HELPING OKLAHOMA'S KIDS

HELPING OKLAHOMA’S KIDS —On Feb. 12, Oklahoma churches will observe Circle of Care Sunday. This special offering supports this ministry with children, youths, and families in Oklahoma. In November, the Tulsa site (above) was blessed on Lowe’s Home Improvement Annual Heroes Day. Nearly 100 employees from six Lowe’s stores in the Tulsa metro offered their time, skills, and strength to renovate and...

Circle of Care adapts model for homes

Photo by Tod Bryant Through the Circle of Care’s Independent Living Program, Mikeal has housing at Boys Ranch and is able to attend college. By Holly McCray The mission of Circle of...

Friends of Children

Circle of Care honored two individuals with the Burrel & JoAnn McNaught Heart of Ministry Award, presented at the organization’s recent Friends of Children banquets in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Left photo: Dwight Maulding of Tulsa, right, accepts his recognition from...

Circle of Care recognized nationally

Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care has been named Organization of the Year by the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries (UMA). Barrel racing is a highlight at the Boys Ranch Rodeo on Oct. 16. ...

United Methodists open doors for families without homes

From left, Jennifer, Norma, Elizabeth, Janet, and Amanda are moving their families into private homes and apartments after their stay at Pearl’s Hope, a Circle of Care transitional housing program for women with minor children. At center back is Julia McDonald, director of the program...

Ponca City churches assisting foster families

  Cutting the ribbon to open the Child SHARE co-op in Ponca City are, from left, Becky Hightower, Kay Grimme, and Mary Buresh. By Kay Grimme, Child SHARE Co-op Coordinator Like a puzzle, God put us together in Ponca City and, when...

Legislator honored for child advocacy

Attending the award presentation on March 4 at the Capitol are, from left, Carol and Harold Wright and Circle of Care officials Don Batson and Lissa Wright. Photo by Tod Bryant State Rep. Harold Wright of Weatherford was honored March 4 at the State...

Gifts in memory come in several packages

There are many ways for you to make a gift in remembrance of someone special, through the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation, that will have meaningful significance for years to come for your local United Methodist church or favorite United Methodist cause. Here are a few options to consider. A memorial gift of cash or property A gift of cash is one of the simplest ways to remember your loved one, whether family member or friend. This...

Rounding up fun

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Child SHARE needs to relocate co-op

The Circle of Care Child SHARE program recruits and supports foster and adoptive parents for children in state custody. One of the program’s primary means of support is its Equipment and Clothing Cooperative. For the last five years, the co-op for South Oklahoma City District has been located in Franklin UMC at Norman. However, in January the church will reclaim the space for a new sanctuary. Child SHARE needs to relocate its co-op...

Parents feel blessed to expend love through foster care

Fostering bedtime memories Storytelling time beckons in the home of John and Rev. Lisa Beavers of Shattuck. The couple and their two daughters welcomed three foster children in 2008. More recently, another family at the Shattuck church became foster caregivers, too. Both families have been assisted by United Methodist Circle of Care’s ChildSHARE program. By Holly McCray A great day was ending even better....

Child SHARE issues call to help foster children

A child meets the Easter Bunny at an egg hunt at OKC-St. Andrews UMC sponsored by Child SHARE. May is National Foster Care Month. Does that designation cause you to celebrate or mourn for Oklahoma’s children? The answer to...

Organizations branch out to boost awareness of child abuse

Photo by Aloise McCullough Ashleigh Sorrell Rose, left, and Tod Bryant prepare a blue-ribbon display.   By Aloise McCullough Two UM-related organizations are raising knowledge about child abuse by participating in "Building a Blue-Ribbon Tree." April is Child Abuse Prevention Month in Oklahoma. In 2007, the state reported 13,100 confirmed cases of child abuse...

A new place to call home

Estate gift helps homeless families through Circle of Care One woman’s dream to help homeless women with children has led to creation of Pearl’s Hope, a new program of the United Methodist Circle of Care, on the Frances E. Willard Ministry Center campus at Tulsa. The Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation and Circle of Care worked together to faithfully carry out the wishes of the late...

Circle of Care: Homeless moms with children find respite in Pearl's Hope

By Holly McCray       Five single mothers and their 17 children no longer count among Tulsa’s homeless population. They now have a home—a cottage at the Frances Willard Ministry Center. They are the first families enrolled in a new transitional living program, called Pearl’s Hope, launched this fall by the Circle of Care. Merely weeks after an Open House, the program is at full capacity. A waiting list is full, too. Julia McDonald is the program...

Circle of Care president presents legislative workshop

To track legislation online: Go to www.lsb.state.ok.us. n Select "Text of Measures." n On the next Web page, click on "House" OR "Senate"; select "Session-2008 Regular Session"; select "Status-Introduced." All bills filed by that legislative body will show, listed by number. n Click on the number of a bill; the full text will appear. —Provided by Oklahoma Conference of Churches From left, Rep. Jason W. Murphey of Guthrie is the guest of Rev. Roger Pitt, pastor at West Guthrie...

400 cheer young rodeo riders

The presentation of the flags is part of the grand entry at Boy’s Ranch Rodeo.                           An assortment of rodeo clowns entertains a younger guest.   Dec. 2 is Circle of Care Sunday in local churches. Special offerings that day support this Oklahoma United Methodist ministry. Learn more at www.circleofcare.org.   By James Davenport The United Methodist Boy’s Ranch at Gore held its...

Volunteers assist with school shopping

Volunteers and students shop for school clothes. By James Davenport Butch and Patsi Smith, along with other volunteers, teamed up with Goody’s Clothing Store in Tahlequah to help several students at the United Methodist Children’s Home get ready for the school year. On Aug. 19, the teenage girls from Webb Cottage went shopping at the store. Each of the girls received an allowance to spend on clothing for the new school year. This is the fourth year girls at the home have enjoyed a...

Widening circles

Photos provided by Chris Davis   Generations greet one another, left, during the Holsinger Home’s open house in Enid. Above, the Claremore-First youth group raises funds to help Circle of Care’s children and youth by staging "Godspell" at a Friendraiser in Bartlesville District. Below, volunteers set up equipment at Boy’s Ranch after unloading gifts of cattle and horses. The Spring activities all supported the UM Circle of Care programs.     Officially...

Western roundup benefits United Methodist Boy's Ranch

The Calves for Christ project recently donated 36 cows and calves and two horses to the United Methodist Boy’s Ranch. The project is the ministry of a group of United Methodists in Western Oklahoma. On the third weekend of April, the men delivered the cattle to the Circle of Care facility at Gore in eastern Oklahoma. While at the ranch, they also built a horse stanchion and dividers for the horse runs. Some of the boys worked with them. Boy’s Ranch Director Mark Howard said the weekend...