It has been an eventful 2023 for Oamaru Baptist Church. We are grateful for what the Lord has done to His church in the last 12 months.

We have seen how OBC has grown in attendance, believers’ gifts, and giving. We have been blessed with many developments.

I can sum up OBC’s developments in 2023 in two statements. First, rediscovering the church’s mission is primary. Second, the inter-melting of hearts is vital in the church’s life.

Here are some 2023 highlights:

• Sunday worship attendance averaged approximately 50 to 55 people. The total number of people who attended OBC is 80 as of 31 August 2023.
  
• We installed eight new regular members in October.
  
• There are five candidates for Baptism. We will conduct Baptismal classes in January. We are also sorting out the Baptistry.
  
• We held children’s Sunday or children’s church every Sunday morning. Thank you, Erin, Tom, and the team, for leading our Children’s ministry.
  
• Youth ministry restarted in March 2023, meeting every Monday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, but it later moved to every Thursday. Thanks to Tom and Bevan for facilitating and coordinating our youth.
  
• Dynamic Discipleship TEE Group Leaders Training was held from 31 March to 1 April 2023 by the TEE Aotearoa training team, Ann Borquist, and Lewis Varley. 19 participants came from the Salvation Army Oamaru (7), All Nations Church of Hope (3), Waitaki Life Group (1), and Oamaru Baptist Church (8).
  
• Two Dynamic Discipleship Groups formed:(1) a Multi-generational Group and (2) a Youth Group taking up the “Abundant Life in Christ” lessons.
  
• We are thankful for having four song leaders (Bevan, Tom, Cheryl, and Jewel) in our praise and worship team has four song leaders. Our instrumentalists are a keyboardist, a drummer, a bass player, and a guitar player.
  
• When I got sick in late October and was later admitted to the hospital for four nights, I was not able to come to OBC for five Sundays. Bevan, Tom, and a few others facilitated the Sunday worship services.
  
• Our weekly prayer meeting is on Thursday from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM in 2023. We will change the schedule for 2024. Prayers were answered, such as healing and recovery, successful hospital procedures, and resident visas for migrants.
  
• Based in Timaru, I regularly conduct pastoral care through phone calls and visitation. My visitation time is done on Thursdays or Sunday afternoons.
  
• We have consistently held a shared lunch to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and victories. On 12 November Sunday, the church had a shared lunch at David and Marcia Sharpe’s place.
  
• OBC and the Waitaki community held a successful fundraising for the Yumo family’s return to NZ in July.
  
• As of the November 2023 financial report, church giving had increased to almost 100% in 2023 compared with 2022. The total amount is not yet enough to pay a pastor. We are praying for God’s additional provision in 2024.
  
• Your pastor received his Full NZ Baptist Registration confirmation and Marriage Celebrant Appointment in November.
  
• We have several church members who are on our preaching roster. There would be more as the Lord provides, especially from the women.
  
• The preaching has been based on the Ministry Appreciation and Participation Toolkit flow chart. We are on “church planning” in November.

• We focused on Christmas in December. Since the 24th and 31st of December fell on a Sunday, we held regular worship services.
  
  The Christmas story presentation on Sunday, 24 December, was a hit. Then we sang carols at the Sandringham House at 2:40 PM.
  
  Twenty-two people attended the Christmas Day service, all remaining for lunch afterward.

I want to thank the Hopevale Trust for supporting the pastoral ministry financially at OBC, Mark Pavelka and GBC for the guidance and prayers, the Governance Team (Rachel and Bradley) for their leadership support, Bevan Sharpe and OBC for their cooperation, and my Castillon family teammates, Jewel, and Jadyn.

Most thankful and giving all the glory to our loving God, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

After the eventful 2023, the challenge is how the OBC ministry can be enhanced to sustain what it has achieved and attain further growth. May the Holy Spirit guide us now and in the days ahead.