Adult Retreat: 9/15-9/16
Our guests/program presenters will be the Oaks family (Tommy, Patrica, and their son, John Thomas) from Tennessee. After our meal on Tuesday evening, we’ll be treated to the Musical Story of Esther, Star Queen, presented by Tommy and John Thomas. This is something for ALL AGES, so we are inviting area churches to join us at the Tabernacle at 6:00p.m. on Tuesday evening.
Along with “Star Queen” on Tuesday evening, the Oaks family will lead our music for the retreat, lead worship, and provide “Scheherazade” style workshops. If you can pronounce that word by noon on Wednesday, you’ll even get a certificate! This will be a fun time and an opportunity to learn something new.
Tommy and Patricia Oaks are the parents of two sons, John Thomas and Jason (wife Misty) and grandparents to Caleb and Gillian. Tommy graduated from Johnson Bible College (BA), Emmanuel School of Religion (MA), East Tennessee State University (MA), and the University of Tennessee (PhD). His studies included Bible, Practical Ministries, English, Education, and Storytelling. He has been preaching for over 40 years and has had a variety of experiences in the ministry, including youth ministry, pulpit preacher, campus ministry, and for years has been a full-time traveling evangelist (25 years and counting!)
As a storyteller, he has told stories at a variety of occasions both in the Church and in secular settings. As a minister, he has served in a nationwide ministry including revivals, retreats, rallies, conventions, seminars and workshops. His preaching is characterized by the use of stories, and an emphasis on living out one's faith on a daily basis, especially in one's family.
John Thomas Oaks loves Jesus Christ above all else. The songs of JtO and his collaborators are equally inspired by the hot pavement of crowded crosswalks and the sweet carpet of quiet forest trails. A preacher's kid currently residing in Knoxville, TN, his writing is infused with the colors of East Tennessee mountain Gospel and western North Carolina bluegrass, an education in the sweetness of jazz, club dues and the fruit of navigating the musical theater wonders of New York City. If you like music that is equal parts neon and firefly, you've come to the right place. He and his father, Tommy, travel full time presenting God's Word in creative ways through the arts of storytelling, music, preaching and theater.