DISTRICT NEWS

 " Church attendance, however, is not the barometer of how Christianity is doing. Ultimately, transformation is the product of the Gospel. It is not enough to fill our churches; we must transform our world. "   Neil Cole in Organic Church, p. xxiii

 Dear NEO family, 

What a fabulous time I had with our pastors on Sunday evening and Monday at New Life Ranch. We are blessed to have such a committed and talented team on the NEO District. They are passionate about Christ and His Church and very teachable.

As many of you may know, Pastor Kenneth Book from Okmulgee is undergoing daily radiation treatments  for the next 6 - 8 weeks. The prognosis is good in his battle with prostate cancer as you support him with your prayers. Pastor Larry Brinkley, interim pastor in Glenpool, fell this week and hurt his left shoulder and bruised or cracked a rib. Let's remember Larry in our prayers as well.

Don Engie is back in NEO and shares an answer to prayer: Hi, I just wanted to send you an email and let tell you about our exciting news. Remember I told you of our struggle with finding out our daughter Lynna had a brain tumor? Well, we had an appointment in Kansas City at Children's Mercy to have another MRI done. When we called the doctor back on Tuesday, it went to voicemail and we asked that she call us back and let us know the results. Yesterday she called back while they were in a conference call with the doctor, nurse, and the radiologist. They said after reviewing her MRI results that they could not find a tumor at all! They want to look at the video from her previous MRI in Dallas, but they are sure that if there was a tumor there they would have found one!

After conversations with Zone Coaches and Pastors, we have settled on the following plan for reporting for this Assembly Year:

1. All lead pastors will complete the annual church report on-line. For information or codes to complete your report, contact District Secretary, Jim Thornton.

2. All lead pastors will complete a one page summary of attendance and financial figures and brief paragraphs telling of Spiritual Achievements and Victories, Community Impact, Facilities Improvements and Financial Breakthroughs or Miracles. This summary page will be included in the District Handbook prepared for District Assembly.

3. All churches and pastors will share verbally with their Zone Cluster on Monday, June 2. The Zone cluster will begin at the conclusion of the NMI Convention and include pastors and lay leaders from each church meeting in different locations at Central Church. This report will include: 
   a. One or two accomplishments in 07-08
   b. Two or three goals for 08-09, the plan or strategy to achieve goals and specific action steps to implement the plan.
   c. Prayer requests. Other pastors and lay leaders will gather around the pastor to pray over their requests and goals.
   Pastors and lay leaders will meet again in August and January to share progress in achieving the goals and to support and pray for one another. Our hope is that this reporting will provide positive accountability as we watch over one another in love.

4. A few pastors will be asked to share short verbal reports at Assembly on June 3 of how God is helping us to make Christlike disciples in NEO.

If any of you have questions about the reporting, contact me or your Zone Coaches.

It is a joy to work alongside you as we seek to be high impact Christians and Churches! You are loved!

Dave McKellips

-------------------------------------------------------------