Finally - Oakley's 1st annual youth rally pics

I know it has taken me forever to post more pictures from our youth rally, but I will blame that on Nancy for losing her camera! She's a jewel. :) I don't have a lot of pics of people praying, those were hard to get. Oh well! The youth rally was a great start for our revival! We had around 140 people there. The preaching was very powerful and the altar was filled with young people, tears flowing down their faces. It's always beautiful to see God working on people.

Sound man, Bro. Kolej!

Bekka and I being... ? Silly?

Sis. Kolej!

Bell and Mariana! Mariana got the Holy Ghost at On Course and got baptized a few months ago! God is working in our young people! Mariana's sister just got the Holy Ghost too!

Matt and Paul, ushering!

People worshipping during song service

Zach

El Pastor!

Melissa Gaton singing a special

Bro. Hyler III preaching

It was so packed we had to bring extra pews and line chairs down the back wall. Some people were still left standing in corners.

This is the only face she likes to make in front of the camera

Nice facial expression Abel

Hanna, ready to kill for food.

Genista and Melissa

At Mimi's Cafe - Fun :)

More fun!

The Home Missions Chronicles

My dad just recently told me about a blog called "The Home Missions Chronicles." It is a bunch of true stories about home missions churches. It's Brother Ballestero's blog. I really loved reading these stories because I have grown up in a home missions church. Some of these stories are very touching and moving, and others are just HILARIOUS! Here are some I suggest you read:

• The Get Run Over Church


• The Head Polishing Church


• The Dancing Blonde church


• The Mud Slinging church


• The Unzipped Church


• The Sinning Church

Those ones are mostly the funny ones. What can I say, I love to laugh. I added the link to my blog list, so just click on it there!

The spirit of busyness

Just a few days ago our family was sitting around the dinner table at our house with one other family. We got on the subject of church and moves of God that took place in meetings years ago. There seemed to be a different dynamic in the services back then. Deep moves of God, people lingering in the altars, not in a hurry to leave. Just hungry for more of God. I've heard of services that left people laying in the altar for hours. Such a powerful presence of God would be there because of the hunger of those people! Miracles would take place, great things would happen. Not to say that we don't have good moves of God in our services now, but something in me says we could have so much more. I hear these stories and look at things that happened in the Bible. God never changes! He still has that same power and that Mighty presence of God is still out there! But where is the hunger in the people for it? Oh yes, we go to church faithfully, we pray, we read our Bibles. But there is something that is stopping us from having more. And that is the spirit of busyness. We go to church, but we don't stay in the altar more then 25 minutes because we have to work the next day. We have to get home and make dinner. We have to do this, have to do that. I understand those things are important, but I do wonder what would happen if those things became less important to us. What if pleasing God, lingering in altars, hungering after and seeking deeper moves of God were more important. What if we all got in one mind and one accord? What could happen? What miracles could take place? God doesn't just drop miracles and His powerful presence in places where nobody is seeking Him! We need more of the Fear of God in our churches. I really feel like we could have an amazing Apostolic revival if people would stop being so busy a seek God on a deeper level. Yes, we will always have to work and run errands, but we can be more sensitive to God while we're out and about. If we get in the Spirit and we are prayed up, God can use us and lead us to people throughout the day. We could be in the grocery store and God will urge us to go talk to that man or lady down the aisle. We need to be able to hear His voice. We need to be sensitive to Him and what He wants to do. God always has work He wants done on the earth and He is looking for someone to do it. Someone who isn't too busy for what is most important. Something in me is stirring about what is most important. The eternal things are most important. We need to do a good job at work and take care of our responsibilites, but the things of God are more important. I want more! Jesus, help us to not be too busy for your work and your kingdom.

Matthew 9: 37 & 38
"Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."

If we're going to work and labor for the Lord, we can't be too busy with other things.

Happy Mother's Day

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful Mommy! She is the greatest! She does so much for not only me, but the rest of the family and our church. She does it quietly and humbly with a servants attitude and I appreciate her and the example she has set for me. I love you so much Mom!

Second, Happy Mother's Day to my Grandma who raised my Mom. Wouldn't have mom if it wasn't for her! ;) Grandma is a woman of prayer and I appreciate her!

Third, Happy Mother's Day to ALL the wonderful Moms out there who work so hard. You might feel like what you do goes un noticed, But someone is always paying attention.

THANK GOD FOR MOTHERS!

Family Birthdays

May 5th - Happy Birthday Auntie Annie!

May 6th - Happy Birthday Uncle Bub!

May 7th - Happy Birthday Uncle Bub! (Again)

May 8th - Happy Birthday Uncle John!

You might be wondering if I have two Uncle Bubs. Nope! Just one! He was born right around midnight. I believe a little before midnight? So the real birthday would be May 6th, but on His birth certificate it has always said May 7th. Or it might be the other way around with the dates, but that was the story. Anyhow! Happy birthday to my family!!

Remembering Yia Yia

One year ago today, May 5th, Yia Yia passed away. For those of you who do not know, Yia Yia means grandmother in Greek. She was a wonderful person. She has 3 boys, my dad, Uncle Mike, and Uncle Dean. Paul and I were her only grandkids. Therefore, I was her FAVORITE grand daughter. She was an excellent cook, had a wonderful personality, and she LOVED a good bargain. If something was on sale she would buy it, (Even if she had no need for it) I remember going to her house and upstairs there were pictures in the hall that she drew. They were really good! There are so many little things that can go un noticed about someone for so long. After she passed and the family was sorting through old things and pictures we realized how detailed she was! She kept everything and made lots of little notes about so many things. We used to write letters back and forth, and as she got older and wasn't able to write, she would call when she got my letter and respond that way. I can't believe she has been gone for a year already. I just wanted to make a post and say that she is still missed and she will never be forgotten.

Church kids

Church kids are amazing. They can sleep soundly during a red hot service, quote scriptures, they "baptize" each other in the pool, and have "church" in their rooms with their stuffed animals. Seems like we are getting more and more kids at church! Some of them are really little and others are nearing teenage years. I'm proud of our church kids. They're good kids and they are growing up and becoming something good. God is using them! Here are some pics of some of the kids from our church!
Daniel under the pew...and Matt. (sorry Matt)

Me with Sasha

Mariana...growing up!

Daniel, Bell, and Sasha

Sasha and a new little girl coming with her mom now!

Jelani...he is hilarious!

Jelani and Daniel