August 2015
Communication at Asbury Clear and Strategic Focus
August 2015 TIDINGS
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Online registration is now available. Go to www.asburytulsa.org for more information or to sign up.
Contents August 2015 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.
Making the Gospel Culturally Accessible Rather Than Culturally Acceptable 2 The Cost of Being Vulnerable 4 Communication Across Generations 6 Why? 8 It Can Get Dangerous In Communications! 10
Asbury’s Resource Area Angie Brashears Meet the Communications Team Which Communications Pieces Are for Me? A New, Improved Website Is Coming! Come “Follow” Me
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PASTOR TOM
A Word From Tom Harrison
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ana and I recently celebrated our 38th anniversary. I’ve learned in these years that men and women are a LOT different! Being part of the church has truly nurtured our marriage. We’ve been strengthened by the witness of scripture and by the example of Christian communities who are striving for the same goals. I remember a book we used in Sunday School in Sallisaw: COMMUNICATION: Key to Marriage. Not only marriage, but life is really about communication. If I encounter a person who acts in a certain way and then I learn they have Alzheimer’s, it explains a lot. “WHY?” is an essential question! Simon Sinek’s Start with Why or his TED talk (https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=sioZd3AxmnE) is helpful. Once “Why?” is answered, then we can talk about “What?” and “How?” This Tidings edition is focused upon communications. We want to explain some of our “Why?” questions. We also want to give some “What?” and “How?” tips. Asbury does a LOT of things. I asked our director of communications, Angie Brashears, to send me a list of Asbury ministries. I found it interesting that not only are we located next to Highway 169, but I counted 169 Asbury ministries on her list. (I think she’s found several more since then, too.) 169 ministries is a LOT! Most who are passionate about their ministries (and rightly so) don’t realize
myasburytulsa.org Gets You Connected Who Do I Call? Special Announcements
how many other ministries we have at Asbury. We want them all to succeed, but we simply don’t have the ability to communicate to everyone about all that’s happening here. One person’s interests isn’t another’s (even within families). Some are disappointed if we don’t lift up their particular ministry. But when they grasp a broader view of all we are trying to do, things make more sense. “MYASBURYTULSA” is our best and most consistent way to respond to what is helpful to individuals. It reduces clutter. It gives specific invitations. We want it to be our default setting for communication. Think “MYASBURYTULSA” first when inquiring. I am not only in a long-term marriage, but I also became a probationary elder in the United Methodist Church in 1977. I’m now serving in my 23rd year at Asbury. I feel I can make this statement with credibility: “Loyalty is an important virtue to me.” So is trustworthiness and faithfulness. Leadership is partly conferred. Our bishop appointed me here in 1993. But leadership is always earned. It’s showing up day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year. We live in an increasingly challenging culture. That’s why it’s even more important than ever that we trust each other and live together in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Communication is challenged when there’s no confidence in the integrity of another. I’ve never
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.
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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.
August 2015 TIDINGS
claimed perfection. But I hope that through the years, I’ve earned your trust. There’s so many great things happening here. I hope this Tidings will help you understand more of “Why?” we’re doing what we’re doing and “How?” you can be a part of it – so that even greater things can happen through us in the months and years to come.
Dr. Tom Harrison, Senior Pastor
Editor: Asbury Communications Department, 918.392.1140, kmains@asburytulsa.org Graphic Design: Tim Jurgensen, tjurgensen@asburytulsa.org Photographers: Sarah Adams (yellowchairphotography.com), Mark Moore (mark moore.photo.net) Guest Contributors: Angie Brashears, Kylee Broadhurst, Jason Jackson
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DISCIPLESHIP
Making the Gospel Culturally Accessible Rather Than Culturally Acceptable By Jason Jackson
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he second half of the book of Acts recounts the missionary journeys of Paul and his companions. As they traveled from city to city to proclaim the good news about Jesus and to establish churches, they typically followed a basic ministry strategy. They started off in the local synagogue preaching to Jews and God-fearing Gentiles (i.e., non-Jews who worshipped Israel’s God), then they went to public gathering spaces to present the gospel to the rest of the city. Scattered among the accounts of their travels and their interactions with people in these distinct spaces are a few samples of Paul’s sermons. The samples include a sermon he preached in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:16–41) and a sermon he preached to a governing council in Athens (Acts 17:22–31). We looked at the latter during our Ekklesia series in May and June. In Pisidian Antioch, Paul and his companions were invited to exhort the congregation after the reading from the Law and the Prophets (i.e., two major sections of the Old Testament). When Paul stands up to preach, he starts with Israel. He traces their story from their growth in and deliverance from Egypt through the wilderness into the Promised Land through the period of the judges to Israel’s first prophet and kings—to Samuel, Saul, and David (v. 16–23). Then he declares, “From this man’s [i.e., David’s] descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised” (v. 23). He retells Israel’s story, and he locates Jesus in this story. He announces that Jesus is the fulfillment God’s promise to establish a dynasty and raise up a deliverer from David’s descendants. He proceeds to tell the story of Jesus with a particular focus on how Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel’s scriptures and on Jesus’ resurrection. Finally, he calls them to respond and issues them a warning. During the sermon, Paul quotes from Psalm 2, Isaiah 55, Psalm 16, and Habakkuk 1, and he explicitly mentions the resurrection four times (v. 30, 33, 34, and 37). In Athens, while Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy, he became deeply distressed by the city’s idol worship, so he started talking to people about the gospel. At one point, he
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TIDINGS August 2015
DISCIPLESHIP
gets into a marketplace debate with some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. The Epicureans believed that the gods were distant and death was final. The Stoics believed that the gods were everywhere and that though our physical, material bodies would perish, the immaterial soul would live forever. So, when both groups heard Paul talking about Jesus and the resurrection, they were a bit bewildered. Why would any god bring a person’s body back to life? The philosophers took Paul to a meeting of the Aeropagus, so that they and others could hear more about Jesus and the bodily resurrection. When Paul stands up to preach, rather than starting with Israel, he references an altar “To an unknown God” (v. 23). He goes on to critique their theology, criticize their idolatry, and assert several core beliefs from Israel’s Scriptures. Yet, he never names an Old Testament figure or recites an Old Testament passage; instead, he cites two well-known Greek philosopher-poets, and he uses words and phrases that are distinctive to Greece’s culture. He concludes by calling the Athenians to turn away from their ignorance, he issues them a warning, and he appeals to the resurrection as proof that God is the Lord of heaven and earth. Both sermons are deeply rooted in Old Testament, center on the resurrection of Jesus, and call for a response. They share the same content or substance. At the same time, both sermons also reflect the language, literature, and culture of the audience. They reflect a distinct manner or style of communication. In these two sermons, Paul changes his approach in order to effectively present the good news to a new audience. He faithfully translates the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles—to the synagogue and the marketplace. He makes the good news accessible to a new culture, but this doesn’t mean he makes it acceptable to that culture. Paul was driven out of Antioch (13:50) and sneered at in Athens (17:32), but in both places there were also people who believed (13:43; 17:34). We live in a rapidly changing and increasingly diverse postChristian society. The advent of the Internet and other technologies have revolutionized methods of communication, globalized the economy, transformed the culture, and significantly altered long-standing beliefs values and customs. As a result, the church no longer occupies the same place of prominence in the Western world that we once did. These developments bring with them an array of challenges and opportunities for us. Our task as ambassadors of Jesus, like Paul, is to make the gospel culturally accessible without making it culturally acceptable. We must learn how to faithfully translate the good news to our world without transforming it. We must be willing to change methods or styles without sacrificing substance. Why? So that others might hear and believe the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
August 2015 TIDINGS
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The Cost of Being Vulnerable By Kylee Broadhurst
The Lord is glorified through our heartaches, our triumphs, our losses and our victories. The Lord is glorified through our stories. A woman in her 80s let Christ finally take reign over her life during our Father’s Day service this year. Her son says it was the best gift he could have ever received. A child from a divorced, broken home, who doesn’t own a Bible or attend church, accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior this past June at VBS despite all the ways the enemy was working against Him. Now he will get to spend eternity running around with Jesus. Our stories are the lifeblood of Asbury United Methodist Church. The work God is doing here through each of us is eternal. God is moving, and the moment we begin to experience vulnerability in sharing the ways that He is doing so, will be the very moment another soul comes to understand the glory of the King. The cost of being vulnerable is great; however, I believe the cost of NOT being vulnerable is even greater. “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light” (Luke 11:33). If sharing your story is sharing God’s glory, then the opposite reigns true as well. Testimonials are the most powerful, relatable way for God to move in our lives. Asbury has great stories to tell, and that includes yours and mine. More often than not, we find our stories to be inadequate. Whether our story is too “ugly” or not “dramatic” enough, we often struggle to share what the Lord has done in our lives. The fact of the matter is that there will always be one person to identify with each of our stories. And whenever they do identify with that, whenever they realize they’re not alone, they’ll find a hope and a better understanding that God can meet them right where they are. These key realizations could lead them to an eternal life with the King of Kings. In one of his past sermons, Pastor Tom asked those who do not remember when they accepted Christ to stand up. The majority of the room stood up, and I would say the majority of those standing up felt insecure about the fact they couldn’t remember. Why? Those people felt the presence of the Lord their entire life and can’t remember a moment without Him. That is a beautiful testament of the Lord. Our stories are powerful. They revitalize and impact people in an earth-shattering way, and God’s work in our life does not end whenever we feel that chapter has ended. God will continue to work through us each and every time we share our story, for that is when He is glorified.
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Sharing our stories brings a certain necessary authenticity to our congregation. Our church somehow seems smaller and more intimate because of it. There have been a countless number of times where I hear a story about a member of Asbury and what they are going through and how the Lord is working through their life, and my immediate reaction is to share that story with somebody else I feel will be impacted by it. And I believe the chain continues. I will tell my friend who knows someone experiencing the same thing, who will tell her friend, who will tell hers, and then suddenly the work that God is doing in the lives of those at Asbury has reached both believers and non-believers in Tulsa and beyond. We are all much more similar than we think. Stories about His work travel fast, and the Lord is continuously glorified as they do. “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19). Because the purpose of sharing our stories is to glorify the Lord, it’s important to understand that by doing so, we are not selfishly calling attention to ourselves. With the right heart and right mindset, sharing how God is moving in our lives is solely for the Lord’s glorification. This makes a lot of sense, because many times our stories involve all of our insecurities, sin and a really great need for a Savior. I know for many years, I had to transform my own thinking into “Look at what I am doing” to “Look at what God is doing.” Whenever we overcome that battle of the flesh, we can confidently proclaim all of the wisdom the Lord has given us through our heartaches, our triumphs, our losses and our victories. Asbury has great stories to tell. The work God is doing here is eternal. The cost of being vulnerable is great; however, I believe the cost of NOT being vulnerable is even greater. Our stories are the lifeblood of who we are as the body of Christ. We just need to tell them. We encourage you to reflect on what the Lord has done in your life, and if you feel led to, please let us know you have a story to tell with an overview of the story. Please email abrashears@asburytulsa.org. We can have a writer contact you or you can write the story yourself, whatever is more comfortable. You will have the opportunity to approve all copy before it is printed. We would like to include these stories in bulletins, upcoming Tidings issues and on the website so we can all share in what the Lord is doing here at Asbury United Methodist Church, and He can be glorified always. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).
TIDINGS August 2015
Our stories are the lifeblood of Asbury United Methodist Church. The work God is doing here through each of us is eternal.
August 2015 TIDINGS
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Communication Across Generations By Kylee Broadhurst
Meet the Grisaffe family! A three-generation family at Asbury, the Grisaffe’s communicate through a variety of modes and have found themselves adopting new modes over the years in effort to accommodate one another. We had the opportunity to meet with the family to discuss this fun, learning experience, their family dynamic, and their preferred—and not so preferred—methods of communication. Mary Margaret and George Grisaffe moved to Tulsa in the mid 1980s and joined Asbury not too long after. They went on to have two sons, one being Robert Grisaffe. Robert was confirmed at Asbury and grew up going to Bishop Kelley High School, where he met his future wife, Kristi. Robert and Kristi began dating at the end of their high school years and were married eight years later. Although Kristi grew up Catholic, she and Robert began coming to Asbury together after they got married in 2000 and eventually became members. Robert and Kristi have raised their four children here at Asbury. Their oldest daughter is Aubrei, who is entering the 6th grade in the fall. Julia is the second child and will be entering the 3rd
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grade. KK is their youngest daughter and entering the 1st grade. Luke is their youngest child at 4-years old. The entire Grisaffe family has been very involved in serving and participating in Asbury’s children ministry, and we are blessed to have them a part of our congregation. Because the Grisaffe family at Asbury is a family of three generations, communication across generations varies greatly; however, they have found ways to adapt to one another, and they are better for it. Mai Mai and Bopper—also known as Mary Margaret and George—definitely differ greatly from their grandchildren in the
TIDINGS August 2015
ways that they communicate with one another, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying. “We can definitely communicate with Mai Mai via her cell phone. Now Bopper, no. He answers the home phone. He does not email. Mai Mai emails some, but not really. They still like to write handwritten thank you notes to the kids. Mai Mai is on Facebook, but doesn’t know much about it. I don’t think Bopper has ever heard of Facebook,” says daughter-inlaw, Kristi. “They come and visit their grandkids mostly, if they would like to talk with them or see them. They call them on the phone, too, but most of the time they go and see them. Mai Mai holds a Sunday dinner each week, so that is when they get their face-to-face interaction. My daughter, Aubrei, will text Mai Mai from her iPad as well as Facetime.” Robert and Kristi, having grown up in different times, are a bit more tech-savvy than their parents. When asked if they utilize a lot of technology to communicate with one another, Kristi responds “Oh, yeah. We text, Facetime, email, call. We write thank you notes; however, we don’t ever just write normal letters. There was a time when we would but not anymore. We Facebook. I can send my family pictures real time and keep
them posted on what is happening when they’re not there, and vice versa with my kids and I. I don’t have to wait until I get home to see what my children are up to.” Because of their ages, Aubrei, Julia, KK, and Luke utilize minimal modes of communication. When apart from their children, Robert and Kristi are in contact with the adult they are with, whether that be through text messages or phone calls. “We communicate with our children face-to-face. If we are out of town, we call them or they Facetime us from Aubrei’s iPad. Sometimes Aubrei will text us from her iPad, but she is dying for a phone. She’s never anywhere where we don’t know the parents, or she doesn’t have access to us. We can still communicate all the time.” In efforts to adapt to one another, all generations of the Grisaffe family are learning the importance of face-to-face interaction as well as the convenience of technological interaction, such as Facetiming or text messaging. It’s been fun for them to experience all of this together as a family, and they are constantly learning new ways to communicate with one another!
August 2015 TIDINGS
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Over the last year, communications has received a number of questions on “why” things have changed related to the bulletin and other pieces. Below is everything you wanted to know but didn’t know who to ask. Why are “Opportunities” not in Tidings? At the beginning of 2015, a decision was made to remove “Opportunities” from the back of every Tidings issue. The information is available in many other communication areas such as www.myasburytulsa.org, website, monthly calendars, Community Chat, e-Tidings, email blasts and the Resource Area. We felt these pages would be more effectively used to tell life-changing stories about Asbury guests and members. We also heard numerous complaints from people who said the information was overwhelming, and it felt endless. It was also very repetitive from month to month. Why don’t we publish the hospital list anymore? Asbury is not allowed to publish this list anymore because of the Patient Privacy Act most commonly known as HIPPA. Why does the bulletin not list every event and everything happening in the church? Asbury has so many events and opportunities taking place on a daily basis that it is overwhelming to our guests. The bulletin is designed primarily to engage our guests. We want our guests to know what Asbury’s strategic direction and focus is concerning worship, discipleship and outward focus. Why don’t we have video announcements at the beginning of the service? There are time restraints every week in the Sunday morning worship. If we produced the video announcements every week, it would duplicate information readily available in other places such as www.myasburytulsa.org, bulletin, website, Community Chat, e-Tidings newsletter and email blasts. Plus
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the information being announced probably doesn’t apply to at least 80 percent of the audience; the information should be announced at a ministry event, not the whole church, and too many details need to be given to adequately give in a video announcement. When you come to Asbury, we would prefer that you prepare your heart for worship. This allows for more time for fellowship, listening to inspirational music and contemplating the sermon. Why don’t we have literature from other vendors or organizations available in the church anymore? We want to support our people instead of outside organizations because Asbury has its own wealth of devotional material, magazine and ministry information. All of these outside organizations offer good information and they are not bad; however, it is a direct competition for Asbury member’s time and resources. Why do we have to use myasburytulsa.org? Myasburytulsa.org is Asbury’s information hub providing one convenient place to electronically register for events, give online, designate communication preferences and update individual profile information all without having to make phone calls or visits to the church offices. For those members and guests who are not comfortable using the Internet or computers, alternate ways to register, give and update profiles are available by calling the main church office at 918.492.1771. We want all of your information to be as accurate and up to date as possible. This system enables you to take care of that plus much more!
TIDINGS August 2015
Why don’t I receive the weekly e-Tidings newsletter from Pastor Tom? You are not receiving the weekly e-Tidings newsletter from Pastor Tom for a couple of possible reasons. Asbury either doesn’t have your correct email address, the email went to your junk/spam folder, or your email provider has kicked out our emails and Asbury needs to add your information back in. If you are not receiving this e-newsletter and would like to, please contact Michelle Rafferty at mrafferty@asburytulsa.org or 918.392.1139, and she will get you signed up. Why is the Tidings magazine no longer a monthly magazine? The Tidings magazine is a good communication piece but has a limited audience and is very time intensive to produce. We know by the Barna research that the bulletin is the most widely read piece of communication. Therefore, we want to expand our time and money resources into improving the bulletin. This way a guest will be able see the stories in the bulletin and pass it on to someone they might know. It is a quicker read with a greater readership and portability. As always, we want to use Asbury’s resources most effectively. Why can’t I put a sign up by my reserved table in the church hallway for my event? We want to present a very professional perception to our guests. When we have homemade signs, it comes across “last minute, unplanned, or even cheap.” Some people do an excellent job while others not so much on designing their homemade signs. Rather than critique your work and take the chance of hurting someone’s feelings, we have requested that all signs be designed through the communications department. All of the signs designed by communications will be placed in the sign holders next to the table. For more information or for a complete set of guidelines for reserving a table, please see the ministry leader over that particular event. Why didn’t my husband and I show up under the 50th anniversary section in Tidings? We probably don’t have your anniversary date in our system. Everyone should provide their anniversary date to Michelle Rafferty at mrafferty@asburytulsa.org or 918.392.1139. You can also register this milestone in www.myasburytulsa.org. Why am I not receiving the Tidings magazine? To keep costs low, we only send out to those who request a subscription. However, a subscription is FREE. A subscription card is available at the Resource Area. Once you have filled it out, please return to any Guest Services desk. You should start receiving your magazine in about 1-2 months. Why don’t we have a separate sermon journal for each sermon series? Asbury usually prints about four individual sermon journal a year. In each sermon journal is multiple sermon series. For
example in this last sermon journal, we had the following sermon series: • Ekklesia • In God We Trust • Hidden • Wrestling with God Due to cost, please only pick up one sermon journal per person. That way you can use the same journal for multiple sermon series. I find the church website difficult to navigate; what should I do? We are in the process of updating the church website to make it much easier to navigate and find information on events and happenings at Asbury. We expect to have the new website available in mid-August. I like to watch the sermons live on the Internet but often I am not at a computer at 9:15 or 11:00; can I watch the sermons at a later time? Yes, the sermons are saved and archived on the website. You can find them on the church website by clicking on the “Watch Live” button in the middle of the home page. Unfortunately due to music copyright restrictions, we cannot archive the music for playback. I have problems with the live broadcast sometimes; who should I contact to help me? Great question. We will soon publish troubleshooting steps on the website to help quests who are having difficulty receiving the broadcast. Why does everything have to look like Asbury? In the past, Asbury had allowed different ministry and event teams to design their own materials. Because there was no consensus across the board, with each ministry just being “on their own” with different messaging, taglines, styles, fonts and photos, the church looked very fragmented. There was a definite lack of consistency. When the communications department was established, one primary goal was to make everything look like it belonged to Asbury, the primary “brand” and what should bind us all together. We want guests and members to immediately get a feeling and perception of Asbury when they see any of our pieces, whether that is through the colors, fonts, photographs or design. We want to provide our guests with an accurate perception of Pastor Tom’s vision of Asbury through every piece we produce. Our goal is to establish the Asbury brand throughout all the different ministries. Going forward, our brand will continue to evolve as Asbury’s strategic vision is set. If you would like to submit a “why” question about communications, please email Kay Mains at kmains@ asburytulsa.org. If we receive a list of them, we will include in a future Tidings issue.
August 2015 TIDINGS
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It Can Get Dangerous In Communications! By Angie Brashears
Every week, people wonder why their ministry is not being publicized to their satisfaction to the entire church. I hear this daily and multiple times a day, sometimes with hostility. Let me compare this to my daily commute to work. I drive to work to Asbury every day on Highway 169. That highway is completely crazy. Cars are going in and out, speeding their way down. I always feel like there is one car that is trying to get all of the attention. Usually it is taking risks, pulling across multiple lanes and almost causing wrecks. Every day when I drive on that highway, I thank the Lord that I get home safe. Well, one day, Pastor Tom and Pastor Todd Craig asked me for a list of all the ministries that request publicity. This publicity would include announcements in the bulletin, verbal announcements from the pulpit, email blasts to the entire congregation. You name it and people can think of ways to get their ministry or event publicized. Guess what? I was shocked, the list came up to 169—169 individual ministries or organizations vying for attention each Sunday from our congregation. That is overwhelming and would scare me if that many things wanted my attention all at once. I quickly showed the list to the pastors. They couldn’t believe it either. We wanted to share it with you right away. This list made us think about Highway 169. It is crowded, with everyone trying to get to the outside lane and be the front car. It can get dangerous in communications! Can you imagine how a guest would feel if on their first Sunday we tried to communicate all of that? So our solution? Focus and direction. A couple of times a month I watch a show on cable TV that is about a marketer who tries to help a restaurant or grill from going out of business. I can’t remember the name of the show, but he is fascinating to watch with his knowledge and formula for every situation. When he encounters a place that has a menu that goes on and on for pages and pages, he immediately says, “Stop. Your customer is overwhelmed and will not make a decision. You are giving them too many choices. They are just sitting here turning the pages and mulling over what to choose. People don’t like that option. They want simple. Give them direction and really good options to choose from.” His formula is to always have focus and direction and be known for something. They will keep coming back and will tell their friends about their experience. It kinda reminds me that Asbury is like the Cheesecake Factory. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE Cheesecake Factory. But the
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menu overwhelms me. Every time I suggest that restaurant, my husband says, “No, there are too many things on the menu. I can’t decide.” When we do go there, I only select the same menu items. I never pick a different meal. I am too scared to try something new. What if I don’t like it? What if it is really terrible? Same thing with the cheesecakes – there are so many to choose from. I just end up selecting the chocolate cake. I mean, how can anyone mess up a chocolate cake? So for your benefit, I am sharing all 169 ministries and organizations that want your attention each Sunday. In fact, since I pulled this list together, I have found more. We might be up to 180. I bet you could look at the list and add many more that you know about. In the months and years to come, Asbury is going to focus. We are going to guide guests and members with clear, strategic next steps for discipleship and outward focus. Our communication pieces will direct you to the ministries and events that are important to who Asbury is. When we tell you we want you to attend something or give money to a certain cause or opportunity, that means Asbury is going to be intentional. In the future Asbury is going to be clear about what we want to be known for. Right now, if you ask guests or the community about Asbury, you get a wide variety of answers about who Asbury is, why it exists and what is important to Asbury as a church. When I look over the list, I love every ministry and organization on there. Not one of them is bad or not helpful. If we could, we would give publicity to everyone, but we just can’t. In our culture, with so many things vying for people’s attention, church events are just another item on the list. We want people to select church over sporting events, social calendar events, shopping or hanging out with friends. Our pastors would say the same—we are grateful and blessed to have everyone in our church be so passionate about different ministries or organizations. You can keep doing that, but Asbury has to get focused and give clear direction to guests and members so they have a quality, good experience. Once they have an incredible experience, they will invite their friends and family to come join them at Asbury.
TIDINGS August 2015
7th Grade Confirmation Girls Night Fall Kick-Off Grad Celebration
Holidays are Coming
Preparing for Adolescence
Safe People 101
Serve Thursdays
Parish Nurse program
Apologetics Speaker
Counseling referrals
Stephen ministry volunteer recruitment
Asbury Bear Bags Mental Health Support
Disciple Bible Study
Stephen Ministry
Sunday morning volunteers VBS
Couple to couple training and recruitment
Upward
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Wed night programming Easter Fair (egg hunt, etc.)
Various support groups, some of which are run by non-Asbury people (Toastmasters, Alzheimer’s)
Summer child care
Healing Hats
Wednesday morning prayer breakfast
Kindergarten Blessings service
Care Cards (volunteers to make them)
Boy Scout spaghetti lunch
3rd Grade Bible Explorers
Milestone anniversaries
God & Me, God & Family
50+ anniversary banquet
Estonia T-shirt to sell
Quilting Ministry ( to make them)
Family Camp
Christmas Eve Family Service Family Bingo Night Why Not Wednesdays Mega Movie Morning
Lap Quilts (to give to people) Blended Family support group
Super Kids
QPR Suicide Prevention Training
Sky Zone
Support Group Team
Toddler N Me
Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaways
Penny Wars SBM (sign up, parent and student meetings, payments due, training meetings)
Divorce Rebuilding Military Connection (praying for our troops) SMILE Stand in the Gap
Boy Scout aluminum can collection Small groups, including the Man-Up event, Bible studies Men’s Kingdom Man study Mexico mission trips (Rio Bravo, 2 per year) Car care Home improvement ROMEO lunches Golf tournament Men’s BBQ
The Art of Marriage
UMM Scholarship
GriefShare
UMW Monthly lunch meetings
Beyond GriefShare
SBM leaders
Boundaries
Disciple Camp
Emotional/Relational Fitness Workshop
Dayspring
Divorce Recovery
Garage sale Whirlwind Game Day UMW Scholarship Acts 29, pray for all
Fall Retreat
SBM prayer vigil
Small groups
VBS prayer vigil
Small group leaders
August 2015 TIDINGS
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Women of the Word Bible Study Service of Remembrance Maundy Thursday Tweenagers monthly luncheons Senior Adult Trip, Surprises in Sapulpa Senior Adult Christmas Light Tour Senior Adult Port of Catoosa Tour Senior Adult Trip to Living Water JMC and Jenks Planetarium Senior Adult Trip to Guthrie Senior Adult Summit Sit and Fit Walk in the Gym with Him Cookson Hills Seed Project Save-A-Label Singles Spring Luncheon Singles Summer Luncheon Singles Fall Luncheon Singles Christmas Luncheon Adult Volleyball on Sunday nights Adult communities Small groups out of communities (Square Dance)
Women of the Word Bible Study lunch Friendship Class Honored and Celebrated Celebrate Recovery The Landing Celebration Place
Walk to Emmaus
Joining Asbury luncheon
2nd Saturday
AV volunteers
Global Gardens
Hospitality team volunteers
Asbury Corner – ESL
Communion stewards
Operation Hope
Ash Wednesday Service
Overcoming Job Transitions
Stations of the Cross
Meals on Wheels
Easter services
Holiday baskets (Thanksgiving and Christmas)
Christmas Eve Services
Adopt a Christmas Child Day of Service Restore Hope Sunday Local/Global Outreach Dinner Dr. Seuss Day Good Samaritan Free Clinic Focus area leadership teams Multiple VIM trips Prayer requests for VIM trips Help Change a Nation in 2015 North American Azerbaijan Forum Friends of Estonia
Food Handlers Class Sermon Journals Sermon Series banners Peter Mayer Concert Rick Fraley Concert Surgery or hospitalization notice Administrative Council Tulsa Tennent Tour Joint Thanksgiving Service Give Online LifeTouch Pictorial Directory Park and Take Shuttle Make a Year-End Gift Membership promotion ASA cards Saviour production
Christian Estate and Legacy Planning (Roadmap Class)
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Deaf ministry
Walt Whitman
The Legacy Journey (RoadMap class)
How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life (Roadmap Class)
Paraclete mentoring
Habitat for Humanity
Perspectives
Here and Now, Then and There (RoadMap class)
Funerals
General outside events – Cloverton Christmas Event, Navy Band
CR Child Care
Roadmap
Financial Peace University
Congregational Care Ministry
TIDINGS August 2015
ASBURY
Asbury’s Resource Area By Angie Brashears
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ver the last couple of months, have you read in your bulletin or heard a pastor mention the Resource Area? Have you thought, “What is this place? Is this another place to check out material, or is it some kind of library?” Or have you thought, “I have never heard of a Resource Area at Asbury.”
Well, you have probably noticed that Asbury no longer has piles of flyers laying around the church or at the Guest Services desk. A guideline was established to only have printed material located in one place for people to access. Hence, the Resource Area was established. The Resource Area is located in the main front lobby across from the Guest Services desk. Every week, material is replaced so guests and members can come by to pick up the latest information on Asbury, ministries, events, newsletters, Tidings magazine, calendars and care notes. It is all there for you. Please go by and check it out. If you see something that a friend or family member would benefit from, pick up some material and pass along. If there is information that you are needing and it is not there, let communications know at 918.492.1771.
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Asbury’s Commu
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TIDINGS August 2015
unications Team
August 2015 TIDINGS
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Angie Brashears by Kylee Broadhurst
Angie Brashears is a radiant woman whose knowledge, expertise and sound judgment provide Asbury with peace and confidence wherever she leads us. Born and raised in Tulsa, our director of communications is a kind, strong leader we are blessed to have on our staff at Asbury. Angie has been at Asbury for four and half years already, but she likes to stay behind the scenes. Angie graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in advertising. Just a few months post-graduation, Angie accepted a position as an advertising representative for the Bartlesville Examiner. “I bought a lot little things from local business owners, trying
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to get to know everyone on my sales list. I think people started advertising with me just to help me out because I was still living with my parents and commuting back and forth from Tulsa to Bartlesville.” Her tenacity didn’t go unnoticed, as Angie then accepted a position at Ackerman McQueen Advertising Agency and worked her way up to account coordinator. In this position, she supported all of the vice presidents, account executives and the senior vice president within the Tulsa office. “It was a grueling position. For two and a half years, I worked long hours, six days a week. I worked with some of the most creative people
TIDINGS August 2015
in the business in Oklahoma, and it was a great agency to learn the basics of branding, marketing and communication. “I got to see how the entire process worked, from concept to creation to distribution, from ads to commercials to direct mail pieces.” While there were several moments when Angie’s patience was tested, her determination prevailed. “This was one of the toughest places I have ever worked, but I wouldn’t change one minute of it. I am who I am today because of this experience. I look back and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to work at an ad agency and learn their formula of strategic thinking. This is where I always refer to earning my battle scars.” Angie was then offered a position as training coordinator at SolArc, Inc. In this position, she marketed their training program around Tulsa. After SolArc, Inc. became a software development company, Angie worked as marketing manager there for 13 1/2 years. “This was a young company at the time with young executives, and they gave me a chance of a lifetime. Some things we did were successful, but others things were not. The executives were very gracious and always used it as a life learning lesson. I learned very valuable marketing skills in my 13 ½ years at SolArc, usually by trial and error.” Working with a 1.5 million dollar budget, Angie helped them launch their brand into different segments of the energy industry. Angie’s responsibilities included overseeing the design and production of printed corporate and sales pieces, direct mail, trade show exhibit graphics and entertainment, writing press releases and launching and maintaining the website while working with advertising and public relations agencies in Houston and Chicago to expand SolArc’s brand. At SolArc, if it pertained to marketing or communication, Angie handled it domestically and abroad. She attended trade shows internationally and worked to get speaking events for their industry experts in Singapore, London, Russia and China. At one trade show event, Angie scheduled Cirque du Soleil to perform for all of the gas processors attendees. It was quite a hit! As her time at SolArc, Inc. came to end, Angie then accepted a position at Oral Roberts University as its director of marketing for two years. This was an entirely new position at ORU, and Angie built a very successful department from the ground up working on market research, brand awareness, launching ORU’s new website geared toward academics and producing new printed pieces for academic colleges and admissions. “The goal of this new position was to increase student enrollment while strengthening and repositioning ORU as an academic leader. At the time, we started positioning ORU as ‘The New ORU’ and started marketing to students that when you attended ORU you were a world-changer.” When asked about what brought her to Asbury, Angie says, “I heard about the position and remembered hearing a friend talk about Asbury the church and how wonderful the people were. I was looking for a church home at the time, so it was great I
could simultaneously find a home church and a job that I was passionate about and felt born to do.” After her interview, Angie had only one question to ask: “Do you get to wear jeans here?” In November, we will celebrate Angie’s fifth year on staff at Asbury. Angie’s main responsibility is to establish Asbury’s brand. Last year, she went to see first-hand the ministry Asbury is working with in Estonia. Angie immersed herself in the culture and work with Camp Gideon. “I was totally moved by the Spirit. I have never felt closer to God. I loved the worship music. It was so powerful, even in a different language. I felt rejuvenated and inspired. It made me love my job that much more. I’m so thankful I was allowed to go on that trip. I feel thankful for so many things in my life and my job.” While Angie learned a great deal about the ministry and the work the Lord is doing there, she did have one remark. “They didn’t put ice in their drinks! How was I supposed to have my daily Diet Coke without the ice?!” Whenever she finally made it to a restaurant that had ice, she pushed past that language barrier the best she could by hand-motioning buckets of ice over and over again until the worker understood. The persistence demonstrated in her past work experience is definitely in her personal life as well. On her day off, Angie cleans. “I have a thing for Clorox,” she says. When asked what color crayon she would be, Angie, without hesitation, answers “purple.” While Angie is quirky and likes to joke and have fun, her heart and vision for Asbury is something very dear to her. “When I first came to Asbury, I didn’t know what we stood for. I want to help people understand what defines Asbury. I think in order to do that effectively, we need to have a very strategic, clear path, and that’s what I’d like to help guests and the congregation see. I want them to clearly feel and see our brand at work the minute they enter onto the campus and step into our buildings.” However, her greatest joy has come from being a wife and mother. She has been married for 21 years and has two beautiful daughters, Alyssa and Alexis. Alyssa is 18 and will be attending OSU in the fall to study animal science/pre-vet. Alexis is 14 years old and will be a freshman at Cascia Hall. I asked Angie what is one thing she would like to say to the people of Asbury directly, and she responded very thoughtfully and with the utmost kindness and respect. “I am very passionate about marketing and communication. I know that this is the work that I was born to do. I’ve met some incredible marketing people over the years, and the community I’ve found on staff at Asbury and within the members of Asbury surpasses all. I love all of the ministries dearly, and I want nothing more than for everybody to be successful. I do the best I can every single day and pray and trust the Lord will handle the rest.” Yes, we can trust Angie to do her best. And we will be trusting the Lord with the rest.
August 2015 TIDINGS
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Meet the Communications Team By Angie Brashears Kay Mains Kay Mains can be described as the “rock” or “right arm” of the communications department. She keeps everyone going and on task. Kay is very well organized and is responsible for the project management of all communication projects. At any given time, there are more than 100 projects going at one time which includes multiple pieces or tasks with those projects. Asbury has a lot that goes on that needs to be communicated to many generations. If Kay doesn’t know, then we are in trouble. She brings a plethora of wisdom, discernment and guidance from the Holy Spirit. She has been kindly given the nickname, “comma queen.” Kay has over 11 years of experience in marketing and communications, especially with proofing. There isn’t a comma out there that Kay doesn’t catch to be added or removed. She tries to proof every piece of communications material along with Tom’s Perceptions. Before coming to Asbury, she worked at Oral Roberts University (ORU) for seven years. She started at the customer service desk and then was promoted to assisting two of the vice presidents. She was then transitioned to the newly established marketing department when Mart Green came on board at ORU. She worked in ORU’s marketing department for about three years with Angie Brashears, who was then ORU’s Director of Marketing. Kay spent two years at Oklahoma State University to study music education. Prior to working at ORU, she taught piano/ keyboard in her home which enabled her to stay at home and raise her three children. Her son is married with three children and lives in Plano, Texas. Her oldest daughter is divorced and lives in Minneapolis. Her youngest daughter is married and lives in Tulsa with her 13-month-old daughter. Kay takes care of her granddaughter every Friday afternoon. Kay absolutely loves music and worship, and played the keyboard for worship for many years at a church while they were living in Texas. She also led a tambourine/dance team at her church. Tera Askey Of all the people within the communications department, Tera has been here the longest, arriving at Asbury in 2006, so about 9 years ago. She began as a temp, but Asbury soon realized her skill set and brought her on board only a few months later.
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Prior to coming to Asbury, Tera had worked in a sales training company as an office manager for 9 years. In this position, she helped lay out training manuals and materials as well as helping with the production of published books. She continues doing that same thing here at Asbury but even more. She helps with some of the design work, arranges for all the outside printing to be done in a cost-efficient and timely manner. This includes the weekly bulletins, sermons journals, banners, brochures, T-shirts and posters. Almost everything Tera does is time sensitive, but she manages to cajole the vendors to work with our schedule. Tera is very down-to-earth and is quiet, but she is so good about checking in on us every day to make sure we are good. Checking to make sure our families are healthy, we are doing OK, and that overall life check that we all appreciate. She is very easy to talk with. Tera attended the University of Arkansas where she studied business. She has been married for 21 years and has two children. She is also very involved with the Walk to Emmaus and Chrysalis. In her spare time, she loves to read and travel. Judy Collis Judy Collis is a retired editor and publisher of newspapers and various publications in Oklahoma and Arkansas and spent 36 years in the industry. Under her direction, several of those newspapers won awards from the Oklahoma and Arkansas press associations, and the Donrey Media Group for excellence in reporting, design, community service and circulation growth. While at the Arkadelphia (AR) Daily Sifting Herald, she also published a book, Winds of Change, chronicling the 1997 tornado that killed six people and destroyed nearly a third of that city. Because of that newspaper’s around-the-clock efforts in disseminating information, resources and even personal items found in the aftermath of the storm, the newspaper plant became a meeting place for the public and stayed open extended days and hours to accommodate the need. Judy says the newspaper’s role in assisting the shattered city’s residents in their recovery was the most meaningful experience of her career. In 2011, she retired from the newspaper industry. In 2013, she joined the staff at Asbury and works in the print shop. Judy helps with proofing and editing of bulletins, Tidings magazine and sermon journals. Judy is the master at getting projects printed,
TIDINGS August 2015
bound and ready for every church ministry without breaking a sweat. It is like she has a magic wand that she is using to make the print shop so efficient. We are very lucky to have such a talented lady in communications. She has one son, James. He and his family live in Collinsville. Judy enjoys gardening, sewing and travel. She is a member of The Catholic Church of Saint Benedict in Broken Arrow. Tim Jurgensen Tim Jurgensen is a strategic, multi-faceted graphic designer with more than 15 years of professional experience who has an eye for innovation, creative relevance and pixel perfection. He is highly intelligent and can discuss many topics at thoughtprovoking levels. Tim will astound you with his knowledge of the Bible. He has a very dry sense of humor that will catch you by surprise when you least expect it from this quiet soul. Tim graduated in 2001 from Oral Roberts University (ORU) with a BS in graphic design. After graduation, he started his own firm with two former classmates. Eventually he went back to ORU to be the in-house graphic designer where he worked closely with academics and admissions to create brand awareness to increase student enrollment. Tim worked at ORU for four years and was instrumental in the design and creation of the mace and presidential seal that was used for the induction of former President Mark Rutland. Tim has been at Asbury for four years. His main responsibilities include the design of the Tidings magazine, sermon series, weekly bulletins, ministry event graphics, sermon journal and all Asbury communication and marketing pieces. Tim has taken the Tidings magazine to a new level since he started. He has attended various conferences over the years to learn new techniques and skills with some of the best in the industry. Tim is always watching a podcast or online class on new things designers are doing. If he is not watching it, he is reading about it in his many designer magazines. Tim is at Asbury, but you could easily see him working in a boutique firm in LA. Tim has been married for over five years to his awesome wife, Jaime. She is originally from California, and he is from Virginia. They like to tell people they met in the middle.
Peter Thavornrat Peter Thavornrat is not the stereotypical person you think of when you think of a web developer. Most web developers sit behind their desks day after day, but not Peter. Peter is a social bug, and he brings the laughter to any meeting. He is very kind and one of the most humble people at Asbury. There isn’t a web, database or programming problem he couldn’t solve. His mind is like a machine, but he does it with a smile on his face. He has more than 10 years of web development and application programming experience. Peter graduated from Oral Roberts University (ORU) in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. After graduation in 2005, he worked for ORU for six years as a web programmer. While working there, Peter went to graduate school and received a Master of Divinity in 2011. While at ORU, Peter was part of a two-man team that built and maintained the school’s website, e-communications and social media. When ORU launched a new website, Peter was significant in its success with the web programming and time delivery management. Peter has accomplished many things since he started at Asbury almost four years ago, including a project management system, staff portal, prayer vigil sign up, e-newsletters and social media. He is most proud of the Hospital Visitation Management System (HVMS) that he built. HVMS is a web application that helps Asbury’s staff and pastors manage hospital visitations though out the year. This system has impacted many lives. Peter is married to Jan and they have one daughter, Jaylyn, who is 2 years and 9 months. They are also expecting another one in August 2015. They love to spend time together as a family at the Tulsa Zoo, Tulsa public parks and Philbrook Museum. His wife is an expert at cooking Thai food. Special Note: Peter and Jan are both from Thailand, so they to go back to Thailand at least once a year if it is possible. When they go back, they visit family and friends, but they also minister to people at churches or non-profit organizations. They love to see people in Thailand surrender their life to Jesus Christ and be transformed by the Holy Spirit.
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Which Communications Pieces Are for Me? A
sbury puts out a lot of printed information. Sometimes it gets confusing to know which brochure to pick up that will have the information you are looking for. Beginning this August, the communications department is going to draw a line in the sand. Some pieces will be specifically designed for our guests, and some will be designed specifically for our members. When you pick up a piece and find it doesn’t have all the information you are looking for, please take a moment to ask yourself, “Is this the piece designed for me?” If not, look a little farther and find the information produced just for you.
I am a GUEST. Bulletin Website myasburytulsa.org Social Media Resource Area
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TIDINGS August 2015
I CURRENTLY ATTEND Asbury. Tidings Community Chat myasburytulsa.org Social Media All-Church Communication Email Blasts Weekly E-Tidings Resource Area
August 2015 TIDINGS
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ASBURY
A New, Improved Website Is Coming! By Angie Brashears Up until now, our current website has been focused on getting information to people who already attend here. Asbury is now shifting that focus to those who are looking for information about a new church home. When people are searching to visit a church, the first place they start before ever stepping inside is the website. A website’s purpose should be for a guest. Over time you will see strategic changes coming to the website to highlight what Asbury has to offer. In mid-August, communications will launch a new responsive website. Responsive design means you will be able to view the website on any device—smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop and smart TV. The layout is new but the content has been pulled over from the current website. This website is more user-friendly due to simplified navigation. We have removed “Quicklinks” and replaced with top navigation with drop-down menus. Based on our statistics, the most visited page is “Watch Live.” This link will now be more prominent on our home page and throughout the website. Secondary links have also been added to the home page to include online giving, myasburytulsa, events and watch live. Another new feature that will be invaluable to Asbury is our “Events” section. You will be able to filter according to preferences or interests. For example, if guests want to know about what is happening in Asbury’s local and global outreach, then they can pull up all of the events related ONLY
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to those ministries. Guests can also pull a list of “children’s ministry” events to see where they can get their kids plugged in immediately. Currently, event information comes from multiple sources which creates miscommunication. Going forward, this information will come from one source, a centralized database. This will give the website the most accurate information possible. This gives a guest a very good first impression of Asbury while presenting real time updates on events, communities, classes and mission trips. There are a number of other features that have been improved. We have consolidated our sermon archives and made past sermons easier to find. We have also enhanced the “search” capability. Guests will be able to search all of the website pages, events, mission trips updates and sermons. Enhancements we are making to attract people will also benefit the current Asbury congregation. Over time, the website will go through phases. Content will change across the entire website to be one voice and give the guest a sense of Asbury’s strategic focus and direction. Emphasis will be placed on worship, discipleship and outward focus. Content will be inspirational while inviting the guest to come visit Asbury. Our goal is to keep the website evolving in order to attract all generations to Asbury.
TIDINGS August 2015
Come “Follow” Me Social Media at Asbury By Kylee Broadhurst
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any would say, especially our younger generations, that social media is quickly becoming the most efficient form of communication today. From Facebook to Twitter to Instagram, Asbury has jumped aboard the social media train and encourages you to do so as well! But what exactly is the appeal? On these social media sites, Asbury is simultaneously providing the current congregation with updates and ways to get involved, as well as reaching many outside the congregation. With each post Asbury makes, our congregation can “repost,” “retweet” or “like” it, so that others who may not belong to Asbury can see what the church is doing to further the kingdom of God here in Tulsa and beyond. Nonbelievers are seeing posts every week from Asbury and our congregation, which is a great, effective form of outreach. They can see these updates and truly get a glimpse of what the Lord is doing within the big, beautiful building they drive by every day to work. On Asbury’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, there are posts recapping each week’s sermons, videos of the sermons themselves, pictures and updates about different outreach events going on, and even threads of discussion posted by the members and non-members about how the church is impacting their lives. There are opportunities to connect with member of all ages who have “liked” the page or “retweeted” the post, thus continuing to foster those intergenerational relationships that Asbury finds to be at the very heart of their mission. The fact of the matter is that social media reaches and multiplies. Whether it reaches the young student who is mindlessly going through their feed and sees a post about a new student event coming up, or the interested couple looking for a new community and finds interest in the post Asbury made about their current sermon series, social media is providing people with easily accessible information about God’s work here. Social media will continue to grow in the number of users who log in every day and try to connect with those around them, and we believe that as those users grow, so will the number of people who will hear about Asbury and the work of God.
If you’ve never utilized social media before, we encourage you to do so! You’ll see for yourself how many people are hearing about Christ every day via a tweet or a Facebook post. You’ll also see the special kind of community that grows when you start staying connected with those around you in a brand new way. To connect with Asbury on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/asburytulsa. To follow Asbury on Twitter, visit www.twitter.com/asburytulsa. To follow Asbury on Instagram, visit www.instagram.com/asburytulsa. Jesus did say come follow me. Surely this is what He meant, right?
August 2015 TIDINGS
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ASBURY
myasburytulsa.org Gets You Connected By Kylee Broadhurst
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sbury continually seeks to connect the church together through initiating and implementing new tools—one of them being www.myasburytulsa.org. While much of the congregation has utilized the website for a number of things, there still remains a good number of people not yet familiar with it. For those unfamiliar with the site and those who are familiar yet still hold their reservations, this article will delve into purpose of myasburytulsa.org and all the amenities the website provides for ease, effective communication and connection. The purpose of myasburytulsa.org is to provide our congregation with a more convenient, accessible way to connect with all of the different branches of Asbury. With 24-hour access on devices ranging from smart phones to tablets to computers, our church is finding more ways to be connected to Asbury than just when inside the building. Gone are the days when you are hindered if you forgot to write down an event’s information or you forgot your checkbook at home for tithing on Sunday. Myasburytulsa.org is allowing members to bring Asbury
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outside of the church by providing accessible information and ways to communicate and contribute to the church from any time at any location. Among the list of many amenities myasburytulsa.org offers, the information regarding events and communities ranks high. On myasburytulsa.org, all events happening within Asbury are provided, including date, time and location. In addition to the information it provides regarding each class or event, there is online registration available and a way to pay for your registration if needed. Moving to online registration, while it was not without its road bumps, has been an incredible, efficient use of resources. There is online registration and payment options for nearly all classes and activities on the website. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email to your provided email address. This email will serve as a reminder for your event, give you your details regarding time, place, etc., and serve as a confirmation for your payment.
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ASBURY
In addition to the classes and activities posted on the website, myasburytulsa.org also provides information on adult discipleship communities. If interested in a specific community, you are provided with an easy way to contact the leader of that community so you can get plugged in as soon as possible. If you are already plugged into a community, myasburytulsa.org provides a roster for that specific community to obtain at any time. Many communities are transitioning to utilizing myasburytulsa.org for attendance purposes. Myasburytulsa.org has also implemented a convenient, secure way to give to the church online for those who wish to do so. When making the decision to give, myasburytulsa.org provides you with several different options. The contribution can be set up as a one-time giving or a recurring gift, both of which can be modified at any time by you. You are also provided with the opportunity to choose where your contribution is going. Options that are always available include the general budget or debt reduction; however, occasionally there will be options like Spring Break Missions or Restore Hope Sunday. Myasburytulsa. org will only take online contributions from debit cards, and it provides you with your giving history at any time. So whenever you go to fill out your taxes, you do not need to wait to get your end-of-year statement in the mail; you can simply log in and check your history. Through this secure system, there is also the ability to track your current commitment to the church. While we have delved into the ways you can connect and the ways you can give on myasburytulsa.org, we have yet to cover one of the greatest amenities the website has to offer: communication. Whether it is the way in which Asbury contacts you or the way in which you contact Asbury, myasburytulsa.org allows you to make all the decisions. If you have moved, changed your email address or phone numbers, you can update your information on myasburytulsa.org very easily. On the website, you also have the ability to pick and choose the communication you would like to receive from Asbury. You can change all of your snail mail to email or vice versa, and you hold the authority to choose which ministries or groups contact you and which do not. Your preferred communication interests can be updated as many times as you would like and at any time you would like. The only thing that remains constant for all users of myasburytulsa.org is church-wide events and information from Pastor Tom. So how does myasburytulsa.org keep you connected? Myasburytulsa.org is a convenient, resourceful tool that provides the congregation with easy access to events, activities, communities, giving, and communicating with all branches of Asbury United Methodist Church.
Have you not been receiving ministry communication? Do you feel like you are out of the loop regarding events happening at Asbury? Do you wish you were more involved? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you should sign up to receive the latest Asbury communication on ministry events and updates. It’s easy; just go to myasburytulsa.org to register. You will be able to: 1. Choose your preferred communications interests. • Choose what type of communication you want to hear about from Asbury. You will only receive email blasts, postcards and other forms of communication from the ministries that you select. • Everyone will 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, Children’s Ministry and Student Ministry.
4. Give securely online.
If you are interested in setting up an account but do not know how, or you find yourself struggling with the website and would like help, please don’t hesitate to contact Kim Renkema at krenkema@asburytulsa.org.
August 2015 TIDINGS
• Contribute one time or set up a schedule for recurring giving. • Electronic checks and debit cards, no credit cards.
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ODDS AND ENDS
Who Do I Call? Asbury main line – 918.492.1771
ADULT MINISTRIES
Elderly Residential Options & Care
Boy Scouts Paul Dahnke 918.808.7266 Scoutmaster.troop10@gmail.com 918.492.8177
Mike Nalley
918.497.1972
Linda Ford
Home Improvement Ministry 918.640.4382
Michiel Conner
www.asburytulsa.org
Prayer Ministry csteffen27@cox.net
Ruth Winn
918.622.3614
Joanne Stadler
918.697.4220
Jim Small
United Methodist Men (UMM) 918.625.1316 jnlfurman@cox.net
United Methodist Women (UMW) 918.742.0042
Jeanne Funk
Professional Referral Line 918.392.1199x270
Mental Health Support for Families
CONTRIBUTIONS
918.391.1113
CARE AND MARRIAGE
Single Moms Support (S.M.I.L.E) Stephen Ministry Referrals (One-onOne Support)
Bipolar
918.392.1103 or 918.694.5277
CHILDREN AND STUDENT MINISTRIES
918.392.1146
Divorce 918.494.9596 918.697.4220
918.392.1128 918.392.1172
Christina Treat
918.392.1172
Jr. High Mark Fowler Caroline Smallwood
918.392.1155 918.392.1157
Sr. High Josh Coats Katelyn Moore
Lauren Burke
918.392.1154 918.392.1156
TIDINGS August 2015
918.392.1104
HOSPITALIZATION/SURGERY 918.392.1198
MUSIC General Music Line
918.392.1154
OUTREACH Local Outreach Radhika Aussieker
918.392.1116
Global Mission Trips & VIM 918.392.1164
Overcoming Job Transitions (OJT) Dymian Kritikos
Children’s Ministry
918.392.1137
GUEST SERVICES TEAM
Marilene Long
Childcare
918.392.2134 918.392.1144
Denise Jeter
Notification Line
(ADDICTIONS AND CO-DEPENDENCY)
Christina Treat 918.744.5761 www.brighttomorrows.org
Blended Family Support
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918.392.1144
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
Joanne Miller 918.392.1146
Ruth Winn
Malia Miller Jim Small
918.688.3392
Preschool/Mother’s Day Out
Bereavement
Ruth Winn
918.392.1146
918.392.1133
CONGREGATIONAL CARE MINISTRY Guy Ames Adrena Mahu
Glen Grusendorf
918.392.1124
Jenny Stevens
Robin Brush
Individual or Marriage Counseling
FUNERALS Victoria Williamson
COLUMBARIUM INFORMATION
918.392.1146 918.392.1144
Adrena Mahu
918.392.1139
Michelle Rafferty
COMMUNITIES & ROADMAP CLASSES
Hospice
Janet Hall
Single Ministry
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP/BAPTISMS
918.392.1146
GriefShare
Ruth Winn
Senior Adult Ministry
Jim Furman
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Adrena Mahu
Prayer Requests
Cheryl Steffen
918.459.9588
Ruth Winn
Deaf Outreach
918.392.1142
Engagement/Premarital (Couple to Couple) Kelly Luttenberg
Car Care Ministry
Tim Reside
918.392.1144
Adrena Mahu
ojtjobs@gmail.com
WEDDINGS Lauren Smith/Info Line
918.392.1148 or 918.392.1199X507
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Deaths Doris Gale died 4/7/2015, mother of David Gale Edison Jeffus died 4/8/2015 William “Bill” Metsker died 4/9/2015, spouse of Kathryn Harrison Metsker Susan McCarty died 4/26/2015, mother of Jennifer Palmer Dean Cox died 4/28/2015, spouse of Jessie Cox
Olive Thompson died 5/16/2015 Robert Creager died 5/22/2015, brother of Carol Creager and Connie Duvall Shirley Ann Smith died 5/22/2015, mother of Christine Deardorff and Cindy Morgan Helen Frymire died 5/25/2015 Vickie Weller died 5/31/2015, mother of Karen (and Todd) Lesikar
Larry Mocha died 6/1/2015, husband of Sandy Mocha Carol Hudson died 6/3/2015, mother of Cheryl (and Mike) Steffen and Joel (and Lynnette) Hudson Bill Jones died 6/3/2015, father of Jennifer (and John) Points
Milestone Anniversaries 60 YEARS Bob & Beverlyn Summers 08/14/55
50 YEARS Fred & Nancy Starkweather 07/09/65 Joe & Jeanette Hooks 08/13/65 John & Jan Crouch 08/28/65
Fred & Nancy Starkweather 07/09/65
John & Donna Miller 08/29/65
45 YEARS Leonard & Kathy Szopinski 08/01/70 Don & Linda Allison 08/08/70
40 YEARS David & Kathy Galegar 06/07/75
Joe & Beverly Spence 06/20/75 Bob & Melissa Perugino 08/02/75 Steve & Paula Berry 08/09/75
30 YEARS
35 YEARS
15 YEARS
Bert & Dru Johnson 07/26/80 Kevin & Denise Jeter 08/02/80
Wayne & Nancy Dirks 08/05/00
Joe & Jeanette Hooks 08/13/65
Brian & Lori Hart 06/06/85 Rick & Peggy Lisenbee 08/03/85
John & Jan Crouch 08/28/65
August 2015 TIDINGS
Bob & Beverlyn Summers 08/14/55
John & Donna Miller 08/29/65
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
New Members
Andy Bassel
Jonathan & Leanne Bishop with Troy
Andrew Boyd
Ann “Armenda” Cann
Lars & Mandie Crotwell with Katie and Andrew
Laurita DavesSemke
Luke & Anna-Maria Garcia with Isaiah
Rita (Gunderson) King
Matt Leahey
Loren Arnoff
Fred & Pam Richardson
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Min Sum “Sam” Lee & Renee Young
Don & Christina Mallory with Kevin, Rylie and Alex
Doug & Kim Storer with Jack and Alec
TIDINGS August 2015
Michael & Whitney Brace
Gary Jobe
DJ & Melissa Nail with Damien Johnston and Dalton Johnston
Clay & Sarah Winkelman with Lauren
Worship Times 8:00 am Traditional Service in Mason Chapel
Looking for Tidings Opportunities?
9:15 am Traditional Service in Sanctuary
We’ve moved that information to Asbury’s Resource Area located in the main lobby.
11:00 am Modern Service in Sanctuary
You can also find information online at www.asburytulsa.org.
General Information 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 8:30 am–5:00 pm and Friday 8:30 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. We encourage you to use the Hospital Visit Online Form. This can be accessed at any time and is a great way to get your message seen in a timely manner. (Go to www.asburytulsa.org and click on “Get Help” in the center of the page. Next, you will see “Hospital Visits” as the second option where you can click on the “submit a hospital request” link). If this is a surgery, please let us know the date and time of surgery in the comments section. Please know that Asbury pastors want to be in prayer for you and your family. After-hour Emergencies 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. 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 which 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.
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Tulsa, OK Permit #2439
August 9
8th Annual
Restore Hope Sunday
Contribute to the drive with a financial gift or canned food. However, cash donations give Restore Hope MORE wholesale buying power at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and beyond. Your donations give Restore Hope the support resources needed to help families out of their current crisis and onto a path of economic and spiritual vitality. We will have volunteers at the donation tables before, between and after services on August 2 and 9.