STATE MISSIONS REPORT FOR JANUARY 2003
Marion Reed
Missionary Baptist Association of Texas
Post Office Box 450813
Garland, TX 75045-0813
Tel. 972-272-7727 Fax 972-494-6959 Email cbmin1@juno.com
General Fund Beginning Balance ....................$7,223.61
General Fund Offerings Received .................$28,828.49
Paid out for salaries and related expenses......$32,490.46
General Fund Closing Balance ........................$3,511.64
These offerings came from approximately 185 churches and some individuals.
I want to express my heart felt appreciation for the good response to my plea for additional offerings. Many of our churches have sent special offerings, along with their regular support. These special offerings have made it possible for us to pay all our missionaries’ salaries and insurance funds, as well as Mrs. Crawford’s. I have not taken any thing out for my self and will not until our balance increases to a comfortable level. Our pay out for January was large due to the fact that we started the month with a pay roll that included most of the last two weeks of December. Also I have changed from a two week pay period to monthly and that required a little extra. Since we are now making the payments to the sponsoring church or mission I believe it best to move to the monthly pay period. The missionaries can be paid by their mission treasurer or sponsoring church weekly, every two weeks, or however they desire.
I want to remind everyone that the second Sunday of April has been set as Resurrection Sunday to receive a special offering for State Missions.
Please be in prayer for our Missionaries. Also be praying that God will call more men to work in our great state of Texas.
David Humber
Abilene
We began the year here at TABC with a watch night service. We had a good attendance and good fellowship for this special service. Also during January we had a special "Send Off" fellowship for one of our newer members, Josh Woolridge. Josh is a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and is stationed here at Dyess AFB as a loadmaster on C-130 cargo planes. At the time of this report Josh is in Afghanistan. Please help us pray that Josh and others of our membership and area, as well as all of our service men and women will return to us safely. Josh is a very special young man who has a close walk with the Lord. We are so thankful to know him.
We continue to have some good prospects in the guests who are visiting with us. Please pray that these will follow the Master’s plan as they search for a church home. We can always use more help.
Please continue to pray for the work here at Texas Avenue Baptist. The church has now adopted a solid plan to work our way off of state salary. Please pray for us as we go forward in faith to accomplish what God has before us.
Thanks to you who support this work with your prayers and financial help, whether given directly or through the office of Secretary-Treasure. Your support means so much to this work and the others throughout the state. Thank you for your faithfulness.
Average Attendance: Sunday School: 30 Morning Worship: 38
Evening Worship: 23 Mid-week Bible Study: 24
Total church offerings: $3,130.22
Gave to missions: $313.05
W. S. Taylor
Fort Worth
COMMENTS: Our land note is burned up!! It was a joyous time, especially for those who have been with us since our step of faith in purchasing the land. We have some building plans posted on the bulletin board and a suggestion box for members to put in their ideas and dreams. We’re also visiting other churches to take pictures of their building and letting our folks see the potential for the building we hope to build soon. It’s exciting to see our people, even visitors, talking and praying for wisdom, while dreaming. Pray with us in this important step and while we are seeking financing.
As stated in the last report, the devil’s been poking around and our attendance will reflect his damage for a while. We have some strong people who can see that we’re going through a time of testing and are hanging on tight until it’s over. Thank God for those who know God’s in control and will be victorious. At the same time, we continue to have first time visitors, some who are good prospects and we continue to have some wonderful, spirit filled services.
Our youth have started a church drama group and are adding a lot to our services already. They are recruiting some of the adults and have found some real "hams" among us. Some of our youth and adults attended a gospel singing concert Sunday after services and had a great time.
We have changed treasurers and don’t have all the financial figures needed for this report. We will catch this up next month.
Thank you for continuing to pray for us and support us. If you know anyone moving into this area, let us know.
Our high attendance for morning worship was 31. We received one by letter
Average attendance: Sunday school: 21 worship: 26 evening: 11 wednesday: 16
Roy N. Fikac.
Round Rock
Greetings Brethren,We saw no visible growth in the month of January, which has in the past generally been one of our best months. We are making plans to turn this area right-side up in 2003. Expectations are high.We are, however, concerned about the apathy we see all around us. We are a nation on the brink of war, preparing for battle with our eyes closed and our hearts hardened. As we read the Scriptures, we see when Israel went to war, it was always the priests ( the spiritual leadership) that led the way. They were the first to step into the River Jordan. Without the blessings of God and HIS leadership, what will the outcome be?It is our prayer that America will fall upon her knees in repentance, and God will bless her again. May the Lord bless you. May the Lord bless us with many souls and many spiritual victories in this new year. Thanks for your prayers and support.Attendance averages: Sunday School 43; Sunday Morning Worship 62; Sunday Evening Worship 41; and Wednesday Night Worship 33. Offerings averaged $1,458.03 a week.
Larry Frye
Denton
Saved! Saved! Saved! It was like being at Church camp. We had ten accept Christ as Savior this month! They were Shelby Gange, Alice Smith, Ricardo Alvarez, Aaron Robles, Salina Vasquez, Melissa Barron, Abraham Barron, Josue Barron and Israel Jassagool. Praise The Lord!
Door Knocking!We Knocked on 220 doors this month. We had some good response. We were able to share the plan of salvation with many of these.
Water Line!We had a meeting with another land owner out by our property concerning putting in the water line and I believe they are going to pay for all the material and I believe we have a man from one of our Churches here in Texas that will put it in for us very cheap!
Still Selling Bricks! We still have several bricks to sell. Our building will be built one brick at a time. Will you help us by buying a brick or two? The cost is $5.00 each.
Our New Date To Build! We are planning to put up our building in April 2004. We will be putting up a metal, all purpose building. We will be coordinating with the Macadonia Builders to come and help us on the inside and the brick work. Our building will be 80 x 125 and 22 ft. tall. It will take many brick. We are also going to need several brick layers and concrete men. Please let me know if you can help with either of these. Thank you.
Our AttendanceWe had an average of 36 for S.S. and 36 for Worship Service.
Special Thanks! I want to thank those special folks that are supporting us with your funds and your prayers. You are very special to us and I know to The Lord also. May He bless you.
Dennis Pace
Pilot Point
We had a bit of electrical trouble at the church this month and Bro Jack and
I had to do a lot of rewiring. All of the wiring in our ceiling was a little
old. How old I don't know but we spent our Saturday taking out the old
wiring and stringing new. We spent 1 Sunday night in the dark and we made
it okay. This was there only chance to go to sleep and I couldn't see them.
Bro Jack and I have also been doing some work around the church as well.
Behind the church, vines and thick brush had been growing for God only knows
how long so we've been working for weeks on getting it cleaned.
Our house in Pottsboro has not sold yet so it's time to start thinking about
lowering our asking price. Pray God will send us a buyer soon.
Bro. Jack and I have started a visitation program and we try to get out
every week knocking on doors and inviting folks to come and fellowship with
us. We also try to get to the nursing homes as well and do some visiting at
least once a week.
Mom became very ill and I had to rush her to the emergency room. When I
found her she was laying on her bathroom floor. It turned out to be a
kidney infection and it was quite painful. She spent four days in the
hospital and I brought her home on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday I got
sick and spent those two days in bed.
Thank you so very much for all of the prayers. Continue with us in prayer
that God's blessings will be showered upon us and we begin to grow soon.
Also pray that we receive a good response in requests for us to come on
deputation.
Sunday School 8 Morning Worship 11 Evening Worship 9 Wednesday 9
We made 34 Contacts this month.
Mitchell Williams
Midland
Greetings in the name of our Lord. This has been an up and down month at New Life MBC. There has been a new joy in the hearts of new people and we are expecting more. I and my family have moved to Midland. The new address is 4314 Roosevelt, Midland, TX 79703. The telephone number is 915-262-6321. I know this move is going to be a wonderful move for New Life and the future and a major blessing for my ministry. Most of the people that attend will have a greater chance to get closer. New Life is getting ready to challenge itself to make New Life a great church in the community. I truly thank the Association for all the God-loving people that have prayed for us and have given to us financially.
I ask that everyone please keep my wife and I in your prayers. We have learned that the cancer has returned in my wife’s chest. The doctor said it is too close to her heart to operate. We are not sure what will be done yet but we will let everyone know as soon as we can. As for my health, the swelling of my liver is still going on and I will be seeing my doctor soon. I send this report with great love from the New Life family. AVERAGES FOR JANUARY - S.S. - 20,
M.W. - 26, E.W. - 8, Midweek - 10
Roddy Rodgers
Floresville
The holidays and sickness lowered our attendance and offerings some, but we still had a high of 30 in Morning Worship, 26 in Sunday School, 20 in Evening Worship and 16 in Midweek service.
We were glad to have Harold and Barbra Bateman, members of First Baptist Church in Arp, TX, to visit in our services. We are always glad to have visitors especially from our sister churches, so "Ya’ll Come." AVERAGES FOR JANUARY - S.S. - 21, M.W. - 27, E.W.- 18, Midweek - 15.
Gordon Riley
Wills Point
We wish to thank all who participated in the Texas Mission Development funds. We, at the Meadowbrook Missionary Baptist Mission, received $23,913.71 on February 2, 2003. Bro. Jim Slocumb and Bro. Bo Norris presented the check to us. We were blessed with songs by three young ladies from Meadowbrook and by Bro. and Sister Slocumb. We also heard a great message by Bro. Slocumb. Others attending this special service were members of Emmanuel MBC in Greenville and Bro. and Mrs. Pervis Williams from First MBC in Duncanville.
AVERAGES FOR JANUARY - S.S. - 25, M.W. - 32, E.W.- 23, BTC - 17, Midweek - 7.
Robert Hively
Pottsboro
This letter was received from First Missionary Baptist Church of Duncanville and Pastor Pervis Williams, sponsors of Sunrise MBM in Pottsboro.
Dear Bro. Reed, I am writing this letter to let you know that Bro. Robert Hively has called me and has written a letter to the church informing us of his decision to resign as our Missionary to Pottsboro, TX We have received his decision with reluctance. However, we felt that due to some problems he was having at the Mission that we should abide with his wishes. Bro. Hively is loved and respected by First Missionary Baptist Church and we will not hesitate to be there for him if, or when, he decides to try and reestablish the work in Pottsboro in the future.
RESURRECTION SUNDAY APRIL 13
SPECIAL OFFERING FOR STATE MISSIONS
At the open tomb it was declared:
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead;
We serve a risen Saviour, He is in the world today.........................
Let us go quickly and tell those without hope that there is a Saviour Who can give them eternal life. One of the ways we can do this is to provide for our missionaries, whom God has called, to go with the message and establish new churches for a witness in their communities.
I am asking each pastor to give your church the opportunity to make a contribution to this special offering to help our State Missions.
Marion Reed Sec./Treas.