Rev. Bob Parnell - Senior Pastor
Pastor Bob and his wife Michele, have been at Black Oak Baptist for 13 years. The Lord has truly blessed their ministry. On special services the attendance will go to over 350.
Pastor Bob was saved at the age of 13, and soon after was called to the gospel ministry. He was ordained at age 20, and received his BA in theology in 1983.
Prior to Black Oak Baptist, pastor has served at two churches both of which were in the state of Illinois.
The Parnell's have one daughter, Zoe. Pastor and his family reside in Portage.
I am very blessed to serve as Assistant Pastor of Black Oak Baptist Church under a great man of God, Senior Pastor, Rev. Bob Parnell. I am so excited to be here. Jesus has blessed me so very much. The following is a little bit about me and how Jesus as blessed my life.
As a little kid I knew that God wanted me to do something in my life. But without the proper guidance I left the Roman Catholic Church searching for answers. In June of 1991 I received Christ Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. In June of 1992 Jesus healed me from Grand Mal Epilepsy.
On May 6, 1997, my beautiful wife, Pamela and I had our first date and shortly after invited me to Ross Baptist Church. During discipleship training under Pastor Steve Faith Ph.D., I knew that the Southern Baptist Church was where God wanted me. I joined Ross Baptist that night pending baptism the following Sunday. Shortly after I told Pastor Faith that God had called me to preach the gospel. He immediately took me into his office and opened the Bible and instructed me on how to read out of the Bible and not into it. He started coaching me, looking up words in Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT). He gave me a new understanding of the Word of God. He showed me how I could study it myself and not just rely on others to tell me what God was saying.
On January 25, 1998 I preached my first sermon on the 91st Psalm. On September 26, 1998 during a special called business meeting, under a unanimous decision, I was licensed by the First Southern Baptist Church of Ross to preach the Gospel and to perform all aspects of the ministry.
On February 20, 1999 Pamela and I married at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Hobart where I was serving as Interim Pastor/Minister of Music.
I have also always been involved in music. I attended VanderCook College of Music in Chicago to be a music teacher as a vocal major. I love to preach through song and leading a congregation in worshiping our precious Savior.
To help lead saints (those saved) into the presence of Almighty God through good Christian Music ~Awesome!
I HAVE TO TELL YOU!!!!
3 years ago I was in the hospital coughing so hard with asthma that I would pass out. It damaged my vocal chords! I lost the top 3 notes to my range and my falsetto was practically none existant. And I didnt have the volume that I had before I got sick. For the past few years I have shyed away from many chance...s to sing and put my heart into song leading rather then soloing. I knew that God had called me to preach and I could still sing enough with other people and would practice solos that were in a much lower key. My favorite solo is "God of the Mountain." Even though I would try to force my voice to sing it (Key of A) it was raspy and really fell short to my previous vocal ability. In my office today before church it was the same. I couldnt get all the notes in and I prayed that it would at least sound good because it went so well with Pastor Bob's sermon about vallies. (psalm 23). I put it in God's hands because I sing for Him not perform anymore.
TONIGHT!!! February 6, 2011, Jesus restored my voice 100% as I started to have trouble with the mic, I turned it off and just gave it to Jesus. All of the notes, volume and vocal quality was there as before. I AM HEALED!!!!!!
AND I WILL SING WITH EVERYTHING... I HAVE UNTIL THIS BODY NO LONGER HAS BREATH!!
To God be all the Glory and Honor!!!
I am a sinner who was saved by grace.... God's overwhelming grace...When Christ became real in my life, everything changed. He led me down paths that were much brighter than anything I could've ever done on my own. I am not saying that my life has been easy, but He has definitely granted me peace. He has given me hope and a future even when I thought that I couldn’t go on. He is the ultimate sustainer!
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” - Acts 20:24
My life is worth nothing, but God uses me anyway. I have direction in my Life now. I am living for Christ... He is the determining factor in my being. Currently, I am serving here at Black Oak as the director of youth Ministries while attending Indiana State University in Terre Haute Indiana where I am majoring in Music education. I am very very busy, but God's Grace is ever so sustaining. He has given me so much, and I can never repay him. He amazes me each and every day. I am where I am now, because of fellowship with believers, and most of all Christ. I owe Him my life
FEBRUARY 2012 
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