Pastor Jack Cochran
Caring and Sharing

While listening to Pastor Jack talk about what he does as a pastor, I could easily tell that he takes being a pastor quite seriously. I’m sure he’s very aware how precious life is, and he aims to do his very best to make a difference in his church and in the community.

Welcome, Pastor Jack, to Seadrift’s First United Methodist Church! He came to pastor in Seadrift in July. He knows he has a lot to learn about everyone, especially his church.

The two favorite things Pastor Jack loves to do are caring (pastoral care) and sharing (public speaking). Here’s what he had to say about his ministry: “I just want to be a toolbox for God. I want Him to work through me and my congregation to create a church that is accessible and open to all of God’s children.”

Pastor Jack Cochran is a graduate of Rivera Kaufer High School in Rivera, Texas. He earned a degree in communications from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. Pastor Jack tells his story about how he became a pastor: “Right after college I jumped feet first into youth ministry. After five years of youth ministry, I became a pastor.”

Pastor Jack has a cat named Nebby who is his “forever furry” friend. Commenting about his furry friend, Pastor Jack said, “I am owned by a picky and plucky cat named Nebby. It’s his world and I just happen to be living in it.”

Hobbies of Pastor Jack’s are as follows: on-line video games, tinkering with vintage electronics, and listening to true-crime podcasts.

Service times at Seadrift’s United Methodist Church are at 11:00 a.m. every Sunday. A warm invitation is extended to all.
-Tanya DeForest

Seadrift’s First Baptist Church

Something very special is happening at Seadrift’s First Baptist Church and the Corporon family is right in the middle of it. August 6th was the beginning of the family’s coming to pastor the church and it also marked a new beginning. You see, attendance had declined to just a small number of people. Now, when the doors are open on Sunday morning for their worship service 100 people or more walk through those doors!

Pastor Aaron and his lovely wife Heidi are ready to serve. They both love to study. Heidi is working on her bachelor’s degree through Tyndale Theological Seminary and is well versed in reading and writing Hebrew and Greek. Pastor Aaron is a graduate of Frontier School of the Bible in La Grange, Wyoming and is working on his master’s degree of Divinity from Tyndale Theological Seminary.

Pastor Aaron and Heidi have been married twelve years. They are the proud parents of two sons: Edward who is 10 and Alexander who is 9. The boys are featured in the Kid’s Corner column at left.

Heidi was born in Utah and raised in Brazil. Her parents are missionaries in Brazil where Heidi grew up. She and her family lived in the jungle among the Wai-wai people. Her dad is working on a translation of the Bible and has published apps for an indigenous hymnal and dictionary. Her mom does a lot of work among the women helping them learn from the Bible.

Pastor Aaron was born in Texas and grew up in Colorado. Seadrift’s First Baptist Church is Pastor Aaron’s second church where he has served as lead pastor. His aim is to teach the scriptures in a way that everyone understands. The nearness of our Lord’s return is a topic that weighs on his heart. Pastor Aaron made this comment: “Since Jesus ascended back into heaven, we have not seen this amount of prophetic fulfillment that we have seen in the past 100 years.” He believes that the Rapture of the Church may be very near.

The service times at First Baptist Church are 9:45 a.m. for Sunday School and 11:00 a.m. for their worship service. Their children’s programs are held in the church gym on Mondays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6 to 7:00 p.m. -Tanya DeForest

Rich Schaller, along with his wife Tina, were called into full time ministry at First Baptist Church, Port O’Connor in June of this year.Early in August, after retiring from 24 years at FedEx, Pastor Schaller began the work here in POC.

Pastor Schaller formerly served as the pastor of First Baptist Church in Westhoff, Texas where he ministered for 17 years. He has been serving in Christian ministry for 28 years, beginning with Coleto Baptist Church in Victoria where he served seven years as a music minister and discipleship leader among other things. After a four year sabbatical, Pastor Schaller returned to the pulpit as a supply preacher in November of last year.

With a heart for people and the Word of God, it is Rich’s hope to lead First Baptist into a deeper relationship with the people of Port O’Connor. “My vision,” said the pastor, “is to be a church with an outward focus. Jesus came to redeem people and to restore the relationship between God and man which is damaged by sin. First Baptist Church exists to share that good news with the people of our community through words and actions. It is my hope,” the pastor continued, “to build a stronger and more meaningful relationship with the people of Port O’Connor – One soul at a time. I am excited to see what God’s going to do next in POC and I look forward to meeting those who call this little slice of fisherman’s paradise home.”

Rich and his wife Tina have two grown children and five grandchildren and are grateful to God for the privilege to serve such a warm, loving and welcoming community of believers and residents in Port O’Connor. -Diane Cooley

-Reprinted from the September 18, 2020 issue of Dolphin Talk.

There are two major events that occurred on September 11th; one, certainly, the Twin Towers, I feel we all can remember where we were when we heard the news of this horrible event.
Another was Hurricane Carla. On this day in 1961, the community of Port O’Connor was almost totally wiped off the map.

Most you are too young to have lived through this; I did not live here then, but moved here several years later, out where John’s Fireworks Store now is. It was all undeveloped property; there were no buildings before Byers Street.

Out in that area were piles of refrigerators, stoves, chunks of concrete and other items washed out there by Carla.

But Port O’Connor, being the community it is, was rebuilt by a lot of hard labor and love. My friend Joyce Raby told me many times how what she could find of their belongings, was covered in nasty smelling mud. She washed what she could on a rub board, out in the yard. They lived with her in-laws until they could get their house livable. I can’t imagine what they went through.

I hope Port O’Connor never has another Carla, but everyone needs to respect the storms. Just think of what those people went through for us to be here enjoying this lovely community today.

Since 2021, every September has been designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as National Preparedness Month to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies. For Texans, this month can also serve as a reminder that it is very much still hurricane season and coastal Texans should ensure they have a disaster plan ready.

The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1st to November 30th every year, and the 2023 season was predicted to be less active than previous years primarily due to the high probability of an El Nino weather pattern to develop after three consecutive hurricane seasons with La Nina present. However, while El Nino can suppress hurricane activity, there is still significant activity in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico this year that those living in coastal areas should continue to monitor.

FEMA urges coastal citizens to stay prepared and alert as hurricane season continues. “It only takes one hurricane to cause widespread devastation and upend lives,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell in a May 25th media briefing. “Regardless of the number of storms predicted this season, it is critical that everyone understands their risk and heeds the warnings of state and local officials.”

To stay prepared and ready throughout hurricane season, FEMA has several tips:
● Make an emergency plan and make sure that everyone in your household knows and understands it.
● Know your evacuation zone. Learn your evacuation routes, practice with your household and pets, and identify where you will stay in advance.
● Create a go bag with enough supplies for your household including medication, disinfectant, and pet supplies to last for several days after evacuation.
● Have several ways to receive warnings and alerts related to storms, including signing up for community alerts in your area and being aware of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

Texas Sea Grant also has a program page dedicated to more resources for hurricane preparedness, including links to informational videos and a comprehensive list of further resources.

Ever wonder about your local EMS and how they operate? Dustin Jenkins, Calhoun County’s EMS Director, gave us some insight into the daily operation of our two EMS stations in Calhoun County.

The Central Station is located on Henry Barber Way, right next to the fairgrounds in Port Lavaca. This station has three ambulance crews ready twenty-four seven. It was built in 2010.

The newest station is referred to as the South Station. It is located between Seadrift and Port O’Connor just off Highway 185. This station was built in 2017. One ambulance crew mans this station twenty-four seven.

Dustin Jenkins noted that when the need arises there are four more ambulances available to service our area. He also let us know that Calhoun County is especially blessed to be fully staffed. There is a shortage of EMS workers in the Nation which includes Texas. Dustin said that people are surprised when they learn that we are fully staffed here in Calhoun County.

We are so grateful for the service of these first-responder heroes. Many a life has been spared because of the dedication of these men and women! Pictured is the Main EMS station here in the county. When the picture below was taken the ambulance with the lights had just pulled up only to have to take off again!