Our story is one of God’s grace and provision. We began through the ministry of Bay Presbyterian Church when their congregation saw a need, and felt a desire, to start a new church in east Bonita. After much planning and prayer, they found a Pastor, Matt Loveall, and began the initial process of planting a church.

In the beginning, a lot of ministry and planning was accomplished with only a handful of families and individuals. It began in a living room. But we began to outgrow the living room and God provided a place to begin Sunday worship and foster community at the local fire station.

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With some time, plenty of hard work, prayer and a great group of people this small bible study turned into multiple small groups, bible studies, service projects, a youth group, and other branches of ministry. We outgrew the fire station and then moved to meeting at the YMCA.

We were able to purchase our current property on Terry Street in 2018. Matt, the pastor, after ten years of ministry, decided it was time to move on and he resigned in the fall of 2020. Thus began a pastoral search that lasted until June of 2021.

In June, the congregation called Mike Cosner to pastor Oak River, and came together to pay off the property. Our story is still a new one, but it is rooted in the bigger story of God’s work in our community and we're excited to see what God will do next. Come join us!

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Mike and his wife Chrissy joined the Oak River family in June 2021, moving from Charlotte, NC, after living and serving in various other churches and ministries for over 20 years, including overseas missions for four years. They are originally from Baltimore, MD.

Mike received his Masters Degree from RTS Charlotte/Virtual in August 2012, and was ordained in the PCA in May 2013, before heading off to serve as an overseas missionary with MTW (Mission the the World).

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Mike and Chrissy have been married for 27 years, and have three grown children, two (soon to be three) kids-in-law, and two grandkids. Mike is more than excited to be pastoring Oak River, and faithfully preaching the Word each Sunday. His heart is to see our church community grow, specifically with families and children, and to reach out into the surrounding community with the love of Jesus.

The leadership and staff