Category: OVCF News

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #281

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #281! Thank you so much for taking the time to read the MM. I hope it is a good reprieve during the middle of your week. Remember to pray for all the school administrators and staff this week as our educators of the week.

SOME MISCELLANEOUS NEWS…

• • • Saturday night Bill and Lillian Purcell watched their house burn down. They lost everything except their dogs. When I announced it Sunday I had no details how we could help until during the second service. For those of you who weren’t there here is what was shared: They are collecting for Bill & Lillian at the YMCA. Since they don’t have a place to accept a bunch of stuff, they are asking for gift cards, etc. You can take your gift to the Y during normal business hours (5:30 am-8:00 pm). Bill & Lillian are lifelong residents of Owen County, and Bill is a realtor and well as a pastor at the Nazarene Church in Cloverdale.
    • Jim Perin and Don Taylor, Jr are both undergoing cancer treatment. Jim receives a weekly chemo infusion, along with daily radiation, and Don is scheduled for a blood test Tuesday (yesterday) to see how effective his treatments have been. They would both appreciate your prayers.
    • Autumn Crowe is undergoing a trial radiation treatment beginning Tuesday (yesterday). Her husband, Tim, was telling me some of the protocol while going through treatment. She must stay at least 6’ from people. She is not allowed to hold or get close to her grandchildren. Even Tim has to keep his distance! 😄 Tim is an elder at Covenant Baptist Church (formerly The Connection) and is a friend I met at the Y.
    • Aaron and Sonia Clausman are now about a week and half away from Baby Day! Be praying for a safe and healthy delivery and baby.
    • Heather Keith went through some intense wrist surgery over a month ago. She played the keyboard for the first time in the first service during Communion. Thanks Heather and thanks to the Father for His healing.
    • Christina Corder received some fantastic news from her cancer doctors. Over three years ago Christina was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemo. She was told her type of cancer had a 95% return rate. This past week she was declared cancer free and told to come back in 8 months for a scan. That is quite an improvement over the every 3 months she initially was faced with. We praise God for such a good report!
    • Continue to pray for our Military and Law Enforcement Officers as they serve our country and community.

If you were unable to be with us yesterday, Charley Shipley was officially installed as an elder at OVCF. It was the honor of the other elders and Pastor Ryan and I to be involved in that installation. It was doubly exciting to pray over Charley and Cindy and then to have their daughter and her family here to celebrate with them. The elders serving OVCF alongside Charley are Robert (Bobby) Anderson, Jeff Carlson, and Tom Mangia. Pastor Ryan and I are not officially elders, but we are part of the leadership team. One of the former elders came up to me afterwards affirming our choice of Charley, but also spoke about the “sabbatical program” we initiated a little over a year ago. Each man will serve 3 years then take a year off to allow him to refresh and renew, and then if he would like to come back on after a year, he is given that option. Being an elder is more than a “man thing.” It involves the man’s wife and family. If you would like to be considered in the future for the eldership, please feel free to express that to me or one of the other elders. There is a process we follow and we would be glad to share that with you.

HERE ARE A FEW REMINDERS FOR YOU:

• • • New Beginnings Pregnancy Resource Center has several events going on:
      • • February is always Diaper Drive month. They are especially in need of diapers sizes 4, 5, and 6 and wipes. Donations of Pull-ups are welcome, too. Size 2 not needed at this time! Please feel free to bring them to the church building or take them to the center.
        • This Friday is a bake sale at OCSB from 9A-4P. If you would like to donate baked goods, please reach out to the center. Or stop by to buy some goodies! Sorry, no taste testing allowed. 😄
        • This Friday is also the Valentine’s Dance Fundraiser from 7-10 at the Christian Life Center.
    • Our next OVCF family pitch-in will be on Wednesday, February 25th at 6 PM.
    • The Ladies Connection Pizza and Painting Event is Saturday, February 28th at 1:00. Cost is $15. If you need more info please see Stacy Wood or Christina Corder.

Pastor Ryan and I are both involved in the Book Buddies program in the Kindergarten classes. Ryan reads to MCES students and I read to the SES and GES students. Ryan also reads to the Pre-K classes at MCES. They love him! After visiting the 3rd grade class at PES to renew acquaintances with the teacher, many of her students remember Mr. Bill because I had read to them 3 years ago in the K class. So I suggested reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (TLWW) to Ashley’s class. I read a chapter one week; then she reads a chapter one week; and Kris Samick (the principal) reads one a week. Then I return. I then suggested to Kristine Mangia, who teaches 3rd grade at SES that we consider doing the same thing. I read The Energy Bus for Kids before the Christmas break and since then I have been reading TLWW to the three 3rd grade classes at SES. I read one chapter and the teachers read the next two during the week, then I go back. This past Monday I read chapter 7. It has been a wonderful experience for me! I’m not sure about the kids, but I love reading, and I love reading to the students. It’s fun! 😄I also think it is a great tribute to the teachers who are willing to try different things to help their students learn.

This Sunday my sermon is Anything Goes? focusing on “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” I look forward to sharing this all important I AM with you. Until then…know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #280

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #280. I hope you are all doing well and staying safe and warm. It sure has been a unique time of the year hasn’t it? Funny thing is, we expect this. I’m not sure the people in Florida and the Carolinas and the south are enjoying this much at all. B-r-r-r-r.

Even though it was frigid this past Sunday, it sure was good to be back together with you. I appreciate those who made the effort to come and meet with others. I know it is dangerous for some of you to get out and I wouldn’t want you to put yourself in danger in any way. As Jo tells people (just about any who will listen😄) I am a social creature. I love being with and around people, so Sunday is a day I look forward to. But I also want to say thanks to those who tuned in last week for the live stream (which wasn’t really live). I was watching on Sunday and wanted to comment but the comments were turned off. When Pastor Ryan fixed that I failed to refresh my viewing so I never was able to comment. There is something to be said about technology and old people. Thanks for watching and I saw some comments later. Oh…I was watching on
YouTube since I don’t have Facebook.

Be praying this week for all our school administrators and staff.

In the past I have highlighted the young people who are doing something special and unique. Whether it be a sports event, or a 4H event, a school award, or something else, I want you to celebrate them. Seldom have I had an opportunity to highlight one of our adults. Over the past several months we have had a couple visiting with us at the invitation of Andy and Stacy Wood, Justin and Michelle Mann. Michelle has become quite proficient in using music to express her thoughts. She writes the words and then uses AI to bring it all together. Justin sent me several songs Michelle has most recently written. She has been doing this for close to two years and I have to say I’m impressed. I’ll put the links here so you can look them up and listen on your
own. The first one Justin sent me a couple of weeks ago is called Like a Storm. You can listen to it here: https://youtu.be/Ddao8tK44Ag?si=-y1w6UZrhZCJ6tsp. The lyrics are included in the section below the video. Another one she wrote two weeks ago is called Three Strands. You can listen here: https://youtu.be/ap1CkwpTjzw?si=tT0WzeUUm6DnQhNb. Her most popular is called Oppenheimer’s Sorrow. You can listen here: https://youtu.be/biteN1pl-Y8?si=o2q32eRiQd-juyVC. (Oppenheimer is known as the “Father of the Atomic Bomb”). I’m hoping the links will work. If not, you can copy and paste the link into YouTube or your browser. Michelle writes from her heart and puts them so others can see and even benefit. I know the jury is still out on AI for me. I reject what some are doing (letting AI write their sermons for them), but I still have a lot to learn as Michelle’s music has taught me. She has her own channel on YouTube. Listen to one of these songs and it will give you her channel. Well done Michelle!

YOUTH NEWS

• • • In last week’s MM, I listed several of our young people who were playing Biddy Ball at MCES. This past Saturday Jo, Tami and I were able to watch several of them play. I missed naming two of our young people who were also playing (whom we got to watch Saturday). Twins, Boston and Berkley Groomer, were playing.
    • Winter Jam is this Friday. Contact Pastor Ryan for details.
    • The ROOTS Super Bowl party is Sunday night from 6-10:45. The young people can either bring a 2 liter of pop or a dessert to share. The food is being provided by Heather Herrington. Pastor Ryan begged and pleaded for her to make the food she made last year. He said the kids really enjoyed it. Really? Just the kids?😄

GOOD NEWS!! This coming Sunday we will be installing Charley Shipley as an elder at OVCF. We look forward to working with Charley as we move into more ministry. Charley joins Robert (Bobby) Anderson, Jeff Carlson, and Tom Mangia as elders of OVCF. Although technically not elders, Pastor Ryan and I are part of the leadership team. Please pray for the leadership team, and while you are at it, include Diana (church Office Manager) and Hanna Pendleton (Children’s Director) in your prayers.

NEWS FOR THE LADIES! The next Ladies Connection Event is a Pizza and Painting party scheduled for Saturday, February 28th at 1:00 at OVCF. The cost is $15 which includes the food and a guided Easter-themed painting. Please contact Stacy Wood or Christina Corder for more info. There is a sign-up sheet at the info table!

DIAPER DRIVE UNDERWAY!! Every February New Beginnings Pregnancy Resource Center has a month long diaper drive to encourage donations of diapers, wipes or pull-ups. OVCF has always responded well to this event. If you would like to donate, any size diapers are welcome, but they are especially in need of diapers for sizes 4, 5, and 6, as well as baby wipes. You may bring donations to the church building any time over the next month or take them to NB on Monday and Thursday from 12-4:00.

I write this over several days. I usually start on Sunday and as I write this portion it is Monday. I heard this afternoon that the groundhog saw his shadow. I think it means we are supposed to have 6 more weeks of winter weather. I don’t want a repeat of 12” of snow and -7 degree weather. Say it ain’t so! 😒

I messed up last week’s MM. I got ahead of myself and put in this coming week’s sermon for last week’s. So…to correct that: this coming week’s message is The Walking Dead from John 11. That chapter features both the “I AM” statement (“I AM the Resurrection and the Life”), as well as the miracle (raising Lazarus from the dead). This is a sermon filled with hope for all Christ-followers. I look forward to sharing it with you. Until then…know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #279

Hello everyone! I hope you have been able to stay warm and safe. As I write this portion of the MM, it is Saturday afternoon and the snow has just started. Pastor Ryan, Diana, Hannah and I put a lot of time and thought into whether to cancel services or not but we all came to the same conclusion: yes. We, of course, didn’t want to, but our first priority is your safety. Since we have so many who live outside of town where the roads are suspect, we made the decision to cancel. Following the Legislative Breakfast Saturday, Pastor Ryan and I recorded the message on his phone just in case we could not make it do the live stream. As I mentioned at the beginning of the message, if you saw it from the youth addition, then we made the right choice! Every once in a while we make a good decision. 😄 Thanks for understanding. I do hope you were able to watch the video on either YouTube or Facebook.

I ask that you pray for Shelly Sutton, our educator of the week. Shelly and Johnathan have been married for 28 years. They met at a Christian camp in Colorado where they both worked. Their oldest daughter, Lauryn, is getting married on June 6th and she and her future husband, Lucas, met at the same camp. They are also parents to son, Brodie, who graduated last year, works at Poindexter Metalworks, and is working on what is next for his future. Ayzleah, their youngest daughter, is a sophomore in high school. Shelly used to do scrapbooking, but lately says her hobby is party planning for her family. 😄She and Johnathan enjoy gardening together, and as a family they like to play board games and watch movies.

YOUTH NEWS:

Several of our young people are playing Biddy Ball at MCES:

• • • Piper and Dax Bell and Jordan Mangia play for Team Tivoli. Jordan’s dad, Tom, is the coach.
    • Marci Arnold plays for Team Apex.
    • Barrett Zigler plays for Team Insurance Services.
    • Barrett’s brother, Winston, and Hudsyn Biggs play for Cream & Crimson Flooring on an
      older league (9U). They play their games at SES on Saturdays.

For Your Information:

• • • Due to the weather: our Church family pitch-in has been cancelled!🙁 Also, Deeper
      youth Bible study is cancelled for today!
    • Safe Worship presentation at Martinsville this Saturday. Pastor Ryan and several of our
      Safety & Security team folks are attending the training session.
    • Elder’s Meeting is Monday, February 2nd at 5:30.

SPEAKING OF ELDERS:

I announced two Sundays ago and again on the recorded message that the elders are recommending to you that Charley Shipley become an elder at OVCF. For those who are new or may need a refresher:

• • • The one being considered goes through a study with me on what an elder is by looking at why we have a plurality of elders and also a study of the qualities and characteristics of an elder as found in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
    • We invite him to join us in several elder’s meetings so he can see how we operate.
    • We then ask him if he would like to join our leadership team. If he says, “Yes”, as Charley has, we then announce it to the congregation and you have two weeks to submit a written (and signed) letter telling us why you cannot endorse Charley as an elder. (It must be a spiritual reason). After two weeks, if there is no concerning matter, we will announce Charley’s acceptance and will have him come to the front of the church to be prayed over and installed as an elder on February 8th. You have until this Sunday, February 1st to respond.

Monday morning during my Quiet Time, I read from an amazing chapter in Mark: chapter 5.
It includes three events involving Jesus. A quick recap first: 1) A demon-possessed man so
uncontrollable that not even chains could hold him; 2) A woman who had bled for years.
Financially devastated by doctors; unclean for visits to the Temple; and an outcast among her
own people; 3) The daughter of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, who was dying as her father hunted down Jesus and begged for healing.

Each incident and miracle show us something different about Jesus:

• • • His power over evil
    • His power over sickness
    • His power over death

When evil seems to be winning, it won’t. When sickness seems to be so overwhelming, it isn’t. When death seems to have won, it hasn’t. We live with the reality of all 3 of those. Evil seems to win or be winning. Sickness seems to be rampant, ravaging all. Death is an ever-present reality-expected or unexpected. But we serve a Savior who can set us free from chains; who came to heal (if He so chooses); and who has defeated death and gives us eternal life, the ultimate victory.

WHAT A MIGHTY SAVIOR!

My sermon this Sunday is The Walking Dead from John 11. The “I AM” is intertwined with the story of Lazarus. I look forward to seeing you Sunday and sharing that with you. Until then, know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #278

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #278. I hope your week is going well and you survived the frigid temps of the early part of this week. Man, was it cold Monday morning when I came to the office! I left a warm and inviting house to make my way to a warm office. In between it was c-o-o-o-l-d! But warmer days are ahead. Each day brings us closer to spring and according to Tami, baseball season. 😄 Anyway, stay warm.

Our educator of the week for you to pray for is Jeanna Srinivasan. I asked Jeanna (as I do all the educators) for some info on her family. Here is what she sent: “We have been married 16 years. Aasha is 13 and Nathan is 8, very soon to be 9. We have homeschooled for 8 years but honestly I consider it starting from birth to….13 years. I am a certified pathologists’ assistant and I used to work at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, OH and then LabCorp on Zionsville Rd. I performed autopsies and gross dissections of surgical resections. Kartik is a physical therapist at IU Health in Spencer and owns his own therapy business. This year is my first year as the Freedom Homeschool Co-op director. Nathan is in cross-country, track, and 4H. Aasha plays basketball, runs cross country and track, takes dance, sings in our homeschool choir, takes voice
lessons, also in 4H and is a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol. She is involved in Roots and Deeper at the church as well.” (I asked her what she did in her spare time). 😄 Remember to pray for Jeanna and the family this week.

YOUTH NEWS:

The school year is starting to “heat up” so there should be more news about our youth. Here is what I have to share with you this week:

• • • Haven and Kane Mosier (daughter and son of Tommy and Kristine Mosier and grandchildren of Janet Jones) received Top Cat awards for the past 9 weeks.
    • Jordan Mangia, son of Tom and Kristine Mangia, also received the Top Cat award for the same grading period.
    • Lilly Brinson, the granddaughter of Brad and Tara Brinson, received the Top Cat award as well. I’m thinking it is grandma and grandpa’s influence that made the difference. 😄
    • Eliza Chambers and her gymnastics team had a very fruitful and good time in California at a meet. Eliza ended up with some pretty cool medals against some really tough gymnasts from all over the country. She got 4th place on beam and floor and then 5th place all around. Mom said, “Considering she spent half the season injured and trying to get back, I’m super proud of her for working so hard.”
    • The OV High school boys’ team played Clay City Saturday night. Kim Stahl sent me a picture of the Clay City boys in their warm up jerseys. On the back was #KeatonStrong. Keaton is the high school student who has had cancer since he was 7 and continues fighting. We have been praying for him. Don’t stop praying! And well done, Clay City Eels for recognizing one of your own!

The Top Cat Award may be new to some of you. The following was in the letter sent to the parents: “The student is chosen by the classroom teacher according to their demonstration of the following attributes:

• • • Being POSITIVE in attitude and behavior
    • Being RESPECTFUL of students and staff
    • Being a HARD WORKER
    • Being an overall GOOD CITIZEN”

Well done to all of our young people!

I announced this past Sunday that the elders are recommending Charley Shipley to you to become an elder at OVCF. For those who are new or may need a refresher:

• • • The one being considered goes through a study with me on what an elder is by looking at why we have a plurality of elders and also a study of the qualities and characteristics of an elder as found in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
    • We invite him to join us in several elder’s meetings so he can see how we operate.
    • We then ask him if he would like to join our leadership team. If he says, “Yes”, as Charley has, we then announce it to the congregation and you have two weeks to submit a written (and signed) letter telling us why you cannot endorse Charley as an elder. (It must be a spiritual reason). After two weeks, if there is no concerning matter, we will announce Charley’s acceptance and will have him come to the front of the church to be prayed over and installed as an elder. You have until Sunday, February 1st to respond.

I hope you have Wednesday, January 28th on your calendar! That is the date of our next Church Family Pitch-in. We start at 6:00 and we simply have a good time. We laugh. We tell stories. We visit with each other. And, of course, we eat. I love those evenings for all the above reasons, but most of all because I get to be with people I love.

A couple of announcements that affect our church family:

• • • For several years now we have hosted the Legislative Breakfast for the Chamber of Commerce. A couple of our government officials come to share what is happening in Indiana and what the Legislative session has on the agenda. This coming Saturday, the 24th, is the first one of this session. It will meet from 7:30-9:00.
    • Pastor Ryan is taking some of our folks to a church in Martinsville on Saturday, the 31st , for a “Safe Church” training session. We had it here a couple of years ago and it will be a good refresher course, especially with the upcoming opening of our addition. If you would like to know more please see Pastor Ryan.

My sermon Sunday is The Guardian from John 10:6-10 and the miracle in John 4:46-54. I look forward to sharing God’s Word with you. See you then. Until then, know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #277

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #277. I hope you have all recuperated from the Sunday morning shock of snow, ice, and bitter cold! I guess I should pay more attention to the weather, especially on a Saturday night/Sunday morning. I guess I was naïve enough to think it would be sunny and in the 80s.😄 Thanks to all of you who were able to make your way in, and for those who weren’t, for watching online.

Our educator of the week is Hannah Morse. She and her husband, Cole, have been married for 5 years. They are the parents of 4 year old twin sons, Tripp and Kohen. Hannah taught at Gosport Elementary School for 7 years before making the decision to homeschool Tripp and Kohen, who are both autistic. She has done a marvelous job teaching them and they are both showing great improvement. A big shout out goes to the teachers and helpers in the Pre-K Sunday morning class. They have made the boys feel so welcome they can’t wait to get here and get to their class. I could mention specific names but I don’t want to embarrass anyone, nor leave anyone out. Hannah’s father and mother (Brad and Christina Corder) and brother, sister-in-law and niece (Caleb, Gabrielle & Charlotte Corder) also attend OVCF. Please be praying this week for Hannah, Cole, Tripp and Kohen.

SOME ADULT NEWS!

• • • This past Saturday night, the Conservation Officers had their belated Christmas party here at our building. Caleb Hutchison, his wife, Amanda, and two children Addilyn (Addi) and Owen attend here. Not only did they find our space much to their liking, an added bonus came to Caleb. He was honored as the District 5 Conservation Officer of the Year. Way to go Caleb! {As an aside: years ago when I met Caleb he once told me that being a conservation officer was his dream job. He passed the test, loves his job, and is seeing the fruit of that! His only disappointment is that he is not allowed to have any facial hair. Oh what we sacrifice to do something we love!😄}
    • Coffee and Chocolate, a Women’s Connection Event is this Saturday from 11-1:00. There is no cost and it is one of the most attended ladies events. If you have any questions please contact Macy Carlson, Hope East or Linda St John.
    • Mollie Wainscott has made the Dean’s List all five semesters she’s been attending Milligan College! That is while taking 17 hours a semester, plus playing violin in their music program! 😄

SOME YOUTH NEWS!

• • • Pastor Ryan, Hope and members of the youth group who attended the TCTC (Tennessee Christian Teen Conference) made it back safely. They had a terrific time! I look forward to talking to them and finding out more.
    • DEEPER resumes this Wednesday. DEEPER is a Bible study for our middle school/high school students held at the East homestead from 4-5:30.
    • ROOTS (MS/HS youth group) will begin its winter/spring session this coming Sunday evening. They meet at OVCF from 5-7:00.
    • Jo & I were able to attend some youth basketball games this past week. We saw the 7th (Cooper Wood) and 8th grade boys play (Cale Hatton for Shakamak and Tad Nicholson and Kyson White for OV). We also were able to watch the 7th grade girls (Amelia Biggs) play. We have more games to attend. If your son or daughter is playing and you would like us to come watch, please let me know.

SOME PRAYER REQUESTS:

From time to time I plan to include some prayer requests that affect us all. Here are a few to keep in mind this week:

• • • Emily Wyatt had surgery this past Friday and is home recuperating.
    • Heather Keith had hand surgery this past Friday. It was good to see her Sunday.
    • Jim Perin was diagnosed with Stage 3 esophageal cancer. He is on a liquid diet and begins radiation this week. He also sees the chemo doctor this week.
    • Don Taylor, Jr began his chemo treatment this past week.
    • Tiffany Groomer is recovering from an emergency appendectomy this past Thursday.
    • I had a wonderful visit with Austin and Brooke Sheese last week. They are both recovering from the horrific car accident. Brooke still has several surgeries ahead of her but her attitude is great. Austin is still recovering from his broken femur, but using a cane. A big shout out goes to Dalen Dow for his friendship and care for both. They have been blown away by the support they have received in so many ways.
    • Keaton Jackson is still recovering from his latest round of chemo. Both mom and dad had COVID but so far he has avoided it. He has an MRI this Friday.
    • Our prayers go out to John & Jenny Hess and family this week. His mother, Marian passed away last week.

Along with the above requests, it is also important to recognize God’s work in answering prayer. The past two weeks Aaron and Sonia Clausman have been in front of the church thanking us for the support for the children in slavery in Pakistan. They have also shown pictures of children receiving their gifts. In total, 160 children were blessed. Here are the stats for you (Aaron and Sonia want to be totally transparent in how the money was spent). 65 helped by the church (total of $1635 received from church and individuals). 25 orphan children (they have been taking care of since 2017). 70 helped by abroad donations for total of 160. From the bottom of my heart thank you for being so generous during the Christmas season. We asked a lot of you:
Operation Christmas Child, Backpack Buddies, and then Pakistan gifts.

Don’t forget our Church family pitch-in on Wednesday, January 28th starting at 6:00. We
would love to have you to join us in lots of laughter, conversation, and, of course, food. 😄

I will continuing my “Seven” series this Sunday with Flip the Switch from John 8:12. The miracle that corresponds with that “I AM” is from John 9:1-41.The impact of that “I AM” can be seen in the following statement by C.S. Lewis: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” I look forward to seeing you Sunday. Until then…know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #276

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #276. Thank you for allowing me to invade your world this week. I hope you are having a good one so far. It is sort of hard to believe that Christmas 2025 is history and that 2026 is already 7 days old. Just think: in 358 days 2027 will be here!😄Oops sorry. I’m getting ahead of myself there. I do sincerely pray that God’s love, grace and blessings will be poured out on each of you this year. May you know His power and the strength of His presence as you live for Him this year. “Be strong and courageous.”

Our educator of the week to pray for is Michelle Lippert. Michelle and her husband, Geoff, have been married for 13 years. They have a daughter, Marla, who just took her driver’s test this past Saturday and passed. Way to go, Marla! (Michelle has asked for prayer for safety for her. Smart mom!) Michelle has been homeschooling Marla for 4 years. Geoff is a commercial plumber and Michelle is a medical coder. Remember to pray for them this week.

Meanwhile, be praying for all of our students and school staff as school began yesterday. I can still remember how hard it was to get back into the school-swing-of-things after a break. We all find it hard to get back to business when we have a week or two (or more) of doing what we enjoy doing outside of the norm.

YOUTH NEWS

With school getting back into session this section will fill up with a lot of news about our young people. I have just a few items to mention:

• • • DEEPER will resume tonight. It meets at the East homestead from 4-5:30. This is for the Jr/Sr High youth.
    • The TCTC (Tennessee Christian Teen Conference) is this weekend. Pastor Ryan, Hope and a number of our young people will be leaving Friday for Gatlinburg and returning Sunday evening. Be praying for their safety and for the young people to desire to grow closer to Jesus. Besides Ryan and Hope and safe travels, here are the young people you can be praying for: Caleb & Rachel East, Kalissa Hamlin, Meilynn Hess, Marla Lippert, Noah Snodgrass, Ayzleah Sutton, and Ily Swan.
    • ROOTS will resume again on Sunday, January 18th, from 5-7:00. This is for all Jr/Sr High youth. Look for correspondence from Pastor Ryan about this upcoming semester.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS

• • • There will be an OVCF Women’s Connection Event on Saturday, January 17th from 11-1:00. This Coffee & Chocolate get together has become an annual event for the ladies. You can check with Linda St John, Hope East, or Macy Carlson for more info.
    • Our next OVCF Family Pitch-in dinner is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28th at 6:00. I look forward to seeing you there.
    • The Building Team met again this past Monday to review what is happening with our building addition and to continue making plans. Truesdel H&C has begun installing the HVAC system. Soon the electrical work (Elite Electric) will get started as will the plumbing (Anderson Plumbing). A hole was cut into the north wall this week. It is the connecting point between the two buildings! Plywood will cover the opening until the doors are installed. Just a warning: if you sit in the area, it may be a bit chillier so wear something warm. We have also received a bid for carpet in the new addition (Geoff Biggs’ Cream & Crimson Flooring), as well as bids for drywall, insulation, tiling the bathrooms, and are seeking bids for painting. These are exciting times and we will soon share something super exciting with you.
    • Shaking my head (and you can join me). I messed up. Those of you who were here Sunday or watched online, I mentioned that Emily Pavich was having surgery on Friday. She isn’t! Joe, Emily’s  husband, was gracious and didn’t beat me to a pulp. 😄My apologies to Joe, Emily and all of you for the misinformation.

In September and October of 2024, in preparation for our 20th anniversary as a church family, I preached a series of sermons on “Feels Like Home.” We have strived to make OVCF feel like a family in lots of different ways. As I preached that series, I also wrote something which we stated together for several weeks. Lest it become too familiar or seen as a “creed” I backed off from having it said each week. Many of you are new to OVCF and are not familiar with it so I thought I would share it with you in this first MM of 2026.

WE’RE GLAD YOU ARE HERE!

If you are happy we want to celebrate with you.
If you are tired and need rest;
If you are hurting and need comfort;
If you have failed, feel guilt and shame and wonder if God still loves you;
If you feel you are at the end of your rope and need a lifeline;
If you think you are too great a sinner and feel hopeless;
If you are here and can’t raise your eyes, head, or hands in worship…

That’s okay. We want this to be a place where you find strength to go on. Let us pray for you, stand beside you and even carry you to God’s throne where you can find new hope.

That belief, that feeling, still burns in my chest. I desire that OVCF be home to people where they can find hope and healing and encouragement, no matter their circumstances. I’d like to suggest that you make a copy or cut out the above statement and put it where you can see it each day. Pray for yourself and pray for others to find a home at OVCF.

I start my series “Seven” this coming Sunday. For 7 weeks we will be looking at the 7 “I Am” statements and 7 miracles recorded in John’s Gospel. The first is Show, Then Tell. Both the “I Am” and the miracle are from John 6. I look forward to seeing you Sunday. Until then, know you are loved.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #275

Hello everyone and welcome to Midweek Message #275. After taking a break for Christmas week, I am back with the final MM of 2025. I’m guessing at this point it will be shorter than most, but I wanted to at least give you something to think about as we come to the close of 2025 and see 2026 on the immediate horizon.

Please pray for all of our students, teachers, and school-related staff during this last week of Christmas break.

I try to include some YOUTH NEWS in each MM. But with school on break, news is sparse. However, I heard about some adults who received some great news (No, it is not baby news).

ADULT NEWS:

• • • Caleb Brinson was recently sworn in as a police officer for the Bloomington Police Department. He began the ceremony by singing the National Anthem. He was also presented with the Herman H. Freed Award, which is an award that class members vote on to be presented to one officer in the class that best demonstrates the qualities of Integrity, Loyalty, Ethics, and Attitude. Brad and Tara Brinson are Caleb’s very proud parents (she might have sent this to me). 😄
    • Brandon Bedolla grew up in our youth group and after graduation pursued other interests (including marriage). He was also sworn in for the BPD at the same ceremony as Caleb. He was recognized as the class Vice President and the Squad A Leader.😄

MORE ADULT NEWS (of the baby variety): (I am including this list so you can pray for them)

• • • Sonia & Aaron Clausman (due 2/26)
    • Lily & Keaton Zufall (due 3/26)
    • Beth & Billy Allen (due 4/26)
    • Gabrielle & Caleb Corder (due 5/26)
    • Zoe & Brayton Wyatt (due 5/26)
    • Cecelia & Adam Fox (due 5/26)
       Sarah & Will Schneider (due 5/26)
    • Cassie & Westin Linville (due 6/26)
    • Stevie & Justin Chandler (due 6/26)

2026 is right around the corner. Like many of you I do wonder what the new year will bring. What victories? Defeats? Lessons? Highs? Lows? It should be a foregone conclusion the answer to those questions is a big “I don’t know.” After the year of working our way through the Everyday Gospel Devotional and the whole Bible, my focus this year will be a bit more narrow. My theme for 2026 is Still the ONE!! Revelation 5:13 is my focus verse: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” (NLT). This Sunday’s message is entitled Still the ONE!!

I will be using John 1:1-15; 6:68-69 and Hebrews 1:1-14 as my Scripture. I’d like to ask that you read ahead to prepare your minds and hearts for Sunday. This sermon will be like opening the door to the 2026 theme.

Years ago I found the following writing, made a copy of it and had Jo laminate it for me. It hung on my wall by my computer/study area for several years. I do not remember who wrote it, nor do I remember when or where. I wish it was my own words for they express my thoughts and commitment moving into 2026. I share it with you below. The original and my own thoughts are in different type fonts. Here it is:

I promise to keep doing original and hard work in my study.
{Many pastors and others are using AI to write their sermons. I refuse to bow to the AI Revolution and certainly will not do so when it comes to writing sermons}.

Those to whom I am called deserve my best efforts.
{You are who I am called to serve. I will continue trying to give my best in my ministry to you}.

I promise to maintain a heart for God. That means I will pray frequently and fervently, and
stay devoted to Him and to my calling.
{This is perhaps the toughest of all. This takes a lot of work and commitment to do}.

I promise to remain accountable. Living the life of a religious Lone Ranger is not only unbiblical, it’s dangerous.
{I work with 3 highly perceptive people and serve alongside 3 elders who take their responsibilities seriously. My desire is not to do ministry alone}.

I promise to stay faithful to my family. My wife deserves my time, affection, and undivided
attention. Our now-grown children deserve the same.
{As Jo and I age our lives are different. Time spent away is more selective as my presence has been needed more. I will continue to serve you, and keep in mind that my family is always my priority}.

I promise to be who I am. Just me. I plan to keep laughing, saying things a little off the wall,
being a friend, and making a few mistakes each month.
{Do you think you can handle that? I sure hope so!
At 73 it is super hard to change and become someone I’m not! 😄}.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday. Until then, know you are loved.

Pastor Bill