The Chapel Digest - September 2024

Celebrating 50 Years of God’s Faithfulness


50 years is a significant milestone in many areas of life. A fiftieth birthday is a memorable moment. A 50th wedding anniversary is a rare accomplishment. Fifty years of service to a particular job or career is uncommon. 


When a local church celebrates a 50-Year Anniversary as a healthy, thriving, disciple-making community, it is a testimony of God’s faithfulness. It is easy for a church to experience tremendous growth in its early years, stability in its mid-life, and then endure an unwanted and gradual decline as its founding generation ages. It is only through the grace of Jesus and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit that a church can be life-giving and effective over multiple generations. 


In our five decades, Christian Chapel has witnessed seasons of plenty and seasons of need. There have been moments of tremendous growth, and moments of serious introspection and evaluation. In each season, God has granted us the ability to discern His path and move forward in obedience. 


As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we are remembering and celebrating the stories of previous generations. We are recognizing pastors, leaders, and ministries that God used to accomplish His purposes in our community. We are expressing gratitude for the sacrifices that were made that enable us to be where we are and who we are today. More than all of that, we are celebrating that Christian Chapel was a good idea, because it was God’s idea. This body of believers is a small part of God’s eternal kingdom. It has always been bigger than any individual or any season of life or ministry. As we celebrate, we look forward to the future, believing that Jesus is leading Christian Chapel into a future where we will continue to walk His path, in His presence, by His power.



Chris Dow

Lead Pastor

I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.

-Jesus- 

Matthew 16:18

COMING UP THIS MONTH

SUNDAY Morning Services - 8:15AM, 9:30AM & 11:00AM

Sunday, September 1st - Youth Takeover Sunday

8:15am, 9:30am & 11:00am I Donut Sunday

6:00pm - 8:00pm I HomeGroups Will Not Meet Due To Labor Day Weekend


Wednesday, September 4th

5:15pm - 6:30pm I Family Dinner

6:30pm - 7:30pm I Adult Groups I Chapel Youth I Chapel Kids I Nursery [see groups]


Sunday, September 8th

8:15am, 9:30am & 11:00am I 50th Anniversary Celebration Kick Off [find out more]

8:15am, 9:30am & 11:00am I HomeGroup Sign Up’s [find your group]


Tuesday, September 10th

6:30am - 7:30am I Chapel Men Bible Study [learn more]


Wednesday, September 11th

5:15pm - 6:30pm I Family Dinner

6:30pm - 7:30pm I Adult Groups I Chapel Youth I Chapel Kids I Nursery [see groups]


Sunday, September 15th

8:15am, 9:30am & 11:00am I 50th Anniversary Kingdom Builders Celebration [find out more]

8:15am, 9:30am & 11:00am I HomeGroup Sign Up’s [find your group]

6:00pm - 8:00pm I Home Groups I Chapel Kids I Nursery I Chapel Youth D-Groups  [get involved]


Tuesday, September 17th

6:30am - 7:30am I Chapel Men Bible Study [learn more]

9:30am - 11:30am I Chapel Women Bible Study [get involved]


Wednesday, September 18th

5:15pm - 6:30pm I Family Dinner

6:30pm - 7:30pm I Adult Groups I Chapel Youth I Chapel Kids I Nursery [see groups]


Friday, September 20th

7:00pm I Remnant Reunions! [sign up]


Saturday, September 21st

6:00pm I 50th Anniversary Dinner  [sign up]


Sunday, September 22nd

8:15am, 9:30am & 11:00am I 50th Anniversary Celebration [find out more]


Tuesday, September 24th

6:30am - 7:30am I Chapel Men Bible Study [learn more]

9:30am - 11:30am I Chapel Women Bible Study [get involved]


Wednesday, September 25th

5:15pm - 6:30pm I Family Dinner

6:30pm - 7:30pm I Adult Groups I Chapel Youth I Chapel Kids I Nursery [see groups]


Thursday, September 26th

6:30pm - 8:00pm I Young Professionals at Christian Chapel


Sunday, September 29th

8:15am, 9:30am & 11:00am I Holy Spirit Emphasis: Tim Enloe


50 Years Of Kingdom Builders

Introduction

Three of Christian Chapel’s four founding members had lived as missionaries in other nations before starting the church. A passion for missions was infused into our DNA from the beginning. Throughout our 50-year history, our commitment to missions has remained a priority in every generation. Mission initiatives, missionary partners, and local ministries have changed and adapted, but the Great Commission call to go to the ends of the earth has remained an essential element of Christian Chapel. Our commitment to missions has been displayed globally and locally. It has shown itself in our support of missions, sending of missions teams, and launching missionaries to nations around the world. 


50 years of Supporting

Over 50 years, Christian Chapel has given away over $12,000,000 to support Kingdom Builders partners working around the world. We have engaged in some form of partnership or support with approximately 300-350 missionaries and ministries. These Kingdom Builders partners have served in nearly 100 nations around the world, including some of the most dangerous and hard-to-reach places. The first property that Christian Chapel owned was a home for missionaries in Broken Arrow. That home was sold, and a new Missionary-in- Residence home was built across the street from our campus, enabling stronger connections with the missionaries that we support.

50 years of Sending

Globally Throughout our 50 years, Christian Chapel has sent short-term missions teams composed of our students and adults. Members have been part of the boots-on-the-ground effort to tell others about Jesus in dozens of nations including Russia, Ukraine, Belgium, France, England, Ireland, Spain, Mexico, El Salvador, Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Zambia, Burundi, India, Cambodia, Philippines and many others. These teams have fueled our passion to support missionaries and raise up new missionaries.


Locally

Over 40 years ago, Crisis Pregnancy Outreach was started by members of Christian Chapel to meet the needs of women and babies affected by unplanned pregnancies. Through our partnership with CPO, we have participated in serving thousands of women and have seen over 500 children find a loving home with an adoptive family. Since 1998, we have provided a free week of summer camp for children in foster care in Tulsa County. Royal Family Kids Camp and Club is funded through our Kingdom Builders giving and staffed by volunteers from Christian Chapel. Through this ministry we have invested over $1,300,000 to provide over 1,600 camper experiences. Christian Chapel volunteers have served over 200,000 camp volunteer hours which is the equivalent of 23 years of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year of time given by Christian Chapel Volunteers. Christian Chapel members have served consistently with John 3:16 to serve the hurting and the homeless in Tulsa, with Teen Challenge to bring freedom from addiction to men and women in Northeast Oklahoma, and with numerous elementary schools to support teachers, encourage students, and conduct after school Bible clubs and service projects.


50 years of Launching

Many of our members have obeyed God’s calling to uproot their families, move to new locations, learn new languages, and adapt to new cultures to tell others about Jesus. We have been blessed to send some of our very best to build God’s kingdom around the world. Shane & Chelsea Bloedorn, Rubens & Steffi Cunha, Tom & Nancy Westpetal, Garo & Jordania Nargiz, Dave & Patti Schatzmann, and Ben Wade have all served God in other nations. Many others have also answered the call to go, some of whom we cannot name due to the sensitive nature of their missionary assignments. All of these and many others are part of the missionary family that God has called out of Christian Chapel.

Recipe of the month

Christian Chapel started in 1974 and since then, the traditions and community has grown into the wonderful church it is today! Through the years, we have released cookbooks at different anniversary points. You might remember the 25th anniversary cookbook, or the 35th anniversary cookbook, or even more recently the 40th anniversary cookbook! We are thrilled to announce we will be releasing the 50th anniversary cookbook this year in September and from now until then, we will be publishing a Recipe Of The Month in each Digest. 


Order Your CookBook from September 8th

Click Here



SAVORY PUMPKIN SOUP


Recipe By: Elizabeth Woods

INGREDIENTS

1 whole 'pie' or baking pumpkin, approx. 4 lbs.

2 tsp. avocado oil

1 T. butter

1/2 yellow/ sweet onion, diced

1 tsp. salt

1 clove garlic, minced

1 sm or med apple, peeled, cored, and diced.

1 c. chicken broth

1/2 c. heavy cream

2 oz. goat cheese

1 tsp. thyme leaves (fresh preferred but dried is fine.)

Method

Heat the oven to 375°F make a lid out of the top of the pumpkin by cutting around the stem at a 45° angle (opening should be large enough to work with). Remove the seeds and fiber strings with a metal spoon or scoop, brush the exterior of the pumpkin with the avocado oil. Oil a round or square casserole dish, large enough to hold the pumpkin and place the pumpkin inside. Combine butter, onion, salt, garlic, apples, broth, and heavy cream in the hollow pumpkin. Put the pumpkin lid back on and bake for 1.5 hours remove the lid and add the thyme and goat cheese. Bake for another 30 minutes, uncovered, remove dish from the oven and gently scrape some of the pumpkin flesh into the soup. Purée with an immersion blender to desired consistency or pour into a normal blender.