The September 6th meeting of the Port O’Connor Service Club began the Club’s new year (2012-2013) with the vote by unanimous acclamation for the slate of officers as presented by the Nominating Committee. Ms. Mary Ann Claiborne, head of the Committee, read the recommendations of the Committee and the following were then resoundingly elected: Ms. Janet Johnson, re-elected as President; Ms. Carol Haverfield, Vice President; Ms. Diane Cooley, Secretary; Ms. Annette Leach, Treasurer; and Ms. Agnes Valigura, reelected as Parliamentarian. The new officers then took their places and the meeting commenced.
Ms. Sally Ragusin on behalf of the POC Sports Association (POCSA) displayed the proposed design for the new Sports Complex adjacent to the Community Center. Laid out were a baseball field, a soccer-football area and a walking trail as designed by Bernie Klein, AIA. This would be the proposed 1st phase starting the sports area with other activities, such as tennis or basketball courts, to be added later as money becomes available. A petition on behalf of the POCSA was forwarded to Club members for their support and signature, and Sally also received several letters from both Club members and President, Janet Johnson as well to be sent to the Commissioners’ Court for review.

The President then named her Chairmen who will be working on the various Club activities during the year 2012-2013. Then the majority of these Chairmen began looking for their helpers among the members present to be of assistance.

Lastly, Club members received an invitation to a very special birthday party honoring Ms. Agnes Valigura’s 90th birthday. And the overwhelming response was to plan their calendars around that day (Sept. 15, from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall).

Following the adjournment that morning, many members then made plans to meet again at lunch and reacquaint each other concerning their summer activities and plans for the Fall year.

Beginning Sunday, September 16, 2012, Port O’Connor First Baptist Church will enter into a series of meetings seeking God for revival. This series of meetings will conclude with the Wednesday evening service, September 19. However, as the services come to a close, it is our hope and prayer that we will have experienced a heaven-sent visitation of God in our midst.

“What is revival?” you ask. James Packer (born July 22, 1926) defines revival with the following:

Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God’s near presence and holiness. Thence springs a vivid sense of sin and a profound exercise of heart in repentance, praise, and love, with an evangelistic outflow.1

The late Stephen F. Olford (1918-2004), succinctly described revival this way: “Revival is an invasion from heaven that brings a conscious awareness of God.”2  Olford also said, “Revival restrains the righteous anger of God, restores the conscious awareness of God, and reveals the gracious activity of God.” 3

Brian Edwards also makes a valid point concerning revival: “In revival, the minds of people are concentrated upon things of eternity, and there is an awareness that nothing else really matters.” 4
Finally, Vance Havner (1901-1986), cut right to the chase concerning revival when he said, “Revival is the church falling in love with Jesus all over again.” 5

I would add to the above statements the following: (1) Revival is a sovereign act of God, for only He can give revival. The evangelist does not, and cannot, bring revival in his briefcase; (2) Revival gives God’s people a fresh glimpse of the holiness of God, which results in an accurate glimpse of our own sinfulness and shortcomings; (3) Revival does not occur apart from the genuine prayers of repentance for sin by God’s people; (4) Revival is a deeper work than merely surface religious enthusiasm and emotional excitement; (5) Revival not only changes the lives of those who experience it, but it changes the way the church as a whole ministers to its community. Cold and callused indifference to the plight of the lost and the spiritually needy ceases, and is replaced with compassion, godly love, and concern.

I want to take this opportunity to invite the whole Port O’Connor community to join First Baptist Church, as we seek God for repentance and spiritual awakening in our lives, our community, and especially our churches. God’s plan for revival is found in this readily recognized scripture, which is applicable both to our nation, and community.

2 Chron. 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (KJV)

May God visit His people with spiritual awakening and life-changing revival. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6).

1James I Packer, Your Father Love You, (Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986).
2Acquired from www.sermonillustrations.com.
3Ibid.
4Acquired from www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/r/revival.htm.
5Ibid.

Port O’Connor has a special parcel of land which is the final resting place of many past residents and people who made Port O’Connor their home. The land is located on W. Monroe Avenue and Cemetery road. Many of us who have lived here for years remember the POC Cemetery from our childhood. Like so many families in our area, my parents, grandson, and parents in law are there. I have noticed some families have relatives there dating back several generations.

Since 2007 the Calhoun County Historical Committee has been working with Mr. Bob Allen, recording graves, and putting them on the web-site Find A Grave.com. Bob has worked diligently hundreds of hours to record the entire cemetery and actually located many missing graves.

Mary Belle Meitzen, Co-Chair of the Calhoun County Historical Commission is in charge of preserving Calhoun County’s Historical Cemeteries and Port O’Connor Cemetery is definitely among them. The earliest grave marked in our cemetery is 1913.

On February 27, 2012, the Port O’Connor Cemetery was officially designated a Historic Texas cemetery. The official document was received in April of this year. The designation will preserve and protect the cemetery for future generations. A Texas historical marker will be erected in the near future.

Mary Belle has worked countless hours getting our cemetery designated. She has recommended forming a cemetery association to insure the cemetery will be preserved and maintained in the future. Careful planning and organization will guarantee this historic property will be protected. A cemetery association would play an important role making sure the cemetery will be protected and will be available to be used by families for years to come.

The association would elect a board of directors, adopt bylaws of the PORT O’CONNOR CEMETERY ASSOCIATION, and adopt articles of association. The Texas Historical Commission will offer advise/suggestions in forming an association. Samples of those documents are available.

Anyone interested in forming a PORT O’CONNOR CEMETERY ASSOCIATION may get in touch with the Texas Historical Commission . Their main number is 512-463-6100. Also, if you have any questions, you can email Mary Belle Meitzen at mmeitzen@cableone.net.

House of Prayer Celebrates First Year of Service

Meeting with the staff of the House of Prayer at their first anniversary party on August 28, it was evident that their enthusiasm for this Seadrift outreach is even greater than it was when it began. The building at 502 W. Broadway is small and doesn’t look like much from the outside, but inside it warm and bright, perhaps a reflection of the Spirit Who guides its crew in their efforts to share the Love of God with all who enter.

The House of Prayer began as an outreach of New Beginnings Church in Point Comfort, but is not in the business of recruiting members for the church. It is not, itself, a church, but encourages anyone who visits them to become involved with one of the local churches. The staff consists of Seadrift residents Evelyn Williams, Judy Gaines, and Ceila Victory.

“When we began, we really didn’t know what we were doing,” said Evelyn Williams. “We wanted to be a place where folks needing prayer could come, but we weren’t really sure what else this outreach would entail. It all really fell into place when it got really cold last winter. People started giving us coats; we had 150 of them! We gave them to anyone who needed them, but still had 50 left over which we took to the local Methodist Church on “Feed My Sheep” food distribution day. A cold front had just hit, but many who were in line for food were wearing summer clothes. We were able to give them the coats they needed. After that, more and more folks started coming to us for help.”

Since then, the House of Prayer has given away many needed items including clothing, house wares, and toiletries. “God sends us people who need certain items, and He sends people who give us the items,” said Evelyn. Two instances that stand out in her mind are: once when someone gave them a brand new hospital bed right after someone had expressed a need for a bed for their 95-year-old grandfather; and the time someone needed a wheelchair and the next day someone came by and donated a brand-new wheelchair.

“God truly works on people’s hearts and in their lives,” said Evelyn, “People who first received coats and school clothes from us are now donating back to others.”

As she told more of how the Lord has provided, Evelyn said, “God meets our needs. When we first began, we had $398 in the bank. After one year of operation, we still have $398!”

Although they have been able to assist many in need, the House of Prayer is not primarily a place for meeting material needs; it is also a place where people who are troubled can find a listening ear and someone who will pray with and for them. The doors are open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and Bible Study is held every Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. Volunteers can be reached by phone at:

Evelyn Williams – 361-553-9328

Judy Gaines – 361-237-0407

Ceila Victory (Spanish) – 361-785-2187

In the House of Prayer’s “clothes closet” are, in front: Ceila Victory and Judy Gaines, and in back, left to right: David Williams, Evelyn Williams, and Pastor Kenyon Hamilton.

Pictured above, Dieter Erhard, owner of Art Center Seadrift, and a resident of Erlangen, Germany, at the unveiling of his “saguaro cactus” in the town of Weissenohe, Bavaria, Germany.

The unveiling was done by Mr. Carlos Jimenez Licona, Ambassador of Guatemala, accompanied by his wife.

The 12-foot-tall artistic piece was constructed with a stainless steel interior, surrounded by 2,500 florescent plexiglass pieces.