Midweek Message 6-18-2026

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #296

Hello everyone! Welcome to Midweek Message #296. During the summer I will be writing a MM every other week, unless something earth-shattering happens that will take more (like maybe the Fair?). We will see. There is a lot of different “stuff” this edition so I hope you will take the time to read clear through to the end.

FROM THE “KIND OF A BIG DEAL” DEPARTMENT:

By the time you receive this, Jo and I  will have celebrated our 53rd wedding anniversary on the 16th! Yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.😄

FROM THE “GOOD NEWS TO SHARE” DEPARTMENT:

Since the first of the year, we have had a real baby boom involving the people of OVCF and their families. Here are three of the latest babies to arrive:

• • Westin and Cassie Linville welcomed Oaklyn Mae on June 4th.
  • Caleb, Gabrielle and Charlotte Corder welcomed Selah Mae on June 7th.
  • Jacob, Katie and Ivory Manyik welcomed Ellie Darlene on June 10th.

By the time of the next MM it is totally possible the other June baby will be here. Congratulations to the latest: Westin and Cassie, Caleb and Gabrielle and Jacob and Katie!!

• • BIG congratulations to Shelby VanDerMoere on passing her paramedic’s exam. She is
    now a licensed paramedic!

FROM THE “YOUTH NEWS” DEPARTMENT:

School may be out but that doesn’t mean we don’t have youth news to share:

• • From the baseball/softball season at the Sports Complex comes some stellar news for a couple of our young people. Piper Bell and Draven Stahl were both awarded game balls for their excellent contribution during one of the final games of the season.
  • This past week was tournament week at the Complex. Tom Mangia’s team which included Jordan Mangia, Draven Stahl, Knox Truesdel (Mark & Holli’s grandson) and Winston and Barrett Zigler went to the championship game vs. Ryan Keene’s team which included Conrad and Calvin Keene. Ryan’s team won an exciting championship game!
  • Last Tuesday evening was the Spring Sports Awards at the High school.
    • • Alli Anderson took home the Iron Man Award (never give up). She was also awarded a blanket for earning 10 letters in 4 years.
      • Addison Mayle (Brent and Angela’s daughter) was given the Mental Attitude Award.
      • Aubrey Mangia and Dane Stahl were both awarded letters.
  • Hilltop campers this week were James Anderson and Christian and Emmy Wells for the Ice Breaker week. Please pray for these young ones who took part in their first Hilltop Camp experience. They were there Sunday through Tuesday.
  • Campers for the Sr. High Wilderness (June 28th-July 3) along with Pastor Ryan and Hope are Haley Amador, Alli Anderson, Caleb and Rachel East, Kalissa Hamlin, Meilynn Hess, Jake (LJ) Jenkins, Marla Lippert, and Ayzleah Sutton. Please pray for all the wilderness campers this week. Pastor Ryan has a full week of over 50 students.

In addition to Pastor Ryan and Hope, faculty serving will be: Macy Carlson, Anna East, Hannah Pendleton, Owen Powell, Linda St. John and Gracie Wainscott.

FROM THE “KEEP THESE IN MIND” DEPARTMENT:

• • SPROUTS meal is scheduled for Saturday, June 27th at 5:30 at Robert and Becca Anderson’s homestead. Their address is 8898 N. Texas Ridge Road, Gosport. They will be providing hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, condiments, drinks, cupcakes, and paper goods. She is asking those who attend to bring a side to share. If you have any questions, please reach out to Becca at 812.360.7419.
  • Serving Owen County Together (SOCT) is celebrating its 6th year on Saturday, June 27th
    from 10-2:30. There are different shifts you can help with. There is a sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050D4DABAE29A2FC1-64380636-2026#/
    From Aaron LaGrange about the schedule:
    8-10am Set Up
    10am-12pm First shift
    12pm-2:30pm Second shift
    2:30pm-3:30pm Tear Down
  • Your help would be greatly appreciated as we serve the folks of Owen County. A rain date (if needed) is Sunday, June 28th from 12-4:00

FROM THE “BOOKS TO STRETCH YOUR MIND AND HEART” DEPARTMENT:

• • This Was Never the Plan by Vaneetha Rendall Risner. I can’t say enough good about this book. Subtitled: Walking with God Through the Heartache of Divorce this book nails it. Vaneetha was married with two (almost adolescents) when her husband wanted out. Been there? Know someone? This is the book to read.
  • Even If He Doesn’t by Kristen LaValley. Kristen writes about “What we believe about God  when life doesn’t make sense.” There are no underlines in this book. It is more of a memoir and I got caught up in it, so I just read it. It was excellent and helped answer THE question: Is God around?
  • Live to Forgive by Jason Romano. Subtitled: “Moving Forward When Those We Love Hurt Us.” Jason is very honest in this fantastic book on a timely subject.
  • Strength at Broken Places by C. Greg Long. This is his memoir of facing career and family failure and finding hope through God’s grace. Not many underlines in this one either until close to the end. Failure is an equal opportunity troubler. Mr. Long can testify to that: depression, loss of job, a divorce, and more. This was a very encouraging book.

My sermon Sunday is “On Being a Wise Guy” from James 3:13-4:3. The next Sunday will be “Whose Friend are You?”. I look forward to seeing you and sharing God’s Word with you. Until then…know you are loved.

Pastor Bill