In this edition we want to shine the spotlight on First Assembly of God Seadrift. South Texas is blessed to have so many healthy rural churches with dedicated pastors caring for not only their church family but the entire town. These churches are some of the healthiest churches in South Texas. One of these healthy rural churches is First Assembly of God Seadrift, Texas, population 1,350, pastored by Tim and Beverly Smith. They have pastored in Seadrift for 26 years. Tim and Beverly raised their 3 children in Seadrift and they all continue to serve the Lord. I hope you enjoy this interview with the Smiths as they share their pastoral wisdom. God bless you as you consider planting, PAC’ing or pastoring an existing church in rural South Texas!
When and why did you come to Seadrift? Beverly - In February of 1994 we were voted in. We came because we both prayed intensely about it and asked others to pray. God assured us by several separate things, all coming together that this was God’s will for us and our family. Tim was able to transfer from his job to a better position at a power plant much closer to Seadrift and we sold our house quickly so that we were able to move without having that hanging over us. Tim- We came to Seadrift in February of 1994. The church was without a pastor and we were invited to come as guest speakers for Sunday services. The church board asked us to come the following Sunday and they asked us to keep coming for services. After four weeks they elected us as pastors.
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How did you confirm that it was God’s will to pastor in Seadrift? Beverly - A lot of prayer and reading God's Word; letting God speak to us through His Word and answering our prayers about the concerns we had. We wanted to know beyond a doubt that this was God's perfect will for our lives. Tim - After preaching the first Sunday, I felt very good about the services and the response of the people to the messages. They had been without a pastor for several months and were discouraged but very hungry for God’s word and responded in the altars. I could see God’s healing work being done in the people. This happened quickly. I also saw that there was a lot of repairs and work that needed to be done on the church building and parsonage. Over four weeks we quickly grew to love and care about the people. They also began to love and appreciate us and our ministry. We believed that we could help the church make improvements to the properties. God gave me a burden to minister to the people and to help the church through their challenges. During this same time, my secular job transferred me to a facility nearer to Seadrift. I believed this to be an act of God to help me fulfill His desire. I submitted to God’s leading and the congregation voted for us to be their pastors. What are some highlights of pastoring in Seadrift? Beverly - The ministries we have been able to provide our community such as Vacation Bible School; having fundraisers to enable us to send youth to camp; taking a group of youth to San Francisco to minister to the homeless population and underprivileged children; celebrating Tim's 40th birthday; being able to go on 5 missions trips between the 2 of us (not including the youth mission trip); numerous ladies home missions trips to Pleasant Hills Children's Home; being unanimously approved to serve as Assistant Pastor once I received my credentials as a Licensed Minister; and celebrating our 25th year as pastors here. Tim - One highlight for me is the relationships with the people. I love them as my own family and refer to them as my church family. We love and care for them and they love and care for us. I find great fulfillment in witnessing God move in lives and change the lives of His people. I also enjoy and appreciate the relationships within the Fellowship of the Assemblies of God. I have many pastor, evangelist and missionary friends. Another highlight is participation in mission’s trips. I have traveled on three trips, two to Spain and one to Israel. There are many notable family events that have happened to us while in Seadrift. All three of our children have graduated High School and college. They have married and we now have 6 grandchildren. We have celebrated many milestones including our 25th wedding anniversary, renewing our marriage vows during a Sunday morning service and several notable birthdays. God is good.
