Prayers flowing for healing and hope

They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;
And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.
For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light, we see light. Psalm 36:8-9

You’ve probably observed receiving a barrage of text messages on your phone in the past few days. Several of our church members have gotten sick with flu or COVID. Praise the Lord. Everyone has gotten well or on the way to full recovery.

With one of us finally getting a delicate heart operation after several months of prayer, I can’t help but keep sending updates and requests for continuing prayers. Thank you for your prayers.

The said person is on her way to recovery, having moved from ICU to a regular room yesterday. I’m sure more testimonies of God’s miracles are coming our way soon.

Yes, we have created a prayer fountain for healing and hope because life’s uncertainties are fundamental in any circumstance, whether well or sick.

Let our prayers be springing like a fountain, flowing like a stream.

140th Founding Anniversary Preparations

Oamaru Baptist Church was formally constituted on 13 August 1883, making 13 August 2023 our 140th year. We are holding simple celebrations to commemorate our foundation anniversary.

The following are our initial plans.

• 6 August – Church Photography Sunday (needed for print and online posts).
• 13 August – Foundation Day Sunday – Speaker: Malcolm Lucas
• 18 August – Oamaru Mail publishes on our 140th Anniversary (with a half-page paid ad).
• 20 August – 140th Anniversary Celebration Sunday – Speaker: Rachel Murray

We need to be talking more about our preparations. If you have some suggestions, feel free to approach me.

Weekly Reminders

• Youth Ministry – Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
  NOTE: Please ask Tom or Bevan for more information. Thank you!
• Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
• Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM
  We invite our young people and anyone in our church to come and sing, play an instrument, and even just be there to listen.

Abundant Life Bible Study on 23 July, 1:30 PM at OBC

Everyone is invited to join. Mic Esdrelon is leading our discipleship session this afternoon.

We are rotating the Bible Study facilitator role amongst those who attended the TEE Group Leaders’ Training last 31 March.

We will take up Lesson 4. Please fill in the blanks, and be ready to read, discuss, and share.

See me if you don’t have a copy of the “Abundant Life” Workbook.

Oamaru Men’s Breakfast on 12 August, 8:00 AM

OBC men are invited to attend the Oamaru Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, 12 August, 8:00 AM at the Phoenix Complex.

Please register ASAP. Read the poster for more details.

If you are interested in attending but find the $20 a bit high, please contact Danny or Sam because they have men who can help sponsor partially.

They don’t want men to miss out.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
Psalm 23:1-2

PASTORAL CARE

As your pastor, I am happy to visit and pray for you. We can meet at your home or in town.

I will be using the Faith-Wisdom Discovery tool in our meeting. Please contact me.

– Jonan

Mission Philippines – Praise God for a successful MAP Toolkit online seminar

Thank you all for your prayers. The MAP Toolkit online seminar was a success. There were 44 registered participants, most pastors of churches in the mountains of South Negros, Philippines.

I am deeply humbled and thankful because this online training fulfills my long-time plan to share the MAP Toolkit with God’s shepherds in the PhilippineGod’saying for more mission opportunities like this.

Below are two photos of the participants.

Testimony through photos

I found this photo online of the OBC congregation in 1900. What does the old photo say about our church 123 years ago? We need a photo of us in 2023.

OBC circa 1900

OBC circa 2023

Weekly Reminders

• Youth Ministry – Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
  NOTE: Please ask Tom or Bevan for more information. Thank you!
• Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
• Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM
  We invite our young people and anyone in our church to come and sing, play an instrument, and even just be there to listen.

Pastoral Care

I am creating my visitation calendar. Please let me know your availability on either Thursday or Sunday afternoon. Contact me through my phone at 0211849974 or email me at pastor@oamarubaptist.org.nz, or you can message me via OBC’s Facebook Page. Thank you!

Let us pray for healing for those who are sick and recovering but still weak.

Prayers and fundraising for the Yumos

The Yumo family lRose’s rest Mary Rose’s remains on 15 June. Let us continue to pray for comfort and strength to Joel, Ralph, Faith, and Chelsea.

As a church, let us extend practical help to the family. Together with the Totara School, we have jointly initiated raising funds to buy their plane tickets to New Zealand.

Please donate through the OBC bank account with the Reference – “HelpYumo.” Those giving through envelopes, please specify the same.

Giving

Thank you for your continued support for the ministries the Lord God has entrusted us with. Your generosity means a lot for the development and progress of His work.

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.