OIMC annual meeting dates back 173 years
On June 4-7, delegates and guests of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference are meeting west of Anadarko, at the OIMC’s Southwest Region Center.
This is their 173rd Annual Conference session.
Theme is "For Such a Time as This," referencing Esther 4:14. On June 6, table talks will focus on "Where are we going?" and "How are we going to get there?," the OIMC Advocate reported.
Preacher will be Bishop Robert Hayes Jr., episcopal leader for both the OIMC and the Oklahoma Conference. His sermons are "Sin of Silence," Esther 4:14 and Luke 19:37-40; "Unfaded Memories," I Peter 1:3-9; and "Don’t Keep God Waiting," Luke 15:11-24.
Worship leaders include Marcus Briggs Cloud and Sam Samuel III, who filled roles in worship at the 2012 General Conference.
On June 5, a 2-mile run/walk will raise funds for youth and young adult teams that carry out mission projects at the Sager Brown Depot, in Baldwin, La., for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). Registration is $10 per entry.
The Annual Conference Offerings will support (1) youths and their adult coordinators who will attend Youth 2015, a national United Methodist event, in late June in Orlando, Fla.; and (2) Danilo Diaz Rivas of the Methodist Church in Colombia. He ministers to the indigenous Zenú tribe in Colombia. Rev. Diaz said the Colombian Methodist Church dates only to 1996, and the denomination has about 5,000 members.
Archivist Christina Wolf will attend, displaying historic photos that need identification, and offering to digitize photos or documents for the OIMC Archives.
(from The Advocate, May-June 2015)
Greetings
to The Oklahoma
Annual Conference
I want to take this opportunity to invite you to attend the 173rd Annual Conference of The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference. Our conference will begin on Thursday afternoon, June 4 and will conclude on Sunday, June 7. Our Conference will be held at the Southwest Regional Center, located six miles west of Anadarko on Highway 62. (The Center is one block north, on the northside of the highway.)
Our conference is held outdoors under an open tabernacle and the churches in each region prepare all meals free to persons who attend the conference. The churches work hard to prepare their cabins for the Conference membership and we are always glad to have guests in our presence. If you are able to come to any part of our Conference, please come around the meal times and enjoy a great meal with us. The meal times are at noon and 5:30 p.m. Our first meal will be Thursday evening and the last meal will be Sunday at noon.
Although we take care of our business, reports, elections and more, we look forward to our evening worship services that feature our tribal singing and great preaching from Bishop Hayes. Our dress is very informal and all ages are welcome. On Saturday night, we host a night that focuses on tribal songs by the children of our local churches. That is always a meaningful night for all. There are activities for the children and youth on the grounds as our Conference is always very intergenerational.
I hope you will take time to come and join us for any part of our Annual Conference. We appreciate sharing our connection with you as brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope to see you there!
Grace and Peace,
Rev. David Wilson