Seeking external supervision support

As a requirement in my Baptist Registration Development Agreement 2023, I meet with an experienced Baptist pastor for accountability and seek external supervision support every two months.

My 17 May meeting was a treat because instead of meeting with my external supervisor alone, I got to join and meet six more pastors in their cluster’s meeting at Oxford Baptist Church.

The trip to Oxford (a two-hour long drive one way) was worthwhile. The sharing, encouragement, and praying brought much nourishment to my spirit. Also, meeting pastors and hearing their trials and triumphs assures me that I am part of a broader community in God’s vineyard. To God, our praises!

Writing and sharing testimonies

We are moving to the next topic on Sunday, 21 May, “Testimony Writing and Sharing.” I will preach on testimonies as the buried treasure we must dig and celebrate.

We’ll have Malcolm preach about its role and importance on 28 May. On 4 June, Tom will share how we can present testimonies creatively.

I’m sure that sharing testimonies is not new to all. Thus, I look forward to hearing your testimonies in the next few Sundays. We will also learn how to harness its power in the church and personal life; how it can impact the community.

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 invite our young people and anyone in our church to come and sing, play an instrument, and even just be there to listen.

Pastor’s Activities on 26-28 May 2023

I am sharing these dates for your information and guidance.

• 26-27 May – I will attend the Otago and Southland Regional Hui at Alexandra Baptist Church.
  
  
• 28 May – I am scheduled to present on Philippine Missions at Gleniti Baptist Church, Timaru

Joining the Editorial Advisory Group

I am deeply grateful for the new opportunity to serve the Lord through the NZ Baptist Union’s Editorial Advisory Group – an excellent avenue to share my God-given talents. To God be the glory! Click the button below to read more.

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.

Past Sermons

Please browse and read past sermons by clicking the 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.

Let us labour till our Master comes.

To the work! to the work! we are servants of God,
Let us follow the path that our Master has trod;
With the balm of His counsel, our strength to renew,
Let us do with our might what our hands find to do.

“To the work” Hymn by fanny crosby

It is Labour Weekend, and by tradition, it’s time for the whole family to be tending their gardens and flower beds for the summer’s harvest and blooms.

OBC is planting growth and development seeds that we hope and pray will bear much fruit in God’s time. Let us labour for the Lord!

Music Workshops and More

We held another music-listening workshop last Sunday, 16 October – 1:00 PM at the OBC Auditorium.

The Casitas family and Cheryl joined, and Bevan was there to assist.

We will have a quick run-through of the music we listened to this week to apply what we learned after the worship service (while they prepare the tea).

All music enthusiasts are invited to join!

We are calling for people who can be part of our children and youth ministry team!

“They grow up fast” is a common expression I hear about children. OBC has the facilities for a vibrant ministry for our kids. Let us take the chance to teach and train them in the Godly way they should go.

We need people to compose our Children and Youth Ministry. Please let me know.

REMINDERS…

Prayer Meeting @ OBC on Wednesday, 3:00 to 4:00 PM.

In last Wednesday’s prayer meeting, we prayed for the following:

• Sick members. We prayed for healing, recovery, and total well-being.
  
  
• OBC members who have left but are not attending any church for the Lord God to lead them back to OBC.

We also took the time to share and thank the Lord for our answered prayers.

• Mic shared how the Lord God answered their prayers for their kids, Nicho and Nolan, to be able to attend school, which they are now enjoying.
  
  
• I also shared about my prayer three years ago that I would be able to use the Ministry Appreciation and Participation toolkit in a church was answered in June 2022 when I started working at OBC.

We are a praying church. Let us pray for you. To send in your prayer requests, click on the button below:

November Roster is coming up in a week. Please feel free to jot down your name on any vacant slot. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the life of OBC.

Franklin Graham God Loves You Tour

I met Brendon Perumal, REACH Church’s Lead Pastor, on Wednesday, and he invited OBC to be part of promoting the event.

For more details, grab some promotional cards and leaflets on the table in the foyer. Bring some for your family and friends.

Guess what I’m thinking each time we have a bright sunny day? Plus, November and December are around the corner.

Toiling on, toiling on, Toiling on, toiling on:
Let us hope, let us watch,
And labour till the Master comes.

“To the work” Hymn by fanny crosby