Missions

Missions are central to how Oakhurst Baptist Church understands it purpose and identity. Oakhurst seeks to use fully the actual and potential gifts of its members for ministry both in the church and in the world.

Mission Groups

By encouraging the congregation to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in both usual and unusual ways, the mission group concept recognizes the Spirit's leading through any church member. The mission group concept frees church members to work where they are concerned, where their gifts can be used most effectively, and where they can obey their own sense of calling to the work of God.

Mission Groups at Oakhurst:

SPIRITUAL GROWTH MISSION GROUP: This group provides encouragement, resources and instruction to individuals and groups on their spiritual journey with Jesus Christ, with special emphasis upon the Baptist tradition but with an openness to all traditions. The group meets regularly on the second and fourth Monday nights of each month, publishes a newsletter, The Journey, and sponsors spring and fall retreats.

OUTREACH AND EVANGELISM: This group seeks to share the good news of being "together to be the church of Christ," focusing especially on the community near the church buildings. The group currently uses the puppet program, visitation, and other means to bring the Good News to our neighborhood and make Oakhurst Baptist Church visible throughout the Atlanta area.

PRISON AND JAIL MINISTRY GROUP: This group helps prisoners and families of inmates cope with the hardships of incarceration by driving the church van two Saturdays a month for family visits to Hardwicke and Hays state prisons. The DeKalb County Jail invites volunteers to visit women on Tuesday night, once a month for Bible Study and fellowship. Another aspect of the group's work is to raise the congregation's awareness about issues related to the criminal justice system.

THE OAKHURST RECOVERY PROGRAM: This addiction treatment program for homeless men began as a mission group of the church. Oakhurst members serve on the ORP Board of Directors, cook and serve evenings meals to the men, teach some classes and lead some groups from time to time. The church provides housing space for the program and its daily activities and some financial support to the program. The men in the program are welcome to participate in the life of the church but are not required to do so. The program director is Ray Brown.

PEACEMAKERS MISSION GROUP: This group seeks to promote reconciliation grounded in the peace of Christ in individuals, in our faith community, in our city, and in our world, and to build a culture of peace by being and building a support group for peacemakers, developing non-violent ways to address issues, studying and promoting proven methods of peacemaking, providing a communications network for sharing information, and partnering with others who work for peace and justice. The group meets on the fourth Sunday afternoon each month, and sponsors various workshops such as a Conflict Transformation Workshop, and an Interfaith Initiative with a local Muslim group.

DISABILITY MISSION GROUP: The purpose of the Disability Mission Group is to be a voice to Oakhurst Baptist Church and the larger community about issues of disability and accessibility; and to promote full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the total life of this community. The group began by doing a disability audit from which developed goals for improvement. The group has led in worship, sponsored "Stories of Inclusion" and hosted events to promote disability awareness.

Mission Opportunities

There are many short and long term opportunities for mission work at Oakhurst Baptist Church. In addition to mission activities sponsored by Oakhurst Mission Groups, members volunteer in, and sponsor both neighborhood and area-wide activities and projects, like emergency shelters, school partnerships, the annual AIDS and Hunger walks, summer mission trips and more.

Some Mission Opportunities at Oakhurst:

COOKING FOR THE RECOVERY PROGRAM: Volunteers cook evening meals one or more times per month.

GOOD FELLOWSHIP CLUB: A program for senior citizens which emphasizes Bible study and prayer, crafts, and fellowship. Volunteers drive the van or lead in crafts or programs .

OAKHURST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: The church is a Partner in Education for the school. One activity for volunteers is tutoring students or reading to Kindergarten students at the school.

MENTORING: Adult volunteers work one-on-one with children and youth to befriend and encourage youth from the church and the Oakhurst neighborhood.

DECATUR COOPERATIVE MINISTRY: This organization of Decatur area churches ministers to the people of Decatur in a variety of ways. DCM is supported financially by the church.

DECATUR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE MINISTRY: DEAM seeks to meet the needs of the poor and those in crisis within Decatur. Oakhurst supports DEAM financially, with the collection of food, and with volunteers.

More Missions at Oakhurst

Oakhurst Baptist Church supports, both financially and physically, the mission activities of American Baptist Churches in the USA, the Alliance of Baptists, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and the Atlanta Baptist Association. For more information on these groups see our Affiliations page, or click on the link to their web sites.