I hope you get an opportunity to read the article about our very own “Forrest Gump” in this Thursday’s Oklahoman. You’ll find Steve Kime’s picture, dressed as Forrest Gump, on the front page of the sports section. Steve joined First Church this summer along with his wife and long-time member, Cheryl Lovett- Kime. Steve is the local Director of Junior Achievement for the OKC area. As you’ll discover in the article, he’s run the 15K Tulsa Run the last 8 years dressed as Forrest Gump to raise awareness and support for Special Olympics. If you’d like to support Steve you can go to www.sook.org and click on “Forrest Gump.”

I am so very proud of each of you who serve Christ and our community in such a wide variety of ways. This past Wednesday your entire First Church Staff served lunch to Senior citizens at the Skyline Urban Ministries McKee Center. We sang hymns, offered a devotional, and served some excellent stew and cornbread to about 40 appreciative folks. It was a blessing to serve together and I believe we were a blessing, as well. It’s amazing how when we give of ourselves, we actually receive more in turn. That’s a biblical principle we can count on! The Director, Imogene, said it was the first time she’d ever had an entire church staff come to serve lunch and also the first time one church served lunch four times in a month. Thanks to Tammy Patton and our cook, Mary McIntire, for organizing and preparing all the great food! Thanks to Jerry Adkisson for answering the phones for us while we were gone, as well. I understand Skyline Urban Ministry actually grew out of First Church’s ministry.

Thanks to each of you for your faithful witness for Jesus! Blessings!

In Christ’s Love,
Mark

P.S. Thanks, too, for all the thoughtful and beautiful cards you’ve sent my way during this Pastor Appreciation month. You are a blessing to me and my family!