“The next election is probably the most important in our lifetime,” said Connie Hunt, as she opened the T.E.A. Party gathering on September 3 at the Heritage Center.

Folks from Calhoun, Jackson and Refugio Counties were enthusiastic in their response to the ideas expressed at the rally. Anyone who wished was given three minutes to address the group. It was obvious that all were in agreement on the subjects discussed, which included the critical need for a balanced budget and keeping our government in line with the Constitution.

The main thought expressed was that those who are concerned with the direction our country is going should get involved. They need to educate the public, talking to their associates about the need for a return to Constitutional principles. Great emphasis was placed on the importance of voting and for whom you vote.

Jeremy Hawkins, a Pearland evangelist, spoke on the relationship of the Kingdom of God and the government, as it relates to us as individuals. Quoting William Penn, he said, “Men must be governed by God, or they will be ruled by tyrants.” Continuing the theme of individual responsibility, Dr. John Long of Tivoli advised, “Exercise individual responsibility and encourage individual responsibility, and extract it from our lawmakers.”

Near the close of the meeting, one lady who had never before attended a T.E.A. Party event and only knew of it from media reports, told the group that from what she had seen and heard that day, she now considers herself part of the T.E.A. Party.