What are we doing? The Eastside congregation believes heavily in evangelism, and it shows in our yearly budget. We have a good portion dedicated to missions and different campaigns located around the world and even in the United States. We also give to people in the community who need help.
Local Evangelism | National Evangelism | Foreign Evangelism | BenevolenceEastside supports Search TV by donating money every month. We have helped to get Search TV broadcast into the Philippines, and the money that we donate goes to help with the monthly expenses of that ministry.
We support Bud Tibbles. Worship services at the Dick Conner Correctional Center, a high medium security center, average 75 to 90 men. The minimum security unit at the same location, the John L. Dahl Center, averages 10 to 15 men each week.
Four classes are taught each week on New Life Behavior and Christians Against Substance Abuse. This last year they taught on A Sense of Family, Parenting Mattters, and True Freedom.
The good news is the Department of Corrections is looking more to faith-based programs, and these courses are at the top of their list.
In the last 12 months, 24 men have been baptized.
The Mires' family started this ministry in September, 2001, with the names of 24 prisoners desiring Bible Courses. Since then, Eastside has mailed lessons to over 4,700 students in at least 12 states in at least 170 prisons. Over 62,000 lessons have been sent out. There have been many baptisms from these lessons, however it is difficult to determine how many. We have received some notes from those who have been baptized thanking us for the lesosns and help.
We currently have 26 members at Eastside grading these lessons at home on their own time. Anyone is able to be a part of this ministry, and grading keys are furnished to make grading easier.
Eastside helps to support the Southeast Church of Christ in Oklahoma, which is Spanish-speaking. This congregation is trying to reach the growing Hispanic congregation in Oklahoma City.
Eastside has been supporting a small congregation in Maud, Oklahoma. On occasion, Eastside will load up a van of teens, and they will go to Maud and be in charge of the service. Also, Eastside usually puts on a VBS there during the summer.
Eastside helps with this unique ministry. Truth for Today is a printing ministry who will print the materials for the missionaries out in the fields. The cost for the missionaries is free, and it helps them to spread the word of God.
Eastside has been supporting the Douglas Church of Christ for several years. Currently, the congregation that meets there is a small one with 12-14 members. Several members of Eastside have help this congregation pass out flyers to notify the surrounding area about their meetings.
We have been supporting David Howard for several years now in Granby, Colorado. The Granby congregation is a small seasonal congregation located in the ski resort areas near Rocky Mountain State Park. The Granby church is involved in many things, mostly with teenagers. They are making an impression on the adults by the difference they are seeing in their teens. You can visit their web site to see what they have been doing.
We have been supporting the work at Bear Valley for several years now. September 7th, 1965, was the beginning of the Bear Valley School of Preaching. This year, they are celebrating their 40th anniversary.
Beginning with enrollment in February of 1993, the school returned to a 2 year curriculum format. In 1995 the school received approval from the Colorado Board of Education to issue professional degrees. Bear Valley currently offers Associate, Bachelor, and Master's Degree programs. Bear Valley also provides a 17 course program for women with a Certificate in Biblical Studies. They also have extension centers in Ukraine, Tanzania, Panama, and India.
Although the school is the major effort of the Bear Valley Church which provides $175,000 a year of the school's $450,000 budget, they still support missionaries in India, Argentina, and Poland.
In the Spring of 2004, 41 men enrolled as full-time students. When you add the wives and part-time students, the total enrollment comes to 71. Over 500 gospel preachers have graduated from Bear Valley and more than 275 are preaching all over the globe. For more information about Bear Valley, visit their website at bvbid.org.
Eastside visits several congregations in the summer to help with Vacation Bible Schools which are aimed at teaching children about stories in the Bible. Classes are also provided for the adults. In the past Eastside has had Vacation Bible Schools in Moab, Utah; Landers, Wyoming; Cushing, Oklahoma; Burlington, Colorado; Warsau, Wisconsin; and Arley, Alabama. For the summer of 2003, Eastside plans to help congregations in Luther, Oklahoma; Maud, Oklahoma; Security, Colorado; and Anahvac, Mexico.
Kent Marcum has been the director at the school in Quito Equator for the past 17 years. Jerry Lawless is the stateside mission coordinator.
Operation Equator began in 1989 with 4 North American families and 1 Latin American family planting a church in Qutio. In 1990, they opened their Outreach Center and in 1992 they purchased a colonial house as their meeting place for the church. In 1995, work was completed on a new 15,000 sq. ft. meeting house. In this mission's short 17 years of operation, God has blessed them with over 900 baptisms, and most are still faithful with an attendance of over 500. Presently, they are averaging 60 baptisms a year.
Quito School of Biblical Studies began in 1997 with 14 full-time students. They now have 35 students enrolled from 6 Latin American countries. Their goal is to have 15 students enrolled in each year's class.
They are adding an internet school called "Into All the World." All the classes from QSOBS will be available on the internet. For more information, you can visit their website at QSOBS.com
Eastside is currently supporting Ted Paull and the Macquarie School of Biblical Studies in Australia.
Eastside is supporting Alejandro Ciencia, Roger Nonog, Rogelio Barroga, and Eugene Awingan in the Philippines. Also we are supporting Charles Smith and the Philippine Preaching School.
Eastside is currently supporting Kim Voraritskul in Thailand.
Eastside is currently supporting Mirek Bartczk in Wroclaw, Poland.
Eastside is currently supporting Hiawattha Jones and Byron Benetiz in Guatemala.
We stock a small food pantry with some basic food items for giveaway to help families in an emergency situation. Call or email us for more details.
Several times a year, we offer clothing to anyone in need. The clothing has been donated to us and we pass along all usable items. We open the doors to our "store" on a first-come, first-serve basis on an announced Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning. Special appointments are sometimes made for special needs. Call or email us for more details.
After natural disasters, we often provide money and/or other items needed by the victims to help them recover. After the May 3, 1999, tornado that hit Oklahoma City, we served as a distribution point for food, appliances, and furniture needed by those affected.
We contribute financially on a monthly basis to this home which helps place children and arrange adoptions for Christian homes.