Pastor Thomas' Blog

To All:

LIGHT Christian Academy and Childcare (LCAC) continues to move forward!

Today, the OCHD stopped by for their inspection – everything went well!

The panel box for the fire alarm system should arrive this week and then after a day or so of programming and testing, we should be ready for the final inspection!

I had a great meeting today with Commissioner Boyd regarding the parking lot improvements, etc.

A school in Jacksonville, Florida has several student offices that we are trying to relocate to Ocoee next week!

Please pray for us – we are 3 weeks away from our start date and we have a lot still to do!!!!

Thanks!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

If you were not with us this past Sunday – you missed it!

Rev. Robert Martin was scheduled to preach the 11am and 6pm services.

Our church choir (Voices of Victory) was scheduled to re-launch after a long break.

These things happened – and it was wonderful!

Rev. Martin preached his heart out – we have cd’s if you want one! They are worth the cost!

HOWEVER, THERE IS MORE!!!

The AOG organization is in O-town this week for their general council meetings and Ocoee COG was honored to have the following folks with us:

Rev. Ronnie Jarman and family
Rev. Holt
Sis. MacDonald and children

It doesn’t stop there!

Gospel Group Psalm 101 had an afternoon sing in the area, so they decided to stop by and have church with us at 11am!

Yep, I invited them back for the PM service and they did a fantastic job!!!

God is good!!!

C U Sunday!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

This week, Sis. Wendy, Sis. Mandy and myself have been in Fort Myers, FL for School of Tomorrow A.C.E. Training!

What a week!

We had to be in Ft. Myers by 8:30am on Monday – we left the Ocoee area at 5am!

The session ended Monday night around 6pm or so!

Tuesday – Thursday was no different – class begin at 8am and finished around 6pm.

Homework was a part of the evening routine each night!

Today is Friday and we are just about to take lunch!

Each of us have completed our books, reading, Scripture Memorization, tests, papers, etc.

This has been a very LONG but EXCITING week!

The graduation is this afternoon!

I’m so proud of how Sis. Mandy and Sis. Wendy have applied themselves this week – it’s been very long.

Not only did these ladies do all the ‘stuff’ mentioned above, but they left their children behind for someone else to tend to while they were away!

I know this week will ensure that our Learning Center is ONE OF THE BEST as we begin our new ministry in a few weeks!

We will be headed back to the Ocoee area this afternoon – pray for us!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

As we neared the end of VBS – the question was posed: Where are we going to store all of this stuff?

I did not have an answer for that – so I went to thinking!

My executive assistant – Rebecca Smith – when on a mission to locate some storage places / numbers for me.

One place was too much!

One place did not have drive up accessibility!

One place was in line- 5 x 10 unit for $44 per month!

The next place was GREAT – the manager told me that she had been authorized to donate a unit to a 501(c)3 organization!

I told the manager that our church fit that definition! She asked if she could confirm with the other manager that the unit was still available and call me back the next day.  I said fine!

Well, the next day she called me back (before noon!) and stated the unit was ours! We do have to pay $8 per month for the insurance!

I needed a 5 x 10 unit – I received a 10 x 20 unit – PRAISE THE LORD!!

The going price for that size unit is $153 per month before applicable fees!

I was reminded of this: “You have not because you ask not!”

Well, this time I asked and I received MORE than I needed!

To God Be The Glory!!!!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

Things continue to move forward with the vision to operate a Christian Academy at our church!

On Monday, I submitted the plans for the one-way drive and filed for special use permit.

On Tuesday, the building safety department came out and we passed their portion of the special use permit.

Please continue to keep this ministry in your prayers!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

What a fantastic week we had last week with VBS.

There were a total of 97 registered children and an average of 128 folks on-site each night.

I want to say a big “THANK YOU” to everyone that helped make VBS what it was – without YOU – we could not have done it!

I also want to say thanks to those that came out on Saturday to help us tear down the VBS set and put ‘church’ back together!

We started right at 9am and I beleive the last folks left campus right at 7pm.

Thanks again for everything that was done to make this year’s VBS a HUGE SUCCESS!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

Wow, the closing event was OUTSTANDING tonight.

With 122 folks on-site, tonight was great!

The closing event demonstrated how Jesus takes our sin away with His death on the cross.

An alter service was given for the children – and wow – what a response!

One more night to go and I am confident that Friday night will be the best of them all!

See you tomorrow!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

Tonight was no different – another great event!

We have reached our goal of 90 registered students as of tonight!!!

We had 130 folks on-site tonight for VBS – without them – VBS would not be what it is!

Only two more nights to go – the week is going fast!

See you on Thursday!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

Wow – another great night!

We are now up to 82 registered kids!

Total on-site tonight was 128!

Rain moved in just before start time – and we even had some rain during – but things went great!

I’m so proud of the team that we have @ Ocoee COG – without them – we could not do what we are doing with God’s help!

I hope to see each of you on Wednesday night – start time 7pm!

God Bless!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

Around 3pm today, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners ratified the recommendations of the BZA that related to our church.

With this action, our church can now officially operate a private school and childcare facility on campus!

We hope to start applying for our use permits as soon as possible!

God continues to prove HIMSELF in this process!!!

HE’S STILL ON THE THRONE!!!!

Pastor Thomas