District Superintendent
Jim Thornton
was elected superintendent of the Northeast Oklahoma District on June 6, 2026, during the district’s 74th Assembly.
Raised in a Christian home, many of Jim’s earliest memories center around church life and ministry. It was while attending Nazarene youth camps in New Mexico that he came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, setting the course for a lifetime of discipleship and service.
While attending Southern Nazarene University, Jim met Christy, and it did not take them long to realize God had brought them together. They were married on September 8, 1990, and began a lifelong journey of covenant love that has deepened and matured through the years. Together they have been blessed with three sons, two daughters-in-law, and five granddaughters—including twin girls expected in October.
Reflecting on one of his favorite hobbies, Jim says, “My dad put a 7-iron in my hands when I was eight years old. Fifty years later, I’m still trying to figure out how to swing it correctly. I enjoy golf simply for the love of the game—except when I’m playing with my sons. Then it’s game on!” He also enjoys reading, woodworking, and roasting coffee beans from around the world.
Jim was ordained as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene in 1997. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Theology and Christian Education from Southern Nazarene University in 1991, followed by a master’s degree in Church Leadership in 2009. In 2025, he completed a second master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Human Behavior from Amberton University. In addition to his formal education, Jim has pursued extensive training in Christian life coaching, earning numerous certifications and competencies that have equipped him to guide and encourage individuals in their spiritual formation, leadership development, and personal growth.
Over the years, God has led the Thorntons on a ministry journey that has included assignments in Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, and Oklahoma. Christy, an ordained deacon in the Church of the Nazarene, has faithfully served alongside Jim and is gifted in administration and ministry to women.
Jim and Christy’s greatest joy in ministry is walking alongside others as they discover God’s love and experience the transforming work of Christ in their lives. Those moments of spiritual formation make every investment worthwhile.
As the Northeast Oklahoma District enters this new season, Jim and Christy look forward with gratitude and expectancy. Together with the pastors and congregations of the district, they are committed to seeking God’s face and following His leading. With a rich legacy to steward and a hopeful future to embrace, they anticipate with submitted hearts all that God has in store for the next chapter of the district’s witness and mission.
District Advisory Council
David McKellips (chairman, ordained minister)
Austin Troyer (secretary, ordained minister)
Scott Moore (ordained minister)
Tony Proctor (layperson)
Steve Spangenberg (ordained minister)
Kara Stephens (layperson)
Jeff Stewart (layperson)
Christy Thornton (ordained minister)
Jim Thornton (District Secretary)
Tim Ogden (District Treasurer)
Joe Gschwandtner (NDI Chairman)
Carol Stevens (District NMI President)
Nick Williams (District NYI President)
Office Staff
Christy Thornton
Office Administrator
Christy finds great joy and fulfillment in spending time with her three sons, their wives, and her granddaughters. She treasures the gift of family and the legacy of faith that spans generations. In addition, she enjoys investing in the lives of women and families, seeking to reflect God’s grace and faithfulness in all she does.
Christy is deeply honored to continue partnering with Jim in this next chapter of ministry, trusting God’s faithfulness and looking forward with anticipation to all He has in store. She will serve the NEO district as Office Administrator and Women’s Ministries Director.
Michelle Proctor
Financial Assistant
Michelle joined the NEO Team in April, 2021, as District Bookkeeper. Michelle is no stranger to NEO as she has served as Youth Pastor, Pulpit Supply and on the NYI and SDMI District Ministry Boards at various times dating back to 2002. Michelle continues ministering and serving the Lord by opening their home to others by leading a Core Neighborhood Church on Sundays and a Core Fellowship Group on Wednesdays. Michelle, along with her husband Tony, enjoy spending time working and ministering together in their church and in their tax/accounting practice, traveling to new places and spending time with their beloved family. They are blessed with three children and three grandchildren.
Mission Areas in Northeast Oklahoma
The NEO Mision Areas exist to advance the Kingdom of God by strengthening the ministers and their families
and by facilitating effective missional local church ministries.
Northeast:
Claremore, Collinsville, Miami New Life, Pryor Redemption House of Prayer, Vinita
Coordinator: Dan Hazelton
pastordanhazelton@gmail.com
Southeast:
Broken Arrow Connect, Coweta The Way, Muskogee First, Muskogee Freedom Fellowship, Okmulgee, Tahlequah, Wagoner
Coordinator: Scott Moore
scott@connectchurchba.com
Hispanic:
Broken Arrow Iglesia, Owasso Silver Creek Iglesia, Tulsa Central Hispanic Ministry, Tulsa Cielos Abiertos, Tulsa El Buen Pastor, Tulsa Fe y Esperanza, Tulsa Fuente de Vida, Tulsa Roca de Salvacion
Coordinator: Victor and Anna Ruiz
ruiz405@gmail.com
Tulsa:
Broken Arrow Core Church at Aspen Creek, Owasso Silver Creek, Tulsa Audacity, Tulsa Central, Tulsa Ecclesia, Tulsa Hills, Tulsa Regency Park
Coordinator: Keith Schubert
keith@regencypark.org
Southwest:
Bristow Fellowship, Carney Jubilee, Chandler, Cushing Kinetic, Davenport, Drumright, Mannford Grace Family Worship Center, Meeker Country Faith, Sand Springs, Sapulpa
Coordinator: Brady Thelander
bradythelander@gmail.com
Northwest:
Barnsdall, Bartlesville, Cleveland, Dewey, Hominy, Pawhuska, Skiatook
Coordinator: Steve Spangenberg
pastorsteve@bfcnaz.org
Our Purpose
The Church of the Nazarene is a Great Commission church (Matthew 28:19-20). As a global community of faith, we are commissioned to take the Good News of life in Jesus Christ to people everywhere and to spread the message of scriptural holiness (Christlike living) across the lands.
The Church of the Nazarene bonds together individuals who have made Jesus Christ Lord of their lives, sharing in Christian fellowship, and seeking to strengthen each other in faith development through worship, preaching, training, and service to others. We strive to express the compassion of Jesus Christ to all persons along with our personal commitment to Christlike living.
The Beliefs Nazarenes Hold To Be True
We believe in one God-the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe that the Old and New Testament Scriptures, given by plenary inspiration, contain all truth necessary to faith and Christian living.
We believe that man is born with a fallen nature, and is, therefore, inclined to evil, and that continually.
We believe that the finally impenitent are hopelessly and eternally lost.
We believe that the atonement through Jesus Christ is for the whole human race; and that whosoever repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is justified and regenerated and saved from the dominion of sin.
We believe that believers are to be sanctified wholly, subsequent to regeneration, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that the Holy Spirit bears witness to the new birth, and also to the entire sanctification of believers.
We believe that our Lord will return, the dead will be raised, and the final judgment will take place.
Our Core Values
We Are a Christian People
As members of the Church Universal, we join with all true believers in proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ and in embracing the historic Trinitarian creedal statements of Christian faith. We value our Wesleyan-Holiness heritage and believe it to be a way of understanding the faith that is true to Scripture, reason, tradition, and experience.
We Are a Holiness People
God, who is holy, calls us to a life of holiness. We believe that the Holy Spirit seeks to do in us a second work of grace, called by various terms including “entire sanctification” and “baptism with the Holy Spirit”-cleansing us from all sin, renewing us in the image of God, empowering us to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves, and producing in us the character of Christ. Holiness in the life of believers is most clearly understood as Christlikeness.
We Are a Missional People
We are a sent people, responding to the call of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to go into all the world, witnessing to the Lordship of Christ and participating with God in the building of the Church and the extension of His kingdom (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:1). Our mission:
- Begins in worship
- Ministers to the world in evangelism and compassion
- Encourages believers toward Christian maturity through discipleship, and
- Prepares women and men for Christian service through Christian higher education.
