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

Happy 2025! Please take the time to read a couple of inspirational posts that Mary and Marcia authored, respectively.

A Prayer for the New Year

BY MARY MASON

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. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

---

Who Am I?

BY MARCIA SHARPE

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?

➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

Important 1st Quarter 2025 Organisational Plans

We thank our Lord God Almighty for re-growing BC in the past two-plus years. As we move towards reorganising in the first quarter of 2025, let us take note of the following:

• Install new members on 19 January 2025. Please approach Bevan or Jonan if you wish to become a member. Any person who confesses faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who has been Baptised (by immersion) as a believer, who shows evidence of following Christ in the newness of life and who is willing to uphold the commitments as outlined in the Members’ Pledge may apply to become a Church member.
  
  
• Please think and pray about two or three members we will nominate to the Eldership between now and mid-February 2025. We will publish more details about this.
  
  
• We are looking at reframing our Constitution and By-Laws to fit the present church’s context and situation in February 2025.
  
  
• We will hold our annual general meeting (AGM) Pastor’s 2025. The annual reports, namely the Pastor’s report, the Leadership Team’s report, and the Financial report will be available in February.

Let us pray for these 1st Quarter 2025 plans. Thank you.

Be a Part of our Task Roster

OBC is your church, and we warmly 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 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.

“Abundant Life” Bible Study 19 January at 1:00 PM

We are still at it! We will tackle Lesson 15 of our “Abundant Life” study session on Sunday, 19 January, at 1:00 PM.

Please come with your workbook (Lesson 15) filled out and be ready to participate in our learning session.

OBC is building a dynamic discipleship culture. Everyone is invited to join. Let us learn about God through His word.

Online Writing and Website Management Seminars

I am launching two training seminars for interested persons: Online Writing and Website Management. These seminars aim to develop people who can assist in publishing content for the church’s website.

The seminars are open to everyone interested. Please come to me to be enrolled. Then, we will meet to decide on the seminar date in January 2025.

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.

Four days after celebrating Christmas Day and three more days before New Year’s Day, let us bring these critical takeaways as we start 2025.

Who doesn’t love takeaways? For those unfamiliar, a takeaway is where you can buy food to eat somewhere else or just the food you buy to take away. People love takeaways because they’re super convenient and usually cheaper than a sit-down restaurant. Fish and chips are the most popular takeaway food in NZ.

I am also thinking of the bountiful foods we prepared to celebrate Christmas, either on noche buena if you are Filipino or Hispanic, or on Christmas Day lunch, and sharing it as takeaways for family and friends who have joined us.

But that is as far as physical food is concerned. As the New Year comes, we must carry crucial takeaways to meet all the challenges that 2025 will bring.

Based on Matthew 2:1-12 narrative of the Magi’s visit to the Messiah, let us discover the lessons we must possess as we celebrate and live through the new year 2025.

1. Faith and Commitment

• The birth of Jesus Christ ignited fervour among the faithful community, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Messiah.
• The time of Herod helps us figure out when Jesus was born. Jesus came into the world sometime before Herod the Great died, probably around 4 BC. The exact date of Jesus’ birth is still a bit of a mystery.
• Wise men from the East came: These travellers are called wise men, derived from the ancient Greek term “magi.” There are many misconceptions and legends surrounding these individuals. They were not kings; instead, they were wise men and astronomers.
• While it is commonly believed that there were only three of them, likely, there was a larger group. Furthermore, they probably did not visit the newborn on the night of his birth but several months later.
• There was a strong expectation of the Messiah’s arrival among the Jews, yet the wise men realized they were among the few genuinely excited to find the newborn Messiah. There was a notable lack of enthusiasm in Jerusalem.

The dedication and bravery of the Magi from the East are extraordinary, considering the challenges of their journey and the dangers they faced while travelling. They left their comfort zones to seek and worship the newborn King, Jesus Christ.

2. Earnestness

In Matthew’s narrative, we have two character types who are insincere.

First, the chief priests and teachers of the law were aware of the prophecy regarding the birth of the king of the Jews (verses 5-6), yet they failed to recognise and accept that the Messiah had indeed been born.

This makes me reflect that there are Christians who are only Christians by name. These Christians have vast knowledge of the Bible but don’t have the capacity or refuse to follow what the Bible says. There are many Christians who are insincere in their faith, Christians in name but not by heart.

Second, Herod plotted to kill Jesus by pretending he wanted to worship him.  Ironically, Herod believed the prophecy, perhaps out of fear that the “king of the Jews has been born” and will replace him. Having been outwitted by the Wisemen, he ordered the massacre of children in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under (Matthew 2:16).

There are Christians who are like Herod; they believe in God’s prophecies but detest the thought of surrendering fully their lives to Him. Instead, it is their SELF that reigns in their hearts. These insincere Christians will not hesitate to cut off any Godly influence and leadership in their hearts, but they are satisfied to pretend to be Christians.

Let us be like the Wisemen who earnestly sought the born king of the Jews, followed his star when it rose, and worshipped Jesus when they found him.

Devotion

I am presenting the four elements of the Magi’s devotion to Jesus, which we can follow.

The Magi followed the star of Jesus (or the Start of Bethlehem) as it seemingly persisted in its guiding role, appearing at pivotal moments along the Wisemen’s journey like an ethereal beacon in the night sky. Its initial glow graced them months prior, subtly steering their quest toward the broader region they sought.

Following this, their travels led them to the ancient city of Jerusalem, where they gathered vital knowledge and insights. As their search unfolded, the star reemerged, radiating luminous intensity to offer precise directions through the darkened paths ahead.

Its appearances were nothing short of a supernatural marvel, leaving them in awe of the divine guidance that seemed to transcend the ordinary realm of understanding.

The Star of Bethlehem is widely regarded as more than just a natural phenomenon, remaining a mystery that science has yet to unravel. This extraordinary light is described as leading the Magi from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, ultimately hovering directly above the location where Joseph and Mary were residing. Notably, no documented celestial event is known to follow such a specific and purposeful path.

Jesus Christ embodies God’s glory, which was revealed on earth 2,000+ years ago. In our devotion to God, we follow Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit. The Wisemen exemplified the importance of seeking and following Jesus relentlessly.

The Wisemen were overjoyed (Matthew 2:10) – Overjoy means “to cause someone to feel extremely happy or joyful, or to fill someone with great joy.”

The Magi were overjoyed seeing the star “stopped over the place where the child was.”  Overjoy is a feeling when you think you are going nowhere or you are considering whether you are on the right track or not, and suddenly you see from afar something that assures you that you’re on the right path.

Overjoy is like driving the Central Otago’s “Pigroot” (or a few call it the “Pig Route”) for the first time. The name “Pigroot” applies to the section of SH85 between Palmerston and Ranfurly.

I have driven through the Pigroot many times, and during my first trip, I kept wondering when it would end. It feels disorienting to see the natural scenery until you ascend from the valley and see the towns dotting from the distance. That gave me an overjoyed feeling.

When the Magi saw the star settle over the place where the child Jesus was, they were so happy. At last, we know where the King is!

They bowed down and worshipped him (Matthew 2:11)

In verse 11, the arrival of the wise men at their home reveals that Joseph and Mary transitioned from the manger to a residence after Jesus’ birth. This suggests they remained in Bethlehem or nearby Jerusalem, allowing Mary to fulfil the 40 days of purification mandated by Jewish law.

Jesus is referred to as a young child, likely between 6 and 18 months old. Notably, the child is mentioned before the mother, contrary to custom, indicating that the child’s status as the Saviour takes precedence.

How did the Wiseman worship?

• Bowed down –  (Gk pesontes) fall down;
• Worshipped – (Gk prosekynēsan) prostrate oneself in homage;

Yes, they worshipped HIM (emphasis mine). The Magi did not worship Mary, Joseph, or the child with Mary and Joseph. They worshipped only him!

They worship in deep reverence by falling prostrate before the child King.

They gave generously to Jesus.

 Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

• TREASURES – a storehouse for precious things;
• GIFTS – many and not only one of each kind;

Because the Magi brought a storehouse of gifts, there is no way that only three of them travelled to find Jesus. I imagined the Magi bringing with them servants to carry and guard the treasures they got for the newborn King.

The valuable gifts were given directly to Jesus, not Mary or Joseph. While the infant Jesus did not use these gifts, Joseph and Mary, responsible and Godly parents, wisely used them for His benefit. Presumably, the family spent their gifts of gold as they went and lived in Egypt to escape Herod’s persecution.

We also practice generosity in our devotion to God. When we give to Jesus today, we channel it through the church to the people He called to serve, with the confidence that the leaders will use your gifts wisely on His behalf.

Conclusion

Let me briefly share my encounter with a fruit grower association leader from Hawke’s Bay on a plane from Auckland to Singapore, an 11-hour flight. I was in the middle seat, and he was in the aisle, meaning Jewel and I had to “bother” him whenever we went to the toilet.

When I introduced myself, that I’m a pastor and we’re on our way to attend a conference in Malaysia and hold a seminar in the Philippines, he said he’s a born-again Christian.

Then, he shared how God carried him, and co-farmers rose from Cyclone Gabrielle’s destruction to their region. He said that his faith and their church’s prayers and support encouraged him to lead the farmers despite their hopelessness and defeat by Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastations.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle was a destructive tropical cyclone that devastated parts of the North Island of New Zealand and affected parts of Vanuatu and Australia in February 2023. It is the costliest tropical cyclone on record in the Southern Hemisphere, with total damage estimated to be NZ$14.5 billion (US$9.2 billion), of which NZ$3.18 billion (US$2 billion) are insurance losses. The cost of the cyclone in Hawke’s Bay alone was estimated to outstrip NZ$5 billion (US$3.17 billion).

Source: Wikipedia

You might ask what this testimony has to do with the “Christmas takeaways for the New Year” we’re talking about.

Isn’t it that unforgettable events, such as severe natural calamities, tend to be remembered and talked about for centuries?

I could imagine the wise men travelling leisurely on their journey back, feeling more at ease. They eagerly shared their transformative experiences with everyone they met, and, in every place, they rested for the night.

I can easily envision the Wisemen, surrounded by their families, servants, friends, and community, captivated by their compelling stories of encountering and worshipping the newborn King, Jesus Christ.

F.A.C.E.D. – Faith and commitment, Earnestness, and Devotion are the important Christmas takeaways we must always bring in 2025 and the many New Years to come.

Faith and commitment, Earnestness, and Devotion are the non-consumables and everlasting takeaways we carry along as we share our personal encounters and life experiences with Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed 2025. Happy New Year!

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

Christmas may be the happiest season for many, but not for everyone. For those who are sick, have lost a loved one, are going through a financial struggle or difficult circumstances, are away from their families, don’t have a loving family, are in a broken relationship, etc., the season is not joyous.

So, let us all meditate and reflect on what Christmas truly means.

Luke 2:19 says, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a manger, an angel from heaven appeared to the shepherds nearby who were tending their sheep and “proclaimed the Good News that will cause great joy for all people because a Savior has been born.”

Of all the people in society at that time, God chose the shepherds, the lowest of men, to announce Jesus’ birth. He did not announce it first to the rulers, the highly educated, the wealthy, but to the simple—the people that society considered unworthy.

Why? Because this act reflects God’s great love for humanity and His humble heart. He desires our reverence, obedience, and childlike faith in Him.

As we celebrate Christmas, may our focus be not just on food, gifts, carousing, and drinking, but let us be like Mary, who “pondered” what this moment means.

God came in human flesh, in the humblest of circumstances, to become one with us, to empathize with our human frailty, struggles, pain, and, yes, also our joys and hopes.

Luke 4:18 says,

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”

Merry Christmas, everyone, and let us rejoice because our salvation and Immanuel has come.

Christmas 2024 Schedules

We invite you to take note of our activity schedules. Your participation would make a difference, so we hope to see you there! Thank you!

Join us for a worshipful Christmas Eve service, where you’ll enjoy a heartwarming traditional Christmas story play, uplifting carols, and inspiring song presentation. Experience powerful testimonies, insightful messages, and moments of prayer that will fill your spirit with joy and hope. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the season with our community!

Join us for a joyful worship celebration this Christmas Day at 10:00 AM! After our 10:00 AM worship service, we will have a church family potluck lunch around noon. If you don’t have a family to spend lunch with, we warmly invite you to join the family lunch and fellowship at the church. It’s an excellent opportunity to connect with church family and enjoy delicious food together!

Working Bee on Saturday, 21 December

Let us clean and beautify our premises on Saturday, 21 December, 9:00 AM.

It’s good to buzz our church with cleaning tools, rugs, and other equipment before the end of the year and the beginning of the new year.

The trees need trimming, our fence and gate need repairs, and our flower and greenery patch needs some TLC. There is so much to do. Please come. See you!

Men’s Burger Evening held Saturday, 7th December

About 15+ old and young men came and held a burger evening. Thanks to Rodney’s super BBQ, burgers and buns were done in a jiffy.

The young man who squeezed hard that BBQ sauce had indeed had a saucy evening. The burger champion was the one who had the tallest stack of burgers, bacon, tomato slices, etc. and managed to eat it without deconstructing the burger sandwich. That was a full-filling evening.

From what I’m hearing, the men plan to have another fellowship in the first quarter of 2025.

Christmas and Advent reflections

We invited church members to share their inspiring reflections on Christmas and other meaningful topics. Here are a few of their uplifting contributions.

What Are You Waiting For This Christmas?

We long for Christmas; we want it but struggle to take hold of it. What is this peace and goodwill to all men, and what does it mean?

Continue Reading What Are You Waiting For This Christmas?

Hope

What does hope mean to you? What are you hoping for? Please read these verses and discover your source of hope. Thank you.

Continue Reading Hope

New Zealand Baptist Arotahi Daily Advent Readings 2024

For your Advent readings, we are sharing the “Arotahi Daily Advent Readings 2024” that have been circulated to New Zealand Baptist churches.

Through the Arotahi, our Baptist whanau has prepared a 48-page prayer guide with daily readings from 1 December until 6 January.

Behind the gifts, food, decorations, music, and gatherings, there can also be weariness and even emptiness for many as one year ends and another looms.

However, there is something about Christmas that draws those who are listening to more, which tinsels and baubles won’t provide it.

We long for it; we want it but struggle to take hold of it.

What is this peace and goodwill to all men, and what does it mean?

I was reminded of a devout man of faith with God’s spirit in him who was drawn to the Temple after Jesus’ birth to meet the Saviour God had promised to his people.

He saw this peace with God, and so have we, but we must continue to watch and wait patiently for his return. The story is told in the gospel according to Luke.

Is God’s promise of a saviour still drawing us to him at Christmas in 2024?

Like Simeon, we have glimpsed God’s salvation and light of revelation in Christ. The gift has been given, and we can trust the one who gave it.

Now that the mystery has been revealed, let its promise continue to draw us to him as we prepare to receive it, not just at Christmas but every day.

Through the Arotahi, our Baptist whanau has prepared a 48-page prayer guide with daily readings from 1 December until 6 January.

I encourage you to use this resource during your Christmas celebration by reading the daily Advent portions and reflecting on them with your family, friends, or neighbours.

Thank you, Arotahi, for facilitating and organising these Daily Advent Readings.

You can download the PDF document by clicking this link: AROTAHI DAILY ADVENT READINGS 2024