June 2014 | Community Spirit Magazine

! s in t r a M e h T + y r w Lo k r a M e m o c l e W o t o s s a Ow aptist Church B p i h s d n e i r F h at June 20t

es to Tu ls a RADI O // W ick ed Co m CHRISTIAN R FO D GO DIRE CT OR Y // THAN K CHRISTIAN UNI VERSIT Y

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FIND THE LIFE YOU WERE BORN TO LIVE

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QUALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE

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Contents FEATURES 6 Mark Lowry & The Martins 8 OK Mozart 10 Thank God for Christian Radio 14 Christian College Directory 16 Christian School Grads 18 Rejoice Breaks Down on New Campus 20 ORU 24 Are You a Social Smoker?

26 Broken Arrow Lanes’ TEEN NIGHT 32 Wicked Comes to Tulsa 34 Yes Women Can Blog 35 The 2014 Political Primaries 36 Candidate Profile - Representative Fred Jordan 37 Candidate Profile - John Feary 38 Candidate Profiel - Vanessa Hall-Harper COLUMNS 26 Deniece Adsit 27 Mollie Myers 28 Cornerstone Christian Counseling 29 The Biggest Loser 30 ACT Financial Services

June 2014 PUBLISHER & editor Tom McCloud CREATIVE Director Ramond Walker CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tom McCloud, Randy Cowell, Danny Cahill, Deniece Adsit, Mollie Myer, Kevin Nieman, Lisa Goins www.mccloudmedia.com • www.communityspiritmagazine.com TULSA Sales Office 10019 S. 69th E. Ave. Tulsa, OK 74133 phone: (918) 307-2323 fax: (918) 528-6209 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

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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hey call it “Music Madness” and it is coming to Owasso.

That very funny Mark Lowry of Gaither Vocal Band fame is teaming up with the renown singing group, The Martins, to entertain audiences across the country. Owasso will be blessed to be part of the tour.

They have been friends for many years, but this is the first time they have officially teamed up. Their combined talents are wowing audiences featuring the tight harmony of siblings Joyce, Judy and Jonathan Martin along with the singing and unpredictable antics of Mark Lowry. In an exclusive interview with Community Spirit, “the ADD-ridden” Lowry explained that he never quite knows where the show will take them.

“I am the Bill Gaither of the program which means it could go anywhere. I know what the first song is going to be and the last song, but the rest is an ADD rabbit trail,” he joked. But he did promise it would be lots of fun and that the four of them would do some singing together. “I may even kick Jonathan out so I can sing a couple of songs just with the girls.”

The show is presented by Muse Concerts and sponsored by Feed the Children. Music & Madness will be held Saturday, June 20th at 6

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Friendship Baptist Church located at 14100 East 86th Street North in Owasso. The show starts at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.

Judy Martin shared the story about how they first met Mark Lowry. “We were only about twenty years old at the time and were selling ‘cassette tapes’ at the national quartet convention in Nashville. Mom spotted Mark Lowry and band-mate Michael English and ran them down to beg them to listen to her kids. The next thing we knew, the two were inviting us to come to a Gaithers’ taping. ‘You may not get to meet Bill Gaither, but it is worth a try,’ Mark told us. When we got there, Mark pulled Gloria Gaither into the girls’ restroom to hear us sing. She told Bill about us and later that night, without any warning, he asked us to sing a song during the taping. It was truly our big break.”

The Martins have been a favorite of Gaither fans ever since, With four No. 1 singles and four Top Ten singles in multiple Christian music formats and eight GMA DOVE Awards, the trio of siblings has come a long way from that impromptu audition in the bathroom.

They have made appearances at The White House, “The Grand Ole Opry,” the Ryman Auditorium, Dollywood, “The 700 Club,” TBN, the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, the Southern

Baptist Convention and the National Quartet Convention. They are seen regularly on the Gaither HOMECOMING concerts and video series and have toured alongside some of Christian music’s most respected artists.

The Martins are known for singing a wide variety of music at their events but they always stay close to their roots, impressing the crowds with close, warm harmony. Singing together since they were young kids, they remember their mom teaching them to sing 3-part harmony in their no-electricity, no-running water house in rural Arkansas. A million performances at nursing homes and Piggly Wiggly grand openings later, they turned their practice into successful careers.

They took a long break to focus on raising kids, but have now come back together at the delight of millions of fans. Each have large, musically minded families. Joyce Martin Sanders lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband Paul, and she has two children. Jonathan Martin lives in West Des Moines, Iowa with his wife, and their six children, including twin boys and Judy Martin Hess lives in Columbus, Georgia with her husband Jake Hess Jr. and their five children.

The three have constantly had to juggle family and careers, and they say it was always fun, but not always easy. “God ultimately lead us to the right people,” said Judy, “but part of dating us was dating The Martins,” she explained with a laugh.

The two sisters said that Jonathan is the financial and organizational leader of the group. “He is the smartest, takes care of all the details and looks after ‘the women in his life’.”

Living in different cities, the three squeeze in most of their practice while on the road and try to focus on family when they are not working. But whatever they are doing obviously works. Fans say their harmony has never been tighter.

Mark Lowry is a great songwriter, author and entertainer. But if he is known for anything, he wants to be thought of as being a communicator.

He was raised in Houston. “Dad was a deacon; Mom played the piano, and we loved church. That’s where all my friends were, where the good music happened, and where preachers like B.R. Lakin and others would tell stories that would fascinate me. I learned to love communication. It still amazes me that God gave us the ability to transfer our thoughts to someone else’s mind. And if you put words in a row, you can change lives.”

Mark is a really funny guy. However, he says he is a communicator, not a comedian. “Seinfeld is a comedian, the master comedian, telling three jokes, changing the subject and telling three more. But comedians leave the stage without you really knowing anything about their lives. I have always wanted to be more like Bill Cosby and tell personal stories,” he explained.

Mark said that he started out operating as a non-profit. “I never really expected to make any money at this. I thought I would be sleeping on pastors’ couches. I remember the first time I requested a hotel room instead of staying with a church family. I thought it

was so pushy. But I did make money and soon I changed my status to for-profit (not hiding taxes behind the non-profit status). To this day, I think God blessed that decision.”

“God called me to this,” he explained and then joked… “Called?

Baptists don’t know for sure. Pentecostals see the visions and hear God. We just believe he calls. But seriously, I do think God called me.”

When I was young, I wanted to be a businessman and be able to give away a lot of money. And when I answered that call, I didn’t think any of that would happen. But God got what He wanted and still gave me what I wanted, cause I still got to give away lots of money.”

When Mark is not working, he is normally at home with his three dogs, two mutts and a Yorkiepoo. He likes to cook and watches Food Network for ideas. He loves being home and quietly longs for the time when he can retire like many of the people he talks to on the road. “But what I do is not work. Digging ditches is work. The hardest thing about my job is leaving the house.”

Mark loves to write and has written some children’s books and two books about his life. He has written lots of songs., but his biggest hit and the only one he calls “significant” was the Christmas classic, “Mary Did You Know?” This song, which he co-wrote with Buddy Greene, has been recorded more than 400 times by artists from every genre including: Reba McEntire, Cee Lo Green, Clay Aiken, Michael English, Kenny Rogers, Wynonna Judd, The Gaither Vocal Band, and a long list of others. Music & Madness will also feature the accompaniment of renowned pianist Stan Whitmire.

Tickets are $20 General Admission, $25 Gold Circle and $18 for Group Admission of 10 or more and can be purchased at Friendship Baptist Church, by phone at (855) 223-1008 or online at marklowry.com and museconcerts.com. All tickets purchased online will include a per-ticket convenience fee. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

watch for the martin’s new cd It is their first a cappella recording in over 18 years—entitled The Martins A Cappella (Gaither Music Group).

“A cappella music is the purest form of vocal music to us,” says Jonathan. “It keeps you on your toes and makes you sing better. To perform it live you have to be on your ‘A game.’ To attempt it is humbling; to accomplish it is exciting and rewarding.”

Distributed by Capitol Christian Distribution, the new release is available at retail and digital outlets worldwide including iTunes, Amazon and www.gaither.com and www.martinsonline.com.

The song list includes: He’s Everything to Me, When I Go Away, Fairest Lord Jesus, Praise to the Lord, Shut De Do/Three Little Birds, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing/Fill My Cup, Lord/Spirit of the Living God, The Prayer, If We Ever Needed the Lord Before We Sure Do Need Him Now, You’ll Never Walk and Alone

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ok mozart festival

For the past 30 years the OKM Festival and the Amici New York orchestra has dazzled audiences with its world-class music.

designated Indian Territory…later a haven for Wolfgang In Oklahoma? Once outlaws and oil barons.

Oklahoma is noted for its cultural offerings – one Amadeus In The Osage? Today of them the OK Mozart International Festival.

D

riving north from Tulsa, even from a distance a visitor destined for Bartlesville can discern a cluster of tall buildings at the far edge of the horizon. They rise like columns of smoke from the rolling hills of the prairie. It’s much too soon and the visitor too far away to hear lilting sounds of music stirring on the summer breeze. But, just as it has been for the past 30 years, come June 7-14, the music is here.

In this tiny town of just 35,000, you’ll hear the strains of Mozart.

You’ll also hear Bach and Beethoven, Dvorak and Tchaikovsky, Hadyn, Bernstein and Vivaldi. But wait – at the annual OK Mozart International Festival there’s also jazz and pops, as well as every other musical genre one can imagine.

OKM, Oklahoma’s Premier Music Festival, is a summertime extravaganza that features world-class music performed by nationally renowned musicians and guest conductors, noted recording artists and professional dancers. Both in daytime and evening performances, indoors and out, the festival is a compilation of the best of orchestral music, plus the most exciting of jazz, pops and Broadway show tunes.

In addition to a world-class orchestra and chamber musicians, every year OKM hosts a number of renowned guest artists. To name a few of its past performers there was Robin Sutherland, Doc Severinsen, Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman, Sir James Galway, Andre Watts, Branford Marsalis, Ben Vereen, Peter Nero and Kristin Chenoweth…and the list goes on.

Augmenting an entire week of concerts are some 50 daily Showcase Events. Scattered at venues throughout the city, these are culturally related programs (musical events, tours, lectures and children’s activities) designed to entertain, engage and educate – most of them offered free of charge.

One of the most popular of the week’s concerts is the outdoor

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performance at Woolaroc Wildlife and Nature Preserve. Once the rustic ranch retreat of Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum (now ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66, the third largest petroleum company in America), here concertgoers gather at sunset to picnic while listening to some of the world’s best musicians perform Mozart along with a selection of patriotic favorites. Topping off the evening will be Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture accompanied by the sounds of cannons and the visual thrill of fireworks. It’s a display made doubly awesome by a mirrored reflection on the still waters of Clyde Lake.

The OKM Festival encompasses music ranging from classical to cross-over genres. Season tickets as well Pick 3 and single tickets are offered. In addition, for concertgoer’s enjoyment there’s the OKM Gift Shop, the Moz-Art Gallery and Café Mozart, the latter offering savory lunches, desserts and a pre-concert open bar.

It was in 1983 that Ransom Wilson and the orchestra he founded made a performance stop in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. There, musicians were delighted to find a charming, cosmopolitan town with a magnificent performing arts center that offered one of the finest concert halls in the country, a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired facility with near-perfect accoustics. The OK Mozart Festival was born of this discovery.

Over ensuing years the festival has grown, last year playing host to more than 20,000 visitors from 33 states and several foreign countries. The festival has an economic impact averaging somewhere around $3 million annually.

Today, OKM is led by Executive Director, Dr. Randy Thompson, a distinguished arts administrator who is striving to take the festival to new levels. “Though this is my first festival as Executive Director, I have experienced all 30 seasons as a citizen and volunteer. Words do not even express the joy I feel for having a part in securing our

beloved festival for the next 30 years.

“This year’s festival will have overtones throughout the state of Oklahoma. Sixty-five young musicians will perform with Amici New York as members of the newly formed OKM All-State Youth Orchestra. A dozen Oklahoma rising stars will have roles in our production of the Mozart’s Magic Flute and numerous members of the Bartlesville Choral Society, along with members of the Stillwater Chamber Singers, will have the chance to perform with Amici New York -- all conducted by our gifted Artistic Director, Constantine Kitsopoulos.”

This year’s festival lineup, which takes place June 7-14, begins with a joint concert featuring noted pianist Jon Kimura Parker and the OKM All-State Youth Orchestra with the Amici New York orchestra in a performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20, one that Beethoven admired above all others.

Other 2014 highlights include the Spencer Prentiss/Becky Wallace Chamber Concert featuring the renowned Miró Quartet and Amici New York Woodwind Sextet; Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute”, a cross-over concert featuring Grammy-Award nominee, singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz who creates sonic atmospheres that shimmer with equal parts acoustic majesty and electrifying mystery, transforming them into contemporary music for young and old alike.

The Grand Finale will feature the Bartlesville Choral Society under the direction of Susan Mueller joining the Amici New York orchestra and Artistic Director Constantine Kitsopoulos in

presenting Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 -- a concert that promises to bring down the house with the sound of over 100 performers on stage.

From its inaugural year as a three-day event, to the full-fledged internationally recognized festival of today, OK Mozart remains one of Oklahoma’s most unique cultural assets. It beckons to music lovers across America looking for that perfect vacation destination.

Visit Bartlesville once, and you’ll want to return again and again, both for its lush landscapes and numerous tourist options, but mostly for its marvelous music.

Quite a statement for a small town of 35,000 in the heartland of America.

MAGICAL MOZART OK Mozart International Festival: PO Box 2344, Bartlesville, OK 74005; 918-336-9900.

Dates: June 7-14, 2014 Prices: Ticket prices range from free to $75, with most around $15-$45.

Same day admission is often available for the daytime Chamber Music Series, and occasionally for the evening main performances.

Showcase Events: Anywhere from FREE to $15.

For more information: www.okmozart.com

OK Mozart Festival 2014

Oklahoma’s Premiere Music Festival

June 7-14, 2014

TS TICKE E L A ON S !

NOW

• OK Mozart All-State Youth Orchestra and guest pianist Jon Kimura Parker with the Amici New York orchestra

• Spencer-Prentiss/Becky Wallace Chamber Concert with Miro Quartet and Amici New York ´ woodwind sextet • Grammy Award winner, Sarah Jarosz with Amici New York ensemble • Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” • Woolaroc Outdoor Concert with the Amici New York orchestra and a fireworks finale • The Grand Finale Concert with the Amici New York orchestra and Bartlesville Choral Society

918-336-9800

www.okmozart.com

TWO FREE Opening Celebration Block Parties • 50 FREE Daytime Showcase Events commspiritmag2.indd 1

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4/17/2014 4:52:54 PM

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radio guys

Radio Guys You Should Know

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hen you are counting your blessings tonight, be sure and thank God for Christian Radio!

Seriously, take a minute to think about that blessing.

First, that God inspired people to discover all the technology necessary to make it possible and second, that people dedicate their lives and fortunes to provide all the Christian programming we enjoy. They don’t have to, you know. In fact, they could most likely make more money by feeding the world more “fast food,” the stuff without substance.

Instead, the Christian radio folks continually make a choice to put faith and message ahead of dollars and cents. And in doing so, although they rarely hear the results personally, each day they no doubt touch lives and bring people to faith in Jesus Christ.

And so, we thought we would salute a few of the Christian Radio leaders in town. As you read their stories and then as you dial in their stations, be sure to say a prayer of blessing on their behalf. I can’t imagine how horrible it would be if we didn’t have the ability to flip the radio on and listen to a powerful sermon, hear the catchy tune of a Newsboys song, or a perfect harmony of an old Cathedrals standard. These Christian Radio leaders and all the folks who work with them are worthy of honor.

Christian Radio is Important. Lets never take it for granted.

Ken Staley

KCFO AM970 On the AM “Dial,” scan over to AM970, and you will find KCFO, the Tulsa area’s “Christian Talk” station. Here you will enjoy a wide range of programming, starting with preaching in the morning and then featuring Dave Ramsey and Mike Gallagher in the afternoons. Additional programming includes everything from marriage and relationships to local politics. The result is a blend of though-provoking and lifeaffirming shows you will want to hear everyday.

It is what Ken Staley, General Manager, describes as “Talk that will make you BETTER, not BITTER.” It works and more and more people of all ages are tuning in.

The station is owned by Ray Clatworthy, a Naval Academy graduate, former fighter pilot, entrepreneur and politician. In fact, years ago, he ran close race for the Senate against Joe Biden. Ray

We have gone through a period where we have tended to see “conservative” and “holiness” as the same thing. Now, we are beginning to realize we don’t have as much in common with conservatives, Republicans and Fox News as we once thought we did. - KEN STALEY, AM 970 believes in Christian Talk and Preaching Radio for a reason. He found Christ while driving one night as he happened to tune-in to a similar station.

Ever since Ken Staley was a kid, he wanted to be on the radio and he has invested his career doing just that. You would recognize his voice as “the voice of Victory.” Ken believes “the church” needs Christian radio far more than it realizes.

“We have gone through a period where we have tended to see “conservative” and “holiness” as the same thing. Now, we are beginning to realize we don’t have as much in common with conservatives, Republicans and Fox News as we once thought we did. It proves that the only thing that is eternal is scripture. We need Christian radio,” he said.

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David Warren

The Oasis Network KNYD FM88.1 and FM90.5 On the non-commercial side of the FM dial, you will find KNYD, otherwise known as “The Oasis Network.” The station was founded and is still owned

by Christian recording artist and preacher, David Ingles.

He has grown the station into a network sending out a strong Christian signal from Broken Arrow, Coweta, Moore, Hampton, Virginia, Branson and Canton, Ohio.

His main interest is to share the Word of Faith message across the country, but besides preaching, the programming also includes inspirational music daily from 2:00 in the afternoon to 1:00 in the morning.

David Ingles’ son, David Warren (Ingles), is the Program Manager and is one of the hosts of The Road Show, a daily talk show airing at noon. He explained that the music portion of the programming is “eclectic” on purpose. “Its like your personal CD collection, not everything will be the same. We play varying styles.

So, if you don’t like this song, wait a song or two and there will be something completely different. We even play local artists.

Anointing does not stop and start with being on a national label and we believe, if it is quality and has a good message, that it should be played,” he explained.

David believes that all of us need to be an oasis, to use our time, talent and gifts to be an oasis to our part of the world. And the folks at the station work hard to do just that. Tune in and you will immediately know this is a Christian station with its focus strictly on spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Roger Chasteen

KEMX FM94.5 in Locust Grove, KTFR FM100.7 Chelsea and the Christian KCXR FM100.3 The Kross out of Taft, Oklahoma

Roger Chasteen never expected to be in the radio business. He has spent his career in telecommunications (ABS Communications), publishing (Victory, Yorkshire and Thorncrown Publishing), and even in the automobile and fitness business (The Hub Gym).

However, in each industry he touches, he has had one

goal…to positively impact the lives of the people.

When he recently had the opportunity to purchase three radio stations, he saw it as an opportunity to fulfill that goal from a different venue. Even though each station by itself didn’t have a very large footprint, Roger had an idea. By simulcasting the same programming on all three stations, he can reach a large geographic area from south and east Tulsa, all the way to the Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas borders.

He has chosen to offer an alternative to Contemporary Christian Music. He explained that many of our young adults are leaving the church and that they are not interested in listening to their mom’s music. With this in mind, Roger is set on providing an “edgier” sound in hopes of filling this gap, pulling this audience back and touching young lives with the Gospel.

The plan is working. The word is getting around and the audience is growing.

Tune-in and check it out. Even if you are not 20 years old, we bet you will want to help spread the news about this new sound.

And, you might even become a fan.

David Stephens Stephens Media Group KXOJ FM100.9

What started as a tiny, low signal Christian radio station in the 90s, has grown into one of the most popular stations in the Tulsa area. It has even won multiple Dove Awards nationally. And now, David Stephens of Stephens Media Group owns stations of all kinds all across the country. And no matter the music genre, each station is built upon the desire to maximize return for their advertisers, helping them to grow their businesses.

David says he fell into radio somewhat accidentally. He had wanted to be a college basketball coach and was on the path to do so when finances forced him to try his hand at selling advertising at KXOJ for his father. Almost 25 years later, God is continuing to use David to touch lives across radio waves. “My job is to generate revenue for businesses by developing a tribe of listeners and then giving advertisers access to those listeners,” he explained.

Although he does own general stations, Christian radio will always be important to him. “It represents the lifestyle of who I am as an individual. It is encouraging to me that we have kids, moms and grandmothers listening to the same station. That proves that it is the message behind the music that counts, the lyrics transcend the music.”

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radio guys

David purposely invests in general stations as well. He believes it is important that we, as Christians, don’t move into a bubble. “We are called to be lights to go into the world. The world is not called to come into the light. I fear we have a tendency to isolate ourselves to the point that we are no longer seen as lights to the world, we are seen as lights in our own little bubble. I have to get up every day and make sure that I personally stay engaged in the culture so that I don’t fall into that,” he explained.

KXOJ plays the best of what Contemporary Christian Music has to offer. Their slogan is “Your choice for the family. By the popularly of the station, it is obvious families are loving the result.

KXOJ takes pride in providing a place where people can listen to the top CCM hits, yet receive the local information available only on a local, community-focused radio station.

Tulsa is blessed to not only have programming like this in our market, but also can be thankful that the station is so community oriented. Tune in and listen. We think you will be blessed.

Randall Christy

The Gospel Station KBVL FM103.9 Bartlesville and FM91.5 KVAZ Henryetta

The result is an uplifting good time. Listen in either on your radio or online at www.thegospelstation.com.

The Gospel Station is operated by South Central Oklahoma Christian Broadcasting Inc. is a non-profit organization 501(c)3.

The group runs a network of ministries that provide GOSPEL RADIO, CONCERTS, MINISTRY, MISSIONS and MEDIA. They also recently reopened THE GREAT PASSION PLAY in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

[Christian radio] represents the lifestyle of who I am as an individual. It is encouraging to me that we have kids, moms and grandmothers listening to the same station. That proves that it is the message behind the music that counts, the lyrics transcend the music.

- david stephens, kxoj

When you want to hear some good ol’ Gospel music, you can tune to either FM103.9 or FM91.5. One comes out of Bartlesville and the other from Henryetta. Neither have the power to extend throughout Tulsa, but do produce good quality in South Tulsa and North Tulsa.

The non-commercial station plays a continuous flow of great Southern Gospel hits with the goal to emphasize the message of Jesus Christ, touch hearts, pull families of God together, and fill a void, encouraging Christians to have a better witness and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Listeners also enjoy 2-3 minute messages of the spoken word, including: The Billy Graham Minute, Spreading the Word Ministry, World Mission Team Updates, and Scripture Readings.

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college directory

A Directory of Christian Colleges and Universities Within a 3-Hour Drive from Tulsa

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anna to go to a Christian college or university? You are in the right place. There are many wonderful schools right here close to home.

Now, it is important to qualify our definition of “Christian schools.” There is an historic tendency for schools founded with a Christian mission and purpose, to gradually become more and more secular. Examples might include such names as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, or maybe even our own University of Tulsa.

That doesn’t make them a bad school. You can get a tremendous education there. However, you won’t necessarily find chapel services, the emphasis on spiritual growth, or the large numbers of Christian professors and students.

The following schools have shown a dedication to such things and if that matches with what you picture as the perfect college experience, one of these schools just may be the place for you. Get online and check them out. Do your own research. Then, when you have narrowed down your choice, start visiting schools. Being there, hanging out in the student center, sitting in on a couple of classes and even spending the night in one of the dorms, is the best way to see if it is the right choice.

In alphabetical order…

Evangel University – www.evangel.edu Located just 2 ½ hours up I-44 in Springfield, Missouri is Evangel University, a private Christian university affiliated with the Assemblies of God. This fairly small university (2000 undergrad and grad students) offers over 100 academic programs and is highly respected both in and outside its Assemblies of God culture. In fact their programs attract students from a wide variety of Christian denominational backgrounds who have a strong commitment to academics with a desire to combine their Christian faith with every aspect of their lives.

John Brown University – www. jbu.edu John Brown University, founded in Northwest Arkansas in 1919, serves over 2,000 students from 49 nations and 42 states. It is a strong Christian university that is committed to providing quality academics within a distinctly Christian community.

The university has no denominational affiliation and admits students of any faith. It is a vibrant and growing independent Christian university of the arts, sciences, and professions.

JBU offers 47 undergraduate majors, 50 undergraduate minors and 6

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graduate degree programs. It continually receives the national attention and was recently ranked second in the Southern Region by U.S. News and World Report.

A member of NAIA Division I, JBU offers Men and women’s basketball, Men’s golf, Men and women’s soccer, Men and women’s tennis and Women’s volleyball. he picturesque JBU campus is located just off Hwy 412 in Siloam Springs, just 1½ hours from Tulsa.

Newman University – www.newmanu.edu The Newman University educational experience is grounded in Catholic values and traditions, yet is respectful of other faith communities. The university meets the needs of daytime students as well as returning adults, who take advantage of evening and Saturday class formats. Newman has programs, organizations and activities designed to educate your mind and inspire your spirit.

Oklahoma Baptist – www.okbu.edu Oklahoma Baptist University is a small Christian liberal arts university in Shawnee, 30 minutes east of Oklahoma City. At OBU you will learn how all knowledge connects and how that framework can be informed by a thoughtful Christian worldview.

You will have the choice of 83 areas of study, the opportunity to work and study abroad and the chance to engage faculty mentors. All of this occurs in a supportive, Christian community; one that’s dedicated to the highest intellectual and ethical standards.

Programs: 10 bachelor’s degrees in 83 areas of study. Two master’s degrees offered at OBU International Graduate School, 111 N. Harrison, Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma Christian University – www.oc.edu What began in 1950 as Central Christian College (with an enrollment of 97) has grown into a comprehensive Christian university serving more than 2,000 students. Affiliated with the churches of Christ, Oklahoma Christian welcomes all students who respect the university’s commitment to academic and spiritual excellence and who respect the academic and spiritual pursuits of their fellow students. Oklahoma Christian University’s 240-acre campus is located in northeast Oklahoma City. The institution borders the city of Edmond. Students enjoy the academic, cultural and recreational benefits of a big city in a safe, comfortable suburban atmosphere.

Ozark Christian College – www.occ.edu

St. Gregory’s University – www.stgregorys.edu

Ozark Christian College is located on a spacious 95-acre campus in the city of Joplin in southwest Missouri. This area, termed “The Four States,” is only a short drive from Tulsa. This campus not only has a great location, but is also in Phase II of a four-phase master plan to expand OCC’s campus to accommodate 1,200 students. Ozark Bible College was founded in 1942 as a classic four-year Bible College with only a handful of students.

And despite changes through the years, the mission remains the same – to train men and women for Christian service through an undergraduate Bible college education. The high academic caliber of OCC remains steady due to the varied faculty of full-time and part-time professors and a student-faculty ratio of 18:1. Not only can students enjoy the atmosphere of the classroom, they can take advantage of the 76 hours of credit offered through Distance Learning. Students’ options, the high standards for learning, and the quality faculty create a biblical and ministerial education that is hard to match.

Founded by Benedictine monks in 1875, St. Gregory University holds fast to the timeless values of its Catholic faith and Benedictine tradition as it continues to build respect as one of the premier, residential liberal arts colleges in the region. The main campus is located in Shawnee, 35 miles east of Oklahoma City. It is surrounded by the 640-acre property of St. Greggory’s Abbey. Roughly 300 students live and attend school on the Shawnee campus. A respected adult studies program is also available on the school’s Tulsa campus.

Oklahoma Wesleyan University – www.okwu.edu Oklahoma Wesleyan is known for both their traditional main campus in Bartlesville and their strong adult education program offered here in Tulsa. Their main campus is a four-year liberal arts university emphasizing a wide range of subjects. At OKWU, you will take classes in religion, humanities, science, math, social sciences plus all the classes within whatever major you decide. You can choose between 35 different degree programs. The small campus (less than 500 students) provides a unique atmosphere where you can enjoy the fun of a traditional campus while capitalizing on the benefits of only 14 students to every one faculty member. Oklahoma Wesleyan is a place “Where Jesus is Lord and is a place where you can learn and live.” College life at OKWU involves much more than just going to classes. Student life is both fun and spiritual. You can make lifelong friends, be involved in awesome ministries, join in fun activities planned on the weekends, and experience the great power of God in your life.

Founded to educate the whole person-mind, body and spirit-ORU promises a world-class academic experience in the context of a vibrant Christ-centered community. A comprehensive university dedicated to strong student outcomes, ORU offers 65 undergraduate majors, many with national accreditation, as well as 14 master’s-level programs and two doctoral degrees. Faculty members educated at the nation’s top graduate schools serve as academic, professional and spiritual mentors to students who come to ORU from every corner of the globe. ORU continues to redefine what it means to be a leading Christian university.

You will enjoy every aspect of your ORU experience–from the classes to the many associations and clubs, from dorm life to campus worship.

ORU is a unique place focused on making you an outstanding leader, an inspiration and a blessing to a needy world.

Southern Nazarene University – www.snu.edu Founded in 1899, Southern Nazarene University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university-a service of the Church of the Nazarene. SNU grew out of several small colleges committed to training people for service to God and their fellow man. More than 25,000 alumni work and now serve throughout the United States and the world. SNU offers a traditional campus in Bethany, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City. Southern Nazarene University is the third- oldest private four-year liberal arts institution in the state of Oklahoma. It is located on more than 200 acres, including the academic campus, athletic facilities and support facilities in Bethany, Oklahoma just minutes away from the Will Rogers World Airport.

Southwestern Christian University – www.swcu.edu Southwestern Christian University’s main campus is located in Bethany, a suburb of Oklahoma City. With an area population of about one million, the greater Oklahoma City area provides a large variety of churches, job opportunities and enrichment activities for students. The campus of SCU adjoins the Global Ministry Center of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, the university’s parent body.

This allows for interchange with the denominational leadership on academic, professional and social levels. SCU was established in 1946 by the International Pentecostal Holiness Church primarily for training men and women for church leadership. In its early years, the university became known as Southwestern Bible College because of its emphasis on the Bible as the nucleus and pivot around which all other studies revolved. The name of the institution was changed to Southwestern Christian University in 2001. The university also expanded its curriculum offerings to include business degree options, education options and, most recently, a Sport Management degree program.

SCU is now offering Master of Ministry and Bachelor of Science degree programs on the RHEMA Bible Training Center campus in Broken Arrow.

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A Salute to Christian School Graduates Tulsa is blessed to have wonderful Christian schools. Each year, they produce a “crop” of new graduates, ready to take on the world for Christ. We wish we could honor every one of them, but of course space won’t allow that. Instead, we thought we would honor one grad from various Christian schools.

David Najid

Augustine Christian Academy God brought David and his family here for many reasons, one was obviously so that David could attend ACA. His parents are from Nigeria and his father is still an active missionary and training pastor, working with Nigerian pastors while attending ORU. David excelled in school and now plans to go into engineering. He will start at TTC and then once he decides whether to do mechanical engineering or petroleum engineering, will go to either ORU or TU. David has loved ACA. “It is a place where the teachers listen and teach you what you are inspired to learn.

(Photo - Monica Burgess)

Austin Carr

Immanuel Lutheran Christian Academy Immanuel Christian was the perfect place for Austin to thrive. The one-to-one class time with the teachers and the opportunities to do other things like being the captain of the Basketball, Track and Cross Country teams. He loved every minute of it. Now, he is off to the University of Tulsa. He is not sure of what he will study, but he is prepared for the challenge. (Baldridge Photography)

Katelyn Robinson

Mingo Valley Christian School It’s OSU for this sports-minded and excellent student. Katelyn plans to ultimately seek a Master’s in Athletic Training. She developed this interest while serving as a trainer for Mingo’s football, Men and Women’s basketball and Men’s soccer teams. She is going to miss Mingo, “a place where teachers care about the students and have a passion for the Lord and raising us up in the Lord,” she said. (Photo: Susan Robinson)

Kelly Scrivner Victory Christian School After much prayer, this Validectorian and 13-year honor student at VCS believes God wants her to attend The University of Tulsa. She is not sure about her major yet, but thinks she might like to ultimately attend law school.

She will miss both the students and the teachers at VCS. “After 13 years of going to school with them and even going on mission trips with them, they become family. It is going to be hard to say goodbye,” she said. (Maggie McKenney Photography)

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Danny Burke

Metro Christian Academy This respected wide receiver, defensive back and punt returner will be attending Abilene Christian University where he will “walk on” with the Wildcats. A hurt knee kept him off the field much of his senior year, but is now ready to show his abilities both on and off the field. He has loved being able to be involved in so many activities at Metro and he credits his teachers for the Christ-centered environment. Danny plans to study Business Administration.. (Photo – Ervin Photography)

Rebekah McPheeters Summit Christian School

Rebekah fell in love with the kids and the teachers at SCS when she moved to Tulsa a few years ago. Her father, Pastor Richard McPheeters was called here to preach at Harvard Avenue Baptist Church. Rebekah thrived at SCS and is their Valedictorian. She plans to attend Oklahoma Baptist University and study Business or Communications with a minor in Cross Cultural Ministries. (Photo –Jennifer Endicott Photography)

Monica Colpitt

Rejoice Christian School After 10 years attending Rejoice Christian School, Monica is headed to The University of Oklahoma where she will study Petroleum Engineering. Monica is one of Rejoice’s Valedictorians. She loves to play tennis and to ride and show Pinto horses. She will miss Rejoice, saying everyone is like family here. (Photo: Jeannie Sheets)

Emilee Sullivan

Regent Preparatory School Regent is home for Emilee Sullivan. In fact, she has attended school at Regent since Enrichment III. But now as she graduates, she plans to head to The University of Oklahoma, where she will pursue a degree in Nursing. While Emilee will miss the support of the Regent student body and faculty, she is excited to see what the Lord has planned for the next chapter of her life. She says she is motivated by James 1:27, hoping to please the Lord in all she does.

Chandler Parsons

Wright Christian Academy Chandler, a life-long OSU fan is headed to Stillwater to study Chemical Engineering. He is WCA’s Valedictorian and was awarded a National Merit Oklahoma State University Scholarship. He was also a student in Tulsa Tech’s first Pre-Engineering/Design/Calculus 1 and 2 class. He attended Wright since the 6th grade. He played soccer and is an Eagle Scout. (Amy Teague – Happily Situated Photography)

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rejoice christian school

Rejoice Christian School Breaks Ground on Impressive New Campus

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od is doing BIG things at Rejoice Christian School in Owasso. The school, establish by First Free Will Baptist Church in 1992 has been blessed with a major gift capable of establishing a premier school campus along Highway 169 in North Owasso.

The school has come a long way since those first days in 1992.

It has gradually grown from 40 students to 751 this year, offering classes for grades K-12.

Groundbreaking on the new, $50 million dollar, state-of-the-art campus has the entire town excited and the staff and teachers see it as a tremendous opportunity, giving the space and technology for their students to develop spiritually, intellectually and physically while being socially equipped to impact their community and the world for Christ.

The new campus will feature a new high school, middle school and combined preschool and elementary building. A performing arts center will take center stage for students’ fine arts productions, and new athletic facilities will be built for the school’s athletic programs including baseball, basketball, cheerleading, football, golf,

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soccer, tennis, track, softball and volleyball. All in all, more than 260,000 square feet of space will be built on the 50-acre campus.

School officials explain that the land will be transformed to continue Rejoice Christian School’s mission: “Rejoice Christian Schools exist for the purpose of partnering with parents in training students in Bible-based Christian principles and in the establishment of a high-quality academic foundation.”

The Tulsa-based architecture firm, Cyntergy AEC is designing the campus and Fleming Building Company, Inc. is the project builder.

“We plan to grow from 750 students to more than 1,500 students,” said Dr. Craig Shaw, Rejoice Christian Schools’ Superintendent. “The endowment fund will provide more need-based scholarships for students. The larger campus and the endowment fund resources will enable us to provide extended services, such as academic help for students and gifted and talented programs.”

With increased enrollment, the school will be a larger employer for the Owasso area. Currently, RCS employs more than 130 parttime and full-time employees and they now expect to increase that number to 200 part-time and full-time employees over the next few years.

“We plan to add at least 100 new teaching positions, a 75 percent increase,” Shaw said. “The new campus will allow us to impact more people. In the long term, we will be able to provide the Owasso community with high-functioning Christian education for many years to come.”

Congratulations to the students, teachers, staff and the whole RCS community. God is going to touch thousands of young lives with this incredible expansion.

mingo valley christian school

Special Friends Meet for the First Time

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eorge Ebenezer lived 7000 miles from some special friends who cared about him. When he was a fourth grader in India, he was blessed to become part of Compassion International’s Child Sponsorship Program. He knew he was sponsored by kids in America, but it seemed so far away and never thought he would ever be able to actually meet them.

Across the world, Mr. Phil Martin’s classes of 5th graders at Mingo Valley Christians School prayed for George, thinking of him often. They not only sponsored him financially during the years of 1987- 1998, they also wrote to him, encouraging him and telling him about their own lives and their faith in Jesus Christ. Little did they know just how much George was cherishing every letter, reading them over and over.

In an interview with Channel 6 News, George explained why those letters meant so much to him. He explained that he had no food, no clothes, no presents at Christmas and an abusive home life. He was often beaten by his alcoholic father. He would get up each morning and have to walk 45 minutes to go to school.

George recalled that although he was grateful, some of the other kids received more money. They even received toys and presents.

He just got these letters.

“It was always letters,” he said. “And I said, ‘Why did the Lord allow a school to sponsor me? You know? I wish it was a family or a rich family or someone who would give me gifts.’”

What George didn’t realize was that the kids from Mingo were sending him something much more valuable. They were sending their prayers, something he would ultimately realize and thank God for.

The nickels and dimes collected for George did make a difference. The money kept him in school, paying for his education and food.

The years passed and George grew up to become a missionary, running an orphanage with his wife, Manju, in their home in Bangalore, India. As part of his testimony given at speaking engagements around the world, he often mentioned the students who sponsored him from Mingo Valley Christian School in America.

Then one day, while speaking in the tsunami ravaged country of Indonesia, someone in the audience greeted him afterwards, telling him that they had relatives attending the school in Tulsa.

The encounter compelled George to once again reach out to

Mr. Martin and Mingo Valley Christian School. The friendship was renewed and they have enjoyed communicating ever since.

The bond in Christ never faded. In fact, George participated in the school’s chapel services via Skype on occasion. He has also kept the school updated on his ministry projects and needs, while always hoping that someday he would be able to be at the school in person.

On May 2nd, the dream came true when George came to Tulsa to meet his special friends and personally thank them for their support. A large group of well-wishers including Mr. Phil Martin, now a pastor at Tulsa Bible Church, greeted him at the airport.

George explained the importance of what they had done for him.

He said that the prayers “redeemed and rescued him.” He now tries to do the same for others. And, to remind him of God’s blessings, he often pulls out a letter or two. Although his father burned some of the letters, he managed to hold on to some. In fact, he brought them back to his old pen pals at Mingo Valley.

“I’m thankful to the Lord for where I am today,” he said.

The kids at Mingo Valley Christian never could have known the true value of their gifts. Often we don’t get to see or hear the consequences of our good deeds. But for these “kids,” many years, many prayers and many letters produced a friend they were finally able to meet face-to-face.

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Convoy of Hope President Shares Importance of New Social Justice Degree at ORU

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rom disaster response, to women’s empowerment and feeding the hungry, Convoy of Hope president and co-founder, Hal Donaldson, has long been a champion of social justice issues facing people around the world. Throughout his career the nonprofit leader has fought for those in need and, in doing so, has gained unique insight about the importance of educating the next generation of leaders utilizing social justice for a greater good.

“Our next generation of leaders is tremendously passionate about social justice,” said Donaldson. “They see the hurt, injustice and needs of people around them and are inspired to act so that the world is a better place.”

The United States has seen an influx of college-aged students seeking careers in social justice. In response to that need, Oral Roberts University recently announced its Social Justice degree program that will be available in fall 2014.

Students enrolled in the new program will learn how to strategically integrate faith, culture, economics and politics into their work lives. Students may choose between a pre-law or business concentration and will engage in action-oriented research as well as business strategies to implement community-based solutions for problems addressing needs familiar to the impoverished and suffering.

“As a trustee of ORU, I am excited for the implications that the

new social justice degree has for the university as well as students who enroll,” added Donaldson. “Whether creating business plans, conducting research, lobbying for geo-political initiatives, or managing disaster relief, ORU students are sure to be on the frontlines of social justice issues both at home and abroad. I am grateful for the initiative ORU President William Wilson took to prepare students for this critical field.”

Students interested in enrolling for the new Social Justice degree program are eligible for nomination to the Quest Whole Person Scholarship, which offers up to $20,000 a year in tuition. For additional information on the Quest Whole Person Scholarship Program, visit www.quest.oru.edu.

For more information about ORU’s Social Justice degree program, visit oru.edu/socialjustice.

About Convoy of Hope Convoy of Hope, a faith-based organization founded in 1994, has a driving passion to feed the world. With a long history as an early responder in times of natural disasters, Convoy of Hope has been a Four Star Charity as recognized by Charity Navigator for 11 consecutive years. In the last 20 years, Convoy of Hope has served more than 65 million people. For more information please visit convoyofhope.org

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Oral Roberts University Announces Nine New Degree Programs Available Fall 2014

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ral Roberts University announces nine new degree programs will be available to students beginning in fall 2014. New programs include Cinema, Television, and Digital Media, English Language Teaching in the Global Classroom, Global Ministry and the Marketplace, Global Studies with a concentration in Latin America, the Middle East, or Asia, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Leadership MBA, Mathematics Preactuary, Social Justice and Sports Management.

The Cinema, Television, and Digital Media Program examines mass media in popular culture focusing on the industries of film, television, and interactive media. It studies the language of film and storytelling while developing the skill sets of digital movie making; scripting, lighting, videography, sound capture, foley, audio mixing, visual editing and effects. The media immersive junior and senior years encourage students to develop needed skills while pursuing their passion with diligence.

The English Language Teaching in the Global Classroom Program is for those who are called to go to other countries to teach

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English and those from other countries who want to return to their country to teach English. The program is a combination of reading, English and English language learning courses to ensure candidates acquire the content knowledge, pedagogical skills and dispositions needed to aid students in acquiring English as a second language.

Students enrolled in the Global Ministry and the Marketplace Program take courses in Bible, theology, ethics, apologetics and missions with a required minor in business. The degree equips business minded students to be creative in their calling to have a global influence as they learn Biblically sound and theologically balanced ways to minister in local, global and cross-cultural contexts.

The Global Studies Program allows students to focus their studies on a specific region of interest including Latin America, the Middle East, or Asia. In addition, students receive a language minor connected to that region—modern Hebrew, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese. A graduate with this degree is able to pursue careers and successfully work in the globalized world, whether it is

in developing businesses, creating effective policies, helping people and communities, working with non-governmental organizations, governments or ministries.

The Industrial and Organizational Psychology Program prepares students for graduate programs and professional careers that apply principles of psychology to a variety of business concerns including human resources, administration, management, sales, and organizational development. I-O psychology primarily focuses on the analysis of workplace behavior through the study of employees, workplaces, and organizations.

The Leadership MBA Program (LMBA) is a cutting-edge online program that integrates two critical components of business – technical knowledge and effective leadership techniques. Together these concepts form a comprehensive degree program that brings the high-value of an MBA and pairs it with the knowledge of how to create and cast a strategic vision while inspiring and empowering others to fulfill performance outcomes.

The Mathematics Preactuary Program is the study of data in different business settings such as financial risk, insurance risk and liability. This degree is designed for preparation for actuarial qualification exams and provides essential knowledge for continuing in the profession. This degree also prepares those wanting to pursue a career in business mathematics such as economics or business analytics.

The Social Justice Program provides students with skills and abilities to integrate faith, culture, economics, and politics to promote healing at both an individual and societal level. This

program offers two pathways leading students either through a prelaw emphasis to graduate school or a business emphasis leading into a career promoting healing through supportive, often non-profit, organizations.

The Sports Management Program prepares students for advanced work in all sectors of the sports industry by providing a broad understanding of the field, while also teaching specific management skills in the areas of finance, sports personnel management, law, sports marketing and facility or event management. Graduates will gain the knowledge and skills needed to excel in a variety of careers with professional and collegiate organizations, individual colleges, public and private organizations, media and entertainment agencies, and facilities and events operations.

For more information on ORU’s new degree programs, contact the ORU admissions office at 800-678-8876 ext. 1 or email admissions@oru.edu.

About Oral Roberts University Oral Roberts University is a world-renowned Christian university located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Founded in 1963, ORU serves students from 50 states and more than 70 countries, representing over 40 denominations.

ORU offers more than 60 undergraduate majors, 13 master’s programs and two doctoral degrees, plus NCAA Division I athletics. For more information about ORU, visit www.oru.edu.

ORU Announces New Graduate Quest Fellows and Scholarship Program with Awards up to Full Tuition

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ral Roberts University has announced a new Graduate Quest Fellows and Scholarship Program. The university will select one President’s Fellow and three Dean’s Fellows. Each fellow will receive a full tuition award, which also includes a $15,000 stipend. The top award, the President’s Fellow, will also receive room and board if living on campus. Fellows will be given the opportunity to hone their professional skills while working on special projects for the ORU Provost as well as Deans for the ORU College of Business, College of Education and College of Theology and Ministry.

The remaining applicants will be assessed and awarded Quest scholarships of up to $5,000 based on merit.

Interested students should contact their ORU graduate recruiter.

• Business - Rachel Guttman: 918-495-6117 or gradbusiness@oru.edu • Education – Tim Woods: 918-495-6553 or twoods@oru.edu • Theology and Ministry – Debra Watkins: 918-495-6618 or dwatkins@oru.edu Applications can be downloaded at www.oru.edu/ questgradapp.

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oklahoma health department

Think You are Just a “Social Smoker?” Think Again…

Experts Say There is No Such Thing as Harmless “Occasional Smoking” Mama was right. One thing (or one smoke) really does lead to another.

So, do you think it would be wise to try just one shot of heroin?

Get this, researchers are saying that cigarettes may be more addictive than either heroin or cocaine.

What may start with an occasional cigarette at the bar or on the golf course, may very well soon put you out on the street in freezing weather with the other smokers. Then will you answer the doctor’s question with a “yes?”

If you are a “social smoker,” quit now, before it gets any more difficult.

Oklahomans with a desire to quit smoking cigarettes, or any other form of tobacco, can contact the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline to receive FREE services. Through the Helpline, tobacco users can receive free coaching with highly-trained quit coaches, a personalized quit plan, specialized materials and resources to become tobacco free. Most callers enrolled in the program will also receive free patches, gum or lozenges. To get started with the Helpline, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit OKhelpline.com.

Services are also available in Spanish by contacting 1-855-DEJELOYA (1-855-335-3569).

Being tobacco free has great advantages, including:

W

hen the doctor asked Shannon is she smoked, she politely said “no.” After all, she didn’t smoke every day.

She only smoked when she was out “partying.” That doesn’t count…or does it?

The problem is that the experts say there is no such thing as harmless smoking. It all counts. And, when people like Shannon try to quit, they all-too-often find that they are more hooked than they could have imagined.

A paper by the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco says that one out of every two college freshmen who smoke at low levels will still be smoking when they are seniors and that as many as 30 percent will convert to daily smokers.

And it is not just young college folks who get hooked. The adults who “only” smoke when they are partying or when they are out fishing or on the golf course get equally as hooked. And although they may deny being a smoker and state they are only a “social smoker,” the highly addictive nature of tobacco generally wins.

Researchers label these folks as “chippers.” By the way, it is the same word they use for heroin users who try not to get addicted by using small and infrequent doses of the drug. It rarely works and doctors haven’t been able to identify any “safe” levels of smoking.

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Saving money. The average cost of a single pack of cigarettes in Oklahoma is $5.38. Putting that money in a piggy bank every single day instead would add up to about $2,000 in 52 weeks. Those giving up tobacco often benefit from lower health insurance rates every month also.

Looking and smelling good. Ditching tobacco leads to cleaner teeth, fresher-smelling breath, clothes and hair, and can reduce facial lines.

Feeling great. Taking a deep breath while being physically active is much easier when there is no smoke – or secondhand smoke – barring lung health. Living tobacco free lowers the heart rate and blood pressure, and it reduces the risk of cancers and heart and lung diseases.

unite my city W I T H

MOLLIE MYERS

Recruiting and retaining are critical bookends in foster care…

“If we keep on recruiting families and they don’t stay in the game, it will be very difficult for us to accomplish what it is we are called to do.” -Chris Campbell, Executive Director, 111Tulsa

1 church. 1 family. 1 purpose.

That was the heart of the 111Project of Tulsa and is the heart of 111Tulsa.

For the last three years, the 111Project of Tulsa has been made up of a group of volunteers with a heart for seeing children who have no home become part of a family.

In April, the name was officially changed to 111Tulsa as this organization takes on a laser focus for the Tulsa area. 111Tulsa has also brought on Chris Campbell to serve as the first Executive Director. With the existing base of passionate volunteers, 111Tulsa will seek to engage every Christian church to get involved by encouraging families to enter the foster care issue with open hearts and open homes.

With hundreds of Christian churches just in the city limits of Tulsa, if every church would commit to finding just one family that would foster, our city would effectively have enough additional homes that could eliminate the need for institutionalized care.

“111Tulsa is passionate about families for children without them because we believe ultimately that it is God’s design for all of us to be a part of a family. Without a loving family, without parents, it is really hard for someone to ever believe that there is a God who loves them” says Chris.

For every foster family that engages, 111Tulsa strongly

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encourages churches to cultivate five families to support them. One of the foster at the original foster care forum in Tulsa said it very succinctly: “If my church will foster me, I can foster these kids.”

“111Tulsa will continue to seek out and work with churches and challenge them to find ways to get involved in foster care if they aren’t there already. The thread we keep hearing and seeing is that a foster care advocate spoke in a church, a seed was planted in someone’s heart, and then steps were taken to respond in obedience.” says Chris. “This is why we need to engage as many churches as possible. Scripture is chock full of verses about God’s heart for the oppressed, the poor, the orphan, the widow. We do not need to wonder if a church should get involved, but explore how.”

There are nearly 100 children, who live at the Laura Dester Children’s Center that cares for children from 5 years up to their 18th birthday, who have been removed from their home. This center was created to be an emergency shelter to process children out of harm’s way and into a foster home. However, the proposed 48 hour stay has turned into days, weeks, and sometimes months, for many of these children due to an insufficient number of homes available for placement.

This is not an insurmountable problem. It is an opportunity for churches and their members to partner in not just becoming aware of a need, but engaged in raising these children together with hope, healing, and compassion. To contact 111Tulsa about getting your church involved or to learn more, please contact Chris at info@111tulsa.org.

Unite My City wholeheartedly supports the efforts of 111Tulsa and continually works to bring this group to the attention of the churches we serve.

the heart of the matter

DENIECE ADSIT

Bless Her Heart Each time we engage in conversation, we make a choice to speak words of encouragement, or words of condemnation. We make a choice of speaking things that are best left unspoken, or saying something appropriate that will strengthen others.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV The ways we can promote healing in others are as varied as our skills and personalities. We can pray for them, talk with them (not about them), teach them, extend love to them, forgive them, be a friend to them, be a mentor to them…become vulnerable to others so that others feel whole, loved and needed. Be a servant in word and deed, as Jesus was.

Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands.

Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees.

- Job 4:3-4 NIV

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he seems like such a kind and gentle woman, grandmotherly in appearance and demeanor. And most of the time she is pleasant to be around. She takes food to the sick, she prays, she reads her Bible, she teaches a children’s Sunday school class, all the things you would expect a follower of Christ to do. But she has this one flaw that seems to overshadow all the good she does. She thinks she can say anything about anyone as long as she adds, “Bless her heart!” at the end of the sentence. It goes something like this, “She’s such an ugly little thing, bless her heart!” “That dress makes her look so old, bless her heart!” “She never takes care of herself, bless her heart!” You get the idea. These statements are hurtful for those who hear them, though they are directed at someone else (for the moment.) The question that always troubles the mind is, “I wonder what she says about me when I’m not here?” And yet she seems oblivious to the pain inflicted by these idle words.

She isn’t the only one who engages in this type of conversation, though often times it is more subtle. We overlook the fact that our words go far beyond the moment they are spoken - the effects reaching so much farther than we ever imagined. But one thing is certain: our words will either hurt or heal. Rarely are they neutral.

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

- Proverbs 12:18 NIV

We might even find that by encouraging others, we ourselves become stronger in our faith. By teaching, we become the student.

By practicing the art of healing conversation, we ourselves are healed.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

- Hebrews 3:13 NIV If we see someone struggling with a sin, or living a lifestyle that will be detrimental to their walk with Christ, or feeling unloved and unwanted, wouldn’t we rather be known for being the person who would truly “Bless her heart” instead of just saying the words?

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.

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marriages that last

BY DR. KEVIN NIEMAN

Lies About Marriage

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ecently I was visiting with a young couple who were planning on getting married. It was easy to see their excitement as they shared how they met and soon became best friends. He went on to share over the next several months how they became inseparable and how his love for her grew. He shared how he popped the big question, making sure it would be a memorable experience for her. With tear-filled eyes, she gladly accepted his proposal and they began to make plans for the future.

The young couple continued to share what they envisioned their future to hold. Marriage was just around the corner. They spoke of how they wanted their love to grow and deepen over the next couple of years. The plan was then to have a couple kids rounding out their little family. Five years into the marriage, they planned on experiencing marital difficulties, nothing major at first, just some communication problems. At year six, they anticipated having to work through an affair making them question everything they thought they knew. By year seven they both would agree that they would be better off getting a divorce and would begin separating everything down the middle. Bringing the arguments and disappointments to an end seems to justify any potential hurt being done to the children.

As common as divorce is today, I don’t believe anyone goes into a marriage with the above dreams and yet, many marriages end up it this very scenario. I believe most divorces could be avoided. The one commonality I’ve found in any divorce is that someone bought into a lie. Listed below are just a few lies that the Great Deceiver will want you to buy into, in hopes of destroying your marriage and family.

Lie #1. “My happiness is the most important thing about my marriage.”

One’s happiness or the pursuit of it is not the most important aspect of a marriage and for anyone to hold that view has a very shallow understanding of marriage. Your spouse is not responsible in making you happy; ultimately, only you can determine the attitude you’re going to have in your marriage. Take responsibility for your own thoughts and be proactive in changing the relational dynamic.

Lie #2. “I no longer love my spouse so I should get a divorce.”

Love is as much of a decision as it is an emotion. Love has the ability to take on many different forms. Depending upon the season, you may feel “more in love” at different points, but there should always be the underlining commitment that was made the day you both said “I do.”

Lie #3. “I married the wrong person.”

Regardless what you may feel about your spouse now, at one point you felt a very strong connection. Compatibility is very important to a marriage; however, if we losethat connection, it’s usually not because people have changed and they just don’t connect anymore. It tends to be because people have stopped making each other a priority. They find themselves spending more time with someone else thus believing the lie that they’re with the wrong person. If you spend all your time in someone else’s yard, why would it not look greener? Begin to do a little yard work on your own lawn, it may surprise you just how much you still have in common.

Lie #4. “Getting a divorce will not hurt my kids.”

Currently 60% of children do not have biological parents in the home. I tend to believe that number is a bit low in reality. The consequences to this staggering statistic are being played out in our society. Look at every major category of dysfunction and you’ll find a direct parallel to the increased absence of fathers in the home.

If you feel any of these lies are creeping into your life, Cornerstone stands ready to help talk through those lies and preserve your relationships. Don’t wait. It’s much easier to be proactive and spare yourself and your loved ones from the hurt that embracing these lies causes.

Dr. Kevin Nieman, LMFT Cornerstone Christian Counseling Services Cornerstone Christian Counseling Services is proud to announce that we are now in our newly remodeled offices.

We are also pleased to announce that our new website www. cornerstoneoftulsa.com is active. We are excited about bringing hope and healing to those hurting in our community, blending our Christian beliefs with our professionalism.

CORNERSTONE Christian Counseling Services

Let us help you get your life back on track.

Call today: 918.392.4008

4930 S. Sheridan Rd.

lose your quit B Y

DANNY CAHILL

The Real You

PHOTO COURTESY OF NB C Community Spirit is excited to have Danny Cahill as one of our featured, monthly writers. Whether you wrestle with your weight or not, you will enjoy Danny’s motivating column. We all cheered Danny on when he was on The Biggest Loser.

Now, he continues to gain our applause while he shares his testimony with others.

Danny loves the Lord and is not shy about telling people about Him. It is a blessing to the magazine to have his monthly article. Be sure to watch for Danny’s article each month.

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was working out in the gym when an old song came on. It was “Rocket Man” by Elton John. What really stood out was something I was feeling that morning; and quite frankly, something I’d felt much of my life. “What if they find out who I really am? I feel alone, and I don’t think anyone would understand me if they really knew me.”

This thought was really magnified after winning The Biggest Loser in 2009. As I stood on the scale and became the biggest loser in history, I wondered how long I could keep that moment – that act. People started looking at everything I ate, at my current weight, and people even thought I was rich beyond my wildest dreams.

I remember when I was a kid and answered the door to the FBI. “We need to talk to Charles Cahill.” I didn’t know what was going on. Turned out that my father gave them a shotgun that was bought with a hot check by someone else, and then sold to him for cash.

After the FBI left, he admitted to me that he knew something was odd about the shotgun, and he knew it was possibly stolen, but he wanted that gun so bad that he bought it anyway. For the first time, I saw a flaw in my father that I didn’t know was there.

It took me to a time when I first met my wife. I wanted her to like me so much that I told her a few little lies to make her think I was better than I actually was – embellishments was what I’d call

them. Eventually, a few of those lies would catch up to me, and I’d have to come clean.

Then I thought of my children when they were born. How long would it be before I got knocked off that pedestal of being a hero to them? What happens when they know the real me? Will they still love me as much as they do now?

Will they still think of me as highly as they do now?

Here are a few of the lyrics to Rocket Man: “And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time ‘til touch down brings me round again to find I’m not the man they think I am at home. Oh no, no, no, I’m a rocket man. Rocket man, burning out his fuse up here alone.”

We’re often scared of those around us knowing the real us. We’re fearful that we might let everyone down. What if they see our flaws? What if they knew our thoughts? Would they still love us?

Each month at The Journey Training (www.thejourneytraining. com), people find out they don’t have to carry the guilt, shame, or fear anymore. People consistently find out that others are a lot like them - hiding things about their past – their failures, their fears, their anxieties. Then they find out something even more incredible: that when people find out the real you, they actually love you even more.

How long are you going to carry around those weights? Maybe it’s time you let yourself off the hook and tell yourself the truth; that even with the flaws, mistakes, and imperfections, you’re okay – perfectly imperfect! And most of all, just like the hundreds that have gone through The Journey Training, you just might find out that you’re not alone on your journey.

PURCHASE DANNY’S NEW BOOK AT THEDANNYCAHILL.COM

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act financial

RANDY COWELL

How to Help Employees Suffering from Financial Stress

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here is an insidious condition that is sweeping across America that is affecting one out of every four working adults. It is the cause of reduced employee productivity, the primary cause of worksite accidents, directly correlated to turnover, and is the reason that on any given day 1,000,000 employees are on sick leave. What is this silent epidemic affecting 30,000,000 workers in the US and causing millions of dollars of lost business productivity? It is the financial stress resulting from unrestrained debt and the resulting personal financial problems.

According to the National Financial Educators Council the cost to businesses is $15,000 per infected employee. It is no respecter of status, income or position and unless your company is unique, 25% of your employees are affected! While many would like to believe “It’s their debt, their problem,” statistics indicate it’s not their problem, but YOURS. Hopefully this article will shed some light on this phenomenon and offer you, the employer, some ways to help your stressed employee(s) deal with this serious issue and in the process, increase your bottom line.

THE BOTTOM LINE There are five ways your employees are costing your company serious money and lost productivity.

1. The first deals simply with employee productivity. According to a study published in the American Express Guide to Workplace Education and Advice, 2004, on average, employee financial stress cost the employer 20 hours per month per stressed employee.

While this might seem high, consider the emotional issues associated with employees dealing with harassing phone calls from creditors, bounced checks, time arranging debt consolidation loans, medical bill payments, tuition pressures, retirement uncertainties, and finally just simply worrying about how the bills will be paid. These scenarios take the employee away from the work at hand and can significantly distract the employee.

2. The obvious result of a distracted employee at work is an increase in workplace accidents. According to The Human Trend Alert, 60-80% of workplace accidents are stress related. A distracted employee is a danger to the company’s property and equipment and the potential life and death scenarios make calculating the losses immeasurable.According to the NFEC in 2001 the cost to the employer was $29,000 per work place accident in lost productivity, uninsured costs, accident investigation, production slowdowns and employee training.

3. Have you ever had an employee call in sick or have to take time off to seek medical attention? If you have you may want to know these stats. According to a report found on occupationalhazzards. com, 75-90% of all doctor visits are stress related. Hypertension, insomnia, tension, anxiety, depression, headaches, abdominal and intestinal problems are just a start. Throw in alcohol and drug

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abuse and you have the potential for significant business losses.

4. The fourth loss falls into the category “the grass is always greener on the other side.” If you knew 40% of your turnover was due to stress what would you do with that information? The facts are that employees look for a quick fix by changing jobs and believe they can “earn” their way out of debt. Unfortunately this causes a loss to the company and unless new financial planning skills are learned the problem continues. Replacement of a recently vacated position can cost between $3,000-$13,000 making stress a real problem for the HR department.

5. Finally, the last cost to a business caused as a result of financial stress is the added cost of the human resource department. The time necessary to handle wage garnishments, bankruptcy claims, processing of 401(k) loans, and calls from ex-spouses about child support, can tax the most efficient HR department.

THE SOLUTION Worksite education is quickly being recognized as one of the most efficient solutions to this business productivity problem.

Treating the cause of the stress with worksite education and training programs is proving to be a cost effective way for businesses to help their employees and add to their bottom line. A win for everyone!

For more information on how you can offer worksite training and education please contact us at (918) 664-0081 or visit us online at www.Act-4-Life.com.

RANDY C. COWELL, M.S., LUTCF, CFP®, CRPC® ACT FINANCIAL 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.

broken arrow lanes

A Cool Teen Hangout…Wednesday Nights Broken Arrow Lanes Introduces TEEN NIGHT!

to bowl or play in the redemption game room. But mostly, they just enjoy being together.

TEEN NIGHT at Broken Arrow Lanes is open on Wednesday nights from 7:00-10:00. Pass the word to your Youth Group and friends. Its gonna be a good time!

Broken Arrow Lanes is a great facility. It is the perfect size for youth groups and parties. It has 36 lanes and is always smoke-free.

And, you will love the full service grill. They serve a great burger!

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our grandparents loved it, as did your parents and your own friends. So it’s no surprise that your kids will love it too!

Bowling is that game that transcends age and culture.

And even in this world of video games and smart phones, kids still think it is a blast. There is just something totally exciting about the crash of the pins all around you, the great music playing and the interaction with a whole team of players. There remains no better and cleaner sport.

Just ask Michelle Engelby, General Manager of the Broken Arrow Lanes at 4701 South Elm Place in Broken Arrow (Just North of Florence or 111th). Michelle has two teenagers of her own and she knows how much they and all their friends love to come to the bowling alley. Seeing this, she had an idea.

“Many church youth groups don’t have many scheduled activities during the summer on Wednesday nights for the kids. So, we decided to start having a “TEEN NIGHT” to give them a safe and fun place to hang out,” she explained.

TEEN NIGHT is a special night for teenagers between the ages of 12 and 19. Kids enjoy three hours of UNLIMITED bowling and fun. In addition, they can participate in such things as Hula Hoop Contests, Air Hockey Contests and other things. It gives them a place to meet friends and have a great time. And, they can do it for only nine dollars per person.

Parents love TEEN NIGHT because it is a safe, smoke-free and no alcohol environment. And whether they are bringing the whole church youth group or simply dropping off their own kids for the evening, they will be in a wholesome environment. And the kids sure don’t complain. They love the atmosphere. Their favorite Christian music and videos are played on the big screens, the place is packed full of excitement and there is always lots to do. They love

For more information, visit their website at www.brokenarrowlanes.com or call 918-455-4616.

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celebrity attractions

Broadway’s Biggest Blockbuster, Wicked, Comes To Tulsa June 18 - July 6

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roadway’s Biggest Blockbuster is coming to Tulsa! New York Times even refers to it as “the defining musical of the decade!”

Obviously, audiences agree as it continues to be Broadway’s highest grossing show for an unprecedented nine consecutive years.

In fact, eight million people have seen the show since it first hit the stage in the fall of 2003. And WICKED now has over 1 million fans on Facebook.

It has won more awards than we can list, but the Grammy Award winning original cast recording of WICKED was certified “Platinum” and now has sales of over three million copies in print.

So, what is all the interest? It is a show which combines a fun, interesting script, great costumes and some of the best lyrics and music scores in the business. The result will amaze you as much as it entertains you.

The show takes place in the Land of Oz prior to Dorothy’s arrival and it deals with untold stories about the Wicked Witch of the West and her unlikely friend, Glenda the Good Witch. The main characters are Elphaba, the green-skinned girl who is destined to be the Wicked Witch and Glinda, the spoiled little rich girl. The two have a love interest, Fiyero, and the Wizard of Oz himself is even in the picture.

The result is a show packed with interesting twists and turns as it pays homage to the classic Wizard of Oz story. Don’t don’t be too surprised, your view of the story and its characters will be reshaped a bit as the show presents a tale about love, friendship and trust. In fact, the show’s promoters give a hint that it is bound to help you realize there are always two sides to every story.

Make plans now and line up to get the best seats you can find for this one. Then, hang on to your broomstick. Its going to be a wild ride.

Presented by Celebrity Attractions, WICKED returns to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center for a limited engagement of three weeks June 24 through July 6. The performance schedule is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday Evenings at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday Evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2:00 p.m. There is also a Thursday Matinee on June 19 at 2:00 p.m. and a Friday Matinee on July 4 at 2:00p.m. Prices start at $35.

Tickets may be purchased via phone at 918.596.7111, in person at the PAC Box Office, or online at MyTicketOffice.com.

Get social with Celebrity Attractions by becoming a fan on Facebook.com/BwayTULSA. Follow the Tulsa engagement of WICKED on Twitter.com/BwayTULSA or join the conversation using hashtag #WickedTULSA. WICKED is the last production in the Celebrity Attractions’ 2013-2014 Broadway Season! Celebrity Attractions is proud to have American Airlines, Tulsa World and KOTV’s News On 6 as sponsors for this amazing season.

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Grammy Award-Winning Cast recording available on Decca Broadway. For more information about WICKED log on to www. wickedthemusical.com.

FUN FACTS ABOUT WICKED

(Note: all facts are for Broadway, unless otherwise indicated) • We use 250 pounds of dry ice per show on Broadway; we’ll probably use 200 pounds per show on the road.

• The electrics department uses enough power to supply approximately twelve houses. Including the sound and automation departments, the total would increase to eighteen houses.

• We use 8-10 miles of cable in the electrics department on Broadway; we’ll probably use 4-5 miles of cable on the road.

• 1,000 feet of steel cable have been used to restring the flying monkey wings during year one of the Broadway run.

• The carpentry department on Broadway has about 175,000 pounds of scenery, and uses about five miles of cable to automate it.

• The dragon’s eyes are red LED bulbs that never burn out.

• The “life casts” for the animal masks take 2-3 hours, and the person loses most of their senses (smell, sight, hearing, speech) during that time.

• During the first big “quick change”, 17 actors change from the mob to students in 1.5 minutes (including costumes, wigs and shoes) There are 179 different types and finishes of leather used in shoes, gloves, hats and costume trim for WICKED.

WICKED IS FLYING BACK TO TULSA

JUNE 18 – JULY 6

TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

TICKETS NOW ON SALE Tulsa PAC • MyTicketOffice.com 918-596-7111 • 800-364-7111 Groups 15+ 918-796-0220

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The “Yes Women Can” Blog

The Tale of the Garage Door Opener

BY LISA GOINS

WATCH FOR THIS BLOG IN EACH ISSUE OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT

your broom handle to help them remember that people are trying to sleep just one floor below? There were small patio spaces instead of yards; pets were out of the question and so were birthday parties, there just was not enough room. As I grew older, especially once I had begun to drive, I became more aware of the things I was missing out on in an apartment, such as having a garage, mostly during those Oklahoma winters.

Apartment life was all I ever knew, and all that my mom had known as well. A single mom raising two kids, she worked very hard to provide for us and keep her family together. As I grew older I remember how much I enjoyed getting to spend time at friend’s homes, they had space and yards and their own private driveway!

It took a lot of years and a whole lot of LISA GOINS & CINDY STEWARD apartments later but I remember the day my Smart Women Buy Homes are professional Realtors who have a passion and commitment to serving the husband and I bought our first home. I find unique needs of women home buyers. Lisa and Cindy are dedicated to making it easy, exciting and a joy for it hard to explain how proud I was to finally you to buy and own a home! have my own home, a place to call my very own. It was not just the home though; it was om I can’t find my keys… Mom have you seen my also my driveway, my yard, my garage and my very own garage door backpack? Mom where are my basketball shorts? Mom what did you do with my permission slip? Hey mom I opener!!

I wonder if things would have been different for my mom if can’t find Kelson….. (Now this one should strike me as alarming someone had helped to show her the path to home ownership since my oldest daughter has lost her little brother!) I have a lot of titles in my life; that of Wife, Pastor’s Wife, Realtor, and most sometime during all those apartment dwelling years, if she has only importantly, Mom… which often equates to “the finder of all known it was within her reach. Yes she certainly had obstacles to lost things. It was just recently when one of my kids told me they overcome, but they were just that, obstacles, and they could be couldn’t find their garage door opener that I thought…OH NOO… overcome. We all have dreams and desires and many, such as home ownership, are worth pursuing. Now I am off to pursue Lucy…. not the garage door opener….

It may seem strange for some She’s our dog and Kalli says she can’t find her……

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but the garage door opener holds a very special place in my heart and it has been something that I have taken pride in not just owning but also giving to each of my kids…

Growing up I lived in so many different apartment complexes I have lost count; a resident “apartment kid” all I ever knew was crowded parking lots, tiny kitchens and noisy neighbors overhead, you know the kind where you hit the ceiling with

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CALL Cindy Steward AT 918-809-5805 OR Lisa Goins AT 918-289-3919 VISIT US AT www.privatelabelrealty.com LISA GOINS

As a residential sales specialist Lisa quickly became a multi-million dollar producer by helping her clients either find the perfect home to purchase or successfully sell their existing home. She has a passion for Smart Women Buy Homes and the ability to help women fulfill their dream of home ownership. Lisa is a Realtor and Managing Broker for Private Label Realty, married and mom to 4 great kids; she and her husband Kelly also serve a Senior Pastors of Faith Assembly in Tulsa.

Will YOU Vote??

A Note from Publisher, Tom McCloud

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ummer is in full gear, it is vacation time and your work schedule is a mess. But you should vote anyway! Prepare ahead. Do your research and it won’t take long. Unfortunately, the lines are rarely long for the primaries. Do your civic duty. We are counting on you.

So, with different ballots for different districts and because only the candidates from your registered party will show on your ballot, it gets a bit confusing to show you your sample ballot. But here is as simple of a breakdown as we could produce for you.

Governor of Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin has two challengers…Dax Ewbank and Chad Moody Superintendent of Public Instruction A hot and heavily contested race with multiple candidates from both parties running against incumbent Janet Costello Barresi.

Republican – Brian S. Kelly and Joy Hofmeister Democrat – John Cox, Jack C. Herron, Jr., Ivan Holmes, Freda Deskin Insurance Commissioner Republican Bill Viner is running against incumbent Commissioner John Doak Corporation Commissioner Former House Speaker, Todd Hiett is running against State Senator Cliff Branan

US Senator On the Republican side only, three candidates are challenging Senator Jim Inhofe for his seat in the US Senate. Evelyn L. Rogers, Rob Moye and D. Jean McBride-Samuels

US Senator (Unexpired Term of Senator Tom Coburn) A field of candidates are all vying for this seat from both parties.

Republican – Andy Craig, TW Shannon, Randy Brogdon, Eric C. McCray, Kevin Crow, James Lankford and Jason Weger Democrat – Patrick Michael Hayes, Jim Rogers and Connie Johnson

District Attorney for District 14 Three Republican candidates are running to replace retiring District Attorney Tim Harris. Brian A. Crain, Steve Kunzweiler and Fred Jordan County Assessor John W. Feary is challenging incumbent Assessor Ken Yazel District Judge, District 14, Office 14 Three candidates are challenging incumbent Judge Kurt Glassco.

Jill Webb, Michael Jordan Fairchild and Jon R. Patton District Judge District 14 Office 2 Four candidates are seeking this position. David C. Phillips, Marijo Copeland, Sharon Holmes and Tanya N. Wilson State Representative District 29 Four Republican candidates are seeking this position. James Leewright, Clayton S. McKinzie, Dani Thompson-Fields and Geron Ledbetter State Representative District 76 Cliff Johns is challenging Representative David Brumbaug.

State Representative District 79 Lois I. Jacobs is challenging Representative Weldon Watson State Representative District 69 Republicans Melissa Abdo and Paul Bowman are challenging Representative Chuck Strohm State Senator District 12 Republican John Knecht is challenging Senator Brian Bingman County Commissioner District 1 Tracey Wilson and Brian Pounds are challenging Commissioner John Smaligo

GO VOTE!

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A DVERTO RI A L

Vanessa Hall-Harper

Candidate for Tulsa City Council – District 1 Candidate for Tulsa City Council

it’s time

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here comes a time when someone has to stand up and do something.

That time has come for Vanessa Hall-Harper. Seeing the pain and depressed conditions in her neighborhood, she could no longer wait on the sidelines for someone else to come to the rescue.

She doesn’t have all the answers, but she does believe change is possible and is willing to apply her God-given skills to lead it.

Community service is not anything new for this loyal Tulsan.

As the Child and Policy Manager for the Tulsa County Health Department, she has invested a career into building, stirring and

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uniting people to work together to solve common problems.

Through her efforts, citizens of Oklahoma enjoy smoke-free public places here in our community and across the state. She also has been investing into her community serving on the Tulsa Sales Tax Overview Committee, Leadership Tulsa’s North Tulsa Development Council, and on Tulsa Theatre North Board. Now, she wants to apply those same skills to serve as the City Councilor for District 1, a region extending mainly across the city’s north-west side.

She notes that the poor conditions in her district are obvious to anyone. Crime has driven out many of the business services within the community. The citizens must drive many miles to go to a decent grocery store. And without access to good transportation and healthy food, many make poor food choices while buying what they can from Dollar General and a few other places.

She believes there must be an answer and is willing to be that fresh breeze of excitement to help the citizens take their community back. “The north side can thrive again,” she insists.

Vanessa grew up here and she was raised believing in the community. “My father, retired from Boeing, always encouraged me and my six siblings to do our best. And my mother made sure we were always in church,” Vanessa said with a smile.

Studying hard in school, she graduated from Edison High School and went on to get her B.A. in Political Science/Pre-Law from Jackson State University. Later, she added a Masters of Science degree in Management.

She is married to Sergeant Marcus Harper, a veteran crime scene investigator for the Tulsa Police Department. The couple continues to live in District 1, raising a 12 year-old daughter.

Vanessa describes herself first as a Christian (She is very active in her church, Paradise Baptist Church) and also as a Democrat who truly cares about Tulsa. She is passionate about her community and is anxious to go to work improving the lives of its residents.

Vanessa is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated whose central mission is “Service to All Mankind.” It is with this mission in mind that Vanessa desires to serve her community as City Councilor. With years of public service under her belt, she now believes it is time for her to become that much needed, new voice for District 1. She invites you to join her in making Tulsa’s north side strong again.

A D VERTO RI A L

S. Fred Jordan

Candidate for District Attorney, Tulsa County “The District Attorney, more than about any other political position, is the guardian of the people’s constitutional rights and liberties. He can help protect the people from an over reaching government. I take that responsibility very seriously. Justice must be fair and the District Attorney stands in the gap.”

Semper Fidelis – Always Faithful

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s any good Marine will tell you, Semper Fidelis is more than just a motto. Being “Always Faithful” is a way of life which continues long after taking off the uniform. In fact, it, along with the original Marine motto, “First to Fight,” often produces an attitude Marines carry for a lifetime.

Such is the case for Fred Jordan, Republican candidate for Tulsa County District Attorney. The veteran Oklahoma legislator wears many hats, Oklahoma House Majority Leader, practicing civil and criminal attorney, entrepreneur, husband and soon-to-be father. But no matter his title, Fred Jordan will always be a Marine. It is part of what drives him towards excellence and continually calls him to public service.

Now running for the District Attorney position being vacated by retiring Tim Harris, Fred is ready for a new challenge, serving the community in a position he describes as “the leader of law enforcement within the county’s legal community.”

He contends that the District Attorney position is one of the toughest jobs in government, demanding not only the legal expertise to be a tough prosecutor, but also the political, leadership and managerial skills to maximize the effectiveness of nearly 10 million dollar annual budget and the department’s 100 plus employees. It requires someone dedicated to the constitution and with a passion for pursuing justice for the victim while fairly applying the law to everyone in the same way. It is a tough job, requiring the skills of someone who can be both political leader and hard-nosed prosecutor. And, it can also be a dangerous job, something this Marine says he is willing to face without compromise.

Every aspect of Fred Jordan’s career points him to being an effective District Attorney. After attaining his law degree from the University of Iowa and passing the bar, he served in the Marine Corps as a Captain and JAG officer, prosecuting cases at his base in North Carolina. In 2002, during Operation Enduring Freedom, he was deployed to

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where he acted as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the command which operated the detention facility. There when the first terrorists arrived from the War or Terror, he was responsible for developing the rules of engagement and use of force for the prison guards and ensuring that they followed international law and Geneva conventions, doing what was right legally, morally and ethically as worldwide media watched and scrutinized every decision.

After leaving the service, Fred practiced civil and criminal law, first for a large law firm and now in his own practice. Feeling called to serve his community, he ran for the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2006. Well respected by his fellow representatives, he now serves as the Majority Leader and is probably best known for his work as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and focusing on Worker’s Compensation Reform and other complex legal, public safety and constitutional issues.

Fred’s prosecution experience comes from his Marine Corps JAG service, where he served as the Military Justice Officer and chief prosecutor. He sees that as a positive, allowing him to approach the DA’s office with a fresh perspective and new vision. He explains that being an effective DA requires more than only being a good prosecutor. “The DA must be able to work with the all the other government entities.

The job will give me the opportunity to protect the public while using the leadership and political skills I have developed to get the job done.

It is the perfect culmination of my skills and experience.”

Fred says he will approach the position as a CEO, training and leading the Assistant District Attorneys in prosecuting the cases while focusing on leading and managing the organization.

In doing so, he will focus on getting the bad guys off the streets of Tulsa. Whether they are the violent offenders or the folks doing whitecollar crime, he will communicate to all that breaking the law will not be tolerated. And as you listen to this successful servant speak and hear the passion in his voice, you realize that you don’t want to be on the opposite side of the courtroom from him. This squared away Marine means business.

Representative Jordan will be battling it out with two other candidates in the June 24th Republican primary. He is married to Kara Jordan, a sales manager for a home healthcare company. The couple attend First Baptist Church of Tulsa and are expecting their first child in November.

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A DVERTO RI A L

John Feary

Candidate for County Assessor

J

ohn Feary loves public service. Oh, he could do other things and often gets recruited to do so. But he just can’t seem to leave public service, waking up each day with the opportunity to personally make a difference to the community.

He isn’t a politician. In fact, he has never run for office before.

But that is not stopping him from taking on Tulsa’s veteran incumbent Assessor.

John actually worked in the Tulsa County Assessor’s Office for five years. Now after spending an additional six years working for the City of Owasso, he is ready to come back and unseat an official who he believes is acting beyond the scope of the law and damaging Tulsa’s ability to create new jobs and is stifling new business development and existing business expansion. ‘‘The current Assessor has sued his own constituents and local businesses in multiple industries since his first election and most of those frivolous suits have been costly and returned no benefit to taxpayers’’. ‘‘I am running for Assessor because I want to see some real conservative changes in the Assessor’s Office. Once promising cost- saving measures have given way to typical government over spending and beaurocratic overreach. For the past 12 years nothing has been done legislatively regarding income qualifying provisions that would help seniors and Tulsa’s neediest people. That bothers me,’’ he explained.

John is also alarmed when he compares the budget of the Tulsa County Assessor’s Office with other similar offices. ‘‘The Tulsa Assessor’s Office currently spends over $300 thousand dollars more annually than Oklahoma County does. But Oklahoma County has 65,000 more parcels of land to value and 170 more square miles to manage, but they do so with 14 less employees than Tulsa County,’’ he said. ‘‘In addition, the top end of the Tulsa Co. staff is very top heavy in expenses. Six of eighty eight employees account for about $720,000 of the budget in salaries and benefits. That is almost 12 percent of the annual budget. And quite frankly, some of them yield little to no return to the taxpayers what so ever. They are either a friend of the Assessor or a retired legislator,’’ he claimed.

But there were actually two ‘‘straws that broke the camel’s back’’ and encouraged John Feary to run. The first was the Assessor’s latest opposition to the expansion of the jail and the juvenile justice center with

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manufactured and untrue statements regarding the county’s financials. ‘‘These tactics have been used by the incumbent for years, even though he has been disproven time and time again and has never produced evidence or a document substantiating his claims. Secondly, the continued attack on Tulsa’s faith-based community is an absolute atrocity’’! ‘‘The current Assessor has been in the court system trying to illegally tax church run senior care facilities which are exempt under the constitution of the state of Oklahoma. He has recently been after the Baptist Retirement Village in Owasso, Montereau Retirement Community, as well as the Tulsa Jewish Retirement Center. The OK Constitution, The Equalization Board, the County D.A., the State A.G., the District Court and the Appellate Court all said he was wrong on this issue. He is now the plaintiff against these three entities at the state Supreme Court. He has also started sending out paperwork to churches and other not-for-profit entities demanding that they prove their notfor-profit status. Churches and civic organizations such as Civitans and Lion’s Clubs are being forced to show the Assessor they are exempt through a significant growth in government red tape. The state and federal governments already recognize these entities as being exempt. ‘‘I have seen this persecution and am appalled by it’’! ‘‘Why does the current Assessor feel the need to prosecute those who help our county financially and spiritually with bigger government’’?

John believes he is well equipped to do the job. He worked in the office from 2003-2008 on a wide range of assignments working in the areas of business personal property, fixed assets, taxpayer services, homesteads, senior evaluations, Veteran’s exemptions etc… as well as managing the Assessor’s public relations and legislative affairs with the County Officers and Deputies Association (CODA). During that time, he learned each aspect of the office and became a state certified appraiser and protest hearing officer.

In Owasso, he currently serves as the Government Affairs and Special Projects Administrator, a role which allows him to interact with all branches of the government, while managing multiple capital improvement projects and assisting in the city’s preparation of an annual budget in excess of $24 million dollars for FY2014-15. The experience has given him a vast knowledge of government issues and a comprehensive understanding of government finance and budgeting.

John is a life-long Tulsan. He went to Jenks High School, Tulsa Community College and is currently a student at St. Gregory’s University, carrying a 4.0 grade point average as he finishes his bachelor’s degree (something that raising a family temporarily interrupted). He plans to continue his studies to receive his Masters in Public Administration in the next couple of years.

He has two children, Ian and Emma, and the three of them regularly attend Church on the Move.

John believes it is time for a change in the Assessor’s Office. ‘‘We need to act fiscally conservative not just say we are. We don’t need lip service and rhetoric on the Budget Board. We need rational solutions to real problems and opportunities. While I believe we should question our government, we should not undermine it at every step,’’ he said.

John Feary is looking forward to the primary to be held on June 24th.

He asks for your vote.

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“I believe our rights are God-given. It’s time conservatives take back our liberty and restore the America we love.”

– T.W. Shannon

“I still believe we are `One Nation Under God,’ and with His favor, we can reclaim our liberty.”

“Hard work creates prosperity.

Government handouts create dependency, robbing individuals of human dignity.”

“Debt is the enemy of freedom which makes it the enemy of America. Join me; let’s take back our country.”

ELECTION DAY: June 24 Paid for by Shannon for Senate

TWShannon.com

Info@twshannon.com P.O. Box 18182 • Oklahoma City, OK 73154