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Student Life - December 2023

In case we haven’t met yet, then I’ll say the rumors are true. Everyone does call me Alex, but this isn’t my first name. It shocks most people, and you can thank my mother, but my first name is actually Larry. So, I just wanted to let you know that now first, in case anyone else was trying to fool you.

But, more importantly, I’m also your new Student Ministry Director! As I write this article, it has already been three weeks since my first day on the job here at Oakhill.
And, I will say, it has been amazing. The family here at Oakhill has been so welcoming and warm to me and also open to this new position in the Student Ministry, and I can’t thank you all enough. I know that interim time here with the Student Ministry has been too long and a big void was left from the faithfulness of BVD and his ministry here. But
I am and have been so excited to step into this role and continue to serve the students here at Oakhill!

To tell you all a little bit about me, I’ll quickly summarize for ya. I was born and raised here in Evansville. I was also a part of this congregation ever since I can remember and started coming to youth group myself in 8th grade. I’ve been involved in the Upward basketball ministry for around 10 years – this ranged from being a player, to a ref, to a coach, and serving wherever else was needed at the time. I became a believer around the age of 13 and started walking very seriously in my faith towards the end of my junior year of high school. After serving Oakhill at any chance I could get, I began to find a heart and passion for ministry and serving the bride of Christ. Once I graduated high school, I chose to take a year off and pray/meditate/ask the Lord for direction in my life and seek whether or not He was calling me to full time vocational ministry. After spending about seven months seeking, while also meeting with Pastor Bryan, I felt the internal calling from the Lord to pursue vocational ministry. And so, after that, I spent five years at Boyce College studying a degree in Youth and Family Ministry.

During my college career, the Lord graciously gave me opportunities to serve in ministry during every summer break. I have served Oakhill with two internship positions and one summer ministry associate position. I also served at Crossings Camp as a summer missionary staffer. I have been incredibly thankful for these opportunities I’ve had and grew tremendously from each one. And now, I believe the Lord has called me to serve on staff here at Oakhill and to serve our Student Ministry. So that is a little about me. If we haven’t met yet, seek me out! I’m looking forward to meeting more and more of Oakhill’s family and working with you all. Thank you for all that you have done for me in
my transition so far, and I pray that we can all grow closer together as we serve our Father.

Alex Kilgore

Student Ministry - December 2022

Dear Church Family,

This will be my last newsletter article as one of your pastors. To say that this time of life and ministry with you has been a blessing is a vast understatement. It is with sadness and excitement that we step out in faith to what God is calling us to. If you have not heard yet, I have accepted a call to go be the Senior Pastor at Second Baptist Church in Angleton, Texas. This is a calling that God has put on my life, and being a senior pastor is the direction I have felt God pulling me for many years. But it is now that He is saying, “it’s time.” So, Kayla and I would be doing a disservice to Second Baptist, to Oakhill Baptist, to ourselves, and to God if we did not obey His call. Thank you for supporting us as we seek to follow the Lord.

With that said, it will not be easy leaving Oakhill. You have been our church home for a long time, and our family has grown exponentially since coming here. Our children have been so blessed by you, and so has my wife. For that I simply want to thank you very much. I could not
ask for more than for a church to love the Lord and love my family.

I would be remis to try to list everyone whom I need to thank for loving my family. But I do want to call attention to just a few; first, I want to thank Mike Schloss and Nick Kessler. These two men are our lay-Elders, and they love the Lord and this church. They and their families have blessed my family and me more than they know. We love them and are very thankful for them. Next, I want to thank Matt Virgin, Paul Willett, and Todd Linn. These men are my friends whom I trust. These are men who push me to pursue God’s will for my life. They are men who love me and care about how I live. They are iron sharpening iron. There are many people who have played this exact same role in my life, but I want to thank these men publicly for their love and support as I have been seeking God’s will. Everyone needs people like these men in their life to help disciple and encourage toward God’s will.

Third, I want to thank Bryan Gotcher. He is my friend and co-laborer in the gospel ministry. He is my workout partner, sounding board, and counselor in the ministry. I have learned so many things from just working side-by-side with Pastor Bryan. He is a man who loves God, loves the church, loves his family, and works hard to love God and serve His people. I am forever his friend and partner in the gospel ministry.

Finally, I want to thank Pastor Alan. He is very much a father in the faith… He is literally old enough to be my father! But seriously, he is one of the major reasons I came to Oakhill in the first place. I knew he would be a man I could look up to and learn from about how to be a good and faithful pastor. That proved to be true. I have been so blessed to know him, work with him, and learn from him. He loves deeply and cares passionately. He desperately loves the church, but he more desperately loves the Lord. I know that God will bless him in whatever he does, because he will do everything for the glory of God.

I pray you will listen to these men. I pray you will have people like them in your life. I pray God’s blessings on this church and on your life. I pray we all meet again in the near future.

Trust the Lord. Read His Word. Love Him. Love others. And make Christ primary in your life.