Reaching Out and Raising Up - 1985 to Present
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Ophelia Bynum and |
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)
After the church had a solid foundation of doctrine, the opportunities for ministry grew. Most of those opportunities appeared on the doorstep of the church. In the early years, middle class, blue-collar workers populated the area around the church. Most of the church members lived in the neighborhood.
By the 1990s, the demographics had changed. The houses around the church deteriorated, and the crime rate began to skyrocket. Most of the church members lived several miles away from the church rather than in the area. The members felt a responsibility for the people in South Oklahoma City and looked for ways to reach out to the community.
That desire to help the needy spurred the development of the church food pantry. The church maintains a supply of nonperishable food to give to people with immediate needs.
The church ministers to the elderly by the nursing home ministry headed by Brother Bob Griffith. Four teams of preachers, song leaders, pianists, and support people hold services each week at local nursing homes and retirement centers.The Sherwood ladies spend months each year making Christmas gifts for these often-forgotten older folks.
In recent years the church neighborhood has seen another change. Although people of all ethnic groups live in the area, the neighborhood has become predominantly Hispanic. The church faces a new challenge in ministering to people from a different culture who speak a different language. The church is planning an outreach to the Hispanic population with English classes, literacy classes, and services in Spanish.
Children are the key to the future. While adults from different ethnic groups have shown reluctance to mix with other cultures, children have no such boundaries. The children's ministry to the neighborhood children is building the foundation for a racially and ethnically inclusive congregation for the future of Sherwood. During the Wednesday night classes, teachers focus on giving the children a solid background in Bible truths and on expressing God's love to them. On Sunday the church van picks up many of these children for Sunday School and worship service.
The church also is preparing for the future by training pastors and church leaders in a weekly theology class. Brother Brown teaches an extensive class each week covering deeper Bible doctrines.
With the many local ministries and the continued support of foreign missions, Sherwood Baptist Church continues, as it began, with the goal of glorifying the Lord in South Oklahoma City and around the world.
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