Dallas Primitive
Baptist Church
 

Our Pastor

Documents

Directions

Contacts

The Dallas Experience

The testimony and experiences of some
 that labored in the work at Dallas, Georgia.

Forward

It is our desire to say a sincere THANK YOU to each one that attends the constitution of Dallas Primitive Baptist Church. The Lord has blessed us in a very incredible way during the two years we labored to have a church in this heavily populated area of Georgia.

As we face an ever increasing "evil" time in our society, those that labored tirelessly, prayerfully, and willingly at Dallas have learned the meaning of "having life more abundantly" in our Lord.

We sincerely thank God for those who supported the work in a financial way, especially the churches of Bethany and Cross Roads Atlanta that sent a monthly contribution to us. As was true in the beginning with the Apostles, it is true today, it takes substantial funds to spread the Gospel and we have been wonderfully blessed by other churches and children of God so this day could be possible!

Again, THANK YOU from the depths of our hearts!

The Dallas Primitive Baptist Congregation.

Time line of the work at Dallas PB Fellowship

Thoughts Of Dallas Primitive Baptist Church

 Marty Smith        11/4/03 

Elder James Pruitt has meant a lot to me since he helped guide a peace meeting in the late 1970’s, when Euharlee Primitive Baptist Church, the church where I grew up, came again into fellowship with most of the Old Line Primitive Baptist churches in the United States.  My parents were members there, and I was a member of Bethany Primitive Baptist Church, but stationed as a NOAA Corps officer in Honolulu.  I was glad to get the news from far away that I was in fellowship with my parents, and grateful for those who helped to bring that about.  When I was ordained to the ministry in 1982, I asked Brother James to pray the prayer during the laying on of hands of the presbytery, and I appreciate both his desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and his counsel.

We also both like Mexican food, so when he mentioned getting together Monterrey’s, near where I work, I was ready.  By this time, I had been the pastor of Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church in Cartersville, GA for many years.  He was the pastor of Boiling Springs Primitive Baptist Church in Birmingham, GA, and had been blessed to be part of the constitution of a church in Dahlonega, GA, and a church in the Philippines.  He was excited about the work of the Lord there, and convinced that the Lord would bless him to be used in constituting a church in northwest Georgia.  He asked what I thought about the idea, and would I help.  My first thought was, “I don’t now how I am going to find the time for such work.”  My following thoughts were, “You probably have more time than he does, and you ought to help.  Besides, involving Macedonia in more outreach will be a blessing to them.”  From the earliest days, the scripture that has been with me regarding Dallas is Proverbs 11:24-25, “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.  The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

So I agreed to help, though I doubted I would be much help.  I suggested that Dallas would be a good place to work.  Thinking of the directions from Macedonia, I knew that Powder Springs was to the southeast, Cross Roads in Woodstock to the east, Shoal Creek in Canton to the northeast, Harmony in Calhoun to the north, Rome in the northwest, Euharlee in Rockmart to the west, and Union in Yorkville to the southwest.  Due south of us, in Dallas and Hiram, one of the fastest growing areas in the nation, there was no living church. 

I also suggested that we ask Elder Loyd Blair to help.  He lived close by, was a good preacher and close friend, and had a patient, gentle approach that would help us greatly.  Brother James thought that would be wonderful, and started thinking about relatives he had in the same county as Dallas, and got even more excited.

At first, we met weekly in an insurance office in Powder Springs and prayed, and planned, and prayed.  The Lord blessed the time together, but there was not much outside interest.  Others joined us to pray and plan, but not much visitation.  Our friendships grew with the weekly meetings.  In the summer of 2002, we found the place on Seaboard Drive, and opened for meetings there.  Brother Victor Halbgewachs and his family, Brother Sid Bulford and his family, and Elder and Sister Blair, poured themselves into the work.   It was a warehouse space, with all the comfort that implies.  Still, with benches brought from Boiling Springs, and hymnbooks from Macedonia, we started worship, and it was very, very good from the start. 

Dallas had abundantly good visiting preaching.  The first visitor I remember was Elder Don Farris, who preached powerfully on the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, using an air conditioner box as a pulpit.  Individuals and churches were generous in their help, and soon there was air conditioning, heat, a bathroom, and kitchen space; and worship took place each Tuesday night at 7:00 pm, and each Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm.

The thing that characterizes the work at Dallas so much to me is the consistent warmth and love.  The Lord is blessing those who gather there to pray together, laugh together, and discuss things freely.  It is easy to feel the gladness the folks there have to be with one another.  It seems to me that the Lord Jesus Christ is blessing the efforts, and the way He has sent a pastor and additional charter members recently is added evidence.  I rejoice in the constitution planned, and I hope I will be welcome there in the years to come. 

The Dallas Experience of Elder James Pruitt 

            In October 2000 at the Marietta Association Elder Marty Smith inquired of me as to the constituting of the new church in Dahlonega. At that time we discussed the tremendous potential in evangelizing the West Ga. area. We shared a mutual desire to begin an outreach in the area. In February 2002 I discussed this with the church at Boiling Springs and Sister Dorothy Fuller stated that her son, brother Ronald Fuller, had a business office near Austell and she felt assured he would welcome our using it for the purpose of meeting to coordinate our efforts. Brother Fuller extended a courteous invitation and the ministry of Boiling Springs met with Elder Marty Smith, Brother Victor Halbgewachs and other brethren of Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church on three weekly sessions in March and April. It was determined that the location should be in Dallas because of the population explosion occurring in Paulding county. 

Premature Notification;

            I published the result of our meetings in the Atlanta Area Newspaper published by Bethany Church. Never did I think it would take us four months to find a place to meet! Brother Victor and I traveled every road in the City and many in the County trying to find an affordable place in which to meet. We enjoyed the time searching and praying together but were becoming discouraged when Brother Victor found a small business warehouse complex. In late July we went, in excitement, to the location so I could give my opinion. Praise God it is perfect was my reply!  

The Prayer;

            After securing the lease Brother Victor and I visited the site. A worker was preparing the floor for occupation and we ask him to give us a few moments. We walked near the center and each offered a prayer of thanksgiving and request for the Lord to bless the effort. I WILL NEVER FORGET the feeling I had after our prayer session concluded. We made a commitment of at least two years. The feeling I received that day gave me an assurance in my heart that caused me to never doubt that a time would come when we could announce the constitution of a new church. I never knew the Lord’s plan and often wondered what it was, but knew he had been with us since the day of that prayer.  

The Entrance of Elder Blair and Cross Roads- Atlanta Church into the Labor;

            Prior to finding a location to meet (perhaps at one of the organizational meetings) Elder Smith stated his desire for us to invite Elder Loyd Blair to assist us in the work. Though I knew Elder Blair, I had never been closely associated with him in a particular labor, but knew I had enjoyed the little time we had been together. On Wednesday following the Tuesday we secured the lease I called brother Loyd and stated our desire for his assistance. He sounded very willing and together we begun a work of indescribable joy and bonding that will always be a blessing in my life. What a wonderful privilege to labor together for the Church of the living God. I mourn at the thought of being separated, in a particular, labor from Brother Loyd and Sister Marilyn. Their enthusiasm and tireless labor has been a great inspiration to me, and always will be. 

A Special Day;

            A couple of months had passed and we did have a couple of exciting days working with young minister whom we considered a prospective member, but he moved out of the area before we had time to complete the work. However, Brother and Sister Bulford had learned of the effort and they became very faithful to be there. I truly enjoyed getting to know them and learned they were members of Bethany but due to the distance they had to move from the church when brother Sid had to change jobs, they could not be as active as they desired to be. I will always remember how I felt when they stated their desire to be members at Dallas and to work for there to be a church in that location. I felt as though the church had arrived! I knew that as long as there were two, I could not shrink back from the ministerial responsibility to “feed the sheep.” The others shared the same wonderful feeling. What a joy to the soul! 

The Fellowship;

            Sister Marilyn constructed a membership list of those that attended the services on a regular basis including a precious widow that is not Primitive Baptist, Sister Mattie Hester. Sister Mattie became a regular attendee on Tuesday Night and occasionally brought a brother that is blind, whom she has assisted for several years since her retirement from the Ga. Factory for the Blind. She and brother Nolan Jones meant so much to us in our labor in Dallas and will always be in our hearts in a very special way. I will truly miss Sister Mattie’s fellowship and crackling cornbread! She has a special talent with corn bread. The fellowship had on average, twelve to eighteen in attendance each service. They were from several different churches and the Lord truly blessed us with his Spirit and the love grew stronger each week. I will miss worshipping God on a regular basis with each one that became “regulars” so very much.  

The day of sadness;

            We experienced our first moments of deep sadness when we learned of the unexpected death of Brother Kenneth Delong. Brother Kenneth and sister Betty had become faithful members of the group that met each Sunday. We shared much joy in the labor and in each other. Because the feeling of sadness was so very heavy upon our hearts, I knew it was a sign of the church truly being there for we had the feeling of the pain of death that come from the loss of a family member.

            In addition to the loss of Brother Kenneth we were saddened a few months latter by the death of Brother Porter Mitchell, a deacon of Boiling Springs who was always there when health permitted. On Sunday before his death on Thursday, Brother Porter gave a testimony to Boiling Springs of how the labor at Dallas was a fulfillment of his office to him! He encouraged the church to “abound in the labor.” We have spoken often of what these two brethren meant to the work but could never completely convey their importance to the cause-of-Christ! Both in joy and in deep sadness, we have experienced what life together with each other in Christ and in labor for his namesake is about. 

The Big surprise to me;

            The work at Dallas was greatly solidified by the uniting of Brother Victor, Jeremy, and Sister Elaine Halbgewachs to the fellowship. While traveling to Texas with them to attend the ordination of brother Donnie Halbgewachs Jr. they informed of a meeting the members of the Dallas Fellowship held in the home of Brother Sid and sister Jan. They stated that they considered how wonderful it would be if they had an older, seasoned Pastor to guide the church in it’s initial years. As I entertained the thought, I asked, “who do you have in mind?” They replied that they would love to have Elder Don Farris and asked if I thought he would even consider moving to Ga. to pastor such a small group? I replied, “he would if he felt the Lord was in the matter, but if he did not believe he was, he would not consider it even if there were a thousand members.” I further stated that the only way we would know was if we called him and I would do it that day if they desired for me to do so. After talking with Elder Farris I knew the Lord had been working and I wasn’t even aware of it! Nothing new about that!!  

In conclusion;

            The work at Dallas was very different to the work I had been blessed to be a part of in Dahlonega. At Dahlonega we had five members who lived in the area and they desired to have a church conveniently located for them and their children. In Dallas we did not know of anyone that would desire to be member but knew that it was a very suitable area to begin an outreach work. In Dahlonega we had several children to join for baptism almost immediately after beginning the work. Dallas has been different but we have those who have “the vision” of caring the gospel and thus the church into areas were it is not currently located. The West Ga. area is truly one of the best potential areas for harvest as exist anywhere in the world. May God bless the church at Dallas to fulfill the glorious opportunity before it.  

Many thanks;

            I will always be thankful to the Lord and to each one that labored in the effort. I especially thank the Elders that visited and preached for us during the two years. Your encouragement was a vital source of strength to me, as well as to all that worked so faithfully at Dallas.

            I appreciate all the work of the sisters, and brothers, in providing our Tuesday fellowship supper. What a privilege to be Old Baptist!! The very best preachers, the very best cooks! What more could anyone possibly want?? 

My Prayer;

            I pray that more P.B. ministers and congregations will know the joy of bonding together to labor in the most needful area of increasing the number of churches in our nation. It is “joy unspeakable!” 

Elder James Pruitt 

The Dallas Experience, 

There are occasions we experience in our lives which prove to be special. The formation of a church should be so to us. 

Our times and small effort with the Dallas Fellowship was an edifying pleasure to be long remembered. 

To those involved, thank you for letting me accompany you on a sweet journey of promise. 

May God continue his blessings on the Church at Dallas. You will always be a special people to Marilyn and myself. 

Your servant in Christ;

Elder Loyd Blair 

P. S. A short note from the kitchen!! We started out going to just have sandwiches, bowl of soup, and desserts. Sunday evenings after the preaching we served refreshments. On special occasions we would have  a supper for visiting Elders from out of town.

            Before long we grew into several that could come on Tuesday night. Then it became BIG SUPPERS, with a wonderful time to enjoy each other’s fellowship and laughter. We all that had a small part in preparing the natural food, that God so richly blessed us with, are grateful for this opportunity. 

Your small sister in Christ;

Sister Marilyn Blair

The Dallas Experience;

            Since I have been at Dallas Primitive Baptist Church, it has been one of the most joyful, loving, and memorable times of my life. I have been a Primitive Baptist

all my life, but I never knew that I could have a family in church like we have at Dallas. It is like the love I have for my own children. I have never been able to express my love as easily as I have since being with this little church and the brothers and sisters who attend. I love each and every one of them, and thank God for giving me a home in Christ. If God will give me wisdom to learn more about Him, there is no other place I would rather be than at Dallas Primitive Baptist Church, unless it is in Heaven with our lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In Love;

Sister Janice Bulford 

The Dallas Experience; 

The joys that I have received in being part of Dallas Fellowship cannot be numbered.  My desires to help and the little bit of sacrifice on my part have been returned in blessings many times over.  A step of faith in the beginning by several brethren, a commitment was made to try at Dallas for two years to see if God was in the matter and would bless our little efforts.  There was no way of knowing how it would be but here we are.  Serving God in Dallas Fellowship has become the center part of my life.  So many lives have been touched already.  Such a fellowship between brethren I have never known before.  There was something special the first day Elder James Pruitt and I walked into the empty warehouse.  The concrete floor and steel beams around did not hold back our prayers to God.  We felt blessed from that very moment.  To see and experience so much already has been great, yet deep inside me I believe we are just beginning.  I do pray that almighty God will be pleased to  use us at Dallas to make a difference in more individual lives and even a community.  Pray that God would humble us gently and then use us in His church.  I have tasted a small communion with him and my soul desires to have more.   

In Hope of Eternal Life,

Victor Halbgewachs 

The Dallas Experience; 

Sweet rivers of redeeming love have been made evident to me as the Dallas effort is approaching constitution.  Two years ago in April my husband, Victor, became involved with Elder Marty Smith and Elder James Pruitt in the work of Dallas Fellowship.  It became somewhat infections here in our home.  Looking at the fleshly side I did not see how that I could “put” more into my “schedule”.  Wanting to support Victor and see what he was talking about I also started attending the Sunday afternoon and Tuesday night services.  It was not long until they were the highlights of my week.  The love expressed from heart to heart and the felt presence of the Lord have made the last two years go mighty quickly.  I look forward to devoting my life in the service there and pray that God might increase as the rest of us decrease in His service.  

With thankfulness to God,

Elaine Halbgewachs 

The Dallas Experience;

            Dictated to Elder James Pruitt by Sister Ruth Albertson. 

            My first memory of the work in Dallas was in one of our Wednesday Night Bible Studies when Elder Pruitt made the intent to begin the work known. Though she had never been to Dallas, she thought it was good to be involved in the work with the other preachers and churches.

            She remembered her first visit, the first meeting, when we met without air conditioning. She remembered meeting sister Elaine and her courtesy toward her, the meeting being blessed with the Spirit. She spoke of the joy of getting to know brother and sister Blair. She remembered the first Sunday service she missed and how it just did not feel right. She spoke of family members who are not P. B.s and how they always ask her about the meeting at Dallas. She especially remembered the joy she had of going to church with brother Kenneth and sister Betty Delong and the sadness she felt when hearing of his death. She remembered meeting brother Sid and sister Jan and the joy she had when they joined at Dallas. She feels a strong kindred to sister Jan because both of them are daughters of a Primitive Baptist Elder.

            The joy we had in traveling together for the one and half hours it took us to get to Dallas. The way we were blessed in not having car problems. The times several of us went together and the fellowship we shared. The joy of going with Brother Mitchell who always accompanied those that went from Boiling Springs. How being involved in the labor was a new experience for her and a true treasure in her life. How the fellowship with other members of her church that labored at Dallas grew stronger and sweeter.

            Sister Ruth spoke of the visitation of Brother Victor at Boiling Springs as we were beginning the work and how she was touched by the prayer he offered and the love she has for “the boys” as well. She spoke of her joy in meeting with brother Marty because she knew him before he began to preach.

            She feels very thankful for the privilege of being enabled to go and worship in the sweet fellowship and love of the people that met each Sunday. How wonderful it is to fellowship with brethren we do not see that often. 

In Love;

Sister Ruth Albertson 

***Note*** Through the work at Dallas I have learned why God inspired the Apostle Paul to close the Book of Romans in thanksgiving to those who assisted him in his ministry. ( J. P.) 

The Dallas Experience;

            Honestly, the Dallas effort started off to me as a burden. I mean, what Primitive Baptist ever heard of going to three services every week. But, I attended knowing that going to an extra service or two was no real sacrifice when compared to all that the Lord Jesus Christ endured for me. Before long, however, a small burden became a large blessing. I have felt a love there that I will not likely experience again until I am married. I have learned that love is as much a part of being the true bride of Christ as doctrine. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve our Lord with this small group that has assembled in His name at Dallas.

In Love;

Jeremy Halbgewachs

The Dallas experience;

Dear Brothers and Sisters at Dallas;

            Every visit I’ve been at Dallas Primitive Baptist Church has been precious. From the first time some of us met at Brother Fuller’s Insurance Co. to discuss the outreach to the present.

            I thank God for the love that flows from one another at Dallas. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Elder Blair and Sister Marilyn, Elder Smith, Brother Victor and his family, Bother Sid and Sister Jan with all.

 It has been a real experience getting to know Brother Victor; I remember one Sunday at Dallas he introduced me to a visiting Sister and told her the reason I was growing a beard was that I was wanted by the Law and was trying to hide. I don’t think she believed him? (laughter is good for the soul)

            I remember one time when a lot of us was working at on the inside of the building, I was sitting on a paint bucket watching my brothers paint the walls when tears filled my eyes and dropped to the cement floor. I knew then, in my heart, there would be a church there.

            I remember the time when Elder James Pruitt and myself delivered the church benches at Dallas while my heart ran over with joy.

            I remember that no matter who stood and preached the Word of God, he filled them with a double portion of His Spirit.

            I remember the precious times I got to spend and worship God together with Brother Kenneth Delong and Brother Porter Mitchell who have now gone home to be with God.

            The outreach at Dallas has truly been a blessing to me and has filled my life with many memories and treasures.

My Prayers are always with Dallas Primitive Baptist Church; My God continue to bless.

In Love;

Brother Danny Cagle 

The Dallas Experience;

            Elder James Pruitt asked the constituting members to write about our experiences at Dallas Primitive Baptist church. I have been trying to put together thoughts for a while now and I keep coming up with a lack of words to explain what I have experienced at Dallas. It is impossible, for me at least, to put together in a couple of paragraphs how the Lord has blessed the fellowship, preaching, prayer, and conferences. How intimate the body is with one another and that has come through some trials at Dallas. In the past year we have experienced death, sickness, health, joy, sorrow and more abundantly love and we have grown closer due the experiences. There is a strong presence of the Spirit and unity in that everyone there, by the leadership of the Holy Spirit is fulfilling Ephesians 4:2-3, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. I personally feel that the preceding verses sums up the work at Dallas and may the Lord Jesus be Glorified by this effort. Hallelujah what a Savior!

Brethren pray for us.

Brother Larry White

The Dallas Experience;

            The longer I live, the more I realize how much I don’t know. This is a trend I do not expect to change. I have a lot to learn about serving God. One of the strongest characteristics about the Dallas church is a desire to learn more about worshiping the Lord. We want to do things not because it is the way they have been done, but because it is what is taught in the Bible. I am thankful the Lord is giving me this opportunity to work with these brethren and together learn more about serving Him. The goal of my effort is not to help build a strong church. The goal of my effort is to one day be able to say that I have served God with all my heart. Nevertheless, a group of believers who have banded together to serve God with all their hearts will become a strong church.

 In Love;

Brother Stephen Halbgewachs  

 The Dallas Experience;

            The work of God to plant a church in Dallas, Georgia brought some priceless treasures into the lives of those involved. For me, in particular, I feel that the lesson that I learned from the experience may prove the most valuable to me in the long run. That lesson being: there are more things that can come from an outreach than newly converted Christians.

      From the beginning, I know our minds were sober in understanding that the Lord gave no guarantee to bless our efforts to go to Dallas. This is because James kept saying that the worst thing that could happen is that we get our nose bloodied and we learn. Well, we did learn, but thankfully in a better way than that.

       The experience that first told me that the Lord was in the work was when Brother James and Brother Victor gave testimony of the Spirit of God upon them while in prayer at the new warehouse meeting site. They said it felt like the Lord purposed for a church to be there in Dallas. After that, I looked forward to what the Lord had in store. The lesson in this, to me, is that the Lord seemed to work very slowly. We just kept meeting, and the attendance never did explode. We met for much longer than in the work in Dahlonega. I learned the importance of waiting upon the Lord in an evangelistic work. That the Lord doesn’t do things the same way every time. I believe Paul learned this lesson as well in his journeys, and it is an important one.

         Another precious thing to me is the work of God in knitting our hearts together in love. While those of us from three different churches were meeting together, we were building bonds that I trust will last a lifetime. I was able to see some brethren on a regular basis that I otherwise saw very scarcely. They inspired me and strengthened me, and I love them with all my heart. Our purpose was the same, we were in one accord, and dwelling in the unity of the faith. How many of the sweet times that we shared together were like unto the times spent between the apostle Paul and Luke, or the many others who ministered with him? The spreading of brotherly love truly is a beautiful and wonderful thing.

         Perhaps the greatest blessing of the Lord, along with His planting a church in Dallas, is that of brother Larry White. It was nothing short of miraculous the manner in which God brought forth this man into the truth. With such power and revelation He blessed him and taught by him. Brother Larry’s doctrine was so sound so quickly that it reminded me of how Jesus himself taught the apostle Paul all the things he had previously revealed to the other apostles. The Lord has also conditioned his heart to be as it should; meek and lowly. I marvel and thank God for how he has molded my brother Larry, and I hope to spend many days as his yoke fellow. I wonder how many more of these faithful servants the Lord will yet bring forth, as Timothy, Titus, and Apollos. I look forward to finding out.

       It is true, for the bulk of the beginning work in Dallas, there weren’t very many new converts. That has begun to change, and I trust will continue. But there is much more God gives to His churches in evangelism. I am so thankful I learned this lesson, and was blessed to be part of His work in Dallas.

         Elder Glenn Ray 

My Dallas Experience

Being a part of Dallas has truly been a wonderful experience.  It has brought me great joy knowing that I was involved in something really special.  The work at Dallas is just one way of reminding us that God reigns and is ever present;  never contained in the past nor will be in the future.  This proves to us that there is still more work to be done.  God’s children are awaiting to be awakened with the truth.  They can only have it if we obey what God tells us to do and go wherever he wants us to be.   

I have tremendously enjoyed every visit in Dallas, not only that I have had a great time with all the chances I had to eat at Captain D’s (the best place to eat at); and also I have enjoyed the naps that I have taken.  I certainly have enjoyed all the memories that I’ve shared with the Boiling Springs crew.  We truly miss Bro.  Porter Mitchell, surely he would be happy for the church at Dallas for how it turned out and what it will become.    

It really amazes me how you can be on the other side of the world and you would still feel at home with a church family.  The first time I had been to Dallas I immediately fell in love with the people.  I felt the warm heartfelt welcome the moment I got in the door.  They show you how much they appreciate you and happy they are to have you visit with them.  They will always have a very special place in my heart.  If  I am not a member at Boiling Springs I would be one of the members at Dallas.  I have considered it as my second home church.  I have claimed them as my church family too.  Whenever me and Glenn travel for an appointment I miss not going to Dallas as much as I miss my own home church Boiling Springs.     

In Christian Loave,

Joanne Penonia Ray       

THE LORD GOD IS GOOD

While I was in Georgia nearly two years ago, Elder James Pruitt invited me to go with him to Dallas, GA and speak at an outreach effort of Boiling Springs PBC. Elder Marty Smith and Macedonia PBC as well as Elder Loyd Blair and Crossroads PBC are enjoying this labor of love. The unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace characterized the labor in Dallas, GA.

The people were very nice and I was made to feel welcome. The Spirit of God seemed to be with them and since that time I have visited them with similar experiences. But of all things, I never, ever entertained the thought of being ask, much less consenting to come here to try to be their pastor. Here we are.

My wife and I were very comfortably settled in Dallas County, Arkansas in Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church. Elder Gary Harvey was our pastor. We loved living in the country at the end of the road in the home of the late Bro. Jewel Burris, Sis. Reba Huneycutt's father. We had all the comforts of home without the expense by the grace of our God and the goodness of the Huneycutt family. We had many good neighbors, but one day my phone rang. Dallas Fellowship had ask me to be their first pastor. Surprise number two was, I consented some days later. Sis. Emma and I were working for Bro. Allen Morgan and Bro. Glen Hill. We were remodeling the Johnson place for them. It was a good job and good people to work for.

My wife and I decided we would try again to sell a small place we had in Lowell, Arkansas.  We had tried to sell it three or four different times before, but failed. We called a realtor, he agreed to list it and he faxed the papers for us to sign. Before we got the papers signed, the realtor called and had a contract on the place. A contract the first day, yes and it sold at our set price. The deal closed after we arrived in Georgia.

Bro. Ted Huneycutt Jr. had invested a little money we had saved while in South Arkansas, in his Benchmark Investment Company. The value of the investment nearly doubled and was sold just before we accepted the care of the Fellowship in Dallas, GA.

We drove to Georgia to fill some appointments and find something we could live in. We thought we might try to buy a used mobile home and fix it up and put it on Bro. Victor & Sis. Elaine Halbgewach's place by their gracious permission. We were thinking maybe some time we might want to move it if the Dallas Fellowship grew and was able to purchase property. We found what we were looking for the first day. But our Arkansas place had not closed. We thought we could possibly get them to take some earnest money and hold it for us until we returned. Just a short time earlier, Sister Elaine's parents had sent her some money. She told Bro. Victor that they could buy the mobile home for us and when our house sold, we could pay them. This allowed them to move the house while my wife and I were back in Arkansas finishing our remodeling job. Macedonia PBC in Arkansas and Mt Paron PBC and some close friends have helped us enough financially for us to be debt free and have a 1600 sq. ft. home to live in. May God bless Mama and I to be grateful to Him for His great mercies.

Bro. Victor Halbgewachs did a large amount of preliminary work and the house was moved. Prior efforts to get septic approval had failed. Now it worked. The doublewide was set up by the mobile home people. Many lovely saints came and worked hard to get the house ready for us to move into in two weeks. The house had been someone's hunting cabin.  Animal waste odor filled the house. The carpet had to go. The walls were washed, the ceiling painted, the outside pressure washed two times, the cabinets and bathrooms cleaned as well as many other things done, and done in two weeks, including getting the carpet put down. This was miraculous within itself. Cathy and Freddie, along with Henry and Tana, all came to help us move. Church folk came and helped also. We moved on schedule. Thanks be to God and many of His wonderful people for making this a reality. We are here.

My Dear Wife, Sister Emma, continues to prove her God given love for Him and for me and for the truth and church of God. I realize I am entering where others have labored. I am trying to fit in at Dallas. I am trying to get acquainted. Elder James Pruitt, Elder Loyd Blair and Elder Marty Smith are laboring in the outreach together. It is beautiful to see them work together in love. I have greatly enjoyed being with them in this effort. God has been good. We are growing and learning. We prayerfully seek His lost sheep in hope of being used of God to feed them and grow with them.

Respectfully Submitted,

Don and Emma Farris