Our Blog

Worship Ministry - October 2023

Firm Foundation
24“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”  (Matt 7:24-27)

It was a normal Monday; the kids went to school, Sarah and I went to work, everyone came home, and dinner was eaten. Then, in a matter of moments, seconds even, the whole day was flipped on its head. Everything I had planned for the rest of the day, changed and canceled instantly. Fear, panic, and confusion flooded in, but there wasn’t time to let it overwhelm me cause action was needed.

When you find yourself looking down at the floor at your eighteen-month-old daughter, who’s lying face down and unresponsive, fear sets in pretty quickly. Everything was normal, just getting ready for bath time. Kids were crying, but who doesn’t find themselves crying on a Monday? Just like that, Charlotte was passed out on the floor. Are there greater fears in a parent's life than something happening to their child? You love them with everything that you are, and everything that you have, and you want nothing but good for them.

But we aren’t in control.

She came to, crying a little bit, but not completely alert; we started toward the hospital. As we sat in the cold, bright, and uncomfortable ER room, it was easy for the worst outcomes to start creeping into my mind. What if there is something seriously wrong? What could I have done to prevent this? Easy to become frustrated, because you want answers but no one can give them to you fast enough. What are you supposed to do?

I found myself thinking about the love of God. These feelings, this worry I had for my daughter, this caring, pales in comparison to how much God cares for her…and cares for me. He sent His son to die because He loves her. He meticulously formed every part of her. He gave her that crazy, fun, and happy personality. So, how in a time of panic, worry, and uncertainty do we rely on God and His love over ourselves?

Through the promises, we find in His word. Building our lives on the firm foundation of God's truth. So that when “the rain falls (fell), the rivers rise (rose), and the winds blow (blew) and pound (ed)” in your life, your hope and faith will remain. Your faith will not be easily shaken but you will find yourself depending on God’s strength. We are not in control, but we trust in the one who is, and He will not let us down. For His glory and honor, we live and breathe, praising Him for His greatness.

I am praising Him today for providing and protecting Charlotte, who is healthy and living her best life. We each have a reason to praise Him! What’s yours?

Love you and mean it! 

Lyric of the Month
Christ is my firm foundation
The Rock on which I stand
When everything around me is shaken
I've never been more glad

 Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Women On Mission - October 2023

As we look forward to our church’s 60th anniversary, it should be noted that the Woman’s Missionary Society was begun very early in the life of Oakhill.  It was later renamed Baptist Women, then Women on Mission.  Upon the death of Mrs. Dorothy Fleming in a tragic accident, the organization’s minutes were never recovered, so the earliest records are not available to us.

The first mention of any organized mission support at Oakhill Chapel was in November 1960 when we voted to receive a Christmas offering, half going to a building fund and half to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions.  (No record of the amount received.)

The Woman’s Missionary Society seems to have met regularly, beginning in the early 1960’s, before the church was organized.  Children’s groups were provided, beginning as early as 1961.

The parent organization was formed in 1888 in Richmond, Virginia, at a time when women did not work outside the home, husbands ruled the home, and women did not have income at their disposal.  The Foreign Mission Board asked the women’s organization to raise money for missionaries to be sent to China.  Their goal was to collect $2,000.00 to send two missionaries.  $3,315.26 was raised, enough to send three missionaries.

Our Women on Mission group continues to meet each month.  Our goals are to lead the church to learn about missions, support missions through prayer and giving, develop spiritually toward a missions lifestyle, participate in the work of the church and denominations, and engage in missions and personal witnessing.

Women on Mission will meet Thursday, October 5th at 1:00 pm in the Grace classroom. All ladies are invited to be with us.

Our Hunger Offering receipts are $1,091.50.

We are collecting mac and cheese for the Rescue Mission’s Gobbler Gathering, beginning Sunday, October 8th.