Sunday Worship in The Great Auditorium
Sunday Worship Services are held in person in the Great Auditorium at 10:30 AM from June 8 to September 7, 2025 and Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM.
Services can also be viewed live or on demand in the player below, or in the player that includes all of our programming, at oceangrove.org/watch.
Interpretation for the deaf is provided during Sunday Morning Worship Services.
Here is a lookback at speakers in 2024;
2025 Speaker lineup coming soon.
JUNE 9 — 10:30 AM
Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes
Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes was raised on Long Island, New York. After graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary, he received a Ph.D. in the History of Christianity from The University of Chicago.
He served as the pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Madison, WI, until 1992 when he became the pastor of The National Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. In 2002 he became a chaired professor at Pittsburgh Seminary while also serving as the pastor of the Shadyside Presbyterian Church. In 2012 he was elected President of Princeton Theological Seminary and became the President Emeritus in January 2023.
Dr. Barnes has nine published books including When God Interrupts, Pastor as Minor Poet, and most recently Diary of a Pastor’s Soul. He has also served as a contributor and Editor at Large to The Christian Century for many years.
He is married to Dawne Hess Barnes who is an interior designer. They have three fabulous children, four delightful grandchildren, and a frisbee-addicted Bearded Collie.
JUNE 16
Pastor Roger Casey
Pastor Roger Casey has pastored churches on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. He has spent a considerable amount of time engaged in missionary evangelism in Southern India.
Roger’s last pastorate, before retiring, in Manhattan spanned 18 years. He currently serves as a Bible teacher and an elder at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Milford, PA.
JUNE 23 — 10:30 AM
Dr. R.T. Kendall
R.T. Kendall is a Christian writer, speaker, and teacher who pastored Westminster Chapel for 25 years. He is the author of more than 50 books, including Total Forgiveness.
Kendall was born in Ashland, Kentucky and named after R. T. Williams who was a General Superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene. With his wife, Louise, he has a son and a daughter, Robert Tillman II and Melissa Louise, and three grandchildren. He received degrees at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and the University of Louisville before earning a Doctor of Philosophy at Regent’s Park College, a hall of the University of Oxford. He later received a Doctor of Divinity from Trevecca Nazarene University.
From 1977 to 2002 he was the Minister at Westminster Chapel in London.
Kendall is now in retirement in Hendersonville, Tennessee, from where he continues his work as an author and guest speaker at Christian conferences. He appears on Christian TV programmes and is a regular contributor to Christian publications. He is also the President of R.T. Kendall Ministries.
JUNE 30 — 10:30 AM
Rev. Dr. Leonard Sweet
Leonard Sweet is the author of over sixty books. His most recent is Rings of Fire published by NavPress and Tyndale. He is the Charles Wesley professor of doctoral studies at Evangelical Theological Seminary, E. Stanley Jones Professor emeritus at Drew University, and a visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University and Tabor College. Len has authored more than 1500 published sermons. His most recent project is the narratives based, interactive preaching resource for pastors and disciples called preachthestory.com . Len often appears on “Most Influential Christian” lists, and his Twitter and Facebook posts, as well as his Napkin Scribbles podcasts, are ranked as some of the most widely influential religious social media sites in the world.
JULY 7 — 10:30 AM
Rev. Dr. Harold Dean Trulear
Rev. Harold Dean Trulear, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Applied Theology at Howard University School of Divinity. A graduate of Morehouse College (BA) and Drew University (PhD), he directs a national research and demonstration project called “Healing Communities USA,” mobilizing congregations to support those returning from incarceration through the establishment of family and social support networks.
With Charles Lewis and W. Wilson Goode, he is co-editor of the book Ministry with Prisoners and Families: The Way Forward (Judson Press 2011). His book, Balancing Justice with Mercy: An Interfaith Guide to Creating Healing Communities was released in September 2021, while his newest book: Welcome Home: Reflective Essays for Returning Citizens, is currently being used as pre-release curriculum in over 100 jail facilities.
Rev. Trulear is married to Brenda J. Trulear, pastor of Empowered Ministries, Inc., and director of Phemi School of Ministry.
JULY 14 — 10:30 AM
Chaplain Barry Black
On June 27, 2003, Rear Admiral Barry C. Black (Ret.) was elected the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He began working in the Senate on July 7, 2003. Prior to coming to Capitol Hill, Chaplain Black served in the U.S. Navy for over twenty-seven years, ending his distinguished career as the Chief of Navy Chaplains. The Senate elected its first chaplain in 1789.
Chaplain Black is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and an alumnus of Oakwood College, Andrews University, North Carolina Central University, Eastern Baptist Seminary, Salve Regina University, and United States International University. In addition to earning master of arts degrees in divinity, counseling, and management, he has received a doctorate degree in ministry and a doctor of philosophy degree in psychology.
Chaplain Black has been selected for many outstanding achievements. Of particular note, he was chosen from 127 nominees for the 1995 NAACP Renowned Service Award for his contribution to equal opportunity and civil rights. He also received the 2002 Benjamin Elijah Mays Distinguished Leadership Award from The Morehouse School of Religion. In 2004, the Old Dominion University chapter of the NAACP conferred on him the Image Award, "Reaffirming the Dream -- Realizing the Vision" for military excellence.
Chaplain Barry C. Black is married to the former Brenda Pearsall of St. Petersburg, Florida. They have three sons: Barry II, Brendan, and Bradford.
70th Annual Choir Festival
NOTE: The Choir Festival has moved to Saturday night this year!
Visit here for details
JULY 21 — 10:30 AM
Rev. Dr. Jessica LaGrone
Rev. Dr. Jessica LaGrone is the Dean of the Chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. She is an acclaimed pastor, teacher, speaker, and writer whose engaging communication style endears her to groups throughout the United States. A native of Texas, Jessica is an ordained pastor in the Texas Annual Conference at the United Methodist Church and previously served for nine years at The Woodlands United Methodist Church near Houston, Texas.
Jessica’s books and studies include Namesake: When God Rewrites Your Story, Under Wraps, and Broken and Blessed: How God Used One Imperfect Family to Change the World, and Set Apart: Holy Habits of Prophets and Kings have been used in personal and group studies around the world. Her book, also called Broken and Blessed, was released by Abingdon in Fall 2014, in addition to an all-church Advent study co-created by the pastoral staff at TWUMC to which she is a contributor called “Under Wraps.”
Jessica and her husband, Jim, have two young children, Drew and Kate.
JULY 28 — 10:30 AM
Darryl Strawberry
Though Darryl was extremely successful in his career, his personal life was plagued with addictions, abuse, divorces, cancer, jail-time and other issues. Darryl finally found true redemption and restoration in Jesus Christ.
Today, Darryl's purpose and passion is serving the Lord Jesus Christ by speaking a message of hope and helping others transform their lives through the power of the gospel. Darryl travels the country speaking and bringing a message of hope and restoration in Christ.
Darryl Strawberry is described as a legend by many who have been dazzled by the dynamics of his game, the power he possessed at the plate and the story of redemption that continues to bring hope to so many lives. He has earned the legendary nicknames and phrases of one of the most feared homerun hitters in the game of baseball, Straw’s Sweet Swing, Strawberry’s Field Forever and The Legendary Straw Man!
AUGUST 4 — 10:30 AM
Pastor Christian Andrews
Christian Andrews grew up in Middletown, New Jersey, where he spent summers at the Jersey Shore. He was a skater and a surfer, and though he loved youth group, he never dreamed he would become a pastor some day. In college, he studied physics, but before going off to graduate school he served as a ministry intern in Philadelphia for one year. Working as a teacher’s aid, he was pushed into the position of Bible teacher for the 8th grade students. The experience was a first step toward God’s call for him. He became a youth pastor the following year, and went off to Princeton Theological Seminary to become prepared for a new path. Christian currently serves as the Lead Pastor of Renaissance Church, in Springfield NJ. He lives in Summit, NJ with his wife Michelle, and their kids, Nate and Lily.
AUGUST 11 — 10:30 AM
Dr. Vince Vitale
Dr. Vince Vitale was educated at Princeton University and the University of Oxford, and he taught philosophy and theology as a faculty member briefly at Princeton and then for several years at Oxford. It was during his undergraduate studies at Princeton that Vince was challenged to read the Bible by two soccer teammates and took an unexpected journey from skeptic to evangelist. He then completed master’s and PhD studies at Oxford, receiving a Daniel M. Sachs Graduating Scholarship (at the time awarded annually to one graduating Princetonian) and a Clarendon Scholarship (supported by Oxford University Press).
Alongside his work with Kardia, Vince serves as Faculty Scholar at CEO Forum and as a host of the Unbelievable? podcast. Previously, he served as RZIM’s Regional Director for the Americas and before that as Team Director of The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics.
While researching at Oxford, Vince developed a new response to the problem of evil. This response is discussed in Vince’s Philosophia Christi article, “Non-Identity Theodicy,” and in book form with Oxford University Press as Non-Identity Theodicy: A Grace-Based Response to the Problem of Evil (2020). For his work on Søren Kierkegaard, InterVarsity Press and Tyndale House selected Vince as IVP Young Philosopher of Religion of the Year 2013.
Vince has commended the Christian faith in numerous countries and on the campuses of many leading universities including Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, UPenn, UC Berkeley, Stanford, MIT, Johns Hopkins, West Point, and Oxford. He also has had the privilege of speaking at Google; Amazon; Facebook; Autodesk; The Brooklyn Tabernacle; and Passion City Church; and he was the keynote speaker at the 54th National Prayer Breakfast of Canada.
In addition to his focus on biblical and cultural questions, Vince has strong interests in the topics of reconciliation, leadership, and theology of work, as well as in the intersection of faith and sport. He played varsity soccer at Princeton, was a “double Blue” at Oxford (competing for the university in soccer and boxing), and has traveled with Athletes in Action mission teams to four continents. While teaching at Princeton, Vince served as Faculty Director of the Athletes in Action ministry on campus.
Vince is married to Dr. Jo Vitale. Vince and Jo enjoy teaming up for the Ask Away podcast, giving talks together, and trying (unsuccessfully!) to keep up with their young children, Raphael and Jonathan.
AUGUST 11 — 7 PM
Sunday Evening Hymn Sing in the Bishop Janes Tabernacle
Bill Welte, America’s Keswick
AUGUST 18 — 10:30 AM
Dr. David Ashcraft
Dr. David Ashcraft serves as the President and CEO of the Global Leadership Network (GLN), an organization at the forefront of global leadership development and in pursuit to serve more pastors, equip more churches, and inspire more leaders. The signature event of the GLN is The Global Leadership Summit, an annual gathering that brings ministry and marketplace expertise together from over 120 countries and translated into over 60 languages.
Previously, for 32 years Dr. Ashcraft served as the Pastor of LCBC (Lives Changed By Christ) Church in Manheim, Pennsylvania. Under his leadership, LCBC grew from one location with a weekly attendance of 150 people to 19 locations across the state of Pennsylvania with a combined average weekly attendance of over 22,000.
Additionally, Dr. Ashcraft is the Founder and President of The Advantage, a leadership collaborative whose purpose is to mentor and encourage pastors across the country. He is the author of “What Was I Thinking?” a book designed to help us make better decisions. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Global Leadership Network and the National Association of Evangelicals.
Dr. Ashcraft has been married to Ruth for over 44 years. Together they have two children and two grandchildren.
AUGUST 25
Dr. Richard Blackaby
Dr. Richard Blackaby is the President of Blackaby Ministries International and lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Blackaby travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace, as well as on spiritual awakening, experiencing God, and the Christian life. Dr. Blackaby regularly ministers to Christian CEOs as well as church and family leaders.
Dr. Blackaby grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He has been married to Lisa since August 6, 1983 and has three adult, married children: Mike, Daniel, and Carrie. Richard also has four amazing grandsons!
Dr. Blackaby earned a B.A. in history from the University of Saskatchewan. He has an M.Div and Ph.D. in church history from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and an honorary doctorate from Dallas Baptist University.
Dr. Blackaby served as a senior pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Winnipeg, and then as the president of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, for 13 years. He continues to serve as the seminary’s Chancellor.
Dr. Blackaby has written or co-authored more than thirty books, including: The Seasons of God: How the Shifting Patterns of Your Life Reveal His Purposes for You; The Inspired Leader: 101 Biblical Reflections for Becoming a Person of Influence; Unlimiting God: Increasing Your Capacity to Experience the Divine; Putting a Face on Grace: Living a Life Worth Passing On; Experiencing God at Home, Rebellious Parenting: Daring to Break the Rules So Your Child Can Thrive, and Living Out of the Overflow: Serving Out of Your Intimacy with God.
He has also co-authored many books with his father, Henry, including: Experiencing God: Revised Edition; Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda; Experiencing God: Day by Day; Hearing God’s Voice; Called to Be God’s Leader: Lessons from the Life of Joshua; Being Still With God: A 365 Daily Devotional; Fresh Encounter: God’s Pattern for Spiritual Awakening; God in the Marketplace: 45 Questions Fortune 500 Executives Ask about Faith, Life, and Business, and Flickering Lamps: Christ and His Church.
Sunday, AUGUST 25 — 7 PM
Sacred Masterworks Worship Event
Eternal Songs of Praise:
Music of Bach and Mendelssohn
Click here for details.
SEPTEMBER 1 — 10:30 AM
Pastor Tim Lucas
Tim Lucas is the founder and lead pastor of Liquid Church, named one of America’s Top 100 Fastest-Growing Churches by Outreach magazine (2018-2020). Tim started Liquid “on accident” with a dozen twenty-something friends meeting in the basement of a 150-year old church. Since launching in 2007, Liquid has experienced rapid growth and thousands of changed lives across the Northeast. The innovative church has grown to 7 locations around New Jersey with 5,200 people in attendance and more than 2,700 baptisms to date.
Tim is the author of Liquid Church: 6 Powerful Currents to Saturate Your City for Christ (Zondervan), recently named 2020 Leadership Book of the Year by Outreach magazine. A dynamic communicator, Tim is a national conference speaker known for creatively communicating the Bible with cultural insight, heart, and humor.
Tim’s innovative approaches to outreach have been spotlighted by CNN, Fox News, The Today Show and the New York Times. He hosts the Church Changer ministry podcast and leads the Lead Pastors Coaching Network to equip and mentor senior pastors, ministry leaders, and church planters to reach the next generation for Christ.
A graduate of Wheaton College (IL), Tim and his wife Colleen enjoy lake life with their two children in northern New Jersey.
SEPTEMBER 8 — 10:30 AM
Salvation Army Sunday
Commissioner Ralph Bukiewicz
Eastern Territorial Leader, Salvation Army
Musical Guest: New York Staff Band
Watch Online
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