The Pastor's Welcome

Thank you for your interest in First Presbyterian Church of Waskom and for visiting our website. It seems to me that one of the "First Things" ought to include an introduction to you about our church.

First Church was established by a few committed Christians under an oak tree on May 24, 1888. The Rev. Dr. W.K. Marshall served as pastor until his death in 1897. Since then, the church was pastored by or supplied by a number of Presbyterian ministers. In 1930 the church moved into their new sanctuary, which is still being used today. First Presbyterian Church of Waskom has been committed to Waskom's spiritual health and vitality for nearly 120 years. This concern was not solely confined to the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition but was likewise concerned for the good consciences of others in the area. For this reason, First Church opened her doors to many from other denominations (Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian, etc.) as a place to organize and worship until they were able to provide a suitable place to worship God under the compulsion of their convictions. To this day, First Church has maintained a cordial, cooperative and fruitful relationship with many friends in various denominations, which speaks positively of her commitment to the motto of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity."

Currently, First Church is in a "re-planting" mode of ministry. Any profitable garden, one that produces a good harvest, needs a season of rest, and then it is to be replanted in its new season. First Church is in such a new season. Even as Hezekiah, the last good king of Judah before her exile, sought the Lord's favor in restoring right worship of God and was in danger of great loss due to attacking forces, so, we too, are committed in seeking the Lord. The Lord, speaking through the prophet Isaiah, gave this sign to the king saying in Isa 37:30 "you will eat this year what grows of itself, in the second year what springs from the same, and in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit." This is our plan going forward. In 2007 we are living on what others have prepared and left, being spiritually nourished by "what grows of itself". In 2008 we will see how the Lord provides by what he "springs from the same". Then in the third year, as the Lord of the harvest works, we will "sow, reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit." How we prepare the soil and the layout of the garden is our work. We understand the Pauline motif of gardening in 1 Cor 3:5-7 where he tells us, "I [Paul] planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. [7] So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth."

Now as to our method of re-planting we draw from the Christian gardeners' handbook, the Bible. We are becoming a "People of the Book". What does that entail, you may wonder? Well simply this: we believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, authoritative word of God in its entirety, specially revealed by God to man by inspiration (see 2 Tim 3:16 & 2 Peter 1:19-21). Not only so, but that it is sufficient to lead, guide and direct us in living as Christians in the entirety of life in a fallen world. All this begins to work itself out as we preach the Bible, publicly and privately read the Bible, and sing the Bible in robust Bible-laden hymns of purpose and meaning in order to, as best we can, live out the implicit and explicit commands found in the Bible (an operation of lively faith). Still, we recognize we are sinners saved by God's grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit as promised and revealed from the Bible. Ultimately, we long to be active in glorifying God and enjoying Him as fully as we can in the community where we live.

Now our being Presbyterian and Reformed means many things, far too many to enumerate here. But let me express only a few for you as you think about visiting us. One fellow minister puts it this way, "we are committed to the Reformed faith, as set forth in the historic Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. This is the best known of the seventeenth-century Protestant statements of faith and has been heralded as the finest Christian confession of faith ever composed by uninspired men (we would be delighted to give you a copy). The doctrines of grace of our Confession are beloved to Reformed Christians, because they are biblical and emphasize the sovereignty of God in salvation. "God saves sinners" is the rich motto of the Reformed faith. While some churches are abandoning or "updating" this gospel, we are purposely proclaiming "the faith once-delivered." His words express our commitment and our doctrine.

One last thing concerning "First Things" at First Church. We are a denomination committed to reaching the lost with good news of Jesus Christ locally, nationally and globally. So we hold tenaciously to the Great Commission established by Jesus Christ as recorded in Matt 28:19-20. As Presbyterians, we are committed to being connected in worship, service and communion in all phases of ministry and this enables us to participate in the Great Commission in many venues. Because of our connectionalism, we believe we operate as a healthy family. But as it is in any family, struggle happens. Yet because of our commitments and connection, we are learning to work through those opportunities for growth and health by looking to the Bible and the Lord of the Bible for real, satisfying and meaningful solutions. Church is about many things but it is primarily about the family - the family of believers.

I hope this brief letter will give you the incentive to come see us, worship Christ with us, consider us as you church home and family, if you have none or are looking for one. If I can be of assistance to that end, please call on me.