Greetings!
Hope you’re staying cool, and thanks for reading this week’s DHD!
Here we go!
- Adoh is still competing
Andrew Dougherty was featured in an article on the Sports Spectrum website, a Christian athletic news journal. He’s a professional triathlete who was a member of the University of Oklahoma track team. He is mostly known as “Adoh,” and apparently that’s how he continues to be identified on social media.
I was excited to read this article because I got to interview Adoh for a couple of articles for the Baptist Messenger. You can read the first story here and the second one here.
Adoh has amazing charisma, and I’m excited to see that he’s still competing and trying to reach his goal of an Olympic gold medal. More than that, I’m extremely excited to read that he continues to share his faith while he is competing.
- Next Chapter at Falls Creek
Adoh also was a faithfully involved with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) at OU. It was through BCM that he grew as a Christian while a college student. His testimony is a great one, but even Adoh will admit that if not for the Christian discipleship he experienced through BCM, who knows how much he would have grown as a believer.
BCM is also involved with an important element of the summer youth weeks at Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center. The element is a program called Next Chapter, which is for recent high school graduates, preparing them for their “next chapter” in life, whether that is college, military or directly in the work force. BCM directors from across the state lead Next Chapter and have a chance to make an early connection with students planning to attend their colleges in the fall. Next Chapter has been a part of Falls Creek programming for nearly 15 years, and it’s a great start for incoming freshman to get connected with a powerful, effective Christian ministry as they begin their college careers.
I’m doing an article on Next Chapter that will appear on baptistmessenger.com sometime next week. Consider this a sneak preview for that article.
- Great things continue at Falls Creek
More than 300 campers made professions of faith in Christ this past week at Falls Creek. Scott Pace, former OBU Bible professor now at Southeastern Seminary, was the camp speaker, and he was powerful.
Yes, it was a hot one this week at Falls Creek, but it appears that God had an impact in so many lives down at the encampment in the Arbuckle Mountains. And that’s how it’s been all summer. Next week is Falls Creek’s final youth week, and I know it will be another time when God will move among young people.
- Mark Dance continues to help pastors
Mark Dance is a great encourager to pastors. Why is that important? Because if pastors are encouraged and healthy in their ministry that means their churches are healthy.
Mark was the director of pastoral leadership with Oklahoma Baptists, and now he has a similar role with GuideStone, the financial investment entity for Southern Baptists.
Baptist Press’ Scott Barkley wrote an article featuring Mark, and it’s a good read. Check it out here.
One thing that I was either reminded of or I learned for the first time is Mark is third cousin for famous fisherman Bill Dance, which doesn’t surprise me.
- Thunder thoughts part 1
I’ve got a double dose of Thunder thoughts this week. The first one involves some comments made by former NBA sharpshooter-turned analyst J.J. Reddick. He had some encouraging words about the Thunder that Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel featured in an article this week. If you can’t retrieve the article, here’s some of what Reddick had to say:
“There’s a lot to be excited about if you’re Oklahoma City. They’ve got a really strong young core, they still have draft picks, they’ve got Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They just re-signed my guy, Kenrich Williams (former teammates with the Pelicans), to a long-term extension.
“This is an organization that has pivoted numerous times throughout their existence, and they have put themselves in position to have a very bright future.”
I share Reddick’s positive outlook. And yes, getting Kenny Hustle to re-sign an extension is a great news, as he is a great contributor off the bench and has said he is happy to be playing in OKC.
- Thunder thoughts part 2
I’ve been asked a couple of times what I think of Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. I’ve also been asked by NBA officials how to pronounce his last name (it’s DAYG-nalt).
Coach Daigneault is who the Thunder need right now. Before he was the Thunder’s head coach, he coached the Thunder’s G-League team, OKC Blue. He is experienced in developing players, and development is what many of these players need. He is also experienced with the Thunder, obviously with the Blue, but he also was an assistant under Billy Donovan before Donovan left and became the Chicago Bulls head coach.
And Daigneault was on Donovan’s staff at the University of Florida for six years. What this means is he is familiar with the coaching approach Donovan had, and Sam Presti appreciated Donovan’s coaching style. So, why not keep the same system even though Donovan left?
The Thunder need a coach who can be patient and willing to go on the rough road the Thunder have been taking the last few seasons. Daigneault is an unknown personality. He is also humble, a player’s coach, and most of all, he is Sam’s guy.
How long will he stay the Thunder head coach? I do not know, but I suspect he will be around for at least a few more seasons.
