| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Hearing from God” Our Bible verse for today: “So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.” Mark 16:19-20 (CSB) Our thought for today: “A sign of confirmation” So, here’s the end of the story about how we arrived at a group consensus on an important issue while avoiding the dynamic of groupthink. We went with the digital sign. After three-and-one-half years of seeking the Lord, praying, discussing, researching, praying some more, researching more, waiting on the Lord, and finally coming to a strong group consensus, we spent the money and purchased a digital sign. And how did that work out for us? Well, trumpets sounded, angels rejoiced, there was a party in heaven, and the world beat a path to Oak Hill Baptist Church in Crossville, Tennessee. Or not. Actually, initially, nothing happened. Oh, most of us were happy with our new sign. It looks very nice. Our Youth Pastor, Josh, is having a lot of fun programing it and being creative with the graphics and images. The messages and pictures are colorful and eye-catching, and numerous people have mentioned it. But beyond that? Well … something interesting did happen. Like most churches, during the pandemic our attendance dropped way off and we struggled just to hold our ground. Then (again like most churches), in the post-pandemic period we struggled to regain what we had lost. For more than a year we tried everything we could think of to recover, but for the most part, we were stuck in the mud – we just couldn’t seem to move forward and after more than a year of trying, we were still stuck at about 70% of our pre-pandemic attendance. Oh, and our sign was falling down. But then we purchased the new digital sign and … we started to grow – and we haven’t stopped yet. Today our average Sunday attendance is better than even before the pandemic. Now let me be very clear, I am not saying the new digital sign is the reason for our growth. I don’t know of anyone who decided to join our church because they think we have a cool sign. I can show no direct cause-and-effect between the sign and the growth. All I can do is report the chronological chain of events that occurred at our church. Before we got the new sign, we were stuck in the mud and couldn’t seem to grow no matter what we did. Shortly after we got the new sign we started growing and we haven’t stopped yet. Those are just the facts, ma’am. Coincidence? Perhaps. But over almost thirty years in church leadership I’ve noticed a trend that when God’s people diligently seek His guidance about important issues, a lot of coincidences seem to happen. Assign to that any meaning you like, but as for me and my family, we will praise the Lord! By the way, did I mention that we have a really cool digital sign? You should drive by and see it. Maybe on a Sunday morning, say around 10:00. And while you’re here, why not stay for the service? God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville) |
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Oak Hill Baptist Church 
Love this story. ‘Just the facts, Ma’am.’ As Dragnet’s Detective Friday would say. Praise God that OHBC has ‘just the facts’. Every Sunday at 10am.
Thank you!
Thank you for the encouragement!