Members of Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church will pay tribute to their leader, the Rev. Nathaniel Benford Sr., on his 59th pastoral anniversary. Organizers said this represents one of the longest tenures at one church recorded locally.
“Many highlights have marked his ministry, including his war on poverty, fight for education and the right to vote, as well as his love for all people and his special love for our youth, and most of all his love for God,” Venolia Cobbs-Hackley, a youth matron at the church, said.
The celebration will begin at 11:15 a.m. Sunday with morning worship the Rev. Kerry Tillman as guest speaker.
It will reconvene at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Gregory Wyatt presiding. Dinner will be served after the afternoon meeting. All services will be at 302 N. Oak St. in Texas City. For details, call 409-935-8365 or 409-771-9675.
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Churches strive to build character, but at least one also is working on building bears.
At 3 p.m. Nov. 15, members of League City’s Living Word Church of the Bay Area will be busy with their “build-a-thon” at Baybrook Mall’s Build-A-Bear Workshop. The event is focused on helping children at Galveston’s Ronald McDonald House.
Later in the month, church members will take a Sunday off from regular church services to visit the island’s home away from home for the families of sick children, where they will serve meals, deliver bears and pantry donations and sing Christmas carols.
“We are committed to taking every fifth Sunday off to serve the community and share God’s blessings with those in need,” Brad Heintz, the pastor, said.
Living Word is accepting donations, including new teddy bears and pantry items for Ronald McDonald House.
Items can be dropped off from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sundays during November at Hyde Elementary School, 3700 FM 518 E., League City. For details, call 281-389-9071.
Rick Cousins’ “Faith Focus” column appears each Saturday. Have a unique or unusual faith event to spotlight? E-mail details to ourfaith(at)galvnews.com at least two weeks in advance.
