(From top, left to right) Jennifer Kelley and Aaron West
are presented during Big Sandy School's coronation
ceremony; Jared Weinbrenner was Big Sandy High
School valedictorian for 1992 (likewise, Shoshana Paige
was for Gladewater High School and Greg Baker for
Hawkins High); Delia and Sarah Worden enjoy the
Science Fair at Big Sandy schools; Janice McKee's
quilt wins the People's Choice award during the Heritage
Days quilt show; church youth Roy Clark is one of many
who play on their school's sports teams; Big Sandy
Elementary Principal Donna Varnado stands with
Caroline Kirkpatrick, Rafferty Smith and Emily Sandilands,
all winners in the "Reflections" fine arts program.

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out of a desire, I guess, to fill a need. You might say we enjoy the excitement, but it's more than that. It's working together as peers on a team, going out and getting the training and fulfilling the challenge required of us—that's what keeps us going to serve the community as volunteer firemen."
Church members have also been heavily involved in supporting local Boy Scout troups. The late Dr. Wilmer Parish was instrumental in energizing scout membership in Big Sandy and other areas, becoming a regional coordinator for whom a meeting site at Lake Pirtle Scout Reservation was named. Others have followed in his footsteps by becoming den mothers and scout leaders.
Church members have also donated their time to the Big Sandy Chamber of Commerce, where several have served as directors and helped organize and direct Chamber activities including Fourth of July parades, ball tournaments and celebrations, the annual Heritage Days festival and highway cleanup projects.
The volunteerism of Church members has perhaps shown brightest in the classrooms and hallways of area schools where hundreds of hours have been spent assisting teachers, tutoring, grading papers, coordinating special programs and directing and supporting PTA and volunteer association activities as officers and members.
The Big Sandy Church Choir

The Big Sandy church has also joined to make a permanent addition to the community, through the financing, building and maintaining of a Little League field dedicated to the town May 10, 1990, by Mr. Tkach. Church members continue to make a significant contribution to the Little League program, which has doubled in size since 1988, through the areas of coaching, serving as officers, hosting tournaments, working in the concession stand and helping groom the field.
In larger ways (the contribution of a police car given by Ambassador College to the Big Sandy police department) and smaller ways (a food drive for victims of Hurricane Andrew), the Big Sandy congregation of the Worldwide Church of God finds itself increasingly active, through singleness of Christian vision, in lighting the way for a darkened world.
The Big Sandy church celebrates its 40th year in June 1993. Appropriate as a watchword for continued growth are these words of our Pastor General:
"I
LET'S CONTINUE TO GROW
TOGETHER, LETTING THE BIBLE BE
OUR GUIDE, FOLLOWING IN FAITH
AS GOD LEADS US INTO ALL TRUTH
THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT."
—joseph W. tkach

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the big picture of big sandy
On an average Sabbath in the Big Sandy church, approximately 2250 local members and their families, college staff and students worship in two services, held at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. They are waved through the front entrance by members of a volunteer security staff who are assigned from a total crew of 51. They are directed into parking spaces by parking attendants assigned from a total crew of 32. Welcoming them at the door are representatives from a group of 100

 

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I
i
ii

hospitality volunteers, who hand out some 1500 songbooks and 1750 announcement bulletins, which are compiled and printed weekly.

They are seated by ushers from a total crew of 70 and turn their attention to a stage decorated by 12 volunteer flower arrangers and managed by a 14-member sound crew.
Special music is provided from a list of over 40 possible performers and a 70-voice choir, while sermonette and sermon speakers share their turn with more than 50 others.
Afterwards, members can check the bulletin board or information tables manned by members of a crew of 15 for details on YOU, YES, Spokesman Club, Outreach or special activities or can check out video or audio tapes of previous Bible study or church services from a staff of 16 that coordinates the church library.
And, in the event of a churchwide change of schedule, a phone network of 120 callers goes into action to make contact with every one of Big Sandy's 1125 members.

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(From top, left to right)
This page—
Church staff holds a
get-together at
Country Trails;
Janice Overton speaks at
YOUth Club meeting;
Mr. Stolley instructs
Seth Koch in CPR
during YES Day Camp;
YOU members enjoy
the Kickoff Party.
Opposite page—
Kara Little watches Big
Sandy sports program over
her father's shoulder;
Carroll Bryant speaks with
Mr. Tkach during one of his
visits to Big Sandy;
sharpshooters enjoy the
annual turkey shoot;
Tract the Clown creates
balloon sculptures for
children of all ages;
YOU members pause for a
picture break during their
Grand Teton trip;
Mr. Giese autographs a
program during the annual
YOU awards ceremony.

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(From top, left to right)
A big hit during the 1992
Feast of Tabernacles was
the Family Foot Race;
church members enjoy
volleybal!, one of
several organized
sports activities;
Carolyn Ashley and
Jenny Shatter enjoy the
YES Party Night;
Mr. Havir speaks
during the monthly
YOU Bible Study.

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