From Your Moderator

Preparing for easter with purpose

3/26/2025

Easter is one of the most significant celebrations in the life of the church. It’s a time of deep reflection, powerful worship, and joyful proclamation of Christ’s victory over death. As church leaders, we pour our hearts into making this season meaningful—not just as an event, but as a time of spiritual renewal for our congregations and communities.
At our recent Pastor’s Lunch (March, 2025), we shared insights on how to prepare well for Easter. Here are some key takeaways to encourage and guide you in this important season.

Spiritual Preparation. Easter is more than just ministry—it’s a sacred time for personal and corporate reflection. Before the services, programs, and celebrations, let’s ensure our hearts are prepared:

Deepen Spiritual Disciplines: Encourage your congregation (and yourself) to spend extra time in prayer, fasting, and Scripture meditation. Easter is a powerful opportunity to reflect on Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection.
Lead with Intention: Challenge your church to focus inwardly before they reach outwardly. Spiritual renewal among leaders will overflow into the congregation.
Sunrise Service: Consider gathering early in the morning, just as the disciples discovered the empty tomb. This simple yet powerful act can set the tone for a worshipful day.
Resurrection Play: A dramatic presentation of the Easter story can help bring the message to life in a fresh way, touching hearts through storytelling.

Services & Worship. Easter Sunday is a time of celebration—let’s make it special in both tradition and experience.

Men’s Breakfast & No Sunday School: Having the men serve breakfast is a great way to foster community and allow families to focus on worship without their usual Sunday routines.
Youth Involvement: Engage the next generation by allowing them to take part in worship through music, drama, or readings. Their energy brings life to the service.
Cross Decoration & Family Photos: Invite families to place flowers on the cross as a beautiful act of worship. Take family photos and send them afterward as a personal follow-up and memory.

Fellowship & Community Building. Easter is a time of gathering—not just to worship but to connect.

Fellowship is Key: Encourage church members to linger, talk, and truly engage with one another.
Shared Lunch: A post-service meal can be a wonderful way to build deeper relationships.
Connecting with Guests: Be intentional about welcoming visitors. Encourage members to engage with new faces and make them feel at home.

Outreach & Engagement. Easter brings many first-time visitors to church—let’s not miss the opportunity to connect with them beyond Sunday morning.

Prospect Cards: Have a simple way to collect visitor information to follow up after Easter.
Secure Email Addresses: Sending a warm follow-up message keeps the connection alive and invites them to return.

A Final Word of Encouragement. Church leader, we know the work is heavy. The preparations, the prayers, the details—they all add up. But remember, Easter is not about how perfect the service runs; it’s about the perfect Savior we celebrate.

May you find joy in the journey, strength in the Spirit, and renewal in your own heart as you lead your church in proclaiming the risen Christ.

He is Risen!
Blessings,

Bong

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8 Key Issues Pastors Should Be Aware of This Easter

3/7/2025

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Easter is the most significant celebration in the Christian faith, but it also comes with challenges that pastors must be ready to address. From cultural distractions to theological confusion, here are eight key issues to be aware of—and how to respond.

1. The Commercialization of Easter
Many people associate Easter more with egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, and shopping than with Jesus’ resurrection. While traditions can be fun, they shouldn’t replace the true meaning of Easter.
✅ How to Respond:

-Teach the biblical significance of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
-Encourage Christ-centered traditions, like family Bible readings or acts of service.
-Use church events to refocus attention on Jesus.

2. Biblical Confusion About the Resurrection
Some Christians don’t fully understand why the resurrection matters. Others treat Easter as just another church holiday.
✅ How to Respond:

-Preach why the resurrection is essential for salvation (Romans 10:9).
-Offer Bible studies on Jesus’ victory over sin and death.
-Equip church leaders to explain Easter’s significance clearly.

3. Skepticism and Doubt
Some people, influenced by secular media or atheist arguments, question whether Jesus really rose from the dead.
✅ How to Respond:

-Teach historical evidence for the resurrection:
-The empty tomb
-Eyewitness testimonies (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
-The radical transformation of Jesus’ disciples
-Create a safe space for questions and equip believers with apologetics.

4. Easter-Only Churchgoers
Many people attend church on Easter and Christmas but stay disconnected the rest of the year.
✅ How to Respond:

-Use Easter as a call to deeper faith (Revelation 3:16).
-Invite occasional attendees to small groups or discipleship programs.
-Personally follow up with visitors after Easter Sunday.

5. Social Justice vs. Gospel-Centered Preaching
Some churches focus more on community service than on preaching the resurrection. While good works matter, they shouldn’t replace the Gospel message.
✅ How to Respond:

-Preach that salvation comes through Jesus, not just good deeds (Ephesians 2:8-10).
-Encourage service, but always connect it to the Gospel.
-Keep Easter sermons centered on Jesus' victory over sin.

6. Division Over Easter Traditions
Different denominations observe Easter in various ways (e.g., Lent, Good Friday, Holy Week). This can sometimes lead to debates and division.
✅ How to Respond:

-Focus on the resurrection, which unites all believers.
-Encourage respect for different traditions while keeping Christ central.
-Remind people that salvation is through faith in Jesus, not rituals (Romans 14:5-6).

7. The Challenge of Online vs. In-Person Worship
Since COVID-19, many people now prefer online services. How can pastors engage both digital and in-person attendees?
✅ How to Respond:

-Use digital platforms effectively to reach more people.
-Encourage in-person fellowship while keeping online options open.
-Create a meaningful Easter experience for both audiences.

8. The Rise of Alternative Spiritualities
Some people mix Christianity with New Age beliefs, universalism, or self-help philosophies, especially around "rebirth" themes.
✅ How to Respond:

-Clearly preach that Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6).
-Address common misconceptions about Easter.
-Keep your teaching firmly rooted in Scripture.

Easter is a powerful opportunity to share the Gospel, strengthen believers, and invite the lost to faith in Christ. By addressing these challenges with wisdom and biblical truth, pastors can ensure that Easter remains focused on what truly matters—the resurrection of Jesus!

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why denominatons and networks matter

1/21/2025

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Denominations and networks offer several key benefits to churches and pastors:

Theological Identity: They provide a unified confessional stance, clarifying shared beliefs and aiding individuals in selecting a church aligned with their convictions.
Missiological Partnership: Collaborative efforts enable churches to collectively engage in missions, church planting, and disaster relief, achieving more together than individually.
Ministerial Training: Denominations often offer avenues for theological and practical training through institutions like colleges, universities, and seminaries, as well as conferences and coaching.
Pastoral Accountability: They establish networks of support and accountability, allowing pastors to receive guidance, encouragement, and correction when needed.
Ecclesiastical Fellowship: Denominations facilitate fellowship among pastors and churches, providing avenues for mutual encouragement and demonstrating the unifying power of the Gospel.

While denominations can sometimes be sources of frustration, they also offer significant blessings by fostering unity, support, and collective mission among churches. See more about this article here: https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/first-person-why-denominations-networks-matter/

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16th OBN Annual meeting

10/20/2023

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Colossians 1:27 - "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

The greatest mystery is God becoming man. What is in man that thou are mindful of him? So many religions struggle on the incarnation of God but with God nothing is impossible. Christ declared, "he who hath seen me, hath seen the Father."

The second greatest mystery is God coming in man. Paul declared that "Christ in you." In the same token we express once more, What is man that thou are mindful of him? There is nothing, but God-Christ comes into those who receives and willing to follow Him. "But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God..."

The third greatest mystery is that Christ is revealed beyond His children, the Israelites. Christ is now made known among the Gentiles - that is you and me. The glorious truth is declared simply in that scripture many has known as the heart of God's truth - For God so loved the world.
This is the heart of our celebration  - the mystery of God - Christ in you.

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Six emphasis in 2022

2/15/2022

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A brand new year and great ministry adventure are what is ahead for Oahu Baptist Network. I want to thank you for being faithful to your ministry calling here in Oahu. Our ministry rests on this foundation Jesus declared to Peter, “the gates of hell will not prevail” against the church (cf. Matt. 16:18).
As Oahu Baptist Network, we do God’s mission together. Your Leadership Team is committed to fulfill the six emphases this year.

Missions / Evangelism - develop a culture of evangelism
Church Plant / Revitalization - join God’s revival
Church Assistance - partnering to meet needs
New Work - transitioning workers & congregations
Discipleship - contextual approach to growing people
Communication - cultivate meaningful and relevant connection

Go over the website for updated news like the 2022 Marriage Conference and the Oahu Bible Institute Spring Semester Classes and Celebration. Also help me welcome those that will serve alongside our churches in 2022 (see below).
Finally, I want to thank you for your faithfulness in ministry and in your giving to the cooperative program. Don't forget to comment below and subscribe.

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Preparing for easter with purpose

8 Key Issues Pastors Should Be Aware of This Easter

why denominatons and networks matter

16th OBN Annual meeting

Six emphasis in 2022

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