TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Anyone who is in the area and would like to come I am sure Sis. FALLA would love to see you there. ASnyone who needs a place to stay feel free to let me know:)

Blessings, Rhoni

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Where are you all located? Is Wylie the name of the city?

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Wow! What a legacy- 50 years at any job, I am sure with Sis. Falla it is more a ministry than a job. I will not be able to be there, but I want to send my well wishes and love to a gentle, inspiring lady who is a wonderful role model. I want to be like Sis. Falla when I grow up!

God Bless you Sis. Falla:friend

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

I can't attend but I will say Sis Falla deserves the honor. She is a lady full of grace and gentleness.:friend

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Sis. Falls that's so awesome!

Congratulations on 50 years of service and enjoy the evening!!!!

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Congratulations!!!!

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Congrats to our awesome Sis Falla!!

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

"50" years!!! That is 6 years longer then I have been alive!
All at the same job and at the same Church!!!

What does that say about her!!

Congratulations!

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

I wish I could say the same :(

Blessings, Rhoni

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

I never wanted to be a Texan. (Don't look good in cowboy hats, and cowboy boots hurt my feet). But now.... just for a littlle while, I'd like to be a Texan. Congratulations, Sis Falla, for years of faithful service. And congratulations ____(Name of church)_____. You are blessed to have such great people as members!

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Wylie is right outside Dallas. It is close to where I live in Rowlett/Rockwall area. Close to Amazing Grace in garland:)

Sorry I didn't get to your service Sunday - I was sick and my equilibrium was off. I was dizzy and couldn't drive. LOL

Blessings, Rhoni

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

No, no, Brother Ron. They're talking about a church in Texas. Not the church at Pentecost. We know you are nearly old enough to remember the day of Pentecost!

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

I think the name of the church is: The Refuge of the lake cities. It is UPCI. Pastor and Sis. Chancy Gore [Sis. Falla's daughter and son-in-law].

You could come in and visit - there are quite a few of us here. I think they have Reunion Tower Restaurant open again. It is about 38 stories up and you can eat dinner as it revolves about 5 mph and you can see all of the Dallas area. It is a great treat:)

Blessings, Rhoni

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Huh, the Dallas area is a little out of my jurisdiction. Now if some kind soul with red gloves were to, say, purchase (as a gift to my world outreach ministry) a round trip plane ticket, I would definitely take the matter to prayer.

Wait.... yes, I have the answer. If, in fact, some kind soul with red gloves were to provide a tax deductible gift of a round trip plane ticket, then yes, I would be there. (Provided deluxe accomdations at a 4 star hotel was included.) Just think of the blessing you would recieve! "Behold, money cometh..."


38 stories? Man, thats a lot of reading. Do I have to read them all?

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

I'm glad you're feeling better. That would have been a pretty good drive for you either way. Bro. Jones is supposed to be coming back so I'll keep you posted to see if it ever does coincide with whenever you're in the area.

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

:tease Aren't you the funny one:friend. Alas I am but a poor therapist and the best I can do is put you up in a room at my sister's inn:) LOL. Tax deduction huh? I hadn't had one of those myself in years:) LOL But if your truck passes this way we can buy you a cup of coffee from starbucks and a lottery ticket:)

Blessings, Rhoni

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Thank you :friend. Let me know when Bro. Jones comes again and I will drive that way. It is approx 4 hours and I love my trips to visit AFFers in Houston.

Blessings, Rhoni

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Congratulations, sis Falla!

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Didn't know Sis. Rhoni was going to do this but since she did, let's give GOD some glory.

It was He who by His Spirit called my late father, Robert L. Blakey, to Wylie, Tx. in
1950, from a very small town in northeast Texas. Savoy, TX, the area in which both of
our parents were born and raised. Both, my paternal and maternal grandmothers heard
the Apostolic message in the early 1930's, following the Great Depression. Then a girl
from one apostolic mother and a boy from the other apostolic mother, came together
in holy matrimony. (They had also received the Holy Ghost following their mothers conver-
sions.

Our late father served in WWII, in the Philipeans and in Japan. He had just turned 26 yrs
old when he went overseas, leaving behind a wife and four young children, the oldest
had just turned 7.

Dad came home after the war ended, went to night school through a military program.
Tried to farm. etc.,.etc. But God was calling him to preach the gospel in a small town
that several men had come and held services, etc. but had left, sometimes with a bad
record.(owing rent, grocery bills, etc.)

Elder J.D. Drain told our father that Wylie was a burnt over field. It was a hard place.
But God knew who could hammer that hard place with the Word of God and who would
work hard and raise his family and show a good example of Christian living by disciplining
his children, paying his bills, and taxes, etc. He showed a pattern of having his own
children in subjection to their parents first. In the fullness of time,......,

Nov. 12, 1958, the doors of a small storefront in Wylie, Texas would open on a crisp,
sunny Sunday morning. There were 18 present, including his mother, her sister, his aunt,
and others. In 1964, we purchased an existing church (11 yrs. old) from a congregation
that had some land donated IF they would build a new church within three yrs. The
board of that congregation heard that we were looking for church property. They con-
tacted our father and gave him a price. Dad had us pray that IF it was God's will for us
to have it, He would make a way, but he didn't feel we could afford it at that time. We
prayed that God would supply the funds or shut the door. The door was shut for two
years while our building fund grew. Having their new building nearing completion, the
board of First Christian Church, approached Dad again and told him if we wanted it, we
could have the church and parsonage at half the price they had quoted two yrs. prior.

God led us step by step, through the years, through ups and downs, hills and valleys,
but today a lovely facility sits on almost six acres, where people of God in and around
Wylie, TX can come and worship God in Spirit and in Truth. This facility was provided
miracleously also.
Five of our six children and their families worship with us here. The other son attends
an apostolic church in a neighboring city, with his family.

God showed Dad how to make the community in which we lived, a better place in which
to raise their eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. All eleven graduated from
Wylie High School. Our six did also. And other of the grandchildren.

There are Blakeys who have gone to other cities to make it a better place to live. They
took with them the GOD of their father and mother with them.

Maybe the "rest of the story" will be written in a book.

And how did I come to be secretary for Jesus Name Pentecostal Church, (today
called The Refuge of the Lake Cities)! There was no one else to do it. The church
was begun by Dad and Mom. They used what they had. Their own family. I had
graduated in 1957, worked and helped support my younger siblings and when Dad
started Jesus Name Pentecostal Mission, someone had to do it and I was available
so I was chosen. In 1959 I married my husband and we remained here and in time
began to raise our family along with my siblings. (a three-fold cord is not easily
broken.) There are three generations of our (husband and I, our children and their
original spouses and 16 of our 20 grandchildren are regular members here.

We are SO blessed! I can only say that our Great Lord God, Jesus Christ, is the ONE
who provided all these blessings. And we give Him all the Honor, the Praise and the
Glory! For Great things HE has done, is doing, and will continue to do, as long as we
will allow HIM to do the leading.

Hugs,

Falla39

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

I want to thank each and every one of my Brothers and Sisters on
Apostoic Friends Forum for your kind and sweet words. For each of
your Congratulations and Best Wishes. They are very special to me.
I have grown to love each of you individually and collectively.

I was so overwhelmed when I logged in and saw all the posts you
had posted, it took me a while to respond.

God bless you all, in Jesus Name!

Hugs,

Falla39

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

That is amazing!! congradulations sister Falla! I love to see people who have deep roots and have stuck it out thru the years.
It says so much for who the person really is.

So the invitation is to Taxans only uh/??

Sis Falla, I also want to commend you for keeping that saintly godly appearance.
You look so holy unlike others ( no names) who have fallen by the wayside

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

:club:club You talkin' bout me?

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Sis falla,

You have such a wonderful Godly heritage. SO proud to have you as a friend.:friend

Blessings,
Rhoni

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Praise the Lord Sister Falla. You are such a blessing. Congratulations, and thank you for your service for our Father.
PS, I am so thankful to know 2 of your brothers and their lovely wives. They also represent your parents and our Heavenly Father well.

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Sis. Rhoni,

Thank you, and I am so glad we are SISTERS!!!:mama

Hugs,

Falla39

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Sis. Falla,

It is so nice to have a big sister. Just so Chosen doesn't call me Mom or Auntie:tease.

Love ya,
Rhonda

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

LOL!! He won't, but he calls me MomC, and I love it.
Comes with age, I guess. With 20 grandchildren it a
good thing I love the word "Grandma".:hug3:hug3:hug3

Falla39

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Yes, congratulations Sis FAlla on 50 yrs of service to the Wylie church. I am honored to say that you were my friend before the "Wylie" church began!
Blessings to you and the Church.

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Thank you, Sis. Pittsgirl,

And we two grandmothers share two little grandsons, don't we!!:friend

Hugs,

Falla39

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Bro. StMark,

Thank you for your kind words. I would love to have every poster and
their families on AFF to be here to celebrate. I sent Rhoni and Amazing
Grace an e-mail invitation because they live within ten miles from our
city. Didn't know it was going to wind up here. But it has literally made
my day, my week, my month and maybe my year!!!:cheer:cheer:cheer

Blessings,

Falla39

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

MomC

Thank you for sending me the link to this thread and many congratulations. Would love to meet anyone who chooses to come this way for the celebration of this wonderful family. Yes SisFalla I will be there actually Iwas just telling chancy yesterday that I would come. Sorry it took so long to respond was getting our new addition ready to go preach out this weekend and had to find him some stuff. Love and miss you so much but will see you there!

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Saw where Norman had joined AFF. His late father baptized myself, my brother,
just younger than myself and our sister just younger than the brother. The year
was 1953, under the Lake Lavon spillway, before the lake was completely filled.
That was about five years prior to the JNPMission opening its doors on Nov. 1958.
I had received the Holy Ghost that summer of '58, went to another revival and
met the wonderful man who would in the summer of 59, become my husband. He
received the Holy Ghost in that revival. Our roots were planted in this place in 1959
and have grown downward and thicker than Texas Johnson grass! Try digging that
stuff up. LOL!!

Falla39

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

I'll be there - you can meet me :friend

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

I already know you silly but I will still meet you over yonder lol

Now I am way past my 1 post per month allowance lol gotta run!

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Wonderful, Amazing Grace,

Will be good to see you again and also Sis. Rhoni.

Hugs,

Falla39

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Falla,


would you be sure and tell Amazing Grace hello for me when you see her?
She's not talking to me right now but still give her my regards okay?
Thanks so much!

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

I will, Bro. Mark.

Blessings,

Falla39

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Now I know she doesn't dress like a "flooosy" so whasup with that? I know why I am off your list - but why AM?:friend

Re: TEXAS AFF'ers...Invitation
 

Sis. Rhoni,

Bro. StMark loves to make lists. That seems to be his thing.
I take lists kinda like I take polls, marketing surveys, etc. With
a grain of salt!:nod Can you believe he listed me as a Dem-c--t!:ursofunny
But we must love each other regardless, and we can have fun
too, can't we!:friend

Hugs,

Falla39