I have had the privilege over the last year to be in a directed study with Pastor Paul on the EFCA Statement of Faith. As some of you may recall, several years ago, Pastor Paul brought a series of excellent messages on each article of the statement. In the last year, I have been able to read a good bit about each article and then flesh out on paper my belief on each one. The most recent article of the Statement of Faith talks of Christ’s return. I have been challenged in my thinking about how I view this world. Some of us have come through a generation where there was much talk of the end times. “The Late Great Planet Earth,” along with many other books about Christ’s imminent return, was a big seller in the Christian book stores back in the day. That seems to have diminished. But do we (or I) have the right perspective on this issue? I have appreciated reading many passages from the Bible that talk about the time of Christ’s return. Jesus gave one of His lengthier teachings on future events in Matthew 24 & 25. The Apostle Paul also wrote of our conduct as we wait for Jesus to come. In Titus 2, he tells us “we should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion (love) for God.” The Apostle Paul also tells us in Hebrews 10:25 that we should “not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” I think a part of our “Growing in Community” is to encourage one another to stay the course so that we will be ready when the Lord returns. In that same passage in Hebrews 10, we are told to “think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” We are to serve those in our world and encourage each other to the same.

In our study this week, Pastor Paul pointed out some verses that I have read many times and not thought about. In 2 Peter 3, the apostle gives his perspective on this. He says in verse 13, “We are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth He has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. And so dear friends, while we are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.” Do you give much thought to the new heavens and new earth, where those who are following Christ in this life will spend eternity? Do you (or I) get as excited about our forever home as we do some of the things that we are blessed with on this temporary earth?

Easter in two Sundays! It is my favorite time of the year, even better than Christmas. The reason we get to be in the new heavens and new earth is because of the simple message of the gospel that Jesus died for our sins and rose again so that we might have eternal life. That’s it. Who is it on your Soul Fishing list that needs to hear this good news? I have a couple of folks I am asking to come to our Easter service. Only the Lord knows what will happen. Lord, help me to be your hands, feet and mouth in letting others know of your great love for them.

That’s all I’m saying today.

Dave Dorsey
Director of Ministries

Team Leader Rob Weyand and his wife, Kelsey, are two of the 12 members of Team Tampa XIII – an outreach English camp team from Oakwood and Candlewood Community Churches. Since 2000, Oakwood has partnered with the Brno Evangelical Fellowship in the city of Brno, Czech Republic, by providing English teachers for their outreach English camps. Candlewood Community Church, a daughter church of Oakwood, has participated since its birth in 2007. The teachers have been people like you who stepped out of their comfort zones in order to serve fellow Czech Christians as they witness to their family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors.

Rob & Kelsey were recently interviewed on the topic of why they gave their “yes” to God calling them to become our Team Tampa XIII team leaders. Listen here

Past Team Tampa member, Gary Long, describes his call by God to the Outreach English camp in the Czech Republic and his experience as a team member. Listen here.

Missionary, Colleen Darlington, shares an update of her ministry in the Czech Republic.  Listen here

Oakwood (and now Candlewood too) has had a special relationship with Brno Evangelical Fellowship Church in the Czech Republic. For the 13^th wonderful year, we are preparing to send a team to partner with them in an outreach English Camp. Just a few weeks ago, two of our former members, also partnered with them in outreach music concerts that were very beneficial in many ways. Here is a letter from the congregation’s pastor. It is filled with wisdom, insight, and great encouragement to us.”

New Faith in Christ:

Born in the People’s Republic of China, this student came to the United States to study English and earn a degree. But God had an additional purpose for his coming to the Untied States. Listen to this student’s story of faith here

I am grateful that many years ago, several guys challenged me to memorize Scripture. One of the first verses I got from the Navigator’s Topical Memory System is Isaiah 26:3. It says “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” I so desperately need the Lord to help me trust the truth of this passage.

How much do I trust God? Still a lot of growing to do.

Helpful Resource:

Suggestions on How to Pray ~ Care ~ Share

Oakwood’s recommended Resources & Websites

Sharing Your Story

Encouragement

Another opportunity to pray  - Every Sunday morning from 10:30 – 10:50 in the Worship Center kitchen you will find a pair of Oakwoodians leading prayer. Everyone is invited, as you feel led, to join in this guided prayer time.

Pick up your May Prayer Guide at the Information Center and on the website under the Ministries tab.

General Announcements

May 20
Compassion Offering – We will collect a Compassion Offering in the Worship services today. These funds are primarily used to meet the special financial burdens faced by those within the Oakwood Church family.

Congregational Meeting There will be a Congregational meeting following Worship for approximately 45 minutes on May 20. Childcare for infants to 5th Grade will be provided. Please help us plan adequately by registering your children at the Information Center in the lobby or at the TreeHouse Welcome Center or email Dave Dorsey at dave@oakwoodfl.org.

May 27
Oakwood/Candlewood Picnic – A new tradition is starting with a Memorial Day weekend picnic with our daughter church. Pick up the flier at the Information Center for details.

June 2
Beach Fun Day & Baptism. We will have an all-church beach day at Pass-a-Grille Beach (St. Petersburg) on Saturday, June 2. We will also have Beach Baptism at 4:00 PM. If you desire to be baptized at the beach, please contact the Church Office by May 25. Information about baptism is available on our website at www.oakwoodfl.org – go to the “About Oakwood” tab, choose Reference Documents, then scroll down to the Special Observances section and choose the age appropriate information on Baptism. If you don’t have web access, contact the Church Office and we will provide you with the information. Watch for more details on directions and where we will meet at the beach.

June 10
GroupLink Sunday. On Sunday, June 10, you are invited to sign-up for a Community Group immediately following the Worship Service — this is our next step to Grow in Community! These new Starter Groups will begin in June. Groups will initially meet for 8 weeks to begin to taste the benefits of community and to allow each person or couple to determine if this particular group fits them well. After 8 weeks, if the group members gel, they will be invited to make longer-term commitments to grow in faith together. This is your opportunity to experience authentic community and spiritual growth through fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. Don’t miss out!

Summer TreeHouse Volunteers needed.  We have a number of TreeHouse volunteers who give of their time every week to minister to our wonderful children.  We like to give this team of workers a break for the summer.  Will you give us a hand and teach for a week, a month, or the summer?  Please contact Dave Dorsey at 813-969-2303 or dave@oakwoodfl.org if you are interested in volunteering your time.

Move Up Sunday. Move Up Sunday is June 10 for all children of the TreeHouse. What is Move Up Sunday? All children will move up to the school grade that they will be in this August. This allows them to develop relationships with children that they will be worshipping with through High School.
Graduating 5th Graders will be recognized during the Worship Services on June 10. They are welcome to join us in TreeHouse and PowerHouse throughout the summer.

June 15
Men of Oakwood! On Friday, June 15, we will be meeting here at the church to enjoy a simulcast presented by the leadership of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. This is the church that has produced a number of recent movies including Facing The Giants, Fireproof and their most recent, Courageous. We will hear challenges from Stephen and Alex Kendrick, the creative team behind Sherwood Pictures as well as from the starring cast of Courageous. We will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs starting at 6 PM and the simulcast will be from 7 PM to 9 PM. Start off your Father’s Day weekend by joining us in learning how to continue to grow in your faith. We have a signup sheet in the Information Center in the church lobby. More details to come.

Life Stories – For your encouragement, we have put the recent Life Stories that we hear on Sunday morning on the front page of our website for you to listen to if you missed them, or to listen to again.

Oakwood Newsletter
The latest issue of The ACORN is available at the Information Center and online.

As this event has grown, administrative help is also needed. There were many women volunteers who came to assist dads with daughters and others came to help with the check-in process as well as work the games. So, if there are any husband/wife teams that would like to go, it would be great for both of you to see how God is doing some significant things in what was once one of the toughest prisons in America.

Last year, costs for the trip were around $500 per person. We anticipate it being a bit more this year with airfare increases. More specifics will be coming in the next few weeks. A signup sheet will be in the Information Center in the lobby. Please give prayerful consideration about this trip.

Just for Joy is beginning a new Beth Moore study entitled, James Mercy Triumphs. We would like to invite you and your friends to join us beginning January 4, in this exciting new journey. We will be learning about the man called James and what it means to live out our faith. Please be praying that God would use this to draw us closer to Him and to each other. We will begin registration on December 11. We will also be showing the promotional video in the church Lobby. The accompanying workbook will be fifteen dollars plus three dollars toward the video series, but as always do not let the cost determine your participation, God will provide.

If you have questions about this study, please contact Sissy Saunders @ 926-9506.