Featured Speakers
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICES
Featured Events
SATURDAY
November 4 @ 5:30pm
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Join us as we learn about East White Oak’s direct involvement in African missions over the last 30 years, particularly our short term efforts. We’ll get a flavor of African cuisine to help immerse us in the culture. Dinner is for all ages, and childcare will be provided after dinner. The nursery will be available all evening.
SUNDAY
November 5 @ 4pm – 6pm
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Swing by the East White Oak “Missions Café” while visiting booths representing our recent trips around the world. We will be featuring all the short-term missions trips from the past year and highlight upcoming opportunities. This will be followed by a Youth led time of worship. The nursery will be available all evening.
TUESDAY
November 7 @ 7:00pm
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The Women’s Ministry is hosting a night of sweet treats and sweet fellowship with Marcia Strauss.
SATURDAY
November 11 @ 8:00am
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Men, come hear about Doug’s many years in Africa. Bring your appetite for food, fellowship, and encouragement.
SATURDAY
November 11 @ 5:30pm
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East White Oak dinner theater presents “100 Years in Africa.” Enjoy a picnic dinner as you travel through our history via dramatic presentation by East White Oak Thespians, beginning with the sending Erma Birky to the Belgian Congo in 1923. We will then have the opportunity to hear from Marcia Strauss telling the remarkable story of founding a theological school under a communist government in Ethiopia. Children’s programming will be available after dinner, and the nursery will be available all evening.
SUNDAY
November 12 @ 6:30pm
Let’s come together on the final night united in praise and prayer to the Lord. Ted Barnett will lead us to God’s throne as we wrap up this year’s conference. The nursery will be available all evening. Ice cream sundaes will be served following our time of worship.
Conference Calendar
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4
- 5:30pm African Food & Focus: 30 Years of East White Oak Missions
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5
- 9:00 & 10:30 am Sunday Worship, Guest Speaker: Jim Simmons
- 9:00 & 10:30am combined ABFs, Doug & Lisa Orner
- 4:00pm Short Term Missions Fair & Worship
- 6:00pm Senior High Youth Group with the Chamberlains
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6
- 1:00pm Ladies’ Missions Circle with Lisa Orner
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7
- 7:00pm Ladies’ Missions Connection with Marcia Strauss
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8
- 6:30pm AWANA: Marcia Strauss
- 6:30pm Prayer Meeting: Jim Simmons
- Jr. High: Doug & Lisa Orner
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11
- 8:00am Men’s Breakfast
- 5:30pm Dinner and Drama, Followed by Marcia Strauss
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12
- 9:00 & 10:30am Sunday Worship, Guest Speaker Ted Barnett
- 9:00 & 10:30am combined ABFs, Business as Missions with Matt Hughes
- 6:30pm Praise & Prayer with Ted Barnett
Visiting Missionaries
Click on the name of each missionary to read more about their story and ministry.
Ted Barnett
Dr. Ted Barnett serves as the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA) Leadership and Operational Effectiveness Consultant. He started in this position on January 1, 2014. He came to AEA having served as an Executive Leader in Christian non-profits and education sectors for many years. Prior to ministry with AEA he served for 26 years as the Africa Inland Mission U.S. Director (CEO for AIM US) guiding the efforts of a large team in mobilizing, equipping and serving a missionary force sent to over 22 countries of Africa. Previous to his leadership role in AIM, he served in an executive position with Campus Crusade for Christ’s (now CRU) International School of Theology impacting the U.S., Asia and Nairobi training of Christian leaders. Previous to that position he served as the Associate Dean of Students for Men and oversaw Extended Education for Biola University in California. Ted continues to serve as an AIM member, but serves AEA under a Memo of Understanding (MOU). His wife, Martha, also serves AEA under the MOU providing ministry, facilitation and training in the area of prayer through Moms In Prayer International. She also partners with and supports her husband in his ministry. The Barnett’s live in Fayetteville, GA, just 20 minutes south of the Atlanta airport. Ted makes up to 4 trips to various countries of Africa a year and Martha makes up to two trips to Africa per year. They work with and serve AEA both in the United States and Africa. They serve AEA, including the AEA Secretariat, who act for the greater effectiveness of the 40 National Evangelical Fellowships and Alliances in 40 countries of Africa. Ted is over the theological training within AEA’s headquarters. Ted and Martha long to see the church in Africa galvanized to reach the unengaged and unreached people groups remaining without the gospel in Africa and ultimately around the world.
The Barnett’s have three adult children and eight grandchildren.
Brett & Rebekah Chamberlain
Brett and Rebekah were married in 2016 and were sent by their church to West Africa for six months in 2017. After that short term, they really felt God calling them to full-term missions in Africa among unreached people groups. They have accepted that calling and are serving on the Southern Tanzanian coast where they are building relationships, proclaiming the gospel, and making disciples amongst the almost one million unreached coastal Swahili people group.
Doug and Lisa Orner
Doug and Lisa Orner have served as missionaries for 38 years with Africa Inland Mission. 23 years in Tanzania and 15 in Kenya. They have served as Bible School teachers, dorm parents, and most recently finance director and librarian at Rift Valley Academy. Their current ministry is Caregivers at A.I.M. Retirement Center in Florida.
Jim and Susan Simmons
Jim & Susan serve as missionaries with Africa Inland Missions in Tanzania. They lived in Towanda, IL and attended East White Oak for many years before leaving for language school in the summer of 2021. Jim is on the teaching staff at Nassa Theological College in Tanzania where he teaches classes including the Pentateuch, New Testament Survey, and Anthropology & Hamartiology.
Marcia Strauss
Marcia Strauss lives in Dallas, Texas and serves as the Spiritual Vitality and Prayer Lead on the SIM International People Development and Care Team. Formerly, she and her husband, Steve, ministered in Ethiopia for 19 years. Their three children are married and live in Bolivia, Texas, and South Carolina. Marcia enjoys prayer walks in nature, Ethiopian cuisine, and memory-making times with her six grandchildren.
