COBC Library

If you’ve never checked out the Church Library, stop by some time.  New hours are Wednesdays and Fridays from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm and after second service on Sunday mornings.

Pastor Andy recommends the following reading list:

1. Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis

2. Long Journey Home – Oz Guinness

3. Desiring God – John Piper

4. Chosen by God – R.C. Sproul

5. Pursuit of Holiness – Jerry Bridges

6. Fearing God – Jerry Bridges

7. Socrates Meets Jesus – Peter Kreeft

8. Knowing God – J.I. Packer

9. The Treasure Principle – Randy Alcorn

10. Is Christianity Good for the World? – Doug Wilson and Christopher Hitchens

Grief Share

The next session of GriefShare will begin on August 31.  GriefShare normally meets Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm in the Conference Room at COBC.  Contact Judy  Huebner at 823-9790 for more information.

Find Help, Hope and Healing!   Join any time.  GriefShare meets Tuesday nights at 6:30 pm periodically throughout the year.  Please call 822-1379 to check on the schedule.  Parking is available in the rear of the building.  We look forward to your attendance as you heal from your grief.  We love you!

No matter what the circumstances, grief recovery is a painful process. It can make feeling optimistic about the future seem impossible. If you’ve lost a spouse, child, family member or friend, you’ve probably found that there are not many people who understand the deep hurt you feel.

That’s one reason for Grief Share, a special support group for people grieving the loss of someone close. This group is sponsored by people who understand what you are experiencing and want to offer comfort and encouragement during this difficult time. It’s a place where many people have found that they can begin putting their lives back together again.

Grief Share features nationally recognized experts on grief and recovery topics. Sessions include:

1. Living with Grief
2. The Journey of Grief
3. The Effects of Grief
4. When Your Spouse Dies
5. Your Family and Grief
6. Why?
7. The Uniqueness of Grief, Part 1
8. The Uniquenss of Grief, Part 2
9. God’s Prescription for Grief
10. Stuck in Grief
11. Top Twenty Lessons of Grief, Part 1
12. Top Twenty Lessons of Grief, Part 2
13. Heaven

Each session is “self-contained” so that you don’t feel obligated to attend in sequence. You will find encouragement and help whenever you attend.

Griefshare meets in the Conference Room at Country Oaks Baptist Church, Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm.  For more infomation call 822-1379.

You will find other helpful information and resources at www.griefshare.org.

Divorce Care & Divorce Care 4 Kids

Divorce Care began again on Tuesday, August 24.  DivorceCare usually meets on Tuesdays at Country Oaks Baptist Church at 6:30 pm in Room 402.  New this year is Divorce Care 4 Kids meeting at the same time in Room 301.  See below for schedule of topics.

DivorceCare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through separation or divorce alone.

DivorceCare seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. You’ll gain access to valuable DivorceCare resources to help you deal with the pain of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life.

Here’s the COBC DivorceCare Schedule:

August 24, 2010 -  Session 1 - What’s Happening

August 31, 2010  - Session 2 -  Healing / Help 

September 7, 2010 -  Session 3 -  Anger

September 14, 2010 -  Session 4 - Depression

September 21, 2010 -  Session 5 - Loneliness

September 28, 2010 -  Session 6  - Owner’s Manual

October 5, 2010 - Session 7  – New Relationships

October 12, 2010 -   Session 8 - Financial Survival 

October 19, 2010  -    Session 9 - Kid Care

October 26, 2010 -  Session 10 - Single Sexuality 

November 2, 2010-   Session 11 - Forgiveness 

November 9, 2010 - Session 12 - Reconciliation

November 16, 2010 - Sessions 13 – Growing Closer to God

November 30, 2010 – Alumni Christmas Party

You will find other helpful information and resources at Divorce Care.

DivorceCare now meets in the Room 402 at Country Oaks Baptist Church, Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm.  One of Tehachapi’s most centrally located churches, Country Oaks’ address is 20915 Schout Road. For more infomation call 822-1379.  Facilitators:  Robin Freckmann, Gayle Patterson, Pat See, Whit & Barbara Whitaker.

Growing Kids God’s Way

Parenting Class

The Growing Kids God’s Way Parenting Classes are offered two times a year:  January – May and August – December.  The course is 17 weeks long.  Alumni can come any time for a refresher or to make up classes they missed.  Please check the schedules below for when the classes are being held.  All class members (current and past) are always welcome to the ending potluck to celebrate completion of the course.  Let’s all continue to grow in Christ as we raise our children according to God’s Word.  

 The class is open to anyone who would like to attend but it is also a pre-requisite to attend Heritage Oak School.  Please call or email with any questions, additional information, and to get an application.   There is a $25 book/supply fee per person.  Call Terry and Laura Crosby at 333-7575 or email at crosby7@att.net.

Growing Kids God’s Way Class Schedule

August 18-December 15, 2010

All classes are held on WEDNESDAYS from 6-8 PM in Rm. 401

Facilitators: Terry and Laura Crosby 333-7575 or  crosby7@att.net

Lesson 1: Introduction/How to Raise a Moral Child Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Lesson 2: Right Beginnings Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Lesson 3: Touchpoints of Love Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Lesson 4: A Father’s Mandate Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Lesson 5: Your Child’s Conscious Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Lesson 6: Character Development Part 1 Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Lesson 7: Character Development Part 2 Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Lesson 8: Character Development Part 3 Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Lesson 9: Principles of Obedience Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Lesson 10: Discipline with Encouragement Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Lesson 11: Discipline with Correction Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Lesson 12: Consequences & Punishment Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Lesson 13: Repentence, Forgiveness, & Restoration Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Lesson 14: Discipline Issues Part 1 Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Lesson 15: Discipline Issues Part 2 Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Lesson 16: The Appeal Process Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Lesson 17: Building a Healthy family Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Optional Lesson: MEMORIALS + Potluck Wednesday, December 15, 2010 – All of our previous classes are invited to join us for this special night as we enjoy, food, fellowship, and an amazing tribute to family legacies. AWANA is available for children 3 years old and up. If childcare is needed for younger children, a limited number of spots may be available in the nursery during AWANA. There may be a few class dates held when AWANA is not in session. We will work to inform you of those dates when they become available, so that you can arrange your own childcare if necessary. Please don’t hesitate to call with any questions or concerns. 

Growing Kids God’s Way Class Schedule

January 5 – May 11, 2011

All classes are held on WEDNESDAYS from 6-8 PM in Rm. 401

Facilitators: Terry and Laura Crosby 333-7575 or  crosby7@att.net 

Lesson 1: Introduction/How to Raise a Moral Child Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Lesson 2: Right Beginnings Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Lesson 3: Touchpoints of Love Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Lesson 4: A Father’s Mandate Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Lesson 5: Your Child’s Conscious Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Lesson 6: Character Development Part 1 Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Lesson 7: Character Development Part 2 Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Lesson 8: Character Development Part 3 Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Lesson 9: Principles of Obedience Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Lesson 10: Discipline with Encouragement Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Lesson 11: Discipline with Correction Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Lesson 12: Consequences & Punishment Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Lesson 13: Repentence, Forgiveness, & Restoration Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Lesson 14: Discipline Issues Part 1 Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Lesson 15: Discipline Issues Part 2 Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Lesson 16: The Appeal Process Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Lesson 17: Building a Healthy family Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Optional Lesson: MEMORIALS + Potluck Wednesday, May 11, 2011 – All of our previous classes are invited to join us for this special night as we enjoy, food, fellowship, and an amazing tribute to family legacies. AWANA is available for children 3 years old and up. If childcare is needed for younger children, a limited number of spots may be available in the nursery during AWANA. There may be a few class dates held when AWANA is not in session. We will work to inform you of those dates when they become available, so that you can arrange your own childcare if necessary. Please don’t hesitate to call with any questions or concerns.

Basic Training for Helping Ministries

Changes to the Basic Training Schedule: There will be a followup meeting for the first group that took the Basic Training Workshop on April 29, 2010 at 6:30 pm. Contact Pastor Doug at doug@countryoaks.org  for more information.

The Basic Training Workshop for the Helping Ministries scheduled April 23-24, 2010 has been cancelled.  There is a total of 8 hours of training in this workshop which is for those who would like to be a part of our leadership teams for our Helping Ministries including: GriefShare, DivorceCare, DivorceCare for Kids, or our new Home and Hospital Visitation Teams. Successful completion of this training workshop and the preceding homework assignments are required. Further specific training may be required by each specific ministry.

Family Camp

Helping Hands Weekend is May 7-9, 2010 – Sign up Sundays in the chapel (PRIOR to and after first service and after church.  We do not want signups to be a distraction during Sunday School or Church Services.) 

Helping Hands Weekend application packets are available NOW and should be completely filled out prior to signup including your job preference and payment.  Checks should be payable to Thousand Pines.  This will facilitate signups if every family is prepared in advance and their paperwork is ready to be turned in.  If you need an application, please stop by church office or call the Crosby’s at 333-7575 for more information.

Families desiring to share a cabin need to have their packets turned in together. 

Remember:  Spaces are limited!  Cabin availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Marriage Retreat

Photos from the 2010 Marriage Retreat

Get your wife a great Christmas present!  Sign the two of you up for the 2010 Valentine’s Weekend – Marriage Retreat Get-Away!

Where: Residence Inn by Marriott at River Ridge, Oxnard, CA
When:  Valentine’s Weekend, February 12 –14, 2010

What: Retreat Fee is just $65.00 per couple for 2010 (same price as last year!)

Registration Fees are per couple, and include each couple’s share of estimated general retreat costs, such as meeting rooms, printing costs, etc.  This fee does not include your room.

Here is what to do:

1)  Complete the Application Form and attach your check. Take the form and the check to either the Church office at Grace Chapel in Lancaster, or to COBC in Tehachapi to apply for the Retreat.  We have a contract for only 40 couples between Country Oaks Baptist and Grace Chapel of Lancaster.

2)  After reserving your space for the retreat, phone the hotel directly to reserve your room for our special price. A few Penthouse Suites are also available. And if you want to come a day early, or stay a day later, you can use the special rates too.

Residence Inn by Marriott at River Ridge, Oxnard
Special Country Oaks Baptist Church Marriage Retreat Rate
(805) 278-2200 for your room reservations

(Talk to the front desk or ask for Millicent Bennett for the Marriage Retreat Rate. Rooms begin at just $109 per night, plus tax, and includes a fully cooked breakfast for two!)

Helping Ministry Opportunity!

Home and Hospital Visitation Team

As the name states, these ministry teams will visit those who are in the hospital or those who have been discharged from the hospital and are recovering at home. These team members will have the opportunity to minister to both the hospital patient and to their family members as well. The ministry will be under the direction of Pastor Doug, who will be relying greatly on the leadership of Judy Huebner to make this all work successfully. Ministry teams will also be connecting with the Deacons through Hank Huebner and with our food ministry through Janice Jones.

These teams will have the opportunity to connect and care for those in difficult situations in the name of Jesus Christ. It is a good way to “be church” to one another. Face to face visits, phone calls, notes of encouragement, meals, and more are all a part of what a team may provide or arrange for through existing ministries at COBC.

We will hold Orientation Meetings throughout the year.  Watch the church calendar and bulletin for the dates of these Orientations.  In addition to the orientation meeting, every team member will need to attend (or already have attended) our “Helping Ministries”  Basic Training classes (see below). Basic Training classes will be offered periodically throughout the year. 

If God has been leading you into a helping ministry such as this, then please make plans to attend an orientation meeting to learn more about these ministry teams. For more information, please give me a call at the church office: 822-1379.

Until then, may God richly bless you. 

On Becoming a Team Member - Helping Ministries Teams

The process for taking a leadership role in Divorce Care, Divorce Care for Kids, Grief Share, or the Home and Hospital Visitation Team is outlined below:

1. Church Membership: Because ministry leaders and team members are always representing our Lord Jesus Christ, Country Oaks Baptist Church, and the Pastors of COBC, leaders and team members must be members of Country Oaks Baptist Church. The process of membership simply involves (a) application to the Elders Board for members; (b) your personal testimony of your faith and trust in Christ for salvation, and your personal walk with Christ today; (c) testimony that you have been baptized as a believer in Christ; and (d) reading and agreeing with the Church’s Constitution and Church By-Laws (available in the Church office). That’s it!
2. Get an application from the ministry’s leader (or click on link), fill it out and give it back to the ministry leader. They will pass it on to Pastor Doug, our Pastor of Family Ministries and supervisor for all of our Helping Ministries. He will contact you to set up an interview.
3. If you will be working with children or teens, such as in Divorce Care for Kids, you will have to go through the Church’s screening process. This involves picking up an application from the Church office, or from Pastor Brent, getting some references, and a background check. There is a fee, but the Church will pay the fee for you.
4. Successful completion of the BASIC TRAINING for Helping Ministries workshop. The workshops are offered three to four times per year, usually in a Friday night, Saturday afternoon format – about 8 hours of “basic” training. Pastor Doug leads these workshops.
5. Apprenticeship – Once you have completed the steps above you may begin an apprenticeship with the ministry that you desire to serve in. The apprenticeship will be at least one 13 week “cycle” in Grief Share, Divorce Care, or DC4Kids. The apprenticeship will be for four months in the Home and Hospital Visitation Team. These apprenticeships are simply times of more specific training for your specific ministry.
6. Final evaluation – At the completion of the apprenticeship you will once again meet with Pastor Doug to review the process and consider the input from your supervisors or trainers. If all agree that you are called to serve in that particular ministry, then its time for you to join the leadership team of that ministry!

Special Seminar on Grief

Are you hurting?  Laurelglen Bible Church Care Ministries presents Dr. H Norman Wright “Recovering From Loss, Crisis and Trauma” on January 30, 2010 from 8:30 am to 12:10 pm.  Laurelglen Bible Church – 2801 Ashe Road – Bakersfield, cA 93309.  Early registration is $20 per individual or $15 per individual for groups of 3 or more by January 22 ($25 after January 22). 

This seminar will help you: 

• Prepare in advance for hurt, loss and crisis
• Identify ungrieved losses
• Discover and implement the process of grief
• Understand the causes and recovery steps in trauma
• Understand what depression and anger are telling you
• Eliminate worry and anxiety from your life
• Learn a Biblical perspective on loss and discover the comfort of God
• Learn how to say good-bye to what you ahve lost and move ahead in life

For further information conat Pastor Tim Hardy at 833-2800.

Revolutionary Parenting

Wednesdays at 6:00 pm in Room 202 starting September 16, 2009-

The Revolution is underway, but in this new era, how can parents make a lasting impact in the spiritual lives of their children? To find the answer, George Barna researched the lives of thriving adult Christians and discovered the essential steps their parents took to shape their spiritual lives in childhood. He also learned surprising truths about which popular parenting tactics just aren’t working. Revolutionary Parenting goes beyond youth group and Sunday school and shows parents how to instill in their children a vibrant commitment to Christ. Led by Craig Bauer.