Christopher Blake
2015 | Began attending Oakwood
2019 | Started serving as an elder
About Christopher
Dr. Blake – as he’s known to his dental patients – is quite literally a down-to-earth guy. He competes in catamaran sailing races, glides through cross-country skiing marathons and backpacks the Porcupine Mountains every Thanksgiving. If that’s not invigorating enough, he’s also raising chickens! But that all pales in comparison to spending time with his grandson Liam. He also tells an entertaining story once in a while, so be sure to ask Christopher to share one of his favorites the next time you see him.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU COME TO FAITH IN JESUS?
I was on a beach, climbing off a catamaran sailboat in Racine on a Saturday in August of 2011 at the ripe age of 58. I broke on that beach. The next day, God saved me upon accepting Christ in a local church. When I walked out the door, I felt I was floating for more than an hour and came to clearly understand years later that, by the grace of God, He removed my sin burden - paid in full through the Lord’s work on the cross - revealing my true weight. (Wow, what an amazing diet. I highly recommend it to whosoever will listen).
SINCE THEN, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN USING YOUR GIFTS AND SERVING JESUS?
God has gifted me to be a teacher and storyteller. He patiently kept me alive multiple times through many life-threatening adventures and is now continually training me to tell the greatest true story ever: His. He brought me to Oakwood 7 years ago, dropped me into serving on the Oakwood emergency medical team, Mighty Men of God (in Training) daily bible study, Bridge Builders community outreach, a mission trip to Kentucky. I’ve been serving on the elder board since 2019 and its there that He is continuing to prune me. The Lord has given me good health to continue practicing dentistry and God has graciously given me a captive audience (open wide!) to share His Good News. I also volunteered at Lake Area Free Dental Clinic for several years doing oral surgery with the agreement that they would allow me to talk freely about our Lord and Savior, Jesus.