Our Blog

Filter By:
Showing items filed under “Newsletter”

Family Ministry Moments - October 2024

main image

What is so rewarding about being a Kids’ Life Group leader?  Teachers are the cornerstone of our kids' ministry.  There is only so much large group teaching we can do, the most effective kind of teaching is in small groups. We intentionally break down our kids into smaller groups. At the 9:30 worship hour, each grade/age has a class.  At 11 am some of the grades are grouped together but the classes are still small.  This is important so the kids can learn the Bible and grow in their faith. 

Our Kids' Life Group leaders are amazing teachers who pour their life into the children every Sunday. They are crucial in helping these children to grow in their faith but not because they teach the Bible every week.  Teaching the Bible is vitally important but their steady influence in the kids’ lives is just as important.  The presence of a godly leader every week is a huge part of what makes kids' ministry work.

Let’s do a little exercise.  How many sermons or Bible lessons can you remember, ones that have impacted your life so much you can remember them easily?  A handful, 10, 20?  How many have you heard in your life? 1,000’s?  The percentage of how many have impacted your life is very low to the amount you have heard. The reason is that the Bible lessons accumulate in our lives to build up our faith.  We don’t have to remember every lesson to be discipled in the Word.  It is like working out.  You will not see the effect of one workout on your health, but after a year of working out consistently, you will see it clearly.  Being discipled in the Word is like this, we don’t have to remember every lesson we have been taught but when we are consistently learning we see spiritual growth in our lives.

Now how many Bible study leaders, teachers, and pastors can you name? You can probably recall almost every teacher you have had or at least a high percentage of them. I can recall the influence my 11th grade Sunday school teacher, David, had in my life (I only started attending church regularly in my 11th grade year).  I only remember a couple of things that David said in class, however, what I remember most was his godly presence and commitment to teaching a bunch of rowdy 11th grade boys.  He was consistently there every Sunday pouring into us.  David is not the only one that I can recall there are many that have been an encouraging godly presence in my life pouring into me.

This is why I say the influence of the teacher is just as important as the lessons being taught.  We need godly individuals who will commit to leading kids' life groups.  Right now we have an opening in our 1st-2nd grade class and our 3rd-5th grade class both during the 11 am worship hour.  What these children need is a consistent leader who will seek to love them and be committed to sharing the Word of God with them.  Teaching is not always easy, I have been filling in the 1st-2nd grade class for a few weeks. They can try your patience and don’t always listen but the reward I get from teaching is amazing. I know I am making a difference in these children’s lives. I know they are learning God’s Word every week and growing in grace.  There is no greater joy than being able to pour into these children.

Would you pray about stepping up and filling one of the positions? God can use you in a mighty way.  You can be that person who helps to shape and influence these kids for the glory of the Lord. The commitment is just for a year (August to August). We have subs available for when you are on vacation or sick.  Kids’ ministry volunteers must have attended Oakhill for 6 months and pass a background check.  Let me know if you are interested and we can talk more about the open positions. Reach out to me at or call the Church Office at 812-476-3450.

Posted by Bryan Gotcher with

Worship Ministry - October 2024

main image

Choir

It's hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to get the choir back together again. In just a few weeks on October 27th, we will begin
practicing for our Christmas Night of Worship (December 15th). Rehearsals will be on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 pm. We will also be joined by the children’s choir (5 years old to 5th grade) for the Night of Worship as well. Practice for the children’s choir will begin November 3rd at 4:30 pm.

Whether you can sing well or you’re a beginner, I would love for you to join us this year as we celebrate the birth of our Savior! Reach out to either me or Jen Church if you have any questions or would like to sign up!

Glory
It’s hard not to love Fall, right? The cooling weather, the changing leaves, and the pumpkin spice lattes, what’s not to like? Fall reminds me of the beauty of God’s creation! As the leaves turn from green to red, orange and yellow, nature truly becomes a work of art. The fields are harvested and the pumpkins come out, I’m reminded of God’s provision.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1

Sometimes it feels like we are close to God, that we can reach and touch Him. We are in tune with His will for our lives, we are sold out for Him and our hearts and minds are focused on Him. A lot of days, it feels like He is far away. We are confident that God is there, we trust and hope in Him, and believe in Him, but He doesn’t feel near. It’s on days like this that I have to remind myself that God’s glory is all around us. We can witness God’s beauty, creativity, power, and glory every day we just have to look around us.

From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens.” Psalm 113:3-4

As we witness God’s glory around us, how are we to respond? The simple answer is, with praise. Christine Batchelder (author at the Billy Graham Training Center) writes “Friends, when we open our eyes in the morning, let’s make a conscious decision to praise Him. Let’s make a conscious decision to be more intentional to give God the Glory in everything we do and say. God deserves that because He is so faithful and so good to us. Praise Him! Give Him Glory!”

So, tomorrow when you open your eyes, choose to praise the Lord! Then the next day, when you see the leaves changing color and rustling in the wind, praise the Lord. When you and your family pick that pumpkin, praise the Lord for all He has given you. On that day that you feel alone, cry out to our God and praise Him.

Love you and mean it!

Posted by Evan Gray with

12345678910 ... 344345