It is official – we have been in Port O’Connor for 20 years! We arrived here the second Sunday of February, 1995, and preached at a “Morgan Building” located at 211 Adams. There were ten of us present that first Sunday! The church put a mobile home behind the building that served as our first parsonage. While in that location, I had a knock on my door and a man told me he needed me to buy some property in Port O’Connor – two lots located immediately east of the Intercoastal Lumber Company. The price was right, so we bought them. Later, we found a huge rattlesnake right beside our church building on Adams, so I found out that Billy Graham and Franklin Graham owned 1/2 interest in the two lots that joined our church to the east. Again, the price was right, and we purchased those lots as well.
On November 15, 1995, we entered into an agreement with Joe Bright to purchase the Intercoastal Lumber building, had our first service there on December 17, 1995, and on January 24, 1996, we moved our “mobile parsonage” next to the lumber company. In the fall of 2001, we realized we needed more space, so we built the Youth Room onto the existing building, which contained two rest rooms. We tried but failed to fix the leaks in the church building, so we put a metal roof over the existing roof. We dedicated the Youth Room on March 10, 2002, and on March 12, 2002, the bank told us the money was clear – we could start building our present parsonage on the west side of the Chapel. With that complete and dedicated on November 27, 2002, we searched for new ways to advance the Lord’s Kingdom.
We had a large “dry storage” building at the back of the property and were encouraged to “tear it down”! I felt that there was too much good left in it, so we began building two efficiency apartments at one end of the building and a Retreat Center in the other end. We redid the roof, fixed the floor, placed a porch on both ends, built five rest rooms in it, have a laundry room available, and our center that will accommodate 24 people. We have already had several groups use the Center and have at least four groups coming by Spring Break.
We are not finished with what the Lord has entrusted us with, for we are already gathering things to remodel the Chapel and are hoping to erect a large cross next to the Chapel as a focal point for our community. The Lord has been good to us and we are attempting to follow His pathway!
We have seen the progress on these grounds because a lot of different people have partnered with the Lord to see things happen. We have visiting ministers who inspire us to move forward and accomplish the Lord’s plan for us. We have a Sunday Morning Bible Study (beginning at 10:00 a.m.), which is taught by Hermano Jesse to help us learn God’s Word. We also have children’s classes taught by John, David and Kelly. We have our Morning Service at 11:00 a.m. which attempts to move us upwards toward God’s ideal for us as individuals. We offer the Fisherman’s Bible Institute (taught by Pastor Joane) each Tuesday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., as a way for us to increase our knowledge of God’s plan for us as revealed through His Holy Word. We encourage everyone to be a part of the Midweek Service on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., which helps us mature in the Lord. Our Friday Night Youth program continues to help meet the needs of our local youth and is lead by Julian and Alissa, plus their helpers.
On February 21, we are hosting area men’s groups to join us for a Men’s Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. Ladies will be joining Pastor Joane at the parsonage at the same time. Following breakfast, we will have a planning meeting to finalize the activities planned for the Retreat Center on March 13 and 14. We are calling it “Camp Victorious!” and area kids will be joining us for a fun-filled activity schedule.
On February 22, we will gather for our Annual Meeting of the Members. We will give our reports of God’s blessings, and talk of new ideas for the near future. Also, we will be selecting our Board of Directors for the Chapel. This is not just another “business meeting”, but is meant to report and express thanksgiving for God’s goodness to us. Everyone is invited.
Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdonominational congregation with an official Partner Congregation in Hallettsville. Our goal is simple – exalt our Lord in everything we do. One will always find a warm welcome at the Chapel, and you are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”
