BROADCASTER Vol. 5
July 2, 2023
June 5, 2023
Continue to stay updated on our most recent events as this issue covers the various ways that our church family continues their ongoing outreach of ministry.
June
7-9 - Kids Blast
11-14 - Broken Bow Float
18 - No evening activities
25 - HIA/4th Sunday Fellowship
___________________________
Weekly:
Core Costs: $29,056
Giving: $38,181
Ministry Budget: $36,981
Vision Budget: $41,509
___________________________
Surviving everything from fires, natural disasters and all the wear and tear that is experienced by any building with age, our church has undergone several different repairs over the years. Today's circumstance is no different as Repairing God's House is the beginning of an initiative that is being sparked church wide.
There are several needs that the infrastructure of the church needs to have met. At the end of last summer several air conditioning units began to fail, shutting down the activity center and affecting several other areas of the church. As the heat rose there were attempts to salvage the units, such as keeping them cool for as long as possible with misting and freon. However, they were beyond repair and the units themselves were phased out immediately after initially being installed in the building, renewing the units beyond repair. The quote for this replacement was originally made at 750,000 but the set goal is to be accomplished at 650,000.
As we enter into warmers seasons that require AC they also come with more precipitation and windy weather that faces the church with the growing realization that repairs need to be made to the roof of the worship center, along with various other areas. While several attempts have been made over the years to annihilate the problems of the leaking roof a more permanent repair will need to be made. A new liner, closer to that of a pool liner, will need to be installed along with the normal aspects of roofing in order for the roof to fully and more permanently recover from its damages. Quoted at 500,000 this project is in crucial need of a final repair in order to avoid pushing water into other areas and causing further damages.
During renovations earlier in, several bathrooms throughout the main building were gutted and tiled with the intentions of repairing and remodeling areas that were in need. Since its initial start these areas have not been able to be fully finished and are experiencing further issues as wear and tear continues to break down various parts of this area. As there are four facilities needing attention each one is quoted at 15,000 for a total of 60,000.
On First Southern's Property there lies twenty five acres of concrete parking lot, providing ample space to invite people in for both outdoor and indoor activities. Unfortunately many areas within the parking lot have developed large cracks and potholes which make navigating these areas precarious. In light of this initiative there are ten areas that are being focused on as those in most need of repair. Originally quoted at 226,000 there are plans to complete these repairs for 148,000.
All of these repairs total close to one million dollars and while many of them are extensive and necessary in order to continue fully using the facility the church family is planning to move through them as God provides, continuing to lean on him.
___________________________
On May 25th through the 29th, First Southern was able to take a group of young adults to serve with the organization Dos Ranchos. The group helped out by assisting in putting on two family events where they were able to hand out various donations such as food and toys to the families in attendance.
Ranchos Dos Countries is a mission organization founded/created by Deborah and Fernando Martinez. Their group is partnered with several churches as they work in the surrounding communities of Mexico including Zaragoza and Morelos. This trip was especially focused on children with an emphasis on blessing them with fun games, food, and gospel presentations.
One of the attendees, Brooklyn Bass states, "Mexico was my first mission trip and I was so excited! It was amazing to make friends in a new country and serve them and work alongside them! I so enjoyed collaborating with my church family and believers in Mexico to meet needs and bring the gospel!"
While the group's trip was only five days long they were able to put on two family events that shared the word and served several hundred people. While First Southern plans to take groups back in August and December please continue to keep theses communities in prayer as there are members who are there full time and in need of constant support from the church.
___________________________
Following the end of the 2022-2023 school year OBU held their commencement ceremony for this semester of their 2023 graduates in First Southern's auditorium. While this was a long awaited moment for all of these students it also represented a time of unrest and uncertainty as OBU was not able to host this ceremony on their campus. While normally held in the campus's Raley Chapel, the school was forced to find another place to celebrate following the aftermath of a tornado that decimated their campus only weeks prior. Enlight of this natural disaster OBU sought to use this auditorium in order to provide adequate seating for both the graduates and their families. Though it was not a smooth road to the finish the day of May 20th was that of a joyful remembrance as the auditorium sat full with OBU grads.
Purposed as a time of prayer and worship First Southern's worship ministry opened up this time of fellowship on the evening of May eighteenth. This night was proposed as a time that would be emphasising the act of delighting in the presence of the Lord based around the passage of Psalm twenty seven, starting in verse four. As time is taken to delight in His presence we find peace and healing that would otherwise remain illusive.
During this event First Southern's church family was able to come together and show love and care for one another as this laid on their hearts and they cried out to the Lord in praise and worship.
___________________________
This summer we have been given the blessing of being able to commision several of our young adults as they commit their summers to serve the Lord in various aspects of ministry. Whether they are returning to a camp or helping lead at another church over the next few months, we ask that you continue to reach out and pray for them through these ongoing journeys.
This summer Ryleigh Andrews will be filling an intern position at First Arnold Church in Arnold Missouri. During this internship she will be able to highlight some of her natural gifts in the worship ministry as she continues to not only lead times of worship but will also be able to work within so many other aspect of their ministry.
When asked about her internship Ryleigh said, "This summer I am serving at First Baptist Arnold Missouri as their Worship Intern! I will be helping mainly with the music portion of their ministry, but will have the opportunity to be involved in every area of the church. I began my internship June 4th and have already enjoyed seeing the day-to-day workings of the church! I look forward to growing relationships with people in the Young Adult Ministry, Revive, and serving in every way possible! I appreciate your prayers and kindness and miss my home church already."
Although it is always bittersweet to leave a home church when going to serve there are beautiful opportunities to strength gifts and learn new aspects that are able to be brought into future ministries. Please be praying for Ryleigh throughout this adjustment and in the coming months as she is serving among these new leaders.
Throughout this summer Sharon Pierce will be working with kids at Cross Timbers Camp in Davis Oklahoma.
Sharon shared a little about her experience at the camp going into this summer. "Cross Timbers is all about giving kids a chance to adventure in Christ in a new way. Kids have a chance to scale ropes, swim in deep waters, and praise the Lord in a new way and I get to help these kids learn what an adventure a life with Jesus could be in and outside of camp walls! Every day is challenge to find new ways to share the gospel and learn how to do community with my fellow staffers. I am so thankful for Cross Timbers."
As any camp, this summer will be filled with busy and vibrant student life that will be continuing to grow and shift as time moves on. Please continue praying for Sharon as she gets into a new routine and is able to reach out to so many kids and families throughout this summer.
___________________________
Young Adult Ministry
Coming up June 11-14th the young adult ministry will be taking a group to Broken Bow Oklahoma for their annual float trip. This is a great time to not only relax but also to grow new and old friendships. "For me the float trip allowed me to grow with a lot of people in the church. The fellowship and worship that I experienced was amazing and I really felt as if I took a vacation with a lot of followers of Christ and we all just loved on each other while we were there," said First Southern intern, Evan Stafford. Sign up as soon as you can and for more information contact the church office.
- June 7-9 Kids Blast is coming up! Blast is a simple but powerful camp designed to intentionally provide multiple opportunities to share the Gospel with kids through what they love to do most… have fun! Staring from 9am to 12:15pm kids completing Kindergarten through 6th grade are welcome to sign up! Register online or on the app.
-Crosstimbers Kids Camp is June 19-22 in Davis, Oklahoma for kids completing 3rd-6thgrade. The cost will be $140 and space is limited so be sure to register online or on the app by the deadline, June 4th.
-If you are interested in teaching Little Sprouts teachers are being hired now for the 23-24 school year. For more information contact the church office or see Sara for more information or to apply.
-Right now we are recruiting Summer Volunteers to work with kids for Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Go to http://flr.ms/7VP to see details and to sign up.
Please be continuing to praying for our worship ministry as we continue to work and grow together. Please also keep in mind our Kids Worship as we are needing helpers who are willing to help pour into the kids and be useful through our worship. Music skills aren’t necessarily required to fill these positions but they can be helpful. Our ministry is also looking for donations of electric pianos or guitars if anyone would be willing to donate so kids can learn to play, we would be extremely grateful.
___________________________
Mexico Mission Church Planting Training Trip – Zihuantanejo (June 10-17).
A team of seven is going to the seminary in southern Mexico to train students and others in a simple, reproducible church planting strategy based on the Book of Acts. Ralph Speas is leading the training team with some of our staff and other lay leaders. Pray for lasting fruit to come from this investment. Much of Mexico is still very unreached with the pure gospel. There are countless towns and villages that remain in darkness. Pray that these students and others would begin to see their role in reaching their peoples using these biblically derived trainings. Thank you, Paul Colley (Missions Pastor).
Local Missions Among Internationals
Our new Afghan neighbors in Oklahoma City continue to need our friendships. This ministry helps with English, understanding how to do things in America and assistance with all kinds of areas of life are needed, as they're rebuilding from scratch.
We need more people to get involved with these Afghan friendships and are especially in need of more ladies to be involved in these friendships.
If you have an evening or any time available, we are looking for help with this important need. No experience required. We can equip you easily. The need to learn English and the need to connect with relationships that can develop into friendships is key to being able to share Christ and his love. Contact Paul Colley through the church office for more information. Thank you!
Drivers needed to get children to school:
As we plan toward the Fall Semester, we are wanting to find another solution to get an Afghan family’s 8 children to and from school. This will likely be the parent driving a load with their car and a volunteer taking a load with their car. We’ve been using the church van which has been working fairly well, but are looking for other options to avoid schedule conflicts and costs. Please consider helping us continue to love them in this significant way.
If you are able to help please contact Paul Colley through the church office. Thank you!
___________________________
Our church body is constantly trying to reach out and reach others. As we do this we want to continue to look for ways to serve one another within the church. Below is a list of areas that are in need of people. If none of these seem to fit you, please contact the office for more ways to get involved.
Blast Leaders
Expectations: volunteer during Blast Weekend (June 7-9) from 9am to Noon. Specifically needed are “Tour Guides” who take kids to each location each day, check-in and check-out desk helpers, greeters, and preschool volunteers. Must have completed 7th grade to serve. Younger volunteers will be placed with younger elementary kids or preschool.
Resource Room Attendant
Expectations: Volunteer 1-2 hours a week cleaning and organizing the Preschool Resource Room.
Kids Center Greeter
Expectations: Volunteer twice a month at the door greeting kids and families.
Specific Times of Need (select one or more):
- Sundays 9:15-10:15
- Sundays 10:15- Close of service
- Sundays 4:45pm-5:45pm
- Wednesdays 5:45pm-7:30pm
Kids Center Check-In
Expectations: Volunteer at the check-in desk entering guests into the computer and giving them instructions to enter.
Specific Times (select one or more):
- Sundays 9:15-10:15
- Sundays 10:15- Close of service
- Sundays 4:45pm-5:45pm
- Wednesdays 5:45pm-7:30pm
Summer Wednesday Night Co-Teachers
Expectations: Serve alongside another teacher each Wednesday night during the summer (Mid-May to Mid-August) from 6:00pm-7:30pm. There are needs in every class. Classes are Babies, Toddlers, 2s-3s, Prek-Kindergarten, 1st-4th, and 5th- 6th.
Sunday Night Co-Teachers
Expectations: Serve alongside another teacher on Sunday nights from 5pm-6:15pm. We have needs in Preschool and Elementary classes right now and would like to emphasis an immediate need along with people to fill in during the summer months.
Preschool Worship Care Co-Teacher
Expectations: Volunteer at least once per month to teach and love on preschoolers during the worship service. All classes have 2 volunteers and classes will include babies through 3 year olds. Volunteer must be flexible to serve where needed.
Kids Center Cleaning
Expectations: Volunteer once a week for 1-2 hours to thoroughly vacuum the floors and clean the windows in each classroom in the Kids Center.
*Please note that all those who serve with minors must complete a screening process including background checks & sexual abuse awareness training.
Contact Sara in the Kids Ministry office to sign up to serve at sara@firstsouthern.tv or stop by the Kids Center.
Our Women's ministry is comprised of two groups: the Teaching Team and the Event Team. Our teaching team is made up of women who lead our Women’s Bible Studies on Sunday evenings, Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Our Event team meets monthly to plan various women’s events and works together as a team to bring them to fruition. We are currently in need of a Wednesday evening Bible Study leader, whether it be teaching the class or facilitating a DVD-led study. If you feel the Lord’s calling to participate on our Women’s Ministry Team, please send an email to women@firstsouthern.tv.
On Monday evenings a group of young adults gathers to pray and go out into the homes of numerous Afghan families to develop friendships, love on them, and share the good news. There are several scheduled weekly rhythms of prayer and visiting taking place all the time so if there is a way you would like to get involved please contact the office.
We need more people to get involved with these Afghan families as we grow these friendships. The need is beyond our current ability to address it and we especially need more ladies involved. Please, contact Paul Colley or call the church office for more information. Thank you!
___________________________
Future and Possible Mission Endeavors for 2023
-- India (August, dates TBD): this is already in the planning process; the objective - encourage the leadership and students (ministry, prayer, worship), expose our team to their disciple-making and church-planting practices and strategies, serve in whatever areas we can assist needs (discovering those in this planning process), learn more about prayer, spiritual warfare, evangelism, house-church models as persecution has increased there. This will be a small team. Time away will be 7-9 days as best as we can assess at this time.
-- Albania (Possibly October): serve a multiplying church movement with English ministry, music, evangelism, special needs ministry; learn from them, expose of people to a church and it's practices that is reproducing churches into the 4th generation across Albania.
-- Japan (TBA): we have some connections with a church. Conversations are in process as to what this could look like for a team to come and serve. Japan has historically been a very mysteriously difficult place for the church to multiply. The missionary contact there is always in need of encouragement and help. They are seeing fruit; this would be a great opportunity to partner with another church in Arkansas who is already working with them.
— Togo or Ghana (possibly this fall): we have two connections of fruitful works we may partner with that would love for us to serve. More to come!
-- IMB Missionary Care Mission Trips: we are considering doing one or two mission trips for the sole purpose of missionary care with some of the IMB missionaries we are connected with relationally already. As we determine this, we will be making the dates and locations known.
