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