let’s pray for our summer missions teams
Five Oaks is sending out two teams to serve around the world this summer. We have a team traveling to Slovakia (top image) to serve with a local Slovakian church in a camp setting, in partnership with Josiah Venture (July 16-29). We are also sending out a team to serve in Panama (bottom image) alongside the missionaries of Word of Life Panama, in partnership with Filter of Hope (August 4-11). You received a card today with more details on each team and their plans. During our worship services this weekend, we’ll pray over both teams and send them out. Please keep these teams in your prayers over the next two months. Questions? Email Dave Baar, impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
Please pray for VBS and FCA next week
Next week, about 200 kids will descend on Five Oaks and learn about how they can trust Jesus in a wild world at True North VBS, and about 150 kids will return in the afternoon to grow in their faith through FCA Sports Camp. We are always so grateful for this opportunity. For some of the kids attending, this may be their first time hearing the gospel. Please pray for young hearts to be open. Please also pray for all details to go as planned and for all the amazing volunteers who are donating their time and talents. God is so good!
We’re all leaders: Elevate your leadership
Whether your life’s work is the breadwinning role in the family, a volunteer spot in your community, a supporting role in a nonprofit, or a caregiving role for your kids or aging parents, we all lead others in some capacity. The Global Leadership Summit is the largest leadership event in the country, and this two-day event offers opportunities for growth and sharpening for every leader. Five Oaks is a host site this year! Join us August 7 and 8 to see how God can move the needle in your own leadership. Register early and save! Five Oakers get a $40 discount in their cart if they register between July 5 and 15. More info here.
Register now for our outdoor baptism service
If you’ve been around our church for more than a minute, you know that we love to celebrate baptisms. Our outdoor summer baptism service will be better than ever this year! Join us on July 27, 10 am, at the island at the University of Northwestern. We have more than 20 people being baptized, and we’ll get to hear their amazing stories and sing some worship music together to celebrate. After baptisms, we invite you to stay for lunch and social time. Northwestern has a policy of no outside food, but we’ve made it easy and affordable for you to order boxed lunches when you register for the event. Details and registration are available here. Please note: Our baptism service is the only worship service we will have the weekend of July 26+27.
Are you a word nerd?
Our church has an email devotional called DailyLife, written and edited entirely by volunteers. We currently have openings on our editing team! If you love to edit and want to help shepherd our readership in their walk with Jesus, please email Peg Benson, pbenson@fiveoakschurch.org. This is a great way to serve from home - or from the cabin!
Bring those undies to church
For people who experience homelessness, some of the most often requested items are clean socks and underwear. You can help meet this need by donating packs of new socks and underwear throughout the month of July at Five Oaks. We partner with a local nonprofit called The Drawer, and this group collects donations like ours and distributes them to our neighbors in need. Drop your donations off anytime through July 20. Questions? Email Dave Baar, impact@fiveoakschurch.org.
How might God use you?
As we prepare to send over 50 amazing kids volunteers to Oaks Church starting in September, we realize this opens up many opportunities to plug in at Five Oaks. Please be praying about how you will be able to help keep the ministry strong at Five Oaks. Soon we will be asking many of you to step up into new and important roles. If you already feel like God is calling you to serve with kids and impact the next generation, please email Kelly Bauman, kbauman@fiveoakschurch.org, to find a good fit for you.
Christianity Explored
Do you or someone in your life have questions about Christianity, big or small? Or perhaps have turned their back on their walk with the Lord? If so, we have a seven-week class starting July 12 and 13 that will allow participants to ask all of their questions, read the Bible, and learn more about Jesus’ gift for each of us. (Yes! You may take the class with that friend!) More info and details can be found here for the July 12 class or here for the July 13 class. Questions? Email Bob Musser, rcmssr@gmail.com.
You don’t need to be an expert - just someone who cares
Our students need adults who will show up, listen well, and point them toward God’s truth. As a small group leader at youth group, you’ll create a space where honest conversations can happen, faith can grow, and Scripture feels real and relevant. If you’re up for encouraging the next generation and walking with them through life’s questions, we’d love to have you on the team. Email Mindy Wissink, mwissink@fiveoakschurch.org, to get started.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Looking for a career move? Check out these options with our Impact Partners
Hope Academy is hiring a Director of Partnership Expansion. This new leadership role is focused on leading efforts to expand the partner-base that supports Hope Academy. More details can be found here: Director of Partner Expansion | Hope Academy
Hope Farm School is hiring Youth Ministry Resident Assistants. This role is focused on serving the in-residence students by creating a positive atmosphere and building community. More details can be found here: Employment — Hope Farm School
Rally support for the Wounded Warrior Project "Soldier Ride" in Woodbury
On Saturday, July 26, Woodbury will host the annual Wounded Warrior Project "Soldier Ride," which will pass near Five Oaks. The event typically draws 25-50 wounded US military veterans from around the country who ride a 16-mile course through our community. We expect the first pass near Five Oaks through the traffic roundabout at Radio and Bailey sometime between 9:15 and 9:40 am, with a second pass sometime between 10:45 and 11:15 am. The Woodbury Police Department provides a full escort with squad cars and Bike Patrol team members. If you have time that morning to show your support, please join others from our community to cheer on the Soldier Ride participants. (Their route is a U-shape beginning at Woodbury City Hall, south on Radio to Bailey Rd., east to Woodbury Drive, and north to the Fox Run Fire station. And then reversed.) Questions? Email Joe Thornton, joe.thornton@me.com.