Welcome to Oakleigh Baptist Community
We are called to be Disciples of Jesus. To love Him, to follow Him, to worship Him and to gather to worship with our Spiritual family. God is a Holy, Mighty, Gracious, Loving, Just and Forgiving God who alone is worthy of our worship.
During the Coronavirus Crisis, we will meet regularly online.
We have moved to online services. Church is not closed, but the way we gather has changed. OBC Online and OBC Connect is our way of staying connected while restrictions are in place around public gatherings. No matter where we are, we can continue to worship, pray and hear God’s Word together.
“If you are interested in visiting a church or even finding out more about who Jesus is and how a relationship with Him will change your life today and forever, then we would love to welcome you to join us.”
Brad Rumble | Senior Pastor
CARING FOR PEOPLE. We have created a fund for people to Give Online to those in financial need as a result of the COVID-19 Crisis. We are seeing many opportunities to support and care for people during this time.
There is always hope in God, through trial and difficulty He brings life, love and wonder. What do you think is next? “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness.” Is 43:19
If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Encouragement to Be Faithful
I’d like to encourage you with the words of 2 Timothy 1:3-10 because I have been repeatedly reminded as this crisis has unfolded that you and I are people of great influence. Our church family has such an opportunity to bring hope to many people who are feeling isolated, lonely, frustrated, fearful, anxious and so many other feelings as a result of this situation. And so this is what I want to say to you: Never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. What we are experiencing is difficult. It is hard. It is harder for some than others. But it is also an opportunity. This moment in time is a gift to us from our Father. God in His sovereign plan has given us this moment and we should embrace it for His glory.
In this passage Paul continues: With the strength God gives you be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus our Saviour. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 2 Timothy 1:8-10
We have all lost things through this crisis. Some people far more than others. We’ve lost freedoms, friendships (even if this is only temporary), financial security, and for some there may be a human cost. And in all of these things, as a family, as the church, the body of Christ together, we should get around one another to make sure that no one goes without or is alone. But we should also remember that these things are only temporary and that our hearts and our eyes should be on what is eternal. And with the eternal as our focus we all have the opportunity to love others with the love of Jesus, to be messengers of hope and of life. I think that is what it means when The Holy Spirit, through the words of this letter, God asks us: “With the strength (I) give you, be ready to suffer for the sake of the Good News.”
So that is my prayer for you, for all of us, we are suffering there is no doubt about that, but my prayer is that we are ready to suffer for the sake of the Good News. I want you to know that I’m praying for each one of you. We are praying for each one of you because we love you and because God has appointed you at this time to be ministers of the Gospel, to be missionaries, fellow workers in the harvest fields and the fruit we are harvesting isn’t temporary and it won’t waste away. It is eternal and the rewards are eternal and the glory is God’s and His pleasure is on us. So beloved sisters and brothers, keep up the Good work. Keep loving people. Keep speaking positive words, words of life. Keep watching out for people and keep sharing the Gospel. Don’t be ashamed and don’t be afraid. What you are doing isn’t unnoticed and it won’t be unrewarded.
Brad Rumble | Senior Pastor
An extract from our mid-week OBC Online service 01-04-20. Watch the full message online.
