Jimmy Carter was the President. A first-class postage stamp cost fifteen cents. The Empire Strikes Back had just been released. It was June of 1980, the very first year of the Southside Lectures.

Twenty-nine years have come and gone, but the lectures have not lost any of their luster. They remain the highlight of our summer, an event that we plan and prepare for with the primary purpose of glorifying God. They bring our people together and addresses the pertinent needs of the congregation in a way that has lasting effectiveness and influence. We expect the thirtieth edition to be no different.

The dates for this year’s lectureship are June 15-18. We advertise the lectures extensively. Just last week, nearly 1,400 postcards were mailed to brethren all across the country and into Canada. But the most important announcements were addressed to the families at Southside. These are your lectures. They are intended for the benefit of the Southside church. We are encouraged to have visitors from the area and abroad, but if the Southside people do not attend the Southside Lectures, how can they be counted a success? Mark the dates now and begin making your plans to be here as often as you possibly can.

The lecture theme that has been selected is a timely one: “Our God, He Is Alive!” We live in a culture that has little regard for God. Not only have public prayers been taken out of school, but just this year the Texas State Board of Education voted to remove the discussion of the weaknesses of Darwin’s theory of evolution from the science textbooks. In states all around our land, laws are being proposed and amended concerning the sanctity of life and marriage without any respect for the authority of the word of God. People seem to be motivated more by “what does the majority think” rather than “what has the Lord said.” But through it all, our God is alive and well. He still rules the world framed with His great might. It is still in Him we live and survive. He still sits on His throne as judge of the living and the dead.

The speakers perfectly complement the theme as well as one another. They are men of God who have given themselves to the proclamation of the gospel and to the service of the saints. You will enjoy hearing them as they bring to life messages on “Our God, He is Alive!”

Chuck Durham was in the preacher-training program during the first Southside Lectures in 1980. How fitting to have him back for the thirtieth annual event. Chuck and Wilna have done fine local work wherever they have gone, currently at the Twin City church in College Station, Texas. Brother Durham spoke on our lectureships in 2000 on Acts of the Apostles and again in 2002 when we had all of the young preachers back. This year, he will address needed topics such as “Why I Believe in God” and “Sin Against God.” We look forward to having him back home.

Leon Goff is no stranger to this area. He preached at the Kleinwood church in Houston for many years before moving to Mount Pleasant. There, he serves as one of the elders in addition to preaching several meetings a year. Leon and Alma Goff have a wide reputation of stability, steadiness, and unfailing confidence in the inspired Scriptures. They have labored with churches in Texas, California, Arizona, and Arkansas, often rescuing congregations from near extinction. Brother Goff is well qualified to speak on “The Worship of God” and “The Word of God: Relevant to Today.” We’re glad he has agreed to come.

Tim Jennings preaches in Plano, Texas, near Dallas. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three young children, ages 9, 6, and 1. Tim preaches for the Spring Creek church where our own Jared Rogers has trained for the past two summers. Brother Jennings has been blessed with an ability to preach in a motivational and passionate manner. His sincerity and humility are obvious as well. In fact, you may recognize his name as the author of the hymn, Make Me A Servant. Tim will preach on the subjects “God’s Plan for Man’s Salvation” and “The Joy of Serving God.” You will like him.

Buddy Payne was here most recently on the 2003 lectures, Choose Ye This Day. He was well received then and we have no doubt that this year will be more of the same. Buddy and Marilyn live in Tampa, Florida where Brother Payne is the Vice President and Academic Dean of Florida College. He also is a co-laborer with Jason Moore at the Livingston Avenue church in Lutz. Buddy has done extensive work in the area of evidences and the creation/evolution controversy. He will deliver sermons on “Our God, He is Alive” and “God’s Eternal Purpose.” We welcome Buddy back.

And what would the Southside Lectures be without R.J. Stevens? He and sister Pauline have been with us twenty-eight out of the past twenty-nine programs. Brother Stevens’ ability to lead the singing goes beyond his knowledge of the mechanics of music. He inspires the entire audience to concentrate on the words they are singing and to truly worship our God who is alive. We joyfully anticipate the first song.

Much like the last twenty-nine, the success of the thirtieth annual Southside Lectures depends on you. You can thank God for the wonderful opportunity that is before us. You can pray for the speakers. You can invite people to come. You can pass out fliers in the neighborhood around the building. Above all, will you plan to be here? It will make the lectures come alive.

—Bubba Garner