Trailers help churches take message to the streets
Baptist churches across the state will take a bit of fun on the road this summer as they spread the message of Christ.
Four affiliate associations of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma each received a 16-foot evangelistic block party trailerthrough a convention grant.
Mike Spann, director of missions for the Cherokee Strip Association in Enid, said several churches in his association already have signed up to use their trailer, which includes snow cone, cotton candy and popcorn machines, plus sports balls and other items.
“It’s loaded,” Spann said. “It’s got everything but a bowling alley and swimming pool, just about.”
Spann said churches in his association plan to use the trailer to go out to parks and neighborhoods to meet residents in their local communities.
“It’s kind of taking the church to them,” he said.
Mike Napier, the Baptist convention’s director of evangelism and personal evangelism specialist, said that is essentially the trailers’ premise.
He said they will give churches a way to spread the Gospel message as they connect with people through various activities and fellowship.
The Dialogue Institute of the Southwest will host several Iftar dinners during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
The holy month, which begins at sundown Friday, is one of the five pillars, or obligations, of Islam.
Many Muslims around the world abstain from food and drink from dawn to
“They are not just to have a good time. Really, the purpose is to have a platform to share the Gospel,” Napier said.
Other associations that received a trailer include the Johnston-Marshall Association, North Canadian Association and East Central Association.
Napier said the grants that paid for the trailers came from funding through the sunset during the month, which commemorates the divine revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad.
The Dialogue Institute will host Iftar dinners at 8 p.m. May 30 and June 13 at the Raindrop TurkishAmerican Cultural Center, 4444 N Classen Blvd.
Each event will begin with a reception from 8 to 8:15 p.m., followed by a convention’s Oklahoma State Missions Offering.
Brian Hobbs, the convention’s communications director and editor of the convention’s official newspaper, The Baptist Messenger, said the state missions offering has an estimated goal of $1.1 million each year that funds Southern Baptist church planting, chaplaincy work and other ministry and mission efforts across the state.
Napier said he had been developing a strategy and request for funding for the trailers, not knowing that welcome and presentation about the month of Ramadan. Iftar, the sundown meal that breaks the Ramadan fast, will be at 8:50 p.m.
Meanwhile, several metro-area Muslim leaders said while Ramadan begins at sunset Friday, fasting will not begin until May 27, the first full day of Ramadan.
In majority-Muslim countries, people often scale back their business several of the associations had been trying to save money to purchase one of the outreach tools.
Each trailer holds resources for 10 different indoor and outdoor games in addition to the food machines, a sound system and outdoor lighting, chairs, tables and a barbecue grill.
Napier said he and John Roe, a church planter from Shidler, equipped the trailers so that churches could reach out to different generations, from children to senior adults.
Spann, in Enid, said activities, and life flows at a slower pace during the days of Ramadan. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, which is shorter than the sun-based Gregorian calendar, so Ramadan moves up 11 days every year. Ramadan can last 29 or 30 days, depending on the lunar cycle. For some Muslims, the exact date is uncertain until they see the new moon. his association recently hosted a block party trailer “reveal,” an orientation designed to allow church leaders to become familiar with resources available in the trailer. He said three churches have asked to use the trailer in the next few weeks and he anticipates others will follow.
“Of course, having the popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy is a draw —we all like to eat,” Spann said.
“But this is clearly to be used as a tool for reaching people who don’t yet know Christ.”
Property blessing ceremony is set
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church will have a ceremony blessing its property on N Broadway at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The Rt. Rev. Ed Konieczkny, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma, will bless the property, which eventually will be home to St. Mary’s new church building. A time of fellowship will be held afterward, and a food truck will be on site.
In 2016, church leaders, along with leaders at the University of Central Oklahoma, announced plans to swap the church’s 3 acres of property at 325 E First to adjacent UCO in exchange for 23 acres of property near Broadway and Covell Road, plus $1.4 million.
For more information, call 341-3855.
Gospel music group hosts monthly event
The OKC-Oklahoma United Gospel Music Association will host its fourth Saturday dinner and concert on May 27 at Exchange Avenue Baptist Church, 1312 S Pennsylvania.
Dinner catered by KFC will be at 5 p.m., and the concert will be at 6 p.m.
The concert will feature Ginger Boles, Sherman Andrus and Sacred Call.
Dinner reservation deadline is Wednesday. Cost is $7 per person
For reservations, call 215 2969.
Event will focus on health ministry
A Health Ministry Academy will be 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 3 at the Northeast Regional Health and Wellness Campus/City-County Health Department, 2600 NE 63.
The event is designed to give congregations the tools and skills to start or improve a health ministry for their house of worship. Breakout sessions will be featured, and attendees also will hear health ministry success stories.
The academy is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required. To register go to https://goo.gl/tdBsfI, or contact Tamara Braxton at 425-4335 or email tamara_braxton@occhd.org.
VBS back for the summer
The popular summer tradition of vacation Bible school is being offered at numerous metro-area churches, beginning the week of June 5-9.
The following churches will host Bible schools in the coming weeks. Activities are free unless otherwise noted.
2550 W Britton, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 3-4, “He’s Got the Whole World,” geared for completed pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Information: www.brittonroad. org.
14343 N MacArthur, “Maker Fun Factory,” 9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. June 5-8, geared for ages 4 through fith grade, preregister online by June 1. Information-registration: 822-7484; www.churchoftheservant.com.
1301 N Portland, “Galactic Starveyors” 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. June 5-9, geared for kindergarten through eighth grade. Information-registration: portlandavenue.org.
14600 N Portland, Big & Bold,” 9 a.m. to noon June 5-9, geared for age 4 through sixth grade. Information-registration: 7552227; https://crossings.church/ei/vbs.
3900 E Overholser Drive, “Mega Sports Camp,” 6 to 8:30 p.m. May 30-June 3, geared for completed kindergarten through fifth grade, youths choose one sport (soccer, martial arts, basketball and cheerleading) to enjoy for the week. Information-registration: 789-0879; www.lakeonaz.org.
FROM STAFF REPORTS