Category: OVCF News

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #295

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #295. I hope you are having a good summer so far. The weather has sure let us know summer is on the way…finally! Jo and I even had a chance to see some of our young people play ball this past week and not have to dodge raindrops. 😄

I mentioned a few MMs ago that I may be going to an every other week format during the summer for the MM. This edition will begin that change. I will try to include two weeks’ worth of news so that you will at least know what is coming and, in the young peoples’ case, you will know who will be attending camp so you can pray for them.

FROM THE “IT’S NOT OVER YET” DEPARMENT:

• • Congratulations to Alli Anderson, Payton Lukowski, Addison Mayle, and Katrina Reuter. In the regionals, this 4×100 team set a new PR with a time of 51.89, placing 8th. The 4×400 team broke the school record that was last set in 1987! Their time put them in 4th place, but sadly, they were just shy of getting to the state. Alli is the daughter of Robert and Becca Anderson and Addison is the daughter of Brent and Angela Mayle. Way to go, girls!
  • Youth baseball and softball are still taking place EVERY night at the Sports Complex. If you have a chance, head down the ball fields and support our young people.

FROM THE “DID YOU KNOW?” DEPARTMENT:

• • Did you know that Winston and Barrett Zigler played hockey last winter? Both boys will be playing hockey this winter, too. Can you say, “Brrrrr!”?
  • Did you also know that the Zigler brothers and Jordan Mangia LOVE, and I mean LOVE, peanut butter filled pretzels and goldfish? I also know for a fact that Cheetos are also included in that list.😄
  • We were watching Conrad and Calvin Keene play ball and their sister, Genevieve, was also there. I’m not sure she was cheering on her brothers, but I do know she was holding onto that small bag of Cheetos for dear life. I asked her if I could have one and she smiled and shook her head. I almost cried, but that didn’t work either!😄
  • And then there is Karoline Chesser. She was there with her mom and dad, grandparents Rob and Polly, and sisters, Grace and Hazel, cheering on her brothers, Aiden, Mason, and Collin. She smiled at me, grabbed my heart, then hugged Jo, giggled and walked away. Hmm. Even a fake cry didn’t work! BUT, she and little sister, Hazel, did give me hugs Sunday morning…and I didn’t even ask.😄
  • Rachel East is a member of the high school cheer squad? They will be having a car wash at the high school this Saturday from 8-2:00.

Congratulations to Adam Samick and Brooklyn Smeltzer who became husband and wife this past Saturday, the 30th. They were married at Freedom Nazarene Church and will live in Freedom. David and Kris Samick are Adam’s parents.

FROM THE “LET’S GO TO HILLTOP CAMP” DEPARTMENT:

• • This week we have 7 young people at camp: Amelia Biggs, Rusti O’Neal, CJ Wood, Cooper Wood, Evelyn Young, Asia Burnett Danaher and Bailee Miller (the last three are Amelia’s friends).
  • Next week is Jr. High Wilderness camp. We have one young person going: Aasha Srinivasan. We do have others going to help. Besides Pastor Ryan (Dean) and Hope, Caleb and Rachel East, and LJ Jenkins are also helping.
  • By the time the next MM comes out, the Ice Breaker week at Hilltop (June 14-16) will be over. It goes from Sunday through Tuesday. Campers for that week will be James Anderson and Christian and Emmelia Wells. Hope you have a great experience!
  • I failed to mention that Anna East and LJ Jenkins are working at Hilltop this summer.

FROM THE “DATES TO KEEP IN MIND” DEPARTMENT:

• • Serving Owen County Together (SOCT): June 27th from 10-2:30. This is the 6th year for SOCT. (More info in the next MM). Rain date is Sunday, the 28th from 12-4:00.
  • SPROUTS MEAL is June 27th at the Anderson’s. Contact Becca Anderson (812.360.7419) for more information. (More info in the next MM).

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

For the past three MMs, I have been including books I took from my library and put in the church library for you to borrow and read. So far I’ve included books on Special Needs Ministry, Suicide, and Memory Loss/Dementia/Alzheimer’s. This week’s books are on a topic many struggle with: Depression and Anxiety.

• • Beauty in the Browns by Paul Asay-2021. Subtitled Walking with Christ in the Darkness of Depression. As a member of Focus on the Family’s family, Paul had an “image” to uphold. But he also knew that to conquer depression meant being honest with himself, and others. I read this several years ago and found it to be very, very helpful.
  • Out of the Cave by Chris Hodges-2021. As the pastor of a mega church, Chris found himself struggling with depression. This is his story and his way out.
  • Attacking Anxiety by Shawn Johnson-2022. Pastor Shawn is vulnerable about his battle with crippling anxiety until he reached a breaking point. A super helpful book!
  • Knowing God’s Peace by Paul Tautges-2019. This is different than the others. It is a book of 31 devotionals about knowing God’s peace through anxiety.
  • Made to Tremble by Blair Linne-2025. Blair’s life was changed with a car accident, which caused her to experience crippling anxiety & panic attacks which led to discouragement and shame. Her tag line is “How anxiety became the best thing that ever happened to my faith.”

My sermon Sunday is Don’t Just Stand There from James 2:14-26. See you then! Know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #294

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #294. School year 2025-2026 is history and now comes a chance to replenish the batteries and do some different things: Hilltop Camp, vacations, sleeping in a little later, visiting with family and friends, and just enjoying the “lazy, hazy days of summer” as one old song said. I hope you have a great summer!

“END OF THE YEAR” YOUTH NEWS:

• • Congratulations again to all our high school and college graduates (listed in last week’s MM). Two of our high school grads were honored for being in the Academic Top 10 at OVHS. Those two were Alli Anderson and Cambria (Cammie) King. Way to go, ladies! They were gifted with laptop computers.
  • Draven Stahl won the coloring contest of the Cataract One Room Schoolhouse last week. He won an art set for his efforts. Great job coloring, Draven!
  • Addilynn Hutchison (3rd grade), Deanna Cain (4th grade), and Tanner Wood (5th grade) were awarded Top Cat for the final quarter at SES.
  • Kale Hatton transferred to OVMS on March 2nd. He got an award for academic excellence in language arts and math; a 4.0 GPA; and was also recognized for demonstrating continued academic dedication throughout the year. His mom, Ashley, teaches 3rd grade at PES.
  • I failed to mention that Aiden, Collin and Mason Chesser (3 of the 4 quads) are playing T-Ball at Edgewood. They are about done for the summer.

SOME TOTALLY DIFFERENT “END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR” NEWS:

• • Congratulations to Cara King who retired after 30 1⁄2 years of teaching for S-OCS. She was honored this past week for her years of service. During those years she also found time to have two children-Cooper and Cammie- and see them both graduate from OVHS.
  • After filling in as interim principal at Patricksburg Elementary, Kris Samick, has returned to her “other” job, S-OCS Communications Director. This past school year Kris did both the principal’s position at PES and the Communications Director. She burned the candle at both ends for sure! Her life will now get back to semi-normal. 😄

FROM THE “LET’S GO TO HILLTOP CAMP” DEPARTMENT:

• • Several our young people will be going to camp this coming week (starts Sunday). Junior High Dorm Week has the following young people from OVCF attending: Amelia Biggs, Rusti O’Neal, CJ Wood, Cooper Wood and Evelyn Young. Pray for them before, during the week, and after they get home.

FROM THE “YOU DON’T WANT MISS THIS” DEPARTMENT:

Our church pitch-in is this Wednesday, the 27th, at 6:00. I look forward to seeing you there.

BOOKS TO STRETCH YOUR MIND AND HEART:

A couple of weeks ago I began telling you about some of my books. I have put them in the church library for you to check out if any of them interests you. So far I have written about the books on Special Needs Ministry in the church and also Suicide. This week’s books are on a very sensitive subject many have faced:

• • Walking Through Twilight– Douglas Groothuis-Published in 2017, Douglas’ once-brilliant wife could no longer tie her shoes, use a phone, or brush her teeth as the ravages of dementia overtook her. This was the very first book I read on this subject shortly after its release. Douglas quoted Viktor Frankl: “When we are no longer able to change a situation… we are challenged to change ourselves.” (p.12) A  wonderful, heartfelt book as a husband laments the loss of his wife, but uses it to help others.
  • Memorable Loss– Karen Martin- Karen wrote this book in 2023 as she watched her friend face dementia, and eventually death. This was a wonderful book on friendship.
  • Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia– Dr. John Dunlop-Although a medical doctor, this 2017 book is not a medical jargon book. He wrote this for several reasons, one being his own genetic predisposition to dementia (his mother had it). I loved this book because of its scriptural focus on this disease and how to show grace to those suffering from it.
  • Second Forgetting-Dr. Benjamin Mast- Dr. Mast’s book uses a lot of stories to bring focus to those suffering and for those caring for them.
  • Priceless People– Ben Boland- Mr. Boland is a chaplain in Australia with over 15 years of ministry to patients and families.

These books and others are available for you to borrow. I have put cards in each one. Please sign
the card and leave it on the shelf.

THIS IS FROM THE “PROUD GRANDPARENTS” DEPARTMENT:

• • Scott and Heather Herrington are grandparents (again). Eliza Claire was born on 5/21 to Adam and Cecilia Fox. She weighed 8lbs and was 19” long. Congrats…again. 😄
  • Other than talking with some people or seeing his picture on my door in the hallway, very few know of our grandson, Braden (unless you have seen Jo’s “Wall of Braden”). But proud grandparents and aunt are allowed to brag every once in a while. We received word Friday that Braden made the Dean’s List with a 3.87 GPA at Ohio State University (yeah that school). He is majoring in Business Administration with a specialization in Finance. I was going to say we all know he got his smarts from his grandfather until I saw his major. Well…that left me out!😄

My sermon Sunday will continue the James series on The “Perfect” Christian with one I’ve titled Choosing One over Another from James 2:1-13. It has to do with favoritism, which should be loathed in any church. I look forward to sharing it with you. Know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #293

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #293. It is going to be a wild and wooly week for many of you. I hear from both teachers and students that this last week of school is filled with activities, mixed with a bunch of relief. Grad parties, the final OVMS baseball game and a final soccer match at the Sports Complex tops the list. However, after this week there are still at least 2-3 weeks left for baseball and soccer at the Sports Complex. Jo & I have seen a lot of weary parents the past couple of weeks. But I’m guessing they will do it all again for their kiddos.

IN THE “LET’S CELEBRATE WITH THEM” DEPARTMENT:

This past Sunday we acknowledged and celebrated with our high school and college graduates.
Some of you may have not been able to make it so I thought I would highlight them one more time here.

HIGH SCHOOL

• • • Alli Anderson-OVHS
    • Hannah Bixler-OVHS
    • Caleb East-Homeschool
    • Carter Hayden-Edgewood
    • Meilynn Hess- Homeschool
    • L.J. Jenkins-OVHS
    • Cammie King- OVHS

COLLEGE

• • • Kristi Arnold-IU
    • Bryer LeCocq- IU
    • Klaudia Stahl- USI
    • Katie Wood- Purdue
    • Kloee Wood- ISU

Congratulations to all of you for a job well-done! May God have His hand on you as you move into the future. “Be strong and courageous.”

KEEP THIS DATE IN MIND!

Next Wednesday, May 27th, is our next church family pitch-in starting at 6:00. We look forward
to seeing you there!

YOUTH NEWS

• • • Jo and I attended the final concert put on by the music department of OVMS and OVHS.
      Several of our young people were in the different choirs.
    • From OVMS 7th grade: Amelia Biggs, Rusti O’Neal, CJ Wood, and Cooper Wood
    • From OVMS 8th grade: Cecelia Arnold
    • Valley Beat: Rusti O’Neal, CJ Wood, and Cooper Wood
    • Valley Soundwaves: Charli Wood
    • Sweet Pizzazz: Keely Wills
    • Rusti and Cecelia both received awards. Rusti: Best Dancer, Cecelia: Best Vocals
    • It was good to see Bella Madorin Sunday. She came to support Charli. Bella participated in our youth programs before moving away. She still attends Hilltop Camp with Charli.
    • Jo and I have enjoyed seeing so many of our young people taking an active part in sports. I found out that Izzy Chambers, Boston Groomer and Haven Mosier are playing soccer at the Sports Complex. Haven’s brother, Kane, is playing baseball.

BOOKS TO STRETCH YOUR MIND AND HEART:

In the last MM, I mentioned that I put some books that were in my office in the church library (where the coffee is on Sunday mornings). Last week’s books focused on the Special Needs Ministry of a church. Since we are on the ground floor here at OVCF on getting one started they were especially relevant to those interested. I have picked a different type of book this week to highlight. They are of a much more sensitive nature, but certainly are very appropriate for the day and time in which we live.

SUICIDE
An unpleasant subject to be sure but one we are faced with more and more. What do we say?
What do we do? How should we react? These books give some insight into those questions.

• • • Hope Always-Dr. Matthew Sleeth. Dr. Sleeth is a former ER physician and chief of hospital medical staff who resigned to teach, preach, and write about faith and health. This 2021 book was very helpful on how to be a force for life in a culture of suicide.
    • Fear Gone Wild– Kayla Stoecklein’s husband was a pastor who suffered from mental illness and took his own life at the age of 30. Deeply personal and emotional, this book helped me understand mental illness and its effect in a deeper way.
    • Grieving a Suicide– Albert Y. Hsu-This is a deeply personal account of college professor, Mr. Hsu, and how he found comfort, answers and hope in the wake of his father’s suicide.

PRAYERS REQUESTED:

By the time you will be receiving the next MM, Aaron and Sonia Clausman will be on their way to her home country of Pakistan for both a family reunion (and their first in person time with Brielle) and also some mission work. They will be leaving May 26th and return June 16th. During their time in Pakistan they will be visiting the slums where the Gospel has not been taken, as well as sharing hygiene material with the slaves. Their desire is to share the Gospel with a thousand people while there and to baptize as many as possible before they return. This coming Sunday in the second service, we will be praying for them specifically. But you can pray for them NOW! Any support can be directed to them as well.

This coming Sunday I will be continuing my series on The “Perfect” Christian with a sermon from James 1:19-27 entitled Have To or Want To? Do we serve because we have to or because we want to? I look forward to sharing the Word with you on Sunday. Know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #292

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #292. Sunday was a special day for the ladies. I hope you took the time to let the woman in your life how important she is to you. Wife. Mother. Grandmother. Aunt. Daughter.😊 And I hope this week is treating you well.

SUNDAY IS GRADUATE RECOGNITION DAY!

We have a number of high school and college graduates to recognize this year. I’m thinking it is the most that we have had in the past few years. I will include a list of all the graduates with their plans for the future in next week’s MM. Meanwhile, please plan to be here for second service (10:45) to celebrate their achievements with us.

SEVERAL PEOPLE RECEIVED SOME RECOGNITION THIS WEEK!

• • We will start off with one of our young people, Charlotte Pavich. Charlotte’s picture was included in Friday Fun Facts that Kris Samick puts together for S-OCS during the school year. Charlotte ran a 5k for Girls on the Run Club, which is sponsored by the Y. Charlotte is a 3rd grader at Patricksburg Elementary, and the daughter of Joe & Emily Pavich. Way to go Charlotte! Keep up the exercise and good work!
  • Our very own Tiffany Kropack represented H&R Block by speaking to the Economics class at OVHS on taxes. Is this a new take on “The TaxMan (Woman) Cometh”?
  • Caleb Hutchison was officially awarded District 5 Conservation Officer of the Year. His wife, Amanda, wrote a glowing tribute to him on Facebook. She wrote: “Being named District 5 Conservation Officer of the Year is such an amazing honor and there is truly no one more deserving of this award. This job isn’t just something he does; it is truly who he is! His love for what he does shows in everything he does. Whether he’s on duty or off, he’s always looking out for others and serving his community! But what makes me the most proud as his wife isn’t just the award, it’s the man behind it! Congratulations
    babe! I love you so much!” I see Caleb at the Y from time to time and I can concur with Amanda that he loves his job; he loves his wife; and he loves his two children, Addi and Owen (even though Owen won’t share his Goldfish or Cheetos with me). 😊 I remember many years ago when I first met Caleb and as he took the test to become a Conservation Officer he said, “Pastor Bill. This is the job I have wanted all my life.” I’d say this award proves his love for his job. Congrats, Caleb on a job well done!!

ONE MORE TIME (FOR NOW)

I mentioned in last week’s MM that I have plans to start Route 66 (just called 66 by many) in September after school starts. 66 is a tour through all 66 books of the Bible. We generally take one book a week and hit the highlights, enough to familiarize you with the contents of the book and its integration into the whole Biblical narrative. We meet on Wednesday nights from 6-7:00. We also take breaks for holidays, special occasions, and the summer. I hand out materials each week for you to keep for future reference. I just wanted to put a “bug in your ear” so you can be thinking about being a part of this class. I’ll bring it up again in about a month or so and then look for a sign-up sheet Diana will set out on the info table. I will remind you again.

FROM THE “IT NEVER HURTS TO BE INFORMED” DEPARTMENT:

I did something last week in the office I had never done before: I went through my books and looked for certain subjects and then placed those books in the church library. In all honesty, I have a lot of books, so much so that I no longer have a place for them. They sit sideways on top of other books, so I decided to put them to good use and make them available to you to borrow and read. Over the next couple of MMs, I’m going to highlight a set of books by subject so you can see what there is to read. If anything should happen to me or should I retire, there is a destination already designed for my library (and no it is not a presidential one that requires a multi-million dollar building to house it). 😊 Until then though, I simply feel I cannot keep it to
myself. All I ask is that you sign the book out and then please bring it back when you are done.
Here you go:

IN THE BIG “YAY!” DEPARTMENT:

Bowen Matthew Wyatt made his appearance on Thursday, April 30th. He weighed in at 7lb 11oz and measured 19.9 inches long. Congratulations to Brayton and Zoe Wyatt on their new addition. Older sister, Hazel, is so excited to have a younger brother! {Becca Anderson announced this past Sunday that a meal train will be set up for them beginning next week. Make sure you check out the church’s Facebook Group for more info and to sign up}.

SPECIAL NEEDS MINISTRY:

• • Accessible Church-Sandra Peoples- A Gospel-Centered Vision for including people with disabilities and their families. This has been very helpful as we have begun laying the groundwork for a Special Needs Ministry (SNM).
  • Unbroken Faith– Diane Dokko Kim- Spiritual recovery for the special needs parent. When her first son was diagnosed with autism and ADHD/ADD at age 2, Diane struggled personally, professionally and spiritually. It led her to a deeper walk with Christ and to start as a disability ministry consultant.
  • The Accessible Church-Kerri-Ann Hayes (not to be confused with the first book listed). This helpful book shows how a church can be a welcoming place for a child/family with a special-needs child.
  • Same Lake Different Boat– Stephanie O. Hubach- Coming alongside people touched by disability. It helps churches/individuals rethink and relearn how to support others.
  • Boundless Hope for every child-Kim Botto-This has been one of our go-to books for our ministry plan. Kim lives and ministers to special needs families in Cincinnati.

FROM THE “YOU CAN HELP” DEPARTMENT:

Every year, starting on Mother’s Day, New Beginning Pregnancy Resource Center has their Change for Life fundraiser. They ask you to take a baby bottle (on the info table), fill it with change, cash or a check and return it by Father’s Day. You may also donate online through their Facebook page or website:

newbeginningsowen.org

We invite you to help support this vital ministry. OVCF supports it on a monthly basis.

This week’s message is Tripped by Temptation from James 1:13-18. I look forward to continuing this series on James with you. See you then, if not before. Know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #291

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #291. I hope you are having a great week! It is always interesting to me how life changes from week to week, or maybe even day to day. Chances are good this week will look nothing like last week, unless, of course, you have kids playing ball. I was speaking to some parents this past Thursday at the ball field and they are there E.V.E.R.Y night! In their case, 3 children playing on 2 different teams every night of the week. I remember a scene from a movie where the main character got in his vehicle and said, “Home” and it drove him there. I think many parents could say, “Ballfield” and their vehicle could automatically drive there.😊 At the same time, I love the parents’ involvement in their kids’ lives. Spending time with your children is never a lost activity.

SPEAKING OF YOUTH AND BALL GAMES:

I have a few more young people playing ball:

• • Berkley Groomer is playing 6U softball
  • Abi Wiegand is playing Tball for Elite Electric
  • Gannon Wiegand is playing 10U baseball
  • Alex and Ethan Koons are playing 10U baseball
  • Auggie Wood is playing flag football, but also 10U baseball
  • {Note: Abigail, Alex, Ethan and Gannon are Erich and JuliAnne Wiegand’s grandchildren}

IMPORTANT AND BIG STUFF TO KNOW!

May 5, 2025 we hired Hannah Pendleton on a part-time basis to be our Children’s Director, focusing on our children in the nursery through 6th grade. She has done a phenomenal job as Pastor Ryan has mentored her. She has come into her own and is making some welcome changes to the rooms, as well as investigating different options for curriculum, among other improvements. She has also taken the reins of the Special Needs Ministry and is slowly working on getting that up and running. (It is not an easy task).

In her spare time, 😊, she is also a nanny to a family in Bloomington. She spent this past weekend away on a solo camping trip. It was very much needed. This Wednesday, May 6th, the staff is celebrating with her by taking her to her favorite place to eat for lunch: Chick-fil-A. (We tried for China Star but found out she is not a big fan of Chinese food, but we won’t hold that against her).

CONGRATULATIONS ON YEAR #1 HANNAH!
WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE PART OF OUR TEAM!!

Let her know how much you appreciate her and the work she is doing for the children at OVCF.

IN THE BIG “YAY!” DEPARTMENT:

Bowen Matthew Wyatt made his appearance on Thursday, April 30th. He weighed in at 7lb 11oz and measured 19.9 inches long. Congratulations to Brayton and Zoe Wyatt on their new addition. Older sister, Hazel, is so excited to have a younger brother! {Becca Anderson announced this past Sunday that a meal train will be set up for them beginning next week. Make sure you check out the church’s Facebook Group for more info and to sign up}.

SOMETHING TO PRAY ABOUT THIS MONTH:

We have three couples expecting babies this month:

• • Sarah & Will Schneider are to have their little one this coming Sunday. That would give new meaning to Mother’s Day!
  • Caleb & Gabrielle Corder are to have their little one on the 29th.
  • Adam & Cecilia Fox (Scott & Heather Herrington’s daughter and son-in-law) are also due this month.

SOMETHING HELD OVER FROM LAST WEEK:

Aaron and Sonia Clausman (and Brielle) will be returning to visit her native Pakistan and do mission work from May 26-June 16. While there, not only will Sonia’s parents get their first glimpse of Brielle in person,  they also have plans to do some mission work. They will be visiting the slums where no one goes. The Gospel has not been shared with them due to the distance to get there and also the funds which are needed to do so. They also want to bless the women with hygiene material. These women are slaves with no education. They have asked prayer for the team as they travel and for their efforts while there. Their desire is to share the Gospel with a thousand people while there and to baptize as many as possible before they return. Prayers and support would be greatly appreciated.

SOMETHING FOR YOU TO PONDER:

I know it’s probably early to be thinking about this, but then again, maybe it is never too early to put something before you to consider. If there has been one question which I have been asked over the past month or so more than just about any other question, it is this: Do you have a Wednesday night Bible study? The answer has been “No.” I took a much-needed year off (after almost 10 straight years) from Route 66 (just called 66), but I am considering offering it again. For those who might be wondering what it is, Route 66 is a study through the 66 books of the Bible. It is an overview of every book. We meet from 6-7:00 each Wednesday night (except for holidays, summer break and other rare occasions). It takes about 2 years to go through the course. I’m letting you know so you can think about it. In a month or so I will have Diana put out
a sign-up sheet to gauge interest. It will start in September after Labor Day.

CHANGES ARE COMING to the MM! During the summer the MM will be every other week instead of every week. Still the same great content (AHEM) but less often. 😊

As I mentioned Sunday, I began a series on the book of James called The “Perfect” Christian. I spoke this past week about trials. My sermon Sunday is titled The “Perfect” Woman. Just so you know…I plan to explain the word “perfect” in James 1:4, but then speak about some ladies who are examples of that word. I look forward to sharing it with you. Until then…know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #290

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #290! I hope you are having a fantastic week! We will be in May by the end of this week and rumor has it there might be a teacher or two or three (as well as students) who are counting down the days. I was chatting with one of our graduating seniors and asked her if she was looking forward to being done. Her dad was standing there and he said, “She has a countdown going.” She promptly pulled out her phone and told me however many days, hours, and minutes were left until she was done. I’d say Alli Anderson is ready for graduation.😊

SPEAKING OF GRADUATION:

Every year we honor our high school and college graduates with special recognition. This year is no different. If you are a high school or college graduate, or the parent of one, would you please make sure Pastor Ryan, Diana, or Hannah know? We have set Sunday, May 17th as the day to celebrate our graduates during the second service.

DON’T FORGET THIS!

You will get this MM on Wednesday. Just a little reminder that our monthly church family pitch-in is tonight at 6:00. Come join us, share some laughter and get to know your church family a little better.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU & GOOD NEWS:

This past Saturday evening was the initial kick-off event for a new group for families with children 6th grade and under called SPROUTS.

• • • The meal was provided by the church and many ladies came through in helping make it successful. I will not mention names because you should know me by now. I will surely omit  someone. 😊So please just accept a huge group “Thank you” from all those who were there.
    • A special thanks to Alli Anderson, Eliza Chambers, Carolyn Myers, Hannah Pendleton, and Aasha Srinivasan for helping with taking care of the kiddos while the adults talked about what they hope to see. Pastor Ryan also made an appearance to support the helpers and spend a little time with the kiddos. They all shared a meal together and then the children had some fun time of their own.
    • The initial expected attendance was 22 adults and 32 kids. With a few last minute cancellations due to schedules, we still had 48 there. WOW! What a great turnout and the input received was welcomed.
    • The next scheduled get together is June 27th at Robert & Becca Anderson’s. More info will come as we get closer to that date.

YOUTH NEWS:

And those baseball/softball schedules just keep on coming!

• • • Dax Bell is playing 8U baseball.
    • Kalia Keene is playing 12U Softball.
    • Easton Elliot is playing T-Ball. (Patience mom and dad!) 😊
    • Trevor Floyd plays bass for our worship team. This past Tuesday night he was in the OV Jazz Night. Lucas Guy (son of Matt & Tiara) played in the OVMS Jazz Band. We are proud of you both!
    • I failed to mention Sunday morning to pray for Christian Wells. Jenna, his mom, said he decided to ride his bike without a helmet and take on the steepest hill on the property. Sister Emmy found him. Multiple stitches later he made it home and is recuperating. Jenna said it could have been worse and is grateful for God’s protection and grace over Christian. Amen to that!
    • Please continue to pray for Annie Wisely (Kathy’s granddaughter/ Daniel and Emmaly’s daughter). She had surgery Saturday and developed a reaction to the medication and is now back on IV  antibiotics. Another surgery is scheduled for today (Wednesday). She will be in Riley until they get things figured out.
    • Minnie Pendleton, Hannah’s cousin, is 10 years old. She has been diagnosed with aggressive leukemia. She will be in Norton’s Children’s Hospital in Louisville for a month for treatment and then have 2 1⁄2 years of chemo.
    • Pray for Brayton, Zoe and Hazel Wyatt. Zoe is having a C-section today! Pray that Bowen makes a healthy entrance into the world and for a good recovery for Zoe. We will do a Meal Train for their family soon! Please watch for that information! 😊
    • A PRAISE! Julie Allen says her new grandson is 3 weeks old and doing great. He was in NICU for 8 days to get his breathing figured out, but now he is totally healthy and at home.

SPECIAL REQUEST:

Aaron and Sonia Clausman (and Brielle) will be returning to visit her native Pakistan and do mission work from May 26-June 16. While there, not only will Sonia’s parents get their first glimpse of Brielle in person,  they also have plans to do some mission work. They will be visiting the slums where no one goes. The Gospel has not been shared with them due to the distance to get there and also the funds which are needed to do so. They also want to bless the women with hygiene material. These women are slaves with no education. They have asked prayer for the team as they travel and for their efforts while there. Their desire is to share the
Gospel with a thousand people while there and to baptize as many as possible before they return. Prayers and support would be greatly appreciated.

I concluded my two month series on The Road to the Other Side last Sunday when I spoke about death and heaven (the ultimate ending). This Sunday I will begin a new series I’m calling The “Perfect” Christian. We will be studying the book of James during this time. This Sunday my message is Troubled by Trials from James 1:1-12. I look forward to sharing it with you. If I don’t see you out and about, I look forward to seeing you Sunday. And…as always…know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #289

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #289. I hope you are having a great week and the rest of the week gets even better.

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS:

1. First up is the SPROUTS meal this coming Saturday from 5-7:00.

• • • • Purpose: to connect families with children 6th grade and younger. The goal is to provide friendship and fun for those families.
      • RSVP to Becca Anderson (812.360.7419 or via Facebook Messenger if you would like to attend (for food planning only).
      • Future get-togethers are planned at the Anderson compound for cookouts, discussion and just getting to know others in similar stages of life.
      • Help is still needed with food. {contact Becca for up to date info}

2. Second is this coming Sunday. The Special Needs Ministry (SNM) is still in the birthing stages but is moving ahead. I mentioned in last week’s MM that a person has been asked to lead the SNM. Since this is a volunteer ministry we have given this person time to pray and think through this commitment.

• • • • To help facilitate this person’s decision and to also get a good look for ourselves, Hannah Pendleton (our Children’s Director) has been in touch with a person from Northside Church in New Albany, where they have an active SNM. This coming Sunday, Pastor Ryan, Hannah and the other person will be making their way to Northside for a personal visit and observation. Please be praying for their safety on this trip but also an eye-opening and solidifying visit.
      • Starting a ministry like this is not a quick thing nor is it an easy one. We want to do it right and this is just one step into making it vital to OVCF and to our community.

3. Third, is the church family pitch-in on Wednesday, the 29th at 6 PM. I would love to see
you join us for some great food, a ton of laughter, and some great fellowship.

YOUTH NEWS:

I feel like there ought to be a drumroll since there is so much going on with our young people. I’d like to remind you that I can only put in this MM what I know. 😊 (Sort of makes sense doesn’t it?) Here is what I have for this week: (not in alphabetical order)

• • • • Cecilia Arnold and Tad Nicholson were both recognized for being on the all A’s Honor Roll for the 3rd quarter at OVMS.
      • Kale Hatton was recognized for being on the A/B Honor Roll at OVMS for the 3rd quarter.
      • Lucas Arnold was on the A/B Honor Roll for the 6th grade.
      • Marci Arnold was on the A Honor Roll for the 2nd grade
        (Cecilia, Lucas and Marci are the grandchildren of Melissa Arnold. I won’t say she is a
        proud grandmother…but she did give me their names and awards!) 😊
      • Alethea Humble, an 11 year old student from Mrs. Harrison’s 4th grade class (Clay City) has earned an incredible honor through her submission to the International Violin Competition Art showcase. I’m going to let the words of her teacher, Mrs. Staci Shafter, Clay City Art Teacher, tell you the story: “She created a striking black-and-white pencil drawing of a violin-choosing to stand out by going a different direction than her peers. She even left it untitled, letting the work speak entirely for itself. Her artwork was first selected to represent Clay City Elementary as the top piece from her grade. From there, it went on to compete at the state level, where Alethea was named the Indiana Regional Winner out of 120 student entries. From hundreds of submissions, she advanced even further-earning the prestigious Hadley Matthew’s Grand Award Winner distinction, an honor given to only 30 students worldwide. On Sunday, May 3rd, Alethea will be formally recognized, receiving her award, prize winnings, and having her artwork featured in a traveling international exhibit. We are incredibly proud of Alethea’s creativity, courage to be different, and the hard work that led her to this moment.” All I can say is, “WOW!” Way to go, Alethea!! Alethea is the daughter of Wade and Sarah Stoliby.
      • Rumor has it Marla Lippert got her first turkey this past Sunday when she went hunting with her dad. She drew the line on plucking it and dressing it though. 😊 Congrats, Marla!

IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR!

We need your help! Every year we have been blessed by those who see it as a ministry to help by mowing the church grounds. An added bonus is there is even less to mow with the new addition. 😊 We provide a ZTR mower, trimmer and gas for those who would like to help. There is a sign-up sheet at the info table if you would like to help us. If you have any questions please contact Pastor Ryan or Diana.

IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR (X 2)!

We consider it an honor to recognize our high school and college graduates. OVCF is proud of each of them and want to show them that we are. If you are graduating from high school or college this year, please give your name to Pastor Ryan or to Diana. Graduate Sunday will take place on May 17th during our second service.

Because Diana edits this I know she will either dislike me a lot or tell me to delete this section of the MM. But since she calls me “Boss” (she is “Lady Boss”), I have final say over what goes in the MM. 😊 This Wednesday is Administrative Professionals Day. We missed celebrating last year and I can’t even remember why. But not this year! Diana and I started working at OVCF the same time-November of 2005-and we have been through quite an adventure together! Every year her responsibilities have increased, especially as the church has grown. She is a vital cog in the wheel of making OVCF efficient, especially in the office. Her responsibilities ramped up even more with the new addition and all it has entailed. So Wednesday, the four of us-Pastor Ryan, Hannah, Diana, and I-will be going to China Star to celebrate Diana. I’m honored to have served with her the past 21 years.

This Sunday my series on The Road to the Other Side concludes with The Satisfying Savior. I will
be looking at death and heaven-the eternal “other side.” Starting May 3rd I’ll be preaching a
series on James called The “Perfect” Christian. I look forward to seeing you Sunday. Know you
are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #288

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #288. I hope you are having a great week so far. Last week gave us a great foretaste of Spring, but also reminded us we live in Indiana.😊

YOUTH NEWS:

• • Alli Anderson and Aubrey Mangia are on the OVHS track team.
  • Coach Tom Mangia told me that he has several boys from the church on his team: his son, Jordan; Draven Stahl; Winston and Barrett Zigler.
  • I’m guessing there are more boys and girls playing ball this summer. Please let me know so I can include them and Jo and I can attend.
  • Keaton Jackson, the young man we have prayed for and has gone through cancer treatment, is practicing and will soon be able to play for the Clay City Eels High School baseball team.
  • Tad Nicholson was chosen as a True Patriot for the middle school this past week. When I asked his mom what that is she said, “Teachers choose a student that they feel shows the following characteristics: Perseverance, Academic Excellence, Tenacity, Character, Loyalty and Respect.” He was chosen by Matt Beckwith who says, “He always comes ready to do his best and to lead by example.” I think mom and dad were sorta proud (as well they should be). Way to go Tad!!

MORE ABOUT THAT NEW MINISTRY:

In an effort to connect families who have children in the Grade 6 and younger group, SPROUTS has been started. (In case you are wondering, the name is a take-off of Pastor Ryan’s two groups for teens: Deeper and Roots). Here are the details:

• • Kickoff event: Dinner on April 25th from 5:00-7:00 PM at OVCF.
  • Purpose: to provide friendship and fun for the families in that age group
  • RSVP to Becca Anderson at 812.360.7419 or through Facebook Messenger
  • Future get-togethers are planned to be at the Anderson homestead for cookouts, discussion and getting to know others with common interests and future ideas.

We need help though!

• • As I said last week in the MM, busy moms and dads need a night out so the meal is going to be provided by the church. We could sure use your help in pulling that off. Here is the menu:
    • • Spaghetti
      • Red and/or white sauce
      • Garlic bread
      • Salad
      • Fruit and/or veggie tray
      • Dessert (cookies are fine)
      • Drinks (iced tea or lemonade)

There is a sign-up sheet on the info table if you would like to help provide any of the above items. At this point we have no idea how many to expect.

• • Childcare will be provided by an adult with help from the teens.

SPECIAL NEEDS MINISTRY UPDATE:

Several months ago I talked about and wrote in the MM that we were looking into starting a Special Needs Ministry (SNM) at OVCF. I’d like to bring you up to date on where we are at.

• • Hannah Pendleton and I asked parents who were interested in a SNM to attend a meeting to get ideas and to gauge interest in the ministry. The response was phenomenal! Some great ideas were shared.
  • A person has been asked to lead the SNM. We have given this person time to think, pray and decide since it is a big undertaking and would be a volunteer position initially. No decision has been made as of this writing.
  • One of the valuable approaches to any ministry, especially one starting out new, is to check around and see what other churches are/are not doing. Hannah has done just that. On Sunday, April 26th, she, Pastor Ryan, and the other person will be visiting Northside Christian Church in New Albany to see their SNM in action. Please pray for a good, eye-opening and God-honoring visit.
  • In the meantime, keep praying about this ministry!!

NEW BUILDING UPDATE:

Many have asked how things are going and what is next. Here is some information in a nutshell:

• • End of March: we paid JL Benton $42,295 for spray foam insulation, AV wiring, platform edit, and electrical rough-in
  • This month: we will owe approximately $24,840 to JLB for blown-in (attic) insulation, hanging drywall, their fees.
  • Next to be done: HVAC. The elders are finding out the details for a total cost to finish our  project.

BOOK TO CONSIDER READING:
With all that is going on in our world ideologically, it is absolutely essential that we know what others are thinking so we can use the truth of God’s Word to counteract what we hear. I mentioned Sunday that I finished reading Transformed by Kyla Gillespie last week. Transgenderism is a “staple” in our daily diet so it is important to know what goes through the mind of those who want to change their gender. If you want to know or you know of someone who is struggling with gender dysphoria or is considering this radical life change, you need to read this book.

My series on The Road to the Other Side will finish on Sunday, the 26th. I have been working on the next series…one on James I am calling The “Perfect” Christian, which will begin May 3rd. I’ll tell you more in the next MM. Until then, my sermon Sunday is The Show-Me Savior and the Scripture will be from I Cor. 12:12-27. I look forward to sharing it with you Sunday. Until then…know you are loved.
Pastor Bill