Our Story
Isaiah 61:3 speaks of "oaks of righteousness" - men and women who are the "planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified." These oaks of righteousness are ones impacted by the Messiah (Isaiah 61:1-3) such that they will impact generations and nations (61:4). This is in the immediate context following the promise of Isaiah 60:22 about least ones becoming a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation.
As this mission shares the gospel, our aim is to make disciples of Jesus who can reproduce. As an oak tree grows from an acorn into a large, strong, firmly rooted tree, it also becomes a seed bearer that produces many more acorns. These acorns become oaks that become forests. As a poet once expressed: "The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn." This is the vision we have for planting oaks of righteousness, by God's grace.
Oak trees signify strength, as Ephesians 6:10 calls us to be strong in the Lord. Oaks represent something living, organic, and growing, which are common themes in Scripture. These mighty trees are also firmly rooted. Consider the rooted tree imagery paired with the four core values categories of this new mission: Christ, Word, Mission, People. These oaks are rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:6-7); rooted in the Word (Psalm 1); rooted in God's mission (Matthew 28:18-20), and rooted in investing in people (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
At Virginia Tech, we seek to proclaim Christ among men and women in the Corps of Cadets and help establish them as disciples of Jesus. As we do so, our aim is to impart cadets and midshipmen with a vision and network for becoming multiplying disciplemakers for a lifetime both in and out of the military.
Our Team
Kyle and Maggie Hooper lead the Oaks ministry to cadets and midshipmen at Virginia Tech. With a heart for building multiplying disciplemakers, Kyle and Maggie are passionate about helping cadets learn to walk deeply with Jesus and connecting them with disciplemaking communities across the military. Prior to serving with Oaks International, Kyle and Maggie worked with The Navigators. Kyle and Maggie live in Blacksburg with their five children. In addition to serving with Oaks, Kyle also serves as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer in the Virginia Air National Guard.
Bill Gibbs serves alongside the Hoopers in discipling men and women within our Oaks community. Bill has been making disciples for over 60 years both in vocational ministry, and as a self-employeed business owner. Bill is passionate about helping cadets know and understand the love of God and for helping make disciples who can make disciples. Bill can frequently be found at Waffle House where we meets with cadets nearly every day of the week!
Our Network
With Oaks disciplemaking communities on Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine bases around the country, our aim is to not only help cadets walk well with Jesus during their time at Virginia Tech, but to connect them with like-minded communities across the military where they can continue to grow as multiplying disciplemakers.
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