Even the Stones Will Speak

In this Holy Week reflection, the author, Elmo Familiaran, considers the paradox of the weeklong events: Jesus entering in triumph but ending in his crucifixion. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

The Triumphal Entry of Jesus – Proclaiming the Righteousness of God

I wrote this reflection during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020. A virus, a microscopic organism like a non-living stone, has caused God’s people to proclaim His righteousness louder than before. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

What is Good in Good Friday? Understanding and Embracing its Real Value

This reflection gives us refreshing and meaningful reflections on Good Friday. You are encouraged to read the whole text as you celebrate the Resurrection Weekend. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

7 Good Friday Short Reflections this Resurrection Weekend

When Good Friday comes, we are constantly confronted with, “How can the death of the one, Jesus Christ, be redemption for all?” These short reflections are faith-assuring. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

Happy Easter or Happy Resurrection! He Lives! Christ Jesus Lives Today!

What is the meaning and implication of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? This article assures us of who Jesus Christ is and the firm foundation of our joy, peace, and thanksgiving. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

The church has been a regular caroller at the rest home, bringing the Christmas message through songs every December.

While I was still in Timaru, the annual ministry at Sandringham House seemed satisfactory. After moving to Oamaru in July 2024, we began to pray about how the church could minister more to the residents, as we are now based in Oamaru.

When I met the rest home owner last year, I offered my availability to be an on-call pastor to minister to a dying resident, which she appreciated.

About two years ago, one resident began attending our Sunday service. A friend who visits her became a church member and invited her to join. This church member stops by the rest home every Sunday to accompany her to church.

In December 2024, a couple from our church moved in. They chose Sandringham House because it is near the Baptist church. Thus, three people from Sandringham House are now attending our worship service.

At the start of 2025, we learned that the couple had to be wheelchair-bound for health and safety reasons. This sparked our wheelchair ministry with Sandringham House.

The church members take turns facilitating our members who use wheelchairs to church before the 10:00 AM worship starts and returning them home afterwards.

After doing the wheelchair routine for over two months, we learned another resident wanted to attend church. As there are only two wheelchairs available at the rest home, we couldn’t bring this resident to church.

Also, wheelchairs may be unavailable on Sunday mornings when usage demands rise. To address this risk and accommodate other residents wishing to attend the Sunday service, the church initiated fundraising efforts for two additional wheelchairs.

A generous church member offered to purchase the wheelchairs while the church raise funds.

The new wheelchairs arrived last week, and three attendees used them at the Sunday worship service on 13 April. This brings the number of rest home residents attending our Sunday worship to four.

Thanks to M, our friendly octogenarian church member who regularly visits J and other residents. She has encouraged two residents to join the Sunday worship.

We thank the Lord for C and B, who minister to and pray for their fellow residents, encouraging them to worship with them at the nearby church, among other prayer requests.

In God’s timing, a ministry has flourished. To God be the glory!

The fundraising for the two wheelchairs is ongoing. Please use the Oamaru Baptist Church account number at ANZ: 06-0941-0015036-00. Label or put “wheelchair” in the reference.

Thank you, and God bless you!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you. Psalm 118:26

How Jesus’s Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem Can Be Our True Victory

Was Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem truly triumphant? The crowd expected him to claim his kingship and overthrow the Roman government, but this did not happen.

In celebration of Palm Sunday, I want to share this brief reflection. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday Schedule

We will hold a Good Friday Service on 18 April at 3:00 PM. We will celebrate the last seven statements of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The Resurrection Sunday will be held on the regular Sunday time at 10:00 AM.

Share your “Resurrection” Stories

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found.’” (Luke 15-31-32)

On 20 April, Resurrection Sunday, I invite you to share your “resurrection” story. As many of you might remember from previous celebrations, we share stories about how God has revived, revitalised, or renewed our lives. Please share in three to five minutes. Thank you!

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 roster sheet at the tea service 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.

An evening of music and testimony with Jules Riding

On 7th May, at 7:00 PM, Jules Riding, an NZ Christian singer doing 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.

The wheelchairs have arrived

As announced last Sunday, two new wheelchairs have been purchased, and they arrived this week for use this Sunday.

The arrival of these wheelchairs means that one or two more from Sandringham House could attend our worship service.

For those who want to contribute towards these items, please write “wheelchair” as the reference.

Giving

We are truly grateful for your unwavering support of the ministries entrusted to us by the Lord God. Your generous contributions play a vital role in furthering the mission and deepening the impact of His work. Thank you for being an essential part of the church’s journey.

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.

May the Lord God abundantly bless you and lovingly watch over you.

I titled the first part “The Good, the Bad, and the Life,” which sounds like the famous 1960s movie The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. However, ours is a real-life version that doesn’t get ugly but results in a beautiful life.

Before discussing the “Good” part, do you know why chickens scratch the ground?

God created man and woman to be very GOOD (Genesis 1:26-27; 31)

The notion of being created in the “likeness” of God beautifully emphasizes the profound dignity and immeasurable worth of every human being.

The two critical trees in the middle of the garden (Genesis 2:8-9)

Genesis 2:8-9 says:

⁸ Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 

⁹ The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

In most illustrations and depictions of the creation in our Sunday schools or church presentations, we see only one tree with red fruits, often labelled as “apples” to simplify things.

The trees in God’s garden were pleasing to the eye and good for food. And yes, there were two trees in the middle of the plantation.

The BAD Fall

How the serpent tempted the women

• It casts doubt on the woman (3:1)
• It gave a dishonest affirmation (3:4-5).

MAN AND WOMAN – How the woman and man fell (3:6)

• By her senses, eyes and taste (3:6)
• By their ambition to be “like God” (3:6)
• By sharing the fruit of the forbidden tree (3:6)

How God responds to the bad fall

• Confronts them (3:9-13): Where are you?
• Stipulates the consequences (3:14-20)

The LIFE – “Redemption 101”

The Lord God is our Almighty Creator, and He cannot destroy what He created in His image.

So, God made garments of skin to clothe Adam and his wife. He affirmed that “the man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil,” but He took away the privilege of eternal life.

Rediscovering the “LIFE” we lost

We are on a quest to rediscover and regain the “life” we lost because of Adam and Eve’s bad fall in the Garden of Eden.

Returning to our chicken story, we have had a similar experience to the chickens. In nature, chickens diligently scratch the ground to uncover nourishment for themselves and their young.

Isn’t this a reflection of most people today? They labor tirelessly, striving to carve out a living, yet many find themselves falling short of the rich, fulfilling life that God intended for them.

In contrast to chickens, which a lurking and preying hawk may hunt, we are embraced by the Almighty God, who longs to redeem us.

Ever since we fell from the garden, we have been engrossed in dealing with the good and evil of this world. Many are happy to be stuck believing life is about knowing what is good and bad for them.

The true meaning of life is not merely about identifying what is good and evil and choosing the good, but rather about being empowered to “reach out our hands, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.”

Let us not neglect our need to focus on finding true life. We will conclude this series next Sunday.

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.

Twelve people attended the first Life of Christ session on Sunday, March 30th, at 1:00 PM at the OBC Tea area.

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.

In case you haven’t read our previous post, The Life of Christ by SEAN (Study by Extension for All Nations) is the discipleship course that OBC is undertaking.

Let us pray for inspiration and encouragement for all our Life of Christ learners so that they may find the strength and motivation to finish the course.

Our next session will be on Sunday, April 6, at 1:00 PM at the same venue.

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.

Faith Growth Lessons from Our Lemon Grass

We thought our lemongrass wouldn’t make it (see the brown stems on the upper right portion), as the colour indicates it is nearly dying.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is easy to grow in the tropical Philippines. Its lemon-like scent makes it a good herb for cooking and medicine.

Read this short inspirational, an illustration about not becoming weary in doing good. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

9th March Annual General Meeting

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Sunday, 9 March 2025, at 11:00 AM at the OBC Auditorium.

We will start our worship service at our regular time, but we will have a short one on Sunday to accommodate our AGM.

Please read the AGM documents that were emailed two weeks ago. Bring your copy during the meeting.

NZBU President, Allan Taylor, will be our guest speaker on 16 March

Our church is honoured and privileged to have Allan Taylor, President of the New Zealand Baptist Union, as our guest speaker on 16th March.

Allan dedicated 44 years to full-time pastoral ministry within the Baptist Church, during which he served seven years as assistant pastor at Te Atatu Baptist and 37 years as senior pastor at Eastgate Christian Centre. His extensive experience reflects a deep commitment to his faith and community.

Hearing God’s message from His seasoned servant will bless us all. Let us pray for God’s protection and provision of health and wisdom for Allan as he travels to join us on March 16th.

CONGRATULATIONS!

OBC LADIES for holding a successful morning tea fellowship at the church tea area last Saturday, 1 March. Twelve ladies attended their first fellowship for the year.

ABUNDANT LIFE TEE-ers for finishing the “Abundant Life: The Life of Jesus In You” on Sunday, 2 March. It has been an almost two-year journey. There were many disruptions, but I sincerely appreciate the commitment and dedication of our learners.

Join the Life of Christ Course

We are launching the Life of Christ Course on 16 March 2025. You are invited to join the orientation meeting on 16 March at 1:30 PM.

Please talk to Jonan for more details about the course. Thank you!

Upcoming OSBA Events

Please pray for the following events in the Otago-Southland Baptist Association region in March and April. Let us pray for good health and safe travels for all participants.

• 2025 Regional Hui on 14-15 March at Gore Baptist Church.
• Connected Across the South 2025 – Regional Women’s event on 5 April, 10 am to 3:30 pm at Dunedin City Baptist Church. OBC women are encouraged to join this event.

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