The OBC Elders met for their regular monthly meeting at 7:00 pm. The meeting began with Pastor Pat leading the elders in a time of prayer. The Lord is good to hear our prayers about the service we render unto Him by His grace, by His Spirit, for His name’s sake. The Lord gives the church so many different people who need His comfort and encouragement in the name of His only Son, who saves us for all eternity.

We pray for all things, but especially when it comes to our local church ministry and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are so thankful for the recently held Pactum Conference on eschatology.

We were encouraged to know that all those who believe in Christ alone are justified. As our Confession states in Chapter 11, “God did for all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification.”

Mike Grimes read through Chapter 17, Of the Perseverance of Saints, from the London Baptist Confession of 1689. It was great to read and hear from our Confession, the incredible details of all Christians who stand united together in Christ.

We all participate in His grace, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory. It is amazing to realize and know that we all can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end.

This is only a reality because of the immutability of God, seen and understood through the decree of election which, coming directly from the Confession, says, “flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father and the perfect merit and intercession of Jesus Christ.” We pray that many in Omaha would hear this saving message of Christ.

With winter fast approaching, many great indoor ministries are currently going on beside the all-important public worship service on Sunday. There are Sunday Schools classes for adults and children of all ages as well as several theology classes and youth groups that meet on Wednesday nights.

Also available are home groups located all over the city. Sign up is available by calling the office. We as elders are so encouraged that so many of our church members do participate in many of these ministries.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Pat and his preaching ministry. He has finished the book of Exodus and is just beginning Second Timothy. It will be exciting to hear and respond to the tremendously important account of the Apostle Paul’s final words.  

Finally, Mike Holloway discussed the Giving & Attendance Report from October 2023.  Giving was short $16,781 for the month of October and short $19,774 for the budget year.

We are praying, and we ask you to pray, for us to meet our budgeted plan. We are thankful for the church and as always, for our continued sacrificial giving to continue in the upcoming months. 

The meeting closed at 8:51 p.m. The next regularly scheduled elders meeting is planned for December 13, 2023.