The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Church leaders celebrate 30 years of pastoring

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman Tim and Carol Sheets, pastors of the Oasis Church, in the sanctuary of the facility in Middletown.

ENLARGE PHOTO

E-mail this page

By Rick McCrabb Updated 10:13 PM Saturday, July 25, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Giula House knew her daughter’s taste in males.

In 1968, House, then a secretary at Madison Junior High School, came home one day and told her daughter, Carol, that Tim and Billy Sheets — “two cute boys” — moved into the district.

Carol House, a cheerleader, and Tim, a standout athlete, started dating in the eighth grade. Nobody, not even then, could have thought the puppy love would last.

But they were married in 1973 — one year after graduating from Madison — and they recently celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary.

But that’s not their most amazing number. That would be 30, the number of years ago they moved back home to Middletown and began pastoring.

Thirty years in one city.

“It can’t be that many years,” Tim Sheets said.

“We were kids,” Carol Sheets added.

Now Tim, 56, and Carol, 54, are grandparents three times over, and if you have an extra 30 minutes, ask them about their grandchildren.

Another of their passions, their church, The Oasis Church (formally The Living Word Church), will host a 30-year anniversary celebration for the couple during the morning service on Sunday, July 26.

This never was their plan, this 30-year stay in one spot. Preachers tend to never stay in one place very long. About every three or four years, they pick up and move to another church. That’s part of the profession.

But they’re different.

They fell in love with the Middletown area, and the community fell in love with them.

“We’re home,” Carol Sheets said.

And isn’t that the most important thing?

Anyway, after graduating from Christ For the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas, they returned to Middletown and were approved as pastors at Living Word Church, which held Sunday services in a Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

That was 1979.

Jimmy Carter was president.

“Kramer vs. Kramer” was best picture.

Carson Palmer was born.

Pittsburgh won the Series.

The following year, they moved to a church on Winton Street, then to Central School, and in 1982, they purchased 46 acres on Lefferson Road and began building what is now one of the mega-churches in the area.

They grew up. Together, right in front of their congregation. Tim Sheets now is preaching to grandchildren of his original congregation.

“We put our roots down and tried to serve faithfully,” he said while sitting in his office, decorated with family photos.

Added his wife: “We’re Mom and Dad to everybody.”

Tim Sheets’ ministry means he travels extensively, but about every Sunday, he can be found in the pulpit. He estimates he spends more than 20 hours a week studying for every sermon.

He also has to live his words.

“You can’t fake it for 30 years,” he said. “You have to live right, and that adds validity to our message.”

Carol Sheets praised her husband, her preacher, for keeping his messages “fresh and relevant” every week.

The Oasis has seen its changes over the years. The choir has traded in its silky robes and hymnals for more casual attire and contemporary musical selections.

Sheets sometimes preaches in jeans and a sport coat.

“You have to change with the times,” he said. “You want to preach to a full house. If you look behind you and nobody is following, you’re not leading.”

Tim Sheets isn’t ready to walk away and work on his golf game. Not yet, at least. Sand saves will have to wait. He has souls to save.

He hopes to preach another 15 to 20 years.

“Then I’ll coast the last three years,” he said with a smile. “Not the first three.”

Contact this

columnist

at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.

rICK MCCRABB

columnist

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

Pastors Tim & Carol Sheets Pastor with excellence & I count it a blessing & an honor to call The Oasis my home church, Pastored by Tim & Carol Sheets!

Debbie
10:03 PM, 7/25/2009

REPORT ABUSE

CONGRADULATIONS ON 30 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST!! IT IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, SEEING THAT YOUR FOCUS IS ON SOULS. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS TO SEE SOULS BIRTHED INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!

KRISTY B.
9:30 PM, 7/25/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Pastor Tim and Carol are stellar people and I'm honored to attend their church!

Paula
10:06 AM, 7/25/2009

REPORT ABUSE

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.