Let the children come

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A young worshipper listens to the Enid Night of Worship band at Cherokee Strip Conference Center. ENOW is a project of K-Life, a community-wide, interdenominational Christian ministry of discipleship and fellowship for youths and their families. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)
Kinsley Jordan (center) leads the 11-member Enid Night of Worship band at Cherokee Strip Conference Center. ENOW is a project of K-Life, a community-wide, interdenominational Christian ministry of discipleship and fellowship for youths and their families. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)
A 11-member ENOW band performs for young worshipers Monday at the Cherokee Strip Conference Center during the first Enid Night of Worship. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)
Lenny Juliano plays the guitar as part of the Enid Night of Worship band at Cherokee Strip Conference Center. ENOW is a project of K-Life, a community-wide, interdenominational Christian ministry of discipleship and fellowship for youths and their families. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)

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April 9, 2011

Let the children come

K-Life Ministry designed to augment the youth programs of local churches

By Phyllis Zorn, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle The Enid News and Eagle Sat Apr 09, 2011, 08:35 PM CDT

ENID — About 300 gathered in Cherokee Strip Conference Center March 28 for the first Enid Night of Worship (ENOW) event, an opportunity for youths from every walk of life to come together and worship.

As an 11-member ENOW band played guitars, drums, and keyboard and sang songs of praise, words to the songs were displayed on screens that everyone could follow.

Those in attendance mostly gathered around the front of the stage, singing, many with hands raised and bodies swaying gently.

“There are worshippers from probably at least 14 churches here,” said Jeremiah Herrian, pastor of Forgotten Church and one of those who worked to bring ENOW from a vision to a reality.

Before ENOW

ENOW is a project of K-Life, a community-wide, interdenominational Christian ministry of discipleship and fellowship for youths and their families.

Using a variety of activities, K-Life helps youths grow in their faith and have fun in the process. They learn that following Christ and discovering his plan for their lives is an exciting adventure and they can count on friendship and support from leaders and peers who care.

Enid K-Life began in October 2009 when First Presbyterian Church, looking for a new youth pastor, decided to seek one familiar with the K-Life program so it could launch here as an interdenominational youth ministry outreach. K-Life doesn’t try to replace the youth programs of local churches, it is designed to augment them.

First Presbyterian hired Clay Carson and tasked him with building an Enid chapter of K-Life.

Clubs for the youths started first, Carson said, in which they could play games and join in fellowship, singing and Bible study.

A middle school club meets Tuesday evenings, high school club meets Thursday evenings and breakfast club meets every Monday morning at Oklahoma Bible Institute.

“Consistently, we get between 70 and 80 each week right now,” Carson said.

His wife, Katrina, oversees K-Life’s connection with females.

“And, most important, she keeps me on track,” Carson quipped.

The two balance each other, Carson said.

“With K-Life, our vision and our goal is to come alongside local churches and help with Christian outreach with kids,” Carson said. “We’ve been really seeking out and building strong working relationships with local churches since we’ve been here.”

The here and ENOW

In late December, Carson spoke with Kinsley Jordan of World Harvest Church, Devon Krause of First United Methodist Church and Herrian about a vision of a youth worship service that all could take part in regardless of denomination or even church affiliation at all.

The four started talking with other churches and spreading the word.

By January, representatives from about 10 churches and youth organizations joined the discussion, Carson said.

By the Feb. 28 meeting, the number involved in ENOW had doubled.

“Our vision for this is to be a consistent event,” Carson said. “We’ve discussed holding it every month or every other month.”

“I believe this is something God would want to see: The church come together as the body of Christ instead of being separated in the different denominations,” Krause said. “The whole point of this is to proclaim a gospel of love for people who might be Christian or might be just now exploring Christianity.”

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Faith 2011

Faith 2011
One of the attributes of living in Enid and Northwest Oklahoma is the abundant pride residents have in its people, land and businesses. The 2011 News & Eagle Progress edition highlights these areas and pays tribute to all of those who make our region shine 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

April 9, 2011 1 Photo
Offering a ‘hand up’
Since that first Feed The Neighborhood event 12 years ago, the occasion has grown to involve more than a dozen churches and other organizations that donate money and vouchers so children can have backpacks and school supplies.

April 9, 2011 2 Photos
Now serving
During the budget cut process, churches, organizations and businesses in communities served by Wheatheart helped provide Friday meals for seniors.

April 9, 2011 2 Photos
Our Daily Bread demand steady in today’s economy

“More and more of them are having to walk or ride bicycles because they can’t afford gas. We feed 200 to 300 every day.” — Sandy Howard, director of Our Daily Bread

April 9, 2011 1 Photo
the latest toys — Send a message
Oakwood Christian Church worship minister Alan Gloor said the church is undergoing a project to install intelligent lighting and projectors for the use of high definition video in services.

April 9, 2011 2 Photos
Meeting you where you are
Chaplain Jeff Jackson, of Hospice Circle of Love, says today you have to meet people wherever they may be on their road to faith — even if that road doesn’t exist.

April 9, 2011 1 Photo
Hope Outreach thrifty with its ministry
The organization is comprised of many ministries that reach out to those in need in various ways, all funded, in part, by the store.

April 9, 2011 2 Photos
YMCA focuses on its faith
The YMCA seeks to honor God by providing an outstanding facility, atmosphere, and programs that foster a positive change in the spirit, mind, and body.”

April 9, 2011 1 Photo
Let the children come
Using a variety of activities, K-Life helps youths grow in their faith and have fun in the process.

April 9, 2011 4 Photos
Sewing seeds of Christianity
First United Methodist Church hosts students from Drummond to Pioneer in its Little Ladies Sewing Circle.

April 9, 2011 5 Photos
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Let the children come

K-Life Ministry designed to augment the youth programs of local churches

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