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!

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 ➔

It was “keeling” in every aspect, and many had “abandoned the ship.”

Despite the small number who stayed behind, God answered their prayers for divine intervention, igniting a flourishing revival even today. As of November 17, our attendance list includes 85 people, comprising both adults and children.

We are here today two years later, baptising two first-generation and three second-generation believers.

We thank the Lord God Almighty for five new Baptists on Sunday, November 17, at 9:00 a.m.

Thank you to all the Baptist whānau, church mates, and friends who came to witness and support the baptism ceremonies held at the Waitaki Aquatic Centre. Your presence truly enriches our faith journey.

Let us continue to pray for Marie, Rodney, Nico, Nolan, Juscar, and each other as we (OBC) journey and grow in faith and obedience to God. Amen!

We continue to pray for more baptism opportunities as we obey the Lord Jesus Christ’s commission to go and make disciples, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything Jesus Christ has commanded us to do.

To God be all the glory! Amen.

Glimpses from the Discipleship Report Evening and G.L.A.D. Workshop Events

What an incredibly busy week we just experienced! It’s truly a blessing that we held a meaningful workshop on discipleship during the Labour Weekend.

By prioritizing God and tending to His heavenly garden, we enrich our spirits and look forward to a good season of sowing and harvesting. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

Ladies, please come and join the afternoon tea

Baptism set on 17 November 2024

Finally, after staying for a season, we are holding a Baptism ceremony on 17 November at 9:00 AM at the Waitaki Aquatic Centre.

The Aquatic Centre Coordinator responded to our request for a space to hold the Baptism, and we are finalising the event details.

We have two confirmed candidates. There are four more candidates that need to be confirmed with the person and their parents. Please pray for these confirmations.

We are inviting all who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour to follow him through the waters of baptism. Please see your pastor today.

Fellowship lunch on 17 November

What a joy to celebrate our Baptism Sunday with a fellowship lunch on 17 November.

Together with birthdays and anniversaries, we will celebrate our brothers and sisters who have followed the Lord Jesus Christ through baptism by immersion. Bring your food to share.

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.

Reminders

• Youth Ministry – Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
• Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 1:30 to 2:30 PM
• Music Team Practice – This Saturday only from 7:00 to 8:00 PM
• TEE Abundant Life Session – Sunday from 1:00 to 2:30 PM

OBC has two speaking opportunities at the National Hui

The NZ Baptist National Hui will be held in Rangiora Baptist Church on 6-9 November. I will be your lone representative at the annual gathering of 250 Baptist churches. As of this writing, approximately 400+ delegates will attend the National Hui.

On 8 November at 7:00 PM, during the Baptist Hui Global Night, the Oamaru Baptist Church was asked to deliver two messages.

Whodunit mystery?

It’s not summer yet, but the grass has turned brown. It’s been raining, too. And look, our car park flower boxes have been cleared and planted with new plants.

Thank you, and blessings to whoever has done it!

The best way to discover whodunit is to also become an “undercover” gardener and join in beautifying our church surroundings. Agree?