Bethany Rivera - TOCC Small Groups Director
Small groups is where The Oaks is headed! We want you to be connected this chaotic season to the Body of Christ, and the best way to do that is to join a small group. We have Community Groups which are sermon-based discussion and fellowship groups. In these groups we strive to be a Christ-centered, Acts 1:8, Family. We also offer other topical bible studies and affinity groups for your edification and connection.
Please prayerfully consider how God is calling you to join a group today!
Meet our Community Group Leaders below!
MONDAY - MIXED GROUP
ZOOM 6:30PM - 8:00PM
LEADER: JANE OTTO
Jane has been a part of The Oaks since 1993. Originally from Minnesota (the VERY cold state) she served overseas in a number of places with CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) and then came to Bakersfield to help train missionaries in cross-cultural ministry. Jane taught first graders at the Richland school district in Shafter for 20 years and is currently retired. Her great joy is discipling others Besides that she enjoys reading, quilting and entertaining.
MONDAY - YOUNG ADULTS
HYBRID 7:00PM - 8:30PM
LEADER: KRISTINA RUCH
Born and raised in Bakersfield! Kristina has been coming to The Oaks for over 26 years... she grew up here! She has worked for Body Xchange Health Clubs since 2010. When time allows she enjoys cooking and hosting! As our Worship Director she has a passion for raising up leaders and encouraging them in their gifts.
MONDAY - WOMEN'S GROUP
ZOOM 6:30PM - 8:00PM
LEADER: KEICHA MORRIS
Keicha has been married to Lewis for 15 years. She has 10 year old twin boys and has been attending The Oaks for 12 years. Her family enjoys all things outdoors. her personal hobbies include making wood signs and keeping a daily 10,000 step goal. She is our Women’s Ministry Director here at The Oaks and the Mentor Coordinator for Empower. She has led numerous bible studies and worked briefly in children’s ministry.
TUESDAY - MIXED GROUP
ZOOM 6:30PM - 8:00PM
LEADERS: TUNDE & GBEMI DERU
Tunde and Gbemi have been married for nineteen years and are blessed with two children. Tunde is a mechanical engineer by training while Gbemi has a masters in business administration. Tunde and Gbemi are active in the Bakersfield community and when they are less busy, they enjoy traveling and exploring new places. Tunde serves as an elder on the Oaks Community Church Governing Board and volunteers on the audio-visual team. Gbemi serves on the Women’s Ministry Team and is a deaconess at the church.
TUESDAY - MEN'S GROUP
IN PERSON @ CHURCH 6:30PM - 8:00PM
LEADER: JOSE LUIS DONIZ
Jose Luis has been at The Oaks since 2016 and is honored to be leading a small group focused on Men. Jose also currently leads the Men’s Ministry and has a strong passion to disciple men by helping them know and submit to Christ's authority, in every area of their lives. Jose Luis and his wife Marcela have 3 young children, 1 boy (9) and 2 girls (7 and 3). They are a bilingual and bicultural family of 1st generation from Mexico in the USA. The Doniz family also enjoys movies, exploring nature as a family and they are special fan of California mountains.
THURSDAY - YOUNG COUPLES
HYBRID 7:00PM - 8:30PM
LEADERS: DANIEL & BETHANY RIVERA
Daniel & Bethany have been involved at The Oaks on and off for 6 years! They love the beach, disneyland, marvel movies, the Dodgers, and playing sports. They also love getting to know new people and walking with
others as they pursue Christ together.
THURSDAY - MIXED GROUP
ZOOM 6:30PM - 8:00PM
LEADERS: KEN & SANDY ROSLAN
Ken and Sandy have been married for 38 years. They met at a small church they were attending in Ohio. They have 3 adult children, one daughter-in-love and one precious granddaughter.
Sandy is co-leading the Wednesday afternoon Zoom Ladies Genesis Bible Study. Ken is involved in the Men's Ministry and loves to pray with people in need. Sandy enjoys bird watching and is a member of the Kern Audubon Society. Their love for each other is only preceded by their love for the Lord.
FRIDAY MORING - MEN'S GROUP
IN PERSON @ CHURCH 7:00AM - 8:00AM
LEADER: PASTOR CALVIN GUILLORY JR
Pastor Calvin has been with The Oaks for many years. He is married to his lovely wife Ana and together they have 3 beautiful children. He is our Pastor of Intercessory Prayer. He has a desire and passion for Christ to move in our community , in our nation and to the ends of the earth. He loves to interact with people and spread the good news of Jesus Christ!
FRIDAY - MIXED GROUP
HYBRID 6:00PM - 8:00PM
LEADERS: ANITA & ROGER LYNCH
Roger and Anita started attending TOCC in September 2016. They assisted with 8 Habits, Baptism classes as well as Marriage Enrichment. Served as a Deacon and Deaconess. They have been married for 31 years. In their down time they enjoy going to Christian concerts, fishing, and to the Dodgers games.
SATURDAY - MIXED GROUP
IN PERSON @ CHURCH 3:15PM - 5:00PM
LEADERS: PHILLIP MACIAS & TJ SHIU
TJ was born and raised in the Central Valley and has lived all over California, but it wasn't until he left everything behind to live overseas that he was born again. He now lives his life as a new creation in Christ, having earned a Master of Divinity in 2019 and serving in multiple ministries at The Oaks, including Celebrate Recovery, Soul Care, and Men's Ministry. With a desire to help Jesus set the captives free, he is a State Representative for CR Inside and volunteers for a Prison Bible College, transforming Prisoners of Crime into Prisoners of Christ.
​Phillip Macias has been attending The Oaks for just over 5 years now and has been a Deacon for almost 3 years. He has been married for more than 22 years with 3 children. Singing for our Lord is his passion. He loves to sing in worship and praise.
SUNDAY - MIXED GROUP
IN PERSON 6:00PM - 8:00PM
LEADERS: PASTOR GARY & LORI BARBER
Gary and Lori have been married for 39 years and enjoy walking and exercising together. Lori recently completed Empower, a course designed to equip women for ministry, and Gary has been learning about the person and work of the Holy Spirit through leading TOCC’s recent Rivers Retreats. They both want to see people thrive in their relationship with Jesus and are excited to be Community Group leaders.
SUNDAY - MIXED GROUP
HYBRID 5:00PM - 6:00PM
LEADERS: DENIS & VICKIE LACLARE
Denis and Vickie moved to Bakersfield from Canada in 1997, where they have served as missionaries with Cru in different roles. They both work with international students at CSUB, and Vickie coaches missionaries
who serve with Cru in the Middle East. Denis also teaches at Fresno Pacific University. The LaClares have 3 kids: Jesse, an engineer in Irvine, Mia, a sophomore who plays soccer at Trinity Western University in
Vancouver, and Will, a sophomore at Stockdale High School. They enjoy the outdoors, camping, hiking, and visiting family in Canada each summer. We love Bakersfield and TOCC and look forward to our upcoming community group!
Check below for more specialty groups offered
throughout the week!
WEDNESDAY
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WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY
ON GENESIS
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LEADER: LAURIE RAY
ZOOM 1:00PM - 2:30PM
WEDNESDAY
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MIXED GROUP
BIBLE SURVEY FELLOWSHIP
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LEADERS: LARRY & JANA LIGGETT
ZOOM 6:30PM - 8:00PM
WEDNESDAY
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YOUTH GROUP
JR HIGH & HIGH SCHOOL AGE
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LEADER: DANNY OLIVARES
IN PERSON @ CHURCH 6:30PM - 8:00PM
WEDNESDAY
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MOMS IN PRAYER
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LEADER: KATHY PRESTON
ZOOM
6:45PM - 8:00PM
THURSDAY
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WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY
ON GENESIS
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LEADER: LAURIE RAY
IN PERSON @ CHURCH
10:00AM -11:30AM
THURSDAY
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WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY
"WOMEN OF THE WORD"
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LEADERS:
KIRI COHU & SHANNON POWELL
ZOOM
7:00PM - 8:30PM
FRIDAY
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CELEBRATE
RECOVERY​
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LEADER: BRYAN RICO
IN PERSON @ CHURCH
7:00PM -9:00PM
SATURDAY
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GOLDEN CORD
55+ FELLOWSHIP GROUP
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LEADER: PAULA SMITH
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IN PERSON @ CHURCH
1:00PM - 3:00PM