By Peter Rodwell

I was intrigued that Jonan had asked me to speak and commented that he was very trusting of someone he had never heard speak before. But trust me, he must, for he has asked me to speak on a subject I know very little about, and I am not a Baptist.

I have been a member of several Baptist churches in my life, but more importantly, I have lived in this world for a significant time with the Lord truly at my side, and most of the time, I have been under the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Why is celebrating the past so important?

Most people today would say that they live for today and plan for tomorrow, and that the past may be interesting but not very important or useful or even a distraction!!!

Over the past few weeks, Jonan (and Tom) have taught from 1st and 2nd Kings with reference to Elijah and Elishah’s calling. What has this meant to us? Firstly, the importance of

“COMMITMENT, PASSIONATE COMMITMENT”, then of

“LISTENING FOR THE VERY QUIET WORD OF GOD”, and finally

“FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THAT WORD” with ignited hearts. 

I find the reading of Elijah and Elisha’s faith and commitment to be very encouraging. Likewise, reading of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, all the other prophets, the gospels, and the NT letters of the apostles, is equally encouraging. 

More importantly, reading and hearing the stories of Jesus and His passionate commitment to the task he took on, to be life saving for all of us here today and so many others. Jesus is our “Corner stone”, the others are our “Foundation stones”.

So, a very big yes to the stories/memories of the past. These are very special.

So, what of the Oamaru Baptist Church’s 142^nd anniversary? 

I find the story of Mr Angus and 4 of his colleagues meeting in his home to further the possibility of founding a Baptist church in Oamaru. Then on the 13^th August 1883, 23 foundation members formally constituted this Oamaru Baptist Church in the lecture theatre of the Atheneum (now the museum). Six weeks prior, they had started a Sunday School with 16 children and four teachers. 

They soon outgrew both the Tee St hall and the Atheneum. Under the leadership of a group of outstanding and committed laypeople, a new church was built 6 years later (July 1889) in Severn St, virtually debt-free. 

By then, the church membership had grown significantly, and the Sunday School, on opening, cared for 85 children with 11 teachers. They weren’t to get their first minister/pastor until 1892, some nine years later.

Think about that! Starting with five leaders, no pastor, and only 18 further members, they founded and grew this church. Within 6 years, they multiplied the numbers fourfold. Isn’t that a foundation worth celebrating and inspiring us as a basis for our work today?

Does this lay leadership and commitment inspire us today? 

They started as five, and then within weeks had grown the church to 23 and a Sunday School of 16 children. Within another 6 years, they had significantly grown the membership and the Sunday School of 85 children with 11 teachers, even without a minister/pastor.

I think we should remember and sincerely thank those original leaders, and in that memory, may we be challenged to continue growing this church and the kingdom of God in Oamaru, in NZ, and worldwide as we are instructed by Jesus in the Great Commission.

Jonan (and Tom), through their messages over these last few weeks, challenged us as to “How committed are we?”

Many of us would say that we do not have those skills?!

There are many different programmes around today to help people understand their personality and recognise their Spiritual gifts (e.g. Strength Finders).   Many churches hold seminars to help people find their “Spiritual gifts” and to see where they fit into the body of believers (we are all of one body but of many different parts).

But the call from God is for all of us to the Great Commission (Mark 16 vs 5 “Go out into all the world, preach the Good News, make disciples, heal the sick, and care for the vulnerable”).

We are not all Billy Grahams or even Jonan Castillons, but we are all called, no matter what WE think are our gifts.

Let me now tell you a little of myself. As a seventh former at school, I was an introvert. I could not even stand up in class and read out loud two lines of a poem. Then, in 1976, I had a “God moment”. I have had a good number of these throughout my life, but on this occasion, I was at a three-day city-wide charismatic renewal conference in my home church in Melbourne with about 400 people attending.

On Friday evening, I started crying. I did not know why, and despite many people praying for me, the tears continued. I cried continuously for the three days of the conference, including all night, and was changing my pillowslip at least twice each night, but still I cried and did not know why.

At the time, our second son, Paul, was 4 years old and suffered from Benign Intracranial Hypertension (very high brain pressure – 3-4 times yours and mine), which would make him blind before he was an adult.   We were also told that he was ineducable as his attention span was less than 20 seconds. As the parents among you can imagine, this latter point made him a very demanding child.   

As most of you know, I am a retired medical specialist, and at the time was training in Melbourne to become a Paediatric Surgeon. I believed in God healing people, but my son “didn’t need that” as he was under the care of very skilled doctors.

Well, on the Sunday afternoon of the conference, I handed over my medical skills (my hands and my intellect) to God and figuratively laid my son Paul on the altar for God to heal. I also offered myself for full-time church work in the “healing ministry”. My tears stopped immediately, and I rejoiced. Paul (our second son – now 52) completed 7^th form at school and is now a truck driver, driving B trains – double articulated trucks! Praise God!!!

Three months later, many of us went to another 3-day national charismatic renewal conference in Canberra. At the beginning of the first morning, I was called forward (why me???) and was then asked to open the conference in prayer. Now remember, I couldn’t stand up in class and read two lines of a poem out loud, and I hadn’t changed much over these 10 years (other than now having the Holy Spirit by my side). How was I going to cope with this in front of 4000 people? This could be very embarrassing to say the least (I have a weak bladder).

I needed another “God moment” urgently!

I opened my mouth and prayed for about 15 minutes. My friends in the front row said they all got colds from the draft my knees were creating. Yes, I was nervous, very nervous.   I had no idea what I had said, but received thanks and many compliments.

Later, I listened to a recording of my prayer. My voice did not waiver at all and the prayer was amazing. Not me, but God through the Holy Spirit within me. Whenever I now speak, I am just as nervous, but so long as the Spirit is with me and I have asked God to use me as the vessel, then I am able.

Now, back to each of us and our spiritual gifts. 

Are we really limited? 

Do we only get given one or two spiritual gifts?

Recently, an 80-year-old friend (in our weekly Zoom bible study group) shared that evangelism definitely wasn’t one of her gifts and she wouldn’t be doing it. We talked about the scripture that says we are ALL called to the great Commission, and although we all may use different ways, we must make ourselves available to God and create opportunities to share the Good News wherever we are. The next week, she shared in our group that she had been able to do just that. (after 80 years)! How exciting! PTL!

1 Cor 12 vs 4,5,6:

“There are different kinds of gifts but the same spirit.

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

There are different kinds of working, but the same God works ALL of them in ALL men”.

As for sure God and the Holy Spirit aren’t limited,

and if they are in us as Jesus promised …. then neither are we limited! 

God is not dependent on OUR skills and intellect. Remember the story of Balaam’s ass (Numbers 22)? Yes, God used an ass to speak very clearly to Balaam. If God can use an ass to speak, surely God can use each one of us.

We are all called, we are all promised the Holy Spirit, we are all promised God’s wisdom … if only we ask!.

 James 1 vs 5- 6: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt”. 

We will know it is true spiritual wisdom because

James 3 vs 17: “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere”.

At university one day, in the corridor outside the Emergency Dept in Dunedin, a non-Christian class member asked me some very challenging questions about God in a rather aggressive way. As background, there were only six Christians in our class of 120, and even some of the lecturers openly mocked us in class, and the science taught was quite strongly anti-Christian!

This classmate was much bigger and stronger than me, and you may recall that I was a very shy lad. I had not been a Christian very long, and my Bible knowledge was quite limited. Another God moment was needed, as my heart lifted heavenward and called for help. I was stunned at the scriptural answers that came through my mouth, and I learnt a lot.   My rather aggressive colleague became a Christian!! PTL!

I was aware last Sunday that a number of you from Jonan’s study class felt too shy or inadequate to share what the study classes meant to you. Reflect for a moment on what I have shared so far. Are any of us inadequate if the spirit of God is within us?

Now I ask all of you, no matter how shy you may feel, stand up if you can, close your eyes, put your hands face up in front of you, and we will all come together in personal prayer, offer ourselves both in body and in intellect to God for His service. …… silence ……..  

Let us now ask for God’s wisdom, ……… (silence ………)

And remember to ask this whenever we are in need.  …..

(Please feel free to sit down). 

Over these next days, weeks and months (or even years), continue to ask God what He wants you to do. Seek spiritual wisdom and be willing to respond… even if it is not in your comfort zone. 

Being a Christian is never going to be a walk in the park. Jesus made it clear that the walk may include suffering, may include persecution, will unlikely not include wealth and comfort. Are you willing? Are you passionately committed?

I will finish by asking each of us, “What is our personal role in the picture of the Waitaki river dam, power house, and power network going out, that Jonan has shared with us”?

When you have your answer, please share it with Jonan or write it on the board in the tea room.

Now, let us join together and sing “Take My Life and Let it Be.”

While waiting for the musicians to come to lead us, I ask if there is anyone here who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus and would like to? Then please speak to one of the leaders after this service, or simply ask Jesus into your heart and confess your past, asking Jesus for forgiveness. I assure you it will be given.

Viewing life from God’s perspective

Through the years of searching, I have found that the greatest gift a person can have is the ability to see and live life from God’s perspective.

It is similar to the “what would Jesus do” thinking or asking yourself, “How does Jesus see this?”

It is like what Paul says in Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

It may sound ironic and paradoxical, but being “crucified with Christ” is crucial to experiencing the life that Jesus Christ offers. It means being transfixed into living in love and forgiveness as Christ is.

It is also like what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Jesus Christ clearly said that it is not only “seeking the kingdom of God”. One must seek his righteousness, as well.

It is both the kingdom of God and his righteousness for “all these things” to be added unto you.

Reminder: Fellowship lunch on 3 August

Let’s bring food to share at our Fellowship Lunch after the worship service on Sunday, August 3, to celebrate significant life events such as birthdays and anniversaries.

It is also an occasion to welcome those who have joined us lately. Friendly people of OBC, please take the time to get to know one another, especially those who are new to you.

Ray will be the guest speaker at the Men’s Breakfast on August 9th.

Baptist church men, please take note of the Men’s Breakfast on 9th August, 8:00 AM at the Lagonda Cafe.

Oamaru Baptist Church is the sponsor of the 9th August Men’s Breakfast. Let us (all Baptist men) attend and meet other men in town. The breakfast menu is shown in the picture above.

Your hopes and dreams for OBC

I want to invite all who come to Oamaru Baptist Church to worship, participate in the life and ministry of the church, and “pin” your hopes and dreams for OBC.

On the board at the tea area, I have posted the diagram, “Oamaru Baptist Church – Hydropower Plant Analogy”.

I want us all to participate in fulfilling the aims and functions of the church by writing on a piece of paper your hopes and dreams for OBC. I have provided pens and paper (white sheet or yellow-green post-its) in the adjacent table.

Celebrating our 142nd Founding Anniversary

On 10 August, Sunday, we will have picture-taking sessions as part of our our 142nd Founding Anniversary celebrations.

On 13th August 1883, at a meeting held in the Lecture Hall of the Athenaeum, the Church was formally constituted with a foundation membership of 23.

August is the month we celebrate the founding of the Baptist Church. We have designated the 17th of August as our Foundation Sunday celebration. I have invited Peter Rodwell to be our speaker.

Please note our celebration schedule. The current part of the founding anniversary celebration involves pinning our hopes and dreams for Oamaru Baptist Church.

Giving

We are truly grateful for your steadfast support of the ministries entrusted to us by the Lord God. Your generous contributions are vital in advancing our mission and enhancing the impact of His work.

If you want to set up automatic payments for regular giving or make a one-time donation via online banking, please use the Oamaru Baptist Church account number at ANZ: 06-0941-0015036-00.

Thank you for being an essential part of our church’s journey. May the Lord God abundantly bless you and lovingly watch over you.

Which Status of Christian Life Are You?

I am sharing this short reflection, which I wrote in 2014 and was part of my inspirational talk with Filipinos at Invercargill Central Baptist Church.

Meeting and ministering with migrant workers allows me to learn their aspirations and hardships, including their desire to give their families a better life in New Zealand or their home country. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

Church Meeting on 11 May Sunday

After the 11th May Sunday worship service, there will be a meeting to decide on two matters:

1. Elders’ election
2. Adjustment to the constitution.

All present are welcome to attend, but only enlisted members can vote.

We will hold a fellowship lunch on Sunday, 11 May, to celebrate Mother’s Day. Please bring food to share.

Holding fellowship lunches is also about team-building, where we volunteer to prepare, serve, and help with the aftercare tasks. Please be ready to participate.

Two May Events – Ladies’ Morning Tea and Mid-week Fellowship

A Lecture-Seminar on Assertiveness by Dr. Val Gonzales

Our family friends, Dr. Val and Chelly Gonzales, will visit Oamaru from June 9 to 18, 2025.

They live in Mesquite, Texas. Val is an educator, minister, licensed psychotherapist, and amateur photographer who has served in Southeast Asia and North America.

During their visit, Val will preach in the morning and hold a lecture-seminar on assertiveness on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 2:00 PM at OBC.

Val will preach about the church and mental health. Please invite your family and friends to join our worship service.

The lecture-seminar “To Understand and To Be Understood—A Seminar on Assertiveness” is open to all church members and the community. Please plan to attend and invite others.

In June 2017, they also came to Timaru, and Val conducted a “Building Relational Skills” lecture at Wilson Street Baptist Church. Let’s pray for their preparation and a safe trip to New Zealand.

On 7th May, at 7:00 PM, Jules Riding, a New Zealand Christian singer embarking on a South Island tour, will share his music and testimony at the OBC auditorium.

He titles this event “Finding God in the Wilderness, ” a mix of songs and the Word.

Your koha or donations are appreciated.

Listen to or Watch Jules’s “I Found Grace” on YouTube.

Life of Christ Course Starts

Twelve people attended the first Life of Christ (LoC) session on Sunday, March 30th.

Six more are joining in another class schedule we will set this week.

With a potential total of 18 persons, we will divide the participants into three groups.

➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

LoC Learners will take up Unit 2 on 6th April, 1:00 PM at the OBC Tea Area.

Working Bee Day is on Saturday, 5th April

Weekly Activity Reminders

• Youth Ministry – Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
  NOTE: Please ask Tom or Bevan for more information. Thank you!
• Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 1:30 to 2:30 PM

Five OBC Women Will Attend “Connected Across the South”

We are happy to share that five OBC women will attend the Regional Women’s Event at the Dunedin City Baptist Church on Saturday, 5 April, from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

Let us pray for their (and other delegates from Otago and Southland regions) safe travel to Dunedin and back.

Pray for Rachel Murray, the main speaker; Jewel, and other women who will share their testimonies.

IN PHOTOS: Women and Men of OBC

We thank the Lord for stirring up our men and women. We look forward to more tea, bbq, and fellowships in the months ahead.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Be a Part of the Task Roster

We are thankful for your joining OBC. We invite you to join our task roster.

Joining this roster is not just a commitment; it’s a chance for you to actively engage in worship and service, contributing to the vibrant life of our church community.

Please write your name on the roster sheet on the table in our tea area.

If you have any questions about the tasks that interest you or need further details, don’t hesitate to contact Bevan, Jonan, or anyone else for help. Your involvement makes a difference—thank you!

Join the church task roster, where the only qualification is availability.

God Knows Our Leader’s Heart! He Knows Our Hearts!

He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight. Luke 16:15

The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 16, begins with Jesus teaching the people, including the Pharisees, that the ultimate purpose of life is to attain eternal blessings.

Attaining this purpose requires using the resources and wealth that the Lord has given us in a way that is pleasing to God. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

All Gentlemen’s BBQ Tea

Men are invited to a BBQ tea at 6:00 PM on Saturday, March 29th, in the Oamaru Baptist Church tea area.

Meat is provided, but please bring a small side dish to share.

Come and enjoy the fellowship!

Ladies Morning Tea

Ladies, please join us for morning tea on April 1, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Oamaru Baptist Church.

Wear a hat that has special meaning for you, or be creative and decorate one. Don’t miss the fun and fellowship, ladies.

Proverbs 31:25-26: “She speaks with wisdom and teaches with kindness. She opens her mouth with discretion, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.”

Connected Across the South 2025 – Regional Women’s Event

Women (teens and up) are invited to attend the Regional Women’s Event at the Dunedin City Baptist Church on Saturday, 5 April, from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

Registration is $35pp – lunch included
Speaker: Rachel Murray – ‘Strength & Courage”

Jewel will be sharing her testimony at this event, among others.

REGISTER NOW HERE – The deadline is on 2 April.

Life of Christ Discipleship Course

Life of Christ learners will meet on 30 March, 1:00 PM at the OBC Tea area. Please don’t forget to bring the following:

• Copy of the New International Bible as where the Workbook is based. You may use other translations.
• Student Workbooks with Lesson 1A, 1B, and 1C have been answered.
• A pen or pencil. A set of coloured pencils (including red, blue, green, and yellow).
• BYO Lunch

Pure Books to Open a Pop-Up Shop in Oamaru

Pure Books, a Christian book shop based in Timaru, will open a pop-up shop from 9th to 10th May. The venue will be confirmed.

Andrew and Shing Stirling established Pure Books in Timaru shortly after the Timaru Christian Bookshop closed in February 2024.

“We are a family-run business based in Timaru. Our vision is to provide high-quality biblical resources. We try our best to ensure all our books undergo a strict screening process to ensure they are ‘pure’ or biblically sound.” – Andrew and Shing Stirling

Mark the dates on your calendar.

Alec’s Testimony

I’m pleased to share Alec’s testimony to boost our faith in God. He probably shared this many years ago, and a few might remember.

Regardless, Alec’s testimony is refreshing. He assures us that the Lord looks after you when you are faithful. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

Power through Corporate Prayer

I am sharing Allan Taylor’s article “Accessing God’s Power through Corporate Prayer,” which he presented at the national Hui last November. Allan is the President of the Baptist Union of New Zealand.

Reading Allan’s article this week reminded me that we must heighten our prayer life as a church. OBC is in the reorganisation phase. Let’s be aware that our “enemy” (satan) will try to sow disunity and confusion, disrupt relationships, and many schemes to hinder us from reaching our goals. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

1st Quarter 2025 Organisational Plans

On 24 January, I sent an email with the subject “AGM and Eldership” with two attached documents, namely: (1) OBC Letter January 2025 from Rachel and (2) OBC Elder’s Charter 2025.

The letter mentions that the Annual General Meeting will be on Sunday, 9 March 2025, at 11:30 AM in the OBC Auditorium.

A few key areas will be discussed to assist the church’s transition into a new stage.

1. Presentation of the draft new OBC Constitution.
2. Nomination of OBC elders. Rachel’s letter explains the procedure for nominating a candidate for Elder.

Please inform Jonan or Bevan if you haven’t received a copy of that email or your device doesn’t have a PDF viewer. Two sets of printed copies are on the Tea Room table. We can print more if needed.

Church Bulletin

• Youth Weekly Meeting resumes on Thursday, 6 February, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.
  
• Weekly Prayer Meeting continues every Thursday, 1:30-2:30 PM.
  
• Abundant Life Discipleship Group will take up “Lesson 15 – Members of the Local Church” on Sunday, 1:00-2:30 PM at the OBC Tea Room.
  
• Watch out! We will start The Life of Christ Discipleship Course in March 2025. We will provide more information next week.

Be a Part of our Task Roster

OBC needs your participation in the task roster. Join our task roster.

Please actively engage in our worship and service community and brighten our church community. Please write your name on the rostering sheet on the table next to our tea area.

If you have any questions about the tasks that interest you or need further details, don’t hesitate to contact Bevan, our pastor, or anyone else for help. Your involvement makes a difference—thank you!

Join the church task roster where the only qualification is availability.

Website Management Training

We want to train people to manage our website and assist in creating and publishing content for the church website and social media channels.

Please approach Jonan or Bevan if you are interested.

Looking back on my life before becoming a Christian, the Lord must have had his hand on me. Not long after I came to live in New Zealand, I rolled a ute on a grand road, just missing a concrete power pole, and I was unhurt. Another time, I was inches away from rolling a tractor down a steep bank.

When growing up, I had very little contact with Christians. I attended Sunday school for a short while, but there were much better ways of spending Sunday and a period at a church school. The Lord was not a part of my life.

It was only after joining the merchant navy that I heard more about Jesus. But I did wonder, if there is only one Saviour, Jesus, why were there so many churches claiming that theirs was the way to be saved? So, I was not impressed.

I then came to live in New Zealand, got to know a very nice girl and married her. She used to go to church, and before we were married, I had a few meetings with a priest. He talked about knowing God.

I was not prepared to commit myself, only to say that I was aware that there must be a guiding point. I went to a few church services after the children were born, but I thought there was no life in them.

Catherine left the Catholic church at the Lord’s direction and started going to the Assembly of God church. About this time, I was invited to a men’s breakfast. I enjoyed the fellowship but was not ready to commit myself.

I went along to some of the services and enjoyed them very much, full of joy and alive. But I did feel I was singled out by the altar calls into something I was not ready for.

Then, on Saturday, 12 August 1987, I had a telephone call reminding me of a breakfast that morning. It was a bit late to go to it, and I had already eaten. But I felt that I had to go. I can’t remember who spoke, but when they asked if anybody wanted to accept the Lord as their Saviour, I knew that it was for me.

I went home bubbling and could not wait to tell Catherine of my decision. It felt like I was walking on air for days afterwards. It was not until later that I found out that Catherine had been praying for me for years and knew that one day, I would come to know the Lord.

What brought home to me, that God knows all about me was during an altar call a week later. There came an altar call for someone who had trouble breathing through their nose and sometimes woke gasping for air. This was something I had not told anybody about.

Well, I just sat there, but when the call repeated again and nobody else went forward, I knew it was for me. The problem was cured, and I have had very little trouble with breathing.

Since then, my walk with Jesus has been one of gradual growth. But one thing I am sure of is that when you are faithful, the Lord looks after you. Since knowing Jesus, I have been blessed in many ways.

Alec Clarke

Heavenly Father, thank you for extending my days so that I could be here today with these others who love you and reverence your Holy name.

We welcome this New Year not knowing what lies ahead, but you know. You know the end from the beginning.

We do know that there will be sad days and happy days. There will be blessings and lessons because that is the way things are.

But our Trust and Hope are in you, for you will never leave or forsake us.

Thank you for your Love and protection and for showing us glimpses of your glory in the amazing and spectacular sunrises and the canopy of stars overhead at night.

Thank you for always acknowledging our spoken words and unspoken thoughts. May they be pleasing to you always.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Who am I…?

Who am I to give Hope to people affected by cancer
When I can barely manage the common cold
Or a bruise on my shin

Who am I to encourage someone with cancer
When I have not walked in their shoes
Or travelled the road they are journeying

Who am I
I am a child of God
What can I do

I can listen, I can pray, I can smile,
I can touch your hand in reassurance
I can cheer your day with flowers or a meal

We can look to the Lord of Hope together
We can pray for a positive outcome for you
That is what we can do