Pastor's Point - October 2023
Dear Church Family,
By now you will have received my letter to the church to share the exciting news of our recent student minister search. First let me say that I am very thankful for God’s leading during this process. The search took longer than I imagined, and it led us to a plan that I was not thinking of at the beginning of the process. But I know that we ended up where God wanted us to be.
One of the great things about this plan is that it allows us to continue to invest in our student ministries, which we have done for many years. But it also allows us to refocus on our Life Groups which we have not done well in the last three years or so. With the departure of Pastor Nick Scott to the mission field and the season of Covid, our groups have needs that need to be addressed. I am thankful that we are going to be able to invest in our students as well as the wider ministry area of discipleship in our church family.
One other aspect that I am so thankful for is the availability of solid Christian men that have been raised up in our church to make this plan possible!
Pastor Bryan Gotcher has been around Oakhill for sixteen years and in that time has worn many different ministry hats. His ability to minister and administrate different areas of ministry has been a real blessing to us throughout the years. As God began working on my heart about ways we could fill the leadership needs in our church, I reached out to Bryan to share, pray, and collaborate. And it was out of this time together that God led us in the direction of the plan that we have shared with you all. Bryan is excited for this direction of ministry in his life personally and for the church corporately.
Alex Kilgore is a young man that grew up here at Oakhill and has been a part of ministry throughout the years as he has come back in the summertime to complete multiple years of internships in our church. He has graduated from Boyce College at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is excited to collaborate with Pastor Bryan in the area of student ministry and make an impact on the lives of our awesome students. He is a solid young man who has a heart to be used by the Lord. I know that as he and Pastor Bryan work together it is going to be a great blessing for our student ministries.
Paul Willett and his lovely wife Amy were brought to our church by God almost two and a half years ago. As a couple they have been nothing but an absolute blessing to our church family as they have been busy giving their lives away into the lives of others. Paul served as an elder at an SBC church in Kentucky for a few years before they made the move to Evansville. He has a love for God’s Word, he desires to see people discipled and grow in their faith, and he has a heart for missions as well. I believe that he is going to do an outstanding job of ministering to people to encourage them to grow in their faith and live their lives on mission for the glory of God!!
If you have questions, please come to one of the two question and answer sessions on Wednesday, October 4th at 12:00 pm or Thursday, October 5th at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall at South Campus. Then on Saturday, October 14th at 10:00 am in the Fellowship Hall of the South Campus come for a meet and greet with Paul and Alex so you can hear more about their excitement for the future ministries of our church.
Then on Sunday, October 15th the elders and personnel teams would ask for you to be present as we ask for a vote of affirmation for this ministry plan that has been presented for consideration.
I am praying for God to use this plan for the good of Oakhill Baptist Church and for his glory!!
I love you and I love being your pastor!