From transgender to transformed: Perry’s prodigal return answers mother’s prayers
BARTLESVILLE—As Francine and Laura Perry, a mother and grown daughter, recently sat down to look at a family photos, they can reflect on the good times. They also can see how God was at work, especially through the difficult times, and there were many of those. On the heels of rebellious teenage years, Laura lived as a transgender man for nearly a decade of her adult life. Other than her family and select friends, though, most people...
Faith Focus: Re-engaging on the road to recovery
EDMOND–Every Christian struggles with sin, and Bryan Evans is no exception. Born and raised in a Christian family, Evans was a preacher’s kid and made a profession of faith at the age of 9. His teenage years were spent working in his family’s Christian bookstore in Quail Springs Mall, where he quickly developed a passion for the music side of the business. However, through hurts, trials and eventually divorce, Bryan ran from God....
Faith Focus: Seldom do we see the flowers
“When we first came, the Holy Spirit just kept saying over and over again, ‘This is your home’. It still feels like home to this day. This is where God wants us to be,” said Lieschen Saale as she rocks back and forth in her living room. It will be 14 years in November that Lieschen and her husband, David, left their ministry and home in New Mexico to begin a new season with Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC) in south Oklahoma...
Blessings of being a mother
Lord, just being a Mom is such a blessing, A blessing like no other! Especially when I hear them say: I love you Mother! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our children understood the reality of how much God and Mama loves them! Mama’s love is so special. But, the word “special” takes on a whole new meaning, when you talk about “God’s Love.” It’s awesome, isn’t it! When I think how much He cares about us, it makes cold chills go all over me....
How Oklahoma churches can help prevent youth/young adult suicide
Suicide is now the second-leading cause of death for young people in Oklahoma. Teen suicide rates in the state have been increasing for more than a decade. Between 2005 and 2014, the self-inflicted deaths of 10 to 24-year-olds jumped a whopping 31 percent. An average of 85 Oklahoma youth and young people die each year by suicide, making the suicide rate 41 percent higher than the national rate.1 A suicide epidemic Anadarko is still...
Advancing Truth at Men’s Rewired: Falls Creek retreat appeals to men of all interests, April 28-29
The website for Men’s Rewired describes the April 28-29 event at Falls Creek Conference Center as “one of the only conferences where you will see a biker, cowboy, hipster, gamer and businessman standing together in worship as the greater tribe of Christian men.” This year’s Men’s Rewired features a “big lineup with a lot of speakers,” as Keith Burkhart, family and men’s ministries specialist for the Baptist General Convention of...
