Faith

Sun, Aug 02

Gates Chapel Baptist Church 2026 Homecoming, Revival

July 27, 2026 — The Gates Chapel Baptist Church family warmly invites you to join us for our Annual Homecoming Service and Revival 2026, a time of worship, fellowship, and spiritual renewal.

The Annual Homecoming Service will be held on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 3pm at Gates Chapel Baptist Church. The Homecoming message will be delivered by Pastor Deshmond Johnson of Mt. Horeb Baptist Church.

The annual Revival will follow Wednesday, August 5, through Friday, August 7, 2026 at 7:30pm nightly, with services featuring the following speakers:

Wednesday, August 5 – Bishop Cedrick Grace, Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Thursday, August 6 – Pastor Deshmond Johnson, Mt. Horeb Baptist Church
Friday, August 7 – Bishop Cedrick Grace, Mt. Zion Baptist Church

Overseers: Bishop Cedrick Grace and Pastor Deshmond Johnson, Gates Chapel Baptist Church

Gates Chapel Baptist Church is located at 227 County Road 2310, Center, Texas 75935 *(SHELBYVILLE)*

Thu, Aug 06

Abundant Love Ministries Summer Revival

July 29, 2026 - You are both welcome and invited, to join Abundant Love Ministries' church family as we celebrate our Inaugural Summer Revival, Thursday - Saturday Aug 6 - 8.

Service times are Thursday and Friday, at 7pm nightly; Saturday at 10am. Abundant Love Ministries' very own, dynamic Youth Pastor, Minister Cameron Cloudy, Sr., is the Revivalist.

Bring the entire family out for an in-season Word as summer break closes and we prepare to send our youth back into the classrooms.

Abundant Love Ministries is located at 1426 Shelbyville St., Center, TX 75935

Sun, Aug 09

Mt. Gillion Baptist Church 2026 Homecoming, Revival

July 28, 2026 - Mt. Gillion Baptist Church in Center, Texas will be celebrating Homecoming on Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 12 noon. Rev. Eric Harton of Humble, Texas will bring the message. Everyone is Cordially invited to attend this special occasion.

Mt. Gillion Baptist Church will also have a three-night revival starting Monday, August 10th and continuing through Wednesday, August 12th at 7pm nightly.

Monday - Sup. Marvin Jackson, Clay Temple Church of God and Christ, Timpson, Texas
Tuesday - Kenneth Boyer, Sweet Union Baptist Church of Garrison, Texas
Wednesday - Bishop Cedric Grace, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, San Augustine Texas

Sis. Sharon Hamilton, Church Clerk
Rev. Rayford Caraway, Pastor

Mon, Aug 10

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Homecoming, Revival

July 31, 2026 - Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Tenaha, Texas will be celebrating Homecoming on Sunday, August 16th at 10:30am. Pastor Johnny Jones will bring the message.

Revival will be held August 10-12th at 7pm nightly. Messages will be brought by:

Monday, August 10 - Pastor Jeremy Moore
Tuesday, August 11 - Pastor Derrick Rhodes of Wallace Chapel
Wednesday, August 12 - Apostle W.E. Nash, Jr. House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries

Pleasant Grove is located at Hwy 96 N. CR 4356, Tenaha, Texas 75974.

5th Sunday Community Fellowship

July 18, 2026 - Join a 5th Sunday Community Fellowship on August 30 from 4pm to 7pm at Tie and Timber Lodge in downtown Timpson for a special evening of fellowship, music, and food as we come together to praise the Lord and celebrate our community.

This will be a wonderful time for our community to gather, socialize, and enjoy gospel music shared by different churches. Everyone is invited to be part of the “Bring & Share” dinner—please bring a dish to share such as sandwiches, casseroles, peas, corn, or other covered dishes. Warming ovens will be available along with cooler space. We are positive there will be enough, bringing something is not required.

It is asked that all covered dishes be clearly marked with:

What the dish is
What ingredients were used
Who made it

Music & Worship

Different churches will be bringing music and sharing their love for Jesus. It is asked that all music be Christian hymns, contemporary, or gospel only.

Woodland Church will be arranging the music and performance schedule.
First Baptist Church will be helping arrange the “bring & share” meal.

Everyone is welcome—church members, church groups, and non-church members alike. Church-officiated groups are encouraged to come and show their church talent, and individual churches may also contact us if they would like tables reserved for their members to sit together.

It’s impossible to have a true community get-together without the whole community involved, so come share in Jesus’ love, great food, and uplifting fellowship.

To schedule music or questions, contact Stan Trala: Text or call - 936-244-6732

For questions, reserve tables for your church, contact Paul Smith: Text - or call 936-554-4557; or email: tie.timbertx@gmail.com

All community churches are encouraged to reach out and let it be known how you’d like to help. Those participating look forward to seeing you there.

Please share this with your congregation and other local churches.

May God continue to bless our community,

Tie and Timber Lodge & Event Center is loctsed at 397 Jacob Street, Timpson, Texas 75975
Event, Concert & Venue Center with Lodging, café & Game Room - Direct phone number to Lodge 936-262-0208.

Sun, Aug 16

New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church Celebrating Homecoming, Revival

July 28, 2026 - New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church in Timpson, Texas will be celebrating Homecoming on Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 1:30pm. Pastor Mario Osby, Smith Chapel Baptist Church will bring the message. Everyone is cordially invited to attend this special occasion.

New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church will also have a one-night revival on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 7pm. Rev. Jeremy Moore will bring the message.

Sis. Janice Garrett, Program Coordinator
Sis. Mary Criner, Program Coordinator
Rev. Rayford Caraway, Pastor

Center Missionary BC Upcoming Events

July 2, 2026 - Upcoming events hosted by Center MBC:

Sunday, August 16 at 11am - Teacher Appreciation. Current or retired teachers, public school, private school, or homeschool - all are invited.
Sept 27-29 - Fall Revival.

Faith

+ Church Directory
+ Read the Bible Online (Link)

Contributing Writers: David Mathis | Tim Perkins

Past Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard

Westview Cemetery Committee's Notice of Price Change

August 3, 2026 - We would like to thank all of the families of Westview Cemetery.

Our committee would like to inform you of an increased price change effective October 1, 2026 on burial plots.

For those that have requested payment plans to secure a price lock you must contact us and begin payments prior to October 1, 2026.

We are truly grateful for your business and understanding. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to any member of our committee.

Kind Regards,
Evette Netherly
Westview Cemetery Secretary

David's Daily Devotion for August 3

August 3, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Monday, August 3.

Last night I had the pleasure of playing with a local community band in an annual event called The Orchestra Bash. The ensemble, about 35 players strong, with winds and brass and strings and percussion and keyboards, was made up largely of band directors. They get together each year around this time, right before school starts, for an afternoon rehearsal and an evening concert. Much fun!

I met a euphonium player who was new to the group. His brother, who I know, is a college student preparing to be a band director, just like their dad. I just assumed he was one too, and asked him what high school he taught at. He said he was actually an engineer, a career that would typically elicit much pride from proud parents. “Not in my family”, he laughingly told me. “I’m not a teacher - I’m the black sheep!”

My family tree is full of teachers. I taught at high school choir during the 1990’s. I have a great deal of respect for teachers. School bells start ringing in our area next week, but teachers start back this morning. Here’s some thoughts for them, and for all the teachers out there.

Teaching is the one profession that creates all the other professions.
It takes a big heart to shape little minds.
Teachers affect eternity. They can never know where their influence ends.
Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is becoming a lost tradition.
Teaching is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

Thank you teachers!

Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Homecoming, Revival

July 31, 2026 - Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Tenaha, Texas will be celebrating Homecoming on Sunday, August 16th at 10:30am. Pastor Johnny Jones will bring the message.

Revival will be held August 10-12th at 7pm nightly. Messages will be brought by:

Monday, August 10 - Pastor Jeremy Moore
Tuesday, August 11 - Pastor Derrick Rhodes of Wallace Chapel
Wednesday, August 12 - Apostle W.E. Nash, Jr. House of Refuge Apostolic Ministries

Pleasant Grove is located at Hwy 96 N. CR 4356, Tenaha, Texas 75974.

Give Blood. Save Lives. Sign Up for July 30th.

July 21, 2026 - First Baptist Church and First Methodist Church Collaboration Blood Drive is Thursday, July 30 from 10am until 2:30pm at the FBC Fellowship Hall, 117 Cora Street, Center.

Reserve your spot online or contact Teresa Thomas or Bob Lacher. Email teresac@fbccenter.org or call 936-598-5605.

$25 eGift Card plus A1c Testing! This July, help keep the blood supply strong during the summer months. When you donate with Gulf Coast Blood from July 1–31, 2026, you’ll receive a $25 eGift Card as a thank-you for making a lifesaving impact. Plus donate blood and get a FREE A1c screening! Early detection of elevated A1c levels can be a game-changer in preventing the long-term complications of diabetes.

Eat. Drink. Bring I.D. Appointments preferred. Walk-ins welcome.

Across the Preacher’s Desk: Pray Without Ceasing

July 30, 2026 - The disciples of Jesus came to him one day and they said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Of all the things they had seen Jesus do, this was the one thing they wanted him to teach them how to do. They had seen Him perform miracles. They had seen Him heal the sick and raise the dead. They had seen Him feed the multitudes. They watched as He turned water to wine. They had also seen Jesus spend time in prayer. Doing so, they asked Him to teach them to pray.

Prayer gives us the strength to live. Through prayer we have an opportunity to serve. We can come to God in prayer and ask God for the boldness to speak for Jesus. Then again, we know that through prayer we can ask for wisdom to guide our ways. Prayer is something that should constantly be practiced in the life of a Christian. We should practice both scheduled prayer and spontaneous prayer. When we have a set time to pray, that can help us develop a habit of prayer. If you remember, Daniel was described as a man greatly beloved and he prayed 3 times a day with his face toward Jerusalem. However, we should not limit prayer to a set schedule or time. Before selecting His apostles, Jesus spent all night in prayer. In a prison cell in Philippi, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God. We should pray whenever and however the occasion calls for it.

It is no wonder that the apostle Paul exhorted us to “pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17) Prayer is a wonderful privilege for the child of God.

It’s something to think about. . . tbp

Center Church of Christ
www.centerchurchofchrist.com