Elders on Mission: From Fellowship to Prayer

By Keith Martin

Oak Hill,

As I reflect on our season as elders two things stand out to me.  The first is how things have changed. We dearly miss having Alden on our team while he is on sabbatical, but I have seen the elder team transition well in this season.  I see each elder caring greatly for the people of Oak Hill and also for one another.  We spent one evening before elder meeting just having a meal and sharing life together.  These times allow us to grow in our friendship and care for each other. Growing together relationally allows us the ability to learn to process decisions together in a way where we seek to "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3).

The second reflection I have is on a prayer trip we recently took as elders.  As we have been sharing about God's work in pointing our eyes towards Oxford, we spent an elder meeting in Oxford getting to know a local believer there and getting a glimpse of the needs he sees there.  We walked the streets of Oxford and prayed together for what God desires to see happen in that town.  Each step of this journey of church planting is a reminder that it is God who will do the work.  Oxford is an area in need of gospel preaching in Bible centered churches.  What does that look like for Oak Hill? Pray for us as elders as we continue to discern the Lord's will.  Maybe you and a few other members would find a time to go to Oxford, have a meal, walk the streets having conversation with locals and most importantly seeking the Lord in prayer together as a church!