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Faith &

Education

Ada Evening News

The Future Starts here....Progress 2011

www.adaeveningnews.comFaith & Education2A Sunday, March 27, 2011

Our Sunday Worship Services are at 10:30

a.m., 6:00 p.m. Sunday School starts at 9:00am. And Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Our Worship is centered around Prayer, Praise, Preaching, and Fellowship.

You can also be a part of our services through television, radio, or here on our website. Our passion is to Love All People, to Lead in Praise, and to Live with Purpose so that all people may come to faith in Jesus Christ. After our

Sunday Morning Worship e have Sunday Morning Bible Study, small group based classes where you can be impacted by effec-tive Bible study and build meaningful and lasting relationships. Our staff is here to help you fi nd the right group and place to go.

Come join us!

Dr. Pat Kilby, Pastor

Thank you to All of Our Teachers!From:

The Future

Starts Here!

On the cover...Carizma Nelson poses in cap and gown, preparing for her graduation someday. She dreams of not only leaving behind her legacy after graduating high school, but is already planning to pursue higher education. For her, "The Future Starts Here." (Photo by Richard R. Barron)

When I grow up, I want to be...

Gia Bell... a teacher, a cheerleader, and a mommy.

Kendre’ Grant... a fireman.

Colton Pruitt... a teacher.

Valerie Contreras... a children's doctor.

Keegan Jones... a professional monster truck driver and a dad with super powers.

Makayla Reeve... a rockstar.

Maddox Cowart... a NBA basketball player.

Malakhi Leader... a super hero.

Charlie... an astronaut and a chef.

Zadian Estala... president of a candy factory.

Zachery McWethy... a policeman.

Jillian Ryan... a vet and an artist.

Hunter Gaither... a policeman.

Selena Mendosa... a doctor and an author.

Amber Sargent... a doctor.

Manuel Gallegos... a policeman and a truck driver.

Waylon Neal... a racecar driver.

Angie Smith... a small animal doctor.

Wyatt Vanderwalker

... a policeman and a spaceman.

Justice Warrior

... a chef and a doctor.

As children, we often aspired to be some-thing like an astronaut, a famous singer, a profes-sional football player, or a figure skater. Glenwood pre-kindergartners kick-off Ada Evening News' Progress edition this year by sharing their hopes and dreams, after all, "The Future Starts Here..."

By Randy MitchellCity Editor

ADA — Ada resident Chris Feiler loves help-ing people and he looks forward to doing it every-day.

“My true passion is people,” Feiler said. “I’d like to think that I lift people up instead of pull-ing people down.”

To say Feiler is involved would be an understate-ment. With an uncom-mon energy, he serves the community with a pas-sion.

Feiler serves as a dea-con at Ada First Baptist Church, serves on Ada Arts Council Board, will be serving as head of Ada United Way in 2011, is head of Ada Area Chamber of Commerce’s membership commit-tee and serves on the Boy Scouts of America Board.

Feiler is the marketing director for Citizens Bank of Ada where he serves with as much vigor as he does with the community. One of his true passions is serving as a councilor at Goddard Youth Camp Willard School program for the last 32 years.

“It’s an outdoor learn-ing experience,” said Feiler, a former Eagle Scout. “They just learn outdoors instead of being in a classroom.”

Every year during the first week in May, 18 to 20

children from Willard Elementary make the trip.

“People don’t under-stand how truly important it is that children who come from single-parent homes are getting to bond with a male role model and getting to do things that they may never get to in their whole lives. That’s why Goddard is so important to our commu-nity and our kids.”

Feiler said many busi-nesses sponsor kids who can’t afford to attend.

‘It’s an important thing, I’ll tell ya,” Feiler said.

Originally from Ardmore, Feiler loved to hunt for arrowheads and other historical artifacts as a kid. He wanted to grow up and be an arche-ologist, but later dveloped a desire to teach kids and coach baseball.

He came to Ada in 1975 to attend East Central University where he graduated with a teaching degree. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha where he was fraternity broth-ers with current ECU President John Hargrave.

Feiler soon got a job at Black’s Men’s Wear where he remained for 29 years.

“Working there for a lot of years I was able to meet almost everybody in our community,” Feiler said. “Black’s being a customer oriented busi-ness where the customer is always the best was always a good fit for

me because I love people. God gives us special gifts and

my special gift is the ability to com-municate and love people.”

Feiler left Black’s bound for the big city to work at Foley’s in A r l i n g t o n , Texas, a peri-od of time Feiler calls the “worst year of my life.”“Moving to

a large city like that you weren’t

able to give the customer the custom-

er service that I was accustomed to giving,”

he said. “There were more than 18,500 peo-

ple coming through the doors at Foley’s every-day than lived in Ada, so customer service wasn’t really an important value

there.”His road back to Ada

took him to Oklahoma City where he still wasn’t happy. He was then approached by Citizens Bank President Jimmy Eppler who offered him the job of marketing director. That was five years ago.

“I was overwhelmed by their generosity,” Feiler said. “They knew how bad I wanted to get back home.”

Feiler gets emotion-al when he speaks of Ada’s greatness. “Once you leave Ada, you lose something,” he said.

Feiler and wife Loretta have been married 10 years. He has three step-children, Mike Poe, Lori Poe and Lauren Poe.

He loves a program at his church in which he ministers to widows.

“It’s been such a ful-filling thing for me to do that,” Feiler said. “One of my ladies really is encouraged. I call her each week on Wednesday morning. I used to call my grandmother every Wednesday at 8:15 before she passed away so this has kind of led me to con-tinue to do this with her. Her name’s Wanda and I call her every Wednesday to see how she is and if she needs anything done, like yard work, light bulbs changed, air filters changed, anything that can help her.”

Feiler said he has a great deal of faith and looks to model his life after fellow church mem-

ber Pete Cantrell. He’s just a great man...

he’s a role model to look up to,” Feiler said. “He’s always had wise things to say.”

Feiler said he feels encouraged to love peo-ple.

“It’s loving people,” he said. “That’s where we’ve lost so much these days. People just don’t love people like they used to. I think what gives me the greatest pleasure is to take someone who doesn’t have a smile on their face and make them smile.”

Sunday, March 27, 2011 3Awww.adaeveningnews.com Faith & Education

FirstLutheranChurchAda, OK

1319 E. 18th St.(580) 332-3433

Pastor Gary Brandt

Chris FeilerAs a kid, Citizens

Bank Marketing

Director Chris

Feiler wanted to be

an archeologist and

later a teacher and

baseball coach.

Ada resident loves to love, help people

CHRIS FEILER

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www.adaeveningnews.com

www.adaeveningnews.comFaith & Education4A Sunday, March 27, 2011

Church unique in sharing faithBy Justin LoftonStaff Writer

ADA—Both Scott Sullivan and Stacy Capps wanted to be teachers when they were children.

“Both of my parents were school teachers so I was always comfortable in a school setting,” Sullivan said. Capps said her other childhood career choice was movie star.

Sullivan and Capps eventually became teachers, but they don’t teach reading, writing and arithmetic.

Sullivan is Trinity Baptist Church’s youth pastor and Capps is the girls’ youth minister.

Both teach classes at Trinity’s Wednesday night activities and Sk8 Church.

“(The activities) started as Sk8 Church,” Sullivan said. “It was founded by a guy named Dennis Cavins about four years ago.”

Sullivan said Cavins would drive by the skate park near Glenwood school and notice the crowd of kids.

“God really gave him a burden to see those kids know Christ,” Sullivan said. “It originated with him going to the skate park. He handed out water and gatorade. He really just reached out to kids.”

Sullivan said Sk8 Church grew into a Tuesday night worship service and skating session.

“From there, it got to the point where our Tuesday night and Wednesday night youth group activities were kind of going together so we merged it all about two years ago to Wednesday nights.”

At around 5 p.m. on Wednesday nights, Trinity’s Sk8 Church is in session, along with other activities.

“They can come skate or play basketball. We have Ping-Pong and a pool table, too,” he said.

Sullivan said the children get food, fellowship and he and Capps hold worship services.

“Crash,” the Jr. High service, is at 6 p.m. and it is followed by “Switch,” the high school service, at 7:15 or 7:30 p.m. Sullivan teaches both.

“We have some kids who skate, we have some kids who are athletes and we have some kids who aren’t any of that and just come and hang out,” Sullivan said. “Every Wednesday night we have a pretty good mix of students from all different walks of life.”

He said Sk8 Church was instrumental in opening the door to new demographics of youth.

“God has used it to open up doors for anyone. Anybody is welcome to come. Christ died for every-one,” he said. “It’s one thing to say that but it’s another thing when a real live person walks through your door. To embrace them and try to walk with them is not without its challenges. Along with those challenges have been a lot of good things.”

Sullivan said the ministry has also been a tool to help open the hearts and minds of those within the church.

“There are a lot of people in our church who support skating. They support the kids who are coming. I think a church has to be ready for that. There are a lot of different kids out there and they’re not all going to look the same and act the same,” he said. “Our church is doing a really good job of opening up, not just the doors, but opening up their lives to a lot of those stu-dents who are coming. It’s been very encouraging.” Photo by Richard R. Barron

Ronnie Bartlett leaps from a ramp at the Trinity Baptist's “Sk8 Lot” on Main Street.

Stacy CappsStacy Capps

envisioned herself growing up to be either a teacher or a movie star. She stars now as the girls' youth minister at Trinity Baptist's Sk8 Church.

Scott Sullivan

Scott Sullivan always thought of himself as a school teacher while grow-ing up. Now, he is a teacher at Trinity Baptist. He is the youth pastor and coordinates the Sk8 Church and activities.

A few participants at Trinity Baptist's "Sk8 Lot" on Main Street take a break and share moves.

Photo by Richard R. Barron

Sunday, March 27, 2011 5Awww.adaeveningnews.com Faith & Education

New Beginnings Church offers just thatBy Brenda TollettAssociate Editor

STRATFORD — At the age of 5, Charles McGregor knew he wanted to be a preach-er. However, life events took him on a detour of this goal during his teen years.

McGregor said he returned to Christ at age

20 and hasn’t stopped evangelizing since. Eleven years ago he became involved in start-ing New Beginnings Church at Stratford and is now pastor.

“The Lord spoke to my heart,” he said.

Members of the fledg-ling church met in a store front on Main Street

in Stratford while they searched for a permanent home. The church even-tually purchased 10 acres of land between Gaar Corner and Stratford on State Highway 19. It later purchased 40 acres of joining land and built a building in which they could hold church ser-vices.

New Beginnings Church began operating a Christian school, Eagle’s Nest, a few years ago. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade prog-ress at their own pace. Beginning in the fall of 2011, McGregor said the school will switch to the Abeka system for kin-dergarten through sixth

grade. “The Abeka sys-tem is the number one Christian teaching system in the world,” he said.

McGregor lived between Wynnewood and Stratford as a child. He worked for his father at a recreational vehicle man-ufacturing plant before making the decision to be a preacher in 1973.

He spent 10 years on the road as an evangelist and operated Christian schools in Wewoka and Conroe, Texas, before returning to the Stratford area.

“I never dreamed I would be back in this area,” he said.

He has traveled to 28 countries, including reg-ular visits to Israel. “I was scheduled to go to Cuba this month, but my trip was cancelled. Cuba is the toughest country I have ever had to get into.”

“I am scaling back on evangelizing away from home,” McGregor said. “I go away to another church only one time a month now.”

McGregor, who has been writing since 1980, said he would like to

focus more on his writ-ing in the future. “I really enjoy writing books,” he said.

“The Gifts of the Spirit” was released in March and by May was listed as number 7 on the best seller list.

He has two more books, “Why?” and “God Didn’t Do It,” scheduled to go to the editors in July.

McGregor is also involved in various other church ministries at New Beginnings Church.

His Sunday sermons are broadcast live at 11 a.m. on the internet (www.newbeginningschurchok.com) and archived for those who want to listen to them at a later time.

“Our largest audience is soldiers in Iraq,” he said. “Sometimes when we start thinking ‘Is it worth it?’ we think about those guys.”

A new baseball field is under construction at the church. “We hope to pull the church communities together with the baseball field,” he said.

“The heart of our church is touching peo-ple’s lives,” McGregor said.

Charles McGregorAs a kid, New

Beginnings Church

Pastor Charles

McGregor knew

he wanted to be

a preacher ... and

collect rocks.

Photos by Brenda Tollett

Beginnings of a ball fieldNew Beginnings church members and volunteers work to construct a ball field near the church between Gaar Corner and Stratford on State Highway 19.

CHARLES McGREGOR

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www.adaeveningnews.comFaith & Education6A Sunday, March 27, 2011

KONAWA SCHOOLS

Home of The Tigers

WE ARE PROUD OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

State Runner-up 1993 1978

BoysState Runner-up 1986State Champions 1980State Runner-up 1981State Runner-up 1987State AcademicChampions 2003 Girls State Academic 2004Champions 1996 1991 1990State Runner-up 1994 1993 1992

2A District Champions 1984 2002District Champions 2003 2004

State Academic 1993 Champion 1994 1995 2004State Champions 2003 2007State Runner-up 2004 20099 State Tournament Appearances

State Champion: Slow Pitch 2010

Boys State Runner-up 1987 1978 2005Girls State Runner-up 1977Girls Cross CountryAcademic Champions 1992Cross Country Regional Champions 2009

State Sweepstakes Won 2000 2001 2003 2005 2007 2008 2010Superior@District Contest 2004

2009 T-Steppers have earned

superior ratings 24 out of the last 25 years at Re-

gional Marching Contests

Football Basketball Baseball Softball Track Band

9 State Tournament Appearances for Boys14 State TournamentAppearances for Girls

Konawa Schools 701 West South Street, Konawa, OK 74849580-925-3244www.konawa.k12.ok.us

Since 1993 24 Konawa Students have scored

over 30 on the ACT TEST

FCCLA Program16 FCCLA State STAR

Event WinnersPhoto by Brenda Tollett

New Beginnings ball fieldNew Beginnings church members and volunteers work to construct a ball field near the church between Gaar Corner and Stratford on State Highway 19.

By Brenda TollettAssociate editor

ADA — Children surround Shawna Lancaster all day, everyday.

“I love doing it,” she said. “It is a great blessing.”Lancaster, who grew up in southwest Kansas,

moved to Ada nine years ago during her junior year at college. She soon met her husband, Chad.

Although she continued to attend college, Lancaster said she was becoming dissatisfied with her major choice of studies. It wasn’t until after the birth of her sons, Lawson and Teegan, Lancaster said she realized teaching was not the job she wanted to pursue.

“I wanted a job that would allow me to be a mom first with the flexibility to be with my children on their school field trips,” she said. “This job (children’s minister at First Baptist Church) is the answer to my prayers.”

“I love children’s ministry. I never thought I would ever work with children, but God had a plan for me,” she said.

As a child, Lancaster said she preferred making mud pies and playing with cars rather than dolls and more traditional girl toys. As minister of the children’s pro-gram at First Baptist Church, Lancaster said she loves to read to the children and have fun.

“We play dress up, wear wigs and act silly,” she said. “The kids love it.”

Lancaster began working as a preschool intern at the church five years ago and took over one year ago as minister for children from birth through sixth grade.

“Working with children is such a blessing,” she said.

Having fun and playing games are a big part of the children’s ministry. However, teaching the children the love of Jesus is a daily lesson even at home.

“We want our parents to be involved in teaching their children,” she said.

In September, the church started a new Sunday school curriculum, Orange. Yellow stands for the light of the church and red for love of family. Mixed together and orange develops.

“Church and family in a kids’ life is what makes a lasting impact for them,” she said.

“We want to help parents have the tools to help their children at home,” she said. “We want to equip families with the tools to help nurture their children’s foundation”

“The Orange strategy for preschool has three princi-pals,” she said. “God made me. God loves me. Jesus wants to be my friend forever.”

“Children have such pure little spirits,” Lancaster said. “It is so amazing when they catch on that Jesus really loves them.”

“The children in the 3-year-old class look at you with little eyes that are so pure when we ask ‘Who loves you?’ They all scream ‘Jesus does.’”

In her own family, Lancaster said her family has Bible stories each night and talk about how to apply Bible principles in their day-to-day life. “We try to give them experiences that let them have a view of life that is different than their own,” she said. “We take our children with us when we deliver food or other items to those who need it.”

Sunday, March 27, 2011 1Bwww.adaeveningnews.com Faith & Education

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116 N. Broadway • Ada(580)332-4433 • adaeveningnews.com

Building People, Changing Lives!Love ... Serve .... Thrive ...

www.crosspointeada.com

631 West 33rd., Ada, OK(Next door to the Pontotoc Tech. Center)

Sunday’sSunday Gathering - 10:30 amConnection Groups - 5:00pm

Wednesdays @ 7:00pmCrosspointe University

Elevate Student MinistryCrosspointe Kids

Surrounded by children ... surrounded by love

Photos by Brenda Tollett

Shawna Lancaster, children’s minister at First Baptist Church in Ada, reads to three children during quiet time at the church. Pictured from left are 15-month-old Wyatt Musgrove who is being held by his mother, Whitney Musgrove, Lancaster, Isaac Byrd, 2, and Amelia Beard, 2.

Shawna LancasterAs a little girl, she

wanted to be in big

business and move

to New York. God

had other plans for

her.

www.adaeveningnews.comFaith & Education2B Sunday, March 27, 2011

By Randy MitchellCity Editor

ADA — Ada Schools Superintendent Pat Harrison is overseeing a large project this year — the first new school for Ada in quite some time.

The Ada Early Childhood Center — for pre-kindergarteners and kindergartners — will open in time for fall enrollment 2011.

“Right now ... we’re 100 percent committed to being in that building when school starts next year (fall 2011) one way or another,” Harrison said.

An Ada native, Harrison attended Ada schools and graduated from Ada High School. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to be when he grew up but never imagined he would be a school superinten-dent.

“I didn’t come from a family of teachers,” Harrison said. “My grandfather was a school administrator and taught at the University of Central Oklahoma, and my older brother taught in higher ed, but that was the closest of my imme-diate family members that were teachers.”

Harrison went on to graduate from East Central University as an art education major.

“At that point in time, people were doing away with the arts in schools ... and there weren’t any jobs,” Harrison said.

He went to work for General Motors for a cou-ple of years before enter-ing the retail business. In the back of his mind after college, Harrison realized he was destined to teach. He returned to ECU to get his elementary certifica-tion and master’s degree in elementary educa-tion. He was a teacher at Washington Elementary when previous superin-tendent Zane Bowman visited with him in 1996 about taking a job open-ing at the board of educa-tion and administration.

“Well, I’d never real-ly thought about it,” Harrison said.

“I was content in my elementary classroom and was doing just fine. Administration was some-thing I planned to pursue later on, it just wasn’t on my radar screen at that particular time.”

The more he thought about it, Harrison said, he realized if he passed on the offer, the opportunity might not be there when he was ready.

“While the opportunity was there I decided to make that jump.”

Harrison made his way through the ranks, first as

business manager, then as assistant superintendent for finance after complet-ing administrator’s cer-tification coursework at East Central. He replaced Bowman after his retire-ment in 2005.

During summer school vacation you won’t find Harrison in the Caribbean or getting a suntan in Mexico. He’ll be getting ready for the next school year.

“We’re busier in the

summer than we are a lot of the time,” he said. “From probably start-ing in March until about October, it’s a really busy time for us because we’re trying to wind up school in March and April and get ready to end school in May and that takes up a lot of time.”

Harrison said the fiscal year ends June 30 and the new one starts July 1.

“So we’re trying wind down the budget, take

care of personnel issues, hire the people that we need and accept resigna-tions and retirements from those who are going.”

After staying busy with the budget and fall enroll-ment, Harrison looks for-ward to October.

“You can catch your breath then for a little bit,” he said.

Harrison stays busy and doesn’t have time for hobbies.

“I like to get outside

and play golf and things like that. It just doesn’t seem to happen very often,” he said.

He and wife, Patty, have two sons, Kasey and Kyle. Not surpris-ingly, Harrison’s two sons are teachers as well. Kasey teaches at Norman Public Schools and Kyle at Moore. Both of their wives are also teachers.

Grandpa Harrison has three young grandchil-dren, two girls and a boy.

Sunday, March 27, 2011 3Bwww.adaeveningnews.com Faith & Education

Rev. David L. Daniels

Born to teachAda superintendent knew education was his choice

Photo by Richard R. Barron

Ada City School Superintendent Pat Harrison visits the construction site for the new Ada early childhood center.

Pat HarrisonAs a kid, the Ada City Schools superin-

tendent knew he wanted to be involved in

education when he grew up.Photo by Richard R. Barron

The new Ada City Schools early childhood center takes shape as school officials plan for the new structure to be ready for classes this fall.

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www.adaeveningnews.comFaith & Education4B Sunday, March 27, 2011