Community Spirit Fall 2015 by Community Spirit

JOIN US AT VICTORY

SAT 5PM | SUN 9AM, 11AM, & 6PM | WED 6PM

@VICTORYTULSA 7700 S LEWIS AVE, TULSA, OK 74136 | 918.491.7700 | VICTORY.COM

Contents

Fall 2015 PUBLISHER & editor Tom McCloud

FEATURES 6 8 10 18 24 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 54 60 64 68

Newsboys Come to Mabee Center ORU Celebrates 50th Anniversary ORU Successful Grads ORU Grads – Local Preachers Methodist Manor Moore Funeral Homes Loaves & Fishes Operation Christmas APSO Assists ALS Patients Cancer Treatment Centers of America The Castle of Muskogee Celebrity Attractions Become a Foster Parent! Life and Death on Kilimanjaro Tom McCloud for the State House of Representatives AVB Bank’s New Building

COLUMNS 42 Mollie Myers 43 Danny Cahill, The Biggest Loser 44 Victory Christian School 46 Schulter Chiropractic 48 How to be Published – Yorkshire Publishing 50 Premier Education Partners 51 Healthy Smiles Dentistry 52 ACT Financial 70 Deniece Adsit

our BEST hearing aid technology ever! A hearing aid so comfortable you’ll forget you’re wearing it!

• Unmatched comfort • VirtUally inVisible • enhanced clarity

Appointments are limited. CAll TodAy to reserve your space! ®

HEARING AID LABORATORIES, INC.

918-838-1000 or 800-722-8050 2323 S. Sheridan Rd • Tulsa, OK www.MyCleartone.com

C o m m u n i t y S p i ri tma g a zi n e.com f al l 2 0 15

CREATIVE Director Ben Allen

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tom McCloud, Randy Cowell, Deniece Adsit, Mollie Myers, Dr. Schluter, Dr. Dennis Demuth www.mccloudmedia.com • www.communityspiritmagazine.com Distribution Community Spirit Magazine is distributed to churches, schools, restaurants, Christian bookstores, and other businesses. Call us today to deliver to your church. Community Spirit Magazine is published monthly by McCloud Media. Claims by advertisers and the opinions of writers within this publication do not necessarily represent the views of Community Spirit Magazine or its publisher, Equipment Publications, Inc. Philippians 2:1-2 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Our Mission: 1. Build Community – Develop a sense of community among all local believers in Christ 2. Inspire Good Works 3. Support Families 4. Share the Good News of Jesus Christ Fan us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CommunitySpiritMagazine

NEWSBOYS HEADLINE ‘WE BELIEVE…GOD’S NOT DEAD’ TOUR

Coming to Mabee Center Friday, November 20th WITH SPECIAL GUESTS HAWK NELSON AND RYAN STEVENSON Presented by Food For The Hungry • Mabee Center // End Arena Seating Friday, November 20, 2015 • 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:00 PM)

ulsa Believes Too Newsboys! And no doubt we will show up in force to hear our favorites and maybe even a few brand new songs. The chart-topping favorite Newsboys didn’t want to miss Tulsa and have included us on their We Believe…God’s Not Dead Tour. And if the Newsboys aren’t enough, they will be joined by special guests Hawk Nelson and Ryan Stevenson. Known for their electrifying live shows, Newsboys will come to the Mabee Center with all the excitement and energy that makes them one of Christian music’s most successful touring acts. The tour is named for the band’s hits “We Believe,” the group’s longest-running No. 1 single to date, and “God’s Not Dead (Like A Lion),” which has been Platinum certified by the Recording Industry Association of America, signifying single sales in excess of 1 million units. This success followed the band’s appearance in the spring’s hit motion picture GOD’S NOT DEAD, which showcased the Newsboys performing their hit song “God’s Not Dead (Like A Lion).” The film’s success catapulted the band’s God’s Not Dead album to RIAA Gold status last year. The single also appeared on God’s Not Dead – The Motion Picture Soundtrack. Since arriving on the scene in 1985 in their native Australia, the Newsboys have taken Christian music by storm. Nearly three decades later, the iconic band is an undisputed industry leader,

6 |

C o m m u n i t y S p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

garnering six gold albums; 8 million units in career sales; 33 #1 singles; multiple GRAMMY and American Music Award nominations; and signature hits ranging from “He Reigns” and “Born Again” to their recent 15-week chart-topper, “We Believe.” Expanding their reach into film, the band appeared in the 2014 Pure Flix hit, “God’s Not Dead,” inspired by their song of the same name. Currently comprised of drummer Duncan Phillips; lead vocalist Michael Tait; guitarist Jody Davis; and keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein, the Newsboys’ latest recording, Hallelujah For The Cross, marks their first-ever collection of hymns. The We Believe...God’s Not Dead Tour will benefit Food For The Hungry. Founded in 1971, Food for the Hungry provides emergency relief and long-term development programs with operations in more than 20 countries to help the world’s most vulnerable people. Learn more by visiting www.fh.org. For more information on the band and a complete list of tour dates, visit www.Newsboys.com.

How to Buy Your Tickets…

Also Enjoy…

The Crowne Plaza Box Office at the Mabee Center will open at 10 AM, Friday, November 20th, the day of the show. Tickets will be available online or by calling the Mabee Center Box Office (918) 495-6000. Tickets may also be purchased by calling 1(800) 678-1353. For your convenience, visit the Mabee Center Ticket Kiosk in the North Lobby to skip the lines! Use your credit or debit card to purchase tickets or pick up previously purchased will-call. Just pick, pay and print! The Ticket Kiosk is located at the west side of the Mabee Center Ticket Office.

Hawk Nelson Hawk Nelson are a band hailing from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada who formed in 2000. The band have released seven albums since their debut in 2004 and have become one of the most consistently popular Christian rock bands of their generation.

Prices: Price Level 1 Seating (Reserved) Floor (Rows 1-5) $45.00 plus $7.00 s/c Price Level 2 Seating (Reserved) Floor (Rows 6 and behind) $30.00 plus $6.00 s/c Price Level 3 Seating (Reserved) Lower Level (Gold Seating Sections B-L) $25.00 plus $5.00 s/c *A one-time order fee will be applied at checkout.  *Children under age 3 enter free.

For Just a Little More, Get the VIP Experience! VIP Experience add to any ticket purchase for $35.00 Each VIP Experience Package includes: • Early entrance to the venue (5:00 PM) • Exclusive VIP laminate and collectible • Early seating • Exclusive Q&A session with the band Note: No autographs or pictures will be allowed during the VIP Experience.

Ryan Stevenson Ryan Stevenson blends influences from soul, pop, and some of the great guitarists to create engaging acoustic guitar driven melodies. Embracing the idea that some of the most profound moments of worship emerge not from mountain-top experiences but from difficult, perhaps even catastrophic circumstance gives Ryan’s lyrics a poetic vulnerability reflecting honestly on the difficulties everyone faces. Newboys Song List Includes: “God's Not Dead (Like a Lion)”, “We Believe”, “Live With Abandon”, “He Reigns”, “Something Beautiful”, “I Am Free”, “Your Love Never Fails”, “It Is You”, “Entertaining Angels”, “The King Is Coming”, “I'm Not Ashamed”, “Here We Stand”, “Million Pieces (Kissin' Your Cares Goodbye)”, “Save Your Life”, “Stay Strong”, “Truth Be Known - Everybody Gets a Shot”, “I Fought The La...”, “Born Again”, “Miracles”, “In the Hands of God”, “You Are My King (Amazing Love)”, “Hallelujah for the Cross”, “In Christ Alone”, “Restart”, “Blessed Be Your Name”, “In the Belly of the Whale”, “That's How You Change the World”, “I'll Be”, “Wherever We Go”, “God Is Not a Secret” (feat. tobyMac), “Stand Up for Jesus”, “Go Glow”, “Disaster”, “Dance”, “Fishers of Men”, “Beautiful Sound”, “Jesus Freak”, “Glorious”, “Where You Belong / Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”, “Adoration”, “In Wonder”, “Love Liberty Disco”, “Build Us Back”, “Way Beyond Myself”, “Lord (I Don't Know)”, “Your Love Is Better Than Life”, “That Home”, “Spirit Thing”, “Everyone's Someone”, “Enemy” and “Take Me to Your Leader” C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fall 2015

| 7

ORU Celebrates 50 Years Continues to Impact Tulsa

any believed it was a crazy idea, while others marveled at his vision. But to Oral Roberts, the plan to build a worldclass university in what was then, undeveloped countryside, was not only doable, it was a direct order from God. Oral Roberts listened as God told him: “Raise up your students to hear My voice, to go where My light is dim, where My voice is heard small, and My healing power is not known, even to the uttermost bounds of the earth. Their work will exceed yours, and in this I am well pleased. Build Me a University. Build it on My authority, and on the Holy Spirit.” It indeed took a special kind of faith as those first 300 students and 30 faculty members stepped onto the campus to attend a university which had yet to be accredited. In an article for Excellence Magazine, author Danielle ParkerStoltz, interviewed Dr. William Jernigan, one of those first 30 first faculty members as he recalled that standard a very high standard was placed not only academics, but on every area of the campus. “Oral Roberts believed we should not be secondclass as an academic institution; we should be first-class,” Jernigan said. “The buildings and the equipment reflected that.” The high standard quickly paid off as ORU gained respect across the world for its world-class academics and state-of-theart technology. Here at home, the average Tulsans began to realize ORU was going to be a blessing. Not only did it bring in commerce, the students were impressive, polite. Local companies looked upon the university as a place

8 |

C o m m u n i t y S p irit m agaz ine.com f al l 2 0 1 5

to recruit dynamic, respectful, loyal employees. The university was growing, and with it, Tulsa was reaping many benefits. Among those benefits was a steady stream of visitors. As the Oral Roberts crusades and television ministries grew, so did the desire of people from literally all over the world, to come tour the university and spend time in the Prayer Tower. Staying at local hotels and eating in Tulsa’s restaurants, they brought much-needed dollars into the local economy. Today, ORU has more than 40,000 alumni serving in 102 different countries. This year, the enrollment is 3,611, an increase of 130 students from last year. These students embody a diverse population, representing 50 states and 85 nations around the globe. As ORU moves into its golden anniversary year, state-of-the-art facilities like the engineering department’s 3D Fabrication and Visualization Lab and the school of business’s ONEOK Executive Boardroom testify to the school’s growth and vitality, providing students with access to some of the latest technology. Tulsa would not be the same place without Oral Roberts University and we have ever reason to be able to continue to reap those benefits. Excellence Magazine quotes President Billy Wilson as saying, “There are a lot of good colleges. We are an exceptional college with a great future. We have world-class academics, a unique focus on physical fitness, an amazing student body and faculty—all fused together in a vibrant spiritual environment. I am certain that we will be the top choice for Spirit-empowered Christians seeking a higher education. A world-class university built on the Holy Spirit, with state-of-the-art technology, distinguished academics and facilities superior to those of any other institution in the world, sending Spirit-empowered leaders into the world—that is the reputation of ORU. In the next 50 years, that legacy will continue.” Dr. Wilson plans for ORU to continue to expand its reach – globally. We believe God has positioned Oral Roberts University at this time in history with unparalleled opportunities to advance the cause of Christ globally as never before. ORU is answering the call with our 50th Anniversary Campaign: To the Uttermost Bounds of the Earth. We are set to raise $50 million for immediate academic growth and expansion and an additional $20 million for the future through deferred, estate, and planned gifts to the endowment,” he said. He reports that ORU has no long-term debt and that the recent fiscal year closed in the black without utilizing any lines of credit. More than $100 million has been infused into campus revitalization since 2008 and enrollment has risen every year for the past six years.

With the funds from the campaign, the university plans to: 1. Expand its Globalization of the Whole Person Education Program. Over the last 50 years, students from 115 countries have traveled to Tulsa, OK to experience what ORU has to offer. In the next era, Dr. Wilson wants to provide that same opportunity on every inhabited continent, making a whole-person education accessible to millions around the globe. 2. Enhance its Physical Campus. There are plans to retrofit the “Baby Mabee” into a new Global Learning Center to provide a seamless hub to transmit innovation and mission through stateof-the-art technology. Classrooms will be equipped with touch technology, interactive SMART Boards, and other tools to give professors visually advanced options as they teach a wide variety of subjects. Classes and programs will be recorded and stored on file servers to be retrieved by students on their personal mobile devices or computers and by ORU satellite campuses worldwide. The center’s open architecture can adapt to changes in technology and learning styles, and also provide a venue for donor events and conferences, Golden Eagle Broadcasting content creation, and more.

lectually, but spiritually, socially, and physically. More than 2,300 students have received Quest scholarships in the last five years. As ORU expands, training a multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual student body will require a dramatic increase in Quest Scholarships for emerging student leaders around the world. 4. Strengthen its University Endowment. The funds will also strengthen the endowment designed to sustain the university for the future and ensure agility in an era of rapid, ongoing change. “Moving into our 50 year anniversary, we want to set ourselves up to fully become the university that God intended us to be from the beginning, the university that Oral envisioned 50 years ago, so that our greatest days are ahead of us in the 21st century,” said Board of Trustees chair Rob Hoskins.

One of the most exciting features of the GLC will be the Virtual Reality Classroom. Students will enjoy a multidimensional experience that gives them the sense of being fully immersed in the environment they are learning about…and they’ll have access to more than 7,000 learning modules, from partial to full simulations in every industry. Other campus enhancement plans include a new two-to-threestory, apartment-style residence to be constructed on campus to house 100 upperclassmen, an exciting track and field facility, and a Tennis Complex that featuring state-of-the-art surfaces, fences, and lighting. 3. Grow its Quest Whole Person Scholarships. The Quest Whole Person Scholarship program recognizes students who have demonstrated their determination to pursue wholeness—not just intelC ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 9

ORU Successful Graduates Senator Dan Newberry, Oklahoma District 37 Class of 1999 Diploma in Charismatic Ministry Class of 2014 B.S. in Business

enator Dan Newberry didn’t take the typical journey to reach a degree from ORU. He wasn’t a teenager when he enrolled. Instead, God opened the door to an ORU education slowly for him. It all started in the mid-90s when Dan signed up to be an usher at one of Oral Roberts’ events. He loved it and proved to be good at it and soon was asked to help lead the usher crew. But that would only be the beginning. He remembers the day when Lewis, the Chief Security Officer, asked him to go pick up Benny Hinn and his wife from the airport and then to look after them for the rest of the evening. It would be the first of many such assignments for Dan as he was soon asked to become Oral’s Chief Usher during the ICBM (International Charismatic Bible Ministry) Conferences, allowing him to be around some amazing people such as Kenneth Hagin, Billy Joe Daugherty, Marilyn Hickey, and of course Oral and Evelyn Roberts. “I was, of course, thrilled to be able to be able to serve those incredible ministers and to be able to learn from them both in a public ministry setting and behind closed doors. It was really a great mentoring opportunity. I don’t think I realized just how important that time would be in preparing me for what was going to come later in life,” he explained.

“I asked him, what his greatest memory was and he said he didn’t have one. He explained, ‘God is doing greater things in me today than he did yesterday.” At the time, Dan worked as a youth pastor for Abundant Life Fellowship. The pastor of that church encouraged Dan to attend a special program which was designed to help people who were in ministry get credentials and have some basic understanding of church administration, evangelical administration and the healing ministry. Dan entered the program and received a diploma in Charismatic Ministry. He continued working in Youth Ministry and helping Oral whenever needed until he started his own successful mortgage business. Dan made the decision to go back and get a Business degree from ORU. Squeezing in classes between work and serving in the Oklahoma Senate, he recently graduated with a Liberal Arts Degree with a focus on Organizational Management. He now has begun work on an M.B.A. at another university.

10 |

C o m m u n i t y S pirit m agaz ine.com f al l 2 0 1 5

Dan realized one day that Oral Roberts had never been sufficiently honored by the State of Oklahoma for the significant investment Oral had made in the State and the economic impact Oral Roberts University had made locally and worldwide. “I called his assistant and said I would like to honor Oral at the Capitol. They said they didn’t think he would want to make the trip to Oklahoma. So, I told them I would be willing to come to California to present the honor. Not long after that, I received a call saying he was indeed coming and wanted to have dinner with me the night before going to the Capitol. It was really a very special time in my life to be able to honor Oral and Evelyn during the later days of their life.” “The evening before we honored him, Oral and I sat down for dinner and had a great conversation. I asked him, what his greatest memory was and he said he didn’t have one. He explained, ‘God is doing greater things in me today than he did yesterday. To look to the past would be to look away from the Author and the Finisher of my faith, and I am looking to finish my race.’ I will always remember that great testimony from this guy in his nineties. I will forever try to do the same in my own life.” Dan was elected to the Oklahoma Senate in 2008 and has proven to be a strong leader in state government, serving in the Republican Leadership as Chairman of the Business and Commerce Committee. He also is a ranking member of four additional standing committees: Appropriations, Appropriations Subcommittee on Select Agencies, Pensions, and Transportation and has served as a Senate Majority Whip. While working at the Capitol, Dan holds down a full time job as the Vice President of Real Estate Development at TTCU The Credit Union. He and his wife, Laura, have four children: Claire, Paige, Eva and Alex.

ORU Successful Graduates Chris Busch & Ryan Busch Generations of ORU Entrepreneurs

before doing anything with the family. I needed to earn my own stripes,” says Ryan. He got exactly what he wanted: a journey all his own. Ryan graduated from ORU in 2007 and into a tanking stock market and economy. Jobs were scarce. Futures uncertain. And the new kid on the block didn’t stand much of a chance.

Tara Lynn Thompson

Unless you’re a Busch. Unless you’ve got entrepreneurialism in the platelets of your blood. And faith in your bones. While getting temporary work at a call center, Ryan finally found an open position in his field - marketing and sales. He interviewed three times. And then the call came, or so he thought.

hey may be the stereotypical entrepreneurial family. The Busch family starts businesses. It’s simply what they do.

No one can exactly pinpoint the beginnings of this family legacy. Chris Busch says the dream of owning his own business likely came during his childhood in New Brighton, Pennsylvania where many neighbors owned businesses and where nearly every one, at some point, employed Chris. He may have fallen irreversibly in love with the American dream during his pre-teen summers cleaning up trash at Hank’s Frozen Custard. Perhaps it came while working on the greens at Wilson’s Putt-R-Golf course. Or, maybe it was that season selling 100% of the ads for the Lions football programs? Most likely, however, it came while pumping gas, checking tire pressure, and cleaning countless windshields at Boron Oil, his father’s service station. Yes, the Busch family has always been entrepreneurs. “Growing up, I looked at these business people in my hometown and thought, ‘That’s what I want to be.’” So he did it. Chris traveled to Oklahoma from the industrial north and enrolled at ORU during the tenure of Founder and President Oral Roberts, an entrepreneur unparalleled in his day. Or even in this one. “I went into ORU as a dreamer, but I came out as a doer,” says Chris, who also came out with his wife of 42 years, Linda. He passed that passion for doing on down to all three of his children, including son Ryan. Daughters Tina and Kim, both ORU graduates have the bug as well. Tina’s Turning Pointe School of Dance is one of the largest in Colorado Springs. Kim has a thriving tutoring business, New Heights Tutoring, in Tulsa.

“They said another person had been highly recommended. So I told them, ‘You don’t need to waste your time interviewing them. You already have the right person for the job. I’ll work harder for you than anyone else can. You will always be glad you made the decision to hire me.’” So they did. As an award-winning online marketing specialist for a global media company, Ryan took his penchant for never accepting ‘no’ and his passion for the digital field, and has spent the last eight years honing his skills working with over 300 businesses to develop and implement online marketing strategies that worked. “My experience has helped me understand how consumer buying patterns and relational habits have changed online,” he says. These experiences, along with the family’s entrepreneurial legacy, is the passion behind the recent launch of DigiQuest.. Father and son are focused on helping their clients navigate the often confusing, constantly changing, ever evolving digital landscape so that businesses get what businesses need - a real connection to their customers. It’s not all that different from the days of the Al Busch Boron service station. Patrons still trust the Busch’s to get them where they need to go. And, while faithfully guiding you through the maze of Internet marketing, they just might clean your windshield too. DigiQuest is a marketing agency dedicated to helping businesses and nonprofits grow through creative effective and focused online campaigns. Ryan@TeamDigiQuest.com • 918.508.4998 Facebook • Twitter TeamDigiQuest.com Congratulations to our alma mater, Oral Roberts University on its 50th Anniversary!!

That familial passion has led to the launching of DigiQuest, a digital marketing agency owned by father and son. But it didn’t come easy or instantly. Ryan had his own journey to travel and it started at the base of those famous praying hands. “When I graduated from ORU, I wanted to create my own way C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fall 2015

| 11

ORU Successful Graduates Dr. Mitch Duininck, MD

Class of 1985 ORU School of Medicine Class of 1988 ORU Family Medicine Residency Training

itch Duininck was hoping to go to medical school. And while he was searching for the right school, his mother told him about this preacher named Oral Roberts in Oklahoma who had announced he was going to build a medical school to add to the existing university. This school was going to be unique in that it was going to integrate prayer and medicine so that people could be reached out to and touched when they were sick and in trouble. She urged Mitch to go check it out. “It was soon after the opening of the medical school. I interviewed and was offered a position. So, I drove down not knowing where I was going except that I was going to be a part of this brand new medical school that seemed to have a lot of excitement and that was bringing in a lot of people to teach and study who believed in this whole concept of combining prayer and medicine,” explained Dr. Duininck. While he was still in medical school, the City of Faith hospital opened and he had the privilege to train there with faculty who had come from very prestigious institutions and medical centers from all over the United States. He finished his four years of medical school and then joined the ORU Family Medicine Residency training program based at the City of Faith. “Residency is where you really learn how to be a doctor including a lot of practical things about medicine, health care, and about being a physician, but it was also a great apprenticeship in learning how to be a minister of the Gospel while also being a doctor. When I graduated I joined the faculty of the ORU School of Medicine and the faculty of the ORU Family Medicine Residency training program.” “Due to the strong emphasis ORU and the residency training program placed on international medical work, I was able as a student and as a resident to travel to Africa and work at a mission hospital. Subsequently, when I was on the faculty of the residency program, we began to specifically look for young men and women who had a heart to serve God in underserved parts of the world,” Dr. Duininck explained. In the fall of 1989, it was announced that the ORU School of Medicine was closing due to financial reasons. After prayer and counsel, the faculty of the residency program felt the Lord wanted them to continue this residency training program and to this day, it continues to thrive as In His Image Family Medicine Residency. It is conducting its training programs at St. John Hospital. “It is a perfect fit,” says Dr. Duininck. “In fact, their mission statement is… ‘To continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.’ ” Dr. Duininck explained that they have maintained a strong rela-

12 |

C o m m u n i t y S pirit m agaz ine.com f al l 2 0 1 5

tionship with ORU. “We provide healthcare to the students at the university through our private practice. We also have had some of our physicians lead teams of ORU students on medical mission trips, we have recruited ORU graduates, and ORU students have been involved in some of our training at the clinic.” About thirty-five of the In His Image graduates now serve as fulltime medical missionaries overseas. They also have eight international training programs in family medicine around the world in places like Africa, Central Asia and China. In these places, In His Image graduates are training physicians, teaching them skills and knowledge while also mentoring them in the Christian faith. In His Image has also developed a strong reputation for providing disaster relief response teams to places like Indonesia, Pakistan, Burma, northern Iraq, southeast Turkey, Nepal and other dangerous places around the world serving those suffering as a result of natural disasters and military conflict. Dr. Duininck and his wife Leah, who graduated from ORU in 1986 with a B.A. in Education, have raised their family with the same “Go into all the world” mindset taught at ORU. The whole family lived in Ghana, West Africa, for two years from 1999 – 2001 and they took a couple of their children with them to live in war-torn Kabul, Afghanistan, from 2010 to 2011. Their six children range in age from 16 to 27. You can learn more about the residency program as well as their important work overseas by visiting their website at www.inhisimage.org. and www.inhisimageinternational.org and at www.facebook.com/InHisImageInternational

ORU Successful Graduates Josh Glesener Paradigm Construction Inc. Class of 2009

osh Glesener had planned on going to Oklahoma State University. His strong academic success in high school had awarded him a full scholarship and he had heard great things about the Engineering program there. But God had different plans for Josh. Just for fun, he agreed to take a walk through the Engineering department at ORU.

“The problem was obvious however, to switch my plans to go to ORU, I would have to give up my full scholarship. On top of that, the tuition was of course higher as well. But when I told my parents about it, they were thrilled and became strong proponents of me attending ORU.” “I didn’t know they even had a decent engineering department and I wasn’t very interested, that is, until I met Dr. Dominic Halsmer. He impressed me with his background in Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering and there was just something about him that made me really want to go there. I was also attracted by the small class size and he pointed out to me that although they might not have all the high tech gadgets I would find at OSU, ORU would provide me with the opportunity for much more hands-on experience. The class sizes at ORU would be dramatically smaller, running about 10 to 20 instead of the 100 to 200 common at OSU.” “The problem was obvious however, to switch my plans to go to ORU, I would have to give up my full scholarship. On top of that, the tuition was of course higher as well. But when I told my parents about it, they were thrilled and became strong proponents of me attending ORU.”

“Josh’s parents are both well known in the ORU community. Christy and Kent Glesener run a ministry called Shofar International.” Since graduation, Josh has continued to stay connected to ORU. He volunteers to assist the Engineering Department, serving on the advisory board and helping the ASME (Association of Mechanical Engineers) club. Now the Vice President of Operations at Paradigm Construction, Josh manages the day-to-day operations, providing the project management for the crews in the field as well as running the office,

including overseeing the Human Resources, payroll and contract management. Paradigm Construction builds roads and bridges across the state of Oklahoma, mostly in the eastern part of the state. They work mainly for the Department of Transportation as well as cities, counties and tribal nations. Josh’s parents are both well known in the ORU community. Christy and Kent Glesener run a ministry called Shofar International. Called to minister to the Jewish Nation, they have opened soup kitchens in Israel, Ukraine and Poland. Although they focus on helping hoicost survivors, they have recently branched out to South Africa. They are presently helping to work on an orphanage in Mozambique. Here in town, they are well known for their work organizing the annual Faith and Freedom Conferences. Josh and his wife, Natalie are expecting their first baby in February. Paradigm Construction is headquartered in Tulsa. They provide construction on Highway Bridges, Engineering Bridge Rehab & Repairs, Cofferdams, Pile Driving, Box Culverts, Value Engineering, plus Construction Consulting & Management. C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fall 2015

| 13

ORU Successful Graduates Senator Gary Stanislawski, Class of 1996

enator Gary Stanislawski earned his Master of Arts degree in Christian Education from Oral Roberts University where he graduated with honors in 1996. He served as the Sunday School Superintendent of his 17,000 member church for five years. He also served as the Vacation Bible School director for 12 years and taught in the Church’s Bible Institute for 6 years. Senator Gary Stanislawski was elected to the Oklahoma Senate on August 26th, 2008, by the voters of Senate District 35. In 2011, he was elected by his caucus to serve as a Majority Whip. Gary is uniquely qualified to serve as State Senator because of his extensive experience, unwavering commitment to Oklahoma values, and demonstrated performance as a public servant. He is the Chairman of Transportation and Chairman of the Oklahoma Compensation and Unclassified Positions Review Board. He is also a Member of Appropriations, Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, and a Member of Education and Insurance committees. A passion for Senator Stanislawski has been increasing learning opportunities for K-12 students by writing laws that allow the students to take either supplemental or full time online courses in Oklahoma. This is especially important for students who wish to take Advanced Placement courses in schools where there may not

14 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i rit m agaz ine.com

FALL 2 0 1 5

be certified instructors. In 2012, he created the Oklahoma Virtual Charter School Board to enhance the quality and accountability of the full time virtual schools. Currently Oklahoma has over 6,000 full time online students. In 2000, Gary began his political career when he was elected to the Jenks Public Schools Board of Education. Gary served for eight years until being elected as a State Senator in 2008. Gary was awarded a four-year ROTC scholarship and attended Oregon State University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and was awarded the JA Ingals leadership award. Upon graduation from Oregon State University, Gary entered the Air Force and subsequently earned his wings as a pilot in 1984. Gary flew for eight years, flying planes such as the B-52 and the B-1 Bomber. He has approximately 2,000 hours of flying time. Gary began his career in the financial services field in 1993. Gary is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with over 22 years of experience. He is the founder and president of Regent Financial Services, Inc. Gary works with individuals and businesses in investment, retirement and estate planning. Gary and his wife Dayna have been married for 34 years and have two children, Shawn and Kristie.

ORU Successful Graduates Paul M. Ross VP of American Waste Control, Class of 2004

hen God spoke to Oral Roberts about building a university, He told him to prepare ORU students to go into everyman’s world to be a light of Hope. Roberts knew the importance of the business world in reaching people: it’s where you can best build relationships and engender trust. But, he also knew that the greater the influence we have as believers, the better the opportunity to reveal the love of Christ to others. That’s exactly how Paul M. Ross sees his role as Vice President of American Waste Control. Not only has it given him insight on building solid business relationships, but it’s given him the opportunity to show God’s love like never before to his customers and employees. Ross is now in charge of the daily operations of a multi-million dollar waste collection, recycling and disposal firm—and that includes the daily activities of all its 200 plus employees. It’s a dream job for the ORU alum, but one that has him focused on big responsibilities and day to day challenges. Ross says he’s lucky to have a mentor like American Waste Control owner and founder (also his step-father), Kenneth Burkett—the man who has taught him the most about building relationships and treating people right. “It’s all about people…that’s number one,” said Ross. “Kenny has taught me that relationships aren’t just the most important thing, they are the only thing. I’m very blessed to have the opportunity to impact so many lives, from customers to employees. I really love this job, but I know it comes with incredible responsibilities to make sure folks are well cared for.” Asked what he loves most about his role at AWC, Ross said it’s the chance to meet and connect with others on a daily basis: “Talking with employees and customers, gives me a chance to impact their lives. I love showing people I care as a leader, and helping them discover their capacity to do and become their best.” Then there’s the love he has for the community itself. In addition to his job at AWC, Ross is intimately involved in educational, leadership, advocacy, and service programs, which address the needs of people living in the Tulsa area. This includes active participation in past years on the board of the Bixby Rotary Club, where he received an award for outstanding service, and as a board member of American Therapeutic Riding Center, a Tulsa-charity dedicated to benefiting disabled children and adults through therapeutic horseback riding. Ross is now the current acting chairman of this year’s downtown Tulsa Christmas Parade—a role he says he loves and one that he hopes will help bring the Tulsa community together even more. As an ORU grad, Ross says he has very fond memories of the university and is grateful for the incredible foundation for life that it gave him. He’s even kept some college notebooks on a shelf at home that are crammed to the margins with tips and ideas that he still reads and adheres to. Much of it—from Dr. David Dyson, former Dean of the ORU School of Business and his favorite teacher, whose advice, he says,

always echoed God’s Word and gave him the conviction to do the right thing no matter the consequences. “Ethics and Godly principles come from the Dr. Dyson playbook,” says Ross. “He’s an incredible man, and I owe him a lot for teaching me how to apply God’s truth to business and life.” Most importantly, Ross says, his ORU experience has made him better grounded as a man of God—and very thankful for God’s greatest gift in his life: his family. It’s a source of strength he draws on daily. “Nothing means more to me than my family,” Ross says. “I’m very blessed to have my wife, Liliana, and the kids by my side and count on their support daily to help me as I lead and impact others. They are a gift from God, and I could not do what I’m doing without them.” Ross has a light shining steady on the business world. And, what God is doing through him, he feels a real and enduring passion to continue—to be the best family man he can be and to teach others about the community-wide impact of waste and recycling. It’s hard to imagine a better legacy from an ORU alum. Ross has devoted his life to reaching out to God, and, in turn, God is using him to touch others.

C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fall 2015

| 15

ORU Successful Graduates Representative Pam Peterson Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 67 Class of 1977, B.A., Communications Into Every Man’s World

am Peterson learned many valuable lessons while at ORU. But like so many before her, one challenge she would never forget is to “Go into Every Man’s World.” She remembers that it was an exciting and new concept at the time…one which taught her she didn’t necessarily have to be in ministry to spread the Gospel. “No matter whether you were studying to be a doctor, nurse, teacher, trainer, coach or even if you were studying for your B.A. in Telecommunications like I was at the time, Oral Roberts taught us that our career could be our mission field,” she remembered. The idea of being able to share Jesus wherever she went made every job role a unique opportunity for Pam. She carried the concept with her as a young bride, following her husband, Paul, to the University of Minnesota where he attended medical school. She carried it to a Minneapolis television station where she worked for a while as a producer and on-air talent. Later, she applied the concept in Madison, Wisconsin as she began working as a volunteer legislative liaison with Concerned Women for America. It was here, while she testified before committees on Pro-Life, family and education issues, she would find that she could also take her faith into the world of politics. It would be a role which would begin to prepare her to do something she never thought she would do… run for political office. She can now look back on it and see that it was God hands which were opening the doors of opportunity. “Wisconsin’s Governor Tommy Thompson even nominated me to work on a task force on children and family issues, something which helped prepare me to later work with the Department of Human Services as a legislator. God orders our steps. I had no idea that one day I would be back in Oklahoma running for public office, but God did.” Pam ran for the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2004. The novice politician impressed her district as she gathered in 68 percent of the vote against three male opponents. She was so well liked, for the following four terms, would run without a Republican opponent and only draw one Democrat opponent in 2008. Years later, when Oral was in his 90s, Pam was able to help honor his impact on Oklahoma. In her role as a respected legislator and an ORU graduate, she was given the opportunity to co-author a resolution to honor him at the Capitol. That day, she was able to thank him for challenging her to “Go into Every Man’s World.” “I joked with him that I had indeed listened because at the time, there were very few women in the legislature. Politics really has been ‘a man’s world.’ In fact, Oklahoma still ranks number 49th in

16 |

C o m m u n i t y s p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

the number of female legislators,” she explained. Pam is thankful and proud to be an ORU alum. Not only did the university provide an excellent education, it also provided a uniquely close-knit culture she continues to enjoy even to this day. She remembers when she and her husband moved back to Tulsa. “Even though we had been away for many years, we walked into a church and were greeted by twenty or more college friends who had remained in town after their graduation,” she said. Legally term-limited to 12 years of service in the legislature, Pam is preparing for her final legislative session. Through those years, she has been a trusted advocate for protecting Oklahoma’s families. Her political resume is impressive and she is greatly respected by people both inside and outside of politics. She has served as the Majority Whip and was the first woman to ever hold the position of Majority Floor Leader in Oklahoma history. She currently chairs the Criminal Justice and Corrections committee and is the vice-chair of the Committee on Children, Youth and Family Services. In addition, she also serves on the Appropriations and Budget Committee, and Public Safety Committee and has been honored as Legislator of the Year by different organizations. Her role has allowed her to work on a wide array of issues, but she might be best known for her work to protect the unborn. She has authored important legislation on the subject, impacting the battle against abortion. We don’t know what might be next for this respected, Christian stateswomen. Whatever it is, you can be sure that this ORU grad will continue to “Go into Every Man’s World,” with a heart for the lost and a vision of ways to make our community better.

ORU Successful Graduates Tim Lyons Class of 1982 President of TTCU The Credit Union

uring the heydays of the late seventies, when the basketball team was ranked in the Top Twenty, the new Mabee Center was packing in record audiences and the City of Faith was under construction, Tim Lyons was studying hard, but loving every minute of being on campus. His mother had begged him to consider the school, but it wasn’t until he became a Christian at the age of 18 that he sheepishly asked her, “Do you still have that catalogue from Oral Roberts?” Attending ORU would serve to impact and change Tim’s life in many ways. Now as the President of TTCU The Credit Union, he credits the experience with giving him a great education, but more importantly, teaching him Godly principles he has relied on ever since. He says the biggest of those principles was ORU’s emphasis on learning how to hear God’s voice. “Working in the business world, I am continually faced with challenging decisions that take a great deal of wisdom. I look to the scriptures, to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and to Godly counsel from mentors for wisdom. Of course I don’t discount common sense and information, nor do I disregard best practices. I try to take the best of all of that, but at the end of the day, I realize that the Lord made us all and He has all of the answers. I learned that during my years at ORU. I was a brand new Christian when I arrived and so those four years were really foundation years in my Christianity. “I was blessed to be part of the ORU Accounting program. It was great school filled with wonderful professors, but there were a couple of professors which made a special impact on me. There are no finer professors in the country than Ray Gregg and Terry Unruh,” Tim said.

when they added a Controller position, Tim applied and got the job. He became the Chief Financial Officer in 1996 and the President in 2011. Tim continues to bleed ORU Blue and Gold. Not only did he graduate there, it was where he met his wife and where both of their daughters are ORU graduates. He has been an active alum and was recently asked to become a Trustee and will be installed on the Board of Trustees this November. “ORU is an amazing place, full of so many passionate people. They are passionate about ministry, about business or whatever field they go into. They know they can go into every man’s world and have an impact. And that is how it was for me. I came out believing I could go into the business world and have a big impact on people’s lives. I wasn’t there just to make money or to be an employee and help that company succeed. I was there because God has assigned me to that place. Sure, I was supposed to be the best employee ever, but I was also there for other purposes, to work for a Higher Power.” Tim is very proud of the TTCU organization. He explained that he is only the company’s 7th President and every one of them has been homegrown up through the ranks of the company. “It is a special culture with incredible values and ethics and unlike a bank, a credit union is owned by its members. That changes the tone of every decision. We do our absolute best to take care of every member.”

Tim graduated with an Accounting degree and received his CPA. He and his wife Carol (Nursing - Class of 1982) decided to make Tulsa their home and Tim began his career in public accounting. TTCU (Known as Tulsa Teacher’s Credit Union at the time) was his firm’s largest client and Tim respected them very much. So

When Tim started with TTCU, it had 200 million dollars in assets. During the last 27 years, he has been there to watch it continue to grow, now with assets topping 1.6 billion. C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 17

Example of ORU Grads Preaching in Tulsa Churches Reverend Tom Harrison Asbury United Methodist Church

om Harrison is well-loved by the members at Asbury United Methodist Church. Ask them and they are likely to talk about his understanding of the scriptures, his passion for Christ and his love for his wife, Dana and their three children, Joshua, Jessee, and Jeffrey. But they are also likely to describe him as a huge St. Louis Cardinals Baseball fan, and as a preacher who is as spontaneous, funny and mischievous, as he is reverent. He was born in Norman, in fact he still is an avid Sooners fan, but he claims his hometown to be Tulsa, where his family attended Rose Hill United Methodist Church. He graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1972. He received a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Oral Roberts University specializing in “Covenant Discipleship”.

“Ask them and they are likely to talk about his understanding of the scriptures, his passion for Christ and his love for his wife, Dana and their three children, Joshua, Jessee, and Jeffrey.” He has pastured Vice/Lenora in the Woodward District, Sallisaw in the Muskogee District and Sunny Lane in the Oklahoma City South District. He has been the pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa since 1993. Asbury has a membership of 8000+ and a worship attendance of 3000. Dedicated to serving his community outside the walls of his own church, Tom has served on the Conference Boards of Higher Education, Evangelism and Communication. He has been involved in the “Walk to Emmaus”, and the Vision 2000 event. He was the 1992 clergy Denman award winner of the Oklahoma Conference. He serves on the Beeson Clergy Council for Asbury Theological Seminary, served as a delegate to Jurisdictional Conference and General Conference, and as a delegate to the World Methodist Council. Tom also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Baltic Methodist Theological Seminary in Tallinn, Estonia. Even if you haven’t attended Asbury, you would probably recognize Tom Harrison’s voice from the radio. His “Perceptions,” sixty-second lessons to live by, have been on drive-time radio for twenty years. In fact, they have been so popular that he routinely puts them together into a book by the same name. Thus far, he has authored eleven of them. Tom Harrison had the difficult challenge to try to replace Reverend Bill Mason as Senior Minister at Asbury. Mason was so

18 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i rit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

loved both by the church and throughout the community that as the story goes, when the Methodist Bishop told Harrison that he had the job, he asked him “What are you going to do? Harrison quipped back, “I am going to do such a good job that they will think you are the smartest man in the world.” Bishop Solomon then told him not to get too comfortable, because he would probably only be at Asbury for a year. “Churches rarely like the first new pastor,” he explained. It has now been twenty-two years later. Tom’s Axioms “Grace first and foremost” “Lower your expectations and raise your commitment” “As the Seminary goes-so goes the pastor; as the pastor goes-so goes the church; as the church goes/so goes the world” “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken.” “Abundance – not Scarcity (Be Generous)” “Humility is the essential virtue; Hubris is the essential vice.” “Work like it all depends on you – pray like it all depends on God” “It’s amazing how much can be done when you don’t’ care who gets the credit.” Nobody is large or small. We’re all medium Compliments of The Tidings, Asbury’s Magazine Asbury is located 6767 S Mingo Rd. For more information, visit their website at www.asburytulsa.org or call 918-492-191.

Example of ORU Grads Preaching in Tulsa Churches Roger Nix Believer’s Church Class of 1983

s Roger watched Oral Roberts television show on Sunday mornings before church, he grew more and more interested in attending the university.

“I remember the night I drove to Tulsa from West Texas. As soon as I came on the campus and could tell this was an exciting place. As I met the people, I was absolutely convinced. And to this day, I feel the same way…that is what makes ORU a wonderfully unique place… the people, the relationships you find there. It is where I met my wife, Donna and the people I met there are still my closest friends. Many are part of our community here. Probably threefourths of our staff are ORU grads, as well as good part of our elders, and forty percent or more of our members have an ORU connection. There is a true legacy that ORU leaves in you… a desire to fulfill that vision that Oral had. It is beautiful.”

“That original church was built on two pillars…prayer and unity. (Acts 1:14) We believe as we pray, the Lord unifies our hearts with His heart” After graduating with as a Bible Major and a Psychology Minor, Roger set out to fulfill that mission in his own life. He and his wife Donna, also an ORU graduate, were married right out of school and Roger became part of the founding team of Impact Productions. “We began traveling, doing evangelistic ministry through The Masterpiece and Toy Maker’s Dream for around 19 years. During that time, we saw hundreds of thousands of people come to Christ.” However, in 2001, Roger believed God was taking him in a different direction. He became Lead Pastor at Believer’s Church. Now, nearly 15 years later, he leads the “community” at Believer’s Church, a group which has expanded to around 900.

“There is something about this university that draws people who want to make a difference in the world and who are passionate for Jesus”

in all of life and help others to do the same. And that sets us on a journey to do life-on-life with one another, life in community and life-on-mission as passionate lovers of Jesus. Like the first church, Believer’s Church places a strong emphasis on prayer. “That original church was built on two pillars…prayer and unity. (Acts 1:14) We believe as we pray, the Lord unifies our hearts with His heart.” Roger is a great fan of the university. “ORU in terms of its leadership and structure has changed, but the heart and the spirit and the heart of the kids we see hasn’t. There is something about this university that draws people who want to make a difference in the world and who are passionate for Jesus. We have a lot of folks in our community who play key roles at ORU. They are absolutely quality people and they love those kids. There is something supernaturally dynamic about Oral Roberts University.” Believer’s Church meets at 4705 S. Memorial Drive in Tulsa on Sundays at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Then, during the week, they meet in smaller groups (life groups, d-groups and Bible Studies). For more information, you can visit their website at www.bctulsa.com or you can contact the church office at 918-495-2929.

Roger loves what he does and explained the church’s uniqueness in this way. The vision is Jesus. In other words, Jesus defines and reveals the way all things really are. If you want to know exactly what God is like or what humans were meant to be, look at Jesus. If you are seeking to define or experience love, family or friendship, get to know Jesus. He is our identity and our worth. Only then are we able to fulfill our purpose as the family of God on mission with God. That is our very simple vision… to follow Jesus C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

Fa ll 2015

| 19

Example of ORU Grads Preaching in Tulsa Churches Pastor Chris Buskirk Abiding Harvest United Methodist Class of 1986 Major in Psychology, Minor in Bible

hen Chris Buskirk packed his bags to head off to seminary, he took his ORU experience with him. He knew he didn’t ever have to worry about being misguided by any liberal theology. After all, ORU had given him the opportunity to see God perform miracles and intervene in people’s lives in ways he could never deny. With such experiences forever carved into his mind, even the most liberal professors could not possibly shake his faith. “ORU is not just an education, it is an experience. When I went to seminary, my faith was far from being just conceptual. I had seen God move in enough authentic ways. I had a ballast and could not be swayed.” A good part of that ballast came from his father, Dr. James Buskirk, who had his own personal healing. “Dad was healed of blindness when I was about two years old. He had corneal retinitis, which is not a disease people recover from. At best, they can arrest its deterioration of the retina, but it is almost medically unheard of that sight is restored. My dad’s sight was completely gone in one eye and down to about 20 percent capacity in the other. One day, a little old lady prayed for him and he discovered that God can and really does intervene in our lives. In two years, he had better than 20/20 vision in both eyes.”

“You can tell the difference between being in a place where people are ‘friendly’ and in being in a place where people are ‘friends.’ We are much more the later” “The healing my father experienced was the reason my dad, as a Methodist with a doctorate… ‘an academic,’ got in touch with ORU and became the founding Dean of their theology school. Later, he would serve as the Senior Minister at First United Methodist from 1984-2001.” Chris left ORU with a fire for sharing the gospel. “ORU is full of exceptional people. Almost everybody there was infected with the idea of desperately wanting to make a difference in his or her world. You can’t hang out with a bunch of people like that and not get infected by them.” While studying psychology, Chris took a clinical class where the students were divided into groups. About six weeks of meeting together, he experienced how they all got comfortable with each other and started sharing their hearts. To this day, he is amazed with the results. “Here we were, ‘whole men and women from ORU,’ ‘mind, body and spirit machines,’ yet people began to share deep personal hurts and struggles. It sold me on the importance of

20 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i rit m agaz ine.com

Fal l 2 0 1 5

forming a therapeutic community. I felt called from that moment on to ‘do church’ differently and have done it differently everywhere I have served.” Since helping to start the church in 1999, he has intentionally made Abiding Harvest a “Small Groups Church.” The 500 or so members meet weekly to try to “walk out” the lesson taught on Sunday. Here, they become life-long friends and truly learn to care for each other. Now, sixteen years later, the groups and the church are going strong. In fact, Abiding Harvest is now in their first expansion program since constructing their beautiful facility at 4407 S. Olive in Broken Arrow. “It has been a steady, solid church. It is a place that is hungry for the Spirit of God. You can sense it in the worship and people often say, ‘I felt the anointing as soon as I came into the building.” “You can tell the difference between being in a place where people are ‘friendly’ and in being in a place where people are ‘friends.’ We are much more the later,” Chris said. Abiding Harvest United Methodist Church meets at 4407 S. Olive Avenue in Broken Arrow. They have Bible Class at 9:00 a.m. (called “The Nine”) and then serve a FREE Breakfast each Sunday morning at 10:00. Worship begins at 10:30. For more information, visit their website at www.abidingharvest.org.

Example of ORU Grads Preaching in Tulsa Churches Pastor Paul Daugherty Victory Christian Center Class of 2008

RU was not an automatic, or even first choice for Paul Daugherty. He laughs about it now, but it was a very difficult decision. “Out of all of the kids, I was probably the one closest to not going to ORU. I wanted to do music, so I was looking at a lot of different music schools. All of them were liberal and Mom and Dad were just like, ‘Paul, we will let you decide, but we are just warning you (of the dangers) and that we are not going to pay for it. If you choose to go to one of those other schools, you are going to have a lot of bills, but if you go to ORU, we will pay for it. It will be free.’ Finally, I had been praying and God spoke to me and asked me why I was fighting this. This is where I want you to go.” “Once I obeyed, it still wasn’t perfect. In fact, my freshman year was really tough. I even thought about quitting. I went to see then president, Richard Roberts because there was a relationship there. I found it tough to go to ORU because I was in my brother’s shadow and in my dad’s shadow. I was working as a janitor on campus and wasn’t too excited about that. ‘God, why did you bring me here, I asked?’ There I was at midnight, cleaning up some kid’s nachos at the baseball stadium, feeling really sorry for myself. I was discouraged. I wasn’t getting involved on campus. But it was a pity party and after I talked with the president, talked with my parents and prayed, I at least made it through that first year. That summer, I moved to Maryland, mainly just to get away. My parents told me, ‘When you come back you will know what you are supposed to do.’ They were right. I came home August 10th, just two days before classes were to start, and I told them that I had decided I was supposed to be at ORU. From then on, it was amazing. I wouldn’t trade my sophomore, junior and senior years for anything. I met the right guys, moved onto the right floor, and got involved with the right causes and groups. I just loved it.” “I majored in Ministry and Minored in Business and Music. I especially loved my Business classes and even today, I often see Dr. Gregg, my accounting teacher. Those accounting skills come in handy as I review the church financials each week.” “One thing I loved about the ORU professors is how personal they were. I almost triple minored in Spanish because I had a great Spanish teacher, Dr. Chale, who is still there. He would have a bunch of us over to his house and we would mow his lawn and then eat, play Alias together and just build relationships. I had many other great professors who made an impact on my life.”

And, the speakers we bring in often speak at the ORU chapel. There are also many ORU students who work on staff at Victory and many attend here.” Paul has begun a Master’s in Theology, but has taken a pause because life got too crazy, pastoring Victory, raising two babies, and doing life. But he plans to pick back up next semester. Victory continues to grow. It now has nearly 15,000 members and a weekly attendance of around 8000. Attendance has grown over 500 people per week just in the last year. “There are a lot of young people coming, but there are also a lot of older coming. I would say the new member lunches I attend, it is about half and half older and younger. It is also ethically mixed with many African American, Asian and Hispanic people joining,” Paul explained. Victory offers many choices of service times. The 11:00 a.m. service is by far the largest, reaching about 2800 each week. The other meeting times include a Sunday 9:00 a.m. service, and a Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday night service, as well as special services on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights for certain demographics like Youth, Young Adults, Singles, and Married Couples. Victory is also starting a new Chapel service at 8:30 a.m. on Sundays that feature mainly older music and that will be all acoustic. Paul is excited to see the response to this new service.

Now seven years since graduation, Paul continues to have a close connection with the university. “President Wilson attends church at Victory, so I see him almost every week. We have had him preach probably four times in the last year and I preached in chapel two or three times this last year as well. This year, we are going to partner with the university to bring in the band Planet Shakers. C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

Fall 2015

| 21

Example of ORU Grads Preaching in Tulsa Churches Pastor Barry Simon The Broken Arrow Assembly Class of 1991, 1994 and 1999

arry Simon feels a calling to serve his neighbors and nations all over the world. It is the mission of his church, The Broken Arrow Assembly of God. It was also exactly what he was taught while getting his three degrees at Oral Roberts University. Barry is Ministries Director at the Broken Arrow Assembly, a church which will soon celebrate its 100th birthday. The multigenerational church, located at the corner of 101st Street and 129th East Avenue, is intentional about reaching our community for Christ, and Barry believes its best days are ahead. Son of a pastor and a self-proclaimed “missionary kid from Uganda and Taiwan,” Barry never thought of going anywhere else but ORU. “My older brother had gone there three years ahead of me and he had had such a great experience, I couldn’t wait to go. So, I took my trumpet and auditioned with the Music Department. I thought I might become the next Phil Driscoll. Anyway, they offered me a scholarship as long as I agreed to major in music. It must have been God-ordained because the music department is where I would later meet my wife,” Barry said with a smile.

“It is such a blessing to be able to live here in the shadows of the university and to help wherever I can. God has great plans for Oral Roberts University” After graduation, Barry says he wasn’t 100 percent sure God was calling him into ministry, but he keep searching and waiting for God’s call. He convinced his wife to marry him and the two, armed with just enough money to make it through the first year of seminary, decided to stay in school and see what would happen. “It wasn’t long before I began to feel that God was really calling me to follow in my father’s footsteps as a minister,” he said. Now, armed with degrees in Music in 1991, a Master of Divinity in 1994 and a Doctorate in Ministry in 1999, and more than twenty years of experience working with churches, Barry serves as an Executive Pastor at The Assembly at Broken Arrow. He explained that his role is to serve as a senior associate to Pastor Ron Woods, the church’s Senior Pastor, providing leadership and direction to the ministries of the church. He has been at the Assembly for ten years and loves serving with its fifteen pastors on staff. He explained that the church has very close ties with ORU as five of the fifteen pastors are ORU grads, along with another four interns, and dozens of staff and members who either work at ORU or have worked there. As of this year, Barry has a new tie with ORU. He is now the

22 |

C o m m u n i t y s p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

father of a student, as his son recently enrolled as a freshman. Barry is excited for his son and can’t imagine a better place for him. And, as a bonus, working as an adjunct professor at the university, Barry gets to see him on campus from time to time. He explained that he attended ORU during some of the challenging times, but that he never doubted that it was where he was supposed to be. Now, he praises God for all the good things going on at the university and knows the school has a wonderful future. “It is such a blessing to be able to live here in the shadows of the university and to help wherever I can. God has great plans for Oral Roberts University,” he said. The Assembly at Broken Arrow continues to grow since they built their new worship center and they are now in the midst of construction of a new children’s ministry building. In addition to the South Campus Worship Center at 101st Street location, they have a downtown Broken Arrow campus at 200 East Broadway which houses their school, Summit Christian Academy (www.sca-eagles. com) and their daycare, Small World Learning Center. Their church offices are located in downtown Broken Arrow as well, at 118 East Commercial Street.

The Assembly at Broken Arrow is located at 3500 W. New Orleans. For more information, visit their website at www.theassembly.org or call 918-2518591.

Example of ORU Grads Preaching in Tulsa Churches Pastor Phil Taylor Carbondale Assembly of God Class of 1977 and 2007

hoosing ORU was only natural for Phil Taylor. After all, ever since his family moved to Tulsa in 1967, they had close ties there. His mom, Thelma Taylor, worked as a prayer partner and later was the supervisor for the prayer partners. The Taylor family were members at Carbondale. Phil was active in his youth group, sang in a traveling trio called The Peacemakers and was a licensed minister by the time he was a senior in high school. Through those years, the family often went to the class called, “The Holy Spirit in the Now,” taught by Oral Roberts himself. While still working on his undergrad in Sociology, Phil got married and took a part time job as the youth minister at Carbondale. He graduated in 1977, was asked to be the Associate minister two years later and ultimately took on the responsibilities of Senior Minister in 1985.

“We have a blended service, mixing in hymns and contemporary songs, not to water anything down, but to serve multi-generations” He received his B.S. in Sociology in 1977, a Masters in Child Development from OSU a few years later and went back to ORU for a M.A. in Theology in 2007. He has served as Senior Minister at Carbondale for over 30 years and has been a member there since he was in the 7th grade. To say it is “family” to him would be an understatement. To this day, he describes it as a uniquely “multi-generational” church full of people who love each other and want to worship together. “We have many families with three or four generations. Though we have considered having a Contemporary services at times, we decided not to because we want to worship together. We think there is great value in grandkids worshipping with their grandma’s and grandpa’s. It has worked for us. We have a blended service, mixing in hymns and contemporary songs, not to water anything down, but to serve multi-generations,” Phil explained. The school suffered what they first thought was a catastrophe in 1999 when a tornado destroyed most of the building. Phil explained that many people came to our rescue, including Billy Joe Daugherty, who offered them the use of the VBI building until they could rebuild. After 20 months, the church moved back into a newly remodeled and expanded building, debt-free and with more members than they had before the storm hit. “The blessings of the Lord, have certainly been on us,” Phil said.

The church now has two services, serving around 625 each Sunday at 9:00 and 10:30. They also have a hugely successful Wednesday night where they especially minister to the kids and families surrounding the church. Partnering with the area schools, they offer many programs including Boys and Girls Club. Carbondale is a very giving church. In fact, upwards of 30 percent of every dollar donated to the church goes to missions. Phil cherishes his relationship with ORU. He remembers back at the many professors who had an impact on his life. “We had world-class professors…people like Howard Ervin, Chuck Farah, Roy Hayden and Jerry Horner that were highly regarded scholars. In Sociology, we had Ralph Fagin, Richard Redding and some others that made a real difference in how I viewed the world and ministry.” He also remembers the impact Oral Roberts himself had on him and his family. “I think sometimes, we forget, at least as Pentecostal Charismatic Christians, the influence that Oral Roberts had on all of us. Such teachings as seed faith, and the idea that God was still a healer, and the God loved us and had good things in store for us, left a lasting impact on Christianity.” “I know there are good days ahead for ORU and for Carbondale Assembly,” he said with confidence. Carbondale is located at 2135 W. 51xt St. For more information, visit their website at www.cagtulsa.com or call 918-446-0795.

C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 23

ORU Successful Graduates One Calling, Many Fields A Testimony from Steve Dickie, CEO, Oklahoma Methodist Manor

teve Dickie sat at his desk, looking over the finances of the Oklahoma Methodist Manor. Newly hired as the leader for the organization, the board had told him there were financial problems, but he never anticipated just how difficult things might be. With his head in his hands, he prayed for answers, but looking back over the last six weeks, nearly every day, had brought in more and more bad news. “When I agreed to come to The Manor in 2004, I knew The Manor was in trouble and the board knew it was as well. But none of us knew just how bad things were. After a few weeks I scheduled a meeting with several board members and told them the bad news…that we needed $300 thousand dollars in the next few days and another $200 thousand within the next few weeks just to remain solvent. One person looked at me and said “There is not a bank in town that will loan you that money”. So, I went and looked for myself and he was right,” Steve recalled. But a peace came over Steve. Somehow he knew everything was going to be okay. He knew God had called him to come to accept this job and move his family to Tulsa. Experience made him realize that God would help solve these problems. After all, He always had.

people just like me and all three of my brothers were touched by this church. It was the most unlikely place for a move of God to be initiated, but it happened right there in this church so small, if you were to drive by there, you would think it was not even a wide spot in the road.”

“This mission here is extraordinary. We have been given a sacred privilege Called to Full-time Christian Service “So, as a 22 year-old freshman, I came to Christ and it had a posito serve an incredible community of tive effect on my academics, my social life and on my moral life. I people” Steve began to think through his life and marvel at the many examples of God showing up at just the right time. It had all started after Steve had served four years in the Navy as a surgical technician.

Coming to Christ “My life was a mess. I was a broken man. Drinking, recreational drug use and wild living were the norm for me and I was on a downward spiral. But during my freshman year at Indiana University, my brother came to me with some unbelievable news. Like Andrew told his brothers in the Bible, my brother came to me and told me he had found the Christ. I agreed to go with him to a tiny Spirit-filled Mennonite Church in Fish Lake, Indiana. There, a bi-vocational pastor who had been a student at Lester Sumrall’s World Harvest Bible College, spoke to my heart. Somehow that rural church had become a beacon to people like me who had been disenfranchised. We came and heard the word of God preached and watched the Holy Spirit set people’s lives on fire. It was extraordinary. There were dozens of

24 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i rit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

graduated with a degree in Healthcare Administration and volunteered to work in Haiti for the summer. Again, God showed up and did something in my life that was remarkable… I sensed a calling to full time Christian service. However, what would He have me do? I knew it was real, but yet it was so undefined. Maybe if I went to ORU, God would make it clear what He had planned for me.” “He did. In fact, He opened my eyes to many principles I count on to this day. At Indiana, I learned how to be a healthcare administrator. At ORU, I learned to be Spirit-guided leader. It was also the place I met my wife, Faith.”

Called to Missions The last couple of years at ORU, Steve directed the missions program, sending teams of students all over the world, helping them raise money, training them, and finally, debriefing them when they returned. “When Jim Buskirk left ORU and became the Senior Minister at First United Methodist of Tulsa, he hired me to be Minister of Missions. I did that for four years until we decided it was time for

wouldn’t put me here for this just to fail. There was no reason to worry. God was going to fix this.” “What difference does ORU make? Some people don’t understand… I don’t understand, why I was never afraid. I knew I was supposed to be here. I knew that God would come through. I didn’t know how, but I knew He would.” Steve didn’t give up. The financing happened and things looked like they might turn around. He had to make really tough decisions. He began to restructure the Manor, all the time, praying for just the right help. Again, God showed up with the answers. For instance, Steve prayed for a financial expert. Steve thought, “Somewhere out there, there is a financial, accounting professional who has taken early retirement from the corporate world and is looking for a way to make a difference in the next years of his life. Lord, we need him at The Manor.” An ORU Legacy Family- Seven Degrees: Daniel (‘15 BS Engineering), Adam and Julianne Cammack (‘12 BS Accounting/BS Nursing), Bethany (‘13 BS Engineering), Faith (‘83 BS Business Admin., ‘88 MA Education/ ESL), Steve (‘85 MDiv).

us to move to the mission field. We went to North Africa to serve as missionaries with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. However, the outbreak of the first Gulf War forced our premature return.”

Called to Church Ministry and Ministry to the Disabled Once home, Steve served on the staff of the First United Methodist Church in Ponca City. Later, he moved to Northwest Mississippi where he spent ten years as the CEO of a United Methodist community which serves adults with mild and moderate mental retardation. He loved it there and thought that is where God would keep him until he got a call from an old friend, Tom Junk, who was president of the board at The Manor. Though Steve

“At ORU, I learned to be Spirit-guided leader. It was also the place I met my wife, Faith.” really had not thought about a move back to Tulsa, he agreed to interview anyway. During his weekend, he decided he would invest some time in rereading John Eldridge’s Wild at Heart. Pouring over that book in his hotel room, he became convinced that he was supposed to take a chance and move back to Tulsa. Looking back- all three of Steve and Faith’s children have now graduated from ORU. Julianne in Nursing (2012), Bethany in Mechanical Engineering (2013) and Daniel in Mechanical Engineering (2015). In 2013 Julianne married Adam Cammack, a 2012 Accounting grad.

Woven Together for Such a Time as This “So to that point, as a disciple, my calling had covered basically four areas… Fulltime Christian service, executive non-profit leadership, healthcare administration and international missions. Somehow it all started to make sense to me that all or most of those strands had been woven together for this very purpose at The Manor. God

Weeks later, Scott Morgan, who lived only a mile from the Manor, incredibly felt a pull to come visit the Manor. He didn’t know why, but one day the urge was over whelming. He went to the receptionist and introduced himself and said, “I do financial work. I am retired from BP Amoco and I just felt impressed to come in here and see if you might have any work for me to do.” The receptionist immediately called Steve and said, “The guy you have been praying for is here at the front desk.” “This mission here is extraordinary. We have been given a sacred privilege to serve an incredible community of people “In the spirit of Christ…” And in doing so, I try to use everything God has taught me along the way. It gives me great joy to work in a community that serves former ORU professors, administrators, ministers, faculty, staff and even former students.” “I don’t fully understand it all, but somehow God ordered my steps. Along the way, the seeds that were planted in the life of an aspiring Christian leader have borne fruit on the mission field, in the church, in the field of developmental disabilities, and now in the field of aging services. God can create fruit wherever seeds are planted and it is fruit that lasts,” he said with a smile. “God really does answer prayer.”

4134 E 31st St. Tulsa,Oklahoma

Exciting things are happening at Oklahoma Methodist Manor. Since 2004 a campus-wide redevelopment and expansion have been completed. Currently, an $18 million dollar campaign is underway that will fund new services for people living with midstage dementia who often have behavioral issues or the tendency to wander. The Manor plans to build two specialized dementia care households that will serve 12 in each household. A team of self-directed caregivers will work in each to provide person-center care to the individuals that live there. For more information, call the Methodist Manor at 918-574-2590. C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fall 2015

| 25

What Every Family Should Know About Hospice and Funeral Homes

Dr. Joe Moore Moore Funeral Home

f you haven’t yet, someday you will have reason to understand hospice care and funeral homes. Think it is not a very uplifting subject? Get to know the professionals who pour everything they have into caring for dying patients and families and you will indeed be uplifted by their love and dedication. In fact, they care so much about your family, many of them have begun working together to better look after your needs. Moore Funeral Homes is an example of a company that reaches out to ensure the entire process goes as smoothly as possible. Dr. Joe Moore, owner of Moore Funeral Homes, explained that hospice and funeral homes have a lot in common. “ They are the only two businesses in our society that care deeply, if not passionately, about end-of-life issues and memorialization. Hospice providers, when they are taking care of someone, often develop a deep relationship or friendship with their patients and they like to see that person’s life remembered, honored and celebrated once they pass away. And of course that is what we as funeral providers do.” “We both rely heavily on families. Hospice requires family members to serve as primary care givers for the patient and we also rely on the family to help us memorialize the patient once they pass away.” “And finally, grief support is also common between us. Hospice is mandated to provide grief support and we like to help out wherever we can with that as well. We have weekly grief support groups and extensive online resources.” Dr. Moore went on to explain, “So since we have a lot in common with hospices, we like to work with them to make things work as smoothly as possible to the benefit of the patients and families. I look upon hospice and funeral services as a continuum. There is an obviously a big transition when the person passes away, but from the time the person is diagnosed with a terminal illness and put on hospice, until the time they have their interment, it is a continuum, and we like to see that whole process go as smoothly as possible.”

“We are just glad to help people get through that time. We like to support them and help them take that first step toward recovery” Dr. Moore has an unusual perspective on the process. Not only did he grow up around the funeral home industry, he also served as a cancer specialist for 30 years. “As a cancer specialist, I saw hospice from every angle and I developed a terrific appreciation for what they provide. When I was a physician, we had our share of suc-

28 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i rit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

cesses. We had our share of patients that we cured, but we also had some patients that we couldn’t cure. My philosophy was always that I couldn’t ‘cure’ everybody, but I could sure ‘help’ everybody.” “Often, the best way to help people was to refer them to hospice and I knew that when I did send someone to hospice, they were going to receive good care, their symptoms were going to be well managed, and that I would be kept informed. At the end of the process, I often received a letter from the family, thanking me for sending them to hospice because they received such good care. I referred countless people to hospice and I also had my own personal experience, as I put my father on hospice. He had stage-4 cancer of the head and neck and was on hospice for around three months. It was then that I saw, first-hand, the benefits of hospice and developed a deep appreciation for what they do. Now, as a funeral service provider, I am in the position to once again see how hospice helps the family and the patient through that difficult time. Then at the time the patient passes away, we are the able to come in and help remember, honor and celebrate that life.” Each hospice is required to give the families a choice on which funeral provider to use. Moore Funeral offers grief counseling to its families as well as anyone who is experiencing grief. They supply materials, as well as refreshments, for these weekly meetings. “We are just glad to help people get through that time. We like to support them and help them take that first step toward recovery,” Dr. Moore said. People often attend grief counseling over and over again. “People at that time are often quite lonely. It may have been a spouse they had for fifty plus years, and it is good for them to be around others. We feel like grief shared is better than grief suffered alone. As they share their common experiences with the group, they take steps toward healing.” Dr. Moore often sits in on some of the sessions. “It is really nice to see the people communicating. They seem to enjoy it and they grow very close relationships. Sometimes they go out to dinner and socialize. There seems to be something good about sharing this experience.” “Grief is not something to be ignored or shoved under the rug. It is something people should deal with. We call grief ‘the Grief Monster,’ as it is something which must be confronted. Grief can be hard on your own health. It can show itself as a source of stress and it can lead to health issues down the line.” When is the right time to ask about hospice? Dr. Moore believes patients should be referred to hospice as early as is feasible. “I think there is a perception that hospice is a place where people go to die. I prefer to think of hospice as a means for people to be able to live

with meaning and purpose until they die.” “It is very important for the symptoms of a cancer patient to be controlled. If their pain is controlled, if their depression issues are dealt with, if they have good relationships with their family and the caregivers, and if their spiritual issues are dealt with, they are happier and have a much better experience,” Dr. Moore said.

“Grief is not something to be ignored or shoved under the rug. It is something people should deal with. We call grief ‘the Grief Monster,’ as it is something which must be confronted. Grief can be hard on your own health. It can show itself as a source of stress and it can lead to health issues down the line” “Pain has multiple components. It might be physical, like a tumor on a nerve. It can also have a psychologic component in that patients who are depressed seem to experience more pain. There is also a social component in that people who have a better relationship with their family and caregivers seem to have a better experience. And finally there is a spiritual component. Studies show that

people who come to grips with their faith tend to have a better experience and typically require less pain medication. Generally, physicians recommend hospice when the patient’s prognosis is six months or less, but Dr. Moore believes most families wait too long and miss out on many of the benefits. If the patient is confined to the house, the patient can be treated with pain medication, oxygen or whatever is needed. “When I first entered clinical medicine in the late 1970s, hospice was just beginning in the United States. If they had intractable pain or shortness of breath for instance, we had no alternative but to put them into the hospital. But to do so was not ideal, because they were away from their home and family. Most patients would prefer to be at home. There are times when the family has trouble taking care of the patient. The patient may have many symptoms and they may require 24-7 care. Other families may have work responsibilities, which make it very difficult to do that. That is when an inpatient facility like Clarehouse is very useful. The Moore Funeral Home Grief classes are held on Tuesday afternoons from 4-5 p.m. at Moore’s Southlawn location on 51st Street, just east of Memorial Park Cemetery.

C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fall 2015

| 29

Loaves and Fishes Feeds the Poor and Offers Jesus

he Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” Isaiah 61:1 For the folks at a local non-profit called Loaves and Fishes, giving to the poor is not just an occasion thing, it is a way of life. The ongoing project in the fall of 1983 after Milo and Marian Reno heard the Lord say, “Help Them.” Without delay, they began feeding people physically and spiritually that Christmas. Since that day, tens of thousands of people have been touched by the ministry of Loaves & Fishes. The mission has always been a simple one…To alleviate suffering of impoverished families by offering charitable assistance and The Good News at home and abroad while demonstrating the unconditional love and mercy of Jesus Christ.

10:00 a.m. to put food boxes together and set up for the arrival of often up to one hundred guest families. It’s a big project and requires the help of many hands. They provide guests with a box of groceries, bread, frozen meat, and personal care items. Al says that he has never seen the need as large as it is right now. The month of August was a record breaking month for instance. Loaves and Fishes distributed food to over 700 families in that one month. And, of course with the increase in numbers of people, there was also an increase in the numbers of salvations. “We like to say that we ‘turn groceries into Gospel and hand it out to people,” he said with a smile. Al describes most of the folks who come as good, honest, hardworking people who need help. Many of them often say that their hours have been cut from their minimum wage jobs because of the Affordable Care Act.

Armed with a passion for people and an non-judgmental heart, the group’s goal for every person who steps into their building is for them to be saved, healed, and delivered! They pray daily for sickness and disease, and command debt and financial pressures to dissolve. The result? Many people leave the building positively changed, built up in faith, and trusting God for their situation to improve. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday Loaves & Fishes opens its doors, welcoming the line of people waiting outside. Friendly volunteers register the guests. A hot meal is served from our ministry kitchen. After eating, guests move to a comfortable seating area where Milo Reno or Al Poncel (Administrative Director), welcome them and offer a short Bible study. An invitation to receive Jesus is always given, and they pray with anyone who needs healing or simply needs prayer. Backstage in the warehouse, ten to twenty volunteers arrive around

30 |

C o m m u n i t y s p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

“Of course we provide them with groceries, but we also give them an encouraging word. We remind them that their lives are not defined by their circumstances or the problems they are facing. Instead we are all defined by what God says about us and He has the final say,” Al said.

Loaves and Fishes is open every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Heard enough? Want to help? There are always opportunities for people to help in a number of areas: • Help prepare and serve the hot meals prepared by Loaves and Fishes • Greet and talk to guests. This is a vital part of helping to make them feel at home. It’s a great time to minister to and pray with people. • Help with registration of the 30 to 100 families coming each day • Bag bulk food items • Sort package goods received from the Community Food Bank • Box up the basic items of food distributed by Loaves and Fishes • Fill the “selection list” orders from the guests. • Assist in the Bible study meeting by handing out Bibles and praying with people. • Help the elderly and disabled guests by carrying the 25 – 30 lb. boxes to their cars. • Once a month help with assembling the newsletter for mailing. Special projects: cleaning the offices, painting walls, sweeping and mopping the warehouse, cleaning the freezers, and helping with inventory.

Stephanie Reno Stephanie is a 2012 Graduate of John Brown University with a degree in marketing and a minor in illustration. Stephanie oversees the ministry’s partner donations and deposits as well as managing the accounting system. She also assists with guest meetings. She is an accomplished artist having illustrated two children’s books. Currently, she is attending Rhema Bible College where she is a second year student. Loaves and Fishes Ministries is located at 11321 E 19th Street in Tulsa. For Information call (918) 234-8577. To reach the Business Offices call (918) 234-8574. You may visit their website at www.loavesandfishes.net Days of Operation:  MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS – FREE Lunch Served from 11-11:45 a.m. Food Distribution begins at noon. Expect to be at the ministry until 1:30 pm SATURDAYS – FREE Breakfast is served at 10 a.m. Grocery assistance is provided after breakfast.  Expect to be at the ministry until Noon.

Who is Involved? Milo and Marian Reno Milo is a trained engineer and Marian, a computer programmer, but God had other plans for them. They were married in 1979 and graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in 1983. Together they began Loaves & Fishes and have given their lives to feeding and ministering to the poor ever since. Al & Connie Poncel Al and Connie have been involved with Loaves & Fishes since late 1988. Al worked at Loaves and Fishes for 3 years in the early 90’s. After graduating from the School of the Local Church here in Tulsa, and finishing his studies at Covington Theological Seminary, he served on a church staff for 21 years as Director of Missions & Outreach, Director of Church Ministries, and Associate Pastor. Al returned in 2014 to Loaves & Fishes as the Administrative Director. C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 31

Each Box is a Missionary!

Shoeboxes Made with Love Take your shoebox gift to an Operation Christmas Child Drop Off Location November 16-23.

he most important gift you wrap this year, might be the one you put into a shoebox. For years, Samaritan’s Purse has been passing out shoeboxes full of love to children all over the world. To many of the children, it is the only gift they receive and it is something they talk about for a lifetime. We can be involved right here in Tulsa. You can pack your box and Operation Christmas Child will see it gets to a child who needs it. It is a Christmas tradition for many Tulsans. Maybe it should be yours too! Many in our community could share similar stories, but here is one from a couple who drove to Boone, North Carolina to help with processing gifts, maybe even gifts originating from right here in Tulsa. When Carol and Pat Nelson volunteer with Operation Christmas Child, they know first-hand how much each gift can mean. Twelve years ago, the Nelsons packed their first shoebox for Operation Christmas Child and sent it off with a letter and a picture. Seven months later, they received a thank-you letter written in French from a 9-year-old girl named Elizabeth in Burkina Faso. They continued to communicate by mail, and last year the Nelsons had the opportunity to travel to Africa and meet Elizabeth where she lives. “Operation Christmas Child has brought such joy to me,” said Carol as she and Paul served in the Boone Processing Center. “I feel honored to check them and think of who they are going to and how it will change their lives. “ The Nelsons traveled over 500 miles from Easton, Pennsylvania, to help inspect and sort shoebox gifts and prepare them for international shipping. They are among more than 110,000 U.S. volunteers who serve faithfully at Operation Christmas Child’s eight processing centers and over 4,000 local collection sites. Don and Marlene Horch coordinate a collection center in Vancouver, Washington, and have traveled cross-country the past seven years to volunteer at the processing center in Boone, North Carolina. Don said, “Each shoebox is a missionary going with the Gospel message.” More than 8,700 volunteers like the Horches serve year-round with Operation Christmas Child, focusing on prayer mobilization, church relations, community relations, media relations, or collections. Bill Manley, chaplain of the Boone Processing Center, said, “Shoeboxes are not the only thing being processed here. All of us are too. God is working in our lives through the work that’s being done here.” In addition to our headquarters in Boone, we have processing centers in Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Minneapolis, and Southern California. “God can take our offerings and change lives,” said Carol Smith, who coordinates volunteers in Atlanta. “Something as simple as a shoebox, it’s a very humble offering, and God can change the life of the person who packs the box, the people who process the box, the child who receives the box, the community where the

32 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i rit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

child lives—God can do all that through really simple offerings.” Pack a box, say a prayer, or maybe even volunteer at a processing center to help. But however you help, now that it is habitforming. This is what Christmas is all about. Don’t miss Operation Christmas Child’s National Shoebox Collection Week, November 16-23. How Do I Participate? It is simple. Visit www. samaritanspurse.org/operation–Christmas– Child. You will find easy-to-follow instruction and even gift ideas there. 1. Find a shoebox 2. Decide whether you will pack a box for a boy or girl. Then choose an age category… 2–4, 5–9 or 10–14. 3. Fill with Gifts – Select a quality “wow” toy such as a doll, soccer ball with pump, or stuffed animal. Then add other fun toys, hygiene items, and school supplies. 4. Pray – Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift. You can also include a personal note and photo. 5. $7 Tracking Labels – You may also help by donating $7 online to cover the shippling. You can even a tracking label to follow your box and discover the destination of your shoebox gift. 6. Drop-Off – All the local drop off locations had not been announced when this magazine went to print. However, check the website for locations.

You have heard of the ALS Bucket Challenge…right? Here is a challenge for you if you are brave enough to try it. For the next five minutes, sit in a chair and don’t move a muscle. You may blink your eyes, but no other movements. If a fly happens to land on your arm, you are not allowed to brush it off. If you have an itch, you are not allowed to scratch it. If you need to go to the bathroom, you can’t move. You can’t talk, not even a whisper. Start the timer and try it for five minutes. This article will be here when you get back. It was tough wasn’t it? Now, can you fathom being in that condition for the remainder of your life? That is what is it like to have ALS. Your brain works just fine. You know exactly what is going on around you, but you can’t communicate except by blinking your eyes, or sometimes through a specialized computer that can read your eye movements. Do you think you could live that way for two to five years? How about the next twenty years for some? With that in mind, take the time to read this story about a couple of special people who cared so much, they are willing to invest themselves and their money to help people with this horrific disease. They need your help.

Quiet, but Alive ALS Patients in the Tulsa Area Need Your Help

n November 2011, future ALS Patient Services Outreach (APSO) co-founder Larry Seacat, was invited to join a small group of friends to travel from Tulsa to a humble home on the banks of Fort Gibson Lake to perform a small “worship” service for a strong and courageous victim of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), who was, by then, completely disabled by the disease and unable to leave her home and attend her own church. Pat Tucker and her husband Ray, had been faithful churchgoers for many years, but by now, because of Pat’s disease, could no longer leave their home to go to church. Her disease had left her completely paralyzed, leaving only the movement of her eyes to communicate with the world around her. Pat’s mind was completely untouched by the disease, but she was locked inside a body that would no longer function. Ray, her loving and devoted husband,

34 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i r it m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

was her 24/7 caregiver. The love he showed for her, and their faith, was nothing less than God inspired. After providing spiritual support for this couple, this little, makeshift worship group, who had provided this mini worship service, traveled back to their homes in Tulsa. For Larry, this glimpse into a previously unknown world, left him passionate about, and determined to do more. While discussing the situation with ALS nurse Barbara Graff, who organized the trip, they decided that he should meet some other ALS patients and attend an MDA support group meeting for the northeast Oklahoma ALS community. Barbara was, at the time, the clinical coordinator for the Integris, MDA, ALS clinic in Oklahoma City. She represented the clinic and its services through home visits with patients and their families. She also served as the facilitator for the MDA ALS support group.

APSO co-founders Larry Seacat & Barbara Graff visit with ALS patient Debbie Merideth During the next few months Larry learned that there were a variety of needs that weren’t being met through conventional means for most of these families. Medicare, Medicaid, the MDA, and other organizations, were limited in their services, but simple everyday needs such as lawn maintenance, simple home maintenance and everyday personal activity needs were not being met. In addition, care giving resources were very limited, with insurance covering none of this assistance. It became obvious that as the disease progresses, caregivers become exhausted, and desperately need assistance that they can not financially afford out of pocket. It became apparent that it was time to act, so APSO was founded by Barbara and Larry to help fill in the gap for those services. Larry now coordinates the patients' and caregivers' day-to-day physical tasks and needs, while Barbara is the clinical coordinator and advisor for this same geographical population.

For more information on ALS, or to find out what you can do to help, contact ALS Patient Services Outreach at 918-595-5758 or email: alspso@aol.com.

“In the first three years since being organized, APSO has helped over forty families to obtain help in areas where it has otherwise not been available” APSO works to provide services to patients, via caregiving networks provided by mobilizing volunteers through local churches, civic organizations, and friend networks. They have helped ALS families in northeast Oklahoma with such services as education, childcare, bathroom accessibility, wheelchair ramp construction, arranging for lawn care, house cleaning, education, equipment needs, spiritual assistance, caregiver network setup, and even something as simple as companionship. APSO has started a series of educational seminars to help prepare the patients and families with the knowledge they’ll need to navigate through the progression of the disease. In the first three years since being organized, APSO has helped over forty families to obtain help in areas where it has otherwise not been available. C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fall 2015

| 35

Staying the Course

Soon after, Viola and Nathan were driving four hours south to the CTCA hospital in Tulsa, Okla. “The moment my husband and I arrived at CTCA we felt the warmth and compassion — it was like driving up on holy grounds,” she said. “Our first trip, from the concierge to the doctors, the employees were compassionate and friendly.” Viola underwent a lumpectomy to remove the tumor, and then began a regimen of 12 chemotherapy treatments. In order to continue to pastor their church, Viola and Nathan traveled from Tulsa to Olathe between treatments. “I was diagnosed one year after my husband began pastoring at a new church,” she said. “This was a blessing because there were several breast cancer survivors in my new church and there was an overwhelming amount of love and support.”

“A lot of people try to hide their cancer, but I was very transparent with mine.” Viola’s husband, Nathan, shaved his head in support of his wife as she underwent chemotherapy.

s a pastor’s wife, Viola Jones was immersed in ministry. Her week consisted of singing in the choir, helping with the youth ministry, teaching Sunday school, watching grandkids, holding down a part-time job and taking college courses. “That was all before cancer,” Viola said. From Olathe, Kan., Nathan and Viola Jones regularly ministered to their congregants dealing with health issues, but they did not expect to be navigating a personal cancer journey in the coming years. “At 58 years old, I had no history of cancer in my family and I had no symptoms, but, mentally, I knew something was wrong,” Viola said. “Your body goes through so many changes, and I was depressed and having anxiety attacks.” In February 2014, Viola went in for her annual mammogram. Having had mammograms return negative for 18 years, Viola was surprised to hear from her pathologist that there were abnormalities. Shortly after, Viola was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in her right breast. Her oncologist at the time explained that her diagnosis meant that she had an aggressive subtype of the disease that can progress rapidly and is common among African American women. “When I started treatments, my husband, Nathan, wanted me to go to Cancer Treatment Centers of America ® (CTCA) for a consultation,” she said. “I wasn’t ready for that at the time.” Wanting to stay close to home, Viola sought treatment from her primary care physician. Seeking a second opinion, Viola called CTCA and spoke to an Oncology Information Specialist, who walked her through what a visit to CTCA would be like. “The CTCA representative was so compassionate. He took time for me to get myself together over the phone because this was a shock. He set things in motion to have me come to CTCA and have my evaluation,” Viola said.

36 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i r it m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

When they were in Olathe, Viola’s church family encouraged her to stay positive and keep going. During her treatments at CTCA, she found strength in her husband and those who surrounded her. “After we initially got to CTCA, she was pretty sick and I had to continue to encourage her,” Nathan said. “Cancer really brought her into a state of better understanding what God was saying about never leaving or forsaking us.” Her team at CTCA made the effort to keep her spirits up and make her as comfortable as possible through treatment. “Dr. Panicker said that ‘We’re not here for you to be sickly and in a lot of pain,’ so the team lowered her initial dose of chemo so that she could feel better while she was treated,” Nathan said. During and after her treatment, Viola took advantage of other professional services that helped speed her recovery. “The pastoral care team at CTCA was a constant reminder that our spirit and faith has a higher power and that we can face anything. They were there to help us cope,” Viola said. “After surgery, physical therapy helped with the neuropathy, fatigue and weakness. The acupuncture helped as well, as I was suffering from headaches, night sweats and mood swings. At CTCA, all I had to worry about was getting this disease out of my body.” As she focused on fighting the cancer, she learned to lean on those around her and began to get well, and as the good reports became more common than the negative reports, Viola began looking for ways to invest in others fighting similar battles. “My husband really supported me and he shaved his head with me when I began to lose my hair. A lot of people try to hide their cancer, but I was very transparent with mine. I’m grateful to be here since cancer,” Viola said. “It has changed me in a lot of ways.” Now, several months out from treatment, Viola keeps in close contact with those who impacted her so greatly via phone. She attended the Cancer Fighter® Care Net (CFCN) training to connect with new cancer patients all over the world by volunteering and sharing what the cancer journey has been for her. “It is great to be able to pass on what I have learned, which is to obtain as many opinions as you need and take care of yourself in

Joining thousands of participants, Viola walked one mile in the Susan G. Komen Kansas City Race for the Cure.

Patient Advocate, Vicky Olson, has become a part of Viola and Nathan’s support system when they are away from home.

Being the Church For those interested in beginning a structured faith-based cancer care ministry, Our Journey of Hope® offers training and materials free of charge to churches. Each church or ministry can send a pastor and another leader to a Cancer Care Leadership Training event sponsored by the Pastoral Care Department at Cancer Treatment Centers of America®. During the training, they will join with a select group of pastors and church leaders from around the country for an immersion into the spiritual and practical methods of bringing hope, care and comfort through cancer care ministry.

Viola and her close friend, Annie Hughes, attended the Our Journey of Hope® Cancer Care Leadership Training with plans to begin a church-based cancer care ministry in Olathe. the busyness of life. It’s your body and you get to decide, no matter what anyone tells you.” Back home in Olathe, Nathan and Viola have returned to their busy lives full of Sunday school, youth ministry, praise and worship, and grandchildren. In addition, Viola recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Christian counseling. They have also attended the Our Journey of Hope® Cancer Care Leadership Training (see sidebar) and have plans to begin a structured cancer care ministry in their church. “When I talk to other patients, I remind them to surround themselves with positive people, keep calm and to pray,” Viola said. “God [has] got the cancer [under control], cancer does not have you.” No case is typical. You should not expect to experience these results. To learn more about Cancer Treatment Centers of America® in Tulsa, visit cancercenter.com or call 888-348-5492.

The mission is to care for those affected by cancer through building and supporting a network of church-based cancer care ministries. Who should attend? Our Journey of Hope® recommends that each church interested in providing cancer care ministry to members of their congregation and community send two representatives to Cancer Care Leadership Training. Every leader who attends represents the potential to touch thousands of lives. What to expect? The Cancer Care Leadership Training will equip leaders with the tools and insight necessary to provide effective spiritual and practical cancer care ministry to members of their congregation or community who are affected by cancer. After the training, leaders return to their church and train lay ministers, ministry volunteers, with a full curriculum provided by Our Journey of Hope. The newly trained cancer care ministers then reach out to patients and caregivers in need of compassionate cancer care ministry. For more information visit ourjourneyofhope.com or call 888-399-8126. C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 37

I’d Be Scared to Miss…The Halloween Festival at the Castle of Muskogee! October 2-31 in Muskogee

he folks at the Castle of Muskogee are at it again. For years, they have done their best to frighten the entire family with their annual Halloween activities. This year, we have been told to expect an even bigger, better and more exciting festival with new scenes, more actors, and new merchants. Now, some of our readers wouldn’t be caught “dead” in something as a scary as this and we fully understand. Each parent and household needs to make their own decision on whether and how to even “do” Halloween. But for those of you who think it is just all in good fun, The Castle of Muskogee has the perfect venue for your entire family and friends.

Not into Zombies? Well check this out. How about a walk through the woods on the Trail of Blood where the lost souls of those who have gone before will guide you? Some choose to visit the Torture Chamber which shows what really happened in medieval times in the depths of the dungeons. Still others, enjoy Casa Morte, a labyrinth through the 12th Century Castle with doom and mystery times in the depths of the dungeons. Two other destinations to haunt you are the Domus Horrificus and the Ultimate Maze. The Domus Horrificus takes you to the areas where your favorite horror monsters dwell and in the Ultimate Maze, most of you will find your way out, but the rest of you, well….

Because we all have differing dividing lines between fun and fear, this 60-acre Halloween Theme Park offers eleven great events,. So, which ever section of the park you decide to encounter, you can do so knowing everyone in your family will be entertained. This fun-filled park is located a short 35 minute drive from Tulsa on the Muskogee Turnpike. The actual address is 3400 West Fern Mountain Road in Muskogee. So what is new this year? The Portal to the Dead! Ugh!! It seems ancient hieroglyphics led modern scientists to create a “portal” where we can see the spirits of the dead. We can only hope they can’t come through the portal into our world! Something tells me you better be on the lookout for that. In another area, you can try to fight your way out of the ten thousand square-foot Dark Castle. Armed with an infrared assault weapon which fires special “Zombie Bullets,” you can save yourself and your friends by fighting Zombies while you look for survivors of the raging Zombie wars.

38 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i r it m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

For those with faint hearts, there is always the Haunted Hayride, a trip that is sure to keep you on your toes as you ride through the Halloween Festival grounds. Or, the Enchanted Boardwalk is your chance to stroll on the boardwalk filled with Halloween inflatables. You will enjoy the live entertainment on the Chessboard Stage with the Magic of Matthew VanZee, The Escapologist, and the comedy of the Jester Rejects.

For the little ones, 8 years of age and under, The Halloween Festival hosts Halloween Land, an old-fashioned carnival of kid-friendly games, face painting, and prizes with absolutely no scares! The Halloween Village is the place where everyone experiences the very best of Halloween, including ghost stories, dancing, hot and cold food and drinks, games, and bounce houses. Best of all, admission to the Village is FREE! On Friday, October 9th only, there will be a canned food drive benefiting the Muskogee Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry. For every canned food item you bring to the Castle, you will receive half off a single ticket! Parking and admission to the Halloween Village is FREE. Tickets must be purchased for each event and the prices range from $2.00 to $15.00 with Combo Specials available. Advance tickets may be purchased on-line. God to http://okcastle.com to check out the ticket prices, combo packages and specials. Everyone under the age of 18 must have a picture I.D. to enter. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Get dressed up or come as you normally are… Halloween Festival at the Castle of Muskogee. October 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, and 30-31. Hours are 6–10 p.m. Halloween Land is open from at 6–9 p.m.

C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 39

FIRST TIME IN TULSA!

A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL Premieres November 10-15 at the Tulsa PAC LIVE ON STAGE! **Tickets on sale Monday, October 12!**

ou have watched this classic on television for years. Now is your chance to see it LIVE right here in Tulsa. For me, Christmas officially starts the day I sit down and entire this Broadway performance right here in my hometown. This holiday season and for the first time in Tulsa one of America’s favorite Christmas movies comes to life live- on-stage in a hilarious, large scale Broadway musical, at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center November 10-15. A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL chronicles young and bespectacled Ralphie Parker as he schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams, an official Red Ryder® Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle (“You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”). An infamous leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a maniacal department store Santa, and a doubledog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the distractions that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas wish. Chock-full of delightful songs and splashy production numbers, A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL, following its smash hit Broadway run, has proudly taken its place as a perennial holiday classic for the entire family. Tickets go on sale Monday, October 12.

A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL premiered on Broadway in 2012 and was a critical and commercial success. The musical was nominated for three Tony® Awards including Best New Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical. The Associated Press called A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL “a joyous Christmas miracle,” while The New York Times wrote “I was dazzled. You’d have to have a Grinchsized heart not to feel a smile spreading across your face.” A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL features a festive and nostalgic holiday themed score by composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, with a book by Joseph Robinette, based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 holiday film favorite. A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL is produced by Big League Productions. Led by President and Executive Producer Daniel Sher, Big League is celebrating its 26th season of producing, general managing and booking Broadway musicals and special attractions for touring throughout North America and the world. For more information visit www.bigleague.org. Presented by Celebrity Attractions and welcomed by Bank of Oklahoma, A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL comes to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center for eight performances only November 10-15. The performance schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Evenings at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale Monday, October 12 at 10 a.m. and may be purchased via phone 918.596.7111 or 800.364.7111, in person at the Tulsa PAC Box Office, or online at MyTicketOffice.com. Get social with Celebrity Attractions by becoming a fan on Facebook.com/BwayTULSA. Follow us at Twitter.com/ BwayTULSA or join in the conversation by using #AChristmasStoryTulsa. A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL kicks off the Celebrity Attractions’ 2015-2016 Broadway Season which also includes KINKY BOOTS, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, JERSEY BOYS and 42ND STREET; and the add-on productions of MEN ARE FROM MARS WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE!, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and MAMMA MIA! Celebrity Attractions is proud to have KOTV-News on 6 and Tulsa World as sponsors for this amazing season. For more information visit www.CelebrityAttractions.com.

40 |

C o m m u n i t y s p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST RETURNS TO TULSA DECEMBER 22-23 THREE SHOWS ONLY! TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18!

ack by popular demand and just in time for the holiday, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, returns to Tulsa! Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production comes to life on stage at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center December 22-23 for three performances only. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 18. Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST features the Academy® Award-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs composed by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is written by Linda Woolverton.

Get social with Celebrity Attractions by becoming a fan on Facebook.com/BwayTULSA. Follow us at Twitter.com/BwayTULSA or join in the conversation by using #BeautyTulsa Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is an add-on production to Celebrity Attractions 2015-2016 Broadway Season, which includes KINKY BOOTS, CINDERELLA, JERSEY BOYS and 42ND STREET; and the add-on productions of BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and MAMMA MIA! For more information on Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, please visit www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com or www.CelebrityAttractions.com

The original creators of the Broadway production have reunited for this new touring production. The play is directed by Rob Roth and choreographed by Matt West, with Costume Design by Ann Hould-Ward (Tony® Award winner for her work on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Lighting Design by Natasha Katz (fourtime Tony® Award winner), Scenic Design by Stanley A. Meyer, Sound Design by John Petrafesa Jr. and Music Supervision by Michael Kosarin. Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. Based on the 1991 Academy® Award-winning animated feature film and celebrating 20 years since its Broadway premiere in 1994, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has become an international sensation that has been seen by over 35 million people worldwide in 22 countries, and has been translated into 9 different languages. This production launched in February 2010 and has been seen by 2.5 million people while playing over 1,000 performances in all 50 United States and 8 Canadian Provinces. Currently, there are four other productions playing around the world including Paris, tours in Japan and Germany, and a new international tour that currently will visit over 12 countries in two years. Presented by Celebrity Attractions, Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST comes to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center for three performances only December 22-23. The performance schedule is Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 18th at 10 a.m. and may be purchased via phone 918.596.7111 or 800.364.7111, in person at the Tulsa PAC Ticket Office, or online at MyTicketOffice.com. C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

Fall 2015

| 41

A Body In Motion

ne of Newton’s laws of motion states that “a body in motion stays in motion unless acted on by an exterior force.” And its counterpart is “a body at rest stays at rest.” Hmmm…

Unite My City (UMC) has witnessed a divine perspective of this first law of motion. The Body in motion is a force to be reckoned with, especially when it is moving while combating the exterior force of our tendency to do things on our own, or with our “own kind.” UMC exists to foster unity in the Body of Christ and loves to highlight and celebrate stories of that whenever possible. Two of these examples involve churches partnering with organizations to make a difference in the educational process the children and teens of the Tulsa area experience. • Tulsa Hope Academy (THA) was founded by Debra (McCullough) Mann in 2005 to address the desperate need of youth who fall outside the norms of the education process. Her school is literally an alternative to an alternative school. Her students include homeless teens, those who have aged out or are aging out of foster care, gang members, youth ordered to stay in school through the court system, as well as teens who just aren’t thriving in a traditional setting. Tulsa Hope Academy is a faith-based, non-profit 501c3 committed to bringing excellent educational opportunities to urban youth in the greater Tulsa area. It is a technology-driven, teacher facilitated, student-centered secondary school that began as the “Hope4Kids” pilot program to address the escalating dropout rates in the Tulsa community. THA is an AdvancED /NCA accredited school. The students earn their High School diploma upon graduation, and since it is an independent school, THA can assist all ages with receiving their diploma. Debra and her staff utilize volunteers in a number of ways including mentoring, tutoring, office volunteers, event volunteers and more. THA also accepts contributions to help maintain the school and invest in quality technology for academics and arts. A number of different churches partner with THA, but as the student body increases, so does the need for additional partnering churches. Please contact Debra Mann by email at debramann@tulsahope. org, by phone at 918.398.8192, or stop by the campus at 1007 South Main Street (between 10th & 11th on Main just south of downtown). • The Zone Academy is a creation of TOUCH (Tulsans Operating in Unity Creating Hope is a community based, non-profit 501(c)3 that was founded by KJ and Kimberly Jackson. Initially, The Zone addressed several areas of the city from various locations, but now KJ and his team have partnered with SpiritLife Church to utilize the former Evangelistic Temple School (ETS) Campus to administer this high quality, deep impact after school program for

42 |

C o m m u n i t y s p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

students in grades 6-10 who attend multiple TPS schools. This facet of TOUCH began as a pilot program for students in grades 6-8 who were in the feeder pattern of elementary schools for Memorial Junior High, as well as a location at Central Junior High. Those efforts have developed into the expanding initiative that will meet four afternoons a week at the former ETS campus. At the close of last year’s The Zone program P61, (Peoria & 61st Streets), students were asked to write a paragraph or two on how the program had impacted them. Nearly every student mentioned in their response how much The Zone had become a family for them. This reinforced the importance of volunteers developing relationships with the students who utilize the after school program. While improved grades offer a glimpse into the success of a program, testimonials like this from the students offer invaluable insight into the worth of it. Several churches are now and have been partnering together to both birth and collaborate to expand this effort. Additional churches are invited to “come and see” The Zone Academy in action and to consider partnering with TOUCH and other participating churches. Please contact KJ Jackson by email at kj@touchtulsa.org, by phone at 888.370.5444, or stop by The Zone Academy at 1339 East 55th Street (just east of 55th and Peoria). Consider getting your church involved in the Tulsa Hope Academy and The Zone Academy. Both are great opportunities for the Body of Christ in Tulsa to unite together to transform the lives of under-resourced children in our city. So, Mr. Newton, as the Body continues to connect, collaborate, and move together, the interior strength of a unified movement will lay waste to exterior forces!

Unite My City is a network of churches and Christ-centered organizations from a variety of denominational, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds united to serve together to honor God and transform our city. For more information, please visit the UMC website at unitemycity.tv or email Mollie Myers at mollie@worldcompassion.tv.

Sweat the small stuff – by Danny Cahill

hear it all the time: don’t sweat the small stuff. This can be true at times, such as someone leaving the cap off the toothpaste or small irritations by not getting your way all of the time. However, if you live by this mantra in many areas of your life, it can lead to disaster!

Small stuff becomes big stuff I was mowing the lawn the other day, and when was weed-eating the back corner of our yard, I saw it – my greatest enemy – POISON IVY! I am extremely allergic to poison ivy; so much so that I have been covered from head to toe, had in in my eyes and ears, and even in places I will not identify in this blog! Being a land surveyor since the age of 9, I had the pleasure (actually annoyance) of meeting this terrorizing plant on more occasions than the average Joe! Just take a hike with me at Turkey Mountain – you’ll hear me mention this plant at least 50 times during the hike – warning everyone that it is looming just beyond the boundary of the trail! Poison Ivy has been in that area for years, but I learned that if you remove it while it is small, it’s easy. Just a pair of gloves and pulling a few small plants. Obviously, our back area hadn’t been tended in quite a long time, so that small stuff became big stuff and now it’s going to take much more effort to handle. The same can be said for other things in our lives.

Little Foxes seem small – but in the end they add up The peanut M&M’s in my breakroom… Oh how they call my name! Just one won’t hurt, right? Well, I can tell you that I didn’t make it onto the cast of The Biggest Loser by eating one M&M. I made it on by eating one M&M over and over again! Yes! I see it all the time, and have even experienced it again myself this year! Those little snacks and treats add up to enough calories that all the weeks of working hard in the gym makes absolutely no difference! Those small things canceled out my work, and in turn became a big thing again. Yes, there have been people in my boot camp that haven’t lost very much weight. They feel better and are more physically fit, but the pant size just isn’t getting smaller. It is usually the diet that causes this. And for the most part, they are making good choices what they eat. And then there are those small things – the few chips as they walk by the table, the couple of drinks they had on Saturday night, or yes – the M&M as you walk by the break room – that add up over the week to be as big as that 3500 calories you burned. And that 3500 calories you burned would have been a pound you lost! But the scale doesn’t move. This is just one example, but it can be applied to many areas of your life – in your business, your family, your faith and in you.

Small steps over time add up to big results Results can always happen in a positive or negative aspect! Just as the above example I gave you in my life, small choices can add up to sabotaging what you really want for what you want in the moment. And those decisions add up to results. Brian Klemmer once told me, “Results – often harsh, but always fair.” The good news is that it works both ways! Lately, I’ve been walking into that break room to get coffee or water and I look straight at those M&M’s and say out loud, “Nope! Not today folks!” And the results I am getting are amazing. I have lost 15 pounds in the past 3 weeks! A combination of that decision with a few others have made my results move in a different direction. And this direction is the one I desire! I want to ask you a question: are you getting the results you desire? If not, could it be a product of those small choices you are making? Taking an inventory of your life in the areas you want to change is a must to actually see the change come to pass. When you see those small things that are growing into big things, it’s easier to handle it now than after weeks, months, or perhaps years of “putting up with it” and seeing it grow into something huge! My friend Arthur Greeno was talking to me about small stuff a few months back. He saw that his Chick-Fil-A store wasn’t getting the numbers at the drive through they had been in the past. He investigated and found out that the automatic change machine wasn’t working. He told me that counting up the change not only added to mistakes that can be made, but added an average of 6-seconds per transaction. Not really much, right? Well, that small amount can add up cause their service to suffer and the profits to dwindle. Yes, small stuff adds up to big results.

Sweat the small stuff before it’s too late! I’ve seen marriages end because of a small thing that was never addressed. I’ve seen businesses fail because of small things that were never changed. I’ve seen diets fail because of small things that went unnoticed. Maybe it’s time for you to sweat the small stuff! Maybe your dreams and goals have been sabotaged by the small stuff you are letting go? Yes, some things can be a distraction if it really doesn’t matter and you focus on them, but the only way to find out is to take that inventory. In my coaching, I’ve seen countless people become aware of some of that small stuff that they didn’t even know was there! Many choose to change some of those things, and I have actually seen BIG results from those small changes, including reconciled marriages, weight-loss, and even increased income! What small stuff are you not aware of that might be holding you back? Why not step back and get a new perspective on your life and find out so you can solve those small problems before they turn into huge monsters! C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 43

Change—the Only Constant

ne of the greatest changes taking place in education is distance-learning. Increasing in popularity over the last two decades, distance-learning began with correspondence courses, followed by audiotaped courses via mail and videotaping of courses. Today, the Internet and compressed video have taken distance-learning in new directions, allowing distance learning to occur in real time or archived for later showing. Distance-learning is better known today as on-line learning. Victory Christian School is two years into a four year project of bringing quality Christian education through an on-line delivery system. We realized there are thousands of Christian families who, if cost and distance were not a challenge, would want their children to attend a quality Christian school where God, the Bible, prayer and love of country are foundational. Parents today, understand that their children are being exposed six hours each day, 175 days each year, to a public education system that is promoting humanistic progressive education which takes the Bible out of school. A school system that rejects the concrete personal revelation of God in Jesus Christ, rebels against the only holy and moral standard of the universe, and refuses to accept or recognize the validity of religious knowledge and experi-

44 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i r it m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

ence (even the celebration of Christmas and Easter) is a system that removes the dignity and worth of a man as being created by God. Any education system that leaves God out of the subjects being taught and the programs being offered (sports, fine arts and performing arts) sends the message to children that God is no longer important or relevant. In a world experiencing continual decline of financial, governmental, educational and family institutions, there is no other source besides God and his word for our children to turn to which offers direction, guidance and provision. God is the only solid foundation which our future adults can build their life upon.

“Classes offered at Victory will provide an education in light of God’s Word where the secular and sacred are interwoven into an education that leads to words, thoughts, and actions which bring glory to God. “ Victory’s on-line learning program, known as D2L (Desire to Learn by Brightspace, an industry leader in providing on-line courses) offers the opportunity many parents have been seeking

Dennis M. Demuth, Ph.D., Superintendent, Victory Christian School

An Advertorial paid for by Victory Christian School

for that ensures affordable, quality classes taught from a biblical worldview. Classes offered at Victory will provide an education in light of God’s Word where the secular and sacred are interwoven into an education that leads to words, thoughts, and actions which bring glory to God.

“Victory’s World Changers International Student program already has 90 students from 14 different countries attending on-site classes.” Not only are the courses at Victory taught from a biblical worldview, they are accessible anywhere, at any time they can be adapted to the learning pace of the individual student and provide learning objectives that match the content that students are expected to learn at each grade level. Victory’s courses also provide content that home school parents may not feel comfortable teaching themselves, such as upper level math. Victory’s D2L courses allow students to be more focused on learning, to become better time managers, to be able to work independently or with group members. Most importantly, students will be prepared to be successful in future on-line college level courses. Furthermore, being involved in a collaborative on-line learning process is an important part of forming the foundation of career success. Since a classroom is likely to be attended by students from all over world, students will gain a powerful insight into other cultures and participate in a global learning environment. In fact, Victory’s World Changers International Student program already has 90 students from 14 different countries attending on-site classes. The courses being offered as part of Victory’s D2L program are different from other on-line programs. Not only are these courses taught by Christian educators from a biblical worldview, but they are taught in real classrooms with other students. The integration of Smart technology into the class content with live capture cameras creates as close to a live classroom as possible. The student portal and management portal allow teachers to personalize the experience for every learner to deliver real results.

Roberts University Educational Fellowship (ORUEF). Therefore, parents can be assured that credits earned in Victory’s on-line courses will be accepted by schools throughout the United States and around the world. Whether you are a home school parent, missionary, traveling evangelist, live more than 30 minutes from Victory, or a student who needs to take a course for credit recovery, Victory On-Line is the solution you are looking for. To learn more about our on–line D2L program, visit our website at http://www.vcstulsa.org/about-us/distance. Sign up for more information via our website and your name will be entered for a free course. Victory Christian School 7700 South Lewis Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74136 (918) 491-7720 www.vcstulsa.org

“Whether you are a home school parent, missionary, traveling evangelist, live more than 30 minutes from Victory, or a student who needs to take a course for credit recovery, Victory On-Line is the solution you are looking for.” Victory Christian School is accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), the International Christian Accrediting Association (ICAA) and by AdvancEd, the nation’s highest K-12 school and college accrediting agency. The ICAA is recognized by the State of Oklahoma for full membership in the National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA), a national consortium for the recognition of qualifying private school accrediting associations in the United States. Victory Christian School is also a member in good standing with the Oral C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 45

Stay Healthy This Fall

Jason Schluter DC Schluter Chiropractic

Give Your Immune System a Boost - Back to school time can sometimes mean getting sick time for some unfortunately. To help avoid that this fall, be sure to follow these simple suggestions: limit your sugar intake, eat simply and nutritiously, get regular chiropractic adjustments, and boost up your supplements. Stay Hydrated - This is a very easy rule to follow in the summer time heat, but come fall, you may not feel as parched. However, that doesn’t mean staying hydrated isn’t as important. Drinking plenty of water is still crucial to keeping your body functioning at its best. Stay Active in the Cold – Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t be as active. In fact, you don’t even have to go outside to move more throughout the day. Try fashioning a DIY standing desk or workstation at work, or simply do a few laps around the office or the house when you can. As tempting as it may be, try to avoid becoming a couch potato during the cold months.

here is a crisp breeze in the air, the leaves are changing color and the landscape is looking more and more beautiful. But despite all of this, fall and the upcoming holiday season can be a very stressful time for many. While there is so much to be grateful for, it is easy to get busy and forget to take care of your own health. Our health tends to be put on the back burner during this time of year and combined with the stress of the upcoming holidays creates a recipe for disaster. With that in mind, here are a few ways to stay motivated and maintain your health routine this fall. Set Goals and Limits – Goals can be extremely important but if they are excessively restrictive or vague, you will be less likely to follow through. Establish clear health and nutrition goals i.e., a half-hour walk every weeknight; a small dessert two times a week, etc. Being consistent is key to having success with anything in life but especially when it comes to your health. Get a Routine – Try to make your daily routine a habit, keeping things at the same time each day. Stay on top of your workouts, develop a consistent routine for healthy eating and keep getting regular chiropractic adjustments. Beginning to experience how great your body is designed to feel and function is a great incentive to get back on track if you start missing workouts or eating unhealthy. If that happens you will start to feel sluggish and unsettled. Eat Fall Superfoods - Eating seasonal fruits and vegetables means your produce will be less expensive, more nutritious & definitely taste better – which means you’re more likely to eat more of the healthy stuff. Summer may be coming to an end, but eating in season can be just as healthy with fall superfoods like pumpkins, apples and Brussels sprouts ripening now.

46 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i r it m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

Make this year different, take responsibility for your health and make it a top priority this fall.

C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 47â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

Tips on How to Get Published Answers from Ryan Sheehan of Yorkshire Publishing

ave you ever dreamed of writing or publishing a book? Have you got that story sloshing around in your head in hopes that it might someday burst out to a thirsty public? Do you aspire to see your name and book title on the Best Seller List? It is still possible, but be aware, the publishing industry has changed and it is tougher than it sounds. Lets face it; there aren’t very many independent bookstores around anymore. They have been replaced by online retailers like Amazon that can distribute books worldwide without all the costs associated with running a store full of books or big box retailers like Barnes and Noble. So, in today’s world, how do you get your book out into the market?We talked to Ryan Sheehan, Manager at Yorkshire Publishing, a successful book publisher located right here in Tulsa. We asked him to share the options as well as to give us wannabe-authors some advice on negotiating our way through this everchanging book industry. Ryan explained that first off, we all need to realize that the idea of sending in an unsolicited manuscript to some big name New York publisher and it ending up on bookshelves all over the world is pretty rare these days. The market has changed and to stay afloat, publishers have to make every book deal count. So, the chances of getting your book even read or considered is very poor if you don’t already have a lot of name recognition. 1. Traditional Publishing “This is the process most people expect when they try to get their first book deal. You provide a manuscript, or sometimes only an idea for a book. The publisher reads it, likes it and says we are going to give you maybe 10 percent of the profit from all the copies you sell. The publisher takes all the risk of putting the work out there. They do the design, the editing, the printing, the warehousing, as well assetting up the distribution channels to reach all the online retailers and bookstores. This is the J.K Rowlings or the Tom Clancys of the world. It is not a dying industry, but with the rise of Internet, traditional publishing has gotten very hard to break into. Most publishing houses want someone who has an established platform. That might be a radio talk show host, a TV personality, someone with an extensive blog following, or maybe a famous politician or businessperson. Publishers find it difficult to put their money behind an unknown writer. They are instead going to use their time and money to publish books by very successful people with name recognition. In the end, a Traditional Publisher is looking for a sure thing.” Ryan explained that you can sure try, but it is increasingly difficult to get any publishing house to even consider your unsolicited manuscript. Send an unsolicited manuscript to any publisher and chances are it will end up in the recycling bin, or at the very best, placed in a large stack to be considered at a later date. Many times you will not even receive a response. Talk to someone who has been at this for a while and they will tell you stories of sending manuscripts out for years without any response. For this reason, Ryan believes findng aliteary agent is typically the best bet for

48 |

C o m m u n i t y s p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

those who are pursuing Traditional Publishing. “They already have established relationships with the large publishing houses and can pitch your book and give you a better chance of success.” Another way – is to self-publish, build up a track record of sales and then show a Traditional Publisher that there is a demand for your book. “We work with people in a number of different ways. Some authors come to us with a finished manuscript. Others bring only a rough draft or an idea. At times, we even facilitate hiring a ghost writer for people who want to write a book, but who don’t have the time or writing experience to do so. If you have an idea, we can bring that idea to life. 2. Self-publishing This is for the author who wants his or her book printed and is willing to personally take on the expenses and risks. Like purchasing any other product, the publisher will give you options and you can choose for yourself. Want editing? They will offer that and give you a price. Want the cover designed? They can do that as well. Keep in mind that most self-publishing deals don’t come with the tail end marketing normally needed to sell books. “Anybody can go down the street and sell books here and there, but to get it into the hands of more individuals than you can physically talk to, you need to have a plan and probably some help,” Ryan explained. 3. Co-publishing Co-publishing is a hybrid between traditional publishing and selfpublishing. Even some of the big Traditional Publishers have divisions in place that offer this type of publishing. Here, the author

might pay to get the book in print and then the publisher begins the marketing plan for a fee or percentage of book sales. The publisher takes on the responsibility to get the book into the hands of people who might help endorse it. These can be a collection of opinion makers in the world of broadcast, online or print media. The hope is to find people who can help build up a following or recognition that the book is out there. If you went to Amazon to look for a business book for instance, there will be too many for you to wade through. You need someone’s help to get your book noticed, someone to say, “I read this book and it is good.” One of the questions authors agonize over is the decision on how many books to print. Ryan suggests that if you decide the print and warehouse books, that you only print what you think you can sell in the first year. He says the last thing you want is to have to store them for years, collecting dust in some dark corner of a warehouse somewhere. In today’s world, many authors have bi-passed the printing decision all together. Instead, they choose to have their books set up for Print-On-Demand. Here, no books are inventoried, but rather are printed only when the order arrives. That might be for one book or a hundred, but they are printed and immediately shipped to the customer. The author doesn’t have to invest money into building an inventory of books. The print cost is taken right from the proceeds of the book and the royalties sent to the author. 4. Online publishing With all of that in mind, more and more of the book market is being sold and read online. Ryan said that virtually every book they co-publish is released with an e-book as well as a printed book. Some authors choose to go exclusively down the e-book route. Ryan believes this market will continue to grow as more of more of us have iPads and Kindles. But he cautions against only publishing an e-book, saying “A lot of people still want the feel of a book in their hands, so realize that you are missing the largest part of the market. The e-book market is growing, but is still a small percentage of the total number of copies sold each year,” he said.

Got your manuscript and ready to get started?? Call Yorkshire Publishing. They can help you sort through the options and get your thoughts and words into print.

Yorkshire Publishing Get started on your publishing dream today, Contact Yorkshire Publishing at 918.394.2665. 6271 E. 120th Court, Suite 200 Tulsa, Oklahoma Select Yorkshire Published Titles Include: Sparkling Gems by Rick Renner Your Little Red Wagon by Pastor Alex Himaya A Patriot's Calling by Major Dan Rooney The Priority Promise by Sean Kouplen

C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fall 2015

| 49

Why Employee Financial Education Makes Good Business Sense

F you have been following these articles you know there are volumes of research supporting the need for more and better employee financial education. It’s no secret, investing in the financial well-being of employee’s makes GREAT business sense and the astonishing fact is………. it can be delivered to employees at a minimal cost to employers! Dr. Steven R. Covey, Author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People put this in perspective when he said, “Having spent my career helping individuals and corporations increase productivity, I’ve become convinced that one of the greatest, unnoticed drains on individuals is the distraction that financial stress puts on people.” This sentiment is supported by the fact that only 19% of employees surveyed were confident in their retirement planning.

75% of adults want more financial education What’s In It for the Employer? A few of the benefits to employers that are directly correlated back to employee financial well-being are:

» Reduced absenteeism and tardiness » Increased employee moral » Reduced Human Resource administrative cost resulting from forced garnishment and Quadro filings

What are the Keys to a Successful Financial workshop? First and foremost, a successful workshop is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Tailoring them to suit your particular workforce demographics with regards to age, sex, and employee benefits offered are just three areas to consider. There are several formats that work and any of these can be conducted on or offsite depending on the availability of meeting space. Many companies do not have space adequate to accommodate large groups so offsite meetings can be an easy solution to this logistics issue.

Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2012

50 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i r it m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

There are several time options that can cover any number of topics from Retirement and Social Security strategies, understanding insurance, and dealing with debt. A one-hour lunch-and-learn can be a great way to introduce employees to the “new” education company benefit. Longer segments naturally would allow for a more comprehensive workshop dealing with budgeting .

Our Pledge to You Forgive me, but I can only speak for Premier Education Partners’, LLC perspective. This is how WE approach worksite education; it begins with a pledge! Our pledge to you as the employer is that each participant will receive a workbook or worksheets specific to the topic of the workshop. We will not self-promote, there will be no additional marketing besides the workshop at hand. We will offer each employee who attends the workshop a complimentary follow up consultation, if they choose, to discuss their questions and concerns privately. There will be no uninvited future contact to the employee. For more information on how your company can schedule a Worksite Educational Seminar, please contact Stephanie Dixon, Human Resource Liaison, at (918) 828-7787 or visit us on our website at www.PremierEducationPartners.com.

1. 83% of people believe their teeth are more important to their appearance than eyes or hair. 2. The hardest substance in the human body is tooth enamel. 3. Dental Floss originated in 1815 when a dentist began to show his patients how to use a thin silk thread to clean between their teeth. 4. Diet soda destroys tooth enamel as much as methamphetamine and crack cocaine. 5. In the middle ages, dental care and oral surgery were the responsibility of the local barber. 6. The tongue is the strongest muscle in the human body. 7. The most commonly forgotten item for travelers is the toothbrush. 8. You should replace your toothbrush every time you get sick and every 3 months otherwise. 9. If you don’t floss, you miss cleaning 35% of your tooth surfaces. 10. Children begin to develop their primary teeth 6 weeks after conception while in their mother’s womb. 11. Jaw muscles are so strong that they provide about 200 pounds of force when bringing your back teeth together to chew. 12. The average American spends about 38 days over a lifetime brushing their teeth. 13. 60% of adults ages 35 to 44 are missing at least one permanent tooth. 14. About 25% of adults over age 65 have lost all of their teeth.

15. Flossing is better for your teeth than brushing. 16. Two known causes of oral cancer are alcohol use and tobacco use. 17. Adults have 32 teeth. Children have 20 teeth. 18. 85% of the population can curl their tongue into a tube. 19. The lifespan of a taste bud is 10 days. 20. The electric toothbrush was invented in 1939. 21. The tooth is the only part of the human body that can’t repair itself. 22. 500,000 people get dental implants every year. 23. Celery does a great job of naturally cleaning teeth and removing plaque. 24. Before the invention of toothpaste in the early 20th century, items such as ashes, chalk and charcoal were used as a cleaner for the teeth. 25. Children don’t have the dexterity to brush their teeth effectively until they can tie their own shoes. We hope you enjoy these “fun facts” and look forward to providing more comprehensive dental information in upcoming issues. Please feel free to call or come see us at Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry. We would love the opportunity to make you a part of our dental family.

Dr. Lori Hare DDS is one of the owners, along with Dr. Robin Ross DDS and Dr. Billie Reeder DDS, of Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry. They have been creating “Healthy Smiles” since 1993 and have offices at 43rd and South Peoria and also in Claremore at 201 North Lynn Riggs. New patients are always welcome. Check out their website at www.thehealthysmiles.com or call Tulsa – 918-749-0303 Claremore – 918-343-9100.

C ommu n ity sp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fall 2015

| 51

NEWSFLASH!!! There Is No “Number” For Retirement

emember the ING Television commercial with individuals carrying around different large orange numbers on their shoulders? These numbers represented “their” number needed for retirement. I was always amused when the guy trimming his hedges was asked “What’s your number?” His response, “My number is a gazillion bazillion.” I’m pretty sure that’s not a real number and the unfortunate fact is many Americans are at the threshold of their “Golden Years”, woefully unprepared. Many have even given up! Is it any wonder that 1.7 million seniors are actively seeking employment? To put this statistic into perspective, in 1999 older workers represented 12% of the U.S. workforce. In 2013, the older set makes up 21.8% of those working. That is an 81% increase in just 14 years. Now I’m not recommending you not have retirement goals, but what this article will address is the fact that you cannot successfully or magically calculate a future number and be certain it will be enough to provide your retirement dreams and desires. The uncertainty of your financial future is pointed out with the following survey. Take it, be honest, and then ponder how your retirement dreams could be affected by any number of these topics.

“Many have even given up! Is it any wonder that 1.7 million seniors are actively seeking employment?”

Bureau of Labor Statistics

52 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i r it m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

How did you do? I believe setting goals is a good first step toward insuring a great retirement, but constant monitoring of those goals and continuously adjusting them is a key factor to preparing for a successful retirement. There are many factors to retirement planning such as wealth management, pension analysis, social security, and distribution planning just to mention a few. Conceptually, retirement planning can be compared to a giant puzzle. All of the pieces must fit together to be successful and if you have ever gotten to the end of a puzzle only to discover the last piece of the puzzle is missing, you know how frustrating that is. Many Americans are “dazed and confused” (Thanks Jimi Hendrix) about their financial future. Give us a call, we would love to answer any questions you might have – no obligation of course!

RANDY C. COWELL, M.S., LUTCF, CFP®, CRPC® ACT Financial Services, Inc. Randy C. Cowell is a columnist and President of ACT Financial Services, Inc. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the author of “God GoodDebt Bad”. Randy welcomes your thoughts and prayers. He can be reached at 918-664-0081 or by e-mail at rcowell@htk.com.

C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 53

onight as we slept, children cried. Most of us are not in a position to ever hear them, but they cried just the same. Confused, abandoned and desperate for a love and security, they may have never experienced, the young ones reach out in the darkness for help while some of the older ones sit quietly, disillusioned and downright mad. Most have been separated from their families due to either abuse or neglect. For their own protection, the court has ordered the Department of Human Services (DHS) to gather them up, along with their few belongings, to be temporarily cared for by the state. In the past, when there weren’t enough foster parents, the kids were sent to such temporary shelters as the Laura Dester Emergency Children’s Shelter. However, responding early to a plan called The Pinnacle Plan, this shelter and others are being closed. Instead, DHS, along with companies contracted by DHS, are recruiting hard to find enough foster parents so all the kids will have a safe home environment to stay. The problem however is that this is a huge challenge. There aren’t nearly enough homes, the number of kids continues to rise, and the clock is ticking before the shelters will be gone completely. Many of these kids have been physically, mentally or sexually abused or neglected. The emotional scars can be seen in their eyes and it takes a special kind of family to offer the right love and understanding to see them through this painful time in their lives. At the end of the day, they are still kids, desperately needing attention, training and love. They desperately need someone who will commit to them until they can go back home.

54 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i r it m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

Beth Thomason France, Program Manager at Shadow Mountain Therapeutic Foster Care, reminds us that these children are often highly traumatized. Not only have they been neglected and often abused, they have also been pulled from everything they know, their home, their school, their friends and their families. Great patience is needed to help them through this difficult time. It requires foster parents who can use a loving lens to see through their different ways of acting out until they can go back home.

“What makes the best foster parents? Possessing the fruits of the spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness is the key to being a good foster parent. “These things will be tested as a foster parent will be dealing with a child or teen who has experienced trauma, abuse and who feels they don’t matter.” Dorie Alcado at The Bair Foundation But unfortunately for some, going home never happens. And unless the right people intervene and come to the rescue, they will bounce from one temporary foster care home to the next until they finally turn 18 years old. By then, the problems are often too great to bear. In the United States, there are over 50,000 youth in foster care and an estimated 25,000 aging out. Each year, in our own back yard, there are over 10,000 youth in foster care and over 500 aging out. Imagine being 18, on your own, with no mom or dad or family to provide direction and advice.

The future for most of this kids is bleak with many of them ending up homeless, jobless, on drugs, in prison, prostitution or even dead. Here are some alarming facts. 60 percent of the girls will have a child within 4 years of leaving foster care 45 percent are unemployed 50 percent do not complete High School 31 percent are arrested If nothing changes by the year 2020, more than 10.5 million children will have spend time in foster care and more than 300,000 will age out under that care, totally unprepared for this transition. Over 75,000 of them will experience homelessness. Will Christians Come to the Rescue? In the early days of the church, infanticide was a routine practice, especially in Rome. A recent study published in an archeology journal focused on a site with around 100 bodies of babies all around the same age. They were not lovingly buried or even seemingly mourned, "but instead were cast into a sewer that ran beneath a brothel." A letter dating from as early as 1 B.C. records the wishes of a husband to his wife regarding the upcoming birth of their child: “If good luck to you! - you bear offspring, if it is a male, let it live; if it is a female, expose it.”

"Expose it" refers to the practice of exposure, where babies were left out somewhere like the sewer or the town dump to die, unless someone came by to take them in and care for them.

“The cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States has been estimated in excess of $124 Billion Dollars. Unfortunately, we have one of the worst records in the industrialized nations, having five youth die every day to abuse related death.” But it was those early Christians who jumped in to help. In fact, they quickly become known as those people who rescue the forgotten. Those Christian families also worked hard to plead that infanticide was wrong. But they didn’t just preach it, they acted on it, taking in these children to raise as their own. And in time, they were even successful at bringing the horrible practice to an end. Over 2000 years have passed since those days. Children are stilling crying in the darkness. But once again, Christians are responding. In fact, some even describe the present “Christian adoption movement” as a phenomenon. Churches are leading the charge and couples are responding by becoming foster parents, with the thought of possible adoption. Foster care families were once not ineligible to adopt the children under their care. Now, there are more and more cases where adoption really is a consideration. Lisa Hopkins, Marketing and Development Coordinator at Lilyfield Inc., one of the few Chris-

C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 55

tian agencies in Oklahoma which does both adoption and foster care, said that since 2008 when they established an office in Tulsa, they have certified 64 foster parent, placed 157 children, and 24 of those children have been adopted by their foster family. That is considered to be a pretty high adoption rate. There are almost 7000 churches in Oklahoma. Can you imagine what a difference it would make if each church agreed to foster/ adopt one child? The greatest gift for a youth who has lived in a state group shelter or home is to finally have a “forever family.” There are ministries and organizations emerging to help. They are setting up adoption ministries within the church and are recruiting foster care families. And those who can’t parent in this way are volunteering to help by supporting those who can. The results are worth the investment. “When we see these kids placed into the right home that keep them safe and not judge them or their family, when the foster care family incorporates the child into their lives and provides a patient, loving environment, the kids thrive. Placed into a stable setting, they are able to be a kid again, growing, learning and doing well in school,” insisted Chris Gill of St. Francis Family Services. Other churches are setting up ministries to help with those kids aging out of foster care. Working through Life Launch, a division of Standing in the Gap, which organizes support groups, generally two or three people, usually from the same church to meet weekly or monthly with the youth. They provide emotional, relational, mentoring and spiritual support while listening and loving on

the youth, often eventually bring the youth to a relationship with Christ. But whether you decide to work with teenagers who are about to age out or with babies who need a home, Christian couples find the ministry of caring for these children is very rewarding. Dorie Alcado with The Bair Foundation explained that their foster parents often say that their sacrificial service has brought them to a deeper reliance upon Jesus, and that they saw miracles being done in and through them that they never dreamed possible.    Respected Organizations are here to Help Hearing the cries and seeing the overwhelming need, many organizations are rising to the challenge, recruiting foster care families, organizing people to support foster care families, and providing counseling and adoption services where appropriate. The list of these organizations is too long to adequately applaud. However, here is a beginning resource list of people who helped us with this story. Shadow Mountain Therapeutic Foster Care shadowmountainbhs.com Shadow Mountain Behavioral Health System’s therapeutic foster care is a joint venture between specially trained families and therapists to create non-institutional treatment for children who have often been victims of neglect and abuse. We are currently seeking Therapeutic Foster Care Parents. TFI Family Services – www.tfifamilyservices.org Provides satellite/Family Resource Home, Emergency, Respite Care, Specialized Care, Treatment Care, Therapeutic/Intensive Treatment Care, and Supportive Family Living. Reintegration/Foster Care and Adoption Contract Services • Adoptions • Behavioral Health • Kinship Services • Case Management • Counseling, Support, and Education • Services for Substance Related Disorders • Visitation and Exchange Center • PS-MAPP Training • 24/7 Intake • Juvenile Justice Authority Provider • Family Base Services • Affiliate Services for Community Development Disability Organizations Life Launch, Standing in the Gap Ministries – www.sitgm.org Presently recruiting 100,000 spiritual families to come along side hurting people as a prayer-based, church-driven, small group movement, focused on helping a neighbor rise above overwhelming life challenges through a loving, spiritual family experience. Lilyfield Christian Adoption and Foster Care – www.lilyfield.org Providing loving, Christian families for infants and children through private adoption and a foster care program for children in state custody. And giving women in crisis pregnancies a place to turn to for guidance and adoption services. St. Francis Community Services – www.st-francis.org A faith-based, nonprofit organization committed to providing excellence in care through child and family-based services that

56 |

C o m m u n i t y s p i r it m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

include adoption, alcohol and drug counseling, assisted living, child welfare, community outreach services, connecting families, foster care, outpatient mental health services, psychiatric residential treatment and therapeutic foster care. The Bair Foundation – www.bair.org Provides foster care and therapeutic foster care with Christ-centered quality care and services dedicated to the treatment, restoration and empowerment of children, youth and families. Bair is proud of the fact that they are active members of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) whose annual initiative “Orphan Sunday” has grown exponentially throughout the faith based community. We currently have more than 50 presentations scheduled nationally for Orphan Sunday, on November 8th. We are most proud that through this initiative many foster youth have found a forever family and that the Christian community is responding to God’s mandate in James 1:27 to take care of the widows & orphans. Our staff in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and McAlester are available throughout the month of November or when it is convenient for the pastor to share the ministry of foster care with the congregation. Heritage Family Services – www.adoptok.org Provides all phases of the adoption process. From the consultation and post placement, to social and medical histories, adoption counseling, help with open adoptions, home studies, interstate adoptions and international adoptions.

I Don't Think I Am Foster Parent Material (from St. Francis Family Services website)

Great foster parents come from people in all phases of life. You could be better foster parent material than you think! Foster care parents are often… • Active church members who feel a sense of mission in serving children • Community minded people who want to help kids stay in their own town or city • Adults, now empty-nesters, looking to have children in the home • People who will help a relative or provide brief respite care for other foster parents • People from all professions and stages of life, who share a common bond in helping children. • What Does It Take To Be A Foster Parent? Just be willing to open your heart and your home to help provide a sense of love and safety that will help kids get through the life experiences that brought them into foster care.

What WILL You Do to Help? If you are able, consider becoming a foster care family. The beginning DHS qualifications are spelled out in the highlighted box within this article. But even if you can’t foster care, you can still make a difference. 1. Pray for these struggling youth as well as for the foster care families and those working to support them. 2. Call one of the foster care agencies to see how you can volunteer to help. 3. Consider being a part of a small group support family. Contact Stand in the Gap for more information. 4. Become a special support for those who do adopt or foster care children. Give them a break with the baby-sitting, take the kids fishing, and use the gifts God gave you to make a difference. Lilyfield Christian Adoption and Foster Care is holding a fundraiser on November 6th at 6:00 p.m. Jason Johnson, Christian Alliance for Orphans, will be the speaker. You may purchase your ticket online at www.lilyfield.org. Tickets are $30 per person or you may buy a table for 8 for $200.

Become a Foster Parent! C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 57

Qualifications and Requirements for Becoming a OKDHS Foster Parent All applicants must:  • provide appropriate sleeping arrangements for each • be at least 21 years of age and preferably no more than child placed; 55 years older than the child considered for placement; • be in good physical and mental health; • have healthy relationships whether married, single separated or divorced; • provide references; • have the ability to manage personal and household • complete all required training in a timely manner; financial needs without relying on the foster care reimbursement; • not smoke in the home or automobile when the child is present; • fulfill the OKDHS policy on background investigations for all household members 13 years and older • comply with OKDHS rules on discipline; by completion of criminal history background checks; there must also be no history of alleged or confirmed • be able to work as part of a team with social workers child abuse, neglect or sexual abuse; and biological parents.  • have a working vehicle;

What can bring hope to a child who’s been abandoned or abused? Who can bring stability and make a lasting difference in the life of a young boy or girl? The answer is a parent. Strong families make children’s lives better. Since 1945, Saint Francis has remained dedicated to that simple, singular idea. It is our honor to serve children, families and communities. Together, we can make a difference. Learn more about becoming a foster parent at fostercare-ok.org or call us toll-free at 877-263-1890.

58 |

C o m m u n i t y s p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

[Neh. 2:18]

Let us rise up and build . . .

Rhema Bible Church youth building coming soon!

Asbury First United Methodist Church

Victory Christian Center First Bank of Owasso

Stonewood Vision

Get our NEW app in iTunes or Google Play stores.

Assembly of God Youth Camp

New ofďŹ ce space coming soon!

ChurchesByDaniels.com

New Construction :: Renovation :: Remodeling :: Expansion // 918.872.6006

Attention Community Spirit Readers… I am running for office and I need your help! After over 15 years of working to build unity within in the Christian community, I believe God is calling me to continue the magazine while expanding His unity call on my life at the State Capitol. Sound crazy? I thought so too at first. However, the more I learn about Oklahoma politics, the more I realize how desperately we need leaders who are willing to build consensus and pull our legislators together to solve our state’s problems. Oklahoma scores nearly dead last in every category and we are better than that. We know how to compete and it is high time we put Oklahoma First! So, I am asking for your help. Never been involved in politics? No problem, there is a job for everyone. Specifically, here is what I need from you… 1. Do you live in District 67? Basically, it is from 81st to 111th Street South and Yale to Garnett. Also, from 81st to 91st, Yale to Harvard. 2. If you live in the district, obviously, we need your vote and your neighbor’s vote! 3. Don’t live in the district? You can still help. You can volunteer and you can make a donation to the campaign.

Hand out brochures to your friends! Volunteer to help us knock doors! Put a sign in your yard or at your business! VOTE for Tom McCloud! www.McCloud4Oklahoma.com "I have known Tom for well over a decade. He knows the heartbeat of the community and would make an excellent leader in his district, in the House of Representatives, and the State of Oklahoma!" - Representative Ken Walker “Tom McCloud is the very type person we Oklahomans desire for State House representation. Tom is communityminded, people-oriented, and walks in integrity.” -David Rader, ex-football coach, University of Tulsa “Tom is an idea man. I've worked with him for close to 15 years and have seen his passion to help people. Tom is a do’er not just a talker. Let's get him to OKC as fast as we can!” -Ken Staley, KCFO Radio AM970 “Tom McCloud is an effective communicator and an ethical businessman. He is a leader in his church and in our community. His life is evidence of the conservative and traditional values that are so important these days.”- Charley Biggs, Tulsa Beacon “Tom McCloud is a servant leader at every level; his family, his church, his business and his community. Tom’s leadership, integrity and passion will no doubt be a catalyst for improvement for our great State of Oklahoma. I’ll take backbone over wishbone every time, that’s why I encourage you to vote for Tom McCloud!” - Allan Trimble, Head Football Coach, Jenks High School. “It takes people with conviction to take a stand for what is right and I believe Tom will do so. I have seen his heart. He loves people wants to serve the people of his district and of Oklahoma. That is why I support him and endorse him.” - Tim Harris, Former District Attorney, Tulsa County “Tom is a stand-up guy who cares about community. I watched him sweat to raise money for under-served children, and I know he’ll do what it takes for the State of Oklahoma! Character counts! That is why I’m voting for Tom McCloud.” - Danny Cahill, NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” Season 8

64 |

C o m m u n i t y s p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

En th us ia st ic al ly en do rs ed by gran dchi ldre n Is la & Ia n

About Tom 4th Generation Tulsan Tulsa Memorial High School 1976 Oklahoma State University 1980 – B.S. in Public Administration Tom has been married to RayeLynn McCloud for 36 years. RayeLynn is a 4th Grade Teacher at Jenks Southeast Elementary They have two children and three grandchildren. Their son, TJ, manages a medical non-profit in Nicaragua. Their daughter, Mickey, works for LifeWay in Nashville, producing simulcast events for speakers such as Beth Moore and Pricilla Shirer. The McCloud’s are proud of their three grandchildren, TJ’s twins – Ian and Isla and Mickey’s son – Landon. Tom and RayeLynn are active members at Park Plaza Church of Christ where Tom serves as an elder. Tom McCloud is owner of McCloud Media, a freelance marketing company that is best known as the publishers of the Tulsa area's Community Spirit Magazine. The successful magazine has been published for over 15 years and has distributed nearly 4 million magazines. After years of delivering the magazines monthly, Tom recently took the magazine quarterly so he could devote more time to public service. Tom is also the author of Journey, a Century of Christian Faith, Leadership and Influence, a beautiful 192-page coffee table book, sharing the story of how Tulsa developed such a rich, “Christian” heritage.

Other Things You May Not Know About Tom… He was “homeless.” Tom once “went homeless for a week” to better understand the needs of Tulsa’s homeless. He says the experience reshaped his life and put new understanding to the statement, “But for the Grace of God, Go I.” He recovered from a spinal cord injury. After experiencing a nearly tragic injury in 2011, Tom had to relearn how to do the simple things he once took for granted like tie his shoes, feed himself and type a story for the magazine. He says it forever “re-wired him,” challenging him to take his parents advice… “Life is Short. Do Big Things.” He believes the kids are worth it! After two years of physical therapy, Tom decided to take his rehab to another level. He purposed to lose 100 pounds for charity. Working out with Danny Cahill, NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Tom hit the goal in only 7 months and raised over $50,000 for underprivileged kids on Tulsa’s Westside. He continues to climb mountains. Recently, Tom took a team of 16 and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the World’s Tallest Freestanding Mountain. They filmed a Video Bible Series along the way and have plans to post it to YouTube where they believe it will encourage hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world. He believes no mountain is too tall. Tom continues to dream big dreams for Oklahoma. He believes there is nothing we can’t accomplish if we will work together. “The current political climate has placed us in a unique position to make dramatic improvements which will impact the lives of Oklahomans for decades to come. Oklahoma really can compete nationally. The lives of our children count on it.”

66 |

C o m m u n i t y s p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

Oklahoma First! Tom is a Respected… Community Leader – Will Lead an Effort to Improve Oklahoma’s National Rankings. Businessman – Will Use Free Market Principles to Maximize g lah om a fla k Oklahoma’s Efficiency. O e h t d Tom c a r r ie M t. K il im a n ja ro ! Christian Conservative – Will Fight the Battle to Protect Religious Freedoms, of Defend Free Speech, and Protect Oklahoma’s Pro-Family Culture. to t h e top Defender of Oklahoma’s Families – Will Stand to Support Life, Traditional Marriage and our Right to Bear Arms. Visionary of a “Smarter” Oklahoma – Will Promote Better Schools, Increased Teacher Pay and Improved Administrative Efficiency. Advocate of an Independent Oklahoma – Will Work to Make Oklahoma Strong, Healthy, Safe and Less Encumbered by Federal Regulations.

Tom believes in… Governmental Responsibility – “Government is God-ordained. God will hold our leaders responsible for the way they govern.” “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.“ Romans 13:1 NIV Life – “All life should be cherished. It begins at conception and ends as we take our last breath. Our fundamental right to life must be protected no matter our age, ability, or perceived worth to society.” Traditional Marriage – “God ordained and blessed the marriage covenant, designing it to be between a man and woman. The government may authorize marriage contracts between consenting adults, but only God can define a Biblical marriage. It is a holy covenant and is a church sacrament which must be protected and honored.” Limited Government – “Government should be small, intervening only when it is absolutely in the best interest of our society and within the specific parameters of the US Constitution. Our lawmakers should be judged not by the number of laws they create, but rather by the wisdom they use in protecting our Constitutional freedoms. I will always vote to reduce the size and reach of government, demanding greater governmental efficiency while protecting individual freedoms.” The 10th Amendment – “Especially where there is a void in a state’s leadership and performance, the federal government will always have a tendency to over-reach its Constitutional powers. States must continually fight to maintain their independence, realizing that accepting federal funds always comes at a price. The best way to protect our state from federal intrusion is to achieve and maintain financial independence, putting ourselves in the position of being able to say “No” to federal funds.” 2nd Amendment Rights – Tom is a Lifetime Member of the NRA. A Reclaimed Moral Culture – “We must re-establish a culture based on a belief in a moral code of “right” and “wrong,” rather than our current direction of finding our only absolutes through what the Supreme Court defines as “legal” and “illegal.” PAID BY McCloud4Oklahoma2016 Committee, Brandon Collins, Chairman

C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 67

Sculpture: BINDING CONTRACT The beautiful sculpture in front of the new AVB Bank Building in downtown Broken Arrow was done by Bradford J. Williams, a self-taught artist from Chino Valley, Arizona. He lives and reveres the “cowboy way of life” and his art is reflective of that way of life. The artist recently said, “The sculpture says so much about how people treat each other. I know that your bank [AVB] still holds in high esteem the tried and true traditions such as honest hard work and that a person’s promise, by handshake, is still the highest form of shared expectations.” BINDING CONTRACT was installed in the AVB Bank plaza, located between the existing and new facilities.

AVB Bank Sets Eyes on the Future with a Beautiful New Building

VB Bank’s downtown location has called the corners of Main and Dallas Streets home since 1905…when the original 25-foot wide bank building was constructed. Since that time, the bank has expanded both west and south, acquiring the area between Main and Ash and Dallas and El Paso Streets For over 110-years, generations of customers have visited the AVB Bank lobby located at 302 South Main Street. At close of business on Friday, September 18, 2015, AVB staff collectively gathered in the lobby to reflect on the past and look forward to the future. And with that, they made the historic transition to the new twostory, 15,000 square feet facility, located in the existing AVB Bank parking lot, adjacent to the building (corner of Main and El Paso Streets) – 322 South Main Street.The new facility opened for normal hours of operation on Monday, September 21, 2015.

68 |

C o m m u n i t y s p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

Retail and commercial depository and lending staff is now housed in the new facility, along with AVB’s Financial Services, offering products and services through their broker-dealer, LPL Financial, a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Investment Holdings, Inc.* AVB’s human resources and information technology departments now office in the new facility, as well. Customers visiting the new facility are finding a new connected multi-lane drive-thru with enhanced technology, allowing bank personnel to directly connect with customers; a technology bar in the lobby fot them to explore AVB’s mobile and web offerings; and a 3,500+ square foot exhibit area for value-added bank events and functions.

VISION: Be the community bank most admired for our people, partnerships and performance. MISSION: Serve, connect and succeed together. CORE VALUES: (1) Serve with integrity and enjoyment. (2) Work together to encourage personal growth. (3) Acknowledge and celebrate success.

Along with the new additions, visitors get a sense of the history of AVB Bank as they view the history wall located in the lobby and see bits of AVB “historic” memorabilia and art.

“For over 110-years, AVB Bank has been committed to the economic growth, development and success of downtown Broken Arrow” While the location at 302 South Main Street is now closed from public access, AVB support and operational staff, including credit administration, finance, compliance, and bookkeeping, remains on-site. “For over 110-years, AVB Bank has been committed to the economic growth, development and success of downtown Broken Arrow,” said Ted Cundiff, AVB Bank President and CEO. “As we made this historic move, we paused to reflect on the past and celebrate the many successes, both customer and community, that we have played a part in. We are proud to remain in the heart of The Rose District and are excited about serving future generations.” Throughout her 40+ years at AVB Bank, Kelley Kimbrough Rash, has seen significant regulatory changes in the financial industry. Rash, AVB Bank Chairman, Board of Directors, stated, “In today’s regulatory environment, the amount of paperwork that must be generated has certainly increased. However, the way we have done business for generations is the way we do business today, with a handshake. This is our bond.” *Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance products offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates. The investment products sold through LPL Financial are not insured AVB Bank deposits and are not FDIC insured. These products are not obligations of the AVB Bank and are not endorsed, recommended or guaranteed by AVB Bank or any government agency. The value of the investment is not guaranteed, and loss of principal is possible.

AVB Bank: • 1905: Founded, Arkansas Valley National Bank (AVNB), 302 South Main Street, BA. • 1907: Oklahoma statehood. • 1909: State charter received, Arkansas Valley State Bank (AVSB) • 2002: First branch opening, South Elm, 6401 South Elm Place, BA. • 2004: Second branch opening, expanding into the Tulsa market; Tulsa Mingo, 9800 East 51st Street, Tulsa. • 2008: Rebranded as AVB Bank. • 2009: Third branch opening, Stone Wood Hills, 2201 North Elm Place, BA. • 2015: New facility opens, 322 South Main Street, BA. 1905 – 2015, celebrating 110-years of serving our customers and community. C ommu n itysp ir itma ga zin e.c om

fa ll 2015

| 69

The Little Things

and the program would be finished, feeling certain she would not volunteer for this again. After a few weeks, she realized she had developed a rapport with these troubled children who were just struggling to survive and learn in the harsh reality of their world. And she was developing an even deeper understanding of the teacher who faced this classroom every day, not just for an hour on Tuesday for a few weeks. As the next school year came around, the volunteer found herself once again signing up to go to the same class at the same school. It would be a different group of children, but the same teacher. She was certain it was the right thing to do. From her experience the year before, she knew that presenting the material was the easy part. Finding a good answer to the endless questions about life was not. During one of these difficult sessions the teacher asked the volunteer to please step out of the room with her. Fearful that she had said something wrong, she did as the teacher asked. What happened next came as a total surprise. The teacher looked at her with a troubled expression on her face and asked, “Would you please pray for me? This class is almost more than I can handle this year!” The volunteer had not signed up to teach about God in the classroom, but she was more than happy to share her faith if an opportunity arose. During her presentation to the students, she had been very careful to keep the conversation away from religion, and centered as completely on the assigned curriculum as she could. Yet the teacher knew instinctively that she was in the presence of a believer – not because she carried a Bible into the classroom, not because of something proclaimed on a shirt, simply because her response to these children exuded the essence of God to a struggling class of troubled third-graders. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 NIV) By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13.35 NIV)

n a small but well-organized classroom, a group of third grade students were waiting - students who were more familiar with the judicial system than the world of business. Most, if not all, of these fifteen children had at least one parent incarcerated. For some of them both parents were in prison. They were being cared for by a grandparent or extended family member. A volunteer stepped hesitantly into their world, determined to make a difference. She was not carrying a Bible, just a small satchel filled with Junior Achievement materials. As the initial fear subsided, she began her presentation of the structured program, taking time to answer questions and respond to comments as she went. Nowhere in the preparation and instruction had she been told how to answer when a child asked, “Do you know the difference in prison and jail?” Or, “Where do you go when there is someone on the street with a gun?” Even attempting to answer these questions created the angst of trying to walk through a mine field. She found it difficult to respond in a manner consistent with the program, while telling herself she must keep going. It would only be six or seven weeks

70 |

C o m m u n i t y s p irit m agaz ine.com

f al l 2 0 1 5

Sometimes it’s the ordinary things, the things that seem almost inconsequential, that make a world of difference to the people around us. Little things like trying to bring a feeling of normalcy to someone whose life has been anything but normal. Little things like taking time out of our day to show love to those unaccustomed to receiving it. Little things that shine a light in an otherwise darkened world. And who knows, maybe someone watching will respond to our light and our love by asking us, “Will you pray for me?”

ABOUT DENIECE Deniece has a passion to minister to women. You are going to grow to love her and the way she tells stories, always getting to the real heart of the matter.