There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
 who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
~ Romans 8:1 ~

The question that surfaces within all newly converted believers is “now that I have followed the plan of salvation for my life, what is next?”  We believe that after following the plan to salvation, believers need to focus on their spiritual growth.

Life experiences have shown that there are a wide range of believers, who in the beginning of their Christian experiences share the same feelings and fervency as it relates to their spiritual growth.  Oil of Joy Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Charles Hamlin has designed spiritual growth classes to develop the mind in patience and increase your understanding as it pertains to spirituality.  This spiritual growth class will teach and instruct all who have received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and accepted Him as Lord over their lives; and are preparing to live a spirit-filled life without boundaries.

Spiritual growth is detailed in 2 Peter 1:3-8 NIV, which reads "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

It is our belief that in order for spiritual growth to occur, you first need to make sure you possess a true spiritual life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:11-12).  When you believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit lives inside of you (see John 14:16-17) and you are a new creation in Christ! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come;" meaning your old way of living, and thinking which is dominated by sin, is now dead and replaced with a newness in life that is under the influence of God's Spirit (see Romans 6-7).