The Black T-Shirt from the “UK” that Brought Abundance and Joy to Many

In two succeeding weeks, I blog about two shirts that have had a lifelong impact on me, which I dearly treasure until now.

Last Sunday, I shared about “The Orange Shirt” and the testimony behind the giver and the gift. I invite you to read the story about another black shirt that gave us abundance and happiness.

Weekly Reminders

• Youth Ministry – Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
• Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM

Fresh Beginnings – The moving is happening

Last February, I talked about “Fresh Beginnings Around Us” and showed this photo of a moving van. I took that photo when we were bringing Jadyn to Dunedin.

Four months on, we are preparing to move to Oamaru. Our purchase of a property here will become unconditional on 10 June. A settlement date has been set for both the Timaru and Oamaru properties.

Please pray for us as we experience this fresh beginning for our family. We are excited to see what God is doing for us all.

Events – Retreat, Seminar, Training

Here are two events near us that you might consider joining.

Testimonies to Warm Your Hearts

How do you feel when you hear or read testimonies of God’s power and goodness? I am sharing Gynber and Gail’s testimonies.

Happy 2025, 1st Quarter 2025, Task Roster, Bible Study, Local Seminars

OBC NEWS 12 JAN – Happy 2025! Read a couple of inspirational posts, our first quarter 2025 plans, and other items. Let us pray for success!

Continue Reading Happy 2025, 1st Quarter 2025, Task Roster, Bible Study, Local Seminars

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. You know the…

Continue Reading A Prayer for the New Year

Sermon focus in June

As an offshoot of the Regional Hui last 23-25 May, I have started on the theme that the Hui dwelt upon, particularly on Isaiah 43:19 – Seeing God’s New Thing.

This is also timely because June month, besides being the start of the winter season, has lots of memorable events for OBC. I started as your pastor on 12 June 2022. While we experienced the least attendance in that month of that year, June 2022 also marks the start of OBC’s revival.

On Sunday, I will preach on the “Infirmities that Degrade the Eyes of Faith” based on Isaiah 43:14-28. What infirmities prevent us from seeing the new thing God is doing to His people, the church, and the community? How will we avoid these infirmities and avail ourselves of God’s new thing?

Next Sunday, our speakers on the roster, Tom and Tina, will speak on the same theme.

Giving

Your ongoing support is deeply appreciated and essential for the progress of the ministries entrusted to us. Your generosity significantly contributes to the advancement of His work. Thank you for your support.

If you want to set up an automatic payment for regular giving or make a one-off donation via Internet banking, the Oamaru Baptist Church account number is (ANZ) 06-0941-0015036-00.

May the Lord God bless you and keep you.

Fresh beginnings around us

As I shared last Sunday, the new year offers many fresh beginnings. All we need to do is look around and see these impending changes.

Let me share the outline of the sermon I delivered on Sunday, 4 February.

I took this photo when we stopped at Shag Point’s southern end because of road works. I noticed the new house built on the hilltop. We were following a moving van. Someone or a family might be moving.

Youth ministry resumed on 8 February

Our youth group meets every Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Please ask Tom or Bevan for more information.

Invite young people you know to join.

Family Love Sunday on 18 February

On 18 February, we will focus on the Christian Family. A panel of speakers will share about parenting, discipline, lessons learned, and how we can strengthen the Christian home.

Train children in the way they should go; when they grow old, they won’t depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Fellowship lunch on 18 February

It’s time we gather together for lunch after the worship service on 18 February. Let this be a time to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, milestones, fresh beginnings, and many more.

As our first fellowship lunch this year, let us celebrate the new people who have joined and rejoined us.

We have an IT intern – Christian Jericho

On behalf of OBC, I have accepted Christian Jericho, or CJ, to spend his internship with us in fulfilling the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science he is finishing at National University, Philippines.

CJ is the eldest son of Art and Kathy Luna. If you can recall, when Art received their NZ Residence Visa, he brought his family to New Zealand in May 2023.

CJ continued with his IT course online. Now, he only needs to accomplish 170 hours of internship to get the BSIT degree.

CJ’s tasks are improving our website and digitalising the church’s photos and documents for our online archive. We will discuss other IT-related tasks more in the days to follow.

Church Tasks Roster

The tasks roster is an opportunity for us to participate in the function and operation of our church in the areas of worship and service.

Please feel free to write your names on the rostering sheet on the table at the side of our tea area.

Don’t hesitate to ask Bevan, the pastor, or any member regarding any task you are interested in and if you need further information. Thank you!

Let me share the outline of the sermon I delivered on Sunday, 4 February.

I took this photo when we stopped at Shag Point’s southern end because of road works. I noticed the new house built on the hilltop. We were following a moving van. Someone or a family might be moving.

We visited Jadyn’s accommodation in Dunedin on 31 January. She begins university next week, a big, fresh start for us as a family.

Yes, there are many fresh beginnings around us. We only need to look around, observe, and ask, “What are the new things around?”

Jesus had impactful fresh beginnings in Galilee after his Baptism and when Herod arrested John.

Fresh beginnings at Capernaum (Matthew4:12-27)

1. Jesus went to Galilee to start His itinerant ministry in that region to continue John’s ministry.
2. Galilee offers a safer place for ministry.
3. Jesus left Nazareth to live in Capernaum because
   • People rejected Jesus in his hometown (Luke 4:16-30)
   • Matthew and Peter live in Capernaum (Matthew 9:1-9; Matthew 8:14)
   • Fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy. (Isaiah 9:1-2)
4. Jesus came to preach, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is near.”

Fresh beginnings with Jesus’ first disciples (Matthew 4:18-22)

1. Jesus called, “Come, follow me.” (Matthew 4:19)
   • Brothers Simon (called Peter) and Andrew
   • Zebedee’s siblings, James and John
2. His calling came to busy people.
   • Simon (Peter) and Andrew were casting a net into the lake (v.18)
   • James and John were in a boat preparing their nets (v. 21)
3. The immediate response of these disciples is an excellent example to us.
4. Following Jesus means leaving some things behind.

Fresh beginnings of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:23-25)

1. Teaching in their synagogues (Matthew 4:23)
2. Preaching (proclaiming the good news of the kingdom (v.23)
3. Healing every disease and sickness among the people (v.23), as far as Syria (v.24)
4. Large crowds followed him – people from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across Jordan. (v. 25)

A growing church always faces fresh beginnings, especially when we are deeply engaged in following our Master and Lord Jesus Christ.

Following what Jesus started in Galilee, we as a church or individuals must be able to preach the Gospel of repentance, make disciples, teach them to obey, and bring them to holistic healing in Jesus’ name.