Drive to Survive

The whole-day safety driving training that Jewel and I attended on 23 May, courtesy of the company we are working with, is called “Drive to Survive”.

On the training’s practical side, we were asked to drive at different speeds (50, 55, 60, 65, and 70 Kph) and upon reaching a point where the trainer stood, he blew a whistle that signalled us to step on the break and navigate the car to avoid hitting a row of barriers (plastic buckets).

Many of us might have experienced this when somebody suddenly crosses the road, and you must break suddenly. The one-day “Drive to Survive” training built up our confidence in what cars (with ABS technology) can do to avoid hitting a barrier, which could mean saving lives, property, and pockets.

Philippians 4:13 reminds us that we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

1 Year at OBC – Strive to Serve and Glorify!

The first Sunday of June marks my start of pastoral ministry here at Oamaru Baptist Church, and it feels like we have been here for many years now.

Perhaps, the many beautiful things that have happened in the last 12 months at OBC and Oamaru, in general, make us all wonder how it all happened in one year.

Again, Philippians 4:13 reminds us that we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.

The challenge for all of us is this – Like our cars that we can’t discover what they can do until we test them, we need to launch our ministry ventures further to learn and experience the vastness of “doing all things” through Christ who strengthens us.

After a year in our ministry journey together, let us strive to serve and glorify!

Shared lunch on 11 June

There are many reasons to celebrate under the loving and merciful blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Birthdays, wedding anniversaries, OBC victories, fellowships, and many more.

Thus, we are holding a shared lunch on Sunday, 11 June. Bring your food to share.

Weekly Reminders

• Youth Ministry – Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
  NOTE: No youth meeting on 5th June, King’s birthday holiday.
• 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.

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 jot down your names on the rostering sheet on a table in the tea area.

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

Prayer for comfort and strength

Let us pray for the Yumo family as they go through grief and sorrow for the death of their beloved wife/mum. Please pray for safe travels and provision as the children go home on 5th June and Joel at a later date.

5 Takeaways from the 26-27 May 2023 Otago and Southland Regional Hui

I attended the Otago and Southland Regional Hui on 26-27 May at Alexandra Baptist Church for the first time.

The Regional Hui is a gathering of Baptist pastors and church leaders in the Otago and Southland region held twice a year.

Please read more about the valuable takeaways from the regional gathering by clicking on the title, image, or button below.

Light has broken through

He who opens the breach goes up before them; they break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king passes on before them, the Lord at their head. Micah 2:13

True enough, as we heard most people say about Invercargill, a generous rain welcomed us on Sunday evening and through the night. We stayed on Monday and left the city on Tuesday morning, and the intermittent showers never left ultimately.

From Invercargill, we drove towards Queenstown, and passing through the Devil’s Staircase lookout, we stopped to rest and enjoy the view. That’s when I saw the sunlight breaking through the rain clouds, which had started clearing.

Micah offers a glimpse of our victory procession – our king passes on before us, our living Christ leading at the helm. The shaft of light breaking through the clouds reminds me of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, the most significant victory from death to life. Death’s storm is over because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead.

Annual General Meeting on 7th May

On Sunday, 7th May, we will hold the Annual General Meeting right after the worship service.

We sent the annual and financial reports last Sunday via email. We gave out printed copies for those who don’t use the Internet. Please let me know if you haven’t received your copy yet.

Please remember that we will have a shared lunch after the meeting.

Weekly Reminders

• Youth Ministry – Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
• Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
• Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM
  We are resuming our music jam now that classes also started.

Regional Hui 2023

Please read this invitation to the Regional Hui 2023 that Rachel sent us.

Our Otago & Southland Baptist Regional Hui is not far off now; we’d love to see as many as possible join with others for a couple of days. 

“Jesus in People and Places”
Friday 26 May (10:30 am) – Saturday 27 May (lunch)
Alexandra Baptist Church, 6 Gregg St, Alexandra

NB: Due to the sudden cancellation of the booking by the previously advertised venue and short timeframes to replan, Hui, this year will be a little different than in the last 2 years. The timeframes will be slightly shorter, and no accommodation will be provided, so it will be up to each individual to find (some links to options below). We’ll give this difference a try and see what we think! 

Just twice a year, we gather formally as an Association, so this is one of those opportunities for us to join together to:

• listen to God and to others
• reflect
• learn
• dream and envision together 
• worship
• pray
• strengthen relationships and connection
• celebrate the stories of Gospel renewal and God at work
• come away for a couple of days from the usual activity. 

This Hui is for pastors (of all types), elders, and ministry leaders – paid and voluntary. We will be joined by folk from the Baptist national support team, including the National Leader, from Arotahi and from Carey Baptist College.

I encourage you to bring a group from your context to enjoy this together and to be then able to digest the whole hui as a church team.

Cost: $110 per person – full registration 
Plus, options for day and evening attendance only.
We do not wish finance to be a limiting factor in your attendance,
so please talk with Rachel if it needs to be.  

REGISTRATION IS OPEN 
Please register by 23 May for catering and planning purposes.

We look forward to seeing you and spending time together. Please be praying for this time together, for those who will share and for us all as we connect, worship and unpack what God is saying.

Giving

Thank you very much 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 would like to set up an automatic payment for regular giving or to 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.

The Parable of the Sunflowers and the Tourist

Driving home from Oamaru one Sunday afternoon, we were approaching the vast sunflower field at the southern end of Timaru. From a distance, we saw a woman on the side road looking at the sunflower field.

As we drew nearer, we noticed she was walking back and forth, trying to find a path through the wire fence.

We also saw that the sunflowers had turned their back on the highway and were facing the setting sun.

As we passed, we figured out the tourist was trying to get a selfie with the flowers.

She needs to go over the fence and into the middle of the field to get a photo with the sunflowers facing the camera. We laughed at the thought that the sunflowers might not want their picture taken.

The sunflower is an excellent metaphor for believers who follow Jesus Christ. Yes, Christians are “Son-followers.”

However, some Christians have become so focused and transfixed on following the first part of Jesus Christ’s greatest commandment – to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind but neglect doing the second part, which is to love your neighbour as yourself.

“Son-followers” are not like rigid sunflowers with no flexibility to turn around and cater to the tourist’s (pilgrim) needs.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

As we praise and worship Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Light, let us turn around and look out for pilgrims we need to rescue, save, and love as we love ourselves.

Jonan

Exciting Children’s Ministry Curriculum for OBC

This week we bought our Sunday school curriculum subscription for kids and students from Lifeway. It’s called “The Gospel Project”.

“The Gospel Project” is a Christ-centered, chronological Bible study curriculum for kids, students, and adults. It follows a proven plan to nurture disciples from preschoolers to senior adults with Christ-centered Bible study resources.

Please invite kids to join our Sunday school. Let us pray for Erin and her team as they implement “The Gospel Project.”

Weekly Reminders

• Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
• Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM

How you can participate in the Lord’s work at OBC

OBC is a participatory church. Please see the rostering sheet on the side table in the dining area and write your name on any task you select.

If you’re unfamiliar with the technical tasks, we can orient or teach you how to operate the sound desk and computer. Please ask Bevan.

Preparing the Lord’s Supper elements is very easy. Val can orient you.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).

Sunday afternoon TEE Session

On Sunday, 19 February 2022, at 1:30 PM, we will hold our first TEE class for 2023 at the Dining Hall. Tomorrow’s session is an introduction and orientation to the TEE course. You are all invited.

TEE stands for Theological Education by Extension. It is an effective discipleship program to teach and equip all God’s people to be effective ambassadors for Jesus, society changers, and missionaries in the world, in the neighbourhood and the all-important world of work.

Group Leaders’ Training – 31 March to 1 April

We will host a Group Leaders’ Training from 31 March (7:00-9:00 PM) to 1 April (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM). This is training on facilitating a Bible study group using the TEE resources.

There is a registration fee of $50.00 per participant to cover materials (Bible materials and leaders’ guide) and lunch. Hopevale Trust is sponsoring the travel expenses of our resource persons.

The training is open to interested participants from other Christian churches in Oamaru and nearby towns.

Read about the resource persons from TEE Aotearoa who will come and conduct the training.

Ann Borquist

Rev. Dr Ann Borquist serves with Arotahi/NZBMS, TEE Aotearoa and International Ministries, ABCUSA.  

She works alongside partner Baptist conventions in Asia-Pacific and worldwide in theological education, pastoral care, holistic development, servant leadership, cross-cultural mission training, and refugee work.  

She lives with her family in Wellington. 

Lewis Varley

Lewis Varley is from the UK, has lived in NZ for six years, and previously worked as a missionary in Bangladesh for 17 years. 

He has been involved in TEE for many years and is passionate about seeing God’s people equipped for service and strengthened in their faith. 

He is a lecturer at Eastwest College of Intercultural Studies in Gordonton, Hamilton.

Giving

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

If you would like to set up an automatic payment for regular giving or to 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.