From the Pastor's Desk

Dear Church Family,
        At our last church conference, I presented a plan of bringing Stephen Littleton on staff as Minister of Education in a part-time position.  I gave two weeks for you to think about it and to ask any questions you might have.  This Sunday, July 31st in the evening service, we will vote by secret ballot.  I believe bringing Stephen on staff will allow us to move beyond where we are as a church.  I believe God wants to do something here at OBC, and I believe that now is the time.  I can’t wait to see what God is going to do.  It will take faith and obedience and commitment.
It has been a chore getting the new building started, but we are about there.  We are waiting to sign the loan papers and then building will begin.  Pray for the safety of the workers and for the opportunities to share Jesus with many of them.  Pray that God would receive glory through all of the things that will take place when it is completed.
During our Tuesday prayer meetings, there are times when we intensify our praying for visitors and when we do, more and more visitors show up.  Recently I had a choir member tell me that they observed during the greeting time, a visitor standing alone while people were shaking other’s hands.  This cannot happen.  The purpose of greeting time is to greet our guests.  We must be alert, looking for, and doing everything in our power to talk to our guests and to thank them for being here.
There are packets of five cards each out at the Welcome Center.  I keep some in my wallet and give them to people every chance I get.  Please pick up a pack and keep them with you and look for opportunities to give them to people and invite them to church.

Serving the Savior,
Pastor Mike