By Elizabeth Norman, Missions Council

WOW! I’m a missionary—and you are too! We know this because, “By this we come to know love: that He laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. But if anyone has this world’s goods and sees his fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?" –paraphrase 1 John 3:16-17.

This is what World Outreach Week is all about! These words from a favorite song of mine (“What Are You Waiting For,” recorded by Natalie Grant) articulate well our dilemma: Sometimes, I get that overwhelming feeling, So sad the Faces on TV, If I try to make a difference would it help anyway. We love the Lord our God, and we want to serve and please Him, but when we look around and try to decide where? when? how?—we get overwhelmed, even paralyzed by the magnitude of need. But the good news is this: All things are possible in Christ Jesus! Sometimes, I feel a little helpless, Seems like I can’t do a thing, But anything is possible with Christ, Just wait and see, Good things happen, If you just believe.

As we’ve been learning in worship, the devil lies to us and tells us the need is too great, our efforts won’t matter in the face of such immense need, we don’t know what to do anyway, or how to do it; and the time and money it would take seem like absolute deal breakers. But the truth is this: we trust the Lord our God to lead the way, and equip His people for His good purposes!

The theme for WOW ‘09 is I’m a missionary! Our goal is to have every member of FC renew or commit for the first time to being a missionary for Christ in whatever way the Spirit leads. Our week together will be full of live updates from our missionaries, personal testimony, speakers from new mission opportunities, challenging music, visuals, worship, celebration, and especially opportunities for each of us to RESPOND! Clear your calendar for this incredible week of truth, growth, and action! And get ready—YOU are a missionary!

WOW 2009 Schedule
Sunday, March 1:
Both Morning Services - WOW Kick-Off & Parade of Nations
Poverty Challenge - Distribution of Beans & Rice (at Plaza Table, see article below)
5:30pm - Church Dinner (make your reservations), Ice Cream Social, All-Church Talent Show

Monday, March 2:
5:30pm - Snacks Served / Praise & Worship
6:00pm - International Mission Night
               Speakers: Jose Luis & Susan Parra, Ben West, Meri Whitaker

Wednesday, March 4:
5:00pm - Beans & Rice Dinner (make your reservations) & Local Mission Night
              Speakers: Heather Selement, City Rescue Mission "Bridge to Life"
                              John Stout, City Rescue Mission

Saturday, March 7:
5-8pm - Children’s Emphasis, “A Night Around the World” (1st-5th Grade) Children are welcome to stay until 10pm on this night since it is also Parents' Night Out.
5pm & Overnight - Our students are invited to be a part of an experience that will challenge them in every way. We’ll be meeting at the church and walking down to the City Rescue Mission to stand in line and eat dinner like every homeless person that waits in line there each day. After dinner we’ll walk back to First Church for a connection via Facebook chat time between the students and First Church missionaries across the globe. Then (proper supervision, protection and weather allowing) we’ll be sleeping outside like many homeless people in OKC must do each night. We currently have 3 adult males planning on spending the night to help with supervision and protection and we’ve also contacted OCPD to see about having an officer on site all night; we’re waiting on a return phone call at the moment. The next morning the students will have an opportunity to share in Sunday morning service their experiences from the night before. If you would like to participate that evening we would love to have you. Contact Tony Moran for more information.

Sunday, March 8:
Both Morning Services - "Faith Promise" and "I'm A Missionary" Commitments

Take the Challenge!

By Elizabeth Norman

Beans and Rice—Yummmm! I love a hot plate of beans ‘n rice, especially at my favorite Mexican restaurant. I don’t like it when they put the little peas and carrots in there, but I like it almost every other way! Refried, steamed, with seasoning, without—it’s ALL good! But what if that was all I ate two or three times per day, every day? I’m sure it wouldn’t take long for the “yum” to wear off and turn to an animated, whiney “yuck!” And yet so many of our brothers and sisters around the world do just that! Half the population of our world lives on less than $2 per day, and that’s not just their food allotment! That’s their total income for living!

First Church, would you join me in wearing the shoe on the other foot for a week (March 2-7)? Would you join me in eating nothing but beans, rice, and oatmeal for just five days? Would you join me in laying down our rich, plentiful plates, late afternoon snacks and $4 coffees for a week of getting just a glimpse of the life of poverty? I can only imagine what God might take the liberty to say to us in the midst of such an experience…

Here’s the challenge:

• Visit the WOW table to pick up your FREE bag of beans, rice, and oatmeal for the size family you have (preparation suggestions included).
• Commit to eat (you and your family) a steady diet of nothing but oatmeal, beans, and rice for 5 days during World Outreach Week (March 2-7).
• Participate in daily devotions provided. Devotional booklets will be available Wednesday night, February 25.
• Save the money you would otherwise have spent on your usual diet and bring it in an envelope marked “WOW” on Sunday, March 8, to be offered at a special altar time.

1 John 3:17 says… but if anyone has this world’s goods and sees his fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him? Let’s open our hearts of compassion as we move into World Outreach Week and all the LORD has planned during this special time… let the King come in and remain!