Churches & Pastors To Pray For Apr 26-May 2—FBC Kennard; Lynn Stroud

May 3–9—FBC Lovelady; Brandon Gray

May 10-16—Georgia Camp; Dr. Charles Allen

May 17-23—Grapeland Baptist; Chris Cunningham

May 24-30—Houston County Cowboy; Will Yates

May 31-June 6—Iglesia Bautista, Groveton; Oscar Campos

June 7-13—Iglesia Bautista Refugio; Oscar Campos

June 14-20—Lake Baptist; PASTORLESS

June 21-27—Lakeway Carlisle; Jerry Vincent

Pastors’ & Wives’ Birthdays

May 9—James Whittlesey

May 10—Lewis Jones

May 12—Darla Goss

May 15—Shane Lee

May 16—Suzanne Kitts

May 25—Winston Spencer

May 28—Terrie McAdams

May 31—Darlene Jones

June 1—Brandon Gray

June 2—Maria Flores

June 4—Alice Goncharenko

June 6—Shelley Gray

June 17—Charles Pyle

June 19—D’Ann Dickenson

June 24—Wanda Myers

June 29—Terry Gibson

June 29—Betty Whittlesey

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

Pastors’ & Wives’ Anniversaries May 3—Randy & Rhonda Lowe May 4—Kenneth & Wanda Myers May 18—Donnie & Vicki Lawrence June 1—Keeney & D’Ann Dickenson June 7—Dennis & Patricia Morgan June 13—Charles & Amber Pyle June 15—Wayne & Christina Stewart June 21—Jerry & Monette Vincent June 26—Michael & Cindy Due June 28—Steve & Terri Meadows

Hospice In the Pines in Lufkin has

volunteer opportunities!

For more info call 936-632-1514.

Or go to: hospiceinthepines.org.

Income Jan - Apr 15

1001 · Antioch 1,519.56

1002 · Apple Springs 680.39

1003 · Austonio 321.17

1005 · Calvary Nogalus 925.38

1006 · Calvary Trinity 999.99

1007 · Carlisle 0.00

1008 · Central 2,011.26

1009 · Dorcas Will Memorial 1,883.00

1010 · Faith 841.05

1011 · Tabernacle 662.00

1012 · FBC Crockett 3,846.71

1013 · FBC Friday 75.00

1014 · FBC Glendale 100.00

1015 · FBC Grapeland 2,914.45

1016 · FBC Groveton 0.00

1017 · FBC Kennard 400.00

1018 · FBC Lovelady 1,128.66

1019 · Georgia Camp 0.00

1020 · Lake 86.00

1021 · Lakeway, Carlisle 939.75

1022 · Latexo 1,038.95

1023 · Mt. Vernon 50.00

1024 · Oak Grove 669.00

1025 · Oaklawn 1,200.00

1027 · Pearson Chapel 284.49

1028 · Pleasant Grove 150.96

1029 · Porter Springs 1,661.50

1030 · Primera Iglesia Bautista 75.00

1031 · Ratcliff 1,223.01

1032 · St. Lukes 200.00

1033 · San Pedro 100.00

1035 · Shady Grove 229.15

1036 · Shady Grove 1st 0.00

1037 · Trinity Pines 411.21

1038 · Weldon 400.00

1039 · West Side 294.25

1040 · Zion Hill 592.00

1041 · Primeria Iglesia Groveton 112.77

1042 · New Pleasant Grove 0.00

1043 · Iglesia Bautista Refugio 0.00

1044 · Truly God's Country Cowboy 50.00

1045 · Houston County Cowboy Church 1,075.65

1046 · Grapeland Baptist 799.95

1047 · Christ Chapel 300.00

1048 · Calvary, Crockett 400.00

30,652.26

Before the last apostle died their efforts had brought

500,000+ men, women, and children into the ranks of the church.

But what they had to suffer in order to accomplish this task is

seldom mentioned. We like the outcome of their discipleship but

we don’t want to hear about the cost of discipleship. So, for the

record here is the cost. History tells us…

1. John died of extreme old age after having been exiled on

the island of Patmos for many years.

2. Judas Iscariot, after betraying his Lord, hanged himself.

3. Peter was crucified; head downward, during the persecution

by Nero.

4. Andrew died on a cross at Patrae, a Grecian Colony.

5. James, the younger, son of Alphaeus, was thrown from a

pinnacle of the Temple, and then beaten to death with a club.

6. Bartholomew was flayed alive in Albanapolis, Armenia.

7. James, the elder son of Zebedee, was beheaded at

Jerusalem.

8. Thomas, the doubter, was run through the body with a lance

at Coromandel, in the East Indies.

9. Philip was hanged against a pillar at Heropolis.

10. Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows.

11. Simon died on a cross in Persia (which we now call Iran).

12. Matthew was first stoned and then beheaded.

13. The Apostle Paul's death occurred after his fifth mission-

ary journey which ended in 67 A.D. Paul was likely beheaded

by the Romans, under Emperor Nero, sometime around May

or June of 68 A.D. Nero himself died by suicide on June 9th

of the same year.

What sacrifices! Why did they choose to die this way?

Because, in the words of the Apostle Paul, they were held cap-

tive by the words and teachings of Jesus Christ! My question to

you is, “Are you held captive by Jesus Christ?” My prayer is that

you are. That way when someone asks why you are a Christian,

then you can tell them, “Because I’m held captive.” Then when

they ask about this, you can tell them about Jesus!

The Pine Torch

Volume 23; Issue 3

May/June 2020

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Calendar of Events

May 7—National Day of Prayer

May 10—Mother’s Day

May 12—CANCELLED: NRBA Music

Emphasis @ Calvary Trinity!

May 24—Memorial Day; OFFICE

CLOSED.

June 7-10—SBC Annual Mtg. has been

CANCELLED!

June 14—Flag Day

June 21—Father’s Day

July 3-4—Independence Day; OFFICE

CLOSED.

PLEASE SAVE THESE DATES!

CANCELLED!!!

May Association Meeting

Scheduled for

Tuesday, May 12th @ Calvary, Trinity

***———————————–——————***

July Associational Meeting

Tuesday, July 14th @ Carlisle Baptist

12183 FM 356

Trinity, Texas 75862

Executive Board and Women2Women—5:30pm Fellowship Meal—6:15pm

Associational Worship—7:00pm

DIRECTORS THOUGHTS….

I have just 3 things to share: 1st, Please know that I am praying for all of our churches. Also, I am at the office every day so if you need something please feel free to call me. I am also having a Zoom conference calls via the internet on Tuesdays at 10:00am for all of our pastors to share needs, concerns, and prayer time. The call lasts for 30 minutes. We can all be assured that we will get through this. Isaiah 33:2 says, “O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.”

2nd, we are cancelling our next association meeting that was scheduled for May 12 at Calvary Baptist Church in Trinity, Tx. Hopefully we will be able to meet on July 14 at Carlisle Baptist.

3rd, Without a doubt, the recent times have been unprecedented. We have been faced with challenges that have broken our sense of normalcy and undermined our feelings of security. And all of this has left us frightened and apprehensive.

Please know we are praying for you. The Scriptures teach we are to pray in times of adversity lest we become faithless and unbelieving. Prayer is effective. The Bible says, "... the effective, fervent prayer of a

righteous man (or woman) avails much" (James 5:16). We are living in unprecedented and troublesome times. The fear &

anxiety in people's lives, caused by the COVID-19 virus, have reached an all-time high. The scenes on TV of our first responders, nurses, doctors & medical personnel have touched our hearts and brought tears to our eyes.

Many are concerned, anxious and asking, Does God care? The answer is YES! He cares and loves you with an everlasting love. The Bible says, "... I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself" (Jeremiah 31:3).

God does not leave us alone to cope with the trials and tribulations of life. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, has told us in His Word what we are to do about worry and anxiety. He has given us a workable formula. The apostle Peter, who had suffered intense hardship in his day, said, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you" (1 Peter 5:7).

Our guilty past, our anxious present and our unknown future are all

to be cast upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "... And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). That promise should be sufficient to remove all the anxiety and worry in our lives. We were never meant to be overwhelmed under the weight of care. When we put our faith and trust in Christ, we can unload our burdens upon the shoulders of Jesus who said He would gladly bear them.

Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still, and know that I am God!" It's very easy to become restless in times of sorrow and suffering. If we would be still before God and trust Him, all of our storms would cease and we would enjoy the waters of quietness and peace. The psalmist said, "He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves" (Psalm 107:29).

As we travel this journey together, rest assured that God cares for you. He is in control of our lives, and He is still on the throne. We can have peace and joy in the midst of the troubles and anxieties of life if we put our trust in Jesus. God is on our side!

Finally, II Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

I want to encourage every believer to do what this verse tells us to do and let’s do it two times a day: At 7:14am and 7:14pm: The verse states that believers are to (1) Humble ourselves, (2) Pray, (3) Seek God’s face, and (4) Turn from our wicked ways. Then God’s promise is: As we do this God He will (1) Hear from heaven, (2) forgive our sin, and (3) heal our land.

We desperately need God to heal our land of the Corona Virus so let’s ALL be faithful to obey what God asks: Pray, Seek His face, and Turn

from our wicked ways! In His Grip!!!

Brother Bill

John Goss, Pastor @ Central Baptist Church

in Crockett, TX

AND

Lewis Jones, Pastor @ FBC Groveton in

Groveton, TX

Have both announced their retirement

effective May 31, 2020

We Congratulate them and wish them the best

but we will truly miss them both. They have

been a vital part of our ministry!