About Us
The Maness Family
Louisiana State Ladies Retreat
While we were in Louisiana Ruth, Joanna, and I were able to attend the Louisiana State Ladies Retreat on March 10-11. The retreat featured wonderful speakers such as Ann Luellen and Cindy Hebert. I was honored to help in the music department by playing the keyboard. We had a great time.
The theme of the retreat was “Take Me Away” with spa style decorations giving an atmosphere of relaxation.
Spanish Services and Fellowship
On Saturday morning, March 4th, we enjoyed visiting with 3 Spanish speaking congregations at a fellowship with Iglesia Bautista Bella Esperanza. There was great music, great food, Bible Quizes, Games, and Scott was invited to preach. He loves any opportunity he is given to preach in Spanish.
February Deputation and Family Time before we head out of Texas
Elisabeth’s first shopping trip.
Our sending church Nevill’s Chapel held a Faith Promise Conference and our picture was posted along with the other missionaries on the church sign.
Granted we’d be around 70 if this shirt’s message still applied 30 years from now.
My parents holding their two youngest grandchildren. Note the toys all over the floor the next picture explains why.
We made a special occasion before we hit the road on deputation to make this picture happen for my parents with all 16 grandkids.
Joanna on one of her new baby blankets that was given to her by the ladies of Ridge Crest MBC in Levelland, Tx.
We had a good time during Senior day at Glenwood Baptist Camp. The kids got to help Bro. Ken Sibley with his gospel illusion lessons.
We also got to hear the gospel group The King’s Servants the same day at Camp Glenwood.
Scott was the guest speaker on Senior Day. He preached from Psalm 71:18.
We enjoy singing together as a family.
My cousin Christi had her baby a week before Joanna was born. We finally got the second cousins together for some pictures. It was a little tricky getting both babies to be happy at the same time.
We had a really good visit with Mema (Charlcye Taylor) before heading out on a longer deputation trail visiting Churches all over the United States.
We also visited Bethel MBC of Tatum, Tx with Mema, Aunt Connie, and Uncle Tom.
Scott shares our mission plans for Argentina…
…and he enjoys preaching from the Word of God when given the opportunity.
Elijah gets to hold Joanna in this picture. Joanna is not short on getting attention with so many siblings.
Welcoming Joanna Lynn
We would like to introduce the newest member to our mission team, Joanna Lynn. She was born into our world January 14, 2017 at 2:10 a.m. at home in Henderson, Tx weighing 9 lbs and measuring 21.25 inches long.
This was our first home birth and it was our best delivery experience to date. We really appreciate the help of our midwife Kristin Green of Seeds of Grace Midwifery. She was a true blessing to us and even prayed with us right before Joanna was born. 
Trinity River Local Association Mission Rally
It was a blessing being able to attend the mission rally in Cleveland, TX. It was great hearing the message presented by brother Moyers this evening. He preached from the book of Nehemiah beginning at chapter 2. His message encouraged us to not get discouraged in the work of the Lord. In chapter 6, he brought out the mischief that Sanballat and Geshem had in store for him. Nehemiah responded correctly that, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.”
There would be many in this life that would dissuade use from doing the will of the father. Some oppose out of envy, others out of fear and many from hatred of God and his people. The scriptures comfort us that no matter what, God is still greater. The enemies of Nehemiah were persistent. They sent four times trying to stop him or discourage him from the work. Each time he responded the same way, “I cannot come down!”
What work would God have you busy at right now?
What distractions are hindering you from serving the Lord?
In the book of Hebrews, it says, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
Enrolling my son at TBI
My son, Joshua and I went to Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary this morning to get him enrolled for the fall semester. We sat in on some of the classes and he was able to already make some new friends. We heard a great message that morning and he was able to get all of his paperwork and fees taken care of. He is planning to move up to Henderson the first week of July. Pray for him as he embarks on this great journey and adventure of preaching the word of God.
A woman after God’s own heart
After going to the pre-association meeting in Texarkana, It was my great pleasure this week to sit down and discuss the Bible with my wife’s grandmother, Charlcye Taylor. She has walked consistently with the Lord for many years. One of the things that she has done over the years is to mark the sermon texts that had been preached over her lifetime.
You can see from the margin of her Bible the small printed text that she had added with the name of who preached the message, the title and the date. She is no longer able to read the small print that she wrote, however, As I mentioned a text, title, name and date, she could remember the entire event whether it was a revival message or a Sunday sermon. I could see her face lighting up as we walked through the last 40 years of her memory.
We started from the back of her Bible in Revelation and slowly flipped back through the pages talking about the associated events. We lost track of time and realized that by the time we had flipped backwards a page at a time into the Gospels, a couple of hours had past. Those were a couple of hours that I would not have given anything for in exchange. Since then I started doing the same thing, marking the name, date and text preached. It is a great mnemonic device, bringing back the floodgates of memory with a couple of marks.
What do you do to remember your time spent in the Word of God? I would love to hear your comments!
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Texas State Pre-association Meeting
It was her riding up to the pre-association meeting with Glen Griffith, Shawn Findley and Travis Robinson. We had a great time of fellowship en route to Texarkana. When Jesus was on earth, his disciples spent a lot of time with him, going everywhere together. That is a key ingredient that is many times left out of a modern discipleship program, quality time.
It was good to see several of the brethren again that I had not seen in a long time. Before I got up to present the work, brother Griffith shared that when Nevill’s Chapel voted unanimously to be our sending church that 17 people joined their church that day. God is great and still on the throne!
Sunday, May 15th
Today we had the pleasure of spending our whole day with our sending church, Nevill’s Chapel. After a great worship service, I preached from 2 Peter 1:16-21. We have great precious promises that we base our lives and decisions on that do not originate from man. Our instructions do not expire and are not subject to private interpretation.
In the afternoon it was great to be able to sit down with Brother Griffith over lunch and discuss mission work and future plans.
That evening we were able to partake of the Lord’s supper with our church.
Trinity River Local Association Eating Meeting
If there is anything that Baptists enjoy, it is eating and fellowship. For most just the mention of the word “fellowship” automatically includes eating.
We enjoyed being at the Trinity River Local Association monthly meeting. They had a large turnout with over fifty present. It is always a blessing in be with the Lord’s people.
Later in the evening I enjoyed hearing brother Moyer’s story of his life of ministry. I am definitely the better for having known him. He is one of the ones who had been faithful in the small things as well as the bigger things.
