Evergreen Life Stories

“The parent resource night was incredibly informative! I appreciated the focus on biblical parenting at home. The Early Learning Center staff shared wonderful tips and resources on numerous parenting topics that left me feeling encouraged. They provided practical, faith-based examples of ways to overcome challenges parents face everyday. I highly recommend this event to all parents!” -Morgan Greiner

"Darryl and I have been married 40 years. We decided to take Re-engage last fall because, even though we have a great marriage,
we knew there is always room for improvement. Through the course, we realized there were some minor things missing from our marriage. Adding those things in has been so sweet. What was very evident to us was how this material class would have been
incredibly useful earlier in our marriage. We learned through years of trial and error how to communicate effectively. The information in the course gets right to the heart of things and we believe we could have avoided many late-night arguments had we learned these skills early on. We encourage every couple, regardless of where you are in your marriage, to take this course.
It will help you draw closer to the Lord and closer to your spouse." - Kelly Caldwell

“Evergreen Academy has been a blessing to our family. Our son experiences a faith based learning environment with a strong discipleship program. This school provides rigorous academics, character building, and a Christian community that is unmatched in Tulsa. This has led to exceptional growth for Jax in academics and his walk with Christ. He loves the enrichment experiences, the STEM lab, and biblical base that is woven into every piece of the school. Evergreen Academy is a place where faith, knowledge, and love converge and we are so grateful to be a part of it. We are elated our daughter can attend next year with the expanding grades as well."- Eric & Sarah Jameson

“Three years ago we decided to join Evergreen because we wereattracted to the idea of Life Groups. We wanted to experience achurch family who stays connected, not just on Sunday, but throughout the week. We were soon in a group with ten other church members who meet weekly to pray together and who encourage and support each other. Life Group for us has been a true blessing as we have bonded and shared life’s trials and joys. We would encourage everyone to explore joining a Life Group— we love doing life with the family of God."- Don & Patsy Akin

“Attending the 201 class was so helpful for me. It gave me a simple, biblical understanding of discipleship and a simple, biblical way to begin discipling others. Now, when I meet with young ladies, I walk them through the material so we are on the same page and we both know what to expect. I also know that I am unified with Evergreen’s heart and design for discipleship. I highly recommend that every person should take 201!"- Megan Schell

“On my first trip to San Miguel I was a scared and shy freshman. I wasn't the most qualified for the trip by any means, but God was calling me to be obedient in going. The thought of sharing my testimony or even praying aloud before meals on the trip filled me with fear. One evening, on the way to a village, I was told that I was going to share my testimony in front of this village. I did not feel prepared or qualified to be doing this, but God saw something different. He knew that He had changed my life, and I needed to be obedient in sharing what He had done. Getting up in front of this small group of around 40 people may not have been that big of an accomplishment, but it was an important step in surrender to God, made possible by a church being obedient to God, in the call to spread the name of Jesus to the nations."- Wyatt Campbell (11th Grader)

“My wife, Teresa, and I were raised by godly parents, so church life has always been important to us. Since joining Evergreen Church two years ago, it has been a blessing to watch our children serve. Our oldest daughter, Nina, and her husband, Ben, serve in The Venue worship service, while our youngest daughter, Pauli, and her husband, James, serve on the medical team. It’s been a true joy to see our family serving together. We've also been part of a multi-generational Sunday School class with all our children, and the lessons we learn there often flow into our everyday discussions. The relationships we've built remind us that we don’t have to carry our burdens alone. I wouldn’t trade this class for anything and encourage everyone to find a class that fits them. Our family, spanning four generations from ages 7 to 90, is incredibly blessed to be part of Evergreen."- Jack Whipple Jr.

“For the people of Evergreen, Children’s Ministry Expo (CME) is like having a treasure chest of ministry resources in our own backyard! We are blessed beyond measure to have a conference like this hosted by your own church on our own campus. CME has helped equip me and other parents who are on the front lines of the spiritual battle for the hearts, minds, and souls of our own children and family members.Through attending CME in 2022, I learned about the National Center for Biblical Parenting, which has in turn blessed not only my family but others in our church as well through their resources and training. I encourage you as my Evergreen family - if you are a parent or preschool or children’s ministry worker - to make whatever changes in your schedule are necessary to attend CME one year. You will not regret it!"- Danny Rockwell

“When I first came to Evergreen, I was incredibly impressed by what my children were learning in their preschool Sunday school class. Listening to my 4 year old tell me stories about Jesus made me cry walking out of church one Sunday. After that day, I signed up to be the VBS craft teacher in the preschool. I loved watching these little ones hear about Jesus and learn about Him through stories, songs, and crafts. That fall, I volunteered to teach a kindergarten class on Sunday morning. Watching kids come in with such a hunger to learn God’s Word is so encouraging in today’s world. Evergreen has also given me the opportunity to teach at the ELC where my two youngest attend while our oldest attends Evergreen Academy. I am so thankful God led our family to Evergreen."- Gabby Reagan

“The men’s ministry is the heart and strength of Evergreen Church. At the Wednesday morning prayer breakfast, Manventure, and other Evergreen men’s activities, I found truth, transparency, accountability, brotherly affection, and encouragement. Some of my initial conversations and connections grew into deeply intimate spiritual friendships. If you participate in Manventure, you can find the same things. Twenty-four hours, $95, and a little effort could change your life."- Brett Jackson

“Since my first Manventure, I have been encouraged, challenged, and grown in my walk from both formal and informal teachings from men across Evergreen. Now, getting to see how the men of Evergreen are making connections at Manventure that continue and grow stronger is inspiring. Additionally, seeing men invite friends, family, and co-workers to Manventure shows that this weekend for the men is more than just getting away. This is a great training ground and launching pad for the men of Evergreen to be refueled, energized, and reminded of the role we have in the Kingdom, this body, and this community. "- Levi Mattes

"Yesterday the youth ministry sent down 22 people to beautiful San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, to work along side two local missionaries, Ben and Susie Argil, and their mission organization, Brilla Life. Over the next week we will
be doing a multitude of jobs such as prayer walking, maintenance of builds and grounds, and putting on a student conference for local students in a few villages outside of San Miguel. The name of our student conference is Expo Peligro (Expo Danger) and will focus on several different topics that students in these villages are struggling with; such as motorcycle safety, drugs, alcohol, and biblical sexuality. Along with these topics our students will get a chance to share the gospel with these Mexican students that are draped in a culture that glorifies a very Virgin Mary-centered Catholicism. My hope and prayer is that God would be glorified and the good news of Jesus would take root in the hearts of all of the people we encounter in San Miguel. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated!"
- Pastor Christian Kemp

"The SHINE Ministry has been a transformative experience for our family and our sweet Will who has Down syndrome. Through its compassionate and inclusive approach, Will feels accepted, valued, and loved for who he is. One significant way the SHINE Ministry has helped is by providing a Buddy or as he likes to call them “best friend” who helps Will navigate his Sunday mornings. Having someone waiting for him and excited to hang out with him brings him so much joy! This Buddy helps Will connect with his peers and develop friendships which can be difficult sometimes for children with special needs, as well as help him experience a deeper understanding of the Bible and God. We are grateful for the kindness and generosity of everyone involved in SHINE and love the way this structured yet flexible ministry has helped Will grow in his love for Jesus in a way that speaks directly to his heart." - Cathy Wandel

"Last year, my son Liam and I attended ManVenture for the first time, and it turned out to be an incredibly meaningful experience for both of us. We had no idea what to expect, but from the moment we arrived, we were welcomed into a brotherhood of men who were genuinely invested in faith, family, and personal growth. One of the biggest takeaways for us was the connections we made—meeting so many men from Evergreen who we now see and talk to regularly at church has helped us feel truly part of the church family. Beyond the relationships, the teaching sessions were deeply impactful. The messages shared during the opening and closing sessions, as well as the breakout discussions, spoke directly to where I was spiritually and challenged me in the best way. It was exactly what I needed in that season of life. On top of that, the retreat gave me dedicated time to bond with Liam—something that can be hard to do in the busyness of everyday life. I would strongly encourage every man to attend, and if you have a youth-age son, bring him with you. ManVenture provides an incredible opportunity to strengthen your faith, build lasting friendships, and invest in your relationship with your son. As men, we need to stand together, supporting and sharpening one another so we can effectively lead our families in the right direction." - Nathan Carter