Arms High & Heart Abandoned

Posted on 08. Jan, 2012 by Chad Balthrop in Featured, Headlines

It’s become one of the favorite worship songs of FBCO. A song whose chorus simply yet passionately states, “I’ll stand, with arms high and heart abandoned in awe, of the one who gave it all. I’ll stand, my soul, Lord, to you surrendered. All I am is Yours!“

This is the cry of celebration from the people of First Baptist Owasso to our God.

Watch the Service!

Six months ago we began to make some BOLD statements and pray some bold prayers. One of those statements was:

We will be a generous church. We will give more than we think we can afford and trust God to provide. We will recognize that we are tremendously blessed and that because we have been given much we can give much. We will not shy away from trying to meet the needs of as many people as God entrusts to us. We will be the church that serves people and serves other churches.

We have asked God to give us a generous heart. We have challenged one another and shaped our ministries so that we could serve people and serve other churches. And now – God has answered one of our prayers.

On January 1, 2011 the people of FBCO owed $1,000,000 on our current campus. By the greatness of our God and the faithful generosity of His people today, January 8th, 2012 we are DEBT FREE!

2011 was a year of transition for the people of FBCO. The search for our next Senior Pastor continues, while 2011 saw God call other key leaders to ministries in churches in other states. We’ve said from the beginning, God moves the troops around. He’s placing all the right people in all the right places to accomplish His purpose for His church in this community and around the world!

What God has accomplished through the people of FBCO in the last few days of 2011 is another example of how He is preparing the way for our next exciting season of ministry together. What God has done financially through the people of this church is nothing less than miraculous!

Between December 1 & December 31, 2011 more than $350,000 was given to eliminate our mortgage. We enter 2012 DEBT FREE! This represents over $28,000 a month freed up to accomplish the mission and ministry of our church!
Nearly $30,000 was given to the World Mission Offering – that’s almost double what was given in 2010!
Additionally, specific ministries within FBCO received significant restricted designated gifts designed to enhance ministry in those areas!
All this occurred while more than $2,190,000 was given in tithes toward our Annual Operating Budget!

God’s goodness and your faithfulness are so great it’s difficult to describe! The good news keeps coming!

We began 2011 having spent more than $13,000 out of our reserves to cover regular ministry expenses. We will begin 2012 able to replenish those reserves, having received more than $55,000 than was spent all year long.

God is clearly positioning and equipping the people of First Baptist Owasso to fulfill His purpose in this community and around the world!

God has blessed and the people of FBCO have demonstrated with remarkable acts of generosity that they are faithful. It’s time to give thanks, refocus our generosity, refresh our vision and get ready – God is doing something remarkable among us!

Take a look at pics from the day and share with friends!