I ordered a book last week from First Baptist, San Antonio. It was compiled in 1961 when Dr. Perry Webb was pastor. "In The Shadow Of His Hand" is about the first one hundred years of history of that church. It is humbling to read; surrounded by our comforts and able staff members at First Baptist, Rockport, in 2009. For years they had no permanent place of worship. They suffered under harsh treatment by the predominant church at that time. The city was "wide-open" and a haven for every corruption. They were stricken financially, and unable to pay a pastor. The church lacked male leadership. It broke the backs and hearts of several pastors through the early years. One pastor died at 29.
On page 48 I came across this paragraph: "With the resumption of regular weekly services and the devotion of a dedicated man of God (W. H. Dodson) the work of the little mission congregation began to show results...... During the first year two brothers, Gus C. and John Joseph Maurer were the first males immersed when they were baptized in the river on May 20, 1877. Nineteen-year old John Maurer soon surrendered to a call to the ministry, attended William Jewell College and Baylor University, and then graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He was the first minister to come from the membership of the church, returning to the city as pastor of Sunset Mission and as city missionary." Sunset Mission became Bethel Baptist Church.
That name may not mean anything to you, dear reader, but John Maurer is the grandfather of Ann Maurer Pogue, my wife of fifty one years!
I will try to remember the hardships this young man experienced when I have trouble finding a parking place close to the front door, or feel the refrigerated air a bit too cold and the cushion on the pew too hard.