When Bob Service was asked to stand in as pastor at Oakwood Community Church in 1966, he admits he had second thoughts.
The building was a former school house that was in bad shape, to say the least. The sinking floor was laden with pots and pans to catch water from the leaking roof, curtains were hung to divide the rooms and mice scurried about when anyone entered the sanctuary.
‘When I saw the building, I said ‘I don’t want to be here,?? said Service as he recalled back to that day in May 1966.
Service remembers his pastor giving him a statement afterward that has stayed with him his whole life.
‘His great reply was ‘this building is not the church, it’s the place where people worship. The people are the church.?? Almost 40 years later, Service has stood by those words of wisdom and has watched the church grow from a congregation of 12 to one of almost 300.
Service, a resident of Hadley, took the position as pastor of the tiny Oakwood Community Church, which is on the Oxford-Brandon border, one month before he graduated from Detroit Bible College.
He said he knew he always wanted to serve the Lord, but some thought the rural community of Oakwood Village wouldn’t amount to anything.
‘When I came to Oakwood there was hardly anything here,? he said. ‘I was advised that if you’re going to have a growing ministry, you don’t go to a place where there’s no houses and no people.?
Service had little to worry about. The once tiny Oakwood church grew to 100 and then 200, forcing them to remodel the building to accommodate the larger crowd.
In 1976 Service married his wife, Janella, and jokes he ‘hardley ever saw? her during their first year of marriage because of the remodeling process. She was even put to work the day after they got back from their honeymoon.
Looking back on his last 40 years of preaching at Oakwood, Service remembers the good times, his keen sense of humor and pulling fun pranks on others, but also remembers a time when he thought about calling it quits.
While getting ready to preach one Sunday 20 years ago, Service recalls collapsing on his bed and crying.
‘All of a sudden (the congregation) just got stagnant, there was no one new,? the pastor said with tears in his eyes. ‘I just thought it was time to move on and that I wasn’t doing anything (to contribute).?
He said his wife helped him to realize there were still members at the church who were ‘following him? instead of a higher power. ‘If I don’t get them to follow Jesus and they’re following me, then there’s something wrong,? he said.
In 1998 the church had yet another need to expand, which was dubbed ‘The Noah Project? by Service.
The 21,000-square-foot church was built on Oakwood Rd., just west of Baldwin Rd., and has a more contemporary feel.
But the non-denominational church is already starting to outgrow the newer building. They are currently in the process of finishing the basement for more room. It may sound like he’s complaining about the growth, but Service is very happy. He has, however, had to hire another pastor a year and a half ago, Don Holliday, to cut back on his 60-hour work weeks. Pastors don’t only work on Sundays, you know.
‘It takes a lot of time to study the Word. It’s very serious business to get up there for a half hour message on Sunday morning,? Service explained.
Although Service has stepped down as teaching pastor, he serves as a ‘shepherd pastor? caring for his flock (he only preaches once a month) and spends many hours with those in the hospital, nursing homes and counseling church members.
He’s performed over 670 weddings in the 40 years he’s spent at Oakwood Community Church, and plans on breaking that record. ‘As long as they want me to stay here, I have no desire to go any place else,? he said.
Members of the church have planned a special celebration for Services 40 years, including a ‘Roast? banquet on May 6 that he’s a little wary about. ‘I’m waiting for Heaven for my rewards,? he said with a smile. ‘But we’re going to have a good time.?