ManUpOK Event 2014

may / june 2014

Over 2,000 Men Attend ManUpOK Event

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ur new Sunday morning configuration is in place. This was the result of much hard work by our staff and contractors. It also required cooperation and adjustment from almost our entire congregation. These changes have gone well. We are very thankful for the overwhelmingly positive support. Because so many things are new, we ask for your patience as unexpected wrinkles are worked out.

It was five months ago when Tom outlined the three major components of our strategy to accomplish Asbury’s new vision, “Developing all generations for significant lives in Christ.” Those three components are (1) worship, (2) outward focus, and (3) discipleship. They are not independent. We will integrate all three of these into our lives individually and corporately. They must mutually reinforce each other. On “vision Sunday” in November and many times since, Tom has answered the question, “Why are we making these changes?” The simple and consistent answer has been that we believe it is the best way to increase our ability to make disciples of Jesus.

Changing worship services was the first component to be completed. It is very visible and immediately impacts almost everyone. Implementing the other two components will require a much longer time frame and will be less visible. Good progress has already been made in the area of outward focus. One of our pastors, Todd Craig, is leading that effort with the assistance of Lauren Burke. The first step is the creation of new guest services teams. Those teams are in place now. This includes those who work at the welcome desks, greeters and ushers. These key people influence the critical first impressions of our guests—an area which our research showed needed improvement. Because of its importance, we’ve increased the commitment of those who serve in these areas. If you have the desire to serve in this manner in Asbury’s ministry of outward focus, please contact Lauren at 918.392.1104.

The third component, adult discipleship, is under study now. Updates will come later this year.

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Contents A Word From Tom Harrison 1 Ethnodoxology: Calling All Peoples to Worship in Their Heart Language 2 Developing Kingdom Men! 4 Come Aboard!

Vacation Bible School 2014 6 The Challenge of Forgiveness 8 Restore Hope Sunday 10 Spring Break Missions Report 11 Some Hints on How to Live Happily Ever After!

14 Marriage is Worth Fighting For 15 When Things Don’t Go the Way You Planned— God Blesses Plan B 16 Young Adults at Asbury 18 Walt Whitman Cat in the Hat Day 19 Grandpa John 20 RoadMap 21 Opportunities 22 Special Announcements 27

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.

Did you know that Asbury has an app for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices?

You can watch sermons, look at the bulletin, read the sermon journal, look at the church calendar, enter prayer requests and much more. We’ve received very good comments from users.

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.

Did you know that ongoing support of Asbury can be part of your legacy through estate planning, e.g., wills, trusts, insurance policies? One of several avenues is the Asbury Foundation. If you would like to talk about the possibilities, contact Pastor Guy Ames. Recent events within Asbury have again reminded us of the importance to your family of having a will or trust in place. If you don’t have one, please make this a near-term goal.

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.

Thank you for your continued prayers, service and financial support.

Dwight Yoder Executive Director

Asbury Tidings is a bi-monthly publication 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 Photographers: Mark Moore (mark moore.photo.net), Ryan Farran (ryanfarranphotography.com) Guest Contributors: Dub and Cathy Ambrose, Kim Broadhurst, Joshua Coats, Jim Davis, Isaiah Edison, Frank Field, Mark Fowler, Susan Frazier, Jerry Hoffman, Erica Logan, Gloria McGee-Denton, Katelyn Moore, Justin Schell, Caroline Smallwood, Eryn Wallis, John Westervelt

PA S TO R TO M

A Word From Tom Harrison

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nation is built on families. When the family is strong, the nation will flourish. When the family is weak, incredible problems ensue. The same is true of a church. When we are at our best, husbands and wives love each other and raise godly children. The fallout is devastating when this bond is fractured.

Every family struggles. When I first got out of seminary at age 24, I didn’t understand the problems people faced. I had to read books to learn about the problems of people. I read stories about abuse, adultery and addictions. I read about cancer, divorce and child-custody battles, but had limited personal knowledge of these. I learned from experience with people in the church how profoundly difficult these matters were. These previously foreign topics became increasingly prevalent. As a pastor for nearly 35 years, I no longer have to read a book to learn about problems.

While I’ve not personally experienced abuse, adultery or addiction, I can also say that we’ve encountered problems within my family. I know some of the struggles which accompany marriage, raising three kids, facing financial fears, health issues, as well as the pain of losing my dad and sister.

Thus, we’re going to be tackling some very important issues in May and June: marriage in May (and the first Sunday in June), and forgiveness in the last four Sundays in June and on July 6.

Two books will form the heart of these sermon series: Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas Forgiving as We’ve Been Forgiven by Greg Jones and Célestin Musekura It’s my great desire for individual members and families at Asbury to be strong. If we fail here, our congregation won’t be

strong. We want to teach, direct and resource you to live out your faith as a believer in Jesus Christ in a life-giving, positive way.

I think we have the opportunity to live better as Christians than ever before. I see many evidences of that at Asbury! I also know that many of our folks have fallen into bad places and need help in getting out. I hope these two series will provide some good words for our folks.

As we are trying to emphasize being “outwardly focused,” I’d hope that you consider inviting people you think might be helped by these series to come and be part of our worship services. I am going to enjoy rolling up my sleeves and addressing these vitally important issues.

In Christ, Dr. Tom Harrison Senior Pastor

Asbury congratulates Paula Goree and Jay Reynolds, who were recently honored by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence and its David and Molly Boren Mentoring Initiative for their youth mentoring efforts.

Paula has a long history of mentoring children, serving for many years with Project Transformation.

“Paula can be counted on to serve faithfully,” says Barbie Paige. Paula was also honored with the Outstanding Mentor Award.

Jay was named Outstanding Mentor for his involvement with the A&W program, a partnership between Asbury and Walt Whitman Elementary school. He is also an outstanding mentor for the A&W Project Transformation program. According to Barbie Paige, a past A&W coordinator, Jay “has been one of our most dedicated volunteers and a consistent mentor and friend.”

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GLOBAL OUTREACH

Ethnodoxology: Calling All Peoples to Worship in Their Heart Language

by Jim Davis and Erica Logan, Director, Heart Sounds International

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thnodoxology is a word we don’t hear every day, but it’s an important concept in global missions. The term finds its source in two Greek words: “ethno,” from the Greek word “ethne” meaning peoples or people groups and “doxology,” from the Greek word “doxos” meaning glory or praise. In short, it’s “the way people worship.”

Why is that important? For a message to go deep, it has to be understood. You can’t understand what is not in your language, much less deeply engage with it. When the gospel is shared in foreign ways, it is often not understood. It’s alien. But when it’s told in a form you understand, you get the message. The Apostle Paul understood this concept and used it very effectively in his ministry.

People everywhere worship through creative expression. It’s easy to think of arts as a recreational activity, and in many cases, for Americans, it is. We listen to music in the car. We go to concerts and museums for fun. We watch movies to relax. But for nonwestern cultures, especially those who don’t rely on reading as their primary source of information, the arts are the way they process their world. They challenge wrong behavior through a song; they teach their children history through carvings on their doorposts; they give authority to a leader through a dance. So if worship music, dance and visuals are foreign in style, the message is lost, and a huge opportunity to see the Gospel engaged with their daily lives in a natural way is missing. This often happens when Christian hymns or praise songs are simply translated into another language and sung to the same tune. A praise song written within the context of the indigenous culture and language, often accompanied by dance or other arts, provides a much better expression of worship.

heart-sounds.org), which seeks to ignite biblically appropriate and culturally relevant heart worship in places where Christfollowers are restricted, persecuted or unknown.

Erica has shared with us some stories of her work. We rejoice that our Christian brothers and sisters in these parts of the world now have a better means of true Christian worship. We look forward to that day in Revelation 5 when people from every tribe and language and people and nation will stand together in worship before the throne.

Song-Making Brings Hope and Reconciliaton One-hundred and sixty years after the Bible was translated into their language, one of the minority people groups in Southeast Asia is finally hearing the Scriptures soar to their own music for the very first time. Heart Sounds International was invited by a local pastor to conduct a songwriting workshop and record these very first local-culture Christian songs. There are very few native traditions still in use in the modern day church among this people, and the Christians do not attend the local festivals and events held by their Buddhist neighbors. This has contributed to a great divide between the two sub-cultures within the community and a misconceived understanding of who Christ is to the average person in that culture.

Local musician crafting Gospel songs

Erica Logan learning ‘make-up’ techniques in the Amazon

Asbury-supported missionary, Erica Logan, helps find creative and indigenous expressions of worship in cultures around the world. She is the director of Heart Sounds International (www.

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One local pastor has the drive and passion to change that. While overcoming his own personal obstacles of polio and persecution, he mentors others to do the same: to step across the gap to connect with their own people and culture. For more than a decade, he has spoken to his people through radio, encouraging them with the gospel and preserving them with the facts of their historic culture.

It is the only program available in that local language. It is so popular that it is even broadcast in the Buddhist monasteries.

GLOBAL OUTREACH

Now after 12 years of dreaming for more, he not only has the spoken word to share, but also the music to express the message of Christ directly to the heart. Excited after several days of Bible study on the heart of worship, local Christians joined forces with local Buddhist traditional musicians to develop new songs. Since there are no Christians who are also traditional musicians, it would only be possible if these two groups, who would ordinarily never have a relationship, worked together. And work together they did. The traditional musicians were only asked to stay two days, but they decided to stay a week and a half!

The pastors learned to write lyrics that accurately and musically communicated the chosen scriptures, while the musicians wrote the accompanying parts on the traditional Songwriting workshop instruments. After in Southeast Asia a rigorous week of detailed crafting, 10 songs were developed that spanned a balanced continuum of purely traditional music to contemporary styles like the locally loved Jim Reeves.

When asked about their experience, the musicians said they had been involved in many music projects, but none of them were as gratifying as this one. They were treated like family by people who were full of joy. They were intrigued by the message of the songs and listened to the gospel story, believing it was the truth.

They were looking forward to the relationship they would have with these pastors in the future. This relationship has indeed continued and developed.

Only God could take something as simple as music-making and turn it into a ground-breaking event of reconciliation.

Like the Huangana, We Worship!

Often, Heart Sounds International records indigenous worship songs that are already developed. But for one people group in the Amazon River Basin, there was no worship music they could call their own.

On this trip to this people group, the situation was complex. We were told to expect little to no music and a general aloofness. So, we broadened the approach to include a variety of Amazonian arts, hopefully finding one that felt more natural to them than music.

We had to gain the trust of this isolated group in a week’s time.

We asked for a miracle, and we got it.

Instead of teaching them, we asked the people there to teach us.

The men took our men hunting for monkeys. The women taught our women beading and weaving. We sought to value what they valued. Quickly, smiles and laughter broke out. Being with each other with no “agenda” developed a spirit of friendship and trust that paved the way for open dialogue.

The first day, we were told by the local leaders, “No, we don’t know of any music.”

But by the end of the week they proclaimed, “We have written the first song and dance in our own style to God. We want to record it!”

WOW! We prepared the camera. The entire group gathered. The men began circling the women and beating a Local believer using her makeshift drum. The necklace to tell her testimony women danced their steps in pairs and they all began singing the following song: Thank you, my Lord God Creator of the World United like brothers we will worship Like the huangana* Turning around, turning around We worship, my brothers!

Our teammate said, “We thought you didn’t know any song and dance styles in your culture!” The local believer sheepishly grinned and said, “We do.” And thus was born the first original song and dance performed in that culture for the Lord.

The group also explored a variety of other Amazonian arts including woven grass banners, traditional myths, lullaby songs and beaded necklaces, all re-imagined as connecting points for communicating the Gospel to their community. They declared their desire to prepare for a future in Revelation when they, as an Amazonian people, will join the multitude in eternal worship. They now go home to their elders to begin that journey. Praise be to God! * The huangana is a common jungle animal that walks in a line from biggest to smallest and circles-up to protect their youngest when threatened.

Erica Logan is a faith-supported missionary living in Tulsa. If you would like to connect with her, she can be reached at logan.hsi@ gmail.com or through Asbury’s Global Outreach office.

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Developing Kingdom Men!

By Frank Field

As the Man goes, so goes the family, so goes the church, so goes the community.

This statement is the foundation of Dr. Tony Evans book Kingdom Man and it was also the foundational statement behind the ManUpOK 2014 event that was held at Asbury on March 7. Around 2,000 people came together at Asbury to hear a message about the need for men to live up to the biblical definition of manhood.

You might be asking, what is ManUpOK? Well, ManUpOK is made up of a group of about 12 men from around Tulsa that came together starting back in 2012 to organize and put on an event for men. The purpose for ManUpOK is to help men by encouraging and inspiring transformation as followers of Jesus.

The mission is simply TRANSFORMATION. We are committed to organizing events that God can use to awaken men to be dependent on Jesus and to drive men into local church men’s

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ministries, whereby men can connect and grow with other likeminded men.

We came together as followers of Jesus Christ to unite behind the common interest of getting men to change to God’s standards.

With God’s help, we tore down the walls of church location, denomination, skin color and cultural differences, and we united under the banner of Jesus Christ. The “man problem” of men following the world instead of Jesus is the same for every area of town and every church. The resulting chaos and pain caused by men living below God’s standards is also the same. We all agreed that the spiritual solution to the “man problem” is the same for every man no matter their church name or the color of their skin. Therefore, we were able to unite as Christian men and come together to fight back against the same enemy that is trying

to destroy us by getting men to follow the ways of the world which in turn leads to chaos in marriages, families and our communities. We cannot see our enemy, but we can clearly see the results of his influence.

On every measure, the event was a great success. God was clearly behind us as He brought all of the resources needed to make this a reality. We give God all of the praise and glory for this success. The men that came to the event heard the inspiring messages about becoming the man of God, husband and father that God designed them to be. Each man walked away with the Kingdom Man book in his hands to read and use as a guide along with God’s Word on the journey to become a Kingdom man.

We saw many men answer the call from Dr. Tony Evans to come down and either give their life to Jesus Christ and/or recommit themselves to Jesus Christ and becoming a Kingdom man. It was all very humbling and overwhelming as we knew God had used us and Asbury to transform some men’s lives. We may never know all of the ways that God will use this to transform men, their families and our community, but we trust that God will continue the good work which He has started.

It is amazing how God works and is out in front of our plans paving the way for His purpose. I say this because, as it turns out, this event that started with a vision from God back in 2012, ultimately fed right into two of the major areas of focus of new direction and strategy for Asbury that was announced in November 2013. The two areas are outward focus and discipleship.

Outward Focus begins with a genuine caring about others. The Friday night event was a citywide event because we care about all of our brothers and sisters. On March 7, about 1,700 of the folks that came to our church were not Asbury members.

Our church doors Pastor Alan Robertson were opened, and the resources of Asbury were used to reach out to others and let them hear a message about living up to God’s standards. What they experienced was a church that cares and is willing to give of its time and resources to make a difference in the lives of individuals and for the Kingdom of God. For the majority of them, it was their first time to visit our church. There is no doubt that they left with a positive view of Asbury that may not have existed before. Who knows how God will use this in the future as a blessing.

Discipleship is growing people and having influence. To create an Asbury men’s conference, we had the Friday night citywide

Major Ed Pulido

event combined with a Saturday morning breakfast meeting for the men of Asbury. About 250 men from Asbury attended the Friday night event, and then we came back together on Saturday morning to hear from Pastor Tom and others about the importance of men connecting with other men and discipleship.

At Asbury, we will have a structure under our men’s ministry whereby men can get connected with other like-minded men who are on a journey to become Kingdom men. In this structure, men will be encouraged, equipped, instructed and held accountable to become the men of God, husbands and fathers that God created them to be.

We are on a pathway to create a structure of men’s connect groups. First, we came together as a large group for six weeks to do the Kingdom Man DVD study together. At the end of this study, we had opportunities for men to join a men’s connect group. These groups will meet weekly in homes throughout the year, except for the summer break. In these connect groups, men will seek Christ and do life together. The groups will use DVD based curriculum that will be focused on building a strong and intimate relationship with Jesus and on stepping up to biblical manhood. Let’s be clear, the enemy does not want men in these groups because it helps men become more like Christ and it makes life better. We understand that this is the battle we face, but at Asbury we know we must have men of all generations encouraging and instructing each other so that through discipleship we can make our men, our families and in turn our church stronger! Becoming more like Christ is a team sport.

For more information on how you can get connected with a team of like-minded men that are seeking Christ and doing life together, go to http://www.asburytulsa. org/AdultMinistries or contact Frank Field at Frank.Field@ WPXEnergy.com or 918.630.0717.

Dr. Tony Evans

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CHILDREN

What can you and your little shipmates expect at Vacation Bible School 2014?

RR 4 gallons of glue RR the patience of 250 adult volunteers RR 850 excited children RR 1,356 T-shirts RR the memory of past for 200 teenagers RR 58 hours of Bible drama rehearsal RR 3 hit songs written RR 48 hours of worship rally rehearsal RR one original playwright RR 3,400 kid snacks RR a fully staffed maintenance crew RR a week-long prayer vigil RR 55 person leadership team RR many hearts for Jesus Christ RR 2,600 feet filling the hallways everyday RR 220 new people learning how to navigate myasburytulsa.org

RR a grandparent who drives from Memphis each year so that her granddaughter can attend this week of fun

RR Youth at Heart Ministry busing 25 kiddos to our building RR an oven at 350 degrees every day for 4 hours baking all of our adult volunteers yummy cookies and treats

RR a nursery staff set to go so that more older siblings and adults can experience this week

RR a print shop that works non-stop for four weeks prior to this week

RR sweet, angelic children’s voices and giggles filling the choir room

RR 250,000 calories burned in our gym RR 1,700 listening ears learning missions at a young age RR extreme gratitude shown for our armed forces RR 6th graders spending half a day in the city of Tulsa serving our people

This is the a wonderful week of Vacation Bible School.

So come aboard! June 17–20. Register now at www.myasburytulsa.org 6

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CHILDREN

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The Challenge of Forgiveness

By Rev. Gloria McGee-Denton

What did you call me?

I saw a sign that said: “Sometimes the first step to forgiveness is realizing the other person is a complete idiot.” Did that make you chuckle because you know those people? I know those people.

The family member who starts something out of nothing at every holiday.

The uninsured driver who caused $8,000 damage to my car because he was texting behind the wheel.

The hateful kids who call my bi-racial daughter the “n-word” at school.

The kind of people for whom one-upmanship is a way of life.

But when it comes down to it, do I really think of these people as idiots?

No. That lets them off the hook too easily, as if they don’t have the ability to do or be better so they aren’t accountable for their actions. They all know better. They all know their behaviors are unacceptable. They all know they’re hurting other people.

Why do they behave this way? I honestly do not know.

I don’t know why some people are greedy, why some are repeatedly manipulative and dishonest. I don’t know why some men physically abuse their girlfriends and wives, why some women belittle and deride their husbands. There’s nothing in me that understands why some sexually abuse or neglect children.

Why are there more trafficked humans (slaves) today than at any other point in history? Why do people choose to end other people’s lives? Why are genocide (elimination of racial, political or religious groups) and gendercide (eliminating one gender, usually females) reality in many places and time?

I just don’t know why people are the way we are. And it’s possible they don’t really know either.

“What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary. But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it;

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I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions.”

These words were written by a man who was guilty of targeting and killing Christians for their beliefs. But even after he became a follower of Jesus, the Apostle Paul still failed to be as good as he wanted to be. (See Romans 7:15-20, MSG.)

Is it possible?

Paul rightly identified that force within him as sin. The propensity to sin is within all of us. There are many who simply don’t care about sin, while others work at identifying and restraining its influence in our lives. But the fact remains that we all sin. Period.

That sign I saw reminds me of a quote Mother Teresa had hanging on the wall in her orphanage that was a little less offensive and a lot more accurate: “People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.”

Hmmm. It’s much simpler and more satisfying to just write them off as idiots and go on our way than to take this truth to heart and live it out. We get hung up on a couple of different points.

First, we don’t understand why people have wronged us. The “why” seems really important because we hope it will fill in some of the blanks for us. We hope understanding will make it all easier somehow.

Then, when we’re ready to forgive, we can’t figure out how to do it. We can try and try to forgive and forget, lick our wounds, give it to God, put it behind us, consider it water under the bridge.

Quite often, we can’t forget that we were abused no matter how hard we try—and it colors all our relationships. Something will rub us the wrong way, and soon that wound that never properly healed is exposed and hurting again—wreaking havoc on our thoughts and emotions. We can give our pain to God, but it becomes such a part of our identity that we don’t know who we are without it—so we take it back. We want to let bygones be bygones, but it’s illogical to forgive someone who was never sorry and never apologized—so we live somewhere between outright anger and a bitter pseudo-forgiveness.

If you consider the most disappointing seasons or events in your life, does this resonate: “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps.

I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me?” (Romans 7:24, MSG).

Forgiveness is the right thing to do for so many reasons, least of which is the fact that Jesus told us to forgive others just as we’ve been forgiven.

So if deciding to forgive isn’t enough, if we can’t accomplish it through sheer power of our will, how do we offer forgiveness to those around us? And how do we receive it for our own sins against others?

“Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different” (Romans 7:25, MSG).

And there we go. A typical Sunday School answer.

Jesus. Only this time, it really is the answer to the question. Jesus really does do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” He really does forgive us. He really does enable others to forgive us, and conversely enables us to forgive others. And through cooperation with Jesus, we can forgive ourselves.

You don’t want to miss this Churches will always say to forgive, because Jesus said it. But churches won’t always take you through a step-by-step process of healing that brings both biblical understanding and closure. In this sermon series (which will be from June 7 through July 11), we will take a close look at forgiveness by identifying “Five Things That Forgiveness Isn’t.”

After all, forgiveness isn’t fair or easy. it isn’t condoning poor behavior. And despite what we’re told, forgiveness isn’t forgetting. Neither is forgiveness done in isolation. Thus, we will work through all the ups and downs and challenges of forgiveness together.

Three additional resources will be available: 1. The sermon journal will offer in-depth study and application of biblical insights into a loving and forgiving God. 2. The series will follow the book Forgiving as We’ve Been Forgiven by Greg Jones and Celestin Musekura, which I encourage you to read.

3. Greg Jones, senior strategist for Leadership Education and professor of theology (former dean) at Duke Divinity School, will preach in all services on June 15 and offer an additional talk followed by an interactive question and answer session that evening.

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LOCAL OUTREACH

Thank you, Asbury.

“It’s official! Asbury is the first lifetime $1 million donor in Restore Hope history! What a great history of support.” –Jeff Jaynes Sunday, April 6, 2014, marked a day of unprecedented support for Restore Hope Ministries (RHM). Hundreds of Asbury members joined together to give non-perishable foods and funds to help alleviate the hunger crisis in Oklahoma and provide rental assistance to families and individuals in dire need.

More than $110,000 in monetary donations came in as well as food items from all generations of Asburians.

Led by long-time Asbury member Frank Foreman, more than 60 volunteers participated in answering questions, receiving funds and food for RHM. Radhika Aussieker, Asbury’s Local Outreach Director, shares, “The Local Outreach Board of Directors has the utmost respect for the mission of Restore Hope Ministries. We are committed to alleviating poverty in Oklahoma by resourcing RHM with finances and volunteers as much as possible. It continues to amaze us how the Asbury congregation responds with incredible generosity every time an opportunity is presented from ice storm shelters to wildfire relief to a hunger crisis.”

Thank you, Asbury, for giving to Restore Hope Ministries. Your gift makes an eternal difference!

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REPORT Houston, 7th graders

By Caroline Smallwood Never having gone on the Houston Spring Break Mission trip, I asked around about what to expect. “Every year the seventh graders impress us.” “Their child-like faith will challenge you as an adult.” “The way the students unconditionally love the homeless will amaze you.” All of this proved to be true but did not even scratch the surface. In three hours, our students made 14,688 lunches to send to those who would not otherwise have anything to eat.

One morning we sent them out into a park to pray with the homeless people. The results were life-changing stories of how seventh graders and homeless people together bring Heaven to Earth. On Tuesday for breakfast and lunch, our whole team fasted. The way a 12-year-old views this practice is radical. “You just have to pray whenever you get hungry, and then you are instantly thankful for what you have been given.” A complaint was never heard on the trip, and our leaders were challenged to live more like these students. They have a hunger for Christ and a passion for His ways. Houston SBM changed the lives of thousands of people, and we would all say that we are humbled to have been a part.

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Red Bird, Kentucky, 8th Graders

By Mark Fowler It’s one thing to say, “Junior high students can change the world.”

It’s an entirely different thing to see it happen. In Kentucky, our eighth-grade students changed peoples’ lives forever by making their homes safely accessible by constructing porches, stairs and wheelchair ramps. Homes were made safer by repairing floors, down to the floor joists; kitchens were made useable by repairing floors, installing new kitchen cabinets and sinks; and a trailer will now stay dry when it rains because a new roof was installed.

outpouring of the Holy Spirit. When an eighth-grade boy opens his heart to the presence of God or when an eighth-grade girl worships from her heart, God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask, and students are impacted.

Junior high students can change the world; and the worlds of the homeowners in the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky were changed forever.

Our students’ and leaders’ lives were changed because of relationships built with homeowners, and relationships built with each other. One student’s life was changed because of time spent playing guitar with a 70+ year-old man.

God moved in Kentucky. His Spirit was felt and His presence was made known. Students’ lives were changed forever because of the

Jamaica, 9th and 10th graders

By Katelyn Moore Spring Break Missions can hardly be explained; it almost has to be experienced.

So much more happens than what meets the eye.

Our students worked, served, loved and played hard. In Jamaica, they saw behind the curtain of resorts and cruise ships.

They taught the schoolchildren to be brave, wise and strong like Daniel, Esther and Jesus. They sang songs, told stories and read books with kids who needed to see that they are loved. They laid blocks

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to build rooms onto schools, churches, homes and mission houses. They painted walls and hauled rock and mixed a lot of concrete. They prayed with the sick and the forgotten. They served the broken. They saw and found healing. They met with Jesus.

Our freshman and sophomores showed the kind of strength that only comes from the Lord. They engaged in a culture far outside their own. They stepped out of their comfort zone and were reminded that we are not called to be comfortable.

They learned about what is important in this life. They yielded to the Holy Spirit and gave themselves to the mission.

They came home exhausted, spent and sunburned, but they came home changed.

TIDINGS | MAY / JUNE 2014

Guatemala, 11th and 12th graders

By Joshua Coats

was finished, food was passed out and the lives of our students and leaders and those we went to serve were changed forever.

It’s not often that 2 percent impacts the other 98 percent as much as how one week on a mission trip can impact the other 51 weeks of your year. One of our leaders, Ryan Proctor, put it this way, “It is an earth-shaking, life-altering event. In my life, it has been the best way to come face-to-face with God.”

Sarah Schueller, a senior, was one of 68 students who came home excited to make a difference the other 51 weeks of the year. “My trip was all about learning to love people like Jesus loves them,” Sarah said. “Loving those who have nothing and those who have everything. I definitely want to take that back home with me because that’s really what Jesus is all about.”

That was definitely the case on the 11th and 12th grade spring break mission trip to Guatemala this year. Concrete was mixed, cobblestone roads were laid, an orphanage was remodeled, a house

Our juniors and seniors represented Asbury well in Guatemala and came home full of stories, changed hearts, and a new perspective on who God has called us to be as the body of Christ.

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CARE AND MARRIAGE

Some Hints on How to Live Happily Ever After!

By Dub and Cathy Ambrose

Some things we’ve learned (some the hard way): 1. EVERY DAY, tell your honey, ‘I love you.” Initiate a hug and kiss every morning and every night. If you are out of town, call every night!

2. Tell him/her EVERY DAY something that you appreciate about them. This is very important! Both husbands and wives need to know they are not taken for granted. They need to know that they are valued by their loved one. Women need love and affection and men need respect and honor.

(Ephesians 5:21–33) 3. Find out their love language (The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman) and work on expressing this each day if possible. (But don’t limit yourself to this!) Give gifts, undivided attention, acts of service, words of affirmation and touch often!

4. Make it a promise to always support and never contradict or argue in public or in front of the children.

5. Daily tell your spouse something you admire about him/her and are proud of him/her for.

6. After you figure out the division of chores, surprise him/her by helping or doing it for them!

7. Don’t nag your spouse! Instead make a written list of “Honey do’s” and let them decide when and how.

8. Give your spouse some “alone down time/cave time” away from work, kids, etc. They need to recharge!

9. Decide to discuss serious business or finances only during an appointed time, as emotions can heighten when someone is tired or hungry or just not in the mood.

10. Keep God at the center of your marriage! He is the one who authored your relationship in the first place! If one of you comes from a broken home, you have to work ever harder to break the pattern of giving up and leaving!! Broken homes devastate generations! Only with God can they be restored!

11. Never complain about or criticize your spouse to anyone.

Instead, sing their praises to everyone, especially to your children. (I Peter 3:1–7) DO NOT EVER even utter the “D” word…NEVER! 12. Wives, Encourage your husband to make the big decisions; he’s wired to do so. Gently give your input but express confidence in him by respecting his God-given authority.

He will then become the Godly leader of your home. Do not usurp this authority from him!

13. Do not give your spouse direct advice unless he/she asks for it. Instead, try to couch your ideas in a softer way, like: “Honey, have you ever thought of…”

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14. Communicate your temptations to your spouse. This builds trust and intimacy. (A spouse can be your best prayer warrior!) Consider this rule: If you are attracted to another person for as long as 24 hours, confess this to your spouse so that they can help you overcome this. Avoid that other person at all costs! You don’t want to live the alternative! Your marriage is sacred; protect and save it!

15. Don’t try to “fix” your spouse’s problems; instead just listen to him/her. Sometimes they just need a sounding board to vent.

Always take your spouse’s side, and don’t be the kind that always wants to help them see the opposing side’s viewpoint.

It undermines them, so be “on the same team.” If not, they will associate you with the enemy! They need your support!

16. Make it a goal to pray with and for your spouse daily, even if it is a few seconds while you hug. “Lord, bless and protect her today!” Prayer and your relationship with the Lord is the glue to your marriage!

17. Surrender and relinquish the things you desire to change in your spouse. Instead, pray and ask the Lord to help you accept your spouse just as he/she is! No strings attached!

Unconditionally…remember, “For better, for worse!” So quit hoping they will change…let God change YOU instead. (Is your love: I love you if… Or I love you because… Or I love you no matter what!)

18. Let your spouse express their feelings of hurt, pain and frustration instead of trying to “make it all better.” The pain can lead them to reach out to the Lord and strengthen their relationship with Him. 19. Communicate thoughts and feelings at the end of the day.

You might want to read the same book to discuss. Share with your spouse the things you are learning from the Lord as well as your faith struggles. Husbands, remember God has given you the authority to be the spiritual leader of the home!

20. Make your love-making a priority. The gift of intimacy is the most special way of bonding your love forever. Always communicate tenderness and sensitivity.

21. Realize that YOUR selfishness and pride are your worst enemies. Keep humble and teachable and focused on your spouse’s needs. It is actually true that the more you give the more you will receive!

22. If any of these things don’t feel natural, then “fake it” until they do. It is THAT important!

CARE AND MARRIAGE

Marriage is Worth Fighting For

By Isaiah Edison

O

n January 28, 1986, the American shuttle orbiter Challenger broke up 73 seconds after liftoff, bringing a devastating end to the spacecraft’s 10th mission. The disaster claimed the lives of all seven astronauts aboard. It was later determined that two rubber O-rings, which had been designed to separate the sections of the rocket booster, had failed due to cold temperatures on the morning of the launch.

The morning of January 28 was unusually cold, and engineers warned their superiors that certain components—particularly the rubber O-rings that sealed the joints of the shuttle’s solid rocket boosters—were vulnerable to failure at low temperatures.

However, these warnings went unheeded, and at 11:39 am, Challenger lifted off. Although Tiffany and I were not even born yet when this tragedy occurred, this terrible disaster teaches us to always listen to wise council and take preventive measures before tragedy occurs.

A real tragedy today is that around 50 percent of all so-called CHRISTIAN marriages end in divorce. Unfortunately, for many young families in the Rooted community, we have already experienced this reality within our families or friends.

The scariest part is that if statistics mean anything, one in two marriages will end in divorce within our church if we do not do anything about it. According to Retrouvaille International, couples who attend worship services together and who pray or read Scripture together on a daily basis experience only one divorce out of every 1,105 marriages. So many people ignore the fact that if we do not work on our marriage relationships and place God at the center, we have a 50 percent chance of our marriages failing. What I am really trying to say is that we need to fight for our marriages for many reasons. Christian marriage was meant to be a reflection of Jesus Christ’s relationship with us. How can the world come to know Him if we are not keeping sacred our most important earthly relationship? This is made so real to me when I look at the roughly 20 couples that regularly attend the Rooted community and 50 percent of these amazing couples may not be couples in 20 years if we do not give them the tools and the resources to fight for their marriages.

Rooted is a young family community ranging from ages 20–40ish.

Many of us are recently married. Some have children and others do not. I have observed three types of marriages in our community.

Type 1–The marriage is so new that artificial infatuation (if you want to read more about this issue please read The 5 Love Languages,

by Dr. Gary Chapman) blinds them from seeing any danger in the future. Type 2–People who have been married long enough

to go through some struggles and cannot see those struggles ever happening again. Type 3–Couples who understand that marriage is hard work and it is something that should not be taken lightly.

Personally, I have observed good and bad marriages within my family and my center of influence. If you are a businessperson, teacher, doctor, engineer, stay-at-home parent, etc., just imagine how terrible you would get at your job over 20 years if you never did any continuing education? So why don’t people participate in regular continuing education for their marriage?

Currently, I lead the Grow Leadership group for Rooted. During a meeting we had about a month ago, I proposed an experiment.

If we scheduled a biblically based marriage series once per year, would that help our marriages stay together? Would it move our ratios in the next 20 years from 50 percent failure to .090498 percent failure? What do we have to lose? To my pleasure, this proposal passed and we plan to start Family Life’s Art of Marriage series this May. I encourage every community with married couples in Asbury to commit to lifelong marriage learning (regardless if your group has been together for one year or 60 years). I learned from my late grandfather to be a lifetime learner. He devoted his life to business.

This made him a lot of money and bought him lots of stuff, but it unfortunately tore his family apart in the process. Please work hard at your jobs, but use this hard work for things that really matter. Use as many opportunities as you can during the week to share Christ with someone else. What matters to God is not how much money we make, but that we follow Him whole-heartily in everything we do—including our Christian marriages.

Healthy marriages not only make for better lives, health and witnessing opportunities; they also improve our children’s lives and the generations to come. According to Toofus.org, strong marriages make our kids healthier, both physically and emotionally, more likely to succeed academically, and more likely to go to college. Our new church mission statement says it best—Developing all generations for significant lives in Christ. I believe if we can grow strong marriages at Asbury, we will be able to fulfill that mission.

A real tragedy today is that around 50 percent of all so-called CHRISTIAN marriages end in divorce.

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CARE AND MARRIAGE

When Things Don’t Go the Way You Planned—God Blesses Plan B Story One

By Susan Frazier

I

t was Valentine’s Day, and I began it with the excitement of sweet surprises for my husband. I dressed up in a pretty red outfit then approached him with a big mischievous smile, hinting of a gift I had for him. But the surprise was on me, as he asked for a divorce! I was blindsided and shocked, “Lord help me unwrap this package on this special day,” I prayed. After days of crying and having to move my things out of the house, I found myself isolated and lost. I couldn’t eat or sleep and did not want to see anyone. I kept asking myself, “What did I do wrong? What will people think? Where will I go from here?”

God has a plan for each of us; we might not understand how, but in time we would see that it was a wonderful plan.

After weeks of isolation, depression and praying, God finally gave me the strength to get out of bed, led me to Asbury and into a group called Divorce Recovery. When I finally made it to the classroom door, I was shaking, still crying and weak from going without sleep. I did not want to go inside, but God opened the door! I looked inside and there was a circle of chairs with people talking. God had one empty chair ready for me, closest to the door so that I didn’t have to walk but a few steps and didn’t have to pass or make eye contact with anyone. When I got into that chair, I was so glad I had made it! There were two leaders, Malia Miller and Jim LaMay, discussing the painful journey everyone in the room was traveling. They assured us that we were in a safe place and they were there to help us move forward. They said a prayer that included how God had a plan for each of us; we might not understand how, but in time we would see that it was a wonderful plan. I couldn’t see it that day, but with their love and support, week by week, that plan started to form.

My tears slowly stopped; I gained strength, made new friends, started to smile again and even heard myself laugh! I have come so far and have made some dear friends over the last two years. One sweet lady, Peggie, is one of my best friends today! Peggie went to court with me and held my hand… she has been my sounding board and my security blanket!

Together, Peggie and I attended other classes at Asbury, like Divorce Rebuilding, led by Jim Small and Cam Brother. Peggie and I now plan monthly social outings for divorced women so they can have a safe place to go, relax, smile and laugh with others that have traveled down the same road. What was funny is that our first outing was on Valentine’s Day! LOL! So, I realize now that this is “God’s Plan B” for me, to help other women who have gone or are going through a painful divorce, and in return HE has blessed me with all these beautiful friendships! My favorite scripture along my journey; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”(Proverbs 3:5-6) If you are a single woman and want to join us, please come to one of the divorce care groups. You will be blessed.

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CARE AND MARRIAGE

Story Two

BY Jerry Hoffman

I

n the fall of 2005, things seemed to be going well according to the Jerry Hoffman plan.

I was doing everything I believed necessary to make my personal goals attainable for myself and family. Working hard and driving through with a force of accomplishment seemed to indicate a sense of “well done.” My personal pat on the back. As a Christian leader of the family, I knew the importance of maintaining Christ at the center. But for some reason or another, that was always pushed off to the side due to my prideful and selfish ways. Happiness was nowhere to be found, let alone joy and peace.

I am truly amazed and humbled at how God has restored what was stolen from me.

In late 2005, my marriage was failing, and in February 2006, I was divorced. Everything I had worked so hard for seemed worthless. I felt hopeless, lonely and weak. Anger filled me, knowing that Satan had deceived and stolen from me. I believe God used this season to get my attention, and it worked.

I asked God to reveal to me His chosen path. My past business, pride and selfishness kept me from developing an intimate relationship with Christ and relationships with other Christians. I realized I did not even have a trustworthy friend to call. So I prayed for God to bring me an accountability partner; two days later he brought not just one but two. I also attended the divorce recovery and rebuilding class at Asbury which provided hope, grace and the comfort in knowing that I was not alone but with others who were also hurting.

I remembered God’s past faithfulness and His promises, one of which is Psalms 71:20, “Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again, from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.” I soon felt God tugging at me to become a Stephen Minister. Reluctant at first, I then surrendered myself to God as his instrument to minister not only to me but to others.

In 2011, I was introduced to a wonderful woman who had also attended the divorce rebuilding program; in 2013, we were married. I am truly amazed and humbled at how God has restored what was stolen from me. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”

Ephesians 3:20 Today my life is filled with so many wonderful people who love me and care for me, many who are part of the Asbury community. For that I am grateful.

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COMMUNITIES

Young Adults at Asbury

By Justin Schell

R

ecently, Jared and Hannah, a young married couple in their mid-20s moved to Tulsa. Hannah grew up at Asbury, so, they agreed to worship here. But, Asbury is so BIG! How do you build community when you don’t see the same people each week?

Jared: Hey, I’m Jared. So, I’m new to Asbury. Hannah has all these relationships from growing up here, but I still feel a little disconnected. How does someone like me even begin to build deeper relationships here?

Hannah: Growing up at Asbury, I loved my time in the youth group. Jared and I met in college. He went to OU, and I went to OSU (I know! We’re a house divided!), but we were both involved in the same campus ministry, and we met at a winter conference.

It’s nice to be back in Tulsa around family and friends. But, honestly, in this season of life, I long for a place where I can go deeper in my faith.

Jared: Hannah and I have been talking about this “where do we fit” situation. We love how Asbury is realigning the church around being outward-focused and seeing all generations loving and serving side by side. We’re excited about that, but we wonder where to connect with others in our stage of life, while integrating with the wider church. A friend emailed me about a new ministry for young adults (18-35 years) called Connect.

We’re going to go check it out this Thursday night. We’ll let you know how it goes.

Hannah: Last night we visited the young adult Connect ministry at Asbury. This guy was sharing from the book of Acts about how the early Christians were committed to three things. First, they were a community built on the divine truth of God’s Word.

Second, they were committed to nurturing relationships with

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God and with each other. Third, they were a community sent out on apostolic mission. He said, “That’s the DNA of Connect – God’s Word, God’s people and God’s mission.” I loved seeing the church’s DNA so clearly explained. What did you think, Jared?

Jared: That’s right, this guy was saying that Connect is just a platform where young adults can catch that DNA. Connect serves all young adults in Asbury so that they can then serve all of Asbury and the world. We also heard about discipleship communities like the Vine and Rooted, two young adult communities that meet on Sunday mornings during the first service. Other young adults participate in multigenerational communities, and some are meeting in small groups. So many opportunities!

We knew there were young adults throughout Asbury. Some grew up here and some are new like Jared. It’s awesome to know there’s a place where all of us can plug into God’s heart and into community with the rest of Asbury. If you’re a young adult and looking to plug in, I definitely think you should come and Connect!

Connect Thursday nights 6:00–7:15 pm Room 2821 Sunday morning young adult communities at 9:15: Rooted, Room 1508 The Vine, Room 2502

Walt Whitman Cat in the Hat Day

By Eryn Wallis

I woke up and nearly shot out of my bed.

“Sawyer, it’s Cat in the Hat Day!” I said.

Sawyer’s my dog. He doesn’t do much reading.

To tell you the truth, it’s not in his breeding.

I, on the other hand, was very excited.

My Asbury friends and I’d been invited to read to the kids at Walt Whitman school.

And let me just tell you, these kids are quite cool.

They know the Grinch, the Fish and Mr. Knox, Yertle the Turtle, plus Fox in Socks.

They can tell you about Horton and dear little Mayzie, but the Cat in the Hat just makes them plain crazy!

They put pictures of this cat up on their walls.

There are even kids dressed like him walking the halls.

So into each classroom we went right away with lots of Dr. Seuss books to read on that day.

The kids gathered around me with glints in their eyes.

Here’s where I admit, I felt butterflies.

What if I mispronounce McElligot’s Pool?

Or forget the part about the Jungle of Nool?

What if I mix up Thing 1 and Thing 2?

Boy, that’d be pretty awful to do.

But much to my surprise and utter delight, there were no critics at all in my sight.

So I read about the Lorax and Hop on Pop, Sam I Am and Blue Fish. It was hard to stop!

But sooner than later it was time to go.

We hadn’t quite made it through all the books, though.

“Don’t worry!” my new friend Ms. Cathy said.

“We are always looking for people to spread their love of reading with all the kids here.

We want these kids reading every day of the year!”

So Cat in the Hat Day was a huge success.

If I’m invited back next year, I’ll definitely say yes!

And I hope you’ll be able to come along too.

After all, isn’t helping others what us Asburians do?

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G R AN D PA J O H N

Trying

by John C. Westervelt

O

ne of my favorite authors, John Powell, wrote in Happiness Is an Inside Job, “We are all mistake makers.

God has equipped his animals and birds with infallible instincts. We human beings have to learn most things by trial and error.” Powell’s thoughts match my observations over a lifetime. During that time, I have learned the importance of trying.

A number of years ago, I made some foundation vent covers out of one-eighth-inch thick Masonite for my mother-in-law’s house.

I cut these to size on my band saw. (A band saw has a continuous blade that rolls on two wheels.)

In the middle 1970s, I started wood carving as therapy for some depression over concern about losing my job with the completion of the Apollo program. I was going to a friend’s house across town to cut boot blanks out of two-inch-thick basswood. At the time, I wished I had a band saw.

For Christmas 1978, my wife Nelda put $50 in a band saw savings account, and my daughter Mary Kim added $25. Gifts to the account continued on Father’s Day, birthday and Christmas 1979. In January 1980, I bought a Sears Craftsman band saw.

Eventually, my band saw developed a loud, rasping, groaning sound. I wondered if, after 26 years, a bearing had worn out.

After sawing the vent covers, I decided it was time to try to fix my beloved saw. Gathering my courage, I unplugged the electric cord, removed the blade cover, and vacuumed the sawdust that filled every nook and cranny. Turning the wheels by hand, I could see that the blade was running on the back edge of the lower wheel. Next, I could see that the wheel was not in alignment with the end of the shaft driven by the motor. With further inspection, I found that the set screw that holds the wheel to the shaft was loose.

Over the years, I accumulated the tools I needed to maintain my household and its equipment. One of these, a small investment, was a set of Allen wrenches. These are hard steel with a hexagon cross section usually bent in a right angle. An Allen wrench fits inside the set screw of my band saw for tightening the screw.

After aligning the lower wheel with the end of the rotating shaft, I tightened the set screw. With this adjustment, the noise ceased.

This story shares a life lesson. The secret to fixing the band saw was the willingness to begin by trying, followed by thinking.

Trying, then thinking, continued sequentially until the problem was solved. Of course, you also must have the right tool.

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Most of life’s problems are with relationships, rather than with saws. Still, the method for a solution is similar. Just begin. Try. Think about it and try again. In this case, the right tool could well be Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Most of life’s problems are with relationships.

A personal note from John Westervelt For 25 years, I read a page or two from the four gospels in bed before going to sleep. I wanted my mind filled with pictures of Jesus for sound sleeping. Seventeen years ago, I wrote a series of stories called Jesus’ Friends; I want to share this book with Asbury members.

Within the pages of this book are the stories of 32 people who met Jesus in His day. Some of them are young, and some of them are old. Some are rich, and some are poor.

Some of them are well documented by the gospel writers; others received just a few lines. But as you read, you will come to know the rest of their story as I imagined it because each has a story to tell. And what a great story each of them had as they met Jesus face to face. My imagination and God’s help were required to pick up where the gospel writers left off. As you read their stories, they will become more real to you. I pray you will meet Jesus in a more personal way as you read this book.

All royalty payments for book sales will go to the book fund for the Asbury Weekday Preschool. Go to Amazon and search for “Jesus’ Friends” or “John C. Westervelt.”

Other stories at www.jwestervelt.com

NEXT STEPS

BIBLICAL STUDIES

SERMON SERIES: IT’S COMPLICATED

June Biblical Fasting

June

Couple to Couple Training CHARLENE GILES 918.392.1145, Cgiles@asburytulsa.org

Emotional/Relational Fitness Workshop

SUMMER 2014 WELCOME

Welcome to RoadMap, your guide for the journey of life in Christ. We are pleased to offer a variety of biblically-based classes for adults of all ages.

STEPS TO ENROLLMENT

1. Register online at www.asburytulsa. org under Quicklinks/Adults/RoadMap or call the Registration Hotline at 918.392.1191 if you do not have computer access.

2. Books will be available the first day of class.

3. You can pay online or the teacher the first night of class. Only those who have registered ahead of time are guaranteed materials so please register early.

To be sure that you will have materials by the first class session: Register at least two weeks prior to the start date. Registrations will be accepted up to the start of the class, but no guarantees will be made concerning your materials. Please help us be ready by registering early!

JENNIFFER CALLAWAY, MHR Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 pm June 4–July 2 Room 2500 Cost: none

NANCY STAAB Tuesdays 9:30–11:30 am June 3–July 15 (except June 17) Room 2821 Cost $10

July Developing a Powerful Prayer Life JACKIE CARTER Wednesdays 6:00–8:00 pm July 9–August 13 Room 1504 Cost $10

Smart Stepfamilies FACILITATED BY: GUY & TAMMY YOES, MICHAEL & TRACI OWEN, RANDY & LINDY VIER Wednesdays 6:30–8:30 pm June 4–July 30 Room 2821 Cost: $15 per couple

July/August DISCIPLE Bible Study – Part I DR. VAUGHN STORY 17 sessions (first half of a 2-semester course) Class A: Tuesdays, August 5– December 9 (except Oct. 14 or Nov. 25) OR Class B: Thursdays, August 7– December 11 (except Oct. 16 or Nov. 27) 6:30–8:30 p.m.

Room 2818 Cost $40 (materials supplied for both semesters)

Boundaries LYNN ARCHIBALD Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 pm June 25–August 20 Room 1506 Cost: $10

August The Art of Marriage PAT & DEBORAH CALHOUN Friday, August 1, 6:30–9:00 pm Saturday, August 2, 9:00 am–4:00 pm Family Room Cost $10 per person No child care available

For more information, pick up a RoadMap brochure at any Welcome Desk or visit www.asburytulsa.org/ roadmap. If you have questions, email discipleship@asburytulsa.org or contact Robin Brush at 918.392.1133.

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O PP O R T U N ITI E S

Asbury Opportunities GENERAL INFORMATION

CARE AND SUPPORT

Surgery or hospitalization?

When you enter the hospital, please designate Asbury as your church. Otherwise, we will not know you are there, and a pastor will not know to visit. Some hospitals in the Tulsa area do not ask for this information, so you will need to alert Asbury at 918.492.1771, Monday–Thursday from 8:00 am–5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am–noon. The after hour hospitalization and surgery line can be reached at 918.392.1198 and is checked each weekday at 8:30 am. If you know ahead of time and would like a pastor to do a pre-surgery visit, please call 918.492.1771. Please know that Asbury pastors want to be in prayer for you and your family.

Emotional/Relational Fitness Workshop Explore how we love, the influence of family heritage, and how to develop biblical relationships. We will identify patterns that affect emotional fitness. Five sessions explore challenges to fulfilling friendships, parent/child relationships, male/female relationships, and work relationships. Attend alone or with a friend.

• Instructor: Jenniffer Callaway, MHR • Wednesdays, June 4–July 2, 6:30–8:00 pm, Room 2500, no cost • Register online or call 918.392.1191, child care available

Emergency If you have an emergency or death to report after hours, please call 918.392.1192 and leave a message for the pastor on call. You will be contacted as soon as possible.

Boundaries Do you have trouble saying no and feel that some people take advantage of you? You will learn how to set healthy boundaries in relationships as we look at what Scripture says about boundaries.

A 30-minute DVD session led by Drs. John Townsend and Henry Cloud will be followed by discussion.

• Instructor: Lynn Archibald • Wednesdays, June 25–August 20, 6:30–8:00 pm, Room 1506, cost $10 • Register online or 918.392.1191, child care available

Prayer Line If you would like for Asbury’s prayer team to pray for you, please call 918.392.1142 to leave your prayer request so that you will be included on Asbury’s prayer list.

Death in the Family When a family member dies, you should make one phone call automatically. Contact Victoria Williamson at 918.492.1771 and she will help you make arrangements for your loved one. Victoria will also work with your family to arrange the memorial service at Asbury. www.myasburytulsa.org This website is available to all members as a way to update your contact information, register for events, give online and indicate ministries you would like to receive communication from.

Make sure you have an account and check it out. If you have any problems setting up your account, call Kim at 918.392.2159 or email her at krenkema@asburytulsa.org.

ASBURY FOUNDATION 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 Guy Ames at 918.392.1125 or games@asburytulsa.org

Stephen Ministry Our Stephen Ministers are here to walk with you during hard times, or to listen as you work through difficult decisions. We are there for you as a nonjudgmental Christian friend. Please call Adrena at 918.392.1144 if a Stephen Minister may be the support you need.

Quilting Ministry Utilize your love of quilting to make lap quilts that warm and comfort those who need to feel the loving presence of God in their lives. Quilts are prayed over before being given. If you know of someone who is ill or in the hospital and would benefit from the comfort of a lap quilt, call Adrena at 918.392.1144.

• Second Wednesdays in odd months (January, March, etc.), 1:00 pm, Parlor • Contact Dotti Westerberg at 918.369.5460 or dottiwesterberg@hotmail.com S.M.I.L.E. (Single Mothers in the Lord’s Embrace) Join us for scripture-based lesson and discussion. Each session is self-contained; you may begin attending at any time.

• Third Thursdays, 6:00–8:45 pm, Parlor, child care provided • RSVP to Janet at 918.688.3392 or asburysmile@ymail.com Healing Hats/Ball Caps An Asbury ministry created to provide hats to cancer patients who have lost their hair. Simply knit, crochet or sew a hat or

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decorate a ball cap of your choice and drop it in the collection box located near the northeast entrance. Or come to the following groups for fellowship while creating hats. Contact Sue Fisher at healinghatsmin@aol.com or 918.455.2816 • Crochet Group –– Every Tuesday, 2:00–4:00 pm, Room 1506 –– Second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30–8:00 pm, Room 1506 • Ball Caps (If you can cut and glue, this is for you! Baseball caps and decorating items available) –– Fourth Tuesdays, 9:30–11:30 am, Room 1508 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/ Military Connection Send cards with God’s encouraging words and our prayers to those who are ill, going through hard times or in the military. If you would like to receive cards or know someone who would like to receive cards, please send complete name and address.

• Usually meets first and third Mondays at 9:00 am, Room 1508 • Contact Gwen Mohler at 918.258.5479 or grmohler@aol.com to volunteer • Military: Contact Jo VanDeWiele at 918.459.0888 Divorce Recovery For those suffering from the early, highly emotional stages of divorce and separation trauma.

• Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 pm, Room 1335, child care 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, child care 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.

• Fourth Thursdays, 1:30–3:00 pm, Parlor • Contact Linda Lytle at 918.298.2707 or lllytle@wildflower.net Asbury Bear Bags Asbury Bear Bags with a coloring book or scripture-based journal are great for all ages—children through adults. Anyone may deliver an Asbury bear to someone who is grieving. Pick up bags at the south security desk.

Counseling Referrals Individuals or couples who are seeking referral to a local Christian therapist are encouraged to call 918.392.1199, x270 anytime, night

or day, and leave a message. Calls are returned Monday through Friday. In-church recommendations are also given.

CELEBRATE RECOVERY Celebrate Recovery/The Landing/Celebration Station • Celebrate Recovery – 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 • The Landing – Hope-filled truths and real-life strategies for students. Every Monday night, 6:30–9:00 pm in Venue north lobby. Grades 6–12 • Celebration Place – Inspiring kids with hope, joy and happiness while they learn to rely on God. Mondays, 6:45– 9:00 pm, downstairs children’s area. Kindergarten through fifth grade. Contact Eryn Wallis at ewallis@asburytulsa.org.

• CR Child Care – Parents who are involved in Celebrate Recovery have child care provided for children 6 weeks to pre-k with no reservation needed. Mondays, 6:45–9:00 pm, downstairs children’s area.

CHILDREN FaithZone Sunday Mornings • Sundays, 7:45 am, ages 6 weeks to pre-k, downstairs children’s area • Sundays, 9:00 am and 10:45 am, ages 6 weeks to pre-k downstairs, and kindergarten to 6th grade upstairs in the children’s area In order to encourage families to worship together, children from kindergarten–6th grade are invited to stay in their Sunday school room for one hour only. The exception is for those children of parents volunteering within the church or members of the choir/ orchestra. These children may stay two hours in their Sunday school class to allow their parents to serve. Children in the nursery and preschool may stay for both hours.

Core Childcare Hours Childcare for children 6 weeks to 6th grade is provided for parents attending Roadmap courses or communities during these core hours with no reservation needed: • Tuesday and Wednesday 8:45 am–12:00 pm • Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 5:45 pm–9:00 pm Special Volunteers for Special Kids!

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 Vacation Bible School Join us on deck for a boat-load of fun!

• June 17–20 • Register online at www.asburytulsa.org by June 1 to be

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guaranteed a T-shirt • For questions Jennifer Barnes at 918.392.4582 or jbarnes@ asburytulsa.org

DISCIPLESHIP Adult Discipleship Communities If you are looking for an Adult Discipleship Community, check out “Community Life” on the website, www.asburytulsa.org, or pick up a brochure at one of the Welcome Centers.

RoadMap Opportunities If you would like to learn more and grow, check out the adult classes and Bible studies in the RoadMap brochures at the Welcome Centers or online at www.asburytulsa.org/ AdultMinistries/Roadmap.aspx Ongoing Opportunities • Men’s Bible Study –– Studying: Revelation and The End Times, Unraveling God’s Message of Hope. Wednesdays (except 3/19), 6:00–8:00 pm, Room 2821, no cost or homework.

• Believer’s Bible Study –– This Bible study moves through various books of the Bible throughout the year. Wednesdays through May, 6:00–7:00, Room 1508.

HOSPITALITY Would you like to help new members feel welcome at Asbury on the day they are actually joining? We are looking for volunteers to meet with the new members 30 minutes before either the 9:15 or 11:00 am service on the Sunday they join, stay with them through the service (so that they are not alone), and then be sure they get to the front foyer to be greeted after the service. If you would like to volunteer, contact Lauren Burke at 918.392.1104 or lburke@asburytulsa.org.

MARRIAGE & FAMILY Couple-to-Couple Training Influence future generations by encouraging engaged couples during meetings in your home. You will grow as you become equipped to serve. More trained couples needed so we can consider reaching out to our community. Perfection not required.

• Training on Tuesday nights beginning June 17 • Contact Charlene: 918.392.1145, cgiles@asburytulsa.org Smart Stepfamilies Whether you are remarried or planning to remarry, discover the key steps to building a healthy stepfamily with expert Ron Deal.

Through eight engaging DVD sessions, you’ll learn practical solutions for everyday living and gain valuable insight for raising your stepfamily the smart – not hard – way.

• Wednesdays, June 4–July 30, 6:30–8:30 pm, Room 2821, cost

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$15/couple • Register online or 918.392.1191, child care available • Facilitators: Guy & Tammy Yoes, Michael & Traci Owen, Randy & Lindy Vier The Art of Marriage A fun, edgy video marriage “getaway” from FamilyLife.

Expert teaching based on the Bible, engaging stories, real-life testimonies, man-on-the-street interviews and lots of fun!

Whether single, engaged, contemplating marriage, or celebrating 50 years together, this is for you. No in-depth sharing with anyone but your partner.

• Friday, August 1, 6:30–9:00 pm AND Saturday, August 2, 9:00 am–4:00 pm, Family Room • Cost $10/person includes pastry breakfast Saturday morning, lunch on your own Saturday • Register online or 918.392.1191, no child care • Facilitators: Pat & Deborah Calhoun, pat.calhoun007@ gmail.com 8 Great Dates with Your Mate Each date night a different pastor will share a word of encouragement before you scurry out the door on your date.

Come to all of them or just one. Reserve your child care spots (spaces are limited). No additional registration required.

• 2nd Thursdays, February–November (except June and July), 6:15–6:30 pm, Room 1502 • Child care cost: $5/child, $20 max per family (RSVP to ewallis@asburytulsa.org no later than one week prior to each date) 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.

MEMBERSHIP Joining Asbury Are you interested in membership at Asbury or just want to learn more about who we are? Plan to attend our membership lunch. After a wonderful lunch, which is provided, you will enjoy time with our Asbury pastors as you learn about the ministries of Asbury, important United Methodist beliefs and how you can get into the mainstream of our life together at Asbury.

• Sundays, May 4 and June 8, 12:15–2:00 pm; lunch provided; Community Life Center (CLC) • Child care available for children 6 weeks to sixth grade • Call 918.392.1191 to register or register online at www. myasburytulsa.org

MEN Car Care Ministry Workday Volunteers are needed to check tires, belts, fluids, filters and batteries

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of the vehicles belonging to Asbury single women and widows. To volunteer to help with this ministry, contact Mike at 918.492.8177.

• Saturday, May 10, 9:00 am–noon Home Improvement Ministry Workday Teams help widows and single women who are Asbury members with minor home repairs and home improvement projects. To volunteer to help, contact Michiel at 918.640.4382.

• Next work day is Saturday, June 21 Men’s Prayer Breakfast Make plans to join us for a great time of meaningful worship, life-changing prayer and an awesome, big breakfast.

• Wednesdays, 6:30–7:30 am, Community Life Center (CLC) • Cost is $3 per person; first-time guests are free Mature Men’s Ministry R.O.M.E.O. Luncheon Are you a “Retired Old Man” who wants to “Eat Out” and 60 years old or more? Then these luncheons are for you.

• Meet every second and fourth Friday, 11:15 am, Village Inn (71st and Memorial) • Contact Jim at 918.249.4571

MISSIONS/VIM OJT (Overcoming Job Transitions) God created each of us uniquely for a specific purpose—some people are still seeking that. Invite people to OJT on the third Tuesday of each month.

• Third Tuesday of each month, Room 2319 • Contact Russ Knight at OJTJobs@gmail.com 2nd Saturday Join us for 2nd Saturday and choose from different local mission opportunities.

• Saturdays, May 10 and June 14, 8:15 am–noon, meet at Venue.

Choose between multiple work sites.

• Contact Betty Higgins at bhiggins@asburytulsa.org or ssaturday@asburytulsa.org Volunteers in Mission (VIM) 2014 Team Schedule Where will God have you serve?

• May 23–24: Cookson Hills, Oklahoma - Light construction • May 31–June 8: Ecuador - Mission Bible School and construction • Early summer: Rio Bravo, Mexico - Youth construction • June 26–July 7: Estonia, Camp Gideon - Youth camp • June 26–July 7: Estonia, Parnu - Mission Bible School and light construction • July 3–14: Estonia, Tallinn - Lighthouse Ministry • Fall: Tanzania, East Africa - Construction • Fall: Cookson Hills, Oklahoma - light construction/ministry support • Fall: Central Asia - Relationship, teaching and light construction

• November 5–9: Rio Bravo, Mexico - medical • November 12–16: Rio Bravo, Mexico - men’s construction VIM Team Leader Training September 6, November 1 • 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.

MUSIC For more information on any of the music groups, please contact the music office at 918.392.1151.

Choir and Orchestra • New Covenant Orchestra meets Wednesdays, 6:00–7:30 pm in Room 1510 • Chancel Choir meets Wednesdays, 7:00–9:00 pm in Room 2706

PRAYER VBS Prayer Watch Many children hear the Gospel for the first time at Vacation Bible School and make a decision to follow Jesus Christ. Your prayers will make a significant difference in their lives.

• June 17–20, Venue Prayer Room, sign up at www. asburytulsa.org Prayer Room Days and Times Our prayer rooms are accessible to you at these times: • Mason Chapel and Venue –– Sundays from 7:00 am–12:30 pm, through the interior doors • Main Facility, Mason Chapel and Venue –– Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–9:00 pm –– Saturday, 10:00 am–3:00 pm –– Sunday, 12:30 pm–9:00 pm Call Pam in the adult ministries office at 918.392.4589 to reserve the Prayer Room for your group on a weekly or monthly basis or to obtain door codes.

SENIOR ADULTS Tweenagers Program and Luncheon for March Sean Groombridge, Asbury’s Director of Traditional Music, and his lovely wife, Beth, will share their lives and talents with us.

• Thursday, May 22, 10:30 am–1:00 pm, Community Life Center (CLC) • Lunch $1.00, donations welcomed Many opportunities are available for our senior adults: • Senior Walk in the Gym With Him – Mondays, Wednesdays

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and Fridays, 8:30–9:00 am, gym • Senior Sit and Fit Stretching Class - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00–9:30 am, gym • Senior Adult Meal & Movie – Dates and time vary. For more information or to sign up for the call list, contact Sally Wood, sally77onestick@cox.net • Best Choice Save-a-Label – Can you help? Seniors are collecting Best Choice product labels from canned goods, boxed food, eggs, cheese, etc. Bundle your labels and drop them off at the south desk to the attention of “Tweenagers.”

SINGLES Adult Volleyball Do you enjoy playing recreational volleyball, mixed in with a little bit of competitiveness? All skill levels of play are welcome.

It’s free, and you do not have to be a member of Asbury. For ages 18 and up.

• Every Sunday, 6:00–9:00 pm, gym • Questions? Contact Doug at 918.607.0830

STUDENTS 789 Sunday Mornings • Sundays, 9:15 am, Junior High Room, upstairs in the Venue 10 11 12 Sunday Mornings • Sundays, 9:15 am, High School Room, Venue C-Groups We are called to live in community, and our desire is to help you find a community here to plug into. C-groups are made up of students your same grade and gender and are held in a space small enough and safe enough to be able to share life together and join in intentional prayer for one another, while digging deeper into the Gospel of Jesus Christ • Sunday nights: 7th–9th grade: 4:30–6:30, 10th–12th grades: 6:00–7:30 • For questions contact: Mark Fowler, junior high, mfowler@ asburytulsa.org; Katelyn Moore, senior high, kmoore@ asburytulsa.org

WOMEN UMW May Luncheon Rev. Dick Read will be our speaker as we celebrate the 63rd annual National Day of Prayer. Decreed by Congress in 1952, this year’s theme is “One Voice United in Prayer.”

• Thursday, May 1, 11:30 am–1:00 pm, Community Life Center (CLC) • Lunch $8, Scripture: Isaiah 62 UMW Cookbook Sales This wonderful cookbook contains more than 600 delicious recipes from some of the best cooks in town and a pictorial

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journey through some of our best times as a church family! Stop by and pick up several copies for family and friends. They make GREAT Mother’s Day gifts!

• Sunday, May 4, 9:00 am–noon, south foyer table, cost $20 Car Care Ministry Workday Single women and widows of Asbury, while you wait in the comfort of the Family Room lobby, volunteers from the men’s ministry will check your vehicle’s tires, belts, fluids, filters and batteries. If your vehicle needs a basic check-up and you qualify, have your vehicle in line by 11:30 am.

• Saturday, May 10, 9:00 am–noon UMW June Luncheon The theme this month is “Believe and Achieve!” We will present the annual awards to members and announce our scholarship winner for 2014–2015. Last year’s scholarship recipient, Jessica Fisher, will share about her experiences from her freshman year of college.

• Thursday, June 5, 11:30 am–1:00 pm, Community Life Center (CLC) • Lunch $8, Scripture: Matthew 7:7 Home Improvement Ministry Workday Teams help widows and single women who are Asbury members with minor home repairs and home improvement projects.

• Applications located at south desk must be turned in by June 11 for workday on Saturday, June 21 UMW Garage Sale Come one, come all to the United Methodist Women’s Annual Garage Sale benefitting mission efforts in our community and beyond! This colossal event draws hundreds of contributors and bargain hunters!

• Sale is Friday, July 11, 8:00 am–4:00 pm, and Saturday, July 12, 8:00 am–noon, Community Life Center (CLC) • Donations received in the CLC on Thursday, July 10, 9:00 am–5:00 pm • No underclothing, socks, shoes or computers, and all clothes must be on hangers Women of the Word Gail Knox will teach on passages from God’s Word. No cost and no registration.

• Every Wednesday 10:00–11:00 am, Room 2818, child care not available • Lunch March 26 and April 23

WORSHIP • 8:00 am • 9:15 am • 11:00 am

Traditional Service in Mason Chapel Traditional Service in Sanctuary Modern Service in Sanctuary

S PE C IAL AN N O U N CE M E N T S

Deaths • Shirley Parkinson died 1/28/2014, wife of Bill Parkinson • Harry Robbins died 1/29/2014, husband of Lois Robbins • Frankie Huffman died 1/30/2014, wife of John Huffman • Price Brattin died 2/8/2014, husband of Jolinda Brattin • Robert Decatur died 2/9/2014, husband of Tina Decatur and father of Robin Decatur • Gene Hobson died 2/10/2014, husband of Betty Hobson • Frank Price died 2/12/2014, husband of Helen Price • Mary Lee Kirwin died 2/14/2014, wife of Bill Kirwin • Sid Heidler died 2/15/2014, husband of Barbara Heidler

• Elva Roark died 2/15/2014, mother of Bill (Jennifer) Roark • Bill Carr died 2/20/2014, husband of Ravenna “June” Carr • George Andrews died 2/23/2014 • Ron Brown died 3/2/2014, husband of Jill Brown • Bob Dozier died 3/6/2014, husband of Jimmie Dozier • Patricia “Pat” Marks died 3/11/2014, wife of Bob Marks • Robert “Bob” Renkema died 3/15/2014, father of Greg (Kim) Renkema, grandfather of Stephanie, Nicole, Melissa • David Haug died 3/15/2014, uncle of past member Matt Haug • Frank Gentry died 3/25/2014, husband of Cathy Gentry

Milestone Anniversaries 60 YEARS • Roger & Joyce Clark • Ted & Pat Kelly • Ben & Joy Weddington

50 YEARS 05/08/54 06/04/54 06/17/54

55 YEARS • John & Betty Jo Vogel • Ed & Leslie Lusk

Roger and Joyce Clark 05/08/54

05/29/59 06/17/59

• • • • •

35 YEARS

Henry & Mari Migliore 04/04/64 Austin & Brenda Jackson 05/23/64 Roger & Moe Westfall 05/29/64 Herb & Rose Anne Tohlen 06/27/64 John & Sue Fisher 06/27/64

40 YEARS

03/29/79

30 YEARS • Larry & Jana Annett

05/26/84

25 YEARS

• Don & Beth McCalman

Ted and Pat Kelly 06/04/54

• John & Sue Bayliss

Ben and Joy Weddington 06/17/54

03/02/74

• Larry & Beth LaBuz

John and Betty Jo Vogel 05/29/59

01/31/89

Ed and Leslie Lusk 06/17/59

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Henry & Mari Migliore 04/04/64

Austin & Brenda Jackson 05/23/64

Roger & Moe Westfall 05/29/64

Herb & Rose Anne Tohlen 06/27/64

John & Sue Fisher 06/27/64

Darrel and Phillis Dammann

Diana and Kent Powell

New Members

Angie Cockrell

Doris Brown

Beverly Auten

Brad and Julie Barlow with Bonnie and William

Carole Javes

Geoff and Kristi Ward

Jenny and Mitch Dawson

Julie and Andy Datel with Andrew, Ryan and Katherine

Rodney and Shirley Hunt with Bailey

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Rance and Autum Pappan

Rodney and Amber Flowers with Aubrey, Kaiden and Landry

The easy and convenient way to stay connected at Asbury 1. Preferred Communications Interests: The preferred interest list is a way for you to choose what type of communication you want to hear about from Asbury. That means you will only receive email blasts, postcards and other forms of communication from the ministries that you are interested in hearing from. However, you will all still receive communication on all church events or information from Pastor Tom Harrison.

2. Update Your Contact Information: Verify your mailing address, phone number, birthdate and email address

3. Register for Events: Register for RoadMap classes and events for Asbury, FaithZone and Breakaway

4. Online Giving: • Contribute one time or set up a schedule for recurring giving • Electronic checks only from checking or savings account, no credit cards • Secure

• Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week • Convenient • Able to track giving history activity • No fees

Go to myasburytulsa.org to get started.

Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Tulsa, OK Permit #2439

Starting May 4, you are invited to look at marriage relationships from a biblical point of view.

You may be thinking this series doesn’t apply because of your current relationship status—and when it comes to relationships, we have it all: never married,

engaged, happily married, unhappily married, second and third marriages, cohabiting couples, separated, divorced, widowed—you name it, Asbury’s got it.

However relationships, especially marriage relationships, can be complicated. When two sinners commit to spending their lives together—it’s going to be messy. So what is God’s purpose for our most important relationships?

The answer may surprise you.

No matter what your relationship status—God has something to teach you through this series—

“It’s Complicated.”