Congratulations to our Graduates!

Transcription

1 THE ABOUNDING WORD April-May-June 2017 ABIDING FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH Special (Pre) 25th Anniversary Edition Congratulations to our Graduates! Khamryn Lanae Stansell Leah Rachelle Catley Marquis O Neil Green Michele A. Cerf Lillian Nicole McGowan Austin Nathaniel Baldwin Inside Gospel Chorus Happenings Positioning the LED Sign 25th Anniversary Gala Welcome New Members Happy-Sad Farewell Commemorative Booklet We Still Do VBS 2017 Gospel Choir Annual Day Welcome JMJ, Jr. Grandparent s Day Congratulations Youth Annual Day 2017 Women of Faith Conference & Annual Day 25th Anniversary Celebration Kickoff Deacon Phillip Collins, left, seems to be examining our celebration balloons as we begin our celebratory events in gratitude and acknowledgement of God s grace and favor during the 25 years that He has enabled us to serve Him in this Missouri City, Texas community. Please keep watch for announcements of more events on the road to our culminating event on October 15, Please watch your domestic mail and for other announcements of scheduled upcoming events in connection with our Twenty-Fifth Anniversary celebration! We praise Him as the God of exceeding abundance and never-ending mercies!! (Remaining) 25th Anniversary Events at a Glance July 22 Gospel Choir Music Celebration August 6 Dedication of LED Sign/Marquee September 29 Anniversary Gala-Quail Valley Centre October 8 Family & Friends Day October 15 Anniversary Celebration 3:30 P.M. Church Ministry Theme: Make the most of your time, walk as children of the light! (Ephesians 5:8-10) NASB

2 Page 2 THE ABOUNDING WORD Gospel Chorus Happenings... The Gospel Chorus is busy making plans for their Annual Choir Day to be held on July 23, 2017, during the Worship Hour. Their theme is Witnessing through Songs of Praise as we Walk as Children of Light, Psalm 95:1 and Isaiah 55:12. Another event in our 25th Anniversary Celebratory events will be a Grand Musical on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 7:00 P.M. The Musical will be structured differently so make plans to come and see what s in store for us. Whatever it is, we know it will be grand if our grand Gospel Chorus will be performing along with their special guests! So mark your calendars and expect great things and nothing less than real, true, genuine praise to our Mighty God!! Where oh where shall we position the new LED Sign/Marquee? Thanks to so many of you, we are making plans to receive and position our new LED Sign! Praise God! Shown left are those involved in the decision-making process; Deacons Hank Stewart and James Scott; Marketing Team members, Steven Gee, Earnestine Stewart and Deacon Billy Polk. As one of the events included in our 25th Anniversary Celebration, plans for the Dedication Ceremony for our new sign will be August 6, 2017, directly following our morning worship hour. To God be the glory!! 25th Anniversary Gala Mark your calendars!! Our 25th Anniversary Gala is scheduled for September 29, 2017 at 6:30 P.M., at the Quail Valley City Centre, Magnolia Ballroom, 2880 La Quinta Drive., Missouri City, TX Attire is formal. Tickets: Adults $40.00; Children (under 17), $ Additional information regarding the beginning date of ticket sales is forthcoming.

3 Page 3 Welcome New Members! Jerdine Brown Larry Tobin Craig Beverly Charlene Gulley A HAPPYH APPY-SADAD FARWELL TO TO SISTER BERNICE In April, we said a happy-sad farewell to our dear beloved Sister Bernice Martin. We use the phrase happy-sad because we are saddened that she is no longer with us; but we are happy because she is with the Lord and we live in the hope and expectation of seeing her again. Sister Bernice was a Charter Member and one of our Church Mothers. She was a choir member, a Sunday School Teacher, a Deaconess and member of the Young-at-Heart. Sister Martin was a stalwart believer in prayer and spent many Tuesday mornings with our Intercessory Prayer Group lifting up her family, our church family and many others who most likely didn t even know that their names were being called up to God! We miss Sister Bernice because she was a gentle, loving, kind and caring spirit. But we know that she is at total peace because she is with Nolan and Jesus. We praise and thank God for her presence among us for so many years and for the precious memories that we will always cherish. 25th Anniversary Commemorative Souvenir Booklet Abiding Faith Family, please begin now soliciting family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, business associates and anyone with whom you have influence/contact, to be a part of our Commemorative Anniversary Booklet. Information relating to our 25th Anniversary Commemorative Souvenir Booklet has been distributed via and during our announcement period in the Worship hour. Those of you that have access, the information/ solicitation form has been attached to an announcement. You may also obtain the sheet from one of the tables in both the MP Center and the Main Sanctuary. If you have additional questions, please contact Earnestine Stewart, dusty252@msn.com, Crystal Odom crystal_odom82@hotmail.com, deebanks72@comcast.net, or one of our Marketing Team members. Let s make this 25th Anniversary one that will go down in history as a monument to God s greatness in the life of Abiding Faith!!

4 William & Rosemary Moore 60 yrs Keeping close to the Lord Forever Mine A tribute to 25+ Years of marriage Sweet love is in the air So precious and oh so divine Remembering on that special day When you promised to be mine Such a sacred blessing on that special day Love so strong no need ever to stray Forever faithful so lovely our beginning Eternally vowing to God we will not be ending. Horace & LaVoice Garner 55 yrs Best friends, love God and each other John & Sandra Norman 53 yrs Love, trust, forgiveness, patience and compromise ~~~ Mildred Dee Allen & Vernice Shelton 50 yrs God 1st James & Patricia Scott 49 yrs God 1st, friends, communication Henry & Linda Daniels 45 yrs Prayers and patience with each other Bobby & Sylvia Morgan 45 yrs Love, commitment to each other and God Eugene & Patricia Stewart 45 yrs Keeping God as part of our marriage Elias & Amum Ezurike 44 yrs Christian Faith Samuel & Stella Adedeji 42 yrs Committment Joshua & Elizabeth Jackson 42 yrs Best friends & communication James & Donna Sawyer 41 yrs Prayer, communication, forgiveness and laughter

5 Sheldon & Rebecca Hope 39 yrs Love for Christ, respect, acceptance, commitment Clifton & Katie Chillis 38 yrs Commitment, Chemistry, Friendship Clarence & Emma Odom 38 yrs A shared belief in the importance of communication Rodney & Carolyn Chapman 37 yrs Love and best friends Wayne & Lillie Wilson 37 yrs Honesty, respect, love and God s blessing Kinnon & Jacquelyn Bell 36 yrs Putting each other first Phillip & Mamie Collins 36 yrs Enjoy each other, Christ as center/glue Harold & Pamela Simmons 36 yrs Great open communication and quality time together Billy & Marian Polk 35 yrs A belief in the power of God Calvin & Deborah Brinkley 34 yrs God first, friendship, communication Booker T & Angela Canty 34 yrs Laughter, honoring God as head of lives Derrey & Moderia Horn 32 yrs Similar values & upbringing, sense of humor Miles & Harrietta Baldwin 31 yrs Supportiveness, patience Herbert & Rhonda Brown 31 yrs Prayer and the desire to keep vows made before God Herman & Anita Gordon 30 yrs God first, love, respect, laughter Bobby & Felisha Buggs 28 yrs Like interests, love Horace & Tuwanna Holness 30 yrs Supportiveness, patience ML & Yvette Logeman 30 yrs God and quiet time Emmett & Margie Johnson 28 yrs Laughter, love of God Gene & Tina Jackson 27 yrs Best friends, communication Tommy & Jackie Shaw 26 yrs Love and respect

6 Vacation Bible School Transitioning after 21 years! Vacation Bible School was held for the 21 st year, in June. The theme was "Glow for Jesus...Let Your Light Shine" The students were encouraged to let their light shine for Jesus and make an impact on the world. For the closing program the classes marched in with glowing rings, bracelets and necklaces to physically and spiritu- ally let their lights shine. The average weekly attendance was 141. Many classes were taught by our Young Adults this year. Hats off to all of our teachers and staff for letting y o u r l i g h t s s h i n e. 1 st Place Attendance went to the Adult De- partment with a weekly attendance of 175. Teens placed 2 nd in attendance, with a weekly attendance of 111 and the Junior Department placed 3 rd with a weekly attend- ance of 100. Emma Odom has been BTU Director since it was born at Abiding Faith, and over the years we have seen it prosper and grow tremendously under her leadership. Children and adults alike support the annual Vacation Bible School in great numbers. However, this will be the last year that she will be in the reigns of the VBS. Beginning the new tenure in 2018, the Kennon and Joyce Blackshire, shown below with Pat Stewart, Directress of the Youth Department, will lead the Youth Department and the VBS, as being under the umbrella of the Youth Department. Presently they are training with both Sisters Odom and Stewart in preparation of their new role as Youth Department leaders. We say warm regards to them and a great big THANK YOU S, to Emma Odom and Patricia Stewart, who has led the Youth Department for 23 years also! To God be the glory for a successful youth trip to San Antonio the week of June 26-29th. A great time was had by all. Activities included : visiting the Alamo, The Spanish Missions, San Marcos Outlet Stores, Main Event Amusement Center and Fiesta Texas. Kudos to our bus driver Minister Knotts!!!!!!A special thank you to our well-behaved youth and dedicated chaperones: Minister Price and Rosemary Price, Deacon and Patricia Stewart, Kennon and Joyce Blackshire, Crystal and Emma Odom and Minister Knotts and Deborah Knotts. Heart Fat Tuesday Welcome Jordan Michael Johnson, Jr. Jordan & Chasity Johnson welcome - Jordan Micheal Johnson Jr. - aka Deuce Born: Apr. 20, 2017 Weight: 8 lbs. 3 ounces. Jordan Michael is the grandson of our own Deacon Emmett and Margie Johnson. Congratulations to the Johnsons both parents and grandparents!!

7 Grandparent s Day at Sunday School The Sunday School Department celebrated a 1st Grandparents Day in May. Grandchildren (of any age) had the opportunity to write a card and read it to their grandparent along with presenting them with a carnation. Grandchildren were given a card previously to respond to three questions: What I like most about you; Our favorite time together and they were either to draw a picture of the two of them, or attach a picture to the question sheet. Completed sheets were displayed for viewing. This was a very delightful and fun event and was enjoyed by all. A special breakfast was prepared for this event by our brothers, and was much appreciated. This will be an annual event in the Sunday School Department. to Sandra Compton-Winbush for receivcongratulations ing The Texas Woman s University Outstanding Achievement Award for her excellence in performing her job responsibilities at the University. Sister Winbush received the award in Denton Texas at the main university in May. Youth Annual Day 2017

8 Abiding Faith Baptist Church Fondren Road Missouri City, TX Bobby R. Morgan, Pastor Horace Price, Sr., Women of Faith Conference and Annual Day 2017 One Heart, One Soul, United in Christ Jesus! WEEKLY WORSHIP Sunday 9:00 A.M. Sunday School 10:30 A.M. Worship Service Tuesday 9:00 A.M. Intercessory Prayer Wednesday 6:30 P.M. Teacher s Meeting 7:30 P.M. Praise & Prayer 7:30 P.M. Bible Study 8:00 P.M. (Last) Wednesday Mid- Week Service ABIDING FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH Fondren Road Missouri City, TX NON-PROFIT ORG. U. S. POSTAGE PA I D MISSOURI CITY, TX PERMIT No. 21