Our mission is to KNOW Jesus, SERVE Jesus and SHARE Jesus

Transcription

1 April 2018 APRIL 1ST Morning Baptismal Service 11:00 AM No Evening Service I was really ministered to recently through a lesson that our LIFE group studied (LIFE=Oakdale s addiction recovery ministry; Living In Freedom Everyday). The focal passage is found recorded in John 15:1-11. These events occurred just hours before Jesus would go to the cross. As you are aware, the words spoken to us from someone facing death are usually full of vital and important information that we need to pay close attention to. Jesus spoke these crucial words as He faced His own crucifixion, to His troubled and often misled disciples who needed to know how they could be successful in the ministry facing them. Jesus offered them, and us, a guarantee that we will bear much fruit if we would accomplish one simple yet vital responsibility. Jesus promised, (I m paraphrasing just a bit) You abide in Me and I will abide in you and the result will be much fruit. In other words, Stay as you go. Before you step out attempting to accomplish anything for God, make sure you are abiding in Him. Stay as you go. We must understand that when we are trying to do good in our power, in the flesh, we will end up exhausted, burnt out, and fruitless. Yet as I abide in Him, allowing His power that is within me to accomplish what He desires, there is much fruit. It is interesting that John 15 progresses from simply bearing fruit in verse 2, to bearing more fruit in the latter part of verse 2, to finally bearing much fruit in verse 5. The key? Stay as you go! Abide in Him. Stay in His Word, walk in His truth, surrender your will to His. Stay as you go! Let s abide in Him Oakdale Baptist Church and then we will be ready to go and to serve. APRIL 10TH 6:30 PM Oakdale Fellowship Hall APRIL 10TH Women s Fellowship Mtg. Youth Room 6:30 PM APRIL 28TH Star City 11 AM-1 PM Pastor Mike Dixon Our mission is to KNOW Jesus, SERVE Jesus and SHARE Jesus

2 Thank you Ladies Ministry, Carolyn Bowen thanks you for the lovely green prayer blanket, stating it would not show soil easily. She stated she will use it when she is in her wheelchair and on the porch. She felt very blessed and appreciative of receiving it. ******************************************* Dear Church Family, Thank you for your cards, letters, and prayers during the passing of my sister and sister-in-law. It was greatly appreciated. Phil Wood ******************************************* To Our Church Family, Thanks so much for the kind words of sympathy, encouragement & Christian Love at the passing of my father. Also, thanks for the prayers, visits, cards, calls, texts, flowers, and donations given in my fathers memory. Everyone was so kind and thoughtful and it meant so much to our family. Wayne & Debra Calhoun & Family ******************************************* We would like to thank our church family for visits, cards, calls, and especially prayers. As promised, God has heard and answered our prayers. He has been with us and my recovery has been great. Robert & Sabrina Elks ******************************************* To Our Oakdale Family, Dan and I want to say thank you for all the support you have given us during my accident and recovery. Thanks for your prayers, cards, food, flowers and phone calls that you have blessed us with. We love each one of you. Dan and May FEBRUARY 2018 Income & Expenses General Fund Income $23, February Expenses $26, Difference $ (2,748.68) Designated Fund Receipts* February Only *Not account balances Children s Fund $ Heck Jones Offering $ L.I.F.E. Addiction Ministry $ Mission Trips Income $ SCLO $1, Outdoor Sign $6, Upward Concessions $3, Youth Fund Income $1, Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10 Monthly reports are placed in the literature racks by 10th of month. If any questions, or call the church. Also, check the literature racks for Mature Living and Home Life, monthly magazines furnished by Oakdale Baptist Church. Our outdoor sign has been ordered, the deposit has been made expected shipping date is late May!! The crosses will be lit at Pepper Lake each night starting March 4th thru the evening of Easter, April 1st from 7:30 PM-10:00 PM. If you need a box of offering envelopes, please contact the church office. Train up a child - using the weekly offering envelope is a good way to train children in tithing. Notify the church office if you would like a box for your child/children.

3 3:30 Student Ministries Student Pastor, Aaron Laskey I can't believe over one full month has passed since I joined the ministry of OBC. It has been a pleasure being a part of the OBC family and I look forward to the coming months as I continue to transition into the role that the Lord has graciously provided for me. Your support is much appreciated and has helped make this transition as comfortable as it can be. We are still a couple months out from the youth trip to Crossings Camp in Kentucky (June 16-21). Anyone who wants more information about the camp can visit the camp website: We are in for a treat on Sunday night, April 8 th. A few of the students who will be going to St. Lucia this summer are going to share their testimonies during the evening service. Come hear about how the Lord is working in their lives and preparing them for missions work this summer. Please feel free to come see me (or Aaron or Trina) with any questions. Upcoming Events: April 4 th Youth Bible Study April 8 th Evening Service w/youth Testimonies Eggs, bunnies, chocolate, jelly beans, these are probably the things you think of first when you think about Easter. What we should think of is Jesus. He gave His life on the cross and on the third day He rose again so that we may have salvation through Him. Thank you, Jesus, for loving us this much. On April 28 the children will be going roller skating at Star City. On May 6th, the youth and children will host our annual luncheon and cake auction to raise money for camp. The menu will be fried or rotisserie chicken, boiled potatoes, green beans, corn on the cob, roll, tea & lemonade. Please consider donating a cake or baked goods for the auction. Teachers are needed for children s 3rd-5th grade Bible Skills and Thrills. They meet on Wednesday nights at 7:00. Thirty minutes will be class time and the other 30 minutes will be choir with Miss Angie. The sign-up sheet is on the table by the Welcome Center. April 11 th Youth Bible Study April 15 th Youth Church April 18 th Youth Bible Study April 25 th Youth Bible Study April 29 th Youth Church WORSHIP KIDSTYLE SCHEDULE FOR APRIL (CHILDREN S CHURCH) 4/1 Jessica & Martin Strickland 4/8 Meghan Smith & Justine Wells 4/15 Karen & Rickey Murray 4/22 Dawn Rhodes & Terin Chapman 4-29 Jewel & Danny Calhoun Please contact Jewel Calhoun at if you cannot serve your Sunday so we can make alternate arrangements. If you would like to help, contact Jewel Calhoun.

4 JOY GROUP NEWS APRIL 7TH The JOY Group will be going to the King Messenger s concert at Pender s Chapel Baptist Church in Tarboro. A love offering will be taken. Oakdale s van will leave at 5:30 PM. APRIL 10TH JOY Group Breakfast at Smith s Restaurant Oakdale s van will leave at 8:30 AM APRIL 19TH JOY Group Meeting 2:00 PM Oakdale Baptist Church Fellowship Hall Devotion-Games-Snacks Everyone is Welcome! Meeting the first, third & fifth Tuesdays of each month at Oakdale Baptist Church and the second and fourth Tuesdays at Peace Makers from 6:30-8:15. Hooray for March Madness and getting our Game On! Thanks, OBC, for a fantastic opening meeting on March 11 th. We had so many volunteers ready to work in VBS. Of course, there s still plenty of room for more. Lots of opportunities to share in the blessing. Remember, June with a church-wide kick-off event on Saturday, June 23 rd. More to come! L.I.F.E. DINNER SCHEDULE FOR APRIL April 3rd Dona Agar & Tony Medley April 17th Mary & Butch Harrell Miss Angie

5 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Easter Baptisms Sunday No Evening Service 6:30 PM-8:15 PM LIFE Addiction Recovery Program Children s Choir Practice/Bible Skills Regular Schedule 5:30 PM JOY Group to Concert in Tarboro A N N I E A R M S T R O N G E A S T E R O F F E R I N G M A R C H 25 - A P R I L 8th Goal-$2, :00 AM 10 8:30 AM :30 PM Deacon Meeting Annie Armstrong Missions Prayer Group at OBC JOY Group Breakfast 6:30 PM Women s Fellowship 6:30 PM Men s Supper/Mtg 6:30 PM-8:15 PM LIFE Addiction Recovery Program at Peace Makers Children s Choir Practice/Bible Skills Regular Schedule Youth Church 7:30 PM-9:30 PM The Power of a Praying Wife Bible Study 6:30 PM-8:15 PM LIFE Addiction Recovery Program Children s Choir Practice/Bible Skills 2:00 PM JOY Group Regular Schedule :30 PM-8:15 PM LIFE Addiction Recovery Program at Peace Makers 25 Children s Choir Practice/Bible Skills Regular Schedule AM-1:00 PM Children-Roller Skating at Star City 29 5:00 PM St. Lucia Missions Meeting 30 Youth Church

6 SECURITY FOR APRIL 4/1 Thomas Bulluck & Dave Brinkley 4/8 James Chapman & Kendall Smith 4/15 Bert Peele & Wayne Walston 4/22 David Wells & Nick Andrews 4/29 Rickey Murray & Steve Sturgill 4/3 James Chapman 4/22 Cody Calhoun 4/6 Robbie Jilcott 4/22 Taylor House 4/7 Karen Ezzell 4/25 Mike Howard 4/9 Lane Hodge 4/26 Kim Jones USHER TEAM FOR APRIL JEFF EATMON JAMES WALSTON CHARLES POLLARD AARON RHODES 4/15 Danny Calhoun 4/30 Lori Edmondson 4/20 Sharon Webb 4/30 Jane Smith 4/21 Lynn Eason 4/30 Bryson Summerlin APRIL 2018 April Nursery Coordinator Jessica Strickland Please contact her if you are unable to serve on your Sunday so that she has plenty of time to find coverage. For all women participating in The Power of a Praying Wife Bible Study, once a month we will be meeting at the church for a time of fellowship and study together. It will be held the third Monday of each month through the month of July from 7:30 PM-9:30 PM. Our next meeting will be April 16th. If you have any questions, please see Joy Eatmon. 4/1 Babies-Paula Taylor & Gwen Harvey 4/1 Toddlers-Tina & Shane Hodge 4/8 Babies-Theresa & Tony Lassiter 4/8 Toddlers-Sue & Wayne Lassiter 4/15 Babies-Rebecca & Cameron Warren 4/15 Toddlers-Susan Cobb & Sandy Howard 4/22 Babies-Angela Spain & Kathy Calhoun 4/22 Toddlers-Kim Wells & Samantha Wells 4/29 Babies-Debra & Wayne Calhoun 4/29 Toddlers-Karen Murray & Jessica Strickland We re springing into spring in the music department. Some of our young people will soon be leading us in worship with voices and band instruments. Really looking forward to that! We re also really excited about putting our sanctuary choir together with our 2 sister churches for the annual Community Choir event. That s always a blast. Anyone interested in joining us for that is welcome. As you listen to K-Love Radio and hear your favorites, feel free to share them with me so that I can try to incorporate them into our worship time on Sunday mornings and evenings. Love the old and always open to the new! God loves all of it! Angie Ruffin

7 MISSIONS WOMEN S MINISTRY NEWS Spring is around the corner and we are excited about our Women s Ministry! We had a wonderful group attend our March meeting and I am looking forward to even more in April. Thank you to all those that helped fill our diaper bag to OVER FLOWING! Our April meeting will be Tuesday, April 10 th in the Youth room and we will have Cin Kornegay from United Community Ministries speaking to us about all the ministries they have and how we can be involved, so make plans to attend! Our Missions Prayer group is always praying and want you to attend if possible on the 2 nd Monday of each month at 10:00 am. And it s not too late to join the Facebook group The Power of a Praying Wife! This group of women meet once a month on the 3 rd Monday night at 7:30 pm and they would be overjoyed for any others to join them. We have a GREAT event coming Saturday, April 28 th at Arlington Baptist Church. A live streaming of Priscilla Shirer Simulcast! Cost is $5.00 per person and does include lunch and refreshments. The simulcast starts at 9:00 am and lasts til 5:00 pm. A sign up sheet is on the informational table. Deadline to sign up and pay is Wednesday, April 11 th. Click this link for a sneak peek of what s in store. Randy and Kathy Arnett, missionaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo, were involved in a car accident and sadly lost their lives from sustained injuries. Please pray for our missionaries and those who are serving the Lord in places away from their families. Missionaries have a special place in my heart as I have family that served for many years overseas, missing birthdays, holidays and other special events with family. It means so much to all the missionaries when they know people are praying for them as they serve. In Him, Karen Murray BAPTIST MEN Oakdale Men, Seventeen men attended the "Ignite". Men's Conference at Liberty University the weekend of March the 16th. We were under preaching, teaching, testimony and ministry insight straight from the Bible presented by David Jeremiah and a host of others. We heard testimony and Bible Based encouragement to be Men of God from soldiers who God brought through "Black Hawk Down" and the "13 hours " at Benghazi. The Biblical instruction, teaching and encouragement took place the whole conference. It was all good. Many said it was the best Men's Conference they ever attended. There was way too much packed into the hours there to completely share in this brief message. I will however say this...the power of what happened on that cross so many years ago has not changed one bit. The fact that we must decide where we stand has not changed one bit either. Are you on the side of the cross where we ask Jesus to take us home with Him as one of the criminals did as he was being crucified beside Jesus? Are you the criminal on the other side who was angry and bitter depending on his own ability all the way to his death? Which side of the cross are you on? Who is the man you want to be today? Jesus said we are for Him or against Him. We are thankful to Pastor Mike for putting this together. The meeting date and time for the April Men's meeting will be Tuesday April 10th at 6:30 in the fellowship hall. Come on to the meeting, men, and catch up with what's going on with the men at Oakdale and enjoy some good fellowship as well!! In the Hope He gives, Tony Lassiter MISIONS 2018 UPDATE The St. Lucia mission trip will be July 20-27, This is a foreign mission trip so passports are required. The teams purpose will include conducting a sports camp (soccer, basketball, volleyball), tent crusade meetings at night, and children's ministries including VBS. Oakdale's team will join with another team out of Nash County so combined, we can fulfill these ministry goals. The cost for the trip will be about $1500-$1800 per person which includes airfare, lodging, and food. Here is what the team needs: Your prayers for the volunteer coaches and players who are going as well as children ministry workers, financial donations to offset costs. If you desire to know more, please contact Pastor Mike at The next St. Lucia Missions Meeting will be Sunday, April 29th at 5:00 PM.

8 Oakdale Baptist Church US 64 ALT WEST HWY Rocky Mount, NC Address Service Requested Oakdale Staff Pastor: Pastor Mike Dixon Student Pastor: Aaron Laskey Music Director: Ms. Angie Ruffin Secretary: Mrs. Sharon Lynch Prayer Coordinators Melissa Dixon (Primary) May Howell (Backup) DEACON BEACON News from Deacon Ministry Team A guiding light to the rock THE COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT IS CLOSED FOR REMODELING The story is told of a man who joined a monastery where he was required to make a vow of silence. According to the rules, the man was allowed to speak only two words a year and only during his annual review in front of the evaluation board. The new monk served his first year in absolute silence. At year's end he was permitted to speak. The two words he uttered were "Food cold." At year 2's end, his two words were "Bed hard." At the end of year 3 when he showed up for his final review, his two words were "I quit." The monastery leader responded, "Your decision doesn't surprise us. After all, you've done nothing but complain since you got here." "Do all things without murmuring," said Paul in Philippians 2:14. Is that really possible? Can a believer truly live a complaint-free life? As hard as that may seem, God's commands are not up for negotiation. We should take Paul's words seriously; complaining; simply stated, is giving expression to one's self-centered discontentment. It's a heart murmur with vocal chords. Most of the time, it is a negative expression without thought or consideration just an opportunity to vent at the expense of someone else. Sometimes our complaining takes on less verbal forms too: rolling eyes; clinching teeth; huffing and puffing; stomping off; or body language that conveys defiance, disrespect, or disapproval. Consider how you would respond upon hearing things like the following especially right before a worship service on a Sunday morning: " Pastor, the offering was down again this week." "Pastor, the Sunday School numbers are down again this week." "Pastor, there's a stranger in the lobby asking for money." Pastor, the sound system isn t working properly again." It should be pointed out that complaining is not the same as grieving or speaking out against injustice, danger or the deep pain of heart and soul when life is stressful. Complaining involves the assertion of self to secure your own comfort, rather than the denial of self to promote God's glory. It is significant that Paul denounced complaining while shackled in prison. For Paul, complaining was not a legitimate response. Recognizing God's sovereignty, Paul viewed himself as a prisoner of the Lord, not as a prisoner of Rome. He had the choice of complaining or telling God's good news through evangelism. Paul chose the latter, in part because he discovered an important key to victorious living. Most people think they will stop complaining when they finally get happy. Paul indicates that people will get happy when they finally stop complaining! The difference is profound. Paul implies in Philippians 2:14-16 that complaining Christians look and sound like the depraved generation of which they are a part! That's a serious charge, but the stakes are high. What unbeliever would want to accept Christ into his life if Christ apparently made no difference in the life of a complaining Christian? Jesus was not a complainer He was a worshipper. The prayer that He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane must be our prayer as well: "Father, not my will, but Thine, be done" (Luke 22:42). Jeff Eatmon, Deacon Chair