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May 2013

admin — Wed, 01 May 2013 05:00:12 +0000

I think we are all ready for some May flowers. It seems like cold weather really stuck around this year longer than anyone really wanted. It is hard to believe that summer is approaching us so fast. I know that my kids (probably yours also!) are certainly ready for a break from school. Speaking of school, it is so good seeing all the teenagers floating around OBC. Pastor Duane is doing a great job in working with our students. A few weeks ago, the students came up to the sanctuary to pray for one of their peers who was undergoing a pretty serious surgery. Watching these teens around the alter always does my heart good. I will always have very fond memories of my time as a youth minister. In my mind, I was a pretty good one. I loved the kids and we laughed and learned a lot over the years. Recently, Duane had to be gone and he wanted me to teach Sunday School – no problem. I could do that blind folded. Man was I wrong. To put it politely, I have lost my touch! None of my jokes or illustrations seemed to connect with these kids; they were like aliens staring into space. Until the end of the class. I began going around the room, calling them by name and praying for them. There is power in prayer. The Spirit immediately flooded the room and I found my groove (actually, the Lord found it but that’s beside the point). Church. Lets continue to love on these students and encourage them to hang out with us this summer. Young people are good for the soul!

I love you OBC. Have a great month and lets continue putting our foot on the gas!

Pastor Tim

April 2013

admin — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:00:11 +0000

My favorite past-time of fishing is at its highest in the month of April. Pan fish, especially crappie, is my favorite fish to catch. It amazes me the different methods used of catching these tasty paper mouths. When I was growing up, it seemed the only method I ever knew was with a hook and a minnow. Now you can use minnows, cast jigs, long-line troll with jigs, slow troll or my personal favorite – spider rig! Spider rigging allows me to use several poles at once. In fact, when I have three guys in the boat we can have up to 18 poles in the water at the same time (sadly, I still can barely catch the dern things!). You know the methods of fishing has evolved and changed over the years but the hopeful outcome remains the same; to catch a fish!

So it is with reaching people for Christ. I remember growing up that Door to Door visitation was the main method used of witnessing. Today, there are numerous ways to share our faith; door to door, technology, sports, random acts of kindness … The list could continue but all of these different methods still has the same hopeful outcome – to see people give their hearts to the Lord! Many of you feel as if you don’t have the words to share with one that is lost. However, you could type your testimony up on Face Book and share it with all of your family and friends. You know, Satan certainly has benefited from the evil that is sometimes connected to media and technology; don’t ever forget that the same technology can be used for Gods glory! Just as a crappie fisherman needs to be creative and pull out all the stops to catch a silly little fish, let’s be creative and do what we can to win people to Christ. One of these creative ways will be used later this year. Many of you are familiar with Operation Christmas Child (Shoebox Ministry!). This year Franklin Grahams ministry is putting a new twist (different method!) of this special ministry. Rather than collecting all of the items needed to fill the shoebox at church, church members will be encouraged to have a “packing party” at their homes inviting non-Christian family and friends. We will be hearing about this ministry opportunity this month. Begin praying now that the Lord would bless our efforts in this endeavor.

Blessings to you all. I pray that all is going well for you and yours. Hopefully, the wind will not be too bad this month and I can try my spider rigging methods for catching crappie a lot this month! Don’t worry, ill put my time in (it just may be with church members on the water!)

Blessings

Pastor Tim

March 2013

admin — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:00:21 +0000

When march and April hit I become like an anxious little kid. Not because of the turn of the weather or because of baseball. It is much deeper than that; it’s time for Crappie fishing! Most people think I fish all the time (wishful thought though!) but I really do enjoy it. The highlight of my Spring is when me and my two high-school buddies get to disappear for a few days. Last year, was the first time in a very long time that we couldn’t go. Another friend of mine’s mother passed away 1 day before we were to depart. So this year, I am really looking forward to get away with my buddies. Fishing is what we go and do but spending time with one another is what we really enjoy more than anything. My buddy Doug, is a big shot lawyer in Minneapolis. We make fun of him suing people and enjoy hearing all of his crazy stories. Charles, my buddy that live in Louisville, is a Geologist. I never knew someone that studied rocks can be so busy. He is very successful in his work and has a lot going for him. I love telling them stories about all of you! Believe it or not, they are all usually very positive stories!
Proverbs 18:24closeProverbs 18:24 24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(ESV) closeProverbs 18:24closeProverbs 18:24 24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(ESV) 24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(ESV)
A man with many friends can still be ruined, but a true friend sticks closer than a brother

Thank the Lord today for your friends. They are certainly a blessing that God gives us. Hopefully, I’ll even get to catch a few crappie!

February 2013

admin — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:59:40 +0000

I guess it is the cold weather that kind of makes you feel “gloomy.” As I write this article, I feel a sense of loss when it comes to the great Saints that are now with the Lord. I know they wouldn’t want it any other way but I still miss the many people from our church that were used as building blocks for our ministry. Without doubt, these Godly people are in the Great Cloud of Witnesses rooting us on. Most recently, our church lost Frankie Martin. Frankie was my visiting buddy. I would always call her and we would go around and visit a handful of folks (then end up at the local hamburger joint). I remember when the Lord called me back to Oakland in 2004 telling me that I would be the Pastor that buried a lot of the older people in our church that meant so much to me, our community and our church family. I find that as an honor from the Lord, but still miss them!

So here is a tribute to all of these wonderful people. You are loved and thought of often. Encourage the Heavens to continue to guide and direct our paths at Oakland Baptist to continue to reach out to our community for the cause of Christ. I pray a blessing over all of the family members that are left behind. Each of you were wonderful family members to your loved ones. Thanks for making a difference in each of our lives. Selfishly, thank you for loving (and putting up with) me. Each of you helped make Oakland the church that it is today!

Blessings
Pastor Tim Colovos

January 2013

admin — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 23:00:17 +0000

A New Year is upon us again! I always remember my father telling me how it seems every year gets faster the older you get; I know now that is a very true statement. 2013 should be another great year of ministry for our church family here at Oakland Baptist Church. Youth and Children Camps, Church-Wide Mission Trips, Small Groups and all kinds of church fellowships should keep us hopping throughout the entire year. I want to thank each of our Sunday School Teachers in advance for all of their ministry efforts. I pray this could be a banner year for our Sunday School ministry. When our Sunday School department deepens in spirit and in number, we will see more depth added in every facet of ministry within our church. If you are an active member at OBC, pray that the Lord would put someone on your mind that is not involved in Sunday School. If we could each reach someone to be connected into Sunday School the sky would be the limit for us this year. With the new year also brings a sense of challenge for me to lead us in being aggressive in paying down our debt on the Christian Life Center. I would love to see us knock out the debt early so that we could possibly plant another church! Big hopes and dreams, but we serve a big God!

In 2012 we saw 53 people join our church with 25 of those coming through Salvation and Believers Baptism. In addition, we saw 8 Job Corps students accept Christ and be baptized as well. When the Lord called me to Oakland in 2004, I always have a goal every year to see at least 52 people join our church with 25 of those being Salvations. God has answered that goal again in 2012! Oakland, let’s do it again! Let’s share the good news of Christ and love everyone we come in contact with and continue to watch the Lord grow His church. With this growth, we will see more transition (people leaving our church for various reasons). Rather than try to stop the transition, lets welcome it! The Lord will lead, we just need to be obedient and follow. Blessings to each of you. I pray that 2013 is a year that will be of great meaning to you and your family.

Happy New Year Oakland!

Pastor Tim