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August 18, 2011
Dear Friends,
Today, all the new freshmen moved into the residence halls, and classes resume at the University of Oklahoma on Monday. There is always a sense of excitement with the regular activities marking the beginning of a new year.
Earlier this week, our Board of Directors discussed the strengths of the 2:8 House. We also discussed some of the challenges we face. The Board encouraged us to work through the process to clarify the mission of the 2:8 House. We thought we would begin the process by sharing some of the information in the articles below.
We covet your prayers as we continue to work through this process. We also encourage you to share with us your thoughts and experiences about the 2:8 House. How have you experienced God at work through this ministry?
Thank you for your vital role on our ministry team.
LOVE WINS.
Dave, Rhonda, Mary and Jonathan Kyncl
Craig, Anita and Jude Shepperd
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Season Football Parking passes available again
For the second consecutive year, the 2:8 House has a limited number of parking passes available for OU football games.
"This was a lot of fun last year," Dave Kyncl said. "We host a pre-game meal and provide a place to watch other games before we walk over to the stadium."
Passes are available for $300. Five parking passes remain.
The funds raised help offset the cost of providing the pre-game meal and the cost of season tickets used to introduce others to the 2:8 House.
For additional information, please contact Dave or Craig. |
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FInancial need continues
Every year, God provides for the financial needs of this ministry through donations from families and individuals from several states, Nazarene congregations, and Oklahoma districts.
As of August 14, 2011, the
- Donations received total $53,425.
- Donations pledged through 2011: $27,725.
- Total 2011 donations received/pledged: $81,150
- Total Budgeted income/expenses for 2011: $98,300.
- Expenses total through Aug. 18, 2011: $63,151.
- Balance carried forward from 2010: $9,660.
- Total 2011 budgeted income to be raised: $17,150
We continue to watch all expenditures, and we seek to reduce expenses when possible.
We covet your continued prayer support, as God provides for the needs of the 2:8 House.
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 Considering Additional Property... The University Falls apartments are no longer for sale. We are in the process of learning if the apartments sold. It appears that they have just been removed from the market.
We will continue to consider ways to increase the capacity of the 2:8 House by establishing a residential ministry, however, we realize that our primary focus has always been to invest into the lives of students and others on the campus of the University of Oklahoma.
In the coming months, we will begin sharing the stories of changed lives. Young men and women who have seen Christ at work in extremely personal ways in their lives as students as they seek to become more like Him.
Thank you for your continued encouragement, prayer and partnership with us.
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 A Short History of the 2:8 House
The 2:8 House is located just west of the OU campus. The house, located at 700 Chautauqua Avenue, was provided to the ministry through a partnership with the Church of the Nazarene Foundation and a private foundation affiliated with Hobby Lobby.
The home was built in 1915 and is located in the Chautauqua Historic District. The historic, two-story home includes two apartments upstairs and living quarters for the director's family downstairs. In the past several years, students from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Kazakstan, Saudi Arabia, Oklahoma and Texas have lived in the apartments.
Friendship and small group discipleship serve as the primary focus of the 2:8 House ministry. This focus provides the necessary foundation for relationships as we partner with students who seek to work through a variety of hurts, habits and hang-ups through 2:8 Recovery.
The first Nazarene ministry at OU was formed in the early 1950s as the Nazarene Preference Society. Ministry continued sporadically through Norman First Church of the Nazarene. In the late 1980s, the Rev. Rick Short began to host Bible studies on campus and at his home in Norman.
The Nazarene Student Center for the University of Oklahoma, Inc., was incorporated in July, 1992. The Rev. Wes Meisner served as the first president of the board of Directors. Dr. Robert McArthur served as one of the founding members of the board.
In August, 2005, the ministry became known on campus as the 2:8 House, based on 1 Thessalonians 2:8, which states: "we loved you so much that we gave you not only God's Good News, but our own lives, too."
In 2011, the ministry began doing business as the 2:8 House while maintaining the original name of the Nazarene Student Center for the University of Oklahoma, Inc.
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 2:8 Recovery continues
The purpose of 2:8 Recovery is to provide a safe place for students to experience Christian fellowship and celebrate God's healing power through Celebrate Recovery's "8 Recovery Principles." These Biblical principles are analogous to the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and provide the framework to work through a variety of hurts, habits and hang-ups, including alcohol and drug abuse, and experience God's healing grace. Through this process, we become free from addictive, compulsive and dysfunctional behaviors and experience a stronger relationship with God and others.
As students progress through the steps and principles, they discover their personal, loving and forgiving Higher Power-Jesus Christ.
2:8 Recovery meets weekly on Thursday evenings during each semester at the 2:8 House, 700 Chautauqua Avenue. The schedule includes dinner, a large group session, smaller share groups and a time of fellowship. In addition to this time, individual appointments and small group "step" studies are held throughout the week.
2:8 Recovery began in September, 2010. It also includes an extensive network of administrators, faculty and staff who have agreed to refer students who might be in need of recovery. We also are building a referral network of Christian counseling professionals in the area who are available to meet with students in need.
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Young adults need recovery
The time spent earning a college degree is a very formative period in a person's life. For the traditional student, aged 18 to 22, this is often the case. For many, it marks the first time to live away from home, the first time to make decisions "on your own," the first time to make new friends and the first time to develop your own sense of identity. This period of four or more years often sets the trajectory for the student's life for many years to come.
The following information was presented to a university meeting in October, 2010.
The need for campus mental health services continues to increase.
Since 1988 the likelihood of students suffering from depression has doubled.
Approximately 1 in 2 students have regular episodes of binge drinking.
1 in 10 students seriously consider suicide.
The most common issues in college student populations, include: depression, anxiety, relationship issues, eating disorders, alcohol or substance abuse, impulsive control disorder and suicide.
Alcohol issues are the highest among young adults ages 18-29. Students with the highest risk include first-year students, fraternity males and athletes.
1,400 college students nationwide die each year from alcohol-related, unintentional injuries.
500,000 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol.
31% of college students meet the criteria for the diagnosis of alcohol abuse.
6% of college students meet the criteria for the diagnosis of alcohol dependence.
The top three prescriptions written for college students nationwide are Prozac, anxiety medications and other anti-depressant medications.
It is estimated that 15% of students abuse prescription medications, especially stimulants and painkillers.
"The benefits of engaging the faith community in both the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and dependence cannot be overstated."-James Coppell, Fatal Attractions
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2:8 House Board of Directors
Duane Cox, President. Duane has served on the board of directors for the past 10 years. He recently retired after serving as a regional sales representative for QSP. He and his wife, Linda, are the parents of one grown son. He is actively involved in the Tulsa Regency Park Church of the Nazarene and a past member of the advisory board for Northeast Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene. Rev. Nate Burns, Vice President. Nate pastors the Silver Creek Church of the Nazarene in Owasso, OK. His wife, Kari, is a middle school teacher for the Tulsa Public School District. They are the parents of two children. Brandon Wilson, Secretary. Brandon is an attorney with the Edmonds Cole Law First in Oklahoma City, and is a graduate of the OU School of Law. His wife, Meggan, serves as an elementary school principal in the Mustang School District. They are the parents of two daughters and are actively involved in the Mustang First Church of the Nazarene. Rev. Brent Hardesty, Treasurer. Brent has served as the treasurer for the past six years. He pastors the Norman Community Church of the Nazarene and serves as the treasurer for the Southwest Oklahoma District Church of the Nazarene. He wife, Amy, is an elementary school teacher in the Norman Public Schools. They are parents of two sons. Dr. Martha Banz-Martha serves as the associate dean of OU's College of Liberal Studies. She is an active member of Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene. Dr. Jim Cooper-Jim is the district superintendent of the Southwest Oklahoma District. He and his wife, Betty, have one grown daughter and one grandson. Jerry Johnson-Jerry is retired following a career with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. He is involved with the Norman Community Church of the Nazarene. Stephanie McCullough-Lawler-Stephanie is a full-time volunteer after working as a public health nurse. She and her husband, Jim, are the parents of four grown children. She is active in a juvenile prison ministry and a member of the Norman Community Church of the Nazarene. Dr. Robert McArthur-Robert is a medical doctor with the McBride Clinic. He and his wife, Donna, are the parents of three grown daughters and two grandchildren. Robert is one of the founding members of the board of directors and is actively involved in the Norman Community Church of the Nazarene. Kelly Middendorf-Kelly has taught in the Putnam City Public Schools. She and her husband, Jon, are the parents of two children. She is actively involved in the Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene, where her husband serves as pastor. Mike Sykes-Mike is a self-employed sales representative for Aflac insurance after serving as a youth pastor in Tennessee and Oklahoma. He and his wife, Beth, are the parents of three grown children and three grandchildren. They are members of Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene. Cherith Tucker-Cherith is a doctoral student in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Oklahoma. She is an active member of the Norman Community Church of the Nazarene. |
| Deuteronomy 32:1-2 (The Message) |
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Listen, Heavens, I have something to tell you.
Attention, Earth, I've got a mouth full of words.
My teaching, let it fall like a gentle rain, my words arrive like morning dew,
like a sprinkling rain on new grass, like spring showers on the garden.
For it's God's Name I'm preaching--
respond to the greatness of our God! |
| Contact Information | |
700 Chautauqua Ave.
Norman, OK 73069
405-447-7027
Donations may be sent to: 2:8 House, P.O. Box 3211, Norman, OK 73070.
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