This section of the paper will highlight local churches and ministries, and what they are doing to reach out to the community and help where needed.
We will begin with the Sapulpa Ministerial Alliance, a consortium of over 25 local ministries and churches that provides spiritual and physical aid by directing people to Jesus through acts of good works.
Members present included Mike Peters, Canyon Road Baptist Church, President of the Ministerial Alliance, Paul Spittka, Outreach Pastor, First Baptist Church of Sapulpa, Kent and Christie Glesener, Shofar International, a humanitarian and educational foundation reaching out to Israel and other Nations, Cabe Killingsworth, Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Dr. Camille Teal, Executive Director, Community Caring Friends, Hanna Oswalt, Shoulder-To Shoulder Ministries, Bill Cypret, Assistant Director, Lifegate Ministries, Gregg Kirby, staff member, LifeGate Ministries, Dee Dobson, Ladies for Liberty, and Mary Walters, former director of Community Caring friends, among others.
The Ministerial Alliance held their monthly meeting in the second-floor conference room of First United Bank.
The keynote speaker was Nathan Shackleford, Counsel for First Liberty Institute, a non-profit Christian legal organization based in Plano, Texas. The organization provides free legal representation to those, who have had their First Amendment right of religious expression violated.
Mr. Shackleford pointed out that the number of cases his organization handled has drastically increased in the last 10 years. “Ten years ago, we had about 35 cases on average a year. Two years ago, that number was 350, last year we did over 750 cases…That is turning down thousands of requests we had last year.”
He informed the attendees that First Liberty Institute is the largest legal non-profit in the country that deals exclusively with religious freedom.
When explaining the firm’s business model, Shackleford said: “We use a model I like to call the Body of Christ model, which is we know that there are a lot of good lawyers that went to law school for their faith. They wanted to go to make a difference in the legal arena with their Christian background. If we have a case in Florida, we are going to find the best lawyer at the biggest law firm in Florida, and say, ‘If we give you the resources you need, if we give you a media team, if we give you strategy, if we help you in that new area of law that you have never done, will you donate your time’?
Mr. Shackleford says the response is, ”I have been waiting for this for 30 years.” He went on to say that for every thousand dollars spent by First Liberty, five thousand dollars is donated in volunteer time.
The average win rate for groups like First Liberty is approximately 30-40 percent, amazingly in the 25 years that the organization has existed the win rate has never been below 90 percent. “We can say that is because our people are so smart, but really we know it is God’s favor, You are not 90 percent because you are good, No one is that good.”
Shackleford said his organization speaks at many venues, including schools and churches, and reminded everyone the legal work is only possible through donation. He left pamphlets explaining the types of representation First Liberty provides.
Marry Walters gave a financial report. Dr. Camille Teal, spoke about the “Hope for the Holidays” campaign and said that after the gifts had been distributed, she started receiving phone calls about donating toys. ”I started receiving an abundance of calls from organizations that were looking for a place to donate, like Toys for Tots…Amazon, Dollar General and different ones. They said everyone else has already done their seasonal giving, so they won’t accept our toys. I said I have already done my seasonal giving, I am so excited to accept your toys!”
She stated that the Community caring Friends Food drive brought in more than 10,000 pounds of food. “We exceeded the goal on that.”
“Our Hope for the Holidays Gala, I had a $50,000 campaign goal…but we are over $80,000, and donations are still coming in.”
Dr. Teal told the members that there are opportunities in 2023 for Ministerial alliance partners to get involved through projects such as a new senior citizens food program, help with the organization’s Thursday drive-through, and the Community Garden. She also asked members if they were interested in doing another Back to School Bash.
Hannah Oswalt, Shoulder to Shoulder Ministry, said there would be a worship service February 7th in the Reasor’s parking lot.
The meeting adjourned before 11 a.m.
The following is an excerpt from the Alliance’s written Mission statement:
“The Sapulpa Ministerial Alliance brings together Christian Leaders from our community on the common ground of faith in Jesus Christ. It is our united passion to be the hand of Jesus touching the people of our city and the surrounding community.”
One is reminded of Mathew 25, verses 25-31:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in, I needed clothes, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me.
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
The Ministerial Alliance certainly exemplifies the teachings of Christ and fulfills scripture through the plethora of programs offered by its members.
