Old History Blog

Recommends

LovinLife4Jesus

Joined 2 years ago

This is my second Home. Oakland Christian Church has been my lifeline for over 10 years! God has used this church to bring a me into a greater and deeper relationship with Jesus Christ!

Whether it was in youth group, the Gathering or Sunday's Service The Holy Spirit is present and moving so great! I love this church. It has the greatest leadership in all of Michigan. Pastor Dominic and Amira Russo are amazing people that love God so deeply and it isn't just words but it is a lifestyle for them. I look up to them and admire them in so many ways!

I honestly can say that I would not be the Women of God that I am today if it weren't for this church.

I am so thankful that God brought me here.

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Christianrocker7

Joined 2 years ago

a massively blessed Church under the influence of God. Oakland Christian Church is by the far the most amazing church i've ever been to. I started coming here back in the end of 2009 and I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit every time I walk through the doors. I remember needing a church home and needing to be baptized. I fasted for a week and asked the Lord for guidance and direction on where I needed to be baptized at. I went to OCC and the Holy Spirit moved so intensely that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this is where the Lord wanted me planted and baptized. On my way home from the service I heard the voice of the Lord speak to me heart and say "big things are going to start happening at OCC"

I have seen nothing but growth within this church; the Spirit of God has just been growing and moving in the hearts of the congregation ever since i've started coming here. God has grown me so much and has placed me in different ministries within the church family.

This church to me IS my family. I have never met a pastor and his wife so passionately in love with the Lord and so passionate about sheperding their church family in the way God wants them to go. I'm blessed to be underneath their leadership and learn from people who have been in the ministry for decades.

Since the beginning of this year I have felt a shifting in the Spirit, a major one and a great one. This church is going places, this church is going to be touching the lives of so many people our human minds cannot even fathom it. Glory to God for such a beautiful and awesome church he has planted here! I'm so blessed and favored to be where I am in this church!

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TriumphantVictory

Joined 3 years ago

Awesome God!. Oakland Christian is my 'Beulah Land'. I long to fellowship again with my beautiful pastors Dominic and Amira! Our family was so blessed to be part of this beautiful local body!

I grew so much under the teaching and 'mothering' from Amira...God utilized my pastors to save my husband's life. It's a long story, in regards to periodontal disease. The disease was moving into his chest. The pastor went with my husband to the dentist, to get a second opinion from Dr. Timothy Mayer. We are so grateful to them as they prayed fervently over my husband and our family. They collected a love offering on our behalf...God utilized so many...in short, the whole procedure was paid for on my husband's behalf. I cry just thinking of how our God was revealed so beautifully through this beautiful local body! I have never met such exceptional pastors who are filled with the love of God in such a beautiful, powerful way! They love God's children....I'm proof of that! I thank God for the many vessels involved in saving my husband's life and I thank God for Jesus Christ revealed by the Holy Spirit who rescued us from ourselves!

I no longer live in Michigan; however, hopefully one day, when I do return, I thank the Lord in advance for this local body!

Love..Teresa

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sweetjesus10

Joined 4 years ago

Oakland Christian Church. Beautiful church, I was a first time visitor last week and this church showed me the love of Christ! I will be joining shortly with my whole family!!!!!

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abspi

Joined 4 years ago

is this the body ?. i am reading and becoming sick to my stomach. is this the body of christ? forgive each other and move on. if you left and are happy than good. if you stayed and are happy good. stop this bickering and judging. people make mistakes, lets move on from them and learn from them. i personally am filled every time i walk into that church. gods spirit dwells there. we all need to open our bible and read them more and not just speak words but live the words.

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thisissad

Joined 4 years ago

Im amazed. You people call yourself christians. Good thing we serve a merciful God. We are suppose to be building Gods kingdom not tearing down our brothers and sisters in the Lord. No wonder the world doesn't want anything to do with the body of Christ, we beat each other up with our words. How can the church grow, (whether its OCC or any other church out there) when we are killing each other from the inside. We judge people as if we are "Holy Ghost Jr". Be careful, because what you do to others will come back to you. What anyone has or does not have shouldn't be my business or yours. I dont know how you want your pastor to live but as the pastor goes so goes the sheep. I dont want my pastor driving a broken down vehicle and living in a shack. I would hope that he has the best of everything, proving that God is El Shaddai our provider. Lets build each other up and stop tearing each other down, we are a family. Lets love each other even if we dont go to the same church. No church is perfect nor is there such a thing as a perfect pastor. Stop looking you wont find it. Just love the one you have and support him.

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judgenotlesyebejudged

Joined 4 years ago

One more for the road.... I agree that Sandie is a remarkable woman, but these arguments should stop... what good do they do? For people claiming "Jesus is Lord," we sure don't obey what Jesus taught us.

"You are hopeful that God will have mercy on those that judge the Pastor on judgment day, you better include yourself in that prayer and practice what you preach."

I think WE HAD ALL better be hopeful for God's Mercy on Judgment Day (none more and none less)... certainly all the more if we're judging others for judging others who judge others. That's a whole lot of judgment going around by people who claim to follow the Jesus who commanded us "not to judge, or we would be judged... to forgive, and we will be forgiven."

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." - Gandhi

Seems like Ghandi followed the teachings of Christ more than the Christians who claim that Jesus IS their Christ. We should all repent.

We each need to stop the selective sight that "only I am right," or "I have a 'right' to judge back" for whatever reason. ALL self righteousness and ALL unforgiveness lead to blindness.

Read "The Shack" by William P. Young. And everyone STOP FIGHTING with each other.

Brad K

Doesn't Recommend

oliverllc

Joined 4 years ago

to user - church of michigan. To the user church of michigan - you chastise others for judging the Pastor yet you label, good, wonderful Godly people as hypocrites? Sandy Frankenstein is one of the lovliest women of God I know. You are hopeful that God will have mercy on those that judge the Pastor on judgement day, you better include yourself in that prayer and practice what you preach.

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setrecordstraight

Joined 4 years ago

As a former member for over 15 years.... Responses...

concernedchristian - 1st off, you sound like a stalker. I hope I don't know you. 2nd off, your assumption on OC's Associate Pastor's salary is incorrect. Lastly, while I too disagree with most of what goes on at OC (more than you know and with far more reason than you), if you were victimized, it's because you allowed yourself to be manipulated and probably ignored the facts to remain in your comfort zone just hoping that things would change.

letusreason - OC's finances are in disarray due to poor decision making against many counselors. This plays a part of their membership drop; however, even if they retained members, surely a person of reason wouldn't assume that a church was being Biblical or truly successful. Why some at OC spend money irresponsibly: they're hypocritical and materialistic just like me. But please cast the first stone since you're perfect. OR confront them directly - this would be more mature and Biblical. And reasonable.

churchofmichigan - It's a shame that you don't care about such loving people who quite lovingly helped found and establish the church that you now defend, especially since those people seem much less hypocritical than at least a few currently there. If you cared about the whole truth and not just your truth, you might be confronting both sides a bit more evenly - or at least doing your research. But chances are: you're not, and you won't.

As for my personal thoughts now... I find many things (certainly the finances AND many unBiblical teachings) of MANY churches to be utterly appalling and anything but Christ-like. *I think Kensington Church is one of the few exceptions that come to mind. But know what? I've got a lot to growth to do myself. BE CAREFUL not to bash. If you want to confront someone/something, get your facts straight first, and then go for it. But whatever's done without LOVE (for God and others) is worth NOTHING. Don't you Christians read? =)

All the best - Brad K

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WalkingInLove

Joined 5 years ago

In Defense Of Pastor James and his wife.. I think it's time for those of you who have their ears and eyes glued to this thread to hear the truth.

You have bashed Pastor James and his wife. You wrote that he lives in a BIG house and has all this money. First off, let me assure you, he does not get BIG BUCKS from his salary at the church.I know this family and have for years. Yes, his in-laws passed away and him and his wife were given an inheritance (which should be their private information) but what was left for his wife and his sister in law was what he used to put the down payment on the home he lives in. The mortgage they had in Lathrup Village was just one hundred dollars different than what he pays now, thanks to their great credit standing, so where he lives now is a blessing... not something OVER his head or beyond his means.

If you had good credit, you too could drive an SUV for a very low praice, but you probably have terrible credit so you judge Pastor James and his family for getting good deals. As I said, I have knnown the Sutherland's for 10 years and if you only KNEW the money they give away to the gospel, to charities, and to those in need are more than you could ever imagine, becuase they KNOW that the more you give, the more the Lord blesses you back. I have seen this work many times in their life and it has blessed me. Day or night Pastor James has gone to those in need of prayer, even at two in the morning, and has held the persons hand in need and prayed for them. They have blessed my family many times. To hear anyone bash them breaks my heart becuase you do not know them.

Whatever monies were given to them when Jackie's parents passed away are none of your business. Are you jealous? Please make your heart pure and the good Lord will bless you back. That's how He works.

God bless you.