Sunnyside Community Day Recap

I have finally taken a moment and uploaded some pictures from our Sunnyside Community Day several weeks ago.  We had well over 200 guests with us!  We started our bus route in that area and had 11 on the first week.  The Lord opened the door for us to buy a bus for this route - a van will be too small.  We should have it within a week and then begin to fill it up!  It is 30+ passengers, air-conditioned and has a wheelchair lift.  We are believing the Lord to work miracles in this neighborhood.  Be in prayer with us.  We also have started ESL classes for our Spanish speaking friends and have a full class each Tuesday and Thursday.  Sis. Betty Cash is their teacher and Sis. Teresa Gaitan is the facilitator.  We are following where the Lord leads.  Look into the eyes of these people and see what the Lord sees...  

South Texas Revival Conference

Last Thursday Gene & I headed to San Antonio for the South Texas Revival Conference. We had developed some lifetime friends while pastoring in Pflugerville, so took this opportunity to go see them.

Thursday night we went to Mi Tierra with Melvin & Lisa Reddy and Jarrid Younkin. The Reddy's were fellow daughter-work pastors in Cedar Park. They have just purchased land and are looking to build a church building in the future. Jarrid & Kendra Younkin helped us for about a year in Pflugerville as they were beginning a daughter-work in Round Rock. They are now at Christian Life College in Stockton, CA. Jarrid was at the conference promoting the school - we sure missed Kendra and the kids!

Friday afternoon we ate lunch with Rodney & Stacey Shaw. They are some of my favorite people. They are just "real" people - we have quite a lot in common - and I love spending time with them. (I didn't get any pictures from that lunch - too busy catching up!)

Friday night, we were able to see some dear friends from the Pflugerville church - Terry & Donna Stephens and their daughters, Lindsey & Kayleen. This family was a great help to us at New Life Church.Of course, I am always happy to see my friend Connie Bernard. She is a precious lady and I'm thankful to call her friend.These two girls were some of Cameron and Chad's good friends. I was very happy to see Erika and Lindsey.We had a great time - and I'm glad my travelling days are over for now. I'm ready to enjoy some time at home for a while!!

Father's

Happy Father's Day to the most wonderful men in my life!

First: My husband.
You are the greatest father to our young men. They will benefit so much from having you as a Dad - your fun-loving ways, silly faces, laughter, discipline, steadfastness, balance - all of these will lead them down the right path of life.My Daddy.
He was a great man, and I miss him terribly. I'm thankful God allowed me 37 years with him.My Father-in-Law.
Wow!! God blessed me with the best in-laws when I married Gene Holley, Jr. I'm so glad we have you as the "patriarch" of our family.My two brothers-in-law.
Wendell and Nathan have been strongholds in my life. I thank God for them.I love all of you more than words can say!!
Happy Father's Day!

Campmeeting, Etc.

Texas Campmeeting was awesome!! Great preaching. Great music. Great MC's (especially Friday night - heehee). It was all good.

Our trio was asked to sing at the TBC Song Fest on Monday night. Terry Wilbanks, Jason Matthews and Jonathan Elms were our band for the night. We had a great time.

Bro. Davis and Bro. Kinsey both preached anointed messages. And our friend, Greg Hardin, preached a message I'll never forget on Friday morning - "He Didn't Know it Couldn't be Done."

Of course, one of the highlights is the opportunity to be with family and friends.

Cameron and Chad were at South Texas Youth Camp during Texas Campmeeting. Their camp ended on Thursday night, so they drove to Lufkin to be in service Friday night and to spend time with friends. We are so thankful God is using their talents. Cameron played the bass at South Texas Camp. This week they are in Lufkin for the Junior High Youth Camp. Cameron is playing bass, and Chad is playing auxiliary percussion. Next week they will both be attending Texas Senior High Camp.
We are blessed!

Tomorrow Gene & I are planning to travel to San Antonio for the South Texas Revival Conference. We are looking forward to seeing several of our friends there.

It is H-O-T in Texas!! I'm so thankful God blessed us with a house that has a pool. I have been in it everyday this week. I know you figure out how to handle the heat without one, but I don't know how I did it before. LOL!
God is still doing miraculous things in Wichita Falls. Tonight it was so exciting to look across the crowd and see many new converts sitting in the pews. Our music was missing the usual punch with most of our musicians at youth camp this week, but there was a sweet presence of God as we began to sing. Gene had everyone come up around the front to begin service. He led with no praise group accompanying, and I played the keyboard with no other instruments. It was neat to hear the congregation as they lifted their voices in worship and song. There were 15 or so "babes" in the service tonight - they are setting down patterns that will strengthen them in their walk with God. They are so excited to learn more and more, and I'm excited to watch them grow. Some of the stories we are hearing are complete miracles - it's just awesome!!!

One year ago...

One year ago, today, I resigned from our work in Pflugerville.  Early that morning I passed this field, snapped this picture and heard from the Lord for Wichita Falls.  It seems like so much longer ago, but then it doesn't!?  How can that be?

We have seen so many advances in that year, but yet, the bulk of our work is still ahead.  We spent today doing what the Lord spoke to me about on that morning through this field.  The first community day out in the neighborhoods of Wichita Falls.  The feeling is beyond expressing:  to see the people begin to walk into the park in expectation... and our people knowing what we have to give is so much more than a hot dog or a handshake.  I have thoroughly been refreshed by new babes in Christ who are so excited to be free from sin.  They aren't looking for a way to do what the flesh wants, they are looking for a way to get out of all the things the flesh has gotten them into!  

Oh, the harvest is great!  The fields are ripe unto harvest.  We have only begun.

The time here seems so long because of all that has happened.  It seems so short, because we have barely even gotten started.  We are still discipling, mentoring and sowing... and will be until Jesus comes to get us.  Why? We are still Mission Ready.

P.S.  I am so happy with what God has done in Pflugerville in that year as well!  I could not help but be somewhat apprehensive about leaving our new baby church,  but Chad and Cassie Harper have done awesome.  They are now an autonomous home missions church.  The church now has it's own purchased property with a newly remodeled sanctuary and more room to grow.  New souls have been added and more are on the way!  I have tears in my eyes as I type this because God is so good.

1960's-1970's Homecoming

Life Tabernacle (formerly First United Pentecostal Church) is hosting a homecoming for all of those who called Wichita Falls and our church home during the 1960's and 1970's.  It will be held on Saturday, July 25th and 26th.  Saturday will be a day of friends, food and memories!  Sunday morning we will have a worship service with Dr. James Hughes speaking and Sunday evening with former pastor, Rev. J.R. Ensey.  We have already received great response to this and are looking forward to having everyone back "home."  

We will have a postcard mailing very soon, but wanted to get the word out here and it is also listed as an event on Facebook.  If you know of someone who needs an invitation, please get their name and address to us ASAP!  You can email me at gholleyjr@lifetab.org or list it in the comments here.  Also, if you have any pictures from that era, we would love to have them for a slideshow.  We have a special hotel rate at a new facility near our church of $71 a night.  You can call the Baymont at 940-692-7500.  Just mention Life Tabernacle.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Freda Green Homegoing Snapshots

I am thankful for family. We are definitely not able to get together as much as we should. When we are together, though, it is like old times. The homegoing for Aunt Freda was a peaceful and touching time. Family and friends came together to remember the times we shared with her. I wrote about her in an earlier post.

We gathered together on Memorial Day

evening for a time of visitation...

Freda's Daughters (my cousins): Judy King and Connie Steadham

Chad, Mark King, and Cameron, just getting to meet each other.

In the background to the right you can see

Rita's O'Bryant's daughter, Anita, and her husband.

"Old" friends and our kids!

Kevin and Shelli's kids: Blaine and Jessilyn Bradley

Keith and Carla's kids: Taylor and Mallory Clark

In the background, you can also see David and Vicki Green with Mom.

Judy King, our Uncle Donald Holley and me (looking a little too overjoyed!)

We got with the Bradley family for dinner at Salt Grass

following the visitation:

Uncle Chuck Bradley

Mom and Dad

Kevin (my cousin) and Shelli Bradley

Keith and Carla Clark (my cousin)

Following the homegoing service,

we gathered for a dinner and fellowship:

Mallory Clark, Charles Holley (my cousin) and Carla Clark.

In the background, next to Charles' face is Johnny Dewayne's son, Sean.

Cousins: Cathy Holley, Judy King and Sandra Holley

Johnny and Judy King

Some of Aunt Freda's grandchildren and their spouses:

Jonathan and Crystal Stramberg, Misty Hamel, Mark and Star King,

Matthew King and Josh Hamel.

The sunset can be the most beautiful parts of the day and so can the setting sun of our life... when we have lived and prepared for this day. We must live our lives now in a way that our families can peacefully say, "I will meet you in the morning over there...just inside the Eastern Gate."

Playing Catch-Up

I thought I would catch up and share a few pictures today. Life has been busy, but if it wasn't we would be bored.

Cameron & Chad will be out of school for summer on Friday. This means we will now have both of our boys in HIGH SCHOOL (Cameron will be a SENIOR!!!!). It's hard to imagine that we have reached this time of life, but it's also a fun time. There are tricky times when you are trying to let them become their own person, but I enjoy watching them develop into the men they will be.

The day after the choir concert, several ladies met to raise money for Mothers' Memorial. We walked and then had breakfast together at Atlanta Bread Co.I thought these next few pictures were hilarious! A couple weeks ago they had "crazy hair day" in Xtreme. Needless to say, the adults had fun with this also.The Rider ACAP choir had their final performance for the year last week. We have three girls from the church in the choir - Kathy, Alysha & Ayrian - they are all seniors, so this was their last performance.
This past weekend was so much fun. Sharon & I have been friends since I was 10 years old - 32 years!! But... we were only two of the three muskateers. Krista was the other. Last Friday Krista, Troy (her husband) and Ashley (their daughter) came to spend the weekend with us. We have all seen each other briefly through the years, but it had been about 15 years since we had spent any length of time together. We laughed until I was almost sick! As you will see in the pictures, Sharon still has the bridesmaid dresses from my wedding and Krista's. So, Krista tried them on. It was quite funny. Long-story-short, we had a blast.

On Monday & Tuesday we had the chance to visit with family & friends at the funeral for Aunt Freda. Gene will be blogging about this later and posting pictures.

We are now headed into June. June 8 is the beginning of Texas Camp Meeting. Gene & I will be there. Cameron has been asked to play the bass for South Texas Youth Camp during that same week, so he and Chad will be headed to Columbus. The following week is Texas Junior High Camp. Kassie has been asked to head up the music and asked Cameron to play the bass and me to play the organ, so we'll be back in Lufkin. The next week is Texas Senior High Camp where the boys will both be campers.

We'll try to get some pictures uploaded from all these events as they happen.

HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE!!
Take time to enjoy your family!