The Creston Newsletter Committee wants to focus on our members this year, particularly those who

are willing to share their testimony. We believe all members have a testimony that could inspire oth-

ers. We’d like to give you an opportunity to share your Christian experience with us and the newslet-

ter readership. Creston Missionary Baptist Church has a long list of members who have been on this

Christian journey under the watch of our former pastor and our present pastor; and members who have

contributed immensely to the growth and development of the church, as well as their personal Chris-

tian life.

In this edition, the focus is Sister Pasty Plummer, a true believer and a person who works diligently in

the vineyard. She graciously accepted the request to share her feelings and testimony. She first joined

Creston in February 1973 and stayed through 1980. She moved out of state and returned to Houston in

1990. She rejoined Creston in 1992 and continues to be a loyal and happy member.

According to Sister Plummer, she became a Christian at a very early age and as far back as age five,

she recalls going to Sunday School and being baptized at age eight. At age 11 or 12, she received the

baptismal of the Holy Ghost and soon developed the belief that she was in the hands of God. To this

day, she continue to believe that she is in the hands of God and no matter what she has gone through,

God has always given her the victory. As Sister Plummer reflect on her teenage and young adult life,

she shares that she was surrounded by older people—she listened to their advice and gained knowledge

from their teaching and the life she observed them living.

When asked the question, “what has being a member of Creston MBC meant to you”? She replied,

“This is a church of love”. Sister Plummer stated that she is joyful and therefore loves being around

people who too are joyful and love the Lord. Learning patience with fellow members of Creston MBC

and other people is one of her greatest achievements, along with developing the ability to have insight

to be able to see further than just what’s in front of her.

As a testimony to her belief and trust in God, Sister Plummer shares a special time in her life when her

Christian faith was tested and through that faith, she was able to overcome. In 1993 after being diag-

nosed with congestive heart failure and being given at most, three to four years to live, she was con-

stantly in and out of the hospital every other month or so. Once while in the hospital the heart monitor

flat lined. Very clearly, she remembers asking God “Are you going to take me? I’ve really just started

working for you. Sister Plummer goes on to share that she found herself in a trance and kneeling at her

mother’s feet. While in that trance, her mother was softly stroking her hair as she asked the question,

“When is it going to be my time”? You have not lived long enough and you still have work to do, her

mother replied.

She further remembers being in bed and a man dressed in black came to her on a motorcycle. He start-

ed rubbing both of her ankles in a circular motion. As she became agitated, the man said be still and

remain calm. I am only infusing my energy into you. He spoke those words twice and at that point,

she woke and begin to feel better and has been on the mend since that experience. She was on 18 dif-

ferent medications. When she was discharged from the hospital, the number was reduced to 13 and

today she is on only four different types of medication. She stated that there are still some medical

issues, but she has dedicated her life to God and is leaving everything up to him. She prays constantly.

Sister Plummer offers words of encouragement to all members, particularly the youth of Creston as

they begin their Christian journey. Her advice is to study the word of God and always put him first in

everything you do. If you do right by God, he will do right by you. God does not beg us--we must

accept him on our own accord. Life is a journey, we may fall; but we must keep getting up. We must

walk with God and keep our mind on him. Seek God’s way and not our own, treat people right. As

we prepare to leave this world, we can be like Paul and say; we fought a good fight and finished the

race.

Thank you Sis. Plummer for sharing your wisdom and testimony.

VOLUME 12 , ISSUE 29

JAN/FEB/MAR

2013

The Crestonian

CRESTON MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

Goodness of God 1

Planning our

Course for 2013 2

Birthday Wishes 2

New Members 2

Upcoming Events 3

Viewpoint 4

From the Editor’s

Quill 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

The Goodness of God

We must walk with God and

keep our mind on him. Seek God’s way and not our own,

treat people right. As we pre-

pare to leave this world, we can be like Paul and say; we fought

a good fight and finished the

race.

VOLUME 12 , ISSUE 29 P AGE 2

Birthday Wishes! “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

The Creston Church Family salutes all born in the first quarter of 2013: January, February and March.

Planning our Course for 2013

The New Year is here and we thank God for the blessing of being able to join together as a church family. As with our personal fami-

lies and associates, it is important that we look ahead and plan the kind of year we hope to have as we go from day to day. It has often

been said that we can make our way hard or we can make it better by being obedient to our parents. The same applies to our relation-

ship with God, the Father. Being obedient results in good things happening in our lives and it also results in having what we need to

weather the storms of life.

Let us take a brief look at the course planned for Creston Missionary Baptist Church in this New Year. First, we must come together in

prayer and supplication, asking God what He requires of us and then arming ourselves as saints ready to take up God’s cause. Ephe-

sians 6:11 instructs us to; Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The reference to

“armour” suggests that we have battles to fight and we can only have victory in these battles through the guidance and protection of

Christ. Over the course of centuries, many wars have occurred and many weapons have been used to fight in those wars. Man armed

himself with coats of armour and battleships. Despite being heavily clad in armour and surrounded by the walls of a metal battleship

with heavy artillery aboard, man was still at the mercy of God’s will. It is important to remember these historical lessons as prepara-

tions are made for life’s journey. Some may cruise through this year allowing things to happen that maybe outside of the will of God.

As with a submarine, some may submerge themselves in what they want and not what God would have them do or be. Others may

choose to be an aircraft flying high and missing opportunities to help their fellow man who is below them. Some may choose to be like

the barge and have others pull them along. Still others may choose to ferry some members today, and return to get others another day.

Aren’t we thankful God does not work like what has just been described in the previous paragraph? As the Creston MBC family, we do

not operate like that either. We have our Pastor as the heavily armed battleship, bringing us the Word of God and interceding for us in

his prayers to the Father. We have our choirs, welcome and hospitality committee members and culinary staff who are cruise ships that

provide spiritual joy through fellowship and worship activities. We cannot forget the submarine deacons and trustees, secretary, clerk,

ushers and building superintendent that submerge themselves in the business of the church to ensure that the Lord’s House and business

is as it should be. We have members of the brotherhood and sisterhood flying above us, always looking down and among the member-

ship, willing to help where and when they can. We have our teachers for Sunday school, Bible Study, Mission, Brotherhood, Women’s

Ministry, Youth Ministry and Orientation. These teachers are willing to be the barge to pull us along, helping us to understand the

Word of God through regular and consistent study. The best part is, the church leadership is willing to be the ferry that never leaves

anyone behind.

Won’t you join us this year as we continue to place God’s will above our own. It has been proven that the only way to win this battle is

to put God first.

In 2013, Creston Missionary Baptist Church is a church family that is armed with the Word of God and ready to fight in His army.

New Members

Markeshia De’Blaw

Kennedy Washington

Creston needs your willing hands

and faithful hearts

THE CRESTONIAN P AGE 3

On December 15, 2012, the youth matrons accompanied some of Creston’s youth on a winter outing. In keeping with the spirit of the season, the trip to the Festival of Lights at the Moody

Garden included dinner, and a life size light scene that celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ.

Upcoming Events for Jan/Feb/Mar 2013 February 2013

HBU Basketball Game

2nd—2:05 p.m. Annual Black History Program 10th—11:00 a.m.

Annual Health Fair

17th—1:00 p.m.

January 2013

New Years Conference

26th—9:00 a.m..

March 2013 Easter Program

29th—6:00 p.m.

Easter Egg Hunt

30th—11:00 a.m.

Easter Sunrise Service

31st—7:00 a.m.

Communion

Communion is scheduled each 1st Sunday during the morning service. Come share in this holy observance of the ultimate sacrifice by Jesus.

Condolences Creston Missionary Baptist Church lost one (1) flowers from our garden. Their families have our deepest sym-pathy.

Deacon Robert Smith

Church News

Watch Nigh Service 9:00 p.m.

3201 CRESTON STREET

HOUSTON TX 77026

Creston Missionary Baptist Church

Phone: 713-692-4214

Fax: 713-692-5164

E-mail: crestonmbc@comcast.net

The Crestonian Staff

Newsletter Committee

Paulette Young

Editor

Natasha Barrett

Angela English

Doris Fields

Terry Garner

Joyce Hebert

Sheila Ross Henderson

Linda Moreham

Samuel Stewart

Carol Stillwell

Rickey Thomas

Pastor

Rev. Niles Alexander

Visit our website at

www.crestonmbc.org

View Point

It Still Takes a Village to Raise a Child Raising a child often times, without support, can be difficult and the end result can be life

changing.

For the child as well as the parent. As a Church we must be cognitive that we serve as a vil-

lage for our members. We can serve as that support group that many children and their parents

often need. Often times children act out as a cry for help and their actions many times are

misinterpted. The Church is and always will be a safe haven for those seeking spiritual guid-

ance and a sense of peace as we live our life.

By offering activities that keep our children busy and active, they may avoid the pitfalls that

many of them will encounter. The old saying an idle mind is the devils workshop is an accu-

rate statement when you take into account the many ills of our society.

As Christians and as a village let us take the time to mentor, give good advice, encourage and

give our youth positive alternatives as they navigate themselves on their own journey.

From the Editor’s Quill

As we prepare to welcome in a new year and make new resolutions, we must reflect

on God’s goodness and mercies that we have received this year. Let us always keep

Him first in our thoughts and actions daily. May God continue to bless our church

family, as well as, each member’s individual family.

Paulette Young