Pastor Thomas' Blog

To All:

If you attend our services, you know this statement is true: WE NEED SPACE!!!

God is blessing our church in so many ways, one of them is in attendance.

We have been averaging 150+ people in our 11AM services for the past several weeks and more than 140 since December!

With this increase comes the issue of space!!!!

Please pray that God will give us CLEAR direction and the funds to BUILD in HIS TIME FRAME!!!!

I know until that time, God will give us creative ways to meet the space needs!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

If all goes a planned, it is very possible that the demo company will be on-site by Friday to demo the house at the new property!

It’s hard to imagine all that has been accomplished in just under 6 weeks!

I hope to post pics on the website of the demo work!!!!

God is GOOD!!!!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

Well, 9 weeks have almost come and gone!

This Sunday, March 29, we will be celebrating MIRACLE SUNDAY – a day set aside to bring back our talent with its increase (see earlier post for more details)!!!!

I’m looking forward to this weekend!!!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

God continues to move in our Hispanic Ministry – Pastors Raymond and Marisol are doing a fantastic job.

This past Sunday our Hispanic Ministry had 26 in their 2pm service.

Please be in much prayer for this ministry as we are in desperate need of musicians for this group!

I know GOD is able to provide – all in His time!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

Today was a very special day for our church!

Our regional bishop, Bishop Chris Dutruch, First Lady Julie along with two of their staff members Everett and Rodney visited our church campus.

This was an exciting time for me!

This visit gave me an opportunity to share (and show) with Bishop Dutruch just how great GOD is and what wonderful folks attend Ocoee COG!!!!

I’m thankful for the prayers and support offered by our regional bishop!

To God Be The Glory!

Pastor Thomas

Well…..what a difference a month makes.

It was one month ago today that two folks were taken via ambulance to local hospitals as a result of health issues that occurred at the church campus.

As long as I’m alive, I will always remember Saturday, February 21, 2009.

We had just ended a great revival on Friday night with Rev. Zane Estis – a revival where 8 folks were saved.

Scheduled for Saturday was a baby shower for a new mom in our church.

I had also been asked to conduct a private wedding in the late afternoon.

It was also my birthday – 33 years!

With all of that going on, a few men gathered together for a ‘work day’ at the new property that God had blessed us with just 8 days ago.

At 9:34am that morning a call went out to the local 911 office requesting an ambulance – before the day was out – two men had been transported via ambulance to local hospitals.

Three other men dealt with other issues – a rash on the hand of one, back concerns with another and the ‘winded’ effect for yet another.

While God has done great things – I will never forget what that day meant to me.

As I stood in the pulpit the next morning – torn with the events of the previous day – I felt the hand of God directing me one more time.

For a brief moment prior to taking the pulpit I thought about backing up and regrouping – maybe it was too much at one time.

It was then the Spirit of God checked me using this question – “Have you not done all that I’ve asked you to do and have you not sought me for direction?”

I had to answer that question with a BIG YES.

I gathered my thoughts and asked God to use me and this church to reach this area of West Orange County for CHRIST is such a dynamic way!!!

All I can say is – God is GOOD!!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

On Friday night, our Children’s Ministry Group (Kids For Christ) had their quarterly Children’s Worship Service.

I was so pleased with the turn out and with the way the service was conducted.

Not only was our church supportive of this event, but there were 4 other churches represented that night as well.

I’m so thankful that Ocoee COG has folks that are not afraid to ‘share’ what God has given them.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

We are just over two weeks away from Miracle Sunday, which will be on Sunday, March 29.

During a special 11am service, we will celebrate the miracles that God has done in our operating fund campaign.

Back in January, nearly $2,000 was passed out in ‘talents’ with the simple instruction to use the talent and allow God to provide the increase.

Over the last 7 weeks many folks have gotten involved – from baked goods, to car washes, to pickles, rice wraps and even a fish fry!

God is up to something at Ocoee COG – you should come and check us out for yourself!

Remember, Jesus is coming – r u ready?

Pastor T!

To All:

Things continue to move forward at the new property!

The decision has been made to demolish the wood frame house that is on the property!

We are currently working to get bids on the demolition.

If all goes as planned, we hope to have the house down and land totally clear (except for the three fruit trees our First Lady, Sis. Wendy, insisted that we keep) by the end of March.

I’m so thankful for what God is doing at Ocoee COG!

Pastor Thomas

To All:

This past Sunday, March 8, Rev. Robert Martin was with us for the 11am and 6pm service.

What an outstanding day!

Bro. Martin is a young man who God is using to carry His message across the country!

Both services on Sunday were dynamic! I’m so glad that Bro. Martin was with us.

While at lunch, it was discovered that Bro. Martin is related to a pastor that is very special to my wife.

It’s amazing – at times this world seems so large while at other times it seems so small.

To make things even more difficult – an AC Compressor went out on one of the units that cool the main sanctuary.

Bro. Martin did not let it affect him – even though the thermostat read 80 degrees during the Sunday night service.

Keep looking up – Jesus is coming!

Pastor Thomas