On the weekends and when wedding ceremonies are not being performed, the River of Life Christian Church calls Oakwood Wedding Chapel home.
Pastored by Larry Mullins, the church’s main emphasis is on loving God and showing people that they are loved.
‘Love is not a word that you can throw on a shelf and expect people to open it up and read it. It is something you have to do,? said Mullins.
‘The first thing we want them to know and understand is that God loves them and we love them, especially when they come and visit with us…we understand that we have to create that kind of atmosphere; that means that our atmosphere and how we treat each other as Christians is one of love.?
The story began more than a year ago when Mullins felt God press it on his heart to do a church plant in the Oxford area.
‘It was just time; through my study and prayer time God revealed to me that he wanted us to move on…We were actually looking for another church just to go to church, and God had other plans. He started showing through other people and circumstances and through our prayer time and study that God wanted us to start a church,? said Mullins.
The church began in January out of his home in Brandon Twp. with 15-20 regular attendees each week. The next couple of months saw the attendance grow to where they couldn’t just use the living room.
‘We had to find a building, and God led us to the Oakwood Wedding Chapel,? Mullins said.
That move happened three months ago.
He met with Oakwood Wedding Chapel owner Ann Marie Roop, and everything fell into place.
‘We met and walked through it and everything worked out great. I couldn’t have asked for a better situation; it was perfect for what we needed for our church,? said Mullins.
‘I had a good test. I brought my kids and they loved it in the basement, it was designed perfectly for the kids…the sanctuary has a traditional feel but a very intimate feeling, and I think that it is really good for our church, especially being smaller starting out.?
For Roop, there was no hesitation her part when Mullins asked her to use the church.
‘He is wonderful…he does great services for the younger group and the older group. Each message that he does hits home for everybody; every scripture, every verse, every service he does you can link to something at home, which a lot of people are looking for these days,? Roop said.
The church offers Sunday morning classes for adults, college age, youth and children at 10 a.m., which is followed by a morning service at 11 a.m.. A nursery is also provided.
The adult class meets upstairs in the sanctuary, while the young adults and children meet downstairs.
‘It’s really neat when you get done with Sunday School, you don’t really have anywhere to go…I get to watch people come in and shake hands and say hello and talk to people before service,? Mullins said.
One of the programs that is beginning to take off is the visitation to the Hope Senior Apartments on Drahner, where they go and hang out once a month with the seniors for a couple hours on a Sunday.
They also have a Wednesday night program, which has classes for adults, youth and children.
‘Basically, our church lives life together. The things we do, we try and do it together and try and include many people as we can,? Mullins said.
‘It seems like every time I turn around somebody’s life is being touched or someone’s family member is being touched; God’s moving and it’s great to see it happen.?