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...
The Few: Comic book series debuts at Falls Creek
DAVIS—An exciting story has debuted at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Centers through the new comic book series ‘The Few.’ “‘The Few’ is an original comic series that is designed to be more than that. It is designed to be a resource that churches and students can use as a creative next-level way to share the Gospel and open up spiritual Gospel conversations with their friends,” said Todd Sanders, student education specialist at the...
Faith Focus: A heart for healing
“You can call it House of Healing, nana!” Kylie said after listening to her nana, Kathy Boeckman, explain what God had called her to do. It wouldn’t be long after the conversation with her granddaughter that House of Healing for the Teenage Soul would grow from Boeckman’s calling, to a reality. The facility would become a safe place where teen girls between the ages of 13 and 17 could come and begin the healing process emotionally,...
Newcastle, First student choir shares the Gospel in KC & Indy
NEWCASTLE—A choir of 52 junior high and high school students travelled on a week-long trip in May this year to spread the Gospel through music. Dave Watson, music and worship minister at Newcastle, First, led the musical mission team on the trip to Kansas City, Mo. and Indianapolis, Ind. and said the students exceeded his expectations by their talents and desire to serve others for God’s glory. “I could share story after story about...
Called at the Creek: Appleby Society unites people God ‘called’ at Falls Creek
DAVIS—Many have received a call to ministry at an encampment in the Arbuckle Mountains called Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center. But many may not know who was the very first person to answer the call to ministry at Falls Creek. In 1917, the first summer of Falls Creek, Rosalee Mills Appleby attended as a camper. That summer, she gave her life to Christ and accepted a call to a lifetime of ministry. Rosalee later attended Oklahoma...
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....
