Cookson Hills Center:
Bishop cuts ribbon on debt-free property

Cookson Hills Center has a new ministry hub. On the front steps of Cookson Hills’ main building are, from left, Emery Mason, missionary Meri Whitaker, Bishop Hayes, Kathleen Masters of GBGM, Margaret Johnson, and Darrell Cates. Photos by...

Ready to adopt?
Churches can bond with children at camps

Your church is invited to "adopt" a children’s camp this summer, truly enhancing the experience for both youngsters and leaders. Several ways to reach out to the campers attending these specialty events were listed by Camps Director Randy McGuire. More than one church can adopt a camp, Rev. McGuire explained. And he welcomes support from each church, even if none of its children attend an...

Pastor pedals for a purpose

Pastor Andy James of Choctaw is wheel enthusiastic about exercise. By Holly McCray The road rolls away behind him, and cyclist Andy James closes in on new mile markers in his journey to be healthier. After resuming...

OCU students serve near,
far during Spring Break

Religion students prepare children’s Easter treats in Dallas. Nursing students helped this couple in Honduras. Wesley Center helps inner-city mission Dallas was the...

Plugged into hope
Tulsa agency strengthens cords of service

From left, Jeff Jaynes, Bishop Robert Hayes, and Larry Johnson cut the cake for Restore Hope’s 35th anniversary celebration. Photos by Joseph Harris Restore Hope’s chapel intern Jay Henderson and his...

Coalition works to expand parish nurse program in state

From right: Patricia Magyar of UMCOR and Drs. Kalindi and Cherian Thomas. Oklahoma. "There are few places in the nation where the health issues are so focused," said Barry Bennett. No one else in the room refuted him....

Video storytelling dedicated to retirees

Whether they served for a few years or 50, Oklahoma’s clergy who officially retire this year have made a difference for Christ. The Annual Conference audience will learn about these 21 faithful servants from people touched by their ministry. Stories by those witnesses were collected by videographers and will air during the meeting. The clergywomen and men also will be honored during the worship...

VIM eager to receive abundant supplies for thousands of kits

The call to collect UMCOR supplies became an urgent cry when 2,000 empty school bags and 1,000 baby sweaters were delivered to the Oklahoma Volunteers In Mission office. Will churches and individuals donate enough items to fill all those bags and complete those layette kits? The deadline to drop off all supply gifts is 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, at the designated truck parked beside OCU’s Freede Center. All...

Photo contest will catch conference action

Picture this! Your photo of an Annual Conference moment could win you an iPad Mini or other prizes. The Department of Communications is sponsoring an online contest, using the free Instagram photo app. Capture a special moment from the conference, using your smartphone or other digital camera. Enter the contest by uploading the photo to Instagram.com. You must include your name, details about the picture, and the tag...

Lots to explore on second floor

A smorgasbord of booths, tables of books, and trays of cookies will greet all who venture onto the second floor of OCU’s Freede Center on Tuesday through Thursday. The Retired Clergy Benefit Book Sale will occupy the west end of the second-floor hallway. This is a new location for the sale. At previous Annual Conferences in Oklahoma City, the gently used books, clergy robes, etc. were sold from a separate building. This annual project supports the Clergy ...

13 churches prepare to multiply

Craig Stinson, left, passes a microphone to Pastor Max Rudd of Lost Creek UMC, who is ready to share the rural church’s progress. By Holly McCray A leadership experiment launched this year, with 13 Oklahoma churches as...

Opportunities

Organist: Part-time. Weatherford UMC, firstu@sbcglobal.net. Organist: Part-time. Claremore-First UMC, Linda Pollock, 918-341-4580 ext. 306, lpollock@claremorefumc.org. Administrative Assistant/Office Manager: Full-time. Nursery Worker: Part-time. OKC-Southern Hills UMC, conniejgibson@att.net. Foster Parent(s): Circle of Care UM Boys Ranch and Children’s Home. Laura Bell,...

Briefly

Grant will expand kitchen for NSO Residents of the Carolyn Williams Center, a program of United Methodist-related Neighborhood Services Organization (NSO), soon will have a new kitchen, thanks to a $100,000 grant from Impact Oklahoma. The Oklahoma City center will gain additional food storage space and industrialized appliances to teach more young men how to prepare, cook, and store their food. ...

Clergy Family

Passages Rev. Daniel Dean Wynn, 83, of Amarillo, Texas, died April 21, 2013. Dean was born July 3, 1929, in Frederick. He married Darla Reckard on Aug. 1, 1967, in Oklahoma City. His ministry career began in 1952. He served at Hollister-Sanford, Chickasha-Frisco Avenue, Lawton-Highland, Turpin, Gage, Atoka, New Zion, Hinton, Red Rock, Laverne, Rosston, and Hooker. He officially retired in 1995....

Advice to youth workers:
Involve teens in meaningful ways

From left, Stephen Cady, Claire Smith of Saint Paul seminary, Conference Youth Ministry Director Diana Northcutt, and Kenda Creasy Dean. A hailstorm punctuated bold teaching at the 2013 Youth Workers’ Gathering in late April. The...

Foundation welcomes 4 new trustees

With retiring Board of Trustees member G.T. Blankenship are Board Chairman Robert Long, left, and Foundation President Bill Junk, right. Visit the Foundation’s display at the Oklahoma City University Freede Center...

Embrace those wrinkles
Event educates older adults

Ann Sherrod is anointed with oil as worship concludes a retreat for older adults in April. Photos by Holly McCray Robert Oltmanns receives the blessing of oil. ...

Children take lead at Verdigris

Katie Mathis, 5, hands a Sunday worship bulletin to Brenda Scrivner. Verdigris UMC encourages children to ...

Jesus' command echoes in all - Annual Conference 2013

Annual Conference TOPICS Registration details Wednesday missions Worship services Extend hospitality to choir Bishop Weaver preaches ...

Cokesbury shuts Oklahoma stores

Steve Stuttman helps load a shelf unit on closing day, April 13, at the Cokesbury store in Tulsa. Photo by Shari Goodwin Diane Doughty, Tulsa Cokesbury store manager, receives a shawl April 13 from Margaret Johnson, left, OIMC Northern...