THE RECORD REH

OBOTH

REHOBOTH BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

Volume XXXVII August/September 2014, Number 7

I read an illustration used by Dr. Jim Denison recently and I thought it was SO true to life! Here it is…. “Colleen Niska is a photographer based in Saskatchewan, Canada. On Saturday, July 5, she photographed a wedding, depicting the bride and groom holding hands while walking along a country road. What the couple could not see was a tornado touching down behind them. A Canadian news station later confirmed that two tornadoes touched down in the area where

the wedding was held. The picture wasn’t photoshopped. The couple said the wind blew a tent over, but otherwise their reception was a success.” Dr. Denison then made the point, “Just because we don’t see a tornado behind us doesn’t mean it’s not there.” The couple never knew how close to disaster they had been until they saw the picture. I guess my point would be a tornado can come out of nowhere it seems and show up in your life even in the best of times. You never know when trouble is going to enter your life! That is LIFE as we know it! So, what do you do? How do you prepare? How do you live? I think all of us would say we are not to live in fear, but we are to always live by faith. And, living by faith means living prepared and ready, and knowing the One to turn to when the trouble shows up! Are you living by faith? If you are not prepared, if you are not ready, maybe not. You may think you are, but are you really? If you are not building that relationship now with the ONE we need to look to then, maybe not! Some people want to turn to the Lord and trust Him when the crisis comes, but by then the relationship is so distant and so weak that they don’t know how! I have actually been told that by others in trouble. I have reminded them they can turn to the Lord, lean on Him, talk to Him, and He will listen and give strength. But then, on more than one occasion, the person I was trying to encourage looked at me and said with such weakness, helplessness, and honesty that it startled me, “But I don’t know how, Kent.” Chuck Swindoll writes, “We cannot prepare for a crisis after that crisis has occurred. Preparation must take place before we are nose to nose with the issue.” Live by faith now! Live your faith now! That’s the best preparation for the tornadoes of life that come out of nowhere! And, build that relationship with the Lord Jesus now, so that you can say with Paul, the Apostle, “I know whom I have believed in.” You don’t just know “about” Him, you really KNOW Him! Knowing Him is……comfort, peace, strength, help, direction, and assurance…..in the midst of a storm or an unexpected, untimely tornado! Are you ready? Bro. Kent

at First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs Theme: Religious Liberty

Guest: Jeff Mateer Constitutional Attorney with Liberty Legal Institute

(Special Session for School Superintendants,

Boards, and Administration)

Jeff Mateer, Esq., is General Counsel for Liberty Institute. Mr. Mateer joined Liberty Institute in 2010, after 19 years in private litigation practice. He now oversees and directs Liberty Institute’s legal team. He specializes in religious liberty matters, including free exercise, free speech, and public acknowledgment of religion cases. Mr. Mateer has represented clients ranging from large international organizations to local businesses, schools, ministries, churches and individuals in complex federal and state court actions involving religious liberty, civil rights, employment, property and business matters. In private practice, his clients included the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Citigroup, CNA, ConAgra Foods, former officers and directors of EDS, Ford Motor Company, Pilgrim’s Pride and PNC Bank. He has tried numerous jury and bench trials in both federal and state courts, and has successfully argued before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Texas appellate courts. In addition to having received an A-V rating by Martindale-Hubbell, Mr. Mateer has been honored as a Texas Rising Star and Texas Super Lawyer. He received his undergraduate education at Dickinson College, where he graduated with honors in 1987, and his legal education at Southern Methodist University, where he graduated with honors in 1990. While in law school, he served as an Editor of the Law Review. He is licensed to practice law by the state of Texas and is admitted to practice before all Texas State and Federal District Courts and the 2nd, 5th and 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Friday, September 12, 2014 ETBU’s Baker Auditorium

One Tiger Drive, Marshall, Texas GPS: 1209 North Grove

Come enjoy enthusiastic congregational singing of fa-

miliar favorites from the hymnal.

Six area music directors will be leading: Billy Foote, Stacy Perkins, Brian Price, Jack Jones,

Mark Crim, Paul Tapp

An optional luncheon will be served at 12 noon prior to the hymn sing.

Reservations required by September 9 Call 903-923-2042 - Cost: $15 per person

The Great East Texas Hymn Sing

February 22 – 24, 2015

at FBC, Sulphur Springs (In Lieu of the Annual Evangelism Rally)

Speaker: David Dykes Worship: Mike Parks

It’s that time of year again for the Annual Church Profiles. Church clerks/secretaries should begin gathering info on your church officers for the coming year with their current

mailing addresses, phone numbers, etc.

You should be receiving your church profiles in the mail soon!

Please complete the ACP’s as soon as possible so that we can prepare information for the Annual Meeting. If we don’t receive the ACP for your Church we can not include it in the

RBA Annual Report.

ACP’s are due by Monday, September 29, 2014

BGCT 2014 ANNUAL MEETING November 16-18

at the Waco Convention Center ~ Waco, Texas Scripture:

Whoever says, “I abide in Him’, ought to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:6 nrsv

Week of Prayer BGCT - September 14-21

Go to www.wmutx.org

to order materials for your Church.

Week of Prayer September 21 - 28

Statewide Challenge Goal: $1.3 million

First Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon has some pew Bibles available for any church that might need them.

There are about 124 Bibles. Please call 903-537-2322 if you are interested.

The RBA Office will be closed on

Monday, September 1 In observance of Labor Day.

Church News If your church has a special event or information you’d like to share in the

newsletter, please email info@rehobothonline.org or call the office, 903-885-2868. The Newsletter deadline is the 15th of each month.

The Record IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY REHOBOTH BAPTIST ASSOCIATION 1139 INDUSTRIAL DR. E. SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX 75482-3326

PHONE; 903-885-2868 FAX 903-885-3506 EMAIL: info@rehobothonline.org WEB ADDRESS: www.rehobothonline.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

KENT PATE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ELOY GONZALEZ, DIRECTOR OF HISPANIC MINISTRIES

SHELLY HUFF, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday 8:30AM - 4:30PM

Friday 8:30AM - 2:30PM

Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Permit No. 160 Sulphur Springs, TX

Mission Statement

The mission of Rehoboth Baptist Association is to offer leading edge assistance in creating healthy New Testament churches that honor

Jesus Christ by their very existence.

Changed lives through Christ-centered churches

Please be in prayer for our:

Pastorless Churches Enloe FBC, Cumby FBC, Mt. Vernon—Hispanic Work FBC, Yantis Hilltop

Mt. Olive Saltillo White Oak

with Dr. David Dykes and

Mike Parks September 18, 2014

11:30 - 1:00 p.m. at

First Baptist Church, Sulphur Springs Fellowship Hall

Please RSVP @ 903-885-2868

REPORTS…

FBC, Yantis - 114 registered; 12 Professions of Faith

Pine Street - 273 registered; 5 Professions of Faith

FBC, Sulphur Springs - 678 registered; 22 Professions of Faith

Cornerstone - 90 registered; 150 attended parents’ night