Church 7 days a week
Oxford Baptist is seeing God move in their community! The church feels like it has been recalibrated by God. Having heard from God that they ‘are not to be a Dan’, the tribe who didn’t ever take their inheritance, they repented of what was holding them back and listened for God’s leading. Passionate to help the people of Oxford tangibly feel the love of God and experience being part of His family, they love the poor, share the gospel, and are making disciples. Greg Morris, the senior pastor, now wishes he were 20 years younger to have more time to walk in this new heart and passion for the bride of Christ, helping each member to let God have their heart, follow God’s voice and be fruitful. He totally believes an encounter with God and making the tiniest Holy Spirit led change, can bring great change.
Oxford Baptist Church has become the place to be on a Tuesday. No longer a scary religious place to avoid, it has become family, home. The morning starts with volunteers from church and the community helping pack fruit and vegies for Food Together, a social enterprise run by the church. This has been a place where friendships have grown. Lunch time is a special time, where the family of 30-50 sits around tables and eats a nutritious hot meal and dessert. The one-minute glimpse into God’s love before grace puts words to Jesus’ value that is being given to each person. The loneliness and thoughts of fractured relationships subside for a while in this oasis of hope. The afternoon continues around coffee, listening ears and growing friendships. It feels like love, and life.
“Giving people our time, meeting their needs and telling people God loves them, opens people up to hear the message of Jesus,” explains pastor Greg Morris. “We have about a 50/50 ratio as is recommended for Messy Church so we can love people and have good conversations. There is great unity between our team, looking out for each other, sliding in to help wherever needed.”
“For some it is their only healthy meal of the week,” added community pastor Tamar Hylands. “Knowing people over time allows us to notice when they are sad, or hesitant to pay for the following week’s vegie pack. That allows us to quietly ask if everything is ok and offer prayer and help. So many people are broken and isolated. This afternoon I’m accompanying a man to the doctor. He’s like a broken child in a 62-year-old body. He’s very much like a homeless person who has a roof over his head. Lots of people are in need of some TLC (tender loving care); we are committed to equip and empower people; to give them a hand up, not a hand out.”
The team has seen God’s touch in many people’s lives and are committed to continually point people to God. “One lady said to me ‘You are my angel. You always seem to know when I need something,’ and I replied, ‘It’s not me. God causes you to cross my mind. He uses me to bless you. He’s speaking to me and I’m listening to Him.’” “Another time,” Tamar continued, “A woman I was praying with said, ‘I just have this warm feeling all over me and I don’t know why I’m crying.’ I explained, ‘That’s the Holy Spirit showing you he loves you and has heard your prayer.’”
Oxford Baptist is flourishing as they walk in this new heart and are looking forward to their upcoming building project that will allow them to better serve their community including having a large kitchen to teach people how to cook and having more spaces available for love, hope and life.