The building team has been busy completing the design phase of the floor and site plan of our new facility. We now are working on the permit process as well as mechanical systems for our project.   

      This past meeting we made the decision to pursue a project manager and have started that process. The team will be meeting soon with our architect, John Wallis to discuss room finishes and recommendations for a value engineered approach to our project.

      The building team has put a lot of energy and time into developing a plan for a new “church home.”  However, I am reminded that we don’t just want a building we can be proud of or a building that is the model for cutting edge in construction efficiency. Our calling is driven not from the type of floor in our entry, but rather  the feet of those who walk upon it, as we are given the privilege of being used by God to minister to those who enter.

       As we look at the plans and renderings of the building, I would encourage each of us to visualize not just the childcare area, but the opportunity to share Christ to the children within. Not just the shape of the sanctuary, but the condition of souls making a choice for acceptance or rejection of a savior. As we keep our focus on Christ, he will focus the rest of our needs for his purpose, and we cannot fail.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Wayne

A 24 Hour Prayer Vigil will be held at Oak Dale from Friday, March, 19th at 12:00 noon to Saturday, March, 20th at 12:00 noon. Everyone is encouraged to participate in some way.

The All Church Goal Setting/Celebration Banquet will be held at Oak Dale on Wednesday, March, 24th at 6:30 PM. Everyone is encouraged to attend and there is no charge to attend the event. Childcare will be provided and a children’s pizza party will be provided (also at Oak Dale) for kids up to grade five.

See, I took some time during the first week after we all received our journals to work through the devotional material and questions for that week.  It was mostly about what I thought our church and community would look like if all the vision of Oak Dale Church became a reality during the next few years.  Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I would get much out of it… but I felt like I had to work through it.  I mean, I’m the Forward in Faith campaign coordinator right?! 

Sometimes God does something in our hearts when we least expect Him to.  As I worked through my journal that day I felt God filling my heart and mind with visions of ministry that I had never considered before!  I could see my community being changed in positive ways and I could see a role that I might be able to play in that transformation.  I haven’t really shared any of those thoughts with anyone but Jaime… but the time will come. 

Anyway, this week I was really looking forward to working through the journal material again.  I mean, who knows?  Maybe God could do something in my mind yet again.  

Only one problem; I can’t find my journal. 

Actually, I’m pretty sure I know where it is.  Maybe you remember when some guy stood up behind the pulpit on Sunday and waved a journal in the air trying to encourage people to look at theirs.  Yeah, that guy was me and that was MY journal!  Was I smart enough to simply grab an extra one from the stack in front of the church?  No.  Was I dumb enough to stick it UNDER my notes when I was done using it as a prop?  Yes.

Anyway, I think my journal is sitting on the pulpit at church.  Maybe I’ll slip over there this afternoon and try to find it. 

Anyway, I hope a lot of you are having significant experiences with God while you work through your journal as well.  If you are, please let me know.  I’d love to talk to you about it!

- Joel

But when God takes my thoughts to his lost sheep and those hurting and caught in Satan’s web, I know God has called me and Oak Dale to do all we an in his power to love his lost children in Jesus name until they find wholeness in Jesus.

I know our current building limits our outreach and ministry.  With a better tool more ministry will be done.  With a good deal of commitment and sacrifice from our generation, many more will experience Jesus in future generations.

So, in a sense, Christ’s love compels me not to be content with our comfortable church, but to do all I can to reach as many as I can for Jesus in my generation.

As we throw ourselves into this major effort, “may the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suffering”.