“When two or more gather in My name….”
In January 1998 seven members were gathered in His name in a home for a study, prayer and song. Only God knew that Bent Oaks Church of Christ was beginning to fulfill the longing in our hearts for spiritual food, love and fellowship.
Our first study emphasized the choices we have to make and that with prayer and study of God’s word we are able to make the right choices. We learned of the necessity of each child of God to decide his own course and follow it without deviation. Always, we are to remember “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
We followed Him and His teachings and began to grow every week. We grew to 11, then 14, and stayed at 24 for several weeks. We were outgrowing the homes of our new family members. We had added Wednesday night prayer and Bible study in March 1998. Also, in March 1998 we began meeting on Sundays at the Community Meeting Room of the local bank. We had our first fellowship together one Sunday evening after services.
As more Bible study was desired several men began to also lead us in short lessons on Jesus, His life and messages, and a study of Christian guidance for living and coping with problems before our regular worship service.
As our numbers began to increase and the Community Meeting Room was sold we met at the Best Western meeting room for a few months. We soon found a vacant storefront building on Highway 35 and on September 15, 1998 we met for the first time in our new place. We sat on folding chairs in a semi-circle while we enjoyed our first lesson in this new place.
Our first Church home was warm and inviting and were were blessed by the Church of Christ in Corpus Christi graciously giving us pews and more hymn books when they remodeled. During this time more furnishings were added and we officially became the Bent Oaks Church of Christ and had our first sign made.
In May of 2000 through the efforts of two our members, a Real Estate Broker and an Agent, we heard of a small church building for sale. Within a week’s time we had secured the money and purchased and moved into our current building on May 28, 2000. God continues to supply all of our needs.
Since God was leading us at His tempo, we went very fast. We had our first wedding on the Saturday of the week we moved.
Since this time we have continued to grow in our faith in Him and added other activites to increase our fellowship and studies. We now look forward to our “Eat & Meet” gatherings the first Sunday of every month. With plenty of great food, we are always happy to have our visitors stay and get acquainted with us. We continue to be blessed with many visitors and our joy knows no bounds as we continue to worship, study, prayer and fellowship in His name.
“How sweet, how heavenly is the sight of those who love the Lord, In one another’s peace delight, and so fulfill the Word.”
