OMPC, How You’ve Changed

The once tiny Oak Mountain Pres. in Birmingham, AL has become quite a contender over these past few years. Back when I still lived in B’ham, we met in a local high school gym. In fact, the summer we left was when the church celbrated it’s ground breaking ceremony for the new facility. So since then they have grown from an average 200 people in attendance to 2,500 people. That is a big difference. This past spring, they opened the doors to their very first sanctuary (the first building held them in a gym/sanctuary, a sanc-nasium). It is so exciting to see how God is working through Oak Mountain. They have even planted their own church in the downtown area called Red Mountain.

Another place that has me really excited is the growing singles ministry. Yesterday I went to a 4th of July celebration and got to experience a little more of what these people are. Bob Flayhart, the pastor, is so real and honest from the pulpit, these singles really seem to emulate that. It is so easy to connect with them on an intimate level because they are so open and ready to have that kind of conversation.

On a related note, I have also joined a bi-weekly book study on Mere Christianity. Now, I read the book in high school and it admittedly went sailing over my head. I read it again for a small group that I did with my cousin and some other friends, and that didn’t yield the discussion that fosters significant growth. But this group has been awesome. I feel more honest with these guys, and I think that is due to their ability to be just as honest and open. The open expression of our own beliefs is really good for revealing one’s heart. Sometimes you don’t actually know what you believe until you say it out loud. It also is a great way to build up relationships in faith. I have a feeling that some of these friendships I will remember for a very long time.