LifeChurch.tv Haiti Initiative

LifeChurch.tv has set up a webpage dedicated to relief efforts for Haiti. You can find that page here. The church is hosting a prayer gathering on Monday, January 18, 7:00pm CST at http://live.lifechurch.tv/. Along with thousands of other believers at churches around the world, we’ll be gathering to pray for the people of Haiti and for those who are responding. We encourage you to invite others to join us, and if you’re on Twitter, please use the hashtag #pray4Haiti to help spread the word.

OKCLeaders will continue to update you with prayer and ministry opportunities as they arise from the church, individual LifeGroups, Impact Groups and partnering ministries. If you know of any opportunities that you’d like to share, let us know here or post a comment to this thread. Book mark this page for the latest regarding haiti relief from OKCLeaders.

Haiti Message From Craig

Craig Groeschel has put out a statement in regards to the tragedy in Haiti:

As we’re following the news about the tragic aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, our hearts go out to the people there. We want to keep you informed about how we’re responding as a church:

Online prayer gathering: This is taking place today at 3:00 CT online here: http://www.babelwith.me/prayerforhaiti Anyone is welcome to join, so feel free to invite others in your online network.

Disaster relief efforts: We’ll be providing financial support to disaster relief efforts happening through local churches in Haiti. Individuals who would like to help can give above and beyond their tithe to Compassion.

Thanks for your heart for those who are hurting and for your desire to be the church locally and globally!

Craig

I apologize for the multiple posts, but things are happening rapidly behind the scenes and I hope to keep you all updated with the latest information and ministry opportunites. Again, keep praying and be sure to broach the subject with your LifeGroup about how we can act as The Body of Christ!

Haiti Relief

I’m sure all of you have heard the news regarding a 7.0 earthquake that has hit Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. To say that this is a massive humanitarian nightmare is an understatement. Millions of people … mothers, fathers, children … are all directly affected. Before we discuss how to help, I’d like to ask that you take a few minutes and pray. Ask The Lord to move in a supernatural way to bring relief to those affected.

The first step in disasters like this is to get food, water and medical attention to the victims. There will be hundreds of organizations that will be involved in providing these essentials. One that I am aware of is Compassion International. They have a presence in the area and are mobilizing. They have a webpage set up for donations located here. If you know of other Christian organizations that are present in the area, post a comment to this thread.

The next step will be providing short and long term assistance such as housing, clothing, etc. If your LifeGroup is interested in creating a temporary Impact Group to help in this area (such as collecting clothing donations) let us know and OKCLeaders will promote your efforts.

The task is daunting, but nothing is beyond our Lord and the Body of Christ. Discuss in your LifeGroup how you can help and pray for the victims and the rescuers.

Christmas Blanket Give Away

Christmas is a time for giving. Be a part of blessing the less fortunate this Christmas morning downtown and bring a little warmth to the homeless. We’ll meet at 8 am at the La Luna parking lot. The address is 409 West Reno Avenue, Oklahoma City. Bring a new or gently used blanket(s), hat(s), or gloves and be ready to experience the joy of giving. If you have a wagon, bring it along to help distribute our donated items. Don’t forget to bundle up…looks like it will be cold!

Can’t make it to serve, but want to help? Bring the items listed above to the Oklahoma City campus and we’ll pass it out for you. Every little bit helps!
Be blessed!!!

Laura Suttles

Deuteronomy 15:11

Deuteronomy 15:11 says, “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed toward those of your people who are poor and needy in the land.”
 
Our group is committed to simple acts of kindness towards the poor and needy. It’s winter- have you pulled out all those warm blankets? Are there any that you noticed you just don’t use? Our mission for this Christmas morning is to bring a little bit of warmth to those who might not be expecting any by bringing them blankets, hats, and gloves. Be an unexpected blessing to our homeless by donating a new or gently used blanket, stocking cap, or gloves. Bring them by the OKC campus by December 24th to be distributed Christmas morning. Do you want to help? We’d love to serve beside you! Look for coming details of when and where we’ll meet! Have a blessed Christmas!

Laura Suttles
Impact Group Leader

What Are Impact Groups?

Impact Groups are small groups of people who are inspired by God to start ministries to IMPACT the people around them. These groups are made up of people who are burdened to help others, anxious to share the love of Christ through missions, and are community focused. Has God given you a burden that you can’t ignore? Do you have talents, abilities or skills that would benefit others? Maybe you should be in an Impact Group!

Check out this list of Impact Groups to see if you can find a fit. If not, how about starting your own? Contact suzi.hanson@lifechurch.tv for more information!

Jesus Booth Ministries

The Jesus Booth Ministries intends to take church and the Good News about Jesus Christ to the people on the streets. The name Jesus Booth describes the ministry methodology for a 1-2 man “ticket-like” booth (3′x 3′x8′) dispensing information about Jesus.

A sign is displayed along the top of the booth that reads “Information about Jesus”. There is space inside the booth to provide storage for a huge selection of tracts, bibles, apologetic information and books. Outside along the bottom half of the Jesus Booth space is made available to display thought provoking material leading to inquiries into theological topics and conversations. Of course, each Jesus Booth can be modified to contain a wide variation of materials to dispense to the public in your community.

One of the most important aspects of the Jesus Booth Ministries is to provide a vehicle for evangelism and community outreach that is not abrasive or invasive. We find that the Jesus Booth Ministries is a respectful non-aggressive, non-threatening method of evangelism that we have found to be very effective. We feel part of its success is due to the fact that it reaches out to the less aggressive types of individuals – both those ministering and those being ministered to. Those ministering do not have to be bold and seek out individuals to witness to, since they are inside the booth with a sign above them that reads “Information about Jesus”. They simply must be non-argumentative, approachable and available to share God’s truth in LOVE. This allows us to rely on the Holy Spirit to attract the individual off the street to approach the booth and obtain information they are seeking. We believe that no one should be approached before they are ready to receive it. We rely on the Holy Spirit to bring individuals to the Jesus Booth. We also rely heavily on intercessory prayer.

A couple of brothers in the Lord and I started the ministry over three years ago. We chose the Third Street Promenade in our city of Santa Monica, California, a very busy four-block area filled with specialty shops, restaurants, movie theatres, pool halls and tourist attractions, as our first location on Friday nights. This area is also filled with street musicians, performers, and large numbers of shoppers milling about, especially on evenings and weekends.

In the beginning of the Jesus Booth Ministries we were not sure what to expect. We questioned whether anything would happen. If anyone would even come to the booth, let alone ask questions. We were very surprised and delighted at how receptive the public was to the Jesus Booth. Though some were believers, most were non-believers! Over the past three years we have had an awesome response to the booth and expect to continue for many more years.

The Jesus Booth Ministries has begun to take on a life of its own. There is a Jesus Booth at the Fox Hills Mall in Culver City, California and one in Edinburgh, Scotland. The following are in the planning stages of setting up Jesus Booth’s: Berkeley, Hollywood, Irvine, Venice Beach, Loyola Marymount University and UCLA in California. Our hope and prayer is to expand the Jesus Booth Ministries to other university campuses, shopping malls, airports, strip malls, tourist attractions and other large gathering places are ideal locations for this ministry.

The Jesus Booth is designed to erect and break down easily. It fits into a large satchel, which will slide easily into the back seat or trunk of most vehicles. Thus, the ministry is a transportable and mobile ministry.

Metro Calvary Chapel of Santa Monica has successfully operated and fine tuned the Jesus Booth concept for the past three years and reached many lost people in the local community. Our desire is to equip churches with all the skills and information required to operate and spread the Good News about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ using the Jesus Booths product. We will assist anyone who hears the calling with a step by step guide with do’s and don’ts including our mission statement and other relevant information needed to get started.

LifeReach Projects

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:17-18

What is a LifeReach anyway?

LifeReach is a random act of kindness that God has put a burden on you or your LifeGroup to complete with an opportunity to build personal long term relationships. It can be as close as mowing a neighbor’s lawn or traveling across the country to repair homes on an Indian reservation.

We’ve all heard them many times before. Stories of people without food, without shelter, lost loved ones, lonely, addicted… Stories with small needs, stories with huge needs. Stories of folks that need their brakes fixed … Stories of folks that need their families fixed. And every time we hear them, we think … man, wouldn’t it be great if we could DO something for them! But, oft times … we don’t and that moment when we could change a persons life is lost. In 1 John 3:17-18 we are called to action through love.

To help those that feel called to help others and to encourage those who have yet to heed the call, LifeChurch has created the LifeReach initiative. We ask that each individual or each LifeGroup participate in at least one LifeReach project a year. To facilitate this, OKCLeaders has created a section where you can post your project, ask for help from other LifeChurch members and LifeGroups, share your experience and post your successes.

It is vitaly important that we share our stories with each other for many reasons. To get the help we need, (Manpower, materials, advise, etc..) to share with others what has worked and what hasn’t, but most importantly to encourage and empower others to live a lifestyle of mission. To post a LifeReach, simply e-mail the post you want seen and any pictures, video, etc to okcleaders@gmail.com and we will put it on the site. Be sure to include any contact information. You can add updates simply by creating a comment to your post. Once the project is complete, be sure to send a follow up post with pictures etc. so we can add that to the site as well.

For those of you who subscribe to OKCLeaders, you will not recieve any notification of the projects. You’ll need to check the “Lifereach Projects” sub catagory often to see if there is anything new.

If you’d like to receive the notifications, simply register to the forums and you will get all the notifications for OKCLeaders as well as the ability to participate in forum conversations.

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LifeReach Update, June 17th

What an amazing story. I challenge you to watch the video and NOT feel empowered to help make a change in the lives of those less fortunate. We are halfway through the OnePrayer LifeReach initiative and if your LifeGroup has yet to take part in at least one LifeReach project, I urge you to contact Lisa Feist or Amy Newberry and find out how your LifeGroup can be a part of this amazing ministry.

RENOVATING

The Tapestry Project is currently renovating an apartment complex on the south Side of Oklahoma City. These two bedroom apartments are being offered as low income housing with a transitional achievement program for women, children, and families in crisis.

We are partnering with many community organizations such as Homeless Alliance, Daysprings, Great Expectations, The Property Management company, DHS, Church of the Harvest, Lifechurch.tv, SkylineOKC, The Refuge, City Rescue Mission, Mercy Ministries and HopeChest OKC in an effort to move Homeless into our housing project help them get connected to the resources and essentials that they need.

REPAIRING

The Tapestry Project is partnering with Dumas Baptist Church in an effort to repair and rebuild portions of the neighborhood church. This has been a unique opportunity to engage and empower the local church by providing a safe –clean space to teach and guide the neighbors with the message of hope and Christ.

RESTORING

The Tapestry Project has been given a unique opportunity to provide and offer community gatherings in the central part of the apartment complex.

Our hope is that these cook-outs, and family game times would draw the community back together and that the neighbors would lead the neighborhood back to restoration.

OnePrayer LifeReach

The OnePrayer MicroMissions were a huge success!! Many thanks to all who participated. At one mission site we were able to help put a huge dent in the remodel of a facility that will be used to minister to hundreds of folks in the area. At another, we ministered to tons of kids by sharing the love of the outdoors. Be sure to check out the photo gallery on the home page. (Yes, they are throwing large pieces of furniture from a second story balcony.)

With such amazing results, it’s easy to pat ourselves on the back, tell ourselves “good job” and move on with our lives. If that were the case, we’d be missing the point. OnePrayer is not a moment in time…  a couple weeks of the year where we put on our Christian faces and do our six hours of service. It’s a movement of the Body of Christ toward loving our brothers and sisters, serving our community and giving joyfully.

Part of the OnePrayer vision includes encouraging LifeGroups and individuals to create and/or engage in LifeReach opportunities during the month of June. We have a Prayer & Relational team that canvased the neighborhood surrounding Dumas Baptist Church to create “LifeReach Opportunities” that we have made into packets to have ready for “adoption” after the OnePrayer Mission. There’s so much to be done in the neighborhood. If you’d like to help continue the work at Dumas Baptist Church, contact Pastor Mike Stephens at mikest@wasteconnections.com. If you’d like to serve in the surrounding community, visit The Tapestry Project.

We are also encouraging people to create their own LifeReach Opportunity if God has placed a burden on their heart about a particular need. We are asking people to share stories of their projects in the LifeReach section of the forums or as a comment to this post. The forum is a great place to share your pictures and recruit volunteers for your project.

If you have any questions, contact lisafeist@gmail.com

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