Oklahoma Churches Unite in Community Outreach

VINITA, OKLA. – On Friday, July 26, a fire was set in a low-income senior housing apartment building in Vinita, Okla. All 48 residents made it out safely, but a few were taken to the emergency room for smoke inhalation. The Vinita Seventh-day Adventist Church, with its 40 members, immediately set out to assist residents who lost everything. Some were given food and clothing. Two church members opened their homes to two of the residents. Some are still displaced, and they are being told it may be a year before the apartments are rebuilt. As needs arise in our community, service will be available to help. 

To ensure that the Oklahoma Conference churches not only respond to disasters like this in a timely manner, but also create community service projects for all our churches, a detailed plan has been developed. We have groups of churches located in six areas of the state of Oklahoma: northeast, southeast, Tulsa area, northwest, southwest and the Oklahoma City area. Each area has multiple churches in their group. Each area will form a community service committee represented by the community service leaders of each church or other members in their churches.

These committees will examine the needs of each of the communities of the churches in their area. They will plan community service outreach events for each church in their area. When one church’s community is targeted, all the churches in that area will come together to work for the benefit of the people in the community of that church. If Bible studies are acquired from an event, they will all go to that church. If children in the community are interested in VBS, Adventurers or Pathfinders, they will all be directed to that church.

Therefore, all the churches in that area will help that one church to grow, then the other churches in that area will be targeted in the same manner. Thus, we will help our churches in their respective communities to serve the people and to grow. This will also help us to grow spiritually as we help each other as an Adventist community. 

The six community service committees will also form a disaster relief protocol for disasters that may occur in their area. This will ensure that we respond rapidly to help those in need like the community surrounding the Vinita church. May the Good Lord help us to carry out these plans with His approval for the salvation of souls.

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