As I prepared my sermon on “Repentance” for the evening service, one key text I focused on was Acts 3:19: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, and that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

I asked myself: what does it actually look like when “times of refreshing” break through after a season of trial and repentance?

I need not look far—I see it right in the church family I served, in what happened to Joseph and Ruth (not their real names).

Joseph and Ruth are a Filipino couple who moved to Oamaru in early 2025 from Christchurch. Joseph has worked on a dairy farm in Leeston since arriving in 2018. He was on holiday back in the Philippines when the COVID lockdowns started in 2020.

When the border reopened in 2022, Joseph returned to work with the same Leeston employer. He was a month short of being qualified to apply for a resident visa under the critical worker scheme. He brought his wife, Ruth, who found a job at a vegetable farm.

When they moved to Oamaru, Ruth started working in the caregiving industry. They joined Oamaru Baptist Church as they are both Baptists in the Philippines.

Facing deepening trials in Oamaru and Timaru

A few months later, Joseph began experiencing workplace abuse. His co-workers didn’t treat him well and often left him working alone, doing all the farm chores. The church prayed for Joseph and Ruth when they faced heavy trials in Joseph’s farm employment in Oamaru. The Lord answered our prayers by providing Joseph with a new employer.

Seeking a fresh start, they transferred to a remote farm in Timaru in early September 2025, only to face an even harsher work environment. They were promised warm, not-so-old accommodations, but instead received a cold Centennial house.

The hourly wage he signed up for didn’t match the pay he actually received. His farm manager bullied him and threatened to fire him. He was subjected to long work hours and left alone to perform tasks that health and safety standards require two people.

The church continued to surround the couple in prayer. As their pastor, I stepped in to connect Joseph with legal counsel to navigate his options. We also collaborated with the Timaru Multicultural Council, which pointed us toward Community Law services for accessible legal guidance.

Sorrow upon sorrow – loss away from home

Then, in November, compounding their sorrow, both Joseph’s mother and Ruth’s mother passed away within just two weeks of each other.

Because Joseph’s current work visa was set to expire while they were away, they were forced to make the painful decision not to attend their mother’s funeral. Had they gone home to the Philippines, Immigration New Zealand would not have permitted them to re-enter the country on an expired visa, forcing them to remain there until a fresh work visa was approved.

As a church family, we gathered to hold memorial services for both mothers, surrounding Joseph and Ruth with sympathy, love, and care.

Surrender, repentance prayer, and waiting in faith

During those dark days, it was natural to ask, “Lord, why is this happening to them?” We live in a broken world where injustice happens, and the world taunts believers, asking, “How can a loving God allow this?”

Yet, as the church continued praying, the Lord guided us to minister to them closely. The pastor and his wife travelled to Timaru to sit with them. With the Holy Spirit’s encouragement, we helped Joseph and Ruth examine their faith journey before God, identify areas for refining and discipline, and pray for forgiveness before the Lord.

Repentance didn’t instantly erase their external trouble—in fact, Joseph’s employment situation worsened, and he was forced to resign in late 2025 without a new work visa in sight.

They lived temporarily with close friends in Waimate, waiting on God. The church provided practical support in one and many ways as they waited for Joseph’s work application results.

The turnaround – restoration and new beginnings

For Joseph and Ruth, the promised “time of refreshing” arrived. God opened a door for Joseph to work for a kind, award-winning dairy farm owner, while Ruth found a rewarding job down in Balclutha.

God placed them alongside a faithful, loving Christian family who helped them transition and settle.

For Joseph and Ruth, this is what the “times of refreshing from the Lord” looks like.

The “time of refreshing” from OBC’s point of view?

From Oamaru Baptist Church’s point of view, the “time of refreshing” is seen through how it supported Joseph and Ruth through their trials in several key ways:

1. Ongoing Prayer: The church family consistently prayed for Joseph and Ruth throughout their workplace trials and employment struggles.
   
   
2. Legal and Community Connections: Through their pastor, the church connected Joseph with a lawyer for legal advice about his harsh working conditions and reached out to the Timaru Multicultural Council for assistance.
   
   
3. Memorial Services for Their Mothers: When both of their mothers passed away in the Philippines within two weeks of each other, and travel restrictions prevented the couple from returning home, the church gathered to hold memorial services for both mothers to surround Joseph and Ruth with sympathy, love, and care
   
   
4. Pastoral Visits and Spiritual Guidance: The pastor and his wife travelled to Timaru to sit with them personally, ministering closely to help them navigate their faith journey and pray together
   
   
5. Practical Assistance: The church provided practical support during Joseph’s period of unemployment as they waited for the results of his new work visa application.

For Joseph and Ruth, and for anyone undergoing fiery trials, the church serves as a canopy of grace and creates an ecosystem of care (prayer and pastoral care), while waiting patiently upon the Lord.

Based on the testimony, we can outline how the church facilitates the times of refreshing from the Lord. These include the crucible (extreme trial), the surrender (internal posture), and the ecosystem (active church care).

A Living Testimony for the Church

Ultimately, Joseph and Ruth’s journey stands as a living testimony of how God brings genuine spiritual and practical refreshment following a season of trial and repentance

For the church family, witnessing Joseph and Ruth’s turnaround serves as a vivid, tangible picture of what “times of refreshing” look like in action when believers pray together

Their journey reminds everyone that when we humbly bring our lives before God, surrender our wrongdoings, seek His forgiveness, and seek refinement, the Lord lifts our heavy burdens and restores us with His grace.

It’s a pulpit crafted from warm, richly grained timber and decorated with detailed Haitian carvings—vines, flourishes, and meaningful historical and sacred symbols—adding artistry and reverence.

To a visitor, it is a fine piece of church furniture that might seem archaic to the modern person. To the OBC congregation, however, it is a vessel of a “second life.”

This lectern began its story not in a carpenter’s workshop for the church, but as a bed headboard in Cap-Haïtien. Its journey from a place of physical rest to a platform for spiritual proclamation testifies to a legacy that spans oceans and decades.

A Pulpit Born from a Headboard

The sacred and the mundane collided when a music stand—tasked with holding a laptop during services—threatened to give way, prompting the church leadership to seek something more substantial.

The solution arrived in the form of a gift left by Robyn Couper, a beloved missionary nurse. After her passing, the church offered her personal headboard, which initially sat quietly in the church’s storeroom.

Bevan’s vision and the skilled hands of craftsmen Peter and Owen revealed the pulpit hidden within the furniture. The transformation was like architectural surgery. The wood was not a flat, cooperative canvas; the Caribbean climate and time had warped it.

Over six days of meticulous labour, Owen split and reshaped the timber, carefully navigating the delicate carvings to preserve the integrity of the original Haitian artistry.

This physical transformation carries profound symbolic significance. A headboard frames the vulnerability of sleep and the restoration of rest.

By reimagining it as a pulpit, the church has transformed an object associated with the night’s silence into a space where the “Word” can be spoken aloud.

The 33-Year Legacy of Robyn Couper

The wood’s story is inseparable from Robyn Couper’s. A nurse trained in Oamaru, Robyn’s life came full circle within the walls of the Oamaru Baptist Church—the very place where she was once baptised.

From this local foundation, she was called to Cap-Haïtien, Haiti’s second-largest city, where she served for thirty-three years.

Robyn was more than a nurse; she was a bridge. When the catastrophic earthquake of 2010 struck, she became the essential conduit for relief through the organisation Hearts and Hands for Haiti. Her fluency in Creole and her decades of deep-rooted relationships allowed aid to flow where it was needed most.

During the pulpit’s dedication, Peter read her favourite passage from her personal Bible: Psalm 139—a text that served as the North Star for her vocation.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well… Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

The church describes this pulpit as a “gift from her legacy,” a permanent memorial to a woman who dedicated her life to help a nation thousands of miles from her Waitaki home.

The Language of Haitian Craftsmanship

The carvings on the pulpit are not merely aesthetic flourishes; they are a “visual prayer” the Haitian people she served gifted to Robyn. Gifting a hand-carved wooden bed headboard to a missionary in Haiti is a profound gesture of extreme honour, deep hospitality, and community gratitude.

Because fine woodcarving is a traditional and cherished art form in Haiti, giving a functional piece of furniture for rest symbolises wishing the missionary comfort, safety, and a permanent place in the community’s heart.

The Christian Cross: Positioned at the centre and carved from a lighter-coloured wood, the cross represents the resurrected Jesus Christ, the Great Commission, the missionary’s calling, and the shared bond of faith that transcends borders.

The Fleur-de-lis: In this sacred context, the three petals symbolise the Holy Trinity and spiritual purity—a tribute to Robyn’s work, offered to God.

Leaves and Plant Life: Textured carvings of foliage flank the fleur-de-lis. In Haitian art, these represent fertility and growth. They serve as a permanent blessing, expressing the hope that the missionary’s spiritual labour would “bear much fruit” in the community.

Diamond Lattice and Scrolls: The intricate geometric patterns at the top signify high-status craftsmanship. These details indicate that the anonymous Haitian carvers poured their “finest effort” into the piece as a mark of deep respect for the woman who lived among them and carried out the Oamaru Baptist’s and New Zealand churches’ mission work.

The Mystery and Struggle of the Material

The pulpit has a final layer of mystery: the wood itself. While Peter and others in the church thought it was teak, the timber remains an unidentified species native to Haiti.

Its beauty is matched only by its resistance; the “six days of hard work” required to reshape it were a battle against the aged material’s warping and stubbornness.

During the dedication, this struggle with the timber took on a spiritual metaphor. The pastor and congregation reflected on the concept of the “Master Carver.”

Just as Owen and Peter struggled with the warped, difficult wood to reveal its new purpose, the Almighty Higher Power often searches for, moulds, and transforms the human spirit.

The Master Carver does not discard the warped material; He reshapes it. The struggle to align the panels mirrors the process of being “fearfully and wonderfully made”—a realisation that our flaws and the “warps” of our history are not obstacles to grace, but the very things that the Carver uses to create a masterpiece of service.

A Heritage Handed Down

Robyn Couper’s headboard—originally a gift of honour and physical rest crafted by skilled Haitian carvers—spent decades in Cap-Haïtien witnessing a missionary’s quiet service.

Years later, when Owen and Peter’s patient hands laboured for six days over its warped, stubborn wood, they refashioned it into a sacred pulpit for the congregation where Robyn began her Christian formation. It leaves us with a hauntingly beautiful question: What heritage are you holding in your hands?

In 2 Corinthians 4:7, the Apostle Paul exhorts us, “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from.” God’s grace rarely depends on flawless, pristine materials; instead, He redeems what is worn, imperfect, or forgotten.

Just as time that once provided physical rest was transformed into a stand for spiritual proclamation, the fragile or unexpected pieces of our past can be remade for divine purposes.

Yes, like a piece of a warped old headboard, a sacred second life may be waiting to be carved from the history you have inherited, if only you ask God for the vision to see it and, in humility, submit to His handiwork.

When we yield our stories to God, the legacy handed down to us does not remain static; it becomes a living platform from which His faithfulness continues to speak.

It is our hope and prayer that each time we see the new church pulpit, we are reminded of God’s mission, His renewing spirit, and the repurposing of our lives for His glory and honour.

To God be all the glory!

This article is based on Peter Rodwell’s introductory speech and Jonan Castillon’s reflections and prayer during the dedication of the newly made mission heritage pulpit on 16 August 2026. This post was composed with the help of Google Gemini, with the author completing final fact-checking and writing independently.

Introduction: A Vision of a Watchful Church

I composed the theme for that picture, and my friend “Gemini” helped generate it. The base picture is my photo of Oamaru town as seen from the Oamaru Lookout Point. I was thinking: what would represent a watchful church?

So, there’s a family there representing the men and women; we’ve got toddlers, a baby, and little children—a boy and a girl—and that represents our church. And we’re looking over the town, watching the sun rise. For me, that’s an image of a watchful church. That’s us, Oamaru Baptist Church, looking, watching, praying for the town on a cold August morning.

Every moment of our lives is sustained by a simple, unconscious freedom: inhaling and exhaling. And I put an emphasis on that because it’s winter; it’s the time when we can see our breath, okay? And when your breath is warm enough, you create a wider cloud — as if I go and jog in the early morning, for example, people may mistake me for “Oh, the pastor’s vaping.” And that’s the breath that comes out of us.

Do you recall having—especially mums, having a baby, and even dads—and you’ve got a baby in a cot? The sleep is so sound. The baby is sleeping so soundly that you cannot hear the breath, okay? Then you try to listen; you try to feel if any air is coming out of the baby’s nostrils. Have you done that? I’ve done that. Because I’ve read about SIDS, which is the sudden infant death syndrome, and I was afraid our daughter might be having that one, but I just prayed.

And praise God for couples who have stayed together for many, many years. Because when you’re sleeping soundly as a baby, you can’t hear any sound. One grows up, accumulates some fat and cholesterol, and suddenly one is snoring. Thank you for sticking it out. Thanks to my wife for bearing with me because I’m a snorer. That’s what love is all about.

The Rhythm of Spiritual Breathing

But for a breathing church, we need to find that rhythm of inhaling and exhaling. To live as a community of faith, we must learn what to inhale and what to exhale.

Today we explore this rhythm in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:28, discovering that we are called to inhale the hope of Christ’s return and exhale encouragement and practical love to those around us. That’s the inhale-and-exhale cycle we need to learn and practice.

Inhaling the Hope of the Resurrection

Our spiritual life begins with a deep intake of the gospel of hope. Paul writes to a community that was deeply unsettled by the loss of their loved ones, and he tells them clearly that he does not want them to be uninformed or to grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). During the time of the Thessalonian church, people were dying under dire circumstances.

This hope is centred on the historical and future reality that Jesus died and rose again (1 Thessalonians 4:14). And not only that: he rose again, went up to heaven, and is coming back again. And this hope is not a dim or clouded vision, or even a vague wish. It is a firm guarantee that when the Lord returns with a loud command and the trumpet call of God, the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

After that, those who are still alive will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This promise ensures that we will be with the Lord forever, a reality that should give us profound comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18). That is why, at a believer’s funeral, what you see is not grief alone, but the hope in the hearts of every believer.

Paul reminds us that this hope of salvation should be worn like a helmet (1 Thessalonians 5:8), protecting our minds from the world’s despair and darkness. And what the world is doing to us is clouding our minds, especially the young people, the children—clouding their minds and putting doubts about the reality of God and the hope of eternal life. Therefore, as mature believers, it is our responsibility to share the truth and hope with our children.

The Character of a Watchful Church

So, what is the character of a watchful church? We talk about the breath of a watchful church. We know we inhale the hope of eternal life and the hope of Jesus’ return and being with him. What should be the character of a watchful church?

Paul shifts from the hope of the resurrection to the need to remain alert (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6). He notes that while the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2), believers should not be surprised because they do not belong to the darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:4).

And we hear all about people telling us that the Lord is coming soon, the Lord is coming soon. And they would say, “Oh, look at what is happening today. He is coming soon.” But for a confident Christian who believes that he is with the Lord already, well, let the Lord come.

A watchful church is a community that lives intentionally in the “daylight” of God’s truth (1 Thessalonians 5:5). People talking about the Lord’s coming with all these signs and death—examine it in the truth of God, refusing to be lulled into the spiritual slumber of the surrounding world (1 Thessalonians 5:6). It’s so easy to be complacent and to be lazy about our faith (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6).

A watchful congregation is characterised by alertness and sobriety (1 Thessalonians 5:6), where members actively “build each other up” rather than waiting for external instruction or professional leadership to spark faith (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 11).

Such a church understands that while the day of the Lord may come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, it does not come in darkness because Christ’s light shapes its character and future (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4-5). Being watchful means embracing the “armour of faith and love” and maintaining constant spiritual discernment, testing everything and holding fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:8, 21). That is the watchful church.

The Anatomy of Watchfulness

Let’s talk about the anatomy of a watchful church, and we can gauge ourselves to see whether we are this kind of church.

A watchful church has members who are proactive in the faith. Members actively build each other up rather than waiting for somebody to spoon-feed them (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Paul commended the Thessalonian believers with this phrase in verse 11: “just as in fact you are doing.” Build each other up just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

We are also in constant discernment, testing everything and holding fast only to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Discernment is the ability to judge well, see what is not obvious and tell the difference between right and wrong—that is wisdom—or to know the difference between truth and falsehood.

To test everything means carefully examining spoken messages, teachings, and prophecies to see whether they align with God’s truth (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). Discernment is based on God’s truth. It’s not based on your prejudice, your culture, or your tradition. It is based on what the Bible says.

And so, when they find a teaching that is true and good, do you remember that term for those believers who examine the word? The Berean believers, right? Like them, we must hold on to it (Biblical truth) tightly while rejecting anything false or evil (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).

Sure enough, in the history of the church, not everything was good, was it? I believe there were conflicts, disagreements, and everything. But did we (the church) hold on to it and let those conflicts and disagreements govern our life as a church? No. We hold on to what is good and honourable before the Lord.

We must be fully armoured, embracing the armour of faith and love as the primary defence against the spiritual slumber of the surrounding culture (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

The devil and the world want those who are sleepy and lazy in their faith. They just want to wait and wait. And you know what? Those who don’t study the Word, don’t even pray—what would happen? They hear a word here, a word there, and before they know it, they are following a questionable group or a cult.

Don’t let those things happen to us. We need to be fully armoured in the first place, but we should also clothe ourselves (protecting with a breastplate) with faith and love and the hope of salvation as a helmet (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Honouring Our Local Heritage

Peter (Rodwell) has mentioned this last year (during our 142nd Founding Anniversary) and earlier this morning—the nine-year wait. We see a beautiful historical example of this watchfulness in the early days of the Oamaru Baptist Church.

For the first nine years, this small group of 23 believers had no official pastor. In such a situation, it would have been easy to grow lazy, lose hope, or simply give up. Yet they chose to stay spiritually awake (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

Instead of waiting for a leader to arrive, the members took turns preaching, teaching, and caring for one another, literally building each other up in many ways (1 Thessalonians 5:11). And so, when the first minister finally arrived in 1892, he found a healthy, active church because the members had spent nine years keeping watch over their own souls.

And under the vigorous ministry of Reverend Arthur Dewdney, the young Baptist church forged ahead.

Watchful members and the pastor’s vigorous ministry produced a lively, growing church. And that is what we are doing, and what we are trying to do better.

Exhaling Encouragement and Practical Duty

If hope is what we breathe in, then encouragement and practical duty are what we must breathe out. Paul gives the church a series of instructions for maintaining this healthy exhale.

We are called to acknowledge and hold in high regard those who work hard among us and care for us in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). We must live in peace with one another and always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 5:13, 15).

Paul specifically urges us to warn the idle, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, and practice patience with everyone (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

It sounds easy to say, but it’s hard to do. But for the sake of a breathing church, we need to do it. There is risk in doing that. People might get hurt, but if you come in the name of the Lord, if you come fulfilling the command to exhale these actions based on what you inhaled—the hope of eternal life—then that would be something that must be accepted by a faithful person.

Furthermore, he identifies three personal habits that should be as constant as our breathing.

• Rejoicing always (1 Thessalonians 5:16);
• Praying continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) (in some translations, pray without ceasing); and
• Giving thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us, and it keeps us spiritually vibrant (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

As a child, I wondered, “How do I pray without ceasing?” And I had this illustration by our professor when I was studying theology. It’s something like this: he said, “Two friends were walking, and they were nearing one’s home, and it was burning. So, what do they do? One said, “Let’s hurry up and help.” But the other fellow said, “No, let’s stop and pray.” But the other friend said, “We can pray while we hurry up and help.”

So that’s a simple illustration of praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). You can do your work, but you’re still praying because your mind and heart are attuned to the Lord.

Praying isn’t limited to what we do before we sleep. And some would pray while lying down and end up saying their “amen” the following morning—well, I’m guilty of that sometimes. Those are prayer habits we grew up with.

In our daily walks, we breathe in a continuing cycle of rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

It’s like entering an ICU where the respirator rhythms are normal until you hear a plain flatline sound, as they say. Something’s wrong (with a patient); we need to resuscitate.

But the breathing and living church has that continuing cycle of rejoicing, praying continually, and giving thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

God’s Faithful Provision

And because of that, the Lord has been so good to the Oamaru Baptist Church.

One illustration is that the pioneers were praying, “Let’s build a gathering place,” because they’d been moving between many buildings around town at the time. “Let’s build a simple wooden shed.”

But Gideon Rutherford had a different idea. He donated a section there in town, and they built a magnificent church of Oamaru white stone that stood for generations.

And in 2012, we had another lesson in faith, because the church is not the building. That beautiful white stone is no longer there, but the church is the people, and we are still here worshipping the Lord.

143 years later, in 2026, Oamaru Baptist Church received unexpected financial assistance from the Tabernacle Trust to help us renovate our toilets, kitchen, and, God willing, other areas of the church building. The Hopewell Trust continues to support this church’s pastoral ministry.

God has provided holistic provisions for Oamaru Baptist Church over the years. And that is made possible because of our rejoicing always, praying continually—a continuing faith, a living, breathing church (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

A Challenge to Breathe Together

So, my earnest and emphatic challenge to you this morning, as I conclude. I want to speak directly to those of you who feel as though your spiritual breathing has become shallow or strained for whatever reason.

Perhaps you are walking through a season of intense grief, and the promise of the resurrection feels like a distant melody rather than a present hope for us (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Or perhaps you feel disheartened or weak, and the command to rejoice always feels like a heavy burden you cannot carry (1 Thessalonians 5:14, 16). You cannot find ways and means to come back to rejoicing.

My challenge to you as an individual believer is this: do not try to catch your breath alone. We need to be breathing together. Paul instructs us to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). And if you are weary, let this community, the OBC community, help you.

If you are strong today, look for someone who is struggling and offer them the breath of encouragement you have received from Christ.

Do not quench the Spirit by isolating yourself (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Instead, let us commit this week and every day to being children of the light (1 Thessalonians 5:5) who actively seek out the weak and disheartened among us to breathe life into them (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

And oftentimes, the sharing of burdens leads to having that feeling of comfort that somebody is sharing your burden in prayer.

Trust in the faithfulness of God, who has not appointed you to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9, 24).

The Challenge for Oamaru Baptist Church

The call to Oamaru Baptist Church, for us, and my challenge, is to live as a truly watchful church by reclaiming the proactive legacy of our early pioneers, who, during a nine-year wait without an official pastor, refused to lapse into spiritual slumber and instead stayed awake by preaching, teaching, and caring for one another (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 11).

We shouldn’t stop. Just because we have these numbers now doesn’t mean we should stop and relax. Our situation could be gone at any moment if we try to slumber (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

The respect and honour they showed to those who worked hard, cared, and admonished brought about a breathing, living Baptist church (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

Just as Paul urged the Thessalonian believers to encourage the disheartened and help the weak (1 Thessalonians 5:14), you are challenged to move beyond passive faith and actively exhale the hope of the resurrection in your daily practical duties—rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

This is our challenge. Let us put God’s agenda before ours, yield control, and trust in the faithfulness of God, who has not appointed us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation that is given to all and not to a select few (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

Put His agenda before ours. YIELD CONTROL. Trust in the faithfulness of God, who has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation that is given to all and not a select few.

Guardians of the Spirit’s Fire

Another piece of advice, and a challenge, is that we should be guardians of the Spirit’s fire. The Church must not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) by allowing human control, pride, immaturity, and disrespect to take over from God.

We must not allow personal agendas to flourish. But in acknowledging God’s all-knowing power, we must put His agenda before ours so we do not stop, stifle, or put out the Holy Spirit’s work (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20).

The church must move forward in faith, making it a dedicated house of prayer, worship, and service. We must not trust in human cleverness but instead walk and wait humbly for God’s power and direction.

Let us trust that as we remain faithful in these daily acts of service, the God who provided an “unexpected upgrade” for our church building in 1889 will be equally faithful to sanctify us completely and sustain our spirit, soul, and body until the return of our Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

A Living, Breathing Church

What that teaches us: we might have a beautiful, functional building, but we can’t take it with us when we depart this world.

But what we can take with us is our living, breathing soul that inhales hope and breathes out love and faith to His people.

We inhale the historical hope of the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:14). We stand on the solid foundation of God’s past faithfulness to this congregation. We live actively in the daylight of watchfulness (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6), and we exhale encouragement and practical love into our community (1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14).

May the God of peace himself sanctify you through and through (1 Thessalonians 5:23). May your spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless until the return of our Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Inhale the hope, exhale the love, and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all (1 Thessalonians 5:28). Amen.

Closing Prayer

Let me pray. Father God, when we look at you, we are always coming short of the right breath. As your believers, as your followers, we need your help, dear Lord. And as we continue to celebrate your goodness, may your Holy Spirit continue to work in us. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. Amen.

To celebrate, read and be refreshed by OBC’s history by clicking this link: https://oamarubaptist.org.nz/oamaru-baptist-church-history/

On Sunday, 16 August, we will hold our Foundation Sunday Celebration, with the following activities:

• Worship Service at 10:00 AM and 6:30 PM. Come with a joyful and humble heart as we gather and worship.
  
  
• Picture-taking. Immediately following the service, we will take a group photo. This image will serve as a testament to His faithfulness for both present and future generations to remember.
  
  
• Fellowship Lunch. We love eating together, don’t we? Please bring a plate of food to share. Part of our fellowship is also to share in the preparation, serving, and housekeeping; please feel free to volunteer and enjoy the team spirit.

For your Sunday worship preparation, please read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28.

Also, listen to and meditate on “Sweet Hour of Prayer” – https://youtu.be/EwOPwAVDN7s?si=iG0-1BIiitXBZwOb

Acknowledgement: The featured image was created with the help of Google Gemini.

First, I want to say how thankful I am for this church. Serving with you is a real joy. God is doing great things among us, and our leadership team has been praying and planning to keep that momentum as we move into the next season.

Over the past two years, we’ve poured a lot of love, prayer, and effort into building our church’s discipleship program. It’s been amazing to see some of you grow in faith and build your lives on the Biblical truths that shape Oamaru Baptist Church.

The newly formed Life of Christ Book 1 group will hold their first meeting this afternoon. Praise the Lord! We now have two Life of Christ groups.

But we’re not stopping here. We build deep roots in discipleship so we can grow strong branches. Our vision is to become a sending church. We want our discipleship tracks to launch future church planters, pastoral leaders, and ministry workers who will share the Gospel far and wide. Finishing “The Life of Christ Book 3” would enable our “Lifers” to just do that.

For the past four years, God has led us into a season of growth and sustainability, and we’re still moving forward. Our main goal now is to make sure our church is healthy, mature, and ready for whatever comes next.

Just to be clear, everyone is welcome to be part of our church family, no matter your religious or theological background. However, since we are a Baptist church, anyone stepping into leadership or ministry roles needs to uphold our Baptist faith and doctrine.

Thinking about our vision, I remembered the Oamaru Rowing Club at the harbour and the rowing teams training and practising at Friendly Bay.

We know that if everyone rows at a different pace and in different directions, it could just spin in circles, water splashes everywhere, arms get tired, and you don’t go anywhere. Worse, you could even capsize. We don’t want that for OBC. We must be rowing together in the same direction toward our vision, always.

Scripture tells us in Ephesians that a healthy church is a unified church, where we all row together in the same direction, with the same heart, and share the same Biblical beliefs. This matters even more when God is leading us into a new season.

I want to make sure our communication is as clear as our direction. I value integrity and transparency in our church family. I’m not perfect. If you have any questions or thoughts about where we’re heading, my door is always open. Please feel free to come talk with me so we can have honest conversations as brothers and sisters in Christ.

To keep our church moving forward, we need to cover our ministries in prayer. This week, please pray for our discipleship classes, our children and youth ministry, our women’s and everyone’s bi-monthly fellowships, and our Young Adults’ Parents group.

Since we’re training future leaders, our discipleship and volunteer programs matter more than ever. If you haven’t joined a discipleship group yet, now is a great time to start. Whether you’re new to faith or have followed Jesus for years, there’s always room to grow.

We want to build a team of joyful, teachable people who are eager to support our church’s vision and help keep us united.

Let’s keep praying for each other, keep smiling, and run and row this race together with all we have.

We can’t know exactly what the next few years will bring, but our faithfulness and commitment to obey God and his Great Commission will make a big difference.

Thank you!

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Our Heavenly Father cares for us deeply and notices both the small and the large things we need.

It’s important to acknowledge, praise, and thank Him. What may seem like a small thing to some can be significant to others.

A week or so ago, I went through to the garage to put an empty cereal packet into my recycling bin. As I did so, I noticed it was pretty full and needed to be taken to the recycling depot.

As I don’t have a car anymore and I felt I couldn’t ask anyone to take my rubbish, or I should say, recycling, away, I even contemplated tipping it all into the wheelie bin.

I did nothing but come back into the living room.

A short while later, my phone rang, and a friend said, “Mary, I am going to the resource centre and wondered if you had anything you would like me to take for you.”

I was stunned, I could hardly believe it.

My friend had been to my place on several occasions, but we had never discussed my need to dispose of my recycling, and it was out of sight in the garage.

I asked her what made her think of ringing me. She said that about a month ago, “when you were waiting for your new fridge to be delivered, your old one was in the garage, and when we were going to have a coffee, I went into the garage to get the milk for mine, and I just noticed then that you had a recycling bin. As I was going today, it just occurred to me to ask you.”

It is good to recognise and praise God for the small blessings, or we might miss the big ones, and remember, Jesus is in the business of recycling.

Turning a New Leaf in Christ

“New Year” doesn’t stay new forever, unlike turning a new leaf in Christ. When does the year stop being new?

Do you display more outward tradition than inward growth? Are you a source of spiritual nourishment or just ornamental in your faith?

Read the first sermon I delivered at Oamaru Baptist Church on 16 January 2022, as part of the pulpit roster.

➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

Thank you for filling out our Task Roster

We got our Task Rosker up and running last Sunday. Thanks to all who responded to Bevan’s appeal.

Feel free to jot your name down for any tasks that don’t have a volunteer yet. You might want to pair up with someone who serves the Lord’s Supper, welcomes people, or gathers the offering.

We also have a lineup of volunteers who have offered to mow our lawns. Thank you!

Fellowship lunch on 25th January

Join us for a joyful celebration as we honour our students returning to school in February! We’re hosting a fellowship lunch on Sunday, January 25th.

We would love for you to be a part of it. Please bring a dish to share so we can enjoy a delicious meal together. Come, connect, and celebrate our students! Watch out for more details!

TEE Life of Christ Meetings Resume this week

We are back to our TEE (Tools to Equip and Empower) meetings.

• Group 2, composed of Marjorie and Tony, took up Life of Christ Book 2, Unit 1, on Friday.
• Group 1 will take up Unit 9 of the Life of Christ Book 2 on Sunday, 18th January at 1:00 PM.

We invite others to join the Life of Christ Discipleship Course. Feel free to approach the pastor. Thanks!

Invitation for Baptism

We invite those who believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord to publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ through believer’s baptism (immersion). Please see the pastor or any of the elders, Tony or Rodney, for further information.

Jesus commanded his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). Therefore, baptism is a way of obeying Christ’s command, both for the person being baptised and for the minister performing the baptism.

The Baptist Church believes that believer’s immersion is the only scriptural form of baptism.

Opportunity to support

We learned that Juscar and Johanna travelled to the Philippines last December to attend the burial and wake of Juscar’s mum. They arrived safely back in New Zealand on 31st December 2025.

May I invite anyone who wants to participate in the Filipino tradition of giving “abuloy” (donation) to a bereaved family. This is voluntary. It is our token of solidarity with Juscar, Merly and the whole family. Please feel free to donate any amount to Juscar R Alegado’s account: 01-0964-0094574-00

Thank you very much. May God bless you all!

Christmas 2025 in Retrospect

From festive highlights to heartfelt farewells and inspiring faith stories, this update celebrates community, gratitude, and new beginnings!

Suddenly, the calm anticipation of the New Year brings relaxation, allowing enjoyment of both sun and rain, and, as time would allow, perhaps a slow BBQ.

I’m happy to share a festive collection of photos and stories from our Christmas season! Join in the joy and relive these special moments that will surely warm your heart!

You are invited to organise THE ORDER OF THINGS posted on our hallway wall, preferably, way before Christmas 2026. Thank you!

Preaching at the Cornerstone Bible Community Church, Glenavy

The Cornerstone Bible Community Church in Glenavy invited me to be their guest speaker on their 3rd Founding Anniversary and Thanksgiving celebration on 20th December at the Glenavy Community Hall.

Mission Possible: Thanking God for Answered Prayers

On December 30th at 6:30 PM, we held a three-in-one (Christmas, New Year, and Thanksgiving) service at Vicky and Andres’s home on Haymans Road, Waimate. This gathering also served as a farewell for Abe and Jeanilyn, who were heading to Balcultha for work.

The gathering was an expression of our heartfelt gratitude to God for all the favourable developments concerning Abe and Jeanilyn’s work visa status. A thankful time for Vicky and Andres, who graciously provided them with temporary shelter while they waited.

Finally, we express our gratitude and hallelujah for all the answers God has provided to our prayers. To God be the glory!

UPDATES: Abe and Jeanilyn finally moved to Balclutha on 6th January. So far, everything is going well for both of them. Jeanilyn successfully transferred her home support work in Balclutha and has been working with clients for a few days. Abe has resumed dairy farm work and is undergoing training on new farm tasks. They have explored a few churches in Balclutha and Gore. They plan to attend Gore Baptist Church, which is 50 minutes away from their work farm.

A strong Year-Ender: Celebrating Marie

The year 2025 ended with the church celebrating the life of our beloved, Marie Van Zyl, on 31 December.

We will forever remember Marie for her conversion story, her commitment to deepening her knowledge of her Saviour, Jesus Christ, and her testimony of repentance and discipleship through baptism.

She has demonstrated that one is never too old to follow and learn about Jesus.

Her enthusiasm for sharing the Gospel has inspired and encouraged us all. She pioneered bringing Jeanette and Jill from Sandringham House to the Sunday service.

Like the ardent and loyal disciple that she was, she fought a good fight and finished her earthly race on 27th March. She belongs to the ages.

Encouragement for the year ahead

As we face the year ahead, we continue the work God has commissioned us to do, bearing in our hearts and minds the works of grace and wonder He has done in the past years.

Like Elisha’s discovery when he took the mantle from Elijah in 2 Kings 2:13-14, let us take on the mantle of mission and work diligently while we have the chance.

¹³ Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

The Shepherds’ Actions – Our Christmas Do

I am sharing the application part of last Sunday’s message, which is as follows:

They hurried to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby in the manger, just as the angel had told them. The shepherds wasted no time coming to the manger and beholding the newborn Jesus Christ.

With unwavering enthusiasm, they boldly announced the good news (GOSPEL) about the child to everyone who would listen. We must be bold to proclaim the Gospel, “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

They amazed all who heard their story. The people who listened to the shepherds’ story were surprised by their account of the Messiah, Jesus’ birth, and by how real the joy and glory they shared with the people.

1They returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. They have become a people of hope, glorifying and praising God.

Christmas 2025 Schedules

Join us in singing Christmas carols at Sandringham House.

Once again, we have the opportunity to share the Christmas message through songs with our neighbouring rest home on 21 December. We will practice at 2:00 PM, then we will go together to the carolling place.

Christmas Eve Service – Be ready to participate.

We invite you all to participate in the Christmas story during the Christmas Eve service. Please read Matthew chapters 1 and 2 and Luke chapter 2 so you will be prepared to contribute. Thank you.

Christmas Day Service – Be ready to share a reflection, memory, or testimony

Let us take a moment to gather and reflect on our Saviour’s birth. We will then bless one another with our reflections, memories, or testimonies. Our one-hour Christmas service will begin at 10:00 AM.

For those who don’t have family to join for Christmas lunch for any reason, we will hold a Church Family Shared Lunch at 12:00 noon in the OBC Tea Area.

After the Church Family Shared Lunch, I want to invite you to join me at Elderslie Estate for some peaceful meditation in the labyrinth or any nook. It is a conducive place to pray, talk and listen to God about your present and future.

Memorial service for Jeanilyn’s Mum

Maria Fe, Jeanilyn’s mother, was laid to rest on 12 December in Iloilo, Philippines. Since Jeanilyn was unable to return home for her mother’s funeral due to issues with her work visa, OBC has arranged a memorial service for Maria Fe on 28 December at 3:00 PM in the OBC Auditorium.

In solidarity with Jeanilyn and Abe during their time of grief, please join us for the memorial service. You are also invited to participate in the Filipino tradition of giving “abuloy” (donation) to a bereaved family through Jeanilyn Pastorpili’s bank account: 38-9024-0843994-00. Thank you, and may God bless you.

“Chairful” and cheerful blessings

Opportunities at OBC

Opportunity to Serve. The Task Roster is a chance to serve. It is a commitment; it’s an opportunity for you to actively participate in worship and service, enriching the lively atmosphere of our church community. Please write your name on the roster sheet on the table in our tea area.

Opportunity to Give your Offerings. Thank you for considering how you can support in the ministry entrusted to OBC. Your generosity is truly valued, and we look forward to celebrating God’s fruitful ministries together.  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.

Are You Bearing in Love Like a Ball Bearing

Ball bearings play a crucial role in minimising friction, allowing for smooth movement and efficient load transmission in countless machines, from cars to everyday household items!

They enable machines to operate more efficiently, resulting in reduced wear and tear, lower energy consumption, and fewer maintenance requirements. READ MORE ➔

Your Giving Helps OBC Grow in God’s Work

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity;
for God loves a cheerful giver”. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)

We are deeply thankful for your unwavering support of the ministries entrusted to us by the Lord God.

The September financial status indicates that, after nine months, offerings are below the expected budgeted amount.

Thank you for considering how you can partner with us in the ministry entrusted to OBC. Your generosity is truly valued, and we look forward to celebrating God’s fruitful ministries together.

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.

Opportunity to Serve – October Tasks Roster

Opportunities to serve at OBC are plentiful through the Task Roster. Please don’t hesitate to enlist in any task you would like to do. 

Don’t hesitate to contact Bevan, Jonan, or anyone else for any questions you have. Your involvement makes a difference—thank you!

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, 
and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Upcoming CHURCH EVENTS to Keep an Eye On

We have three upcoming events in November. For more details, click on the titles or select “View Calendar” to browse our Events page.

Invitation for Baptism at OBC

For those who believe in Jesus Christ and haven’t been baptised (immersed) as believers, you are invited to come and be Baptised. 

Your Baptism is a testimony of your desire to be identified with Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5). 

As Jesus Christ, the Son of God, approached John the Baptist and was baptised at the Jordan River, so every Christian believer, in humility and love, submits to baptism.

Don’t hesitate to contact your pastor if you know of anyone interested in being baptised. Thank you!

National Leader Appointment

Chris Chamberlain recommended for National Leader appointment

The Baptist National Council and Mission Council (Arotahi) have announced their recommendation as Chris Chamberlain for the appointment of National Leader for the Baptist Union of New Zealand.

After a robust recruitment process commencing in October 2024, the search committee, National Council, Mission Council (Arotahi), along with endorsement from Te Whāriki, are collectively pleased to present Chris Chamberlain as their recommendation for National Leader.

The National Council Deputy Chair, Rachelle Martin, currently overseeing the National Leader appointment process has commended the search committee team for their work, saying the next part of the process is ready to begin:

“During this part of the process we encourage all Baptists to engage in prayer and discernment before November’s National Hui in which church delegates will vote in order to confirm the recommendation made by the National Council and Mission Council.”

READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT HERE ➔

Source: Baptist NZ website

OBC is joining the National Hui 2025

As your pastor, I will be representing our church at the National Hui on 6-8 November 2025 at Palmerston North Central Baptist Church.

Why Hui matters

When we gather as a Baptist family, something unique happens. Local stories meet national collaboration. Individual voices shape collective direction. And in the midst of it all, we are reminded that we are part of God’s mission together.

As one delegate put it: “Hui is where I remember that our small church in a small town is part of something so much bigger. It lifts my eyes.”

My hope and prayer is that OBC can send more delegates to the National Hui in the near future.

READ THE PROGRAMME HERE ➔