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Be A Witness

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Be A Witness

If you grew up in church like me, you may have vivid memories of Wednesday night visitation times, going door to door telling the people in the community about Jesus, or even Sunday night discipleship classes learning how to share the Gospel. I remember watching the adults I was with seem so comfortable doing this and thinking I would never be able to share Jesus like they do. Or, maybe you didn’t grow up around that and feel ill prepared to share your faith. Or, maybe you are new to your own walk with God and don’t think you have anything worthwhile to share with others yet because you are just now learning it all yourself.

A "Sure" Thing

A "Sure" Thing

It matters how we’re asked to be a part of something. There’s a difference between asking someone, “Hey, do you want to go into a packed Nicaraguan jail and share the Gospel?” versus asking, “Hey, did you hear about the informational meeting about the mission trip to Central America?” There’s a difference between asking someone, “Will you put your schedule on hold unexpectedly today, pick up some Braum’s, and sit in a median to eat breakfast with a homeless man?” versus asking, “Have you noticed the homeless people on the drive to church every Sunday?”

Celebrate Recovery's 20th Anniversary at CRBC

Celebrate Recovery's 20th Anniversary at CRBC

Pastor Rick:  When I arrived at Council Road 20 years ago, one of the first new ministries I wanted to implement was Celebrate Recovery. It was a relatively new ministry in Oklahoma, and one that was badly needed. Oklahoma is located in a prime position geographically for drug and human trafficking—right in the middle of the United States where three major interstates criss-cross. The poverty level is also a problem. Both play into a high dependence on drugs and alcohol.

After getting to know the staff, I knew who the perfect person would be to head up our new chapter of Celebrate Recovery: Sue Ellen Ferguson. She had the perfect combination of leadership, creativity, grace and mercy, and a disarming smile, not to mention her own story of recovery. Some people thought I was crazy, as she was serving as the leader of the Women’s Ministry at the time. But I knew she was the perfect person to take on this new endeavor.

The Day Is At Hand: CRBC Missions Season

The Day Is At Hand: CRBC Missions Season

CRBC’s Missions Season begins the Sunday directly after Easter and ends the Sunday right before our big Pentecost Sunday 60th Anniversary celebration– isn’t that fitting? While we see God’s heart for the nations from the beginning (i.e. God’s call on Abraham in Genesis 12), the Great Commission and the missionary travels of the disciples and Paul ignited what we still know as “missions'' today. The reality is that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection spurred believers to act, share, love, and move back then and still spurs us to this day.

When We're Still Waiting For It To have Been Worth It

When We're Still Waiting For It To have Been Worth It

I’m new to this whole missionary gig and so far it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. My back hurts from the plywood bed. My stomach grumbles as it adjusts to the new foods, water, and routine. My hair is oily from the less than clean water I “wash” it in every other day. My living room wallpaper is such an onslaught of patterns, my head hurts when I walk in there. I spend too much time on Instagram missing my friends because it’s too rainy this week to go make new friends with my caveman version of the local language. I barely want to pick up my Bible because my mind feels so overwhelmed with learning a new language that it could explode even from reading a familiar language. And I’m lonely.

Be Careful Of Council Road

Be Careful Of Council Road

“Be Careful of Council Road,” My coworker told me with a raised eyebrow. I had visited one of Council Road’s young adult home groups only once, but the church’s reputation preceded them even now. My co-worker shared comical stories of the church’s youth group getting kicked out of church camp and other stories which blurred the line between legendary and tall tale. This mysterious congregation had a long-known reputation for “doing its own thing” and “making its own rules.” The unusual caution came to me six years ago when I was first visiting Council Road. I’ve now come to uncover the truth of this rule-breaking house of worship—My discoveries are logged below.

An Unexpected Blessing (Whiz Kids Part 2)

An Unexpected Blessing (Whiz Kids Part 2)

I’m not sure I really knew what I was getting into when I signed up to help with Whiz Kids. I knew it was a tutoring program and that I would be working with a student each week. I’m not a teacher, so I was slightly concerned that I wouldn’t be qualified. I was assured that being a teacher was not a requirement.

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