Jonan Castillon

Aug 05 2023

Mourning into Dancing, 140th Founding Anniversary, Abundant Life, Herding, Weekly Reminders

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 6 AUGUST 2023

Mourning into dancing

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! ” Psalm 30:11-12 (ESV)

It has been an emotional week for Jewel and me. Dr Juanito Acanto, our beloved former President at Central Philippine University, Iloilo City, passed away last Sunday at 86.

Dr Acanto was a visionary leader, a man of faith who always sought God’s will and agenda in his life, family and work. He was like a dad to many of us. He was one of our wedding sponsors.

Jewel and I both worked with Juanito at the President’s Office. Jewel worked with Dr Acanto a few years before I worked as his assistant and later as his Executive Secretary. We saw in him a model of a successful Christian leader.

Despite the sadness of losing someone dear to us, we thank the Lord for His eternal gift of life. Indeed, he has turned our mourning into dancing, clothe us with gladness. Thank you, Lord!

140th Founding Anniversary Preparations

Oamaru Baptist Church will be 140 years old on 13 August 2023. We will commemorate this on two Sundays.

13 August – Foundation Day Sunday – Speaker: Malcolm Lucas
20 August – 140th Anniversary Celebration Sunday – Speaker: Rachel Murray

Abundant Life Bible Study on 6 August, 1:30 PM at OBC

We will take up Lesson 4 in the Abundant Life workbook.

Please work on the questions, and be ready to read, discuss, and share. I will be leading the session on Sunday.

We encourage everyone to join and learn more about the Word of God. The session provides the opportunity to know one another more.

See me if you don’t have a copy of the “Abundant Life” Workbook.

Herding this past week

This section covers the activities that I have done in the past week, meetings, coordination, and some items I haven’t shared previously.

It was fair weather driving to Oamaru last Thursday. A farmer’s farm waste burning made the horizon look interesting. Some of the pastoral matters I attended this week.

I attended the Gleniti Baptist Church Combined Leaders’ meeting on Monday at 7:00 PM. I gave updates about the OBC ministry.
I set a visit by the Laser Electrical person to inspect the possible location of the commercial dishwasher we are planning to buy, plumbing, and electrical installations on Thursday, 10:00 AM.
I wrote the Oamaru Mail requesting a news article about our 140th Founding Anniversary celebrations. Let’s pray for a positive response.
I attended the Oamaru Ministers’ Meeting at Weston Church. Eleven ministers were present, and I met Fredy Permentilla, the Filipino Catholic priest, for the first time.
After the Oamaru Ministers’ lunch, I left earlier than the others because I went to Kakanui, at Ray’s place, to have a brief on Photography Sunday. Of course, the visit isn’t complete without having the best coffee in Kakanui.

Oamaru Men’s Breakfast on 12 August, 8:00 AM

OBC men are invited to attend the Oamaru Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, 12 August, at 8:00 AM at the Phoenix Complex.

Please register ASAP. Read the poster for more details.

If you are interested in attending but find the $20 a bit high, please contact Sam. The group has some who can partially help sponsor. The organisers don’t want men to miss out.

Weekly Reminders

Youth Ministry – Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
NOTE: Please ask Tom or Bevan for more information. Thank you!
Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM

Jul 22 2023

Prayers Flowing, OBC’s 140th Year, Bible Study, Men’s Breakfast, Pastoral Care

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 23 JULY 2023

Prayers flowing for healing and hope

They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;
And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.
For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light, we see light. Psalm 36:8-9

prayer flowing — *Let our prayers be springing like a fountain*, *flowing like a stream,*

You’ve probably observed receiving a barrage of text messages on your phone in the past few days. Several of our church members have gotten sick with flu or COVID. Praise the Lord. Everyone has gotten well or on the way to full recovery.

With one of us finally getting a delicate heart operation after several months of prayer, I can’t help but keep sending updates and requests for continuing prayers. Thank you for your prayers.

The said person is on her way to recovery, having moved from ICU to a regular room yesterday. I’m sure more testimonies of God’s miracles are coming our way soon. 💓

Yes, we have created a prayer fountain for healing and hope because life’s uncertainties are fundamental in any circumstance, whether well or sick.

Let our prayers be springing like a fountain, flowing like a stream.

140th Founding Anniversary Preparations

Oamaru Baptist Church was formally constituted on 13 August 1883, making 13 August 2023 our 140th year. We are holding simple celebrations to commemorate our foundation anniversary.

The following are our initial plans.

6 August – Church Photography Sunday (needed for print and online posts).
13 August – Foundation Day Sunday – Speaker: Malcolm Lucas
18 August – Oamaru Mail publishes on our 140th Anniversary (with a half-page paid ad).
20 August – 140th Anniversary Celebration Sunday – Speaker: Rachel Murray

We need to be talking more about our preparations. If you have some suggestions, feel free to approach me.

Weekly Reminders

Youth Ministry – Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
NOTE: Please ask Tom or Bevan for more information. Thank you!
Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM
We invite our young people and anyone in our church to come and sing, play an instrument, and even just be there to listen.

Abundant Life Bible Study on 23 July, 1:30 PM at OBC

Everyone is invited to join. Mic Esdrelon is leading our discipleship session this afternoon.

We are rotating the Bible Study facilitator role amongst those who attended the TEE Group Leaders’ Training last 31 March.

We will take up Lesson 4. Please fill in the blanks, and be ready to read, discuss, and share.

See me if you don’t have a copy of the “Abundant Life” Workbook.

Oamaru Men’s Breakfast on 12 August, 8:00 AM

OBC men are invited to attend the Oamaru Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, 12 August, 8:00 AM at the Phoenix Complex.

Please register ASAP. Read the poster for more details.

If you are interested in attending but find the $20 a bit high, please contact Danny or Sam because they have men who can help sponsor partially.

They don’t want men to miss out.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
Psalm 23:1-2

PASTORAL CARE

As your pastor, I am happy to visit and pray for you. We can meet at your home or in town.

I will be using the Faith-Wisdom Discovery tool in our meeting. Please contact me.

– Jonan

Jun 17 2023

Online Mission, Photo Testimony, Reminders, Pastoral Care, Prayers, Giving

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 17 JUNE 2023

Mission Philippines – Praise God for a successful MAP Toolkit online seminar

Thank you all for your prayers. The MAP Toolkit online seminar was a success. There were 44 registered participants, most pastors of churches in the mountains of South Negros, Philippines.

I am deeply humbled and thankful because this online training fulfills my long-time plan to share the MAP Toolkit with God’s shepherds in the PhilippineGod’saying for more mission opportunities like this.

Below are two photos of the participants.

Testimony through photos

I found this photo online of the OBC congregation in 1900. What does the old photo say about our church 123 years ago? We need a photo of us in 2023.

OBC circa 1900

OBC circa 2023

Weekly Reminders

Youth Ministry – Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
NOTE: Please ask Tom or Bevan for more information. Thank you!
Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM
We invite our young people and anyone in our church to come and sing, play an instrument, and even just be there to listen.

Pastoral Care

I am creating my visitation calendar. Please let me know your availability on either Thursday or Sunday afternoon. Contact me through my phone at 0211849974 or email me at pastor@oamarubaptist.org.nz, or you can message me via OBC’s Facebook Page. Thank you!

Let us pray for healing for those who are sick and recovering but still weak.

Prayers and fundraising for the Yumos

The Yumo family lRose’s rest Mary Rose’s remains on 15 June. Let us continue to pray for comfort and strength to Joel, Ralph, Faith, and Chelsea.

As a church, let us extend practical help to the family. Together with the Totara School, we have jointly initiated raising funds to buy their plane tickets to New Zealand.

Please donate through the OBC bank account with the Reference – “HelpYumo.” Those giving through envelopes, please specify the same.

Giving

Thank you for your continued support for the ministries the Lord God has entrusted us with. Your generosity means a lot for the development and progress of His work.

If you want to set up an automatic payment for regular giving or make a one-off donation via Internet banking, the Oamaru Baptist Church account number is (ANZ) 06-0941-0015036-00.

May the Lord God bless you and keep you.

Jun 10 2023

Heartful Commitment, Shared Lunch, Testimony, Reminders, Carey, Giving

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 10 JUNE 2023

Heartful Commitment – Let’s work with all our hearts

Below is the photo of the installation service we held on 12 June 2022, the month’s second Sunday. Who had the slightest idea what would happen in the following months? Nobody, and neither I knew.

installation of pastor jonan June 2022 — *OBC at last 12 June 2022 pastor’s installation*

What comes to mind on that installation Sunday was Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.“

As we continue to strive to serve and glorify our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, let us do it with all our hearts, mindful that we are working for the Lord.

Shared lunch on 11 June

We are having a shared lunch on Sunday, 11 June. Please stay after the service and join us.

There are many reasons to celebrate under the loving and merciful blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Birthdays, wedding anniversaries, OBC victories, fellowships, and many more.

Testimony through photos

I found this photo online of the OBC congregation in 1900. What does the old photo say about our church 123 years ago?

Yes, we do need to have a photo of us in 2023. Can we do it this Sunday, 11 June 2023?

OBC circa 1900

OBC circa 2023

Weekly Reminders

Youth Ministry – Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
NOTE: Please ask Tom or Bevan for more information. Thank you!
Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM
We invite our young people and anyone in our church to come and sing, play an instrument, and even just be there to listen.

Church Tasks Roster

The tasks roster is an opportunity for us to participate in the function and operation of our church in the areas of worship and service.

Please feel free to jot down your names on the rostering sheet on a table in the tea area.

Don’t hesitate to ask Bevan or anyone regarding any task you are interested in and if you need further information. Thank you!

Carey Baptist College offers “CareyLocal”

We are sharing these “CareyLocal” promotions from Carey Baptist College. Please CLICK on the image below for more detailed information.

Prayer for comfort and strength

Let us pray for the Yumo family as they go through grief and sorrow for the death of their beloved wife/mum. They arrived safely. Mary Joy’s remains will be entered on 15 June.

As a church, let us extend practical help to the family. Together with the Totara School, we have jointly initiated raising funds to buy their plane tickets to New Zealand.

Please donate through the OBC bank account with the Reference “HelpYumo”. Those giving through envelopes, please specify the same.

Giving

May the Lord God bless you and keep you.

Jun 03 2023

Drive and Strive, OBC Year 1, Shared Lunch, Reminders, Prayer, Hui

BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 3 JUNE 2023

Drive to Survive

The whole-day safety driving training that Jewel and I attended on 23 May, courtesy of the company we are working with, is called “Drive to Survive”.

On the training’s practical side, we were asked to drive at different speeds (50, 55, 60, 65, and 70 Kph) and upon reaching a point where the trainer stood, he blew a whistle that signalled us to step on the break and navigate the car to avoid hitting a row of barriers (plastic buckets).

*Sharing this photo of a participant as we were in one group, we didn’t have a photo of ourselves.*

Many of us might have experienced this when somebody suddenly crosses the road, and you must break suddenly. The one-day “Drive to Survive” training built up our confidence in what cars (with ABS technology) can do to avoid hitting a barrier, which could mean saving lives, property, and pockets.

Philippians 4:13 reminds us that we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

1 Year at OBC – Strive to Serve and Glorify!

The first Sunday of June marks my start of pastoral ministry here at Oamaru Baptist Church, and it feels like we have been here for many years now.

Perhaps, the many beautiful things that have happened in the last 12 months at OBC and Oamaru, in general, make us all wonder how it all happened in one year.

Again, Philippians 4:13 reminds us that we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

The challenge for all of us is this – Like our cars that we can’t discover what they can do until we test them, we need to launch our ministry ventures further to learn and experience the vastness of “doing all things” through Christ who strengthens us.

After a year in our ministry journey together, let us strive to serve and glorify!

Shared lunch on 11 June

There are many reasons to celebrate under the loving and merciful blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Birthdays, wedding anniversaries, OBC victories, fellowships, and many more.

Thus, we are holding a shared lunch on Sunday, 11 June. Bring your food to share.

Weekly Reminders

Youth Ministry – Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
NOTE: No youth meeting on 5th June, King’s birthday holiday.
Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM
We invite our young people and anyone in our church to come and sing, play an instrument, and even just be there to listen.

Church Tasks Roster

The tasks roster is an opportunity for us to participate in the function and operation of our church in the areas of worship and service.

Please feel free to jot down your names on the rostering sheet on a table in the tea area.

Don’t hesitate to ask Bevan or anyone regarding any task you are interested in and if you need further information. Thank you!

Prayer for comfort and strength

Let us pray for the Yumo family as they go through grief and sorrow for the death of their beloved wife/mum. Please pray for safe travels and provision as the children go home on 5th June and Joel at a later date.

5 Takeaways from the 26-27 May 2023 Otago and Southland Regional Hui

I attended the Otago and Southland Regional Hui on 26-27 May at Alexandra Baptist Church for the first time.

The Regional Hui is a gathering of Baptist pastors and church leaders in the Otago and Southland region held twice a year.

Please read more about the valuable takeaways from the regional gathering by clicking on the title, image, or button below.

OTAGO & SOUTHLAND BAPTISTS HUI