BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER 3 AUGUST 2025
Viewing life from God’s perspective
Through the years of searching, I have found that the greatest gift a person can have is the ability to see and live life from God’s perspective.
It is similar to the “what would Jesus do” thinking or asking yourself, “How does Jesus see this?”
It is like what Paul says in Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
It may sound ironic and paradoxical, but being “crucified with Christ” is crucial to experiencing the life that Jesus Christ offers. It means being transfixed into living in love and forgiveness as Christ is.
It is also like what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Jesus Christ clearly said that it is not only “seeking the kingdom of God”. One must seek his righteousness, as well.
It is both the kingdom of God and his righteousness for “all these things” to be added unto you.
Reminder: Fellowship lunch on 3 August
Let’s bring food to share at our Fellowship Lunch after the worship service on Sunday, August 3, to celebrate significant life events such as birthdays and anniversaries.
It is also an occasion to welcome those who have joined us lately. Friendly people of OBC, please take the time to get to know one another, especially those who are new to you.
The Fellowship Lunch is also a team-building opportunity, so please make yourself available to help prepare and clean up our lunch area before and after the event.
Ray will be the guest speaker at the Men’s Breakfast on August 9th.
Baptist church men, please take note of the Men’s Breakfast on 9th August, 8:00 AM at the Lagonda Cafe.
Oamaru Baptist Church is the sponsor of the 9th August Men’s Breakfast. Let us (all Baptist men) attend and meet other men in town. The breakfast menu is shown in the picture above.
Your hopes and dreams for OBC
I want to invite all who come to Oamaru Baptist Church to worship, participate in the life and ministry of the church, and “pin” your hopes and dreams for OBC.
On the board at the tea area, I have posted the diagram, “Oamaru Baptist Church – Hydropower Plant Analogy”.
I want us all to participate in fulfilling the aims and functions of the church by writing on a piece of paper your hopes and dreams for OBC. I have provided pens and paper (white sheet or yellow-green post-its) in the adjacent table.
Celebrating our 142nd Founding Anniversary
On 10 August, Sunday, we will have picture-taking sessions as part of our our 142nd Founding Anniversary celebrations.
On 13th August 1883, at a meeting held in the Lecture Hall of the Athenaeum, the Church was formally constituted with a foundation membership of 23.
August is the month we celebrate the founding of the Baptist Church. We have designated the 17th of August as our Foundation Sunday celebration. I have invited Peter Rodwell to be our speaker.
Please note our celebration schedule. The current part of the founding anniversary celebration involves pinning our hopes and dreams for Oamaru Baptist Church.
Giving
We are truly grateful for your steadfast support of the ministries entrusted to us by the Lord God. Your generous contributions are vital in advancing our mission and enhancing the impact of His work.
If you want to set up automatic payments for regular giving or make a one-time donation via online banking, please use the Oamaru Baptist Church account number at ANZ: 06-0941-0015036-00.
Thank you for being an essential part of our church’s journey. May the Lord God abundantly bless you and lovingly watch over you.
