the COMMUNICATOR
a publication of Calallen Baptist Church
August 2006
Rick Hamilton Ainsworth-Panner Wedding Women's Lunch Recreation Ministry Choir Notes Senior Adult Lunches CDC News Youth Page Pastor's Page Missions Central
Return to CBC Home Page Return to Online Publications Index Page
RICK HAMILTON - Music Minister
Rick
was reared in a Christian home and accepted Christ at the age of eight.
While living in Brownwood, Texas, he became interested in music and
joined the band in the fifth grade, playing the alto saxophone – which he
continued to play throughout his high school years.
When the family moved to Lamesa, Texas, he became active in the graded
choir program of the First Baptist Church, where he was greatly influenced by
music leaders in the church and Ed Wittner, the minister of music.
Rick’s family moved to Corpus
Christi in 1961 and joined Parkdale Baptist Church.
When the church called Jimmy Key to be the minister of music, the youth
choir began to blossom. The group
grew to about 50 in membership, partially because it was the only youth program
in the church. The choir sang nearly
every Sunday evening and went on yearly choir tours, singing all over Texas.
Rick joined the Mary Carroll High School Choir during his junior year and
was chosen to participate in TMEA’s All State Choir his senior year.
It was also during the summer before Rick’s junior year that he became
very interested in this especially attractive brunette, named Kathy Woodard, in
Parkdale’s youth choir.
Rick attended Del Mar College for
one year and began pursuing a music degree, choosing voice over band.
He transferred to Baylor University when the family moved to Vernon,
Texas. He had been struggling with
the decision of vocation for some time, feeling sure the Lord wanted him to work
in the field of music. The question
was whether to become a teacher or a minister.
Although he started Baylor on the education track, after having a summer
opportunity to direct a very small choir in Vernon, Rick sensed the Lord’s
call into church music. For his last
two years at Baylor, Rick served as music director of the Bosqueville Baptist
Church just outside Waco. And in
1969 he received his Bachelor’s of Music degree with a specialization in
church music.
In June of that same year, he and
Kathy were married (on the sixth anniversary of the beginning of their
courtship) and they moved to Denton, Texas, so he could begin work on his
Master’s degree at Southwestern Seminary
and Kathy could finish her education degree.
While there, he served as Minister of Music for the Little Elm Baptist
Church. In May of 1971, they
accepted the call to the First Baptist Church of Crosby, Texas, to serve as
Minister of Music and Youth. Rick
received his Master’s of Church Music in August of that year.
Mark, their first son was born in
1973, while they were at Crosby. Rick
was called to the Central Baptist Church of Baytown, Texas in early 1974 and
their second son, Keith, was born in that same year (You might have heard of
him!). After serving in Baytown as
Minister of Music and Education for four years, in 1978, they accepted the call
to the First Baptist Church of Portland, Texas, where Rick would serve for 27
years as Minister of Music and Worship. Todd,
their third son was born in 1980. Not
long afterward, Kathy and Rick, seeing a pattern developing, vowed never to move
again! (Just kidding!)
Their
sons are all grown now, married to wonderful Christian women, and are all living
in Houston and active in their local churches. Of course, most of you know their
two “outstanding” grandchildren, Madison and Mason, who are Keith and
Christie’s children. You may not
know that Kathy’s mother still lives in Corpus Christi, and Kathy has two
brothers, Scott and Rod. Rick’s
dad and sister Janice live in southeast Houston.
Back to top
AINSWORTH-PANNER
WEDDING
Mr. & Mrs. David Ainsworth and Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Panner request the
nonor of your presence at the marriage of their children, Abby Nicole &
Jonathan Wesley, on Saturday, August 12, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. Calallen
Baptist Church. Reception to follow at the church.
Back to top
WOMEN'S
MINISTRY LUNCHEON
Friday, August 25, 2006 - Noon - Landa's Seafood on FM 624 - RSVP to the church office by
8/24 @ 361.241.4272. This is open to all women of the church and their
guests.
Back to top
RECREATION
MINISTRY
Community Volleyball - Every Thursday at 6:30-9:00 p.m. - This is a free weekly
event open to anyone in the community.
Co-Ed Volleyball League - Begins Tuesday, September 12th. There
will be a team captain's meeting on Tuesday, August 29th at 6:30 p.m. The first
10 teams to sign up get to play. Contact Terri in the church office to sign-up.
Back to top
CHOIR NOTES
Well,
here it is, my first “official” newsletter article as a full-time member of
the staff of Calallen Baptist Church. What
a joy it is for Kathy and me to come to the end of a difficult time in our lives
– one in which we have been searching for God’s will – and to find it
right “in our own backyard,” with you wonderful people.
God is so good! It
is wonderful to truly be a part of a local Christian fellowship again.
Before coming here as your interim, I (we) visited several churches. And
I must tell you, I don’t like to be a constant visitor.
I want to belong; I don’t want to be on the fringes.
So I say with a big sigh of relief, it’s great to belong at CBC! I
think God has put the desire “to belong” in each of us.
We find peace, comfort, fulfillment, and even joy in belonging to family,
friends, and organizations. Of course, the most important group to be a part of
is God’s
family.
Those of us who know Jesus as Savior and Lord find true
peace, comfort, fulfillment, and joy in Him. So
I encourage any of you reading this to become a part of a local church --
preferably this one – to belong. Yet,
more importantly, if you do not know Jesus Christ personally, I urge you to find
the abundant life that comes from belonging
to Him! “Now
I belong
to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me; Not
for the years of time alone, but for eternity.”
Music
by Norman J. Clayton. Ó
1943, renewed 1971 by Norman J. Clayton Pub. Co. ARR. ICS. CCLI#346914
Rick
Hamilton
Back to top
SENIOR
ADULT LUNCHES
Thursdays, August 10 & 24 - Noon till 1:30 p.m. - Come, bring a potluck
dish, and enjoy the fellowship of other Senior Adults.
Back to top
CDC NEWS
Things are going great for the day school. God has
blessed us with lots of newly enrolled infants and toddlers. This means we are
in need of cribs and crib mattresses. If you know anyone who has one, or have
one yourself to donate, contact Sharon at the day school, 241-2496. Thank
you, Ms. Sharon CDC Director
Back to top
YOUTH
PAGE
As
I hiked through the Andes Mountains in Peru recently I was reminded that God’s
creation does in fact reveal His glory.
I had a great time with the other 30 or so people on the trip as we
reached four villages over the course of our 7-day trek of the native Quechua
people who inhabit most of the mountains.
Without a doubt, God was with us, keeping us safe and giving us the
energy needed to climb some of the difficult passes to get to the next village.
We met a number of obstacles over the course of the week.
We had members of our team battling with altitude sickness as well as
some close calls with members concerning their safety as we hiked on the edges
of cliffs throughout the mountains.
These dangers seem inherent on a trip like this, but God took good care
of us all and the risk was well worth the opportunity to share the gospel with
the Quechua people.
In Romans 10, the Bible says that everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved.
After that these two verses follow: 14
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can
they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear
without someone preaching to them? 15
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How
beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" As the week went on,
we had the opportunity to share the gospel for the first time with about 900
Quechua people.
It reminded me of the importance of the commission that Jesus gave his
disciples, just before returning to heaven, to go and make disciples of all the
earth. While I was in Peru, many of the youth group members from Calallen
Baptist were at youth camp at the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment.
.
The theme at camp was “Living Clean in a Dirty World.”
I’m still hearing the stories myself about what they learned and the
experiences they had when they were there.
I can sense that God spoke to many of them while they were there and
impacted them deeply.
We had three of our kids profess their faith in Jesus for the first time.
I am thrilled to hear of how God moved in their hearts and has literally
changed their lives forever.
There is a song that says: “It all comes down to just one
thing…that’s to know you Jesus and make you known.”
What a simple but amazing truth to commit our lives to accomplishing.
Back to top
PASTOR'S PAGE
Can you
feel the excitement?
I know I do. God
has built an incredible pastoral leadership team.
C’est
Moi
(‘tis I), Rick, and Troy.
We make a great crew.
I can say that the office area is a lot noisier place – hustle, bustle,
and zip boom bah!
Thank the Lord for Terri (a true Ministry Assistant) who gives order in
the flurry of activity. To make things even better, God has developed a powerful
core group of people, I refer to as ‘movers’ and ‘shakers.’
(Not in a dancing-way (ha), but in a leadership way).
These men and women make things happen.
They get the job done.
Their unity is unshakeable, their loyalty is deep, and their sacrifices
are many. NOW, more than ever, we need to dream BIG.
The intersecting of great staff, a committed core group, and God’s
blessings makes for a very powerful potion. That’s why I’ve called upon our
key leaders to assemble for a ‘Key Leadership Summit,’ August 18-19.
During this weekend event I will share my hopes and dreams for our
church, and together we will set forth a strategic ministry plan of attack.
I
can hear Don Quixote, singing the words: "To
dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear with unbearable
sorrow To run where the brave dare not go… This is my quest To follow that
star No matter how hopeless No matter how far" Makes
me think of the challenging words of William Carey – 1) Expect great things
from God, and 2) attempt great things for God. On
Green Light, Pastor Jack.
Back to top
CBC
MISSIONS CENTRAL
Operation
Reach Robstown - The Missions / Evangelism Team would like to thank all
of those who participated in Cristo El Rey's Vacation Bible School. Your
willingness to be used by God helped to make this partnership a success.
Operation Christmas Child - Begin praying now about the part God
would have you play in OCC this year. We will again host the Relay Center
for Operation Christmas Child - dates Nov. 13-19.
Mission Corpus Christi - www.missioncorpuschristi.org
- Please continue to keep Mission Corpus Christi in your prayers, as they seek
to minister to the least of these in our community.
Church Without Walls - Our church provides meals for Church
Without Walls on the second Thurs. of each month. On Nov 9, we will be taking an
evening meal to Church Without Walls. If you are interested in being a part of
this ministry, contact Debra White or Carol Lindquist. They are also in
need of t-shirts and white socks. If you would like to donate to this
cause, we will be glad to deliver them on 10/9.
Mission Durango - Calallen
Baptist Church has voted to adopt and support
ministries in Cinco de Febrero, a pueblo
outside of Durango, Mexico.
The
following items are being collected for Rob
Rolison’s
November trip, please bring them to the church by October 22nd: # 1
Need—Blankets, cold weather hats, gloves, and scarves.
Other
needs— Bibles ($2.75/each), underwear (boys/girls), toothbrushes, toothpaste,
stuffed animals, small toys, medium to large stockings, children’s
vitamins, diapers and formula, small portable DVD/MP3 players (to show Jesus
movie), ESL or conversational English materials, craft and school supplies,
medical equipment (crutches, wheelchairs, etc.), fabric for sewing and making
quilts. - $6.50 will provide roughly 25 lbs. of food for a family in Durango.
If you choose to make a financial contribution,
please designate it for the “Missions
Fund, Durango Humanitarian
Need”.
- Durango Mission Trip
- 1st
Week of July 2007
Back to top