwesterberg@hotmail.com or 918.381.0874
Come to a lunch/class to learn more about becoming a member of Asbury. • Sunday, April 1, 12:15–2:00 pm • Community Life Center (CLC) • Childcare available for children six weeks through sixth grade • Lunch provided • Call 918.392.1191 to register
DISCIPLESHIP
MEN
SPECIAL VOLUNTEERS FOR SPECIAL KIDS!
DISCIPLESHIP COMMUNITIES
If you have not yet found an Adult Discipleship Community check out “Community Life” on our website, www.asburytulsa.org, or pick up a brochure at one of our Welcome Centers. • If you are 20’s to early 30’s, come check out our newest Sunday morning group at 9:15 am in room 2314, “Transitions”
ENDOWMENTS
MATURE MEN’S MINISTRY R.O.M.E.O. LUNCHEON
Leave a legacy that continues to give forever to a ministry you want to support. There are endowments that support many areas of Asbury’s outreach including children, youth, music, missions, and training of pastors as well as a general endowment. You can easily impact a ministry through your will or a current gift. • Contact Dwight Yoder at 918.392.1113 or dyoder@ asburytulsa.org
HOSPITALITY
Are you a “Retired Old Man” who wants to “Eat Out?” If so, then these luncheons are for you! A really awesome bunch of guys meet for good food and great fellowship. • Meet every second and fourth Friday, 11:15 am • Village Inn (71st and Memorial) • Open to anyone 60 years and up • Contact Bud at bdmathes@cox.net or Jim at robersonjim29@ gmail.com MEN’S MISSION TRIP TO RIO BRAVO, MEXICO
We were recently asked, “why don’t you have volunteers holding the doors open on Sunday morning?” The simple answer is we have very few volunteers willing to do it. Most say Asbury is a friendly church, yet we don’t have enough friendly people willing to serve on Sunday mornings when the need is great to welcome folks who have possibly had little contact with people during the week. We need new volunteers to serve in a hospitality role as greeters and at Connection Corner where many people have their first experience at Asbury. The Gazebo needs new volunteers as well. Are you one of those friendly people? Contact the church office at 918.492.1771 to volunteer
MARRIAGE & FAMILY ATTENTION ENGAGED COUPLES
MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST
Make plans to join us for a great time of meaningful worship, lifechanging prayer and an awesome big breakfast. • Wednesdays, 6:30–7:30 am • CLC • Cost is $3 per person; first-time guests are free
If you are planning to use an Asbury pastor to officiate and/or use Asbury’s facilities, be sure to book ASAP to allow ample time for
Men, would you enjoy building casitas (small houses) for those in desperate need and helping local churches in Mexico? If so, you can become a part of an Asbury mission team traveling to Rio Bravo, Mexico, to do just that! You will not only be serving others and showing the love of Jesus Christ, but you will get to know other men in our church and form relationships that will last a lifetime. No building experience or skills are required - just a willing spirit! This is a great opportunity for "first-timers" but there will be many who return to volunteer again. A minimum of 30 men are anticipated. There may be incremental costs for additional airline tickets after the first 30 spots are taken, or for extra charges. • April 18–22 (deadline is April 1) • Cost is $595 per person • Partial scholarships may be available • A $100 deposit holds your place, with balance due April 1 • Contact Jim Furman at jnlfurman@cox.net or 918.625.1316, or Frank Field at frank.field@williams.com or 918.630.0717
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OPPORTUNITIES
HOME IMPROVEMENT WORKDAY VOLUNTEERS
Home Improvement teams help widows and single women, who are Asbury members, with minor home repairs and/or small home improvement projects five times a year. If you are handy with a hammer, like to paint or clean out flower beds, please consider joining a team! You will be truly blessed. • Saturday, April 21, 8:30 am • Meet in the Family Room lobby for planning and assignments • Contact Michiel Conner at 918.640.4382 or michiel0930@ sbcglobal.net MEN’S ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
It's time for our annual Asbury Men's Golf Tournament! Format is four-man scramble. You may form your own team or be placed on a team. Net proceeds benefit Asbury's Men's Missions. To register, pick up registration form at the south desk and return with payment • Friday, May 11, with shotgun start at 8:30 am • LaFortune Park Golf Course • Cost is $55 per person, which includes the driving range, green fee, cart and lunch • Registration forms at the south desk • Deadline, May 6 • Contact Donnie Cox at 918.519.4567 or Clay Smith at 918.629.7727
VIM 2012 TEAM SCHEDULE
• Spring –– Cookson Hills, Oklahoma, Light Construction, $60 • May 31–June 11 –– Estonia, Lighthouse, $2,700 • June 2–9 –– Ecuador, MBS & Construction, $2,000 • June 7–16 –– Central Asia, Relationship, Teaching & Light Construction, $2,200 • June 14–26 –– Tanzania, East Africa, Medical, $2,800 • June 28–July 9 –– Estonia, Camp Gideon, Youth Camp, $2,700 • July 19–30 –– Estonia, Parnu, MBS & Light Construction, $2,700 • September –– Tanzania, East Africa, Construction, $2,800 • Fall –– Cookson Hills, Oklahoma, Light Construction, $60 –– Central Asia, Relationship, Teaching & Light Construction, $2,200 • October* –– Monterrey, Mexico, MBS & Construction, $950 • November 7–11 –– Rio Bravo, Mexico, Medical, $700 * Tentative All costs apporximate.
MISSIONS/VIM 2ND SATURDAY
Looking for an easy way to make a difference and share Christ’s love in Tulsa? Join us for Second Saturday and choose between local mission opportunities. Families with children are welcomed and encouraged! • Saturday, April 14 • Venue68 • Head to the ministry sites, 8:45; teams work from 9:00–11:30 am; buses return to Venue68 no later than 12:15 pm • Contact Betty Higgins at carevets@aol.com
For more information about these exciting mission opportunities, contact Marilene Long at 918.392.1164 or mlong@asburytulsa.org. For information about the men’s Rio Bravo, Mexico opportunities, contact Jim Furman at jnlfurman@cox.net. VIM LEADER TRAINING
• September 15 and November 3 (Oklahoma City)
MUSIC BIBLE STORY TELLING WITH BOBBIE
We will be hosting Bobbie who will teach us how to use Bible Storytelling to more effectively share the Gospel with family, friends, and on mission. Storying is a wonderful way of sharing scripture in such a way that crosses cultural barriers. The process of storying gives the storyteller the privilege of hearing the heart of others. It is a jump start to building relationships! Bobbie is a wonderful teacher and will make it a fun day . • Saturday, May 19, 9:00 am–3:00 pm • Family Room • Cost is $10 which includes lunch • Contact Missy Sistrunk for reservations, 918.392.1163 or msistrunk@asburytulsa.org
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CHANCEL CHOIR
We have so much fun…singing, laughing and serving together. Come share your God-given talent with us. • Wednesdays, 7:00–9:00 pm • Choir room • Available for seventh grade through adults. NEW COVENANT ORCHESTRA
• Wednesdays, 6:00–7:30 pm • Orchestra room
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PERPETUAL LIGHT
the Adult Ministries office at 918.392.4589 to reserve the Prayer Room for your group on a weekly or monthly basis.
CELEBRATION RINGERS
Our prayer rooms are accessible to you at these times: • Mason Chapel and Venue 68 –– Sundays from 7:00 am–12:30 pm, through the interior doors • Main Facility, Mason Chapel and Venue68 –– Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–9:00 pm –– Saturday, 10:00 am–3:00 pm –– Sunday, 12:30 pm–9:00 pm • To obtain door codes, call Pam in the Adult Ministries office at 918.392.4589.
• Thursdays, 10:30am–12:00 noon • Handbell room
PRAYER ROOM DAYS AND TIMES
• Tuesdays, 4:30–5:30 pm • Handbell room ASBURY POWER & LIGHT CO.
• Sundays, 8:00–9:15 am • Orchestra room CHILDREN’S CHOIRS
Come learn about God through music as we sing, play instruments, play musical games. • Wednesdays, 6:00–6:50 pm • Available for children age four (by September 1, 2011) through sixth grade ASBURY SINGING AMBASSADORS
• Tuesdays, 1:30–3:00 • Choir room • Available for senior adults
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
Come join this supportive group of people. Hiding any hurts, habits or hang-ups? God never intended for you to live in bondage. • Every Monday night: dinner at 6:00 pm, worship from 7:00–8:00 pm, small groups from 8:00–9:00 pm, dessert from 9:00–9:30 pm
SENIOR ADULTS SENIOR ADULTS TRIP TO BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS
PRAYER "WATCH WITH JESUS" PRAYER WATCH
The night Jesus was arrested, He agonized in prayer at Gethsemane. But as His disciples slept, He asked, "Could you not keep watch for one hour?" Keep watch with Jesus during a 24-hour prayer watch. Individuals, families or groups can sign up to pray for one hour. • Thursday and Friday, April 5-6 • Mason Chapel Prayer Room • Sign up to pray for one hour at asburytulsa.org ALTAR PRAYER
If you would like someone to pray with you during Holy Communion or immediately following a worship service, please come to the altar rail. A pastor or member of the Altar Prayer Team will be glad to pray with you for your needs – physical, emotional or spiritual, at the altar or in the Prayer Room. PRAYER ROOM RESERVATIONS
RECOVERY
The leadership of Asbury’s prayer ministry would like to remind you that the main facility Prayer Room is open not only to individuals desiring to pray in a quiet, meditative atmosphere but also to prayer groups within communities and ministries. Just call
Come go with us as we tour Crystal Bridges, a world-class museum of American Art, featuring works by major American artists including Charles Willson Peale's portrait of George Washington, "Rosie the Riveter" by Norman Rockwell, "Kindred Spirits" by Asher Brown Durand, and pieces by Andrew Wyeth, with a mixture of major works by modern and contemporary artists. This unique building complex, nestled in a beautiful natural ravine in a wooded park, is itself a work of art, designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. We will also visit the Peel Mansion exhibiting its unique villa tower Italianate architecture. The outside gardens include a museum of heritage roses, perennials, and native plants with various vignette gardens interlaced. Lunch will be enjoyed at Fred's Hickory Inn, a favorite eating place of the Waltons, featuring pit barbeque and Italian food. • Monday, April 16 • Gather at 7:45 am in the Family Room, depart at 8:15 am, return 5:00 pm • Registration forms available at the south information desk • Cost is $45 and includes admissions, transportation and lunch • Deadline to register is Tuesday, April 10 TWEENAGERS APRIL PROGRAM AND LUNCHEON
Robert Giles will present a program on Hospice/Long Term Care. Those who have experienced Hospice care for their loved ones know what a wonderful organization this is. Come and learn the numerous aspects of their love and caring for those who no longer respond to cure-oriented treatments. • Thursday, April 26, 10:30 am–1:00 pm
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OPPORTUNITIES
• CLC • $1.00 for lunch • No pre-registration required
• Sundays, 11:00 am - Ambassadors for Christ, Footprints (ladies only), Salt & Light, Christ Centered Singles
STUDENTS ADULT GAME DAY
Attention all adults! How would you like to get together on a regular basis with a wonderful bunch of fun adults and play cards, dominoes, or whatever board or card game you choose? Bring a friend and stay for as long as you like! • Every third Thursday, 1:30–4:00 pm • Room 2821 SENIOR WALK IN THE GYM WITH HIM
All senior adults are invited to join us for power walking, coupled with lots of fun and fellowship. Come give it a try. • Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30–9:00 am • Gym SENIOR SIT AND FIT STRETCHING CLASS
All senior adults are invited to join us for a time of stretching, coupled with lots of fun and fellowship. No high impact workout here. We take it nice and easy. • Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00–9:30 am • Gym SENIOR ADULT MEAL & MOVIE
If you’re 55 years of age or over, our monthly meal and movie day event may be just the “ticket” for you! We get together at a different Tulsa restaurant each month, and then head off to see a “first run” movie. • The dates and times vary according to the movie selected, but those who express an interest will be contacted a few days ahead of time so they can make plans accordingly • For more information or to sign up for the call list, contact Sally Wood, sally-wood@sbcglobal.net
SINGLES SINGLES MINISTRY “MEET AND GREET”
You are always welcome to join any other communities that are not “Singles Only”, as most are a mix of singles and marrieds. • Sundays, 9:15 am - New Beginnings Class
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HOUSTON AND RED BIRD SPRING BREAK MISSIONS CELEBRATION
Hear testimonies and see pictures of what God did on Spring Break Missions 2012 in Houston and Kentucky. All ages welcome. • Sunday, April 1, 9:15 am • Venue, upstairs 7TH GRADE CONFIRMATION PARENT MEETING
Don't miss the mandatory Parent meeting about 7th grade confirmation • Sunday, April 15, 4:45–6:00 pm • Venue, upstairs 7TH GRADE CONFIRMATION
• Rehearsal –– Sunday, April 29, 2012, 4:45–6:00 pm –– Drop off at the Sanctuary of the main building; pick up at Venue –– $3.00 for ice cream • Service –– Sunday, May 6, 6:00 pm –– Sanctuary –– Students need to arrive at the old Breakaway area by 5:40 pm 789 ALL NIGHT BLAST
All singles are invited to stop by the "Meet and Greet" area, grab a cup of coffee, and mingle with other singles. Come meet new people or catch up with those you know! This is a great opportunity for the community of singles to connect with others on a regular basis. • Every Sunday, 10:30–11:00 am • Breezeway outside the CLC COMMUNITIES
FRESHMAN FEAST
Freshman class: you are about to transition into the High School youth ministry and we are so excited about this! We will have a pancake breakfast in your honor as a celebration of your joining us. • Sunday, April 1, 9:15 am • High school room in the Venue
For incoming 6th graders and current 7th and 8th graders. We do lots of really cool stuff all night long, so bring your friends! • April 20–21, 8:00 pm–6:00 am • Venue • Registration due April 8 789 GRADE BREAKAWAY – SUNDAY MORNINGS
On Sunday mornings at 9:15 am, we meet in the BAM room (upstairs in the Venue) for a large total group experience of games, worship and teachings from God’s Word. If you like large groups and worship, be there. At 11:00 am, we meet in the green classroom as a smaller group and do a more in depth Bible study.
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OPPORTUNITIES
789 GRADE BIBLE STUDY
Come join us for Wednesday night Bible study; hang out, have fun and study what God’s words has for us. • Wednesdays, 6:30–8:00 pm • Student Café DISCIPLESHIP CAMP, 789
"Disciple is Awesome!" to quote a few people who went last year. Disciple is a discipleship camp for rising 7th, 8th and 9th grade students that involves really awesome worship, small groups, ropes course and cool students. • June 1–5 • Registration forms due May 6 GRAD CELEBRATION VIDEO PICTURES
Please turn in one senior picture and one baby picture to Amy in the Student Ministry office no later than April 15. Candid shots of different activities over the years are also appreciated. Be sure to put your name and address clearly on each picture so they can be returned. GRAD CELEBRATION
Graduates will meet at 10:30 am in the main building foyer in their cap and gown to head over to both 11:00 am services. After the service, graduate families are invited to lunch in the CLC to celebrate the class of 2012! • Sunday, May 20 • RSVP by April 29 JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SMALL GROUPS
• No meeting on April 8 due to Easter
10 11 12 SUNDAY MORNINGS @ VENUE 68
On Sunday mornings we meet for an in-depth Bible Study and discussion. • Sundays, 9:15 am • High school room 10 11 12 BREAKAWAY
Every Wednesday night we come together for a time of connection and worship. Our desire is to explore who God really is and how our lives matter to Him. • Wednesday nights, 7:00–8:30 pm • Hang out afterwards for pizza 10 11 12 SMALL GROUPS
Get connected. Are you looking for a way to get more connected? Are you looking for a place to grow in your walk with Jesus? Then being a part of a small group is where you need to be. Our small
groups meet every Sunday night; times vary. Some of the groups meet in homes and others meet at the church. • Contact Todd at 918.392.1154 or Amy at 918.392.1156 7TH–12TH GRADE METRO WORSHIP @ VENUE 68
Come join youth from all over the city in a night to just worship Jesus. • The first Wednesday of every month, 7:00–8:30 pm • Venue68
WOMEN UMW "APRIL SALUTE" LUNCHEON
All United Methodist Women are invited to this very special luncheon! This is the time we honor and celebrate our most mature and faithful volunteers for their many years of service through the UMW organization. Darlene Johnson, one of Asbury’s pastors, will present the program "Growing Together in Godliness." Hear Pastor Darlene's message on the power of love as we honor our own. Scripture: John 15:13–14. • Thursday, April 5, 11:30 am–1:00 pm • CLC • $7.00 for lunch (No reservation necessary) UMW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
This $1,500 college scholarship will be awarded to a senior high school young woman. To be eligible, the applicant must have a relative who is currently a member of Asbury's UMW, with the exception of the Priscilla Circle. Applicant must be an entering freshman at an accredited university or college for the school year of 2012–2013. • Applications available in the main church office, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am–5:00 pm, and Fridays, 8:00 am– noon • Deadline for submitting a completed application to the church office is 5:00 pm on Thursday, April 26 HOME IMPROVEMENT WORKDAY
This outreach ministry serves widows and single women, who are Asbury members, by helping with minor home repairs and small home improvement projects. H.I. volunteers make themselves available every other month, five times a year. If you are in need of help and qualify, just pick up an application at a welcome desk, fill it out, and return it at least ten days before the scheduled work day. A volunteer from the H.I. team will contact you and make arrangements to get the job done! You can also sign up by contacting Michiel Conner at 918.640.4382 or michiel0930@ sbcglobal.net. • Saturday, April 21, 2012, 8:30 am • Sign up at least ten days before workday
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OPPORTUNITIES
CAR CARE WORKDAY
Single women and widows of Asbury, while you wait in the comfort of the Family Room café, volunteers from the Men's Ministry will check your tires, belts, fluids, filters and batteries and do a basic maintenance check up. They will also vacuum and wash your vehicle, and then update you on what is running smoothly and what needs professional attention. This free service gives our men the opportunity to put their faith and skills into action by serving others. Workdays are every other month, 5 times a year. • Saturday, May 12, beginning at 9:00 am • Have your vehicle in line no later than 11:30 am • Family Center entrance • No reservations necessary • Contact Mike Nalley at mnalley16@cox.net
CRAFTY LADIES FELLOWSHIP
Ladies, if you enjoy doing crafts and fellowshipping at the same time, this activity is for you. We gather on Monday mornings to work on our own individual arts and crafts then stop for a delicious pot-luck lunch, before resuming our crafts. We have a wonderful time together and would love to have you join us. • Mondays, 9:30 am–1:00 pm • Room 2821 • Contact Betty Seetin or just stop by
WORSHIP MAUNDY THURSDAY SERVICE
Between Palm Sunday and Good Friday was the Last Supper. On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus shared a final meal with His dear friends before going to the Garden to pray. During this service, we will share a Communion meal as we walk with Jesus through the watches of His final night on earth. • Thursday, April 5, 6:30 pm • Mason Chapel
Dr. Tom Harrison, Hart Morris, the Chancel Choir, the New Covenant Orchestra, Perpetual Light and One Voice will lead the congregation in a service of remembrance on Good Friday. Hymns, anthems and scripture will depict the events of that long
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Mason Chapel Traditional service with music led by Hart Morris Communion is served Dr. Tom Harrison preaches
9:15 AM CONTEMPORARY PRAISE & WORSHIP
Wednesdays, 10:00–11:00 am Room 2818 No childcare available Teacher is Rev. Darlene Johnson
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE
8:00 AM COMMUNION SERVICE
• • • •
• Sanctuary • Contemporary music led by Mark Bennett and team • Time of prayer and the message will all carry a prevailing theme for the morning • Dr. Tom Harrison preaches
WOMEN OF THE WORD
• • • •
ago day. Join us for this hour-long service which marks the end of our Lenten season and prepares our hearts for our celebration of Easter Sunday. • Friday, April 6, 7:00 pm • Sanctuary • Nursery will be provided for children four and under
9:15 AM OPEN HOUSE WORSHIP
• Community Life Center • A relaxed atmosphere with engaging worship led by Dub Ambrose and team • Dr. Tom Harrison’s message is simulcast with an occasional live sermon from another pastor 11:00 AM TRADITIONAL SERVICE
• Sanctuary • The Chancel Choir, the New Covenant Orchestra and various vocal and instrumental ensembles offer a variety of styles of music led by Hart Morris • Dr. Tom Harrison preaches 11:00 AM MODERN SERVICE
• Venue68 • Rich blend of ancient and modern worship, led by Chris Cleveland and team • Sign interpreters for the deaf are offered 6:00 PM MODERN SERVICE
• Venue68 • Rich blend of ancient and modern worship, led by the Ben Kilgore and team • Rev. Spencer Smith preaches
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Marriages, Births and Deaths MARRIAGES
DEATHS
• Thaddeus Grant Hayes and Molly Margaret Marshall married 1/21/2012 • Leatha Lee Musick & Robert Garwood Buckingham married 2/25/2012
BIRTHS • Layla Danielle Holman born 1/31/2012, daughter of Matt & Laura Holman, little sister of Justin Holman • Luke Robert Grisaffe born 2/15/2012son of Kristin & Robert Grisaffe, big sisters are Augrei, Julia & Kaylee, grandparents are George & Mary Grisaffe
• Martha Kaufman died 2/1/2012, Mother of Glenda Clark • George W. Clinton died 2/2/2012, husband of Maxine Clinton • Frances B Allen died 2/8/2012, wife of James Allen • Dorothy Smith died 2/8/2012, mother of Cheryl (Steve) Murphy, grandmother of Sean & Grant • Doris Drake died 2/11/2012, widowed • Constance Peterson died 2/11/2012, mother of Tom (& Ann) Peterson • Billie Murdock died 2/14/2012 • Herman Kloehr died 2/15/2012, husband of Nellie Kloehr • Luis Mendoza died 12/16/2011
Milestone Anniversaries 60 YEARS • Bob & Martha Carpenter 04/22/52
Bob & Martha Carpenter 04/22/52
55 YEARS • Harley & Jackie Hinson 04/18/57 • Bill & Rosalie Veatch 04/20/57
Harley & Jackie Hinson 04/18/57
Bill & Rosalie Veatch 04/20/57
MILESTONE WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES
Email your upcoming Milestone Anniversary (5, 10, 15, 20, etc.) to Carolyn Schutte at brucars2@cox.net or call 918.451.1559.
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
New Members
Amberdawn Alfred
Geri Arnold
Roy & Angie Brashears with Alexis & Alyssa
Paula Gresh
Blake & Becca Johnson
Terry Arnold
Danny & Katie Dawson
Steve & Cathy Haguewood
Crystal Dowell
Reggie & Marion Hampton
Cooper & Jenny Kiddy with Andrew
Derrek Beckmann
Chuck Brashers
Andrew Dugan
John & Suzanne Ishee
Sharon Masterson
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TIDINGS, A PR IL 2012
Ron & Beth Gentry with Zoey
Mark & Mary Jane Landin with Eric & Rachel
Josh & Gini McFarland with Presley & Parker
Brad & Liz Rice with Jackson & Ben
Paul Day
Fred & Joy Ondracek
We welcome you to join us for our Easter services. “Watch with Jesus” Prayer Watch
The night Jesus was arrested, He agonized in prayer at Gethsemane. But as His disciples slept, He asked, “Could you not keep watch for one hour?” Keep watch with Jesus during a 24-hour prayer watch. Individuals, families or groups can sign up to pray for one hour. • Thursday and Friday, April 5-6 • Mason Chapel Prayer Room • Sign up to pray for one hour at asburytulsa.org
Maundy Thursday Service
Between Palm Sunday and Good Friday was the Last Supper. On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus shared a final meal with His dear friends before going to the Garden to pray. During this service, we will share a Communion meal as we walk with Jesus through the watches of His final night on earth. • Thursday, April 5, 6:30 pm • Mason Chapel
Stations of the Cross
This is a 15-station experiential walk-through journey through the final hours of Christ’s life. This deeply moving 20-30 minute journey is beneficial to all ages. • Thursday, April 5, through Friday, April 6, 11:00 am until 10:00 pm • Venue auditorium.
Good Friday Service
Dr. Tom Harrison, Hart Morris, the Chancel Choir, the New Covenant Orchestra, Perpetual Light and One Voice will lead the congregation in a service of remembrance on Good Friday. Hymns, anthems and scripture will depict the events of that long ago day. Join us for this hour-long service which marks the end of our Lenten season and prepares our hearts for our celebration of Easter Sunday. • Friday, April 6, 7:00 pm • Sanctuary • Nursery will be provided for children four and under
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