Christmas 2025…in the books. It is past, over and now a memory. But not just Christmas, so is the whole year, 2025. The year is over, in the books and now a memory as well. What a year it has been.
Our church began the year with a complete kitchen renovation. We tore out the floor, the cabinets, counters, appliances and even the ceiling was removed. Everything was replaced with new. The ceiling was a slight redesign and new LED lights were put in as well as a new serving island… complete with electric on the side to accommodate our crock pots!
New kitchen appliances were installed to meet the needs of the very well-used kitchen. We put in a big double door commercial refrigerator. A new extra-large cook top was installed in the countertop. A double convection oven was added to replace the old range type oven. As an added touch, we were able to get a large pellet ice machine! All these made the kitchen updated and completely functional for all occasions.
Our next adventure was updating our activity building to meet State Fire Marshal codes. It was not a real massive undertaking, not as massive as the kitchen, but it was somewhat expensive. After much discussion, and some stress, the updates were made and the building is completely functional and SAFE!
Just recently we changed the lighting in the Sanctuary. We moved from the old fluorescent and ballast lighting to LED lighting. No more flickering lights as the fluorescent tubes are starting to burn out or a buzzing sound when the ballast is going out. We now have a clean fresh bright white lighting in the Sanctuary. And…they should not need any maintenance for several years.
Our youth ministry saw a change as Camron and his new bride left, accepting a call for full time Youth Ministry position in Southeastern Oklahoma. One of our home-grown folks have stepped into the position. Thanks Jay Cox!
We saw the continued growth of the church through baptism and salvations. Both our children’s and Youth camps were enjoyed by kids and youth alike. Vacation Bible School took us on a Road Trip. We had a great time, attendance was awesome. Thanks Megan and Melissa.
Personally, it has been quite a year. Jill and I got to welcome two new grandbabies into our family. Liam Callahan and Kamalani Perkins. And they were born one month apart, July 1st and August 3rd!
We started looking for a house to retire into someday. God graciously provided us with an unbelievable bargain (and fixer upper). The location was about as far north as you can go in Oklahoma and still be in Oklahoma, Copan, Oklahoma (8 miles from Kansas line). We have a lot of family in that area and it seemed only natural to settle there.
The retirement became more of a reality as my in-laws were in a horrible wreck and had to move from the farm, live with Jill for a short while and then move to Bartlesville to a retirement community. They have some needs that require some extra help and between my daughter, sister-in-law and her husband and Jill and I, we have made it work. But we know we will be relocating sometime this spring.
Working on the house in Copan has been quite an adventure. I have set brush on fire and had it go to neighbor’s property and burn part of their yard. I had capped off water lines only to find I missed one and about flooded the bathroom trying to run to water meter at the back of property to shut off the water (I don’t run very well with knee replacements). Cutting trees thinking they would fall one way only to watch them fall the opposite proves I am not a lumberjack… AT ALL. Had to trap an opossum that had homed itself in the attic. And best of all, while walking in the attic tracing wiring I missstepped onto a cut ceiling truss and took a trip down to the entry way floor (uninjured).
Those were just my exploits from Copan, I haven’t even mentioned the MANY I have had here in Gore! I really am not an accident waiting to happen. It just seems that way.
2025 was a great year for our church and my family. I have no idea what 2026 will hold but I am sure it will interesting as well as exciting.
I think about those pioneers in the Bible who had new starts. Abraham leaving family to follow God’s leading to a place he didn’t know. But he trusted God.
Jacob returned home to face a brother he stole the blessing from remembering Esau’s words to him were that when father dies, so will you. But Jacob remembered God’s promise to him and he trusted God.
Moses argued with God that he couldn’t possibly lead the Hebrew out of Egypt. He couldn’t even talk clearly, he stuttered! But he trusted God.
Joshua looked at the city of Jericho and knew there was no way to conquer that city. And marching around one time each day for six days and marching seven on the seventh day, shout to the Lord, watch the walls fall and take the city made no sense at all! Yet, Joshua trusted God and… David went before a giant, Goliath with just a sling and five rocks and said, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts…” David trusted God.
Jesus told Peter to get out of the boat and walk on the water and Jesus told Paul to go preach to the Gentiles. Peter got out of the boat, walked on water. Paul went to the Gentiles and led many to Christ and started numerous churches. He wrote over half of the New Testament. Both trusted God.
For 2026, maybe that should be our words’… ”They Trusted God!”
Trusting God in 2026 Bro. Tim
