Pictures of recent events!

On August 9, 2009, The Church of God was organized in Oklahoma City, OK. I've not edited any of the pictures because they would never get put on here, if I waited until I had them edited, so...here's Brother Rob and Sister Amy singing, "He Knows My Name."

Brother Jared sharing some history of the Church as well as the commission that Christ gave to the Church.

Everyone who attended the organizational service minus me. There were others that we hoped would have been there, but...we are very grateful for those who actually made it.

The campsite...otherwise known as "tent city".

Having a blast playing in the lake.

Saturday morning was "guys only" time

out on the pontoon boat with Brother Nick as the "Skipper". Although they didn't have much luck with the fish, they still managed to get in a good amount of fellowship.

Brother Paul quietly and patiently waiting for a tug on his line.

Sister Loree and Brother Bill enjoying their canoeing. Early morning and late evening seemed to be the best time to be out in the canoe since most of the big boats weren't out making waves at those times.




Sister Kim and Ethan tried their hand at canoeing and really enjoyed it. The Brock's are really good instructors, making it easy to learn how to canoe.

Sister Amy was one of the few who actually caught any fish. That may have been one of the largest caught too.

Brother Ray brought the message from Luke 15 and made us think and examine our own lives to make sure that we were "doing the will of the Father". There was an older couple camped fairly close to us. They had watched us most of the weekend, guess we provided interesting entertainment. Anyway, they had packed up their tent before we started service, but they hung around their site to listen in to the service. Sister Amy did an awesome job leading us in singing without any instruments.

Such a sweet face...I just had to take a picture!

Hope you enjoyed the pictoral history of what we've been up to. Maybe it will cause you to want to come join us for an event or even better, come join us for service.

Sister Tammi

A reminder...

Just wanted to take a moment to remind those who had planned to join us for camping, that it is this Friday thru Sunday at Wes Watkins Reservoir. Sister Sherry will be arriving around 11:00 (if not before) on Friday morning to snag a couple of campsites for the tents, close to the bathrooms. I think the sites are large enough to accommodate 3-4 tents so we can share the site expenses. We will be having a church service, on Sunday morning, at the campground. I was asked if we would be having any joint meals (potluck), and after talking to several, we've decided that we'll plan and cook meals for our own families and then eat together. I am looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the fellowship of all that attend.

We are having Bible study tonight, but I received a voicemail informing me that it will be held at Brother Paul Clevenger's home tonight and unfortunately, I have no idea where that is, so I can't tell anyone how to get there. If you were planning on attending tonight...I'm really sorry that I can't tell you where to go. Please forgive me.

I do have pictures from the service the Church was organized, but I haven't had time to sort through and see which ones turned out. I'll try to get some up in the next week or so.

If we don't see you tonight, hope we see you at the campout.

Sister Tammi

You are invited!

To join us for a very special service--

When: Sunday, 9 August 2009

Time: 4:00 P.M.

Where: 7200 S. Walker

Oklahoma City, OK

(lower level)

What's so special about this service?

We will be setting The Church of God in order during this service.

We are looking forward to having Brother Clive Jared and Brother Don Branscum in service with us.

We will have a time of food and fellowship following this service.

We would love to have you join us if you are in the area.

Come celebrate with us!

God is good!

Thank you so much for praying with us as we searched for a place to worship other than our living rooms. The building that we looked at on Monday night will provide a sanctuary, classroom, bathrooms, sound/video system, use of baptismal and fellowship hall for $350 per month which is a real blessing in such a large city. We knew on Monday evening that this would be a great deal, but were faced with coming up with first and last months rent and who has that kind of money just laying around when you are starting out? Not us...but after praying...God provided. We will be signing the papers and turning over a check tomorrow evening. Our first service in the new place will be next Sunday evening at 6:00. We are all very excited and very thankful for what God is doing here.

We had a wonderful Sunday School and service this morning. God's sweet Spirit moved throughout during class time, worship time as well as during the preaching. We had 14 in attendance, which is about what we've been averaging on Sunday morning. We had 19 during our first mid-week Bible Study, so not a bad start. We had a new visitor this morning and were very happy to make his acquaintance and hope that he will return again and again. I'll be sure to post the address to the new location for those who would like to attend, but wasn't too sure about attending church in someone's living room.

Have a great week!

Sister Tammi

Update!

We went to look at the building last evening. It is a large church that chose to break up the lower level into two different sanctuaries, classrooms, as well as the fellowship hall, while leaving the upper level intact. The point was/is to be able to help smaller congregations or congregations just getting started in having an affordable place to worship until they are financially on their feet. So...the sanctuary that we looked at, will hold 60-80 people, has padded chairs, an electric baby grand, drums, pulpit, sound/video system and one extra classroom. We would also have access to the fellowship hall and baptismal and all that for only $350 per month. We are in the process of coming up with 1st and last months rent and then we'll have a place to worship other than our living rooms. We are having a bake sale on 15 August to raise funds for either the deposits or the building fund, whichever we need it for. We are having our first annual church campout 21-23 August at Wes Watkins Reservoir, just east of OKC, off I-40. Anyone want to join us? We are also looking forward to the Church being set in order in August, just haven't decided on the date yet. A lot of exciting things happening this next month. We invite you to join us for any or all of these happenings, if you are in the area.

Have a wonderful week!

Sister Tammi

Please pray!

We have an appointment to view a property tomorrow evening. We would be renting until we raise enough to purchase our own. It has a sanctuary, classrooms, the use of the fellowship hall, as well as a baptismal. We need God to lead our guys in knowing whether this is the place that He would have us to meet, so if you would join us in prayer, we would appreciate it.

Had a wonderful service this morning. God's presence moved throughout and the message was anointed. It was refreshing and if you could have been there and weren't...we missed you. Hope to see you next Sunday.

Sister Tammi

Did You Know...

...if 4800 members of The Church of God gave a one-time offering of $25, then $120,000 could be raised?

...if 2400 members of The Church of God gave a one-time offering of $50, then $120,000 could be raised?

...if 1200 members of The Church of God gave a one-time offering of $100, again $120,000 could be raised?

Those of us who are members of The Church of God have heard it said, "If the need is presented to the membership, the membership will be faithful to give". We have found out, that when you are starting a work, from the ground up, you don't have the 3 years financial history that the banks want in order to consider you for a bank loan to purchase a property. Therefore, we must raise the money. Most of you know how difficult it can be to raise enough money, in a short amount of time, when you have to pay high rent costs. We will be doing fund raisers, i.e., bake sales, sno-cone sales, etc...but those aren't going to raise the bulk of the funds needed, so...I am appealing to those who read this blog and to any that you know who would be willing to give a one-time offering to help purchase a property for this new congregation. If we would do this for every small church, that does not have a building of their own, it wouldn't be long before they would have their own properties as well. What is the old saying, "Many hands make lite work"? Well...if many were to give, then no one person or small group of people would be carrying the huge load. I realize that in some areas $120,000 would barely be a down payment, but in other areas, it would pay the purchase cost as well as leave a little extra in the expense fund for operating costs.

If you would, prayerfully consider this request. If you would like to donate or know someone who would love to help get this new work off the ground, you can contact me for more information, either in the comment section (leave your e-mail) or e-mail me at tcogokc@gmail.com. Tax receipts will be provided upon request.

Thank you and God bless you!

Sister Tammi