TIDINGS SUMMER 2018
EVANGELISM SHARE THE GOOD NEWS
SUMMER 2018
TIDINGS Asbury Tidings is a quarterly 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.
CONTENTS Evangelism: The What and the Why............ 4 The Great Commission..................................... 6
BACK TO SCHOOL BASH
Speak Up................................................................. 8 Go Fish!................................................................... 10 Praying for the Lost............................................ 13 Bringing in the Sheaves..................................... 14 Reaching Young Adults..................................... 16 Women’s Conference Training....................... 18 Big Heart Orphanage......................................... 22 Dependent on the Holy Spirit......................... 24 Evangelism is about Relationships............... 26 Always Love People More................................ 28
August 22! Come for a pizza dinner and refreshing outdoor water play!
Chaplains Q&A..................................................... 30 Music and Evangelism....................................... 32 Johnny Fuller: Conversion............................... 36 Special Announcements................................... 37
Wear a swimsuit and bring a towel. Parents are encouraged to stay and play!
We need you! Do you have a story of what God has done in your life? Please contact us and tell us a little bit about what God has done. We will all be encouraged by hearing stories of what God is doing in the lives of those around us. Are you a writer or someone who enjoys writing? The Communications Department is always looking for someone to do an interview and write a story for us for Tidings. Have you noticed that we’ve been making some changes in Tidings? Please give us your feedback—both good and bad. Email kmains@asburytulsa.org or call 918.392.1140.
Editor: Asbury Communications Department, 918.392.1140, kmains@asburytulsa.org Graphic Design: Belinda Wilson, bwilson@asburytulsa.org Photographers: Mark Moore (mark moore.photo.net) Guest Contributors: Jay Henderson, Lisa Witcher, Andrea Stephens, Stephanie Hurd, Melissa Renkema, Rachel Davis, Lucienda Denson, Olivia Hurd, Daniel Dennison, Mindy Dennison, Crystal Dugger, Johnny Fuller
A WORD FROM TOM HARRISON Words have a power all their own. They create certain images for us. “Hot Fudge Sundae” feels spiritual to me. So does “Hawaii,” (I would like to take a “John Wesley cruise to Hawaii.”) “ESV” (“English Standard Version”) is a new term for me as I am using this translation for the first time. “Belong, believe and become” are words I’ve carried since my doctor of ministry degree in 1985. (We are re-visiting those words again this fall in the sermon series.) “Pops” is my new favorite word (“did you know I’m a grandfather?”). I attended Sequoyah Elementary School in Tulsa. I also lived for five years in Sequoyah County and visited Sequoyah’s restored log cabin there. I read recently about Sequoyah and learned he did not know the English language (his English name was George Guess) and was illiterate. However, he figured out the 86 syllables composing the Cherokee language. He created their own written language and made it very simple to understand. In the history of the world, nobody has ever done anything remotely similar to what Sequoyah did. His work almost transformed the Cherokee nation overnight. Some words are pejoratives. They may leave a bad taste in our mouths, or we simply want to walk away from the concept it represents. Unfortunately, one of those words for many is a beautiful word, “evangelism.” It comes from the Greek language and means “Good News.” Too many link it with negative images to some bizarre TV preachers, politics or some other Ned Flanders caricature (the ORU graduate from “The Simpsons” TV show). I don’t know if this beautiful word can be recovered, but that’s not the point here. What matters is that we personally know “Good News.” “Good News” isn’t an idea or a word; He is a Person, and He is the Word of God. Jesus Christ is Good News. EVERYTHING about Jesus is Good News. He is the Way, Truth and Life. He is the Bread of Life. He is the Vine. He is the Gate. He is the Door. He is the Good Shepherd. He is the Resurrection and the Life. This is our message – GOOD NEWS! This is what we offer those burdened with fear, depression, loneliness, incivility, bitterness and anxiety. GOOD NEWS releases us from the bondage of guilt and hatred. GOOD NEWS introduces us to a purpose for living. GOOD NEWS brings us into relationship with others who believe in His Name. GOOD NEWS has a future with hope. Actions are important, but sharing the GOOD NEWS requires words. This “Tidings” is about sharing the GOOD NEWS. There are many ways we can share our message. This is about caring for people and sharing the words of life with them. In Christ,
Dr. Tom Harrison, Senior Pastor
THE WHAT AND THE WHY By Pastor Jay Henderson
First Things First – We Stink at It
It’s time to wake up, church. This past June I participated in my annual twoweek field training (“summer camp”) as a Chaplain with the Army National Guard. One day, while shooting the breeze with a few of my soldiers, I had a most disturbing conversation. Through a lit cigarette and a stream of smoke, a female sergeant laughingly related how she has not done a very good job teaching her son about church. She realized this when her son saw a crucifix and asked her, “So who’s that guy on those sticks?” To make matters worse – the kid attends a Christian school! The truth is, the church in North America has not done well with sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. We know this because church attendance and participation has continued to drop for five decades now. We have two ways we can look at this issue: A) Blame somebody else. B) Own up to our failure as the church to make self-replicating disciples.
The Great Commission In the closing words of Matthew, Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to 4
observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This is what we call The Great Commission. A recent Barna study shows that of regular churchgoers, fully 51 percent have never heard of the Great Commission. Another 25 percent say they have heard it, but could not recall the exact meaning. In fact, only 17 percent knew what it was and could recite it.
Inviting people to church was one of the lowest-ranked areas for our congregation. If that doesn’t bother you, it should. If you’re still reading at this point, gird up your loins because we’re about to get real. I was sifting through a study done on Asbury a few years ago by a reputable firm, and I discovered a peculiar thing. The number one reason people come to Asbury is because of a personal invitation from somebody they know. Unfortunately, inviting people to church was one of the lowest-ranked areas for our congregation.
Did you catch that? The number one method for growing our church is one of the things we do worst.
What Do We Mean by Evangelism?
It’s All About Disciples
What do we mean by evangelism, anyway? Is it the guy on the street corner with a megaphone? Billy Graham Crusades? Knocking on doors? Well…maybe. After all, the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, used to preach on the street corners to the coal miners. But not everybody has the gusto to pull that off.
Let’s just lay down the bottom line – our ultimate goal is to make self-replicating disciples of Jesus Christ. Most Christians I know have a difficult time with the idea of evangelism, but we really do not need to be intimidated by this. Some of the best evangelists I ever met were quiet introverts. But they were quiet introverts who did not shy away from sharing their faith when appropriate. As a church, I am challenging us all to consider two key questions with everything we do:
Maybe you’re thinking: “I love Jesus – but I don’t want to be a jerk. I’ll just live my life in such a way that when people see that I’m really nice they will know I am a Christian and maybe they’ll ask me about it.” I would not get too cozy with this line of thinking either.
Nobody’s knocking down their doors to ask, “Oh, please tell me about your atheism.” Look, I am all for being nice. And sometimes this tactic works. But it is a cop out. Jesus did not die on a cross and then rise from the grave so we could be “nice.” He filled his church with the power of the Holy Spirit and commissioned us to proclaim a very powerful message: Sin is defeated and death no longer gets the last word. Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again. This message has power, and we have a God-mandated responsibility to share it and make disciples of all nations. I know a lot of nice atheists, and nobody’s knocking down their doors to ask, “Oh, please tell me about your atheism.” If you’ll notice, the root word in ev-angel-ism is “angel” or messenger. Evangelism, in its simplest terms, means “good messaging.” I can’t imagine the Apostles and the early church saying, “OK everybody, now that Jesus has risen from the dead and the spirit of Pentecost has come to us, let’s just be really nice to people and hope they ask us about it.” Clearly their faith included a component that involved actively creating circumstances where they could share the Good News.
1) Am I sharing the Good News? 2) Where do I direct somebody who responds to the Good News (i.e. - How do I help others become self-replicating disciples)? Our ultimate goal is not just church growth, but for heaven’s sake, at least invite people to come to church with you. Build relationships with people in the community who do not follow Christ, pray for them and invite them to join you in your walk of faith. Let us not overthink our purpose as a church and ensure that we keep the main thing as the main thing: we proclaim the risen Christ and we actively seek out ways to help others follow Him.
Helping Others Follow Jesus – it doesn’t get more evangelistic than that. I’ve committed my life to spreading this good news. I hope you will join me.
But for heaven’s sake, at least invite people to come to church with you.
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THE
GREAT
COMMISSION By Lisa Witcher Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 16-20 Known as “The Great Commission,” Matthew 28:16-20 is one of the culminating commands of Christ’s teaching. In the chapter preceding this one, Matthew narrates Pilate’s historical side-step, the Roman soldiers’ mockery of Jesus, the hours of darkness just prior to Christ’s death and His burial. Consequently, when we arrive at verse 16, Christ has risen and is meeting with 11 of His disciples. The disciples meet Christ in Galilee – a region known for fertility and whose biblical definition fittingly means wheel or revolution. They meet him on a mountain to receive the Great Commission in a way reflective of the time Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. The text tells us the 6
disciples worshipped Christ, but some held doubts. In response to those doubts, Jesus shares with them, “all authority in heaven and earth.” It is important at this point to remember that while we hold the disciples in high regard, they were as much regular folk as we are. They were fishermen, doctors and
The text tells us the disciples worshipped Christ, but some held doubts. tradesmen of the day. While they have been canonized by scripture and history for more than 2,000 years, the men who received this commission where robeand-sandal-wearin’-regular-Joes. The disciples are special only because they were chosen by Christ. But let’s keep diving into the command these robe-and-sandals-wearing men were given by looking at the title of the command itself.
The word “great” when used as an adjective means “of an extent, considerable intensity, or above average.” As a noun it means “distinguished,” and as a verb, it means “excellently.” The word “commission” when used as a noun means “an instruction, command, [or] duty given to a person or group of people.” When it is used as a verb it means “to give an order or authorize the production of something; to bring something into working condition.” If we break the word “commission” down, we must look at the prefix “co-“ - meaning “together or mutually common” and its root word, mission, meaning “a calling or important assignment.” These three words, “The Great Commission”, given to 11 ordinary, simple, regular Joes manifest a command that is meant to reach a considerable intensity or extent, to be distinguished or set apart in its approach, and to be excellent as it produces a body of believers. In the simplest terms, it means together we must complete this important assignment.
Go. Make. Baptize. Teach.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
For some of us, one or all of these verbs cause great discontent, discomfort, anxiety or even fear. For others, it is a challenge we are eager to answer. Here’s the promise that often accompanies God’s commands to his children. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
A revolution began, and the wheel of evangelism began to turn. Thus, in the land of Galilee, a revolution began and the wheel of evangelism began to turn. Our part surely is to stand and revel in the turning of that wheel and what is has created in our world, offered to our hearts; but ours is also to determine which part of the revolution we play. What part of the wheel do we represent? How do we bring the Galilee of generations ago to our community, our millennium? How do we, as the regular Joes and Josies in our belief, play our part intentionally, with excellent intensity and distinguished togetherness? For we are not alone, in any season or age, and what may seem foreign is given to us, not just because we chose to follow Christ, but because He chose us. Like the regular men He chose more than two millennia ago, that indeed makes us special and responsible.
Go. Make. Baptize. Teach.
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K A E P S UP! n o is r r a H m o T r o t s a P y B
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When someone unites in membership vows with Asbury and they have never been a church member, we ask two basic questions. The first is about their relationship with Jesus. We ask if they trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The second is if they will uphold their church by their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Too many Christians remain silent about our faith. 1 Peter 3:15 insists otherwise: but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. The church grows when we speak up to help others follow Jesus.
Too many Christians remain silent about our faith.
Jesus Christ is Lord. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. Every knee shall bow before Him. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. We want everyone to know Him. Verbally sharing the faith is something that Christians must do. Every Christian needs an “elevator speech” where we can explain the gospel in a minute. Here is mine. God created us. He loves us. But I had turned away from His love. The results were separation from God. The Bible is the story of God redeeming us through Jesus Christ who died for my sin. God raised Him from the dead. My life changed when I asked Jesus to forgive my sins. I was 14 years old. I didn’t do one thing to earn this gift; I simply asked for it. The best word to describe my experience is “forgiveness.”
Furthermore, I have a reason to live, and when my life on earth is over, I will go to heaven. There’s so MUCH to say …. and yet, it can be said simply in a minute or in an hour. We all have influence with people. There are many people who will never listen to a pastor but would listen to you. Having extreme ownership of our faith means we speak up, even if we don’t have all the answers. I don’t understand everything about the Bible or the Christian faith or why certain things happen. I am very comfortable saying, “I don’t know.” Life events confuse me, too. Yet, I relate to the blind man (John 9) healed by Jesus but could not answer the questions of the Pharisees. There is comedy in the exchange (read the story). As the man said, “I can’t answer all your questions but this one thing I do know – I once was lost but now I see.” We don’t have to have all the answers before we speak up. We need two things: a heart that has been touched by Jesus Christ and a desire for other people to know His love, too.
Verbally sharing the faith is something that Christians must do.
We pray, attend worship, give our money and serve, but our world desperately needs to hear the GOOD NEWS that God has loved the world through Jesus Christ and our sins can be forgiven by Him and we can go to heaven to live with Him. We need to speak up. I need to speak up. You need to speak up. It’s not preaching; it’s simply caring about others and taking time to listen to them and share.
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I can still remember the spot along the riverbank where my family used to go fishing. Dad was in charge of securing a wiggly worm on each of our hooks—none of his three daughters wanted to touch something so creepy. Then came the hilarious attempts at casting that often landed in trees or went nowhere because we would forget to flip the bail.
My favorite part was staring at the bobber.
GO FISH! By Andrea Stephens
Surely the harder I concentrated, the better my chance to catch something, or so I thought. Finally, someone’s bobber would disappear (usually my older sister who was not paying attention), and we would all start yelling,
“Reel it in, reel it in!” Alas, the thrill of seeing that scaly thing break the surface of the water. Caught one! Jesus talked about fishing of a different kind. Mathew 4:19 ESV “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” Following and fishing go hand-inhand. If we are following Jesus, we will be baiting the hook, casting into our pond of influence, watching for nibbles of interest and questioning tugs at the line, until finally the solid bite — the “Yes” for Jesus, and the excited reeling in of the fish — a new life in Christ.
A Jesus-follower goes fishing ON PURPOSE! It is intentional, not optional. Floundering fish matter to Jesus! There is preparation that goes into it: If there is to be success, there needs to be a plan. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have...” Does this mean we have a responsibility to share our faith? Yes. We are responsible for the telling, not the outcome. The Holy Spirit will use what you share to work on the person’s heart. The results are up to Him.
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Start by looking for common interests, experiences or hurts to use to build a relationship with them — as the first step in sharing your faith with them. Inviting them to a Sunday morning service is typically not the first step in sharing your faith. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:22b-23 LB, “Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ, and let Christ save him. I do this to get the Gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ.” Some think that sharing their faith means communicating their theological beliefs — and sometimes it is. But for most of us, the thought of getting into a theological debate or the thought of offending the person causes us to talk ourselves right out of doing it. We resort to being a kind, decent person who goes to church and hopes our non-Christian friends or relatives will notice and ask us how to become a Christian. Sharing your faith is to tell of something God has done in your life (a testimony). Sometimes it will be the story of when and why you accepted Jesus and became a child of God (John 1:12). Other times, it will be about how your trust in Jesus helped you through a tough time. People can’t refute what you have personally experienced. Your story gets a person thinking, stirs their curiosity and helps them see they would benefit from having a God like that in his/her life. Sometimes sharing your faith is like putting in a good word for God—at an appropriate time, of course. Some possibilities are: I love how God blesses those who love Him; God is so good (instead of “God is so good to me” as this puts the emphasis on you, when to goal is to
put it on God and one of His attributes or actions); God has given us a beautiful day; God bless you; That’s just like God to do that; God has given me peace (or joy or hope or patience or strength or comfort or ..). Avoid statements like, “Oh, the Lord saved me a parking space,” or “God told me to buy these golf clubs.” This shuts people down.
Sometimes sharing your faith is leaving a tract. Before you balk at the idea, know that the Holy Spirit actually does use them to reach people. As a young adult, Pam Farrell, a writer friend, was handed a tract on the beaches of San Diego. She read it and prayed the printed words on the back, giving her heart to Jesus. God has definitely used her life for His Kingdom purposes. Pam has a fruitful ministry to women, and along with her husband, Bill, minister to couples with their fun weekend retreats and conferences. If you have not checked them out recently, there are tracts available that speak to specific life situations such as loss or illness. Some tracts contain messages from a popular book like Max Lucado’s “You’ll Get Through This” (one of my favorites because nearly everyone is going through something) and “Six Hours One Friday.” Others use a current event or tell the story/faith of a well-known person. Others speak directly to a heart need like hope or peace. A few of my favorites tackle apologetic topics. Because the event for teens girls that the Lord led me to create (He used my holy discontent of the media presenting an unrealistic beauty image) was often co-sponsored by a local FCA chapter, the girls’ goodiebag always included a tract with a sports theme.
Yes, I know that some of the tracts I have left are going to go straight into the trash. But one of them isn’t. That’s the one that will be read by the person
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whose heart God has been working on: The person whose inner life is a mess, leaving them desperate for change, a fresh start, a power greater than themselves to give them the strength to make it through the day. Ask the Lord to be working to soften their heart, show them things that are wrong in their life (sinfulness) and that they need a change in their life (a Savior). Then implement this plan, remembering it is a process. (Adapted from “Becoming a Contagious Christian”). 1. Be yourself. 2. Build authentic, intentional relationships with non-believers. 3. Transition into spiritual conversations (“I’ve struggled with that same issue, but what made a big difference was when I found out about a spiritual strength from God.” “Do you have any family or religious traditions around the holidays?”). Endless options! 4. Effectively communicate your faith (telling the story of what God has done for you). 5. Watch for responses, receptivity, body language. Everyone is at a different stage of readiness. 6. Effectively explain the Gospel message. (God made Adam and Eve, who chose to disobey God, which separated humankind from God. God loves people, so He sent His Son Jesus to pay for our disobedience by dying on the cross. Then He rose from the dead, opening the way for people to be in relationship with God and have eternal life through faith in Him). 7. Lead them across the “line of faith.” (Would you like to have the assurance of eternal life in Heaven by receiving Jesus?) 8. Invite them to church, your community or a Bible study so they can be a disciple. Remember, as a Jesus follower, you are a fisherman. Then you help those fish also follow Jesus.
So, go fish! You just might enjoy the adventure. 12
REMEMBER, AS A JESUS FOLLOWER, YOU ARE A FISHERMAN.
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PRAYING T S O L E H T FOR By Stephanie Hurd
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es that the pray for the lost on to l fu ith fa be ill es off today — that we w crossing their nam ay ed m so of My prayer for us y jo the d that we will have Lord assigns us an d amen. our lists. Amen an
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BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES
By Lisa Witcher
A picture of a wheat field rich with a golden bounty ready for the harvest hangs on Radhika Aussieker’s wall in one of Asbury’s outreach offices. In the center of the wheat field, a small, humble, white-steepled church sits brimming full of equipment useful to glean the summer’s stalks while a crisp, blue sky gives way to an ominous hulk of an angry green and gray storm. It’s an image that propels Radhika, Asbury’s Local Outreach Director, into motion each morning, inspiring her and her team toward ways the church can cultivate hearts outside the walls of 6767 South Mingo Road. The picture is entitled, “The Coming Storm,” but Radhika calls it “The Great Opportunity.” It’s an artistic manifestation of the Great Commission. She and the rest of the Asbury staff recently completed training on how we can share our faith more boldly, believing in the authority of scripture and the gifts we have all received. As we talked, her passion revealed itself through phrases like, “We, as believers, must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not afraid to be emboldened by the Spirit, allowing our actions to speak louder than our words.” She is quick to add that we should not avoid the purpose or intentional telling of our God stories, that we can’t just “be” different; we have to be willing to tell others why we have the opportunity to be different. We only visited briefly, but I was quietly convicted by Radhika’s passion. While we share a faith and a love for Christ, our backgrounds differ greatly. Raised in the Hindu faith, Radhika did not come to Christ until she was a young woman studying at Baylor University. She knows a life without Christ. I do not. Raised in the 14
church, I seem to be more comfortable with others doing the story telling, the preaching, the calling of others to Christ. Conversely, she recognizes the storm that is approaching and innately feels the urgency of the need to harvest hearts. Consequently, after studying at Baylor and ORU, she served in the mission field for 20 years in 25 nations sharing gospel in word and deed. For three years, she and others served with the Orphans Unlimited team in Mozambique, war torn Africa, caring for widows and orphans. Now she serves our Asbury community, growing our ability and sharpening our tools to be spreaders of the Word.
WE CAN’T JUST “BE” DIFFERENT What I love about our God exists in the perfect space between Radhika’s faith experience and mine, perfect because our God uses every inch of it. The field in the print hanging in Radhika’s office represents our “oikos,” our family or circle of influence. The soil the wheat crop stands in had to be prepared; it had to be fertilized, tilled. Another laborer had to create the rows and plant the tiny seeds. During the growing season, the field had to be tended, weeds that grow faster removed from the area surrounding the tender stalks, and water had to be delivered to each row. Perhaps that required
irrigation regularly for each row or monitoring a mechanical water system, or maybe the farmer only relied on God’s grace and Mother Nature’s gift of rain. Efforts had to be taken to keep the birds away from the early kernels, and finally, the heads of grain had to be monitored until the crop was ready to be harvested. Each job, or encounter with the wheat field, influences the success of the next encounter. We have a proverbial field, a circle of influence in each of our individual lives and in the corporate life of our church. We interact with coworkers, raise children, speak to retail associates, professionals, and the list goes on. Our Day of Service in September and our work on 2nd Saturdays has been tilling the field in our community for years. We have been doing the work, establishing trust in our neighborhoods: Walt Whitman, Edurec, Grove Elementary, food pantry, Global Gardens and our campus at Cornerstone. In our local outreach, we are moving to more relational sites instead of just work sites. The work to prepare the field has been done. Our goal has been to connect
IT’S TIME TO BRING IN THE HARVEST with each other and to connect with community – taking church outside of the church walls. At the Dream Center, we are hosting block parties, bringing people together in Jesus’ Name across racial lines and denominational lines and communicating our faith in word and deed. It’s time to bring in the harvest. In Radhika’s experience in missions overall, she has learned relational contacts with people, who are not like us, are the most developmental – especially for us who have already been “gathered.” She believes that this is so important. Those relationships shine light on those areas which we may take for granted, scripture we may know but others do not, biblical truths that are as common as an Oklahoma wheat field to us may be unknown to others. It is in these relationships with people from whom we differ, that we must pray to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and be emboldened by Him. It is the perfect space where God reveals himself.
We each have a God-given skill, a tool we use, a tool with which we are comfortable and confident. When Radhika sees the print, a field in need of harvesting, she sees a field of hurting people, and she sees us, the church, as people of influence who are connected to more souls than we realize. We are called to be intentional about our relationships, to use our tools, our gifts, to help others follow Jesus as we are confident in the Lord. As Radhika and her team shared and reflected upon their evangelism training, members of the team expressed fear and vulnerability about being able to just launch into sharing their faith with someone. Many of us might feel this way, not wanting to seem pushy or judgmental. Nevertheless, Radhika, who has lived a part of her life without Christ, sees sharing her faith as an opportunity and a challenge. She sees the tools waiting in the church for workers to come in and pick up and go to work. There is a challenge and relentless will to win within her, given to her by the same God who saved her. She recognizes the challenge as a prayer authored by the Holy Spirit. As a child in Stillwater, a community surrounded by pasture and wheat fields, I often sang the hymn, “Bringing in the Sheaves”: Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness, Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve; Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. Refrain: Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves; The cycle of harvest is eternal; there is always work to do, sowing to do, a tool to pick up, a soul to nurture, a harvest to gather. And whether we are always carrying our harvest tools, or we quietly prepare the soil while praying for the boldness to drive the tractor directly down the center of 71st Street, we are to remember the final words of The Great Commission – “and lo I am with you even unto the end of the age.” In our vulnerability, in our boldness, in our similarities and in our differences, in the valleys of our faith, and on our mountaintops, we are never alone. The Great Commission, that intentional and cooperative assignment, reminds us that each of our encounters with the people in our circle of influence, in our field is important to the cycle of the harvest. 15
REACHING
Young Adults By Melissa Renkema
Churches around the country are asking the question, how do we grow younger? At Asbury, we are looking for inovative ways to attract younger adults to follow Jesus.
Ignite is also a Adult Discipleship Community for families, but this class is for all those who prefer the traditional worship service. This growing class is open to all who have yet to find their place.
A little over a year ago, I came on staff at Asbury to work on the small group initiative and on Young Adult Ministry. I quickly found the best approach when it comes to young adults is to focus on meeting the needs of the demographic rather than looking at age. For example, you can have a 26-year-old who is single, a 26-year-old that is newly married or
Chainbreakers is for singles or couples between ages 18-30 who want to be active in church. This group has so many people in it who have found their way to Tulsa and wanted a Christian community and a place to belong. Madison, Chainbreaker’s president, prayed for a long time to have a good group of friends following Christ. There are so many people
Our Adult Discipleship Communities give us the perfect place to meet that need for so many young people. engaged, and a 26-year-old that is married with kids. Since the age range for young adults is so large, it is more effective to focus on life stage rather than age, and helping people through transitions is a huge part of Young Adult Ministry. Our Young Adults Ministry has four Adult Discipleship Communities which seek to meet the needs of the different life stages. Rooted and Covenant are two Discipleship Communities which have been “doing life together well� for many years. These two classes are perfect for young families who are looking for solid, Christ-centered fellowship that will help spur them on in their faith. They allow parents whose kids have found a place in AsburyKids to also be able to connect deeply here at Asbury. 16 16
out there who, similar to Madison, desired deep and genuine community, and we here at Asbury are proudly able to provide such a home. The best part of my job for the past year has been interacting with young adults who show interest in Asbury. I get the privilege of meeting with so many awesome people who are looking for their place in Tulsa. As I met with more people, I began to hear the same story. Young adults are starting to come to
Tulsa, either moving home or coming here for jobs, and as they go to their home church or explore new churches, they just aren’t finding young adult groups in congregations. Our Adult Discipleship Communities give us the perfect place to meet that need for so many young people.
WAYS TO CONNECT Sunday Morning Discipleship Communities ChainBreakers - 9:15 Room 2500, ages 18-30 singles and engage/newly married Rooted - 9:15 Room 1502, ages 20-40 couples with kids Covenant - 9:15 Room 2821, ages 30-40 couples with kids Ignite - 11:00 Room 2821, ages 25-40 singles and married with or without kids KINDLING – Tuesday Nights, ages 18-30 Mobilizing believers to help others follow Jesus through equipping and encouraging them.
Tulsa has become a hub of young professionals, even being called the “new Denver.” With this new wave of young adults coming to Tulsa, Asbury has the resources and potential to capitalize on this exciting mission field. The question has become, how can we mobilize the young adults at Asbury to go out and reach the young adults in Tulsa? And the answer is Kindling. Kindling started last September with Erica and I to find a place to connect. We partnered and continue to dream big for what this Tuesday night worship can do for Tulsa. Every Kindling worship has been engaging, special, and a wonderfully intimate time with Jesus. With interactional worship and intentional speakers, each time we gather we are left encouraged and rested. We are working hard to introduce a mentoring program which will allow young adults to meet other young adults in the Kindling worship. The goal is to mobilize an entire generation which will then go out to their jobs, friends, family and everyday life to share the Good News of the Kingdom and draw people to the God we know to be so good. Asbury has the opportunity to play a part in raising up believers and teaching them to be effective followers of Jesus. God is not done with Asbury and there is going to be much more growth as we look to help young believers follow Jesus! There are many ways to get involved in all that is going on, whether you are a young adult or young-at-heart, please contact me so that I can get to know you as well as find the best place for you to engage with Asbury’s Young Adult Ministry!
We gather for a worship encounter two Tuesdays a month. On the other Tuesdays, we grow in our faith through our mentor program and various classes and groups, all geared towards making us effective disciples of Jesus. Join us as we kindle the flame in our hearts through being encouraged and equipped to live as Christ-followers. Worship Nights: 7 pm in the CLC August 14 and 28 September 11 and 25 October 9 and 23 November 13 and 27 December 11 Stay connected through Facebook and email for time and place for all other Tuesdays.
STAY INFORMED! Join our Facebook group for updates and to see what exciting things we have going on. Go to the Asbury Tulsa’s Facebook page, Click on Groups, and Join Young Adult Ministry. Have questions? Get in touch! Melissa Renkema Coordinator of Young Adult Ministry mrenkema@asburytulsa.org 918.392.1109 17
Women’s Leadership Training in Lebanon “I had everything [in this world] and lost it, but now I have Jesus and would never go back.”
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“I had everything [in this world] and lost it, but now I have Jesus and would never go back.” What if your homeland became a war zone? What if everything you owned was taken from you? In the first week of June, four Asbury members – Marcy Weidman, Rhonda Colley, Jamye Henderson and Rachel Davis – plus 16 other women from the United States representing six churches and four denominations in Oklahoma, Texas, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, traveled to Lebanon for a women’s leadership conference. The women traveled with Ananias House, a Houston-based ministry that seeks to empower the growth of the Body of Christ in the Middle East and North Africa. Marcy Weidman’s mission was also a personal one. Three of her four grandparents are from Lebanon and had kept many of the traditions of their homeland, including the food. Marcy was there to provide love, comfort and support in context of the Lebanese culture to the other women about to arrive. The purpose of the conference was to come alongside 22 women from a nearby war-torn country and help
disciple a new generation of women believers by encouraging them spiritually, emotionally and physically. The conference had several components: (1) Bible study, used also to model and equip the women from that country in leading small-group Bible studies, (2) leadership training, (3) personal encouragement, support and refreshment, and (4) prayer. Several women from that country grew up as believers, but several of them began to follow Jesus after losing everything. The area is seeing increased conversion from other backgrounds to Christianity, and Christians are desperately needing more leaders to
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help teach and equip these new believers, especially women leaders. “They are strong in their new faith,” Marcy Weidman said. As a result of their conversion, many have lost everything they had, but their faith remains strong. Because the conference preparation had largely been done online, the American women took time to get to know each other several days before the actual conference began. They fellowshipped, prayed, studied the Bible and prepared for the arrival of the other women. “It felt like we had known each other for years – we worked so well together,” said Rachel Davis. When the women from the war-torn country arrived, it struck the Americans of how much like them these women from across the world were. “It was as if we had known them for years too. It definitely resembled the Body of Christ and how I imagine heaven to be – filled with laughter and fellowship,” Rachel stated. Different culture, different language, different stories, but they had everything in common in Christ.
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During one of the worship times together “Amazing Grace” was sung; it was a song everyone knew, and all were singing it in their native language. “People were praying together, praying in Arabic and English,” Marcy stated. It also made the Americans reflect and ask: What would the American church look like if chaos broke out all around? How would I be if everything I have and know was stripped from me? The Americans saw themselves reflected in these women, although they also recognized the realities that these women have experienced. Many had been forced from their homes, whether from destruction or from other circumstances where they could not go back. Many women are living in one-room structures
with only a couch. Many went without food for periods of time. Many are still persecuted for their faith. All had seen death. All had seen the devastation of war. All had traveled through an unknown territory to get to this conference – because all still had hope in the One Living God who had been with them through it all. Some of these women have suffered indescribable losses because of war, but one thing they haven’t lost is their passion for Jesus Christ. The conference itself helped train and equip these women to go back to their churches with ideas and skills. The discipleship component revolved around leadership sessions, Bible study and smaller groups for mentoring, as well as workshops on personality types and how to handle trauma. The Americans were also able to bless these women through massages, manicures, pedicures and facials. It was a simple way to show them love when they have carried so much stress. In one instance while massaging a woman’s neck, shoulders and arms, and praying over her, she began sobbing. Afterwards the woman stated, “I needed that. I’ve wanted to cry for a while and needed this to help release it.” The women were energized with new ideas to take back to their churches. The conference was cut short due to government visas and transportation, conditions out of their control. Marcy was touched deeply by the experience: “I think I have had a renewal of faith.” All of the women, from both countries, returned home encouraged and hopeful. Friendships were made, souls lifted up. The American women look forward to continuing their new friendships, and they pray for the safety of their overseas sisters, anticipating seeing them again at the next conference.
A’diah’s Story A Conference Attendee
A’idah was indifferent to most religious matters but believed that the Virgin Mary should be adored. When the war came, A’idah lost everything. She fled with her son and found refuge in a one-room apartment with no furniture. She and her son were on the verge of starving, when she decided to visit a church that handed out supplies. For 18 months, A’idah went to the church weekly to receive food. She refused to listen to the preaching, putting her fingers in her ears when she went in the sanctuary. Eventually, she stopped going in for the preaching at all, and would stand outside the church during the sermon, and only go in at the end when the pastor handed out food. Then one day, much to her chagrin, the church installed a screen outside of the building. She hated seeing the pastor’s face on the screen but started listening to the words. She felt the Holy Spirit stirring in her heart. She describes an internal wrestling match, where she felt something pushing her to go in, but part of her really fought against it. Finally, she went into the church, sat down and began to really listen. The pastor was preaching about blessings, and she heard for the first time how Jesus had died for her sins, so that she might believe in Him and receive the free gift of grace. When A’idah heard about grace, it felt as though someone had poured hot water all over her. She says that in that moment, her life changed, and she gave herself to Jesus. She prayed “Lord, I’m sorry. Because when I was crying for my house, I should have been crying for all the wasted time without you.” A’idah’s family persecutes her, although friends have noted that she is completely different now. One day, neighbors from her old neighborhood were visiting her. They marveled at the change they saw in her, saying “How can this be? A’idah, you lived in a mansion and you were so unhappy, and now you only have one room and no belongings, and you are happy? Tell us why.” A’idah pulled out her Bible and shared her testimony. She said, “Taste and see the Lord is good. Blessed are those who find refuge in Him.” A’idah is committed to visiting the sick and injured and testifying to Christ to everyone she meets. She believes that serving others is what makes someone great, and continues to pray for the rest of her family to come to faith. Please continue praying for people like A’idah who gets to know the Lord Jesus Christ and surrender their lives to Him. Also continue to pray for those faithful proclaimers of the Gospel! 21
Big Heart OrphanageTom Golliver By Lucienda Denson Tom Golliver knows a thing or three about orphanages. Recently, he shared how Asbury United Methodist Church became involved with the orphanage. “Big Heart Orphanage is just across the border from McAllen, Texas, near the border crossing. The orphanage was started by a gentleman named Robert Carter. He goes by Gater. He and his wife Deanna started it about 30 years ago. They have been the proprietors of the orphanage for that period of time. Gaterwas in McAllen, Texas, buying some supplies for his orphanage when he ran into one of our members of Asbury, Joe Brower, in a parking lot. He and Joe connected. “Joe leads a lot of the trips to Mexico for Asbury and stayed in touch with Gater. Most of the teams going to Mexico were going to Rio Bravo, a municipality that is about 15 miles from Reynoso. Fast forwarding, two years ago in 2016, an opportunity came up where Joe, after prayerful consideration, made a recommendation,” Typically, Asbury sends four teams annually to Mexico. Joe recommended two of the trips, preferably the ones made by high school seniors and college students, go to Big Heart where the students would serve at the orphanage. “Just two years ago, in 2016, we started going to Big Heart and serving for two trips a year. I’ve been to Mexico six times; four of the trips, three in the summer and one about a year-and-a-half ago, have been to Big Heart. We’ve made a strong connection with Gater and his family and staff at 22
Big Heart.” Tom anticipates the relationship with Gater, his wife and their family will continue.
“The trip we made with high school students in summer 2016 was the first trip we worked solely at the orphanage.” Participants at the high school level are students who have just graduated. Tom said one impact the trips make on the students is the realization the people they are serving have far less materially than is common in the United States. “Their houses are much smaller, their possessions are far fewer, their opportunities are far fewer. There are no malls or movie theaters. The area where they can spend their free time has far fewer things. They also see the same people in these communities have love and joy in their hearts. They smile, and they’re friendly, loving and outgoing. Our students see these things and realize it’s not the material things that bring people joy. The people find that in the love of family and Jesus Christ. They don’t have to have stuff like we do. I think that’s a big impact on our students. Life is so much different just across the Rio Grande River.”
He believes it is a realization they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. “They see poverty at an entirely different level than you see in the United States. There are much fewer places people can turn to for help. In the United States, there are volunteer groups, nonprofit groups and government agencies where poor people can turn for assistance, whether it’s financial, medical or food. That doesn’t exist in Mexico. There is a much bigger gap between those who have affluence and those who have not much of anything.” A mission trip generally takes a week out of Tom’s life, and he usually makes two annually. Pre-trip preparation takes much longer. “We’re always thinking about what we’re going to do. We’re going to share the gospel. Our mission teams, including our trips to Guatemala and Jamaica, have the reputation of being good people with good hearts and hard workers.” Tom said they spend time with Carter (Gater) and his family. “We work hard for them. They give us a list of things for us to do. We work hard and exceed expectations. We’re known for that.” He said he and the students do mental and physical preparation, so they can hit the ground running when we get there. “Gater has told us on several occasions that if we don’t come, a lot of the work doesn’t get done.” Tom said Gater and his son Micah are the people they have the most contact with. Micah coordinates their efforts, which are usually construction- related. A few years ago, Gater felt like he needed to have a school in the community. “On a number of our trips down there, we helped build the school, and it is now fully operational. If it had not been for the people at Asbury who go down there, the school would not exist.”
The most recent project is to build a place for mission teams to live in. Not only does Asbury provide the labor, it also provides funds to pay for construction materials. The Carters purchase the raw materials and have them ready so the mission team’s time is put to best use. “There are other mission teams from other churches but Asbury is one of the groups who have the greatest impact,” Tom said. Micah, his wife and family live in Reynosa; Gaterand his wife live in the orphanage. Mission trip members also like to engage with the children at the orphanage. “We talk to them, sing with them, and share the gospel with them.” Tom calls the mission trips labors of love. They “get there, and get after it,” he said, “even though the work is hard and the temperatures are high. Mission trip members interact with the Carter family and with the children in the orphanage. The orphanage is very much a family affair. Gater’s daughter Opal is in charge of the kitchen.” It’s also a benefit to the community. The school is about two blocks from the orphanage, and families in the community can apply for their children to attend. The orphanage does not have an onsite church, but when the mission teams gather for their devotional, the children often join them, as does Gater’s family. Funding comes from supporting churches, annual contributors that include churches and individuals. So we are all part of the family at Big Heart Orphanage.
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DEPENDENT ON THE
HOLY SPIRIT By Olivia Hurd
It was just days before my high school graduation when I decided impulsively to travel to Lebanon for the month of June to intern with Asbury’s partner organization, Horizons International. (This impulsiveness, I would later discover, was not in fact “pre-graduation stress disorder,” but rather the prompting of the Holy Spirit.) I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into, but I was excited for the adventure and ready to get my hands dirty deliv-
“Even if you gave them all the food in the world, what would they have to live for without the Bread of Life?” ering humanitarian aid to the Syrian refugees whose pictures I’d so often seen on the news. Once I got settled in Beirut, however, I was thrust into a role of evangelism, not humanitarian aid. I thought, these people are hungry. Shouldn’t we take care of their physical needs before trying to teach them about Jesus? Louis Liss, director of foreign staff at Horizons and personal mentor during my stay, posed a question that forever changed the way I view missions: “Even if you gave them all the food in the world, what would they have to live for without the Bread of Life?” It was then that I realized the importance of reaching people for Jesus. It’s easy to feel compassion for a starving person. The hollow caves he has in place of cheeks tell you he’s in pain; the bones poking delicately through her sallow skin tells you her body is in desperate need of nourishment. Spiritual malnourishment is not as obvious to the naked eye, so it’s easy to overlook in cases of extreme destitution. The fix for spiritual hunger (Jesus) is just as straightforward as the fix for physical hunger (food), but the Good News can unfortunately sometimes seem much harder to deliver. Three factors I thought would make witnessing to Muslims in the Middle East impossible: 1. I’m a white, western woman. They don’t want to hear what I have to say, right? 2. They already have their own religion. Really, there’s no way they want to hear what I have to say. 3. I don’t speak Arabic. Even if they want to hear what I have to say, they won’t understand a word. These fears, however, neglected the most important factor of all: We worship a living God who is all-powerful and calls us to make disciples. When Paul was speaking to the church in Corinth, he remarked that he “did not come with eloquence or human wisdom” when 24
he proclaimed God’s testimony to them. Rather, his message was “a demonstration of the Spirit’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:1). Though Paul’s writing in the New Testament indicates that he possessed a deep understanding of scripture, the ability to articulate his thoughts, and a high intellect, he “resolved to know nothing” and instead depended entirely on the Holy Spirit so that the people’s faith would rest on God rather than on anything human (1 Corinthians 2:2-5). Each time the Horizons team set out for evangelism of any kind, I was reminded of the power and importance of the Holy Spirit. Our team comprised of Lebanese, Egyptian, Jordanian, Syrian, Russian, Chinese, Kiwi and American men and women ranging from ages 17 to 65; by no power of our own could we overcome such communication and cultural barriers, yet God worked through this ragtag team to reach hundreds of Muslims with His Word.
less of your location, I would encourage you to remind yourself daily that we are called to make disciples, that the Spirit of God is with you, and that the word of God has true power. If you believe there is a real heaven and a real hell and the only way into heaven is through Jesus Christ, make a practice of looking
I would encourage you to remind yourself daily that we are called to make disciples. at each person you come in contact with and asking yourself, “Am I OK with this person never knowing Jesus?” Only God is capable of growing the faith of
Eastern culture tends to place great value on power and beauty, so one of the best ways to introduce those in the Middle East to the love of Christ is through storytelling. Just as Jesus spoke in parables, we used Bible stories to teach those we interacted with about the nature of God in an engaging and relatable way. One evening in Tyre, a team member struck up a conversation with a man strolling the boardwalk nearby. This man, we found out, was a fisherman. The team member began telling him about a few fishermen who set out to sea one night and, by morning, still had empty nets. They saw a man on the shore, and this man told them to try casting the net on the other side. When they did this, the net was so full of fish they couldn’t even lift it out of the water! (By now the man’s eyes
Introduce those in the Middle East to the love of Christ through storytelling. were lit with excitement.) When they recognized the man on the shore as Jesus, our team member continued, one of the fishermen was overcome by such excitement that he leapt out of the boat and swam to him. Though we were not able to share the message of salvation directly at that time, Isaiah 55 tells us that the when the Word of God goes out, it will not return without accomplishing what God desires. Though I have no more than a toddler’s grasp of the Arabic language, my experience in Lebanon was the first time in my life I felt fully capable of witnessing to others, because for the first time, I was completely dependent on the Holy Spirit. As you go forth, regard-
a person (1 Corinthians, chapter 3), but perhaps you are called to plant the seeds, or perhaps you are called to pray for them in preparation for someone else to plant the seeds. Whatever the case may be, look to God for direction and let the Spirit work through you. For to this end we have all received the calling: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 19-20 25
EVANGELISM
Is About Relationships By Pastor Daniel Dennison
My name is Daniel Dennison, and I’m an introvert. It’s not that I don’t like people or that I’m incapable of being an extrovert. It simply takes more effort and energy for me than the average person. This doesn’t make evangelism impossible, but it certainly makes it more difficult. For years, my approach to evangelism was “be nice and hope people decide to follow Jesus because of my niceness.” It’s a wellmeaning approach but not very effective. When I was in high school, I took a one-day evangelism course with some of my Bible study friends. At that time in my life, I was growing in my faith and excited about the opportunity to share the Gospel with others. I spent the day learning about sharing the Romans road to salvation, how to present the Gospel on a napkin, and how to lead someone to Christ with a three-minute presentation. The material was good, the leaders were very well-meaning, but I left that seminar more intimidated than ever. I decided evangelism wasn’t my spiritual gift and continued trying to lead people to Jesus by being friendly. 26
When I arrived at OU as a freshman, I was determined to find ways to share the Gospel with people I met. I was convinced God not only wanted me to but needed me to. Unfortunately, at large public universities, we frequently encounter street preachers. And although these men and women are often well-meaning, I found their style of evangelism extremely off-putting. They would march around with large banners, pound on their Bibles, yell through a megaphone, hand out tracts, and warn students that they were on a quick path to hell. You can imagine why, at that point, I was convinced that evangelism wasn’t my gift! I decided I was going to be as friendly as ever in order to lead people to Jesus with my actions and not my words. Thankfully, my sophomore year of college I took a semester-long course on evangelism through our student leadership program at the OU Wesley Foundation. This course completely changed my outlook and understanding of evangelism. What I learned through this course, and still practice to this
day, is that evangelism is all about relationships. Even the most introverted of people have healthy relationships with people from all walks of life. How can you leverage those relationships for the purpose of sharing the Gospel?
Evangelism is all about relationships Even introverts can do relational evangelism. If a stranger you’ve never met recommends a new television show for you to watch, you’re probably not likely to try out that show. But if a friend you trust invites you to watch that same show, you are much more likely to try it out. In either case, one thing is true: you have to offer an invitation. The same is true of inviting someone to church and encouraging them to pursue a relationship with Jesus. You may not feel called or comfortable to share the Gospel with strangers on the street, but you are more than capable of sharing the Gospel with your friends. And God needs us to do so. You don’t need to be a bubbly extrovert to make friends; you simply need to care about people and desire to love others as God loves us. When we truly care about others and strive to love them, we will naturally build relationships and trust. It is that relationship and trust that opens the door to share our faith and share the greatest news the world has ever known.
You have to offer an invitation That semester-long course on evangelism changed my entire outlook, and sharing my faith has come much easier for me. I have had wonderful conversations with good friends and acquaintances who don’t follow Jesus about why I do follow
Him. Some have chosen to pursue a relationship with Jesus because of those conversations and others have not, but all remain my friends. I came to realize that I didn’t have to worry about offending someone or not having all of the answers, because I was sharing my faith with men and women who loved and trusted me (and I them). Someone with whom you share mutual trust won’t be offended if you share something with them that is extremely important in your own life. They may not agree with it, they may not ultimately choose to follow your way, but they won’t be offended. In fact, they are more likely to be offended that you are unwilling to share such an important part of your life with them!
I believe God desires more from YOU If you describe yourself as an introvert, I want to encourage you: don’t let that be a hinderance to sharing the Gospel. It is fun and exciting to talk with people about Jesus and the impact He is having on your life. Who are men and women in your life who aren’t following Jesus? What is keeping you from having that conversation with them? As an introvert and someone who likes to please others, preaching to people with my actions and not my words often just feels right. And yet, I know God desires more from me when it comes to sharing my faith with others. I believe God desires more from YOU as well. But hear me clearly: I’m not telling you to go pound your Bible and ask strangers if they died tonight if they’d go to heaven or hell. I’m simply asking you to be more intentional in your friendship with others, and then, be bold and willing to share the greatest news in the world with them: The God of the universe loves and adores them and gave His life for them so they might have an abundant and eternal life.
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Always Love People More By Mindy Dennison
I like music. This probably comes as no surprise to those who know me, since I hold two degrees in music education, and spent the last 13 years teaching music in some capacity. I like listening to music. I like making music. I like teaching music. I like that I’m good at music. I like the doors it opened for me in the way of college scholarships. I like the confidence it gave me. I like the skills it gave me that carried over into other disciplines, like collaboration, work ethic, creativity and critical thinking.
I like music. But I don’t love it. I love people. I imagine this idea is true of all or at least most passionate educators. Literature teachers like reading, love people. Math teachers like problemsolving, love people. Social studies teachers like history, love people. Science teachers like understanding, love people. Media specialists like books, love people. Principals like leadership, love people. Coaches like sports, love people. But at the end of the day, it’s the connection to the people with whom I share the music that is the biggest reward of all.
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In some capacity, I have worked with almost every grade-level —from pre-k to 12th grade— over the past 13 years. With the exception of the two-year hiatus I took to be with my kids, I taught at least one high school class every year. Some students I only get to know their senior year. Others I am blessed to mentor and teach for multiple years — sometimes all four, of their high school career. Most of the time, they teach me, too.
At the end of each year, I found myself scrambling to complete their education. Not as musicians but as people. I thought of things I wanted them to know while I tried to sleep at night, while I got ready in the mornings, or while I drove to and from work. I patted them on the back or hugged them more often. I asked them about their plans and offered help if they had not finalized them. I wrote recommendations for scholarships and served as a reference for jobs. I let them “friend” me on Facebook. I reminded them to check in with in me from time to time. And sometimes I found myself saying things to them that seemed silly, but I really wanted them to know: “Don’t wait to tell people you love them. Call your parents. Always carry a little cash. Step out of your comfort zone every now and then. Volunteer. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Accept that failure is part of learning. Drink lots of water. Wear sunscreen. Treat yourself occasionally. Try not to let your gas tank get below one-quarter full. The experts are wrong: it’s perfectly OK to go to bed angry. You’ll be amazed what a little daylight will do for that anger. Don’t expect to magically have all the answers when you turn 18 or graduate from college. And don’t panic when you don’t.”
But more than anything, I wanted them to remember this: No matter how much you love what you do, always love people more. I believe this sentiment is also at the very heart of our faith. In fact, I believe this is being a Christian. No matter where on the spectrum of liberal to conservative your beliefs lie, we all agree Jesus was pretty clear about two things: love GOD and love PEOPLE. There really is no getting around that command from Jesus. There is no, “well, let’s look at historical context…”, or “the Hebrew/Greek/Latin has multiple meanings…” when it comes to loving people.
Notice I didn’t say you have to like people. You may not be a “people person.” And that’s OK. You don’t have to work with people to work on their behalf. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a job anywhere that doesn’t touch people in some way. You may not work directly with many people in a medical research lab. But your work could inevitably touch many people. As a journalist or a writer, you may not see the way your words affect those that read them. But they will.
Your work, even if done in solitude, will find a way to influence the lives of people. That is why loving people is so important. Love will hold you accountable to the knowledge that your work will find its way into the lives of others. It will drive you to work toward the benefit of others. And ultimately, this kind of influence can allow God to speak to someone’s heart. Perhaps this is why Jesus deemed these two simple commandments the most important: loving leads to a trust and connection that opens the door to sharing Jesus with those people.
Love prepares the soil and plants the seed that will grow and flourish when we share the Good News. Love GOD and love people… and by doing the latter we are fulfilling the former.
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S N I A L P CHA
nderson e H y a J r o t s a Q&A with P
One of our pastors, Rev. Jay A. Henderson, is a two-time Iraq War veteran. He previously served as a Military Intelligence Sergeant and later as a Chief Warrant Officer and UH-60 “Blackhawk” Helicopter Pilot. Now in the rank of captain, he serves as a chaplain for the Oklahoma Army National Guard. We sat down to discuss what ministry in the military looks like and how his pastoral role translates to the chaplaincy.
Q: So, this may sound a little naïve, but what is an Army Chaplain? A: Oh, that’s actually one I get a lot. People often seem confused about what chaplains do – especially since we have this whole “separation of church and state” thing in the U.S. But the truth is, chaplains derive their legitimacy and authority from the U.S. Constitution. Chaplains for the U.S. Army serve in a variety of ways, but our primary function is to ensure soldiers can exercise their constitutional First Amendment right of freedom of religion. We accomplish this by either performing religious services for soldiers who share our religious tradition or accommodating religious expression outside our tradition as best as possible. So, I do not perform Jewish services, and rabbis do not perform Christian services, but we help each other out. 30
Q: Does this still involve fighting? Do you carry a weapon as a chaplain? A: I am in the fight, for sure – but as a non-combatant. By Geneva Convention, I do not carry a firearm. My fight is for the souls of our soldiers. Army Chaplains are quite different from many other nations’ chaplains in how we are thoroughly integrated members of the commander’s staff and deploy forward with the rest of the unit. In most other nations, chaplains are just clergy who do religious services in the rear echelons. In the U.S., I am referred to as the commander’s “special staff,” which means I am one of the few people who reports directly to the commander. I advise on religious affairs, the spiritual health of the unit, etc.
Q: Do you act as a counselor, too? A: Yes. It’s actually a big part of what I do. I have one privilege no other position has in the military, and that is 100 percent confidentiality. Sometimes sensitive issues make soldiers hesitant to seek out help for fear of reprisal. But knowing our conversations are confidential helps foster trust and allows me to really engage with my troops facing times of crisis or seeking discernment. And that includes the commanders and senior NCO’s – they need a safe place too.
Q: Why do you serve as an Army Chaplain? A: Some folks claim that it is a conflict of interest to serve as clergy in the military. But I don’t see it that way. And it’s not because I give carte blanche assent to every decision the U.S. makes concerning armed conflict. In fact, it upsets me a great deal when our elected officials seem all too willing to use violent force. The soldier on the ground does not make international policy, but he or she certainly has to bear the burden of its consequences. And that’s who I am there to serve. When soldiers encounter the horrors of war, they need a voice reminding them of their humanity and who they are in Christ. And everyone deserves access to the sacraments.
Q: So how are you able to share your faith with soldiers who aren’t Christians? A: Legally, I am not allowed to proselytize. Nor do I try. But as a result of my service, I am able to interact with people I would never encounter otherwise. And as a result, opportunities present themselves constantly where
I can have significant gospel conversations. Often, I’ll just ask the question, “Are you a person of faith?” That’s a harmless and relevant question and it gets the ball rolling. For example – recently I did a suicide intervention with a soldier. Part of the conversation went like this:
Me: “So, are you a man of faith?”
Soldier: “Actually, that’s one thing I’ve been struggling with that I wanted to talk to you about. I feel like I’ve lost my faith.” Me: “What do you mean? You don’t believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead anymore?” Soldier: “Well…no, that’s not what I meant. I just mean that I feel like my prayers haven’t been answered, and I just don’t understand all this pain I’ve had lately. I haven’t gone to churchin a long time, and I just can’t bring myself to pray anymore.” Me: “OK, those are all legitimate concerns, but that doesn’t mean you’ve lost your faith. We can address each of those issues, but if you still believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead, then deep in your heart, you know we still have hope.” And from there we went on to talk about how Jesus overcame death and how that gives us hope for the future. We addressed a lot of other stuff, too, and got him some help, but a big part of his improvement was a whole-life reorientation because he was reminded about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It really was that simple. This soldier needed somebody who wasn’t too shy to remind him about the Good News.
Q: Any closing thoughts you’d like to share concerning your ministry as a chaplain? A: For me, it’s matter of integrity. As a pastor, I am practicing what I preach. In addition to my day job, I am getting out into the community to share the faith. Jesus Christ gave every Christian marching orders when he said The Great Commission - “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20.) You’re darn right it means a lot of extra work and burden – and that’s the kind of sacrificial life and love that Jesus demonstrated and calls us to as well. So, let’s get out there and make some disciples! 31
AND
MUSIC SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL By Crystal Dugger and Johnny Fuller
In June 2018, 41 musicians from Asbury’s New Covenant Orchestra and New Life Symphony Orchestra (Johnny’s non-profit orchestra from the Dallas area, whose mission is to share the gospel through the symphony halls of the world) embarked on a 10-day mission trip to São Paulo, Brazil. We worked through Global Missions Project, an interdenominational mission organization committed to leading Christian musicians in sharing Jesus Christ with the world, encouraging believers and ministering to people through music. We teamed up with Brazilian musicians from local churches and Mackenzie University for the various church services and special concerts. The friendships developed across language barriers and through the language of music became very special for us and them! Workshops with children and worship concerts at churches, concert halls and community theaters were all on our agenda, and we were believing for God to work through us. We also had a renovation project at a local church and art classes taught by some of our team members throughout the week. At every concert and service in which we performed throughout the week (seven in total), the audiences had vibrant energy and welcoming spirits. Narrative scripture readings about the attributes of God were 32
interwoven between gorgeous hymn arrangements, and members of the orchestra shared faith stories of God’s work in their lives. The reaction from those attending each worship concert and church service was evident from the tears on faces, and many people approaching orchestra members afterwards sharing how the testimonies and music touched their hearts. We began our week with three Sunday worship services at Morumbi Baptist Church and Liberdade Baptist Church. Both congregations made us feel so welcome and appreciated, and we thoroughly enjoyed accompanying their worship bands in their praise and worship songs, while also performing some of our music as specials. We all felt a mutual connection and were blessed by each other’s music. At Morumbi Baptist, Kay Hays also worked with the children on an art project. But more than that, Kay was asked to share her life story with the children. They wanted to know all about her including her family, education, career, interests and faith. It was a special time for her to share about God’s work in her life with these precious kids. At Liberdade Baptist,
during the praise and worship band set, we could see the evidence of God’s presence in the sanctuary through the passionate singing of the congregation, reminding us that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. It was especially meaningful when they prayed a blessing over us for the remainder of our week’s ministry. We could really feel the sweet spirit of the people throughout the whole service. We had a blessing of partnering with three local music projects that provide free music lessons to underprivileged children – Projecto Harmonia, Projeto AMIS and Projeto Criar. These projects are partially funded through the state but mostly by local churches. The role of Christian music teachers in this environment has incredible influence among children living in poverty and the role of Jesus Christ in their lives.
and musicality while taking time to share personal testimonies about why our orchestra was in Brazil and the impact of Jesus in their lives. A group of our brass players performed several hymn arrangements for each class during the workshop, while one of the team members shared a short Gospel presentation afterwards. One of the children rushed up to a trumpet player and told him a bright “heavenly” light was shining from his trumpet while he played. The Lord was definitely working through our gifts and talents to show Jesus to these children. The brass quintet also performed for the government social workers. This was a very meaningful time as Projecto Harmonia had recently received word that unless $150,000 would be received, their program was being reduced from 180 students to 100, but the impact of our musicians playing several hymns for those making these music school funding decisions was causing them to reevaluate. Monday evening, we had a concert at Theatro Municipal de Barueri, a venue in a depressed area of São Paulo and just down the street from the Projeto Harmonia. The Dream Orchestra, students from Projeto Harmonia, performed two pieces at the beginning of the concert – a moving arrangement of Gabriel’s Oboe and a traditional and fun samba. It was so special to hear them play after working with them all day. The parents of these students were so proud of their young musicians and blessed by our orchestra concert that followed where our music, testimonies and scripture were shared. The students from Projeto Harmonia were so excited to see all of us play, many looking for their teachers from earlier in the day to give hugs and share their bond through music.
We first worked with students at Projecto Harmonia in Barueri, a very poor neighborhood in São Paulo. Members of the orchestra conducted music workshops for strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion students, teaching proper technique
On Tuesday, we went back to Morumbi Baptist Church and worked with students from Projeto AMIS and Projeto Criar, two more non-profit arts schools. The variety of activities were incredible; the projects 33
help students develop skills in orchestra, choir, ballet, theater and judo, just to name a few. It was amazing to see how the local churches were supporting these children in developing skills in these different art forms. Each of the groups performed for us, and it was so special to see how much the arts meant to them. We also performed three songs for the kids that we would be performing that evening. In the evening, our performance was at Sala Hall São Paulo. Even before the concert began, the energy in the full-house audience was extremely lively with anticipation to hear an American orchestra in a free concert to the community. The children from the workshops performed at the beginning of the concert and after intermission, giving them an opportunity of a lifetime to perform in one of the greatest concert halls in the world. They provided an element of fun, Brazilian culture to the evening. One meaningful story we heard after the concert was from one of the children who performed. His parents had never seen or heard him play his violin, but because of this tremendous opportunity provided to their child, they finally came to this concert at Sala Hall to hear him play. Their faces were soaked in tears as they watched him play in the gorgeous symphony hall. Heather Fuller also shared her faith story about her and Johnny’s loss of their daughter, Ally. It was a very tender moment that demonstrated God’s faithfulness. The recurring response from the audience after the concert was that they could strongly feel the presence of the Lord.
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Two of our team members, Dan Kennedy and Wayne Werner, also worked throughout the week on a renovation project, helping to paint a local church. The church told them they had been praying for someone to help fill this need for them, and Dan and Wayne were God’s answer to their prayers. Many of the musicians we teamed up with were from Mackenzie University. One of our final concerts of the week was at their university concert hall to perform some our hymn arrangements and John Rutter’s “Gloria” with the University Choir. They were not only excellent musicians but wonderful people with warm hearts. The concert was attended by university students and members of the community. We also shared dinner with the Brazilian members of the orchestra where we received pins with an “M” as a gift to wear from Mackenzie University. It was such a sweet gesture from them saying we are now part of their university family too. Our final day in Brazil, we went to Igreja Batista Palavra Viva for our final church service. The large church congregation was very responsive, and we could feel the love of Christ reaching people
through the stirring music arrangements and a testimony by Sophia Thundu. Sophia shared about her coming to really understand the gift of God’s grace in her life and how her personal relationship with Jesus was then transformed. Their pastor also gave a gospel presentation while we played “What Wondrous Love Is This?” Our new Brazilian friends who played in the orchestra with us all week were sad to say goodbye after spending so much time with us over the previous 10 days. We learned a new word in Portuguese, “saudade,” which is used to explain the feeling of missing something or someone. But it goes deeper — it’s a beautiful word of Portuguese origin, evoking a sense of loneliness and incompleteness. This is the word they used to describe how they would miss us, and we felt the same about them. For those of you that kept our team in your prayers, thank you. We feel like the Lord used us in a mighty and powerful way to minister to the Brazilian people. We have come back feeling just as blessed by them.
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By Johnny Fuller
My parents, who were not believers when I was born, divorced while I was a newborn. When I was 6-years old, my dad decided that he should get his life in order, and he began attending a church in east Dallas. He met a man there by the name of Bob Johnson who worked for the Billy Graham Crusades. Bob was in Dallas for one semester taking a course at Criswell College, after which he would return to his work with the crusades. My dad invited Bob to stay at his place one night, and Bob used that opportunity to witness to my dad throughout the afternoon. My dad told him that he just wasn’t ready to give his life to Christ. Around midnight that night, October 9, 1982, my dad changed his mind and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.
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Anthony Correia / Shutterstock.com
Billy Graham Crusade Conversion
Anthony Correia / Shutterstock.com
JOHNNY FULLER’S
After Bob went back to work for the Billy Graham Crusades, he invited my dad to the 314th crusade on October 23, 1983, in Oklahoma City. My dad decided to go and take me with him. On the two Sundays at Cliff Temple Baptist Church prior to the crusade, I had felt a tugging in my heart at the altar call, but I didn’t fully understand what was going on or what to do with those feelings. I remember the evening of the crusade well. A fairlynew songwriter/singer, Amy Grant, was there and sang some of her new songs. When I heard Billy Graham’s message, everything became crystal clear, and I told my dad that I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart and make Him Lord of my life. I walked down the aisle while my dad followed at a short distance. I prayed with one of the gentlemen down front, and an indescribable joy filled my heart. I was given a packet that helped me with next steps. The next week, I made my profession of faith public and was baptized. My life has not been the same since.
MILESTONE ANNIVERSARIES
65
65 Dwayne & Awilda Godsey
Dick & Nevin Loerke
60 Robert & Joy Long
50 Larry & Joan Henry
50 Joe & Sandy Michalcik
65 YEARS
Dwayne & Awilda Godsey 9/5/53 Dick & Nevin Loerke 8/9/53 Bob & Mary Lynn Milam 9/6/53 Ron & Pat Thomson 8/18/53
60 YEARS
Charley & Sue Archambo 8/30/58 Charlie & Janet Johnston 8/25/58 Robert & Joy Long 9/20/58 Vic & Liz Schock 8/31/58
55
50
55 YEARS
Ed & Cay Anderson 9/7/63 Ken & Janie Bradford 8/31/63 Tom & Bonnie Brinner 8/24/63 Skip & Dyanne Sidner 8/24/63 Percy & Vesta Smith 9/26/63 Bill & Geneva Tinkler 8/3/63
55
55 Skip & Dyanne Sidner
50
50 Clyde & Judy Doyle
50 Bob & Jeanne Funk
50
50 Dan & Diane Shupert
60 Charlie & Janet Johnston
Tom & Bonnie Brinner
Mike & Kathie Bolick
John & Sherry Bailey
60 Charley & Sue Archambo
Ken & Janie Bradford
Ed & Cay Anderson
55 Bill & Geneva Tinkler
Ron & Pat Thomson
55
60
55 Percy & Vesta Smith
Bob & Mary Lynn Milam
Vic & Liz Schock
65
65
Bob & Jeannie Smith
50 YEARS
John & Sherry Bailey 8/10/68 Mike & Kathie Bolick 9/15/68 Clyde & Judy Doyle 9/14/68 Bob & Jeanne Funk 5/2/68 Larry & Joan Henry 8/17/68 Joe & Sandy Michalcik 8/24/68 Dan & Diane Shupert 8/31/68 Bob & Jeannie Smith 7/12/68
25 YEARS
David & Kim Broadhurst 9/4/93
20 YEARS
Gene & Kay Spell 3/12/98
5 YEARS
Malcolm & Judy Doyle Tracy 8/24/13
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NEW MEMBERS
Karl Ahlgren
Bryan and Tami Collins
Ty and Liz Cox
Susan Curtis
John (Allen) and Loretta Deiter
Kathy Estes
Michael and Rita Hale
Jamey and Rachel Iverson with Aiden and Gavin
Carol Mujinga
Jimm and Melba Schoolfield
Brad and Jennifer White with Harper, Max and Pete
Jacob and Katie Wilhoit
NOT PICTURED • Betty Jean Garrett • Bob and Evelyn Land • Robert Lanoue • Jacob Parra Russell and Haley Young with Alden
DEATHS Charlie Pruitt Died 3/24/2018 Husband of Kelly Pruitt
Jim Herndon Died 4/23/2018 Husband of Shirley Herndon
Roger Marshall Died 5/29/2018 Husband of Angie Marshall
Rhoda Sturla Died 3/29/2018 Wife of John Sturla II
Jean Robertson Died 4/26/2018
Janis Calhoun Died 6/2/2018 Mother of Pattie McTigue
Marilyn Plummer Died 4/3/2018 Wife of Floyd Plummer Maxine Lee Died 4/4/2018 Wife of Sid Lee James F. Rainey Died 4/10/2018
Patricia Miller Died 5/7/2018 Wife of Jim Miller Jim Jones Died 5/9/2018 Husband of Nancy Ann Jones
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Jennifer Jones Died 6/19/18 Daughter of Elizabeth & Dennis Jones
Harriett Roberson Died 5/15/2018 Wife of Jim Roberson
Husband of Elizabeth (Beth) Rainey
Martha Carpenter Died 4/19/2018 Wife of Bob Carpenter
Don L. Cooper Died 6/14/18 Husband of Pattie Cooper
Les Clutter 5/26/2018 Carl Carnahan Died 5/27/2018 Husband of A J Carnahan
Esther Gene Morrison Died 6/30/2018 Mother of Anita (& Ray) Hoover Alton (Al) West III Died 7/8/2018 Husband of Mary West
WORSHIP TIMES 8 am
Traditional Service in Mason Chapel
9:15 am
Traditional Service in Sanctuary
11 am
Modern Service in Sanctuary
LOOKING FOR TIDINGS OPPORTUNITIES? We’ve moved that information to Asbury’s Resource Area located in the main lobby.
You can also find information online at www.asburytulsa.org.
GENERAL INFORMATION Surgery or Hospitalization
Need Prayer?
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 make a pre-surgery visit, please call 918.492.1771.
If you have a prayer request and would like it to be included on Asbury’s prayer list, please call 918.392.1142 to leave your request, or go online to asburytulsa.org/adults/prayer/prayer-request. Many prayer warriors will be lifting up your concern in prayer.
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
Death in the Family When a family member dies, you should make one phone call automatically. Contact Sheryl Cory-Martin at 918.492.1771 and she will help you make arrangements for your loved one. Sheryl 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.
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. 39
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Tulsa, OK Permit #2439
A S B U RY
D AY O F S E R V I C E
Work and Worship at the 8th annual Day of Service
Sunday, September 9. Register at asburytulsa.org