HERE’S WHAT’S NEW
Emory Baptist Church eNewsletter
Pastor's Pen
Bro. Richard Piles, Pastor
Where did summer go? Ready or not, school starts back this month, and another summer is behind us.
Plan now to attend our annual “Back in the Game” Revival Meetings August 3-6. We welcome Bro. Butch Smith as our guest preacher. He is the interim pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church in Canton, and he also is an area director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).
Miles Pike will be our guest worship leader. Visit his website to get to know him before August 3, milespikemusic.com.
The Sunday meeting times will be our normal meeting times, and Monday-Wednesday will be at 6:30 PM. Also, we will be taking a love offering for Miles and his family. Please plan to give generously.
On Sunday night, August 10, we will have our end of the summer and Back to School Ice Cream Fellowship hosted by T. E. L. Come for Blue Bell ice cream and as we pray for our teachers and students! Also, we will appreciate our EBC Staff at this ice cream fellowship. You can do so with a card or gift card or just a work of “thanks.”
Rains ISD resumes classes on Monday, August 11. Sonbeam Day School starts back on Tuesday, September 2.
Finally, “Back in the Game” Sunday will be August 24. As has been our practice in the previous years, we will look back at what God did at EBC in 2024-2025 and look forward to 2025-2026!
I’m grateful to be your pastor!
Choir Corner with Chris
Bro. Chris Henderson, Minister of Music and Senior Adults
Church family, if you haven’t heard the news, Grace and I are expecting our first child, a baby boy, in January of 2026. We could not be more excited to be parents and we appreciate the support you’ve shown us so much. Thank you so much for all the prayers and congratulatory remarks. I know Baby Henderson is already well loved and well prayed for by his church family.
It’s August again, and that means it’s time to get back into the swing of things at Emory Baptist Church. For our Music Ministries, Celebration Choir, we begin rehearsing on August 10 at 5 PM, and we can soothe our sore throats after at our Back to School Ice Cream Social.
Wednesday Night KidzPraize resumes on August 13 at 6:30 PM along with our Fellowship Meal at 5:30 PM.
I hope you plan to join us for the entirety of our Back in the Game Revival Meeting, Sunday August 3rd through Wednesday, August 5th. I know you will be blessed by both Bro. Butch and Bro. Miles, but even if you can’t make it to all of them, try to attend a few. It will be refreshing to start the fall semester off singing, hearing God’s Word preached, and being together more often than just Sunday morning and evening.
Student Ministry Spot
Ronnie Witt, Minister of Youth & Education
A lot has happened this summer in the Witt family, with a lot of change. Caleb is now engaged and counting down the months until their wedding. Colby has graduated high school and begun employment in his chosen field. And Cohen enters his junior year of high school. It’s a new season for Lacy and me as we look forward to the new school year. Usually we’re trying to fit in one more quick family getaway. This year, however, we’re just trying to finish all the other things we have to do to begin the new school year.
Even though the school year begins in the middle of August, the Sunday school year does not begin until September. So, Sunday School Promotion Sunday will be the last five minutes of Sunday School on Sunday, August 31st. Children and youth will go to their regular classes through the month of August. Then on Sunday, August 31st, children and youth who are moving to the next class will do so at 10:10am. Sunday School teachers for the new year will want to be there to meet those moving up.
We have a “Welcome 6th Graders” event coming up on Sunday, August 10th. This event is for all Jr. High Students, especially the 5th graders who are moving up to 6th grade. We will leave after the morning service and head to Cici’s Pizza. After lunch, we’ll go to Shenaniganz in Greenville for bowling, & video games for $20. Students can bring their own money for more food and cokes, if they want. We will return about 5pm.
Finally, on Sunday, August 24th, we invite all youth join us right after the morning service as we travel to Sulphur Springs for lunch and an afternoon of pickleball and other games at the Sulphur Springs pickleball courts.
Cecily Kirby, Director of Preschool Ministries
Sonbeam Day School
OPEN ENROLLMENT
HAPPENING NOW!
We currently have only six spots left for
2025-2026!
Please contact Cecily at
Our theme for the school year is
“Shine like the Stars for Jesus!”
Meet the Teacher:
August 28, 2025
5:30-6:30 PM
Please continue to pray for our ministry,
staff, students, and their families.
Nursery Rhymes
Nursery Workers Needed!
Our nursery is such a special ministry, and we’re so grateful for those who care for our babies and toddlers each Sunday morning.
We’re currently in need of at least six more volunteers to serve on a rotating basis. If you have a heart for children and can help, we’d love to hear from you. Without more volunteers our current nursery volunteers are working the nursery more often.
Please contact Cecily Kirby if you are interested in helping with this ministry.