Oakwood 101

After services yesterday we offered our class 101 to anyone wanting to learn more about Oakwood. We had over 20 perspective new members in our class. Tracy Morris and I co-taught the class together. It was a great group. Every time that we teach 101, we evaluate and share data on what happens in the class. After the class was over, Tracy and I stayed after and visited with different families for over an hour. During that time we had many good conversations with people. It was a good time of fellowship and answering questions, etc.

After the class was over, Tracy called me with some exciting news. One of the men in the class said that he had never called upon the Lord to be his Savior and Lord. Tracy shared with him about that and he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart right then. So Tracy prayed with him. We will baptize him sometime this week or maybe on Sunday. I also had another man come to me and ask to be baptized this week. I'll be talking to him later today and setting everything up. We also have the potential to see many of these families come to join the church in the next few weeks.

The value of a class like 101 is truly invaluable. To anyone outside of the church that doesn't quite understand Christianity or our beliefs, this class seems to turn the light on for them. We will continue to offer this class every 4-6 weeks and encourage all new and prospective members to attend. It will be great to see how God continues to work through what we are doing in class 101.

Which brings me to a point. When we share the simple gospel in class with people, when we read scriptures that explain salvation and baptism and communion and what all of this faith is really all about, people respond. We've had people respond in great ways this class and every class that we've had. The knowledge of the Word of God, through the guidance of God's spirit, changes lives and eternal destinations. When people learn what we are teaching in class 101, it's like the light goes on and they want to commit to God and His church. As the church grows, this will only help us to have solid members that are totally committed to the cause of Christ. We've laid out what it means to be a member of Oakwood and what our expectations of them are in their witness, testimony, giving, serving, and their whole life.

Once again I stand humbled and amazed at what God is doing in our midst. I'm just so glad to be a part of it.