Volume 21 October 2015 Number 10

Sammy LopezPastor, Mighty Fortress Church

Sammy is Lead Pastor of Mighty Fortress Christian Fellowship and one of the most sought after Hispanic communicators in the nation. He is a relevant, humorous, and Biblically challenging communicator. His personal experience allows him to easily relate to individuals who have turned away from the church or are facing difficulties with their faith.

Darrell Horn SABA Executive Dir.

Darrell became Executive Director of SABA in March 2015, after 10 years as Director of Missions of San Felipe Baptist Association and 9 years of ministry in

Mexico and Venezuela as an International Mission Board Missionary.

Hurt & Manley

Featured at Student CelebrationHurt and Manley came onto the sketch comedy scene in 2007. This dynamic duo have been making people laugh and proclaiming Jesus at camps, conferences and retreats ever since.

The Children’s RallyWelcomesJeff Smith

Jeff is a featured per-former and master

teacher at national and international con-ferences and seminars in drama, worship arts, music ministry, teacher training, children’s ministry, and creative arts.

“I am the vine, you are the branches” John 15:5

The BranchNewsLETTE

RA Monthly Publication of Live Oak First Baptist ChurchPhone # 210-656-8200 FAX # 210-656-0848Web Site: http://www.liveoakfbc.org https://www.facebook.com/LiveOakFirstBaptistChurch

Donald Valenta, PastorPaul Reavis, Minister of Music &

EducationRachel Dorchester, Secretary

From Our Pastor

2015 SABA Annual CelebrationSunday, October 18, 5:30–8:00 PM

First Baptist Church of Universal City1401 Pat Booker Road, 78148

ANNUAL CELEBRATION SCHEDULE4:30 pm Booths Open, 5:30 pm Business Session

6:00 pm Annual Celebration & RalliesSpeakers & Events

The Celebrating God’s Family challenge to focus on the future has ignited a passion to become a simple healthy church that returns to the Lord Jesus Christ and His teachings. If anyone knows simple and healthy, it is Jesus. Jesus has the ability to take the complex and make it simple. A prime example is Matthew 22:37–40, where Jesus gives what has become known as the Great Commandment. I still think “loving God and loving people” is the best way to embrace the future and positively fulfill God’s ministry. Healthy churches have positive growing relationships with the Lord Jesus Christ and one another. It is so simple to say let’s love God, love people and minister to the hurts of the world, but the reality is that it takes much hard work and spiritual discipline to accomplish the simple. We need the grace and love of Jesus Christ in every facet of our lives to fulfill the Great Com-mandment. We must have faith in Jesus Christ so we can effectively love God, love people, and minister to the world. How can you love God? Although there are many ways to show our love to God, corporate worship should be a priority. How are you doing in worshipping God? Live Oak First Baptist Church provides many opportunities to worship. Are you taking advantage of those opportunities to not only be present physically but also spiritually? I challenge you to renew your love for God by committing to be involved in corporate worship.How are doing in loving people? Loving people involves fellowshipping with them and getting to know them. Our Sunday School provides wonderful ways to love people through small group Bible study. Sunday School incorporates fellowship, prayer, and Bible study which enhances love for God’s people. Sunday School is also the outreach arm of the church to extend God’s love to all people. I encourage you to participate in Sunday School so you can grow in your love for people.

Finally, how is your ministry to the hurts of the world? Has the Lord ministered grace and comfort to you? Will you extend that grace and comfort to others that God sends your way? Remember, ministry is not easy. Good ministers must be willing to be tried, trained, and remain tenacious as they walk by faith in the Lord and the assurance of His presence. I hope you will embrace the future with Live Oak First Baptist Church as we love God, love people and minister to the hurts of the world. Let’s be praying for a simple, healthy, vibrant church and the laborers to make it happen.

Your Pastor,Brother

Donald

October is a favorite month of many with cooler air, leaves beginning to fall, cooler air, football, cooler air, and improved attendance in Sunday School! We can have October as our high attendance month if all of you will come and share in Bible study with a teacher who prepares the lesson and cares about you.We appreciate all of our teachers, committee members and deacons for the work you do in support of our staff and the Lord’s work here at Live Oak. Invite your neighbors, hair dressers, check-out clerks and food servers to worship with us. Give them a business card (located on the welcome center desk).We are really proud of Brad Ward for achieving the Eagle Scout Award. It took years of hard work to accomplish and he joins an elite fraternity of first-class citizens. Way to go, Brad!Our choir has begun work on Christmas music. We work on it at the beginning of rehearsal at 7:15 on Wednesday nights. If you would like to join us, you may leave when we finish working on the

From Our Minister of Music and Education

Christmas music, with no strings attached!Celebrating God’s Family was a great day with Dr. Horn, Rebekah and Debbie. The kitchen crew and deacons did a super job with all the details and preparation. Special kudos to the committee under the leadership of Mario Ward!

Paul

2 Lalo Peña 20 Margaret Gerecke6 Raymond Tabor 22 Carl Carr8 Mary Rousseau 23 Joe Newgent9 Sue Patton 23 Carolyn Faught

12 Mario Ward 23 Laura Guajardo14 Karen Tilghman 24 Edna Hall17 Sandra Wilson 25 John Aguilar17 Gary Faught

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SPONSORED BY THE RUTH CLASSShare the love of Jesus in a shoe box. Shoe boxes will be available for you to pick up beginning October 18th. Please return to the office by November 15th.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *6th Annual SABA Hunger

WalkSaturday, November 7th

9 am to 12 Noon Comanche Park #2

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Help us raise funds for our 37 Baptist food pantries so they can meet the needs of the hungry in our community! Last year's walk was a great blessing and a great success. Come help us make it even better this year! Our goal for 2015: 60 churches helping to raise $60,000! Ed Essary will be participating in the 10K run. Please support this ministry with your prayers and donations.

Deacon of the WeekOctober 4 Lalo Peña October 11Don StewartOctober 18 Danny O’NeilOctober 25Donnie Cox

Join us for a delicious lunch at Granzin’s Bar-B-Q. We will meet at the church at 11:30 am and carpool to the restaurant.

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October 15, Thursday, 6:30 pmFellowship Hall

A Teachable Spirit: Listening+Living

Out=Learning

Join us as we discover the difference between listening and learning. As disciples of Christ, we are called to learn–to both listen AND live out. Join us for Bible study, dinner, and fellowship with your sisters in

Lively Oaks Meeting October 8

Thursday @ 11:30 am

Granzin’s Bar-B-QNew Braunfels, TX

For Ages 50+

Women's Ministry Meeting

Birthdays

Christ. Check in the foyer for the menu and sign up sheet to help with food for the meal.

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Now is the time to meet with your committee or ministry organization members and plan your events and meetings for the coming year. Deadline to turn in your dates for our annual church council planning meeting is November 15th.

Attention:All Committees

and MinistryOrganizations