Christian Chapel

The Chapel Digest - November 2026

Building the Church in Burundi

In 2020, Christian Chapel started a strategic partnership with Involved International, led by Stephen & Bailey Kuert, and the Burundi Assemblies of God (BAGF) to fund the construction of permanent church facilities for newly established congregations in Burundi. Burundi is one of the smallest and poorest nations in Africa but is experiencing a tremendous and ongoing season of revival and church planting. The goal of the BAGF is to establish a healthy church within walking distance of every Burundian.

Since 2020, Christian Chapel has funded the construction of nearly 100 new churches in Burundi. These churches grow by an average of 75-120 new members within the first several months that they are in their permanent facility. Many of those new members are new believers! These churches become life-giving hubs in their village and the surrounding areas, or in their neighborhoods in cities. Several churches go on to build schools on their property and others become parent churches for new church planters.

A church planting school in the capital city of Bujumbura is essential to the success of the BAGF’s church planting movement. Each year they are training and sending out 20-30 pastors. After a student completes their onsite education, they serve with an established church as a ministry intern. Once they finish that process they are sent out across Burundi to establish new churches. Early on many church plants meet in homes, or rented facilities. It’s not uncommon for a new village church plant to meet outdoors.

Today, the average cost to build a new church in Burundi is $7,500. This includes the land purchase and construction of a brick building with concrete footers and a tin roof. The local congregation then takes ownership of installing their windows, doors, seating, and interior flooring.

On Sunday, November 1, 2026 Stephen Kuert from Involved International is our Guest Speaker at Christian Chapel. He will share about the great things that God is doing in Burundi and offer us a chance to partner with newly established local churches and pastors.

Nearly 100 churches have been built through this partnership, but the vision is far from finished. Another group of church planters were sent out last year and are leading new congregations that are ready to establish permanent church homes and reach their communities with the hope of Jesus. Join us Sunday at our 9:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. service to hear Stephen’s message. If you can’t make it in person, you can stream online or watch later at christianchapel.com.

I’m excited to celebrate what God has already done, and discover how we can help build His Kingdom through the local church in Burundi.

Chris Dow

Lead Pastor

God gave his people his image for a reason - so they might multiply his image throughout the world. He created human beings, not only to enjoy his grace in a relationship with him, but also to extend his glory to the ends of the earth.

- David Platt - in Radical, Taking Your Faith Back from the American Dream.

COMING UP THIS MONTH

SUNDAY Morning Services - 9:00AM & 10:30AM

Sunday, November 1st
9:00am & 10:30am | Sunday Services
6:00pm - 8:00pm | Home Groups (Chapel Youth & Chapel Kids meet on campus)

Tuesday, November 3rd
9:30am - 11:30am | Chapel Women’s Bible Study

Thursday, November 5th
6:00pm - 8:00pm | Young Adult Bible Study

Saturday, November 7th - Sunday, November 8th
Chapel Youth Fall Retreat

Sunday, November 8th
9:00am & 10:30am | Sunday Services & Christmas Shoe Box Pickup
10:30am | Next Steps [sign up]

Tuesday, November 10th
9:30am - 11:30am | Chapel Women’s Bible Study

Thursday, November 12th
6:00pm - 8:00pm | Young Adult Outreach

Sunday, November 15th
9:00am & 10:30am | Sunday Services & Christmas Shoe Box Drop Off
11:30am - 1:00pm | College Lunch
6:00pm - 8:00pm | Home Groups (Chapel Youth & Chapel Kids meet on campus)

Thursday, November 19th
6:00pm - 8:00pm | Young Adult Night

Saturday, November 21st
1:00pm - 3:00pm | Chapel Men Pickleball [sign up]

Sunday, November 22nd
9:00am & 10:30am | Sunday Services
12:00pm - 2:00pm | Christmas Decorating [sign up]

Wednesday, November 25th
No Wednesday Activities

Sunday, November 29th
9:00am & 10:30am | Sunday Services

Wednesdays At Christian Chapel

Join us for a family meal served on Wednesday nights, starting from 5:15pm - 6:30pm.

Adult Groups, Chapel Youth and Chapel Kids run from 6:30pm - 7:30pm. Nursery is available.

See Current Groups

MENU

November 4 - Team Flo

Pasta & Meatballs or

Barbecue Mac & Cheese Meatloaf

Veggies
Carrot Cake

November 11 - Team Marilyn

Million Dollar Spaghetti

Olive Garden Salad

Garlic Bread

Roll

German Chocolate Brownie

November 18 - Team Donna

Navy Bean Soup

Cornbread

Carrot Raisin Salad

Chocolate Sheet Cake

Peppermint Brownies

November 27 - No Groups

THANKSGIVING BREAK

Désiré Nana

- Operation Christmas Child -

Can a simple shoebox change the direction of someone's life? For Désiré Nana, a gift received as an eight-year-old boy in Burkina Faso became the beginning of a journey that would eventually lead him to share the gospel with thousands of children and help establish new churches throughout his home country.

Désiré grew up in a family of seven in Burkina Faso, West Africa. His parents worked hard to provide for their children, but life was difficult. His mother took on extra jobs washing clothes to help put food on the table. Désiré walked six miles round trip to school each day, often without lunch. Some days he survived on mangoes he found along the way, and there were times when he went an entire day without a meal.

In a home where providing food was the priority, Christmas and birthday presents weren't part of everyday life. Désiré had never received a gift of his own. That changed one Saturday morning when he was eight years old.

Désiré had been invited to an event at his school, but attending meant giving up his Saturday morning soccer game and walking several miles in the heat. He eventually decided to go, unaware that the experience would have a lasting impact on his life.

When he arrived, Désiré discovered that the event was part of Operation Christmas Child, a ministry that distributes shoeboxes filled with gifts to children around the world. Before the children received their gifts, local ministry leaders shared the gospel. Although Désiré had grown up in a Christian family, he had never made a personal confession of faith. That morning, the message of Jesus began to shape his own relationship with God.

Afterward, Désiré received his very first gift, a shoebox packed by someone in America. Inside were school supplies, hygiene items, candy and toys. One of his favorite items was a light-up yo-yo. Having grown up without electricity, Désiré didn't initially understand what it was. One evening, after it was accidentally knocked to the floor, he noticed something glowing in the darkness.

Later, during a Sunday school lesson about Jesus being the Light of the World, Désiré remembered his glowing yo-yo. What might have seemed like an inexpensive toy to the person who packed it became a lasting reminder of God's love.

As Désiré grew older, his faith developed into a passion for sharing the gospel. By his early teenage years, he had started a children's ministry that eventually reached approximately 300 children each week. He later began partnering with Operation Christmas Child, traveling throughout Burkina Faso to distribute shoeboxes, share the gospel and train local church leaders in The Greatest Journey, a 12-week discipleship program.

The goal was never simply to distribute gifts. By partnering with local churches, the ministry could introduce children to Jesus and provide opportunities for continued discipleship. Through these outreach efforts, Désiré witnessed nine new churches established.

In 2016, Désiré moved to Tulsa to attend Victory Bible College before eventually earning a business degree at Oral Roberts University. While studying at ORU, an accounting professor invited him to Christian Chapel. He quickly connected with the biblical teaching and opportunities to grow through Wednesday night classes, Home Groups and men's ministry. Over the years, Christian Chapel has become an important part of his life. He has developed lasting friendships, served at Royal Family Kids Camp and even celebrated his wedding here.

Today, Désiré continues to share his testimony at churches and conferences, encouraging others to participate in Operation Christmas Child. Each year, as Christian Chapel packs shoeboxes to send around the world, Désiré has the opportunity to help send the same kind of gift that changed his own life.

For him, it is a remarkable full-circle story. A child who once received a shoebox is now helping other children hear the gospel and become disciples who can share their faith with others.

As we prepare shoeboxes this Christmas season, Désiré encourages the Christian Chapel family to remember that the most important part of the gift isn't what goes inside the box. It's the opportunity for a child to encounter the love of Jesus.

"You never know who is on the other side of that shoebox," Désiré reminds us.

Would you join us in praying over the shoeboxes we pack this year, asking God to use each one to reach a child with the gospel? Désiré's story reminds us that the impact of our generosity doesn't end when a shoebox is delivered. Sometimes, that is only the beginning of what God will do through one child's life.

If you missed our initial shoebox distribution, there's still time to participate! Additional shoeboxes will be available to pick up at Christian Chapel on Sunday, November 8. All packed shoeboxes need to be returned by Sunday, November 15. We hope you'll join us in making a difference in the life of a child this Christmas!

Continue The Story Progress Update

We are making great progress! The new offices should open in the next few weeks, once they’re furnished we will host an open house on a Sunday morning. Steel for the covered drop off at the west entrance should arrive in the next 4-6 weeks. Framing for the new Chapel Kids space on the 2nd floor is almost complete. The 2nd floor adult bathrooms should finish in November. Our estimated completion date on the project is the end of February 2027.

Here’s a look at the financial side of the project. Thank you for your faithful giving!

Total Project Cost $4.1 Million: Increase from the original $3.5 million estimate due largely to required fire suppression system changes, and the west canopy covered drop-off. We have also had several smaller change orders throughout the project that include additional flooring, paint, millwork, plumbing, electrical and a few design modifications.

Paid to Date: $3.1 Million

Debt Incurred to Date: $355,000

Pledges Yet to be Received: $366,000

If you would like to partner with us to complete this project, you can do that at christianchapel.com/give. If you would like to make a commitment toward the project, you can do that here: