Oklahoma Outlook October 09

VOL. 62, No. 10October 2009

District CalendarDistrict Calendar

1 Oklahoma Outlook October 2009

OklahomaoutlookVolume 62, Issue 10 – October, 2009

A monthly publication of the Oklahoma District Council of the Assemblies of God,P.O. Box 13179, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73113.

(405) 475-1100 - FAX (405) 478-1731 www.okag.orgEditor–Tom Goins

SUBSCRIPTION RATE $36.00 per year

General PresbytersH. FRANKLIN CARGILL CRAIG DACUS TOM GOINS

Superintendent Assistant Superintendent Secretary-Treasurer

Executive PresbytersCURTIS OWENS RON MCCASLIN

District DepartmentsLINDELL WARREN LINDA STAMPS-DISSMORE

Missions / Men’s Ministries Women’s Ministries

JACK SALKIL DOUG EVERAARDChristian Education Youth Ministries

Sectional PresbytersSection 1 – Arlis MoonSection 2 – Leo GuthrieSection 3 – Melvin BakerSection 4 – Steve RoseSection 5E – Bruce McCartySection 5W – Darryl WoottonSection 6 – Doyle Seeley

Section 7 – Weldon WrightSection 8 – Micah WellsSection 9N – Darren PilcherSection 9S – Steve LanceSection 10 – Ron MeadorSection 11 – Billy MartinSection 12 – T.D. Gifford

OCTOBERLight-For-The-Lost Tour:

Section 2 ..........................................October 5

Section 3 ..........................................October 5

Section 10 ..........................................October 5

Section 7 ..........................................October 6

Section 8 ..........................................October 6

Section 12 ..........................................October 6

Section 4 ..........................................October 8

Section 11 ..........................................October 8

Section 1-N ........................................October 8

Section 9 ........................................October 12

Section 5 ........................................October 13

Section 1-S ......................................October 15

Section 6 ........................................October 15

DECEMBERNational Teen Challenge Day ................December 6

“Show Me The Money” Missions

– Faith Promises Due....................December 15

Christmas Holiday – Office Closed ..........Dec. 24-25

Discipleship Camp # 1 ....................December 26-29

Discipleship Camp # 2 ........December 29-January 2

Ministerial Credentials Renewal Deadline ....Dec. 31

National Royal Ranger Week................October 4-10

Pastor Appreciation Day ..........................October 11

District Youth Convention ....................October 16-17

National STL Day ....................................October 18

Credential Presentations

– Eastern Zone ................................October 24

National Childrenʼs Ministries Day............October 25

School Assembly Tour ........................October 26-30

NOVEMBERNational Singles Day ..............................November 1

96th Oklahoma District Council – OKC ........Nov. 2-4

Reach the World Auction ......................November 10

Youth Pastors Retreat ....................November 13-14

Thanksgiving Holiday – Office Closed......Nov. 26-27

October 2009 Oklahoma Outlook 2


Open ChurchesAltus, Glad TidingsFarrisJonesMorrisRush Springs, First

SavannaSeminole, Old GloryTalihina, FirstWarnerWhitefield, Shiloh

Jeff Bradley– Collinsville

Randy Wilkerson– Guthrie, Living Water

Thomas McEwen– Sentinel

Tim Kilgore– Lamont, Prairie View

Ron Smith– Pryor, First

Johnny Beckmon– Davis

Jonathan Webb– Kingston

New Pastors

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Tom Goins

The great world leader, Sir Winston Churchill oncesaid, “We make a living by what we get, but we make alife by what we give.” The renowned author, RobertLouis Stevenson said, “Don’t judge each day by theharvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” And themega-wealthy businessman, John D. Rockefeller, Sr.said, “I know of nothing more despicable and patheticthan a man who devotes all the hours of the waking dayto the making of money for money’s sake.

These incredibly well-known and talented peopleknew something that the rich man missed completely;and anyone who knows much about the men quotedabove knows they were not trying to teach biblicaltruth. They were simply stating an often-overlookedfact. Possessions do not define a person. What mattersmost is how we use our resources to positively impactothers. Biblically, we know that the sum total of thethings we create, build, and possess in this life will burnup one day (2 Pet. 3:10). Nothing material will be leftexcept ashes. About all you say then is that a wealthyperson’s ash heap will be bigger than a poor person’s ashheap. Who gets all the stuff? Does it even matter whowinds up with the biggest ash heap?

At the end of life, just like at the end of time, theonly thing that will matter is what you and I investwith the Lord. A failure to advance the kingdom everyday is a life lesson the rich fool missed. Instead, Jesusbrings the story to a crescendo, as he quotes Godsaying, “You fool! This very night your life will bedemanded from you.” The Lord concludes with ahaunting question, “Then who will get what you haveprepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20). After all this hardwork, wealth, success, and planning for the future, therich man would not enjoy a single thing. In hisjudgment we discover a very important principle. Youcan choose to be generous during your life or you canwait and be generous when you die. Either way, a day iscoming when each and every one of us will giveeverything away. Are you ready for that day to come?Are you getting ready?

John Ortberg is a great preacher and an excellentwriter. One of his best books grabs your attention, evenbefore you open the cover. The title says it all, “Whenthe Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box.” In thebook, John draws from his childhood memories ofplaying Monopoly with his grandmother and tells ofsome fierce battles over Boardwalk, Park Place, and thelike. Neither one of them liked to lose. But everytime, no matter how well or how poorly either did,when the game was over, it all went back in the box.No result in Monopoly ever lasts. Without God, thesame can be said for our lives.

Tom Goins

Advance God’s WorkEvery Day


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Missions DepartmentEvery Church, Supporting Every Missionary, Going Everywhere, and Reaching Everyone

From the East to the WestIn my ministry travels this past summer I witnessed some great camps, mission events, and church

outreaches. What a joy it was to participate in Royal Rangers Pow-wow, Missionary Renewal, DistrictMission’s Banquet, two Indian camps, and several different church functions. For this month’s article Iwish to focus on two churches that are in stark contrast to each other, yet with each one reflecting astrong missional ministry.

Roundup Cowboy Church in Antlers continues to grow as it has from its inception one year ago. Pastors Jonathan and TammyHooker immediately began seeing people saved when they held their first six weeks of services in the sale barn. In their cowboyrefurbished building (the former New Life Assembly) they now run 160-180 in weekly attendance. A 4x12 stock tank graces thefront side of the barn looking auditorium. Pastor Hooker reports that 82 people, of all ages, have been saved through the first 10months of the church’s existence.

Pastors Jonathan & Tammy Hooker The Cowboy Church Auditorium

Burns Flat-Living Waters Church began with Doyle Roark being the church planter. Later Brother and Sister Roark returned toCordell to pastor where they had previously served for many years. For the past 15 years now, Dwight and Sharon Shephard haveled Living Waters Assembly of God in far western Oklahoma.

On most Sundays Living Waters Church will see 70-80 people in attendance; however, on Wednesdays the church buildingreverberates with the sounds and motions of a hundred kids or more that walk in from the neighborhood or get off the two cleanbright church buses for a nutritious meal, a spirited worship service, and a graded class. These kids are won to Christ and discipledthrough a consistent weekly program that demands an investment of money and energy from a small church.

Pastors Dwight & Sharon Shephard Children Worshiping the Lord at Living Waters Church

There is a key to every community and every church. These two fine pastors, Jonathan Hooker and Dwight Shephard, havefound the key to their ministry success. Each of these godly men works full-time for the church. We salute you both for yourcommitment and accomplishments.

Please know Oklahoma District that churches can give to sister churches and receive missions credit. Certainly, these twochurches focused here are worthy of any help that might be sent their way.

On assignment,

Lindell Warren

October 2009 Outlook 6

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Jack Salkil

John Gordon was a respected general for the South inthe Civil War. After the war, he was running for theUnited States Senate, but a man, who had served underhim in the war, angry over some political incident, wasdetermined to see him defeated. Everyone knew thisman would fight Gordon's bid to become a senator.

During the convention, he angrily stamped downthe aisle with his anti-Gordon vote in hand. As he sawGordon sitting on the platform, he noticed how his oncehandsome face was disfigured with the scars of battle—marks of his willingness to suffer and bleed for a cause hebelieved in.

The old soldier was stricken with remorse. Over-come with emotion, he exclaimed, "It's no use; I can't doit. Here's my vote for John Gordon." Then, turning tothe general, he said, "Forgive me, General. I hadforgotten the scars."

What a difference it makes in our lives when weremember the scars! With so many things to distract us,we don't often take time each day to reflect on what Jesuswent through on the cross for us. But, when we aretempted to stray, it is a remembrance of Christ's sacrificethat has the power to draw us back to him.

"He was wounded for our transgressions, he wasbruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peacewas upon him, and by his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah53:5)

The list below is not intended to be a lesson on thehealing process of the body. However, I do see somesimilarities between this process and a spiritualapplication. A scar is a natural part of the healing process. Skin scarsoccur when the deep, thick layer of skin is damaged.

• The worse the damage is, the worse the scar will be. Most skin scars are flat, pale and leave a trace of the original injury that caused them.

• The redness that often follows an injury to the skin is not a scar, and is generally not permanent.

• The time it takes for it to go away may, however, range from a few days to, in some serious and rare cases, a few years.

• Various treatments can speed up the process in serious cases. Scars form differently based on the location of the injury on the body and the age of the person who was injured. To mend the damage, the body has to lay down new collagen fibers.

Do we have some that have scars because of pastexperiences, hurts, or placing trust in the wrong people?

To emphasize some of the symptoms above—theworse the damage, the worse the scar; it takes time forthe scar to go away and sometimes evidence can still beseen long after the healing process; scars form differentlyin relation to the type and extent of the injury. May Iask? Are we guilty of recognizing symptoms or are weguilty of trying to help remove the scar?

The scars are there because of damage that hasalready been done. It is also a sign that reinjury couldtake place and that the individual will more than likelyprotect the damaged area, or will be unlikely to becomevulnerable again.

“Scars,” it seems only to be something that is possiblymentioned around Easter or possibly around a specialevent that is taking place within the church. Yet, is itnot something that we should consider everyday? Whenwas the last time that you looked across the congregationthat you pastor and have wondered how many arestruggling with the effects of life? Are there individualsthat are carrying deep scars that could use a word ofencouragement, an expression of love, or a good solidhandshake that lets them know that you are thinking ofthem?

We are looked upon as being the salt of the earth, thelight of the world, the ones that encourage and ministerto others, never thinking of ourselves but putting othersfirst, trying to find ways to reach out in love—and the listgoes on and on.Maybe we just need to take a few minutes and focus onothers, try to minister to needs, and maybe we could beguilty of assisting in removing the scars from others.

Jack Salkil

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Linda Stamps-DissmoreLinda Stamps-Dissmore

We are all familiar with this passage of Scripturewhich goes on to describe different seasons of our lives—a time to be born and a time to die…a time to weep anda time to laugh…a time to keep and a time to throwaway, etc. I fully believe in God’s timing, therefore I havethe peace and release that my time as OklahomaWomen’s Director is coming to an end. I will be retiringon November 30th.

It has been myprivilege and joy toserve the women ofOklahoma these past12 years. The yearshave gone quickly and they say that “time flies whenyou’re having fun”. I can truly say that I have been veryblessed to have a ministry that I dearly love.

These have been some of the happiest years of mylife. It has been a joy to get up every morning and cometo the office. The Oklahoma District team has been afamily to me and I will miss them greatly. I will also missthe interaction that I have been honored to have with allof you. However, I consider you my friends; and friends

are still friends whatever the circumstance.I could have not filled this position

without the help of some very talented anddedicated people. These include ElizabethMoon, our district Girls Ministries director,and Sherry Whitlow who served earlier asGM director. I have been blessed during these12 years to have three very capable and loyalAdministrative Assistants: Shirley Ophus,Julie Allred, and Christy Wert; manywonderful sectional Women’s Represent-atives, and my hard-working, special eventsSWAT Teams. They have made my job mucheasier.

I am retirement age and will be retiringfrom full time work, but I am not retiringfrom ministry. The call of God is still on mylife and as the areas of that call havechanged through the years, I know that Hewill continue to open doors of ministry for

me in the future. Thank you for speaking into my life these

past 12 years and for allowing me to serve thiswonderful Oklahoma fellowship.

Linda Stamps-DissmoreLinda Stamps-Dissmore

A Time for EverythingEcclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”

Greg TiffanyOklahoma XA Coordinator

XAChi Alpha Campus MinistriesChi Alpha Campus MinistriesP. O. Bo x 2 7 7 7 ; No rman, OK 7 3 0 7 0 (4 0 5 ) 3 0 8 -3 7 3 7 XAo kl aho ma@ao l . co m www. XAo kl aho ma. co m

Greg TiffanyOklahoma XA Coordinator


Through four decades now I have experienced the purepleasure of being a parent. Hardly anything can equal thegratification of knowing my kids and grandkids are making itin life – the pay back for years of investment.

Obviously, responsibilities come with parenting, and theydon’t all cease when the kids leave the nest. I would like toargue that rights, parental rights, come as well. For the nextfew lines I wish to share three important rights I have as a Dadand a parent.

I have the God given right to protect and nurture mychildren. In fact, it is a command, but what a privilege tomold and shape a human life. Even now with our threechildren grown I would still go to any length to protect them.It has often been my prayer for the life and death cycle not toget out of order in our family.

I have the right to let my kids grow-up, mature andmake mistakes. In the maturation process mistakes will bemade, sometimes a lot. It doesn’t necessarily help a child, bethey an adolescent or an adult to always run to their rescue

when they get in trouble. Honestly, a parent can’t fixeverything. We have the right to let them grow up.

I have the right to be my grown children’s friend. Therelationship changes when our kids leave home, marry, andget into their late twenties and thirties. It can be just asmeaningful as before, but with an adult respect andrelationship. What a blessing in my mature years to havequality friendship with my three daughters.

A proud dad,

A Father’s Rights

Charley Hudspeth, Newkirkreports 2 rededications, 2 healed, and 1delivered in regular services.

Menno Miller, Miami, reports 4 saved andseveral healed in revival with KenBurge. Two saved, several rededicated,1 delivered and several healed inservice with Rick Carlton.

Garry Furr, Pickens, reports 45 saved and15 new members since Easter.

John Randell, Edmond, reports 9 savedduring VBS.

Robert Sullivan, Battiest, reports severalsaved in Kids Krusade with Robert andJan Teel.

Phillip Clements, Barnsdall, reports 18saved in last 5 weeks in regular services.

Alex Holman, Prague, reports one firsttime conversion.

Raymond Frizzelle, Miami, report 55children saved in Kid’s Krusade with JayRisner. Eight men were saved in jailministry, 5 adults and 2 children weresaved in regular services.

Jeremy Black reports manysaved, healed, and delivered inArkansas, Colorado, and Oklahoma And Texas.

Ken Burge reports 49 savedand 32 filled with the Holy Ghost, andmany healed.

Rhonda Rock reports man healed of footdisorder, several marriages restored, and40 women were saved in Mexico City.

Larry Heath – needs a healingmiracle.

David Caley – healing from cancer onvocal cord.

Troy Golden – health.Alma Perkins – pastors in Japan.Alfred Pearson – needs job

Help for Pastors call (918) 758-4147 or visit www.pastoralcareinc.com.

Reverend and Mrs. WoodrowWalton celebrated their 50 year Wedding Anniversary on Sept. 10, 09.

Reverend and Mrs. Bill Epps celebratedtheir 50 year Wedding Anniversary onAug. 15, 09.

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Oklahoma Outlook October 09