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October 22, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Ministry Evening with Ken Grenfell
Thursday, October 22 & Friday, October 23 · 7–9 PM
Departure Bay Baptist Church, 3510 Departure Bay Rd If you lead or serve at Oceanside, these two evenings are for you. We're setting aside time this October to learn together what it means to lead in step with the Holy Spirit. Ken Grenfell is joining us again from Virginia. He's been a familiar face in our church for the last 20 years, and he's known for his prophetic gifting. He brings both a deep understanding of the Holy Spirit's work and a lived example of it. Our leaders come from many different backgrounds and church experiences, and that's a gift. For these two nights, we'll open God's Word together, stay open to what the Spirit is doing, and ask Him for more of His gifts at work when we gather. Each evening will include teaching, time for your questions, practical examples, and a time of ministry together. We'd love to see you at both nights. Everyone is welcome to join us.
September 25, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
My Bible Reading Journey re-launch!
‘My Bible Reading Journey’ launches for the 2026/2027 school year next Sunday October 4, 2026. Last year we launched ‘My Bible Reading Journey’ for the very first time. Over 120 kids signed up for their very own log book, and we saw kids from as young as 2 years old signing up for the journey and engaging in bible reading. The results were so exciting: Families were working through books of the bible together and a few children averaged more than 2 books a month! We believe the Bible, is the inspired Word of God and serves as the final authority for what we believe and how we live, and to see our young children eagily devouring these pages, is amazing! In Proverbs 22:6 it says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when his is old, he will not depart from it.” Teaching our children to read the bible and hide these treasures in their heart (Psalm 119:11), is laying solid foundations for the rest of their lives. My Bible reading journey is a small log book, beautifully designed for kids, that allows you to cross off chapters of the bible as you read them. This allows our kids to track their reading and to see their progress in reading the bible. Once a month we open our prize table, and children can redeem each book read, with a prize from either our ‘short book’ prize tote, ‘medium book’ prize tote, and ‘large book’ prize tote. Some of our ONE80 kids are on track to finish the bible the year! How amazing!!! We re-launch My Bible Reading Journey on October 4. If you have not signed your child up please do so at the ‘My Bible Reading Journey’ table, situated behind the check-in desk, between 10:00am and 10:30am. Children who signed up last year, do not need to sign up again: keep reading the bible and logging your progress in your log books. The Prize totes will also be out on October 4, so children can come and redeem the books that they have read over the summer. So excited to see our kids falling in love with God’s word!
September 24, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Recap & What’s Next: OceanYouth
Last week, we kicked off a new year of OceanYouth! It was so much fun to see a mix of familiar and new faces come together for a night of pizza, inflatables, worship, games, and a look at what’s ahead. We’re excited and expectant for all that God has in store! As we begin this year of walking alongside teenagers, one phrase comes to mind: “It takes a village to raise a child.” At OceanYouth, we believe that village really matters, especially during the teenage years. When parents, youth, and leaders come together, we can better support and encourage teenagers as they grow in their relationship with Jesus. Coming up: Parent & Youth BBQ Join us for a night together with your teenager! We’ll have a BBQ, games, an opportunity to meet our youth leaders, and a chance to hear from Lee. Most importantly, we’d love the opportunity to get to know you and partner with you as your teenager grows in their relationship with Jesus. We can’t wait to see you there! Parent & Youth BBQ Details When: Friday, October 2nd, 7:00–9:00 PM
Where: The Junction, 2304 Jingle Pot Rd
September 24, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Weekly Bulletin - September 27th - October 4th
Welcome to the weekly bulletin 👋 This is your one-stop spot for everything happening in our church family. From kids to adults, small groups to special events, here's how you can get connected over the next seven days. Sunday, September 27th: 8:30 & 10:30am Worship Gatherings - Join us for Sunday service in person or online. Congo Grace BBQ Fundraiser - Supporting our missions partnership in the Congo. In the parking lot after both services.Donate here Monday, September 28th: Freedom Sessions - Continuing to meet weekly Tuesday, September 29th: Nothing yet! Wednesday, September 30th: Young Adults Discipleship Group - Weekly gathering for young adults. 7PM, North Nanaimo. Thursday, October 1st: Morning Prayer - Join us for our weekly prayer meeting at 2304 Jingle Pot Road from 8:40am-9:40am. Friday, October 2nd: Ocean Youth: Meet the Team BBQ - A hangout and BBQ for parents, youth, and leaders to get to know one another. 7PM, 2304 Jingle Pot Rd. Saturday, October 3rd: Nothing yet! Sunday, October 4th: 8:30 & 10:30am Worship Gatherings - Join us for Sunday service in person or online. Elders & Deacons Meeting - Leadership meeting. 7PM. Upcoming Events The big ones to have on your radar this week: Congo Grace Fundraiser - Sunday, September 27th. Supporting our missions partnership in the Congo. Ocean Youth: Meet the Team BBQ - Friday, October 2nd, 7PM, 2304 Jingle Pot Rd. A hangout and BBQ for parents, youth, and leaders. New here? We'd love to connect.New here? We'd love to connect. Classifieds House Wanted A Christian family of four relocating from New Zealand at the end of October (husband a veterinarian, wife an elementary teacher) is looking for a 3-4 bedroom standalone house with a yard in North Nanaimo, Lantzville, or Nanoose Bay. Furnished or unfurnished, budget up to $3,500/month. Contact the church office to be connected. Last Week's MessageWatch OnlineSubscribe To Our Podcast Giving Your generosity makes our work in this city possible. We’re so grateful for you. New to our community? No pressure. Today, just be our guest.Give Now Stay Connected 📩 Subscribe to this Collection to get these updates delivered directly to your inbox. 📸 Follow us on Instagram and YouTube. 🎙️ Subscribe to our podcast 💬 Pastoral care or questions? Connect with us here. Services: Sundays at 8:30am & 10:30am at Nanaimo Christian School.
See you soon ☀️
September 23, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Congo Fundraiser This Sunday
This Sunday, lunch is on the grill, and every burger helps a kid at Grace Orphanage start the school year well. After both services (8:30 and 10:30), we're firing up the BBQ in the parking lot at Nanaimo Christian School. The burgers have no price. You give what you'd like, and every dollar goes directly to iWOF's Back to School 2026 campaign for Grace Orphanage. Why Grace Orphanage Oceanside has supported the kids at Grace Orphanage for many years. It's one of those relationships that doesn't make a lot of noise, but it's been part of who we are for a long time. Grace Orphanage is a home for orphaned children in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, just outside the city of Uvira. Since 2008, they've given kids who lost their families a safe place to live, with food, clothing, health care and school. Today, 48 children call it home. They welcome kids from every tribe and every background, and each of them grows up knowing they're loved and that God has a purpose for their life. The team there believes education is the best way out of poverty, and they've built their home around that. The kids attend a good school, and a teacher comes in five afternoons a week to help the ones who need extra support. With help from the International Widows & Orphans Fund (iWOF), a registered Canadian charity, they've built houses for the children, a Reading Centre, and a garden that grows their own food. This year's Back to School campaign covers backpacks with supplies, uniforms, after-school tutoring, and the cost of the programs. It reaches every student at Grace Orphanage and 50 sponsored kids from the surrounding community. It also helps six students who've made it to university keep going. They're young people preparing to lead in their own community. James writes that the kind of faith God accepts looks after orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27). Following Jesus has always looked like this: noticing the kids nobody else is looking out for, and doing something about it. Ways to give Grab a burger on Sunday. It's by donation, and you can pay with cash, tap, or the QR code at the table. Every dollar goes straight to iWOF. It's lunch for you and a school year for someone else. Give online. You can donate directly to the campaign through CanadaHelps. You'll get an instant tax receipt, and it works whether or not you can make it on Sunday. Donations made via card or online are eligible for tax receipts.Give to Back to School 2026 Share it. Send the link to friends and family. The campaign is counting on people telling people. See you in the parking lot.
September 20, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
You weren't meant to follow Jesus alone.
September has been a month of new starts around here. A few things launched, and each one is a different door into the same thing: following Jesus alongside other people. It's possible to attend church for years and never really be known. We don't want that for you. We believe the best environment for spiritual growth is authentic relationships, and relationships don't happen by accident. Someone has to open a door, and someone has to walk through it. So here's a look back at what happened this month, and a few ways to step in. The students kicked things off. On Friday, September 18th, high schoolers gathered at The Junction for our Youth Kick Off Party. There was pizza and there were obstacle courses. Students met their youth leaders and heard the vision for the year. The invitation was the same for returning students and brand new ones: come, and bring your friends. That's usually how community starts. Someone says there's a place for you, and you show up.Attend Ocean Youth Then Soul Nights began. The next night, Saturday, September 19th, we held the first Soul Nights, our new ministry for single adults in their 20s and 30s. By single, we mean not married. Dating, engaged, divorced, widowed, or anywhere in between. Wherever you are, you're welcome. That first night was about spending time together, getting to know one another, and sharing the vision for this community. And the vision is simple: the goal isn't marriage. The goal is Jesus. Singleness isn't a waiting room. It's a gift, and a meaningful way to live for Christ. Discipleship Groups are open for sign-ups. Discipleship Groups launched this month, and sign-ups are open now. Groups meet throughout the week in homes across Nanaimo. You read Scripture, pray, and have honest conversations. Some nights you dig deep into the Bible. Some nights you spend half the evening talking through what life threw at you that week. Both matter. You don't need to know the Bible inside and out. You don't need the right answers. Expect conversations rather than lectures, prayer rather than pressure, friendship rather than pretending. Probably some coffee, too. If you've been waiting for a good moment to join one, this is it.Find a Discipleship Group Serving is a way in, too. Most of what happens at Oceanside runs on volunteers. Someone sets up the chairs. Someone makes the coffee. Someone plays drums. Someone helps a kid finish their craft. Every one of those jobs matters, and so does every person doing them. I've been serving on a team for 10 years, and it's given me opportunities I never would have had otherwise. I got to play on a worship team in Chicago for the Equip. I've met a lot of like-minded friends along the way. Maybe you've been coming on Sundays and you're not sure how to go deeper. Serving is one of the best ways to get to know people. On a team, you're not just sitting near someone for an hour. You're working toward something together, and that's where friendships have room to grow. You don't need to have it all figured out. Whether you're drawn to chairs, coffee, drums, or crafts, we'd love for you to join a team, and we'll help you find where you fit.Join a Team Your next step. Everyone has a next step. Whether yours is a Discipleship Group or a serving team, click the Next Steps button and let us help you find it. Community isn't something you wait for. It's something you step into. The door's open, and we'd be honoured to walk through it with you.
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