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 ➔

The Fellowship Lunch is a valuable team-building opportunity. Please make yourself available to help prepare, serve, and clean up before, during, and after the event.

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.

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.

“To serve and not to be served”

“To serve and not be served” is a crucial phrase that Jesus Christ told his disciples when they discussed James and John’s request to sit at his right and left in his glory, as well as who should be the greatest in God’s kingdom.

However, the phrase doesn’t end there; he added that in addition to serving, he is to give his life as a ransom for many.

Jesus said in Mark 10:43-45 (paraphrased): In contrast to this, anyone who aspires to be great among you must become your servant, and anyone who wants to be first must be the servant of all. Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

May the joy of serving God and others be the unwavering theme of our hearts, guiding us as we worship Him and lovingly serve through His people.

OBC is holding an Evening Service on 20 July @ 6:30 PM

On Sunday, July 20, we will hold two worship services: one at 10:00 AM and one at 6:30 PM.

We currently hold evening services every other week. It is a blessing and an inspiration to hear testimonies from our evening worshippers, which is something our morning worship attendees would also like to hear.

In the spirit of the phrase “to serve and not to be served,” I encourage our regular worship attendees to support our worship services (both morning and evening) by volunteering to assist with various aspects of conducting the services.

We need singers, instrumentalists, door greeters, worship leaders, servers, and many more.

Thank you very much.

Morning Tea for Everybody at OBC

You are invited to come for morning tea at the Oamaru Baptist Church Tea area on Tuesday, 22 July at 10:00 AM.

This tea event is an opportunity to spend moments with people of all ages—a chance to get to know our fellow mates.

Come for some fun and fellowship!

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.

Let us all support Ray as he shares his message. The cost of the breakfast will be published soon.

Fellowship Lunch on 3rd August

Let’s bring some food to share on Sunday, August 3rd, to celebrate our brothers and sisters who have completed Book 1 of the Life of Christ.

We want to celebrate special life events from recent weeks and months, and to welcome those who have joined our worship and fellowship warmly.

Holding fellowship lunches is also about team-building, where we volunteer to prepare, serve, and help with the aftercare tasks. Please be ready to participate.

TEE Life of Christ Book 1 finishes on 27 July

The TEE-ers or Lifers are just one unit away, Unit 10, from finishing Book 1 of the Life of Christ (LOC).

They will tackle Unit 10, the final unit, on July 27. Then we will have two weeks of review before the Final Exam on 10th August.

Meanwhile, let us celebrate and honour them with a fellowship lunch on 3rd August. We will also hear from our Lifers their testimonies and lessons learned from LOC Book 1.

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.

Which Status of Christian Life Are You?

I am sharing this short reflection, which I wrote in 2014 and was part of my inspirational talk with Filipinos at Invercargill Central Baptist Church.

Meeting and ministering with migrant workers allows me to learn their aspirations and hardships, including their desire to give their families a better life in New Zealand or their home country. ➔ CLICK TO READ MORE

Church Meeting on 11 May Sunday

After the 11th May Sunday worship service, there will be a meeting to decide on two matters:

1. Elders’ election
2. Adjustment to the constitution.

All present are welcome to attend, but only enlisted members can vote.

We will hold a fellowship lunch on Sunday, 11 May, to celebrate Mother’s Day. Please bring food to share.

Holding fellowship lunches is also about team-building, where we volunteer to prepare, serve, and help with the aftercare tasks. Please be ready to participate.

Two May Events – Ladies’ Morning Tea and Mid-week Fellowship

A Lecture-Seminar on Assertiveness by Dr. Val Gonzales

Our family friends, Dr. Val and Chelly Gonzales, will visit Oamaru from June 9 to 18, 2025.

They live in Mesquite, Texas. Val is an educator, minister, licensed psychotherapist, and amateur photographer who has served in Southeast Asia and North America.

During their visit, Val will preach in the morning and hold a lecture-seminar on assertiveness on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 2:00 PM at OBC.

Val will preach about the church and mental health. Please invite your family and friends to join our worship service.

The lecture-seminar “To Understand and To Be Understood—A Seminar on Assertiveness” is open to all church members and the community. Please plan to attend and invite others.

In June 2017, they also came to Timaru, and Val conducted a “Building Relational Skills” lecture at Wilson Street Baptist Church. Let’s pray for their preparation and a safe trip to New Zealand.

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?

Praising God at All Times!

I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:1

For the first time since moving town, I went to the Oamaru laboratory for my regular blood test. Please read my reflection on the blessings of praising God at all times.

Ladies, be reminded. Coming up on Saturday!

NZ Daylight Time starts on 29 September 2024

NZ Daylight Time is coming up on Sunday, 29 September. Please change your clocks forward one hour to New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT).

A handy tip is to change your clocks the night before daylight saving starts—forward one hour, for example, from 10:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

Internet providers will set the time on your mobile phones and computer devices. So, you only need to wake up, prepare, and be at OBC at 10:00 AM NZDT.

Fellowship Lunch on Sunday, 29 September

Let’s bring some food to share in our Fellowship Lunch after the worship service to celebrate all our September birthdays, anniversaries, and guests on Sunday, 29 September.

The fellowship lunch is also an opportunity to develop teamwork and friendship before, during, and after the meals.

Please volunteer to help prepare the dining venue, food preparation, dishwashing, and aftercare.

Group Leaders Advanced Discipleship Training

As part of our continuing discipleship program, we are launching another training on 26 October (9 AM-5 PM).

Why is the GL Advanced Discipleship Training important to us?

• We are called to train leaders to continue the practice of discipleship in obedience to Jesus Christ’s command to go and make disciples. Matthew 28:19-20.
  
  
• It is crucial for us to cultivate true disciples who are dedicated to practising and sharing their love and knowledge on a daily basis in order to bring about a spiritual revival in New Zealand.
  
  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).
  
  
• To develop visionary and compassionate leaders to serve God’s people.

Registration is $50.00 per participant to bear the cost of materials and lunch. Hopevale Trust is sponsoring the TEE Aotearoa Team’s plane fare.

OBC, as host, will provide accommodation for our resource persons and overall support for training needs.

Otago Southland Baptist Association Events

Oamaru Baptist Church is a member of the OSBA, which is composed of 13 Baptist faith communities, from Oamaru in the northeast to Invercargill in the south. The following are the OSBA events lined up for October.

Child Protection Training, 17 October at Musselburgh Baptist Church.

The training aligns with the Baptist Union policy, which requires all individuals working with children and young people to undergo training. Following this training, we are expected to develop and implement our church’s Child Protection Policy. Erin and Jonan will be in attendance.

OSBC Hui-ā-Tau 2024.

Please read this invitation and consider attending. Thank you!

Resurrection Sunday and Fellowship Lunch

On Sunday, 31 March, we will hold a regular worship service focusing on the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s share our “resurrection” stories or testimonies as part of our celebration.

We will continue celebrating the Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection with a fellowship lunch.

Good Friday Reflections

Listening to the various reflections last Friday from different speakers has brought encouragement and joy to many of us.

Below are three short messages on Jesus’ sayings from the cross.

• Mary’s Thoughts at the Cross
• My Thirsts and What Jesus’ Thirst on the Cross Means
• Nothing But Love in His Heart for Us

Good Friday Service at 3:00 PM

Let us commemorate the suffering and sacrifice of our Saviour Lord Jesus on 29 March, 3:00 PM at the OBC auditorium.

We will listen to several speakers who will reflect on the seven sayings that Jesus uttered on the cross.

Resurrection Sunday and Fellowship Lunch

On 31 March Sunday, after our regular worship service, we will continue celebrating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ with a fellowship lunch.

Our Resurrection Sunday will feature singing original songs and sharing of testimonies.

Stories to Build Your Faith

The Buses in Oamaru and a Woman’s Faith Renewed

Last month, I meet with David Bruce and a visiting Korean friend. While having a cuppa and sharing updates, David brought out an index card and read a story.

It’s a testimony about a trainee missionary when his cousin was the OBC pastor. It was about the buses in Oamaru and a woman’s faith.

Please read David’s short testimony by click on the button below.

7 Good Friday Short Reflections

When Good Friday comes, we are constantly confronted with, “How can the death of the one, Jesus Christ, be redemption for all?”

That question, especially from a non-believer’s point of view, is usually followed by another question, “Why the crucifixion of Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago has relevance and an important impact on our lives today?”