Word of Life changes name to Reach Church

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Word of Life Church in Sand Springs announced Sunday that they will be formally changing their name to “Reach Church” after 37 years under the former monicker.

Word of Life Fellowship was founded at 619 North 10th Street in 1981 by Senior Pastor David and Sharon Emigh. The church relocated to its current location at 1402 North 81st West Avenue soon after and the church has been pressing onward ever since.

Following Emigh’s passing in 2011, Associate Pastor Chad Stewart took the reigns and ushered the nondenominational church toward a more contemporary feel with modern music, stylish decor, a coffee shop, and a fresh new energy and mission.

At its core, not much has changed. Under Emigh’s leadership Word of Life founded more than a hundred satellite churches in third world countries around the globe. Word Of Life International still supports many of these churches to this day. The church has always participated in local outreaches as well, but in Stewart’s tenure they have had a larger focus on impacting the schools, city, and Sand Springs community.

Officially, the church will still be registered as Word Of Life Inc. due to its large network of affiliate churches in Burma, Namibia, and the Philippines. The Sand Springs headquarters will simply be “doing business as” Reach Church, aligning itself with the official motto of the church.

“We exist to reach people,” has been the official vision statement of Word of Life for several years now.

Sandites both within and outside of the church have felt their reach through community serve days, participation in the Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance, a free community carnival, a backpack lunch program, and more.

“We want people to understand that it’s not just the people at the pulpit that are called to reach people, but it’s all of us,” said Executive Pastor Linda Scott in a previous interview with Sandite Pride. “Whether it’s inviting people to church, or handing someone a ‘bless you’ card because you bought their McDonald’s, or whatever. Just showing that love to people.”

Reach Church has a thriving Sunday morning children’s ministry under Children’s Pastor Alexis Glaze, with separate classrooms for birth through 18 months, 18-36 months, Kindergarten, and Elementary students. The Reach Youth Ministry is led by Chad Ketcher on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for grades 6-12.

Accompanying the name change, the church also announced the hiring of Michael and Baylee Wilson as the Missions Pastors for the church, the promotion of Church Administrator Linda Scott to the new position of Executive Pastor, and the hiring of Administrative Assistant Stephanie Faulkner. 

Reach Church

1402 N 81st West Ave

Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063

(918) 245-0262

Service: Sunday 10:00 a.m.

Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

https://www.reachchurch.us

Facebook: @Wordoflifess

Instagram: @Wordoflifess

 

*Disclosure: Word of Life is the home church for three shareholders at Sandite Pride News, LLC including Editor-in-Chief Scott Emigh.  

Sand Springs minister Darin Shipley releases new studio album

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Sand Springs's Darin Shipley released Hunger Rising March 15, 2018. (Photo: Niki Counce Photography). 

Sand Springs artist Darin Shipley recently released his second studio album, titled Hunger Rising, on Spotify and in compact disc format. The seven-track contemporary Christian album has been the product of several years of writing and recording.

Shipley speaks and performs at churches throughout Oklahoma, and proceeds from those events have funded his recording sessions at The Closet Studios in Tulsa. “The whole time I was working on this, the theme I would speak on everywhere I would go is drawing near to God,” says Shipley.

A nineteen-year officer with the Tulsa Police Department, Shipley lives in Sand Springs and serves on the worship team at Word of Life church. He and his wife of nineteen years, Pam, have three children.

Shipley’s daughter, Kristin, also appears on the album in background vocals, as does fellow Word of Life worship team member Holly Pace.

Through his career in law enforcement, Shipley has had the opportunity to minister to Tulsa’s most vulnerable, meeting the needs of homeless and mentally ill Tulsans in need of a hand up. He also has an extensive background in Youth Ministry, having previously served in Word of Life Youth Ministries.

Shipley has several shows booked currently, including the Second Annual Unity Praise event at Charles Page High School Memorial Stadium this Friday, March 30th. He also plays periodically at the 5 West Outpost nonprofit event center in Sand Springs, and will be holding a CD Release Party there in the near future.

To download Hunger Rising, visit this link, or visit his Facebook to purchase a physical copy. 

918-361-1092
Facebook
http://www.darinshipley.com/

Word of Life church holds Serve Day, paints Limestone Elementary cafeteria

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Word of Life, a non-denominational Christian church in Sand Springs, held a "Serve Day" Sunday afternoon, and more than sixty volunteers donated their time to various organizations around town.

Following their 10:00 a.m. Sunday service, the church members headed to Limestone Technology Academy, Sand Springs Community Services, and Green Tree Assisted Living & Memory Care. 

At Limestone Elementary, the workers painted a large cafeteria in the district colors. They also cleaned up an outdoor classroom area. Another group visited with elderly residents at Green Tree Assisted Living, leading them in praise and worship.

At Sand Springs Community Services, volunteers helped to spot clean the facility to get it ready for its annual Tulsa Area United Way Panel Review. According to SSCS Director Nathan Woodmansee, the organization served over 1000 households from the Sand Springs community in 2017. The nonprofit can provide families with a full week’s worth of food up to six times a year, or more if there is a verifiable emergency. They also offer clothing, household items, a computer lab and job-search assistance, utility and rent assistance, and other client-specific assistance.

“SSCS does not receive government funding,” says Woodmansee. “It depends fully on donations and partnerships from churches like WOL, local coprorate sponsorships, individual donations, partnerships with Sand Sprigns Public Schools, local foundation grants, and its partnership with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.”

Word of Life, whose motto is "we exist to reach people," has a long history of serve days, most recently partnering with local schools. In August they painted the Limestone gymnasium and auditorium, and improved the grounds and landscaping. In October they painted the gym, a classroom, and a pair of bathrooms at Angus Valley Elementary. 

Founded in 1981, Word of Life has been serving Sand Springs for 37 years. Lead Pastor Chad Stewart has led the congregation since 2011.

Word of Life
1402 North 81st West Avenue
Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063
(918) 245-0262
Service: Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
http://www.mywordoflife.com
Facebook: @Wordoflifess
Instagram: @Wordoflifess

Sand Springs Community Services
114 West 4th Street
(918) 245-5183
Hours: Monday - Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
http://sscsok.org
Facebook: @SanditesHere2Help

*Contact SSCS by phone or web to volunteer.

Church of the Month: Word of Life Youth Ministry

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Word of Life Youth. (Courtesy). 

*Note: Word of Life changed their name to Reach Church in August of 2018.

Last week Sandite Pride introduced readers to the Children’s ministry at Word of Life, our February Church of the Month. Today we look at the Youth Ministry under Pastor Chad Ketcher.

SEE RELATED: 

Word of Life’s youth ministry has been called by many names over the years. Harmony, Lighthouse, the Depot, and Forward. The church recently moved the youth services from a building at 10th and Washington to the church’s main campus and took on the simple moniker of Word of Life Youth.

Having the youth on the adult campus has always been a goal of the church, but until recent years the main church also held a Wednesday night service, so there wasn’t room.

Ketcher took over the ministry full time in January of 2016. The only lifelong Sandite to ever hold the position, he felt called to return to Sand Springs again shortly before that. He and wife, Heather, were previously involved in a church in downtown Tulsa.

While still attending church in Tulsa, they were also participating in a small group hosted by Will and Amberly Bell, a couple heavily involved in Word of Life. “I thought that was kind of cool that they opened it up to somebody that didn’t even go to church here,” says Ketcher.

“In August (of 2015) we thought we were going to go somewhere else. But someone asked us to come visit (Word of Life). We had already been going to the life group for almost a year, so I said ‘let’s at least go check it out.’”

“We fell in love with (Word of Life) in the first week,” says Ketcher. “We loved everybody. We knew a lot of the people because we lived in this town our entire lives.”

Ketcher wasn’t looking for a full-time ministry job, despite having graduated Rhema Bible Training College in 2003. At the time he worked at the OSU Medical Center in Tulsa. He visited Forward to look into volunteering as a youth leader and found out that the pastor job was open.

Ketcher has a history with the Word of Life youth, having attended services in his teenage years under the late pastor Terry Scott. Going on mission trips to Mexico with the youth is part of what first inspired him to go to Bible College after graduating Charles Page in 2001.

Word of Life Youth Pastor Chad Ketcher. (Courtesy). 

After a few weeks of prayer and contemplation, he decided to apply for the position. Ketcher is the fourth Word of Life Youth Pastor since 2010. “All they need is consistency,” thought Ketcher. “They just need someone to ride this thing for a long time.”

“When we started, my goal in the first year was just to let these teenagers know I’m not going anywhere. My goal in the second year was to get them involved in doing stuff and get them here on Sundays, enjoying church. My goal this year is all about ‘how can we reach other people?’”

Ketcher looks to the example set by former Youth Pastor Tim Earnhardt, who left the church in 2010 and currently pastors Occupied Church in Tulsa. “He always had teenagers with him, all the time,” says Ketcher. “Honestly, as a youth pastor, you should always have a teenager with you. That’s your life. That’s why you exist. It shouldn’t just be a Wednesday night or Sunday morning thing.”

He also wants to make sure the kids are there for the church more than for him. “Whenever you leave, you don’t want everyone to quit coming to church because they were so tied to you. We try to encourage that they come on Sunday and to small groups and that they serve in our children’s church. I don’t need you here for me, I don’t get paid per student.”

“I want you to enjoy church because of what you bring to church. The benefit that you can bring. That even as a teenager, you are valuable. You have your own personality type, you have your own set of skills. Our worship team is all teenager-led. I let my teenagers preach on Wednesday nights. How do you expect to grow a leader if you don’t give them the chance to be one?”

“We try to keep it real with the teenagers. Don’t ask them to live a lifestyle that you don’t teach them how to live.” The youth will be doing a series coming up in April on sex and how to date in a manner that’s consistent with biblical teachings. “That’s what we expect sometimes. A youth kid should be perfect or least act right when he’s at church. You’re asking someone to not cuss, who hears cursing all the time in their house. That’s not fair. Maturing is not an age thing, it’s someone being taught how to grow up.”

According to Ketcher, Wednesday night should be the most fun night of the week. Forward has their own party bus with hardwood floors, limousine-style seating, lights, and surround sound. They plan to use it to pick up kids for church and take them home if they need rides as soon as Ketcher gets his Commercial Driver's License. 

Word of Life. Stock Photo.

The youth plan on going on a mission trip to Arlington, Texas over Spring Break. Then they’ll take a trip to Haiti next year where they’ll work with fellow Sandites Michael and Baylee Wilson who live there full time. Ketcher also plans to get the youth involved at Gable Hills, Highland Crossing, the Sand Springs Home and Colony, and local nursing homes.

“Your community has enough serving opportunities, it’s just a matter of finding them. It’s fun to go out to different places, but if there’s that much need in your own town and you can get thirty kids to show up and serve, that’s just crazy not to serve your own community. One of the people that I think is absolutely the best at this is (HillSpring Associate Pastor) Matt Barnett. I love that his heart is where his community is. That rubs off.”

Ketcher participates in One Network, a coalition of local pastors who work together to reach Sand Springs youth. “How can we all come together? If we stop competing and start just working. Yes we want people, and yes we want the same town, and we want the same community, but every church brings something completely different.”

Ultimately Ketcher wants students to know that they’re the church, not him and his fellow pastors. “I’m not different than anybody else, I just love what I do. I think sometimes we get so caught in ministry as preaching. It’s not preaching. Ministry happens in conversation. It just happens."

Word of Life Youth
1402 N 81st West Ave
Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063
(918) 245-0262
Service: Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
http://www.mywordoflife.com/forward-youth
Facebook: @theforwardyouth
Instagram: @wordoflifess_youth

Word of Life
1402 N 81st West Ave
Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063
(918) 245-0262
Service: Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
http://www.mywordoflife.com
Facebook: @Wordoflifess
Instagram: @Wordoflifess
Twitter: @mywordoflife

Church of the Month: Growing up at Word of Life

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Courtesy. 

*Note: Word of Life changed their name to Reach Church in August of 2018.

Last week Sandite Pride introduced readers to our February Church of the Month, Word of Life. This week we learned about the church's children's and youth programs. 

SEE RELATED: Church of the Month: Word of Life exists to reach people

While children are always welcome in the main service, the church does provide several children’s classrooms on Sunday morning. The nursery provides care for babies from birth through 18 months old. 18-36 month olds have their own classroom, as do Kindergarteners and Elementary students.

The 18-36 month room does a couple of praise and worship songs, reads a picture story, and does brief lessons with props. The Kindergarten class expands on what the kids have been doing, adding longer lesson periods. They also join with the Elementary students for worship before heading back to their own class.

Word of Life Children’s Pastor Alexis Glaze. (Courtesy).

"I'm a firm believer that anything adults can do, kids can do better." - Alexis Glaze.

Children’s Pastor Alexis Glaze oversees the whole children’s program from infancy till middle school, and teaches the First through Fifth Grade class each Sunday.

Glaze came to the church in the summer of 2016, immediately after graduating from Oral Roberts University. Originally from Texas, Glaze married Golden Eagle pitcher Grant Glaze this past July and the two are currently expecting their first child. She is also a part-time substitute teacher for Sand Springs Public Schools while attending graduate school through Liberty University.

Each Sunday morning, the Elementary classroom starts with playtime, then brings in the Kindergarten class for worship. Each lesson is structured to address questions the children may have. Glaze recently posed the question “Does God still love me when I do bad things?” and spoke on God’s unconditional love. “We don’t want to do bad things, because we don’t want to make God sad, but he’s going to love us no matter what,” says Glaze. Children’s teachers also incorporate animated bible stories to keep the kids interested.

The church hosts lots of activities for children outside of Sundays. This Spring Break, parents and kids will be invited to a Chick-fil-A picnic at Ray Brown Park. Ages seven through twelve will spend several days this June at Victory Christian Camp in Mannford. In July they will hold Vacation Bible School for Kindergarten through Fifth grade students. The church will be having two services for Easter this year, and each service will have an egg hunt with 1,500 eggs.

Word of Life
1402 N 81st West Ave
Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063
(918) 245-0262
Service: Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
http://www.mywordoflife.com
Facebook: @Wordoflifess

Instagram: @Wordoflifess

Church of the Month: Word of Life exists to reach people

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Lead Pastor Chad Stewart preaches at a Sunday Service at Word of Life. (Courtesy).

*Note: Word of Life changed their name to Reach Church in August of 2018.
"Go to Sand Springs, raise up a New Testament church, and from there you will touch the world."

Like most nondenominational churches, Word of Life started as a handful of friends with a vision and a prayer. A dozen evangelicals meeting in a downtown Sand Springs storefront for prayer and bible study. They held their first official service on January 4th, 1981 in a twenty-year-old QuikTrip building near the intersection of 10th Street and Adams Road. 

David, Sharon, and Amanda Emigh. 

Pastor David Emigh founded the church at the age of 28 after a one-year stent in Rosebud, Missouri. During his tenure out of state, Emigh felt called by God to return to Sand Springs, raise up a new testament church, and from there he would touch the world. Together with wife Sharon, and their infant daughter Amanda, the Emigh family packed up and returned to their roots.

For thirty years, Emigh led the church. He published three books and aired an AM radio broadcast that reached tens of thousands. His team founded over a hundred churches on multiple continents, established a bible school, and ran an international ministerial organization.

By their 25th anniversary in 2006, the church had grown to over 800 members. They never got to celebrate their 30th anniversary. On June 15, 2011 Emigh died following a motorcycle accident. 

Word of Life founding pastors David and Sharon Emigh pray over current pastors Chad and Sarah Stewart.

“Without the Thirty, there wouldn’t be the Seven.” – Linda Scott

On September 11, 2011 the church took its first step forward. Word of Life members voted more than 90% in favor of confirming Chad Stewart as the new Senior Pastor.

Stewart arrived at Word of Life as the College and Careers (Young Adult) Pastor. He worked his way throughout the church, briefly running the bookstore, custodial duties, and serving a year as interim youth pastor. He was promoted to Associate Pastor a few months before Emigh’s death.  

Moving a church forward after the death of its founding pastor was far from an easy task. Stewart had to honor the legacy of the church’s founder, maintain the church’s existing identity, while simultaneously following his own passions and calling.

“That was a rough transition,” says Church Administrator Linda Scott. “The message never stopped being preached. The missionaries that we supported eight years ago, are still being supported today. They have never missed a payment since David died. We cut staff, we cut salaries, we did all kinds of stuff right here, but they never had a loss. That value of what was important to David has been important to Chad.”

Wednesday night service was dropped, and instead an emphasis was put on creating small groups, both ministerial, and shared interest groups. For four years the church hosted a carnival that offered rides, food, snow cones, backpacks, and haircuts all for free. In 2017 the church decided to forgo the one-day-a-year festivities and invest even more into the community throughout the year.

REV. TERRY SCOTT WITH HIS 2012 SUMMER INTERNS ON A MISSION TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS. (PHOTO SCOTT EMIGH)

Scott has been a member of the church since 1986 when she and her late husband Terry were invited by then-youth pastor Tom McCaslin. When McCaslin left Word of Life to start a church in Midwest City, the Scotts took over as Youth Pastors and served there for more than a decade. Under the Scotts, the Youth transitioned from the main church campus back to the old QuikTrip building where it all began. They continued meeting there until 2016 before rejoining the main campus.

Terry Scott stepped down as Youth Pastor to focus on FutureVision Ministries, but the two stayed plugged in at the church and Terry took on a part-time Missions Pastor position. Linda took on the Administrator position in 2011 and Terry took over as Associate Pastor soon after. Terry continued to travel the world, supporting Word of Life satellite churches, ministering, and leading missions until his death in 2016. He died doing what he loved, on a mission trip in Guatemala.

Volunteers from Word of Life church put in a work day at Limestone Elementary, painting and gardening. (Photo: Micah Felts).

“We exist to reach people.” –WOL Vision.

“We exist to reach people. We want to reach people with the love of Jesus Christ,” says Scott. “Sometimes to reach people, if we can reach a physical need in their life, that can help to bring them to the knowledge that God is a loving god and God is a caring god. We exist to reach people wherever they’re at in whatever condition they’re in.

“It’s not about the lights and all that. You have those things because you’re drawing people in, and we live in an age that people like that kind of stuff. But it’s more about getting to the heart of people. How can we impact them? How can we help them to get from Step A to Step B in their spiritual life? And sometimes it’s how do we get them from A to B when they’re going through a massive change in their life. It’s a divorce, it’s a death, it’s a crazy teenager, a crying baby. How do we help them in those hard times of life to stay on their feet and know that there’s a community behind them that cares about them and the whole time just reminding them what the Word of God says about those things, that He’s there to help them.

“We want people to understand that it’s not just the people at the pulpit that are called to reach people, but it’s all of us. Whether it’s inviting people to church, or handing someone a ‘bless you’ card because you bought their McDonald’s, or whatever. Just showing that love to people.”

Word of Life
1402 N 81st West Ave
Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063
(918) 245-0262
Service: Sunday 10:00 a.m.
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
http://www.mywordoflife.com
Facebook: @Wordoflifess
Instagram: @Wordoflifess

Word of Life Church blesses Walmart shoppers

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Shoppers at the Walmart Supercenter in Sand Springs got a pleasant surprise Sunday morning as hundreds of Word of Life church members poured into the store to bless people with free money. 

Following their 10:00 a.m. service, Word of Life distributed $5.00 bills to every church-goer in attendance to take to Walmart and give to anyone they wanted. The church members could give someone $5.00, or could pool their money with others to take care of a patron's entire cart. This is the second time this year that Word of Life has held such an event.

Word of Life meets Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. at 1402 North 81st West Avenue and is pastored by Chad and Sarah Stewart. The nondenominational church has met in Sand Springs since 1981. 

 

 

SSPS presents Word of Life Church with Sandite Spirit Award

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Left to right: Limestone Principal Karen Biggs, Board of Education President Rusty Gunn, Word of Life Children's Pastor Alexis Glaze and husband Grant Glaze, Angus Principal Angelia Noel. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

The Sand Springs Board of Education presented Word of Life Church with a Sandite Spirit Award Monday evening in recognition of their recent contributions to the school district. 

In August the church held a work day at Limestone Technology Academy, painting the gymnasium and cafeteria, and cleaning up and improving the landscaping. They held another work day at Angus Valley Elementary in October and painted the gym, a classroom, and bathrooms.

SEE RELATED: Word of Life church paints, cleans up Limestone Elementary

"Word of Life first came to Limestone, and when I heard people were doing free work I called them immediately," joked Angus Principal Angelia Noel. "I can't even say enough nice things about them. They continuously ask 'what are your needs? What do you need us to do?'.

"They contacted us back in May," said Limestone Principal Karen Biggs. "They showed up, there's eighty-plus people. It's just been awesome. They come every month and ask what else we need, 'what else can we do for you?'"

"They even collected paper for us," added Noel. "A thousand reams of paper, which is just amazing. There's nothing that I've said to them that they aren't willing to help us with. It's just such a blessing to have people that understand that our jobs are difficult and they want to make it easier for us."

Boo on Broadway is a hit in downtown Sand Springs

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The Seventh Annual Boo on Broadway Halloween festival went off without a hitch Sunday in downtown Sand Springs.

For the first time since its inception, the festivities were hosted by the Sand Springs Ministerial Alliance. This year did away with the Coffin Race tradition, but had record-high participation from both volunteers and attendees. 

Olivet Baptist Church, State Farm Agent Steve Lane, the Sand Springs Police Department, Hillspring Church, Word of Life church, and Church That Matters were just a few of the many organizations involved. 

About thirty tents, booths, and car trunks were set up around the Sand Springs Triangle Park along with inflatables, games, and even a dunk tank. The Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum was open for the first half of the festival, and City Councilor Patty Dixon said more than a thousand people came through the building before they ran out of candy. 

Click here to view our photo gallery.

 

Word of Life church paints, cleans up Limestone Elementary

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Photo courtesy of Micah Felts.

More than eighty members of Word of Life church in Sand Springs turned out for a work day at Limestone Technology Academy Sunday afternoon.

The event was the first of many service days the church will be hosting at local public schools. After four years of hosting a free community carnival, the church decided to focus on a series of projects to help the community rather than one big event.

Workers spent several hours after church painting the gymnasium, cafeteria, and other rooms, as well as cleaning up and improving the school's landscaping.

The first day of school for Sand Springs students will be Tuesday, August 22nd.

Word of Life is located at 1402 N. 81st W. Ave. and is pastored by Chad Stewart. The church has been meeting in Sand Springs since 1981. Click here to visit their website.

I was Terry Scott's favorite person

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The first thing I thought when I was told of Terry's passing was "I can't believe he's not going to be here for Star Wars Rogue One." And so it's fitting that his family entered the auditorium today to the Imperial march theme.

The friends and family of Terry Scott gathered together at Word of Life Tuesday morning to celebrate his life and legacy. But it wasn't a funeral.

To put it in the words of his wife, Linda, we did it Terry Scott style. There was a smorgasbord of coffee, because Terry loved his coffee. The attire was casual: Superman, OU, and plaid shirts were everywhere. The atmosphere was lighthearted and filled with laughter because "if you were around Terry, you laughed--even if it was a courtesy laugh at times" said Linda.

Micah and Holly Felts led the congregation in worship, and it was a large congregation. The church was packed front to back and dozens were standing along the walls. The reach of that man was so great that the service was live streamed across the globe, and the attendees had to put their phones on airplane mode to keep the servers from crashing.

Word of Life Carlsbad Pastor Daniel Shirley opened things up with tales of his many mission trips with Terry and shared some humorous memories. "Terry knew every song that had ever been written, and a few that had never been written and never should be written," said Shirley. Shirley was with Terry on their final trip together in Guatemala when he passed.

Terry's younger brother, Bert, shared tales of growing up with Terry. Particularly when Terry would wake him up in the middle of the night and trick him into thinking it was time to get ready for work.

Bert mentioned the quote "All you can take with you is that which you've given away," from It's a Wonderful Life. "I believe that's what Terry's life was all about."

"He loved my mom in a way that I have never seen a man love a woman," shared daughter, Ashley Scott. She recognized anyone who ever bought a cup of Daily Brew coffee and thanked them for supporting her father's dream. She recognized everyone who ever traveled with her father and his ministry, which just recently celebrated more than 20,000 individuals led to Christ as a result of Future Vision Ministries.

"I encourage you to love hard and never give up on people," said Ashley. She then shared a quote of her fathers that he would encourage people with. "you're nice enough, you're smart enough, and doggone it people like you."

Word of Life Pastor Chad Stewart shared Terry's love of acronyms and shared one that he came up with for Terry.

Technology
Encouraging
Reliable
Relational
Yearning

"Terry loved technology. Linda would still be carrying an iPhone 2S and Terry would already have the iPhone 9T," joked Stewart.

"Terry was always encouraging. You could go into a conversation with him where you felt like you were supposed to be encouraging him, and by the end of it he was encouraging you.

Reliable. If you asked Terry to do something, you could put it away because it was as good as done.

Relatable. Everybody Terry knew thought they were his best friend. Within hours of his passing he had more than 300 posts on his wall.

Terry yearned to know God more and to see other people love God more. He went where other people didn't want to go, he did what other people didn't want to do. And over 20,000 people came to know Christ because of that yearning. "

I first learned of Terry's love for acronyms on a mission trip to New Orleans in 2012. Whenever we would ask what was for dinner, he would tell us "WAFO," or "we're going to the WAFO house." WAFO meaning, "Wait And Find Out."

Everyone who Terry encountered felt his love. He greeted everyone he saw like they were a celebrity that he couldn't believe he was encountering. "Scott Emigh!" he would bellow. "How the heck are you?" he asked as he would firmly grip my hand and pull me in for a hug. 

I was never one of Terry's closest friends. But I was his favorite person. Everyone was his favorite person. He treated us all the same, with warmth and compassion and love. I knew him my entire life, and in many ways he was larger than life. He was an icon of Christ--an apostle. It will likely be some time before the reality of his passing truly hits me. He made every one of us feel beyond important.

"We've all been touched and impacted in so many different ways by Terry Scott...we miss you, we love you, we can't wait to see you again." Said Stewart in closing. 

Sand Springs Pastor Terry Scott passes away on mission trip to Guatemala

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Rev. Terry Scott with his 2012 summer interns on a mission trip to New Orleans. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

Local pastor, minister, and entrepreneur Terry Wayne Scott (57) passed from this life into the next Tuesday afternoon on a mission trip to Guatemala. 

The married father of two leaves behind wife Linda Scott, daughter Ashley Scott, daughter Heather Faulkenberry, son-in-law Cody Faulkenberry, and two grandsons, Hunter and Isaiah Faulkenberry. 

Scott was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1977. He graduated from the School of Life Bible School in 1987 and founded Future Vision Ministries International in 1991. He served as the Youth Pastor at Depot Youth Ministries (Word of Life Church) for 17 years and has been the Associate Pastor for the past several years. 

In addition to ministry, Scott has also been a face in local business for decades. Terry and Linda opened the TNT Fireworks Supercenter in West Tulsa in 1999 and have used it to fund their ministry ever since. They both have worked in realty and briefly operated a downtown Sand Springs coffee shop called The Daily Brew. 

Scott helped found and support dozens of churches across the world in his decades of ministry. He has traveled to Mexico, the Philippines, China, the Bahamas, Belarus, Russia, Latvia, Albania, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Guatemala, Burma and all across the United States.

Though his life was cut short, Scott touched more people in his 57 years than most people could reach in 100. Since his death was made public, scores of former students, friends, and loved ones have flooded his Facebook with memories, photographs, and fond words. 

Author Jamie Jones to speak at Word of Life Church Sunday morning

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Courtesy. 

Word of Life Church in Sand Springs will host Christian author and preacher Jamie Jones at their 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services Sunday morning.

Jones will be promoting her newest book, "Rich For Good." 

"By the time author Jamie Jones was in her 30s, she had gone from having to pray for toothpaste to becoming a millionaire. Rich for Good is not only the "how" and the "why" she did it, but how the why makes all the difference. Rich for Good offers a fresh perspective on doing finances God's way. Each chapter focuses on one of 10 tried and true practices derived from a combination of scriptures, thought provoking questions, and real-life situations. These principles shed light on acquiring wealth the right way for the right reasons. In the world of how-to-get-rich books, Jamie's raw and honest approach sets Rich for Good apart as a humorous and insightful read. Her practical and spiritual guidance helps readers acquire the financial freedom that happens when prosperity partners with purpose."

Word of Life is located at 1402 N. 81st W. Ave., Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
www.mywordoflife.com

Local businesses and churches say farewell to summer with stellar parties

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Photo: Courtesy, Holly Felts Photography

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Sand Springs students have been back in school for a week now, but two local youth groups just held big "Back-to-School" parties Wednesday night. 

Forward Youth, the youth ministry of Word of Life Church, held their third annual Whiteout powdered-paint war with inflatables and slip'n'slide kick ball. The Movement, Church That Matters's youth group, held their third annual Meltdown snowball fight with shaved ice provided by Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java and the Sweet Pink Shack.

Forward Youth celebrated their first service at their new location. The youth have had their own building at 10th and Adams since the church vacated that building and moved to their current location at 1402 N. 81st W. Ave. The church recently announced the transition to bring their youth into the main church building earlier this summer. 

The party featured free shaved ice from Sandlot Sno-Balls and free donuts from Livi Lee's. The church provided a massive inflatable obstacle course and bounce-house and played games of slip'n'slide kick ball on the church's baseball field. For the third year the church hosted a powdered-paint war with more than a hundred attendees. The war splits the youth group into two sides with each student receiving bags of dry powder paint to hurdle at the other team. 

The Movement has also been doing their Meltdown Summer Snowball Fight for three years now, using buckets and coolers full of ice shaved by Harper's Hut and the Sweet Pint Shack. The packed event held its worship service outside in the church parking lot at 3 West 41st Street. 

In Memoriam: Five years later, the David Emigh legacy

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

David Wayne Emigh was born on October 2, 1952 to Clyde Nelson Emigh and Eula Mae (Walker) Emigh and passed away June 15, 2011.

Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, David had six siblings in Nina, Clyde, Janet, Brenda, Ralph, and Teresa. He graduated Tulsa Central High School and enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. Upon returning to the United States, he attended Rhema Bible Training Center and graduated in 1977.

He first entered into the ministry at Calvary Temple Assembly of God in Tulsa, serving in the bus ministry and street evangelism outreach. He briefly pastored a church in Missouri, but God called him to “go to Sand Springs, start a New Testament church, and from there you'll touch the world.”

Word of Life Fellowship started out in a storefront with fourteen people, including my mother Teri, and her late husband Steve. The old church building at 10th and Adams is now the home of the church’s youth ministry, Forward.

The current Word of Life location at 1402 North 81st West Avenue was built about seven years after the start of the church and has since had extra space added on to the building. The church celebrated thirty-five years this February and September 11th will mark five years since current pastor Chad Stewart was voted in after David’s untimely death.

In David’s thirty years of ministry, he built a church of more than 800 members and helped start hundreds of churches across the world.

For decades David authored a magazine that the church published and sent to followers in 80 nations. He also wrote three books: “Knowing The Father,” “The Holy Spirit: Two Occurrences,” and “The Fourfold Blessing of the Tithe,” while maintaining a daily radio broadcast for more than twenty years that reached thousands of people across the state.

Word of Life has helped start hundreds of churches in Africa, Burma, and the Philippines and financially supports nearly a hundred churches worldwide.

He also founded the nonprofit Life Ministerial Fellowship International, which provided leadership and counsel to pastors and church leaders worldwide.

He was married to Sharon Maxey Emigh and had two children, Amanda and Phillip, and one granddaughter, Macy. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with his granddaughter.

From The Editor: Sunday June 12, 2016

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From the Editor’s Desk:

Greetings Sandites!

Thank you for reading the third edition of our new Sandite Pride News Weekly digital edition. We hope to be bringing this to you in a print format very soon!

This week’s edition is dedicated to a man very near to my heart, my late uncle, David Wayne Emigh.

David was the founding pastor of Word of Life Church in Sand Springs, and led our congregation for thirty years. In that time he touched countless lives, not just in our little community, but across the world.

From being a published author of three books and hundreds of magazines, to traveling the world in missions and founding hundreds of churches, David’s words have reached the hearts of many.

David means a lot to me, despite never getting to know him that well in life. I was only fifteen years old when he passed, and I wish that I had been closer to him. Overseeing a church of some seven-hundred people required a lot of David, but he still found time to check in on me when he could, taking me bowling, laser-tagging, and having me over for movies. We weren’t nearly as close as some uncles and nephews are, but I looked up to him then, and even more so now.

My parents split up in 2009, and despite his best efforts, my father wasn’t around as much as a son needs. I’m sure many of my readers can relate. When you’re a kid, you need role models, and you look for them wherever you can. Often times we turn to celebrities or athletes for inspiration. I was fortunate enough to have a great man to look up to, who left behind a smorgasbord of writings, videos, and recordings to learn from.

The five year anniversary of David’s untimely death is this Wednesday, June 15th. Our community lost an incredible human being, and many of us are still feeling the pain of loss.

Scott Emigh
Editor-in-Chief
www.SanditePride.com

This story was originally published in the Sandite Pride News Weekly Sunday edition.

Word of Life Free Community Carnival draws record crowds

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Word of Life Church in Sand Springs hosted their fourth annual free community carnival Saturday afternoon to huge success. Approximately 5000 people turned out for the event, the largest turnout since it began, to enjoy free food, rides, and giveaways.

Word of Life is a non-denominational congregation founded in 1981 by the late David Emigh, and is currently pastored by Chad and Sarah Stewart who took the reigns in September of 2011.

In 2013 the Church held its first annual Free Community Carnival, a dream that Pastor Chad Stewart had been working towards since he first arrived at the church. For the first three years, the event was held at the end of summer, shortly before the fall school session began. The church would give away thousands of backpacks full of school supplies and a team of professional stylists would offer free "Back-to-School" haircuts for kids. 

In 2016 the ride company that the church had been using announced it was in the process of liquidating its equipment, leaving the church searching for a replacement. After locating the Oklahoma-based Sam's Amusements, the church had to move the event to Memorial Day weekend due to the ride company's packed schedule. Instead of looking at the change as an inconvenience, the church is counting it as a blessing and an opportunity to improve the experience for everyone.

This year's Carnival featured more than half a dozen rides of varying sizes and had dozens of games and other activities, as well as free popcorn, hotdogs, lemonade, and shaved ice from local company Sandlot Snoballs.

On Sunday morning the church gave away ten checks of $500 each to guests at their services. Each of the recipients were noticeably touched by the gift. One first service recipient had lost a daughter in 2010 and was still unable to afford a headstone. A second service recipient had just lost her job two weeks prior. Other winners included a single mother of two trying to return to college, and an elderly couple who was barely making ends meet while living on social security.

In other news, the church announced the hiring of a new children's pastor last Sunday in Oral Roberts University graduate Alexis Muscarella.

The church holds two services each Sunday at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. and is located at 1402 North 81st West Avenue. Wednesday youth services are held at the Forward Youth Building at 619 East 10th Street at 7:00 pm under youth pastor Chad Ketcher. 

This story was originally published in the Sandite Pride News Weekly Sunday edition.

Word of Life Church hosts FREE Community Carnival Memorial Day Weekend

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

This Saturday marks the fourth annual Free Community Carnival at Word of Life Church. The event has previously taken place at the end of summer, but was bumped up to Memorial Day weekend after the church changed to a new carnival company.  

The event will take place on Saturday, May 28, 2016 from 11:00 am through 2:00 pm.

Why the change? The ride company that the church was previously using is going through a transition and was unable to ensure their availability. Instead of putting the beloved community event on hiatus for a year, the church managed to locate an Oklahoma City based company that only had the one day available. Instead of looking at the change as an inconvenience, the church is counting it as a blessing and an opportunity to improve the experience for everyone.

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"We feel Memorial Day weekend is a great time to do it since it's the first holiday of summer. Many families are looking for something to do, so why not a free carnival!" said Senior Pastor Chad Stewart. The temperature difference will also be a big improvement. The carnival volunteers have often had to work in 90+ degree temperatures in August, so the move to May will make it far more enjoyable both for the workers and the guests.

The current forecast shows a 50% chance of rain Saturday morning that should taper off by the time the carnival begins. The potential rain should keep the temperature below 80 till after the event is over. 

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This year the carnival will have seven rides:  3-4 large rides and 3-4 smaller rides for the little kids, in addition to games, inflatables, and other activities. As always, the church will be offering free hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones, and lemonade. There will also be food and game trucks associated with the ride company, Sam's Amusements & Carnivals. These additional options won't be free, but will provide an even more authentic carnival feel than in previous years. Sandlot Sno-Balls will be providing free shaved ice during the event.

Like last year, parking will be located at the old K-Mart building on Charles Page Boulevard, as well as Northwoods Fine Arts Academy, and free shuttling will be provided.

On Sunday morning the church will be giving away $5,000 to bless guests at their 9:00 and 11:00 AM services. Each service will have five winners of $500 each.

Five fun and free Easter events this weekend

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By Morgan Miller, Executive Director

Easter Sunday is this weekend. For those of you who have not yet figured out quite what you will be doing, we have compiled a list of some of the things that will be happening in Sand Springs and the surrounding areas this weekend!

Word of Life Church is hosting two Easter Egg Hunts, one at their 9:00am service and one at their 11:00am service. The Easter egg hunts will be during the service. Their address is 1402 N 81st West Ave, Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063.

HillSpring Church will be having two services on Easter Sunday, there will be an 8:30am service and a 10:00am service. They will have an egg hunt between services! Their address is 8801 W 41st St, Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063.

Lake Church in Mannford is having an Egg Drop on Saturday where they will drop 10,000 eggs by helicopter, free food, games, inflatables, horse rides, and face paint. This event will be held from 12:00pm to 3:00pm, the address is 35903 OK-51, Mannford OK 74044.

CrossPoint church will be having an Egg Hunt between their church services, which are at 9:00am and 10:45am. Their church is located at 4600 S. 129th W. Ave, Sand Springs, OK 74063.

Finally, Walmart will have an Easter Bunny walking throughout the store from 12:00pm to 4:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday.  

From all of us at Sandite Pride News, we hope you have a great Easter weekend!

 

 

 

Word of Life Free Community Carnival moved to Memorial Day Weekend

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Word of Life Church is preparing for their fourth annual Free Community Carnival, this year with some changes. Instead of taking place at the end of summer, the church is moving the date forward to the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. The event will take place on May 28, 2016 from 11:00 am through 2:00 pm. 

Why the change? The ride company that the church was previously using is going through a transition and was unable to ensure their availability. Instead of putting the beloved community event on hiatus for a year, the church managed to locate an Oklahoma City based company that only had the one day available. Instead of looking at the change as an inconvenience, the church is counting it as a blessing and an opportunity to improve the experience for everyone.

Pastors Chad and Sarah (left) serving food at a past carnival.

"We feel Memorial Day weekend is a great time to do it since it's the first holiday of summer. Many families are looking for something to do, so why not a free carnival!" said Senior Pastor Chad Stewart. The temperature difference will also be a big improvement. The carnival volunteers have often had to work in 90+ degree temperatures in August, so the move to Springtime will make it far more enjoyable both for the workers and the guests.

This year the carnival will have seven rides and they are hoping to secure a Ferris Wheel, depending on availability. They plan on 3-4 large rides and 3-4 smaller rides for the little kids, in addition to games, inflatables, and other activities. As always, the church will be offering free hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones, and lemonade. There will also be food and game trucks associated with the ride company, Sam's Amusements & Carnivals. These additional options won't be free, but will provide an even more authentic carnival feel than in previous years.

Like last year, parking will be located at the old K-Mart building on Charles Page Boulevard, as well as Northwoods Fine Arts Academy, and free shuttling will be provided. 

Then, on Sunday morning, the church will be giving away $5,000 to bless guests at their 9:00 and 11:00 AM services. Each service will have five winners of $500 each.