Churches & Pastors To Pray For

June 28-July 4—Latexo, Randy Redkey

July 5-11—Mt Vernon, PASTORLESS

July 12-18—New Energy, Buddy Neal

July 19-25—New Pleasant Grove, Winston Spencer

July 26-Aug 1—Oaklawn, Lester McAdams

Aug 2-8—Pearson Chapel, James Gunnels

Aug 9-15—Pleasant Grove, Kenneth Myers

Aug 16-22—Porter Springs, Wayne Stewart

Aug 23-29—Primeria Iglesia, PASTORLESS

Aug 30-Sept 5—Ratcliff, Dennis Morgan

Pastors’ & Wives’ Birthdays

July 14—Jessie May

July 23—Simon Goncharenko

July 28—Michael Due

Aug 2—Kenneth Myers

Aug 13—Matt Sharrock

Aug 20—Stacy Vance

Aug 26—Liz Sharrock

Aug 31—Rhonda Lowe

*ASSOCIATIONAL MINISTRY PARTNERS* Thank you for joining hands with us as we spread the Gospel together.

Pastors’ & Wives’ Anniversaries July 3—Jordan & Ember Johnson July 10—John & Darla Goss July 15—Shane & Tammy Lee July 23—Albert & Raven Moses July 31—Craig & Stacy Vance

Aug 1—Oscar & Olga Campos Aug 23—Paul & Michelle Knight

PULPIT SUPPLY

Matt Henderson 936 204 3223 Willie Reagan 936 764 5986

Archie Smith 936 707 1148 Dr. Bob Lacey 936 546 7735

Jim Durham 936 655 2173 Randy Blanton 936 524 1061

John Valenta 936 577-0559 Brandon Durham 936 222 4260

Matt Raines 936 546-1293 Lewis Jones 936 642-1478

Joshua Currie 318 663-2221 Jack Chelf 512 760-6949

Douglas Durham 936 867-5854

MUSIC SUPPLY

Jeff & Carolyn Cuellar 936 594 1110

Randy & Betty Welborn 936 436 0046

Billy & Judy Seamans 936 594 6539

Delbert Salisbury 936 687 2163

Tom Dixon 936 642 2186

CONTINUED FROM DIRECTOR’S THOUGHTS…. Make the most of every opportunity..."redeeming the time,

because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16). II. Put a focus on Scripture. As you challenge people to return to church, challenge them to

continue reading and studying God's Word at home. God changed my life through His Word and it is through the truth of Scripture that God will renew hearts and change lives.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12).

III. Engage your Community. In this time where the foundational securities to which so many

lost people cling have been so deeply shaken, I have been deeply saddened that so many churches have simply tried to continue with business as normal. We have had abnormal opportunities to share the Gospel, to engage people who might never enter the doors of our churches and to meet people's needs through prayer and provision. But just as many churches had an internal focus before this crisis, they have endured with an internal focus throughout. Examine your ministry. Does your church share the heart of God and His purpose for reaching the lost?

"The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost" (Luke 19:10).

In His Grip!!!

Brother Bill

Inc ome Jan- June 15

10 0 1 · Antioc h 2,403.56

10 0 2 · Apple Springs 1,051.30

10 0 3 · Austonio 737.91

10 0 5 · Ca lva ry Noga lus 1,339.17

10 0 6 · Ca lva ry Trinity 1,666.65

10 0 7 · Ca rlisle 0.00

10 0 8 · Ce ntra l 2,943.75

10 0 9 · Dorc a s Will Me moria l 3,072.71

10 10 · Fa ith 1,222.79

10 11 · Ta be rna c le 662.00

10 12 · FBC Croc ke tt 4,104.96

10 13 · FBC Frida y 150.00

10 14 · FBC Gle nda le 150.00

10 15 · FBC Gra pe la nd 4,075.23

10 16 · FBC Grove ton 0.00

10 17 · FBC Ke nna rd 600.00

10 18 · FBC Love la dy 1,962.67

10 19 · Ge orgia Ca mp 150.00

10 2 0 · La ke 139.00

10 2 1 · La ke wa y, Ca rlisle 1,029.84

10 2 2 · La te xo 1,543.84

10 2 3 · Mt. Ve rnon 50.00

10 2 4 · Oa k Grove 1,070.39

10 2 5 · Oa kla wn 1,800.00

10 2 7 · Pe a rson Cha pe l 342.49

10 2 8 · P le a sa nt Grove 231.83

10 2 9 · Porte r Springs 2,422.95

10 3 0 · P rime ra Igle sia Ba utista 75.00

10 3 1 · Ra tc liff 1,499.21

10 3 2 · S t. Luke s 300.00

10 3 3 · Sa n Pe dro 200.00

10 3 5 · Sha dy Grove 274.98

10 3 6 · Sha dy Grove 1st 0.00

10 3 7 · Trinity P ine s 643.09

10 3 8 · We ldon 500.00

10 3 9 · We st S ide 395.75

10 4 0 · Zion Hill 937.75

10 4 1 · P rime ria Igle sia Grove ton 112.77

10 4 2 · Ne w P le a sa nt Grove 0.00

10 4 4 · Truly God's Country Cowboy 50.00

10 4 5 · Houston County Cowboy Churc h 1,372.65

10 4 6 · Gra pe la nd Ba ptist 1,047.45

10 4 7 · Christ Cha pe l 941.66

10 4 8 · Ca lva ry, Croc ke tt 700.00

Tota l 10 0 0 · Churc h Inc ome 43,973.35

We Can Have Songs In the Dark Dr. Charles Weigle was going through a period of great stress which

had been brought on by a domestic problem. He walked to the pier near his home and looked at the waves as they crashed against the rocks below the pier. For a few faltering seconds he thought that this could be the way to end his personal torment – he would simply jump into the Gulf of Mexico and end his life. But something stopped him. Back at the house, he sat at the piano and his hands began to play. In about 20 minutes a great song was born.

Charles Weigle has written more than 400 songs; several have become very popular among Christians everywhere, perhaps none is more loved than this one. Perhaps you sense that you need the care of Jesus like never before during these difficult days…

++++++++++

NO ONE EVER CARED FOR ME LIKE JESUS (1) I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus. Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true; I would tell you how he changed my life completely, He did something that no other friend could do. CHORUS: No one ever cared for me like Jesus, There’s no other friend so kind as He; No one else could take the sin and darkness from me, O’, how much He cared for me. (2) All my life was full of sin, when Jesus found me, All my life was full of misery and woe; Jesus placed His strong and loving arms around me, And He led me in the way I ought to go. (3) Every day He comes to me with new assurance, More and more I understand His words of love; But I’ll never know just why He came to save me, Till some day I see His blessed face above.

The Pine Torch

Volume 23; Issue 4

July/August 2020

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Calendar of Events July 3-4—Independence Day; OFFICE

CLOSED.

July 14—NRBA Meeting; Calvary Bapt.

Crockett, TX 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM,

(NOTE: The Meal, Executive Board,

Women2Women & Program ALL Meet in the

Family Life Center).

Aug. 9-15—Week of Prayer for Assn.

Missions. Estella Brown Mission Offering.

Sept 26—ANNUAL NRBA Mtg; Antioch

Baptist, Lovelady, Tx; 10:00 AM to 1:00

PM (NOTE: Lunch will be served at approx.

12:15 PM.)

NOTE THIS CHANGE!!!

Tuesday, July 14th

NRBA Meeting at Calvary Baptist

Crockett, Tx 5:30pm—8:00pm 210 South 8th Street

Crockett, Texas 75835

We’re Ba-a-a-ack!!! Fellowship Meal—5:30pm Executive Board & Women2Women Meet Together 6:15pm Associational Worship—7:00pm ALL MEETINGS HELD IN FELLOWSHIP HALL.

***———————————–——————***

2020 ANNUAL NRBA Meeting

Saturday, September 26th Antioch Baptist

4416 FM 230 Lovelady, Texas 75851

10:00 am—1:00 pm

(Lunch served after business and worship @ approx. 12:15pm)

DIRECTORS THOUGHTS…. For my article this month I want to address 3 Items: 1

st, If you need to call me anytime & if you don’t get me on my cell

phone then feel free to leave me a message. My cell phone does NOT work well under the metal roof in both the office & our home so also try the office # (936) 544-3754, or, in the evenings my home # (936) 544-0555. If you leave me a message, I will call ASAP.

2nd

, We had to postpone our March & May Association Meetings due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Our next meeting was scheduled for July 14 at Carlisle Baptist Church but they have needed to cancel the meeting at their church until a later date. Calvary Baptist in Crockett has agreed for us to meet in their facilities. Instead of having the Executive Board and the Women’s Meeting separately we will all meet together in their fellowship hall at 5:30pm for the meal, then we will remain in the fellowship hall and have the Executive Board Meeting & the Evening Program in the same place.

3rd

, I want to share some thoughts below on what I call, “The Church Comeback”...

Many churches are waiting for a return to normal but will normal really ever come back?

Listen to what some experts are predicting: -LifeWay Research says 5% of U.S. churches will close within the

year because of the pandemic. -Others have suggested that churches will suffer a 33% decline in

giving in 2020. -Some foresee that church attendance will drop when live worship

returns, especially among occasional attendees. The question isn't just when do we comeback but how do we come

back? It's time to reassess our purpose & our commitment to what

matters.

Why did God put your church where it is?

Why did God put you in this church? The message of the church must be bigger than “We’ve

reopened the doors...”.

It's time to cast a vision for the future, not just a return to a regular schedule.

It's time to reintroduce our churches as places of care, connection, community and truth.

It's time to take the Gospel beyond the walls of the church. We might feel like a social distancing wall is blocking us but beyond it is a country in crisis where people are facing fear, uncertainty, unemployment, & the emptiness that comes from not knowing Christ.

It’s time to obey Matthew 28:18-20 and start making disciples who make other disciples. Our prayer has been that God would send revival and renewal in

this time but we hear more conversations about survival than revival. It's not enough to just survive. The church can shine in this time but only when people are fully surrendered to the Lordship of Christ and focused on what truly matters in life.

Church Comeback Strategies

I. Quit Waiting. It’s time to act! Many are surrendering a multitude of ministry opportunities because

of uncertainty. Yes, you might need to change your plans but now is the time to cast a vision. Plan special events & activities. Bring in a special speaker. Schedule a revival & begin to promote & pray for it now. Find camp & VBS alternatives if the restrictions in your area have affected your regular plans. Seek out needs in your area. Ask your church members to go to the neighbors on their block to see how they can pray for them.

Continued On Next Page...

If it wasn’t for Jesus and God’s Word influencing United

States history, we wouldn’t have

freedom. He is the only One who can bring true, lasting

freedom. Let’s thank Him for it all year.