00:00:00.000 - 00:00:44.520

Members of this Congress, pastor Obie and the members of this church have a branch who's sitting out there and I started preaching right near together and Sam Gilbert was a little boy when we started. And I learned long ago, and that's been a long time, hasn't it Harold? I learned long ago, the worst thing you can do is try to work on people when they want to go home.

00:00:44.520 - 00:01:10.300

I learned that long ago. I've been preaching in one place 26 years, and we have a habit at Shiloh Church that we dismiss it high noon. And inevitably, if I get the word from the Lord and go to about 1210, they just go on and leave me there.

00:01:10.300 - 00:01:27.140

And I got the word from the Lord, straight from the Lord. And I think I'll be doing a good job. but time be out and they be gone. One fella told me, I had a visiting minister,

00:01:27.140 - 00:01:35.020

and he said, "Rev. now you tell him "if he preach longer than 1215, "won't nobody be hearing him, we going home." (audience laughing)

00:01:35.020 - 00:01:44.020

So I know you're ready to go, I'm well aware of that 'cause I'm ready to go. And if I hadn't been programmed and Billy Joe hadn't been pushing me,

00:01:44.020 - 00:02:03.780

I would have been gone. But thank you for the privilege. I want to mention one or two things and sit down. I think that perhaps the difficulty in the black church

00:02:03.780 - 00:02:30.520

and the problems that we face in the black convention, in the black association, in blackness period, is that somehow there has leaked out a contagion and it has become malignant.

00:02:30.520 - 00:02:45.020

That the best way to have a good army is to have all chiefs. and no Indians. [laughter]

00:02:45.020 - 00:03:02.020

[inaudible] That has leaked out and it's contagious. And the longer I live, I'm about to conclude that there's no cure for it.

00:03:02.020 - 00:03:34.100

Radiation and chemotherapy and All of the other miracle drugs cannot cure the fact that a great army marches with all chiefs and no Indians. But the historicity of the Indian nation and the movement of all great walking armies indicates

00:03:34.100 - 00:03:53.060

that there were more soldiers, there were more warriors, there were more persons who rode the horses to battle than there were persons who sat on a horse and raised the flag.

00:03:53.060 - 00:04:39.820

So then I suppose it would be logical to conclude that perhaps if we are to unify that which we have, we probably are going to have to conclude that in spite of the fact that the Lord makes appointments, and I've concluded that in my own mind, in spite of the fact that the Lord does what he needs

00:04:39.820 - 00:05:18.540

to do in his own time like he wants to do it. And in spite of the fact that what's for us we will acquire it, in spite of all of these grand and splendid and good things that we may bring forth, it becomes necessary that we give to God the best that we have as he seeks to make a unified force. Now I'm also aware that it's kind of hard for

00:05:18.540 - 00:05:47.160

the Indians to operate without the chief. I'm aware of that too. There's a moving and intriguing story located in 32nd chapter of the book of Exodus, you ought to read it sometime when you go home. You will recall that God had spoken to Moses and had given him the word to go to Egypt and tell the Pharaoh to let

00:05:47.160 - 00:06:12.320

his people go. You know that. And they had come out and they were on their way to the land that God had promised him, the land that flowed with milk and honey, you know that. And in root there, God and Moses did a lot of talking, you know, and on some occasions they did some private talking.

00:06:12.320 - 00:06:42.440

And in a particular instance, Moses had to be away for 40 days. remember the incidents there and and and I think it's incumbent upon me to remind you that there is always a restlessness in in in the black situation when we are not really aware as to where we're going

00:06:42.880 - 00:07:04.880

and there is a restlessness in any situation when there, E.S. uses the word, when there is darkness available. Now the children of Israel, I don't think they were black, nobody has told me they weren't, but I don't think they were.

00:07:04.880 - 00:07:36.960

They had a kind of idea that always reminded them that the flesh pots and the slavery and the hardships and the tribulations and the trials and all of the problems that they had in Egypt were better than what they were enjoying in the wilderness. - Yes, yes. - Yeah. - And you know every now and then,

00:07:36.960 - 00:07:46.480

I hear persons in and around this convention, brother presidents, talking about, we want the good old days, but I don't. (audience laughing)

00:07:46.480 - 00:07:53.280

After 40 years in this convention, I've had enough of the good old days. (audience laughing) Haven't you?

00:07:53.280 - 00:08:00.680

- Yeah. - Yes, sir. - I've had enough of the good old days. I've been in this convention all my life,

00:08:00.680 - 00:08:09.480

and the good old days has brought nothing, so it wouldn't bother us to try the new days. (audience exclaims) But wouldn't disturb us.

00:08:09.480 - 00:08:26.200

And these people, as soon as they found out that Moses wasn't around, as soon as they found out that he was off for 40 days, as soon as they found out that this invisible God

00:08:26.200 - 00:08:37.960

that Moses talked about wasn't there, They said, "Ere I now, make us a God that we can touch." (audience shouting) We need something that we can operate with.

00:08:37.960 - 00:08:49.440

(audience shouting) Now I think I need to submit for your consideration and sit down that the quarters in which an individual operates

00:08:49.440 - 00:09:10.600

has to be designated by the God who makes the appointments. Now nobody in here will argue that Aaron was more eloquent than Moses. No, there's no argument there. Moses had it.

00:09:10.600 - 00:09:27.840

You're talking about stringing words together. He could string words together. Aaron had the ability to sway the congregation with his lips. But oh yes, he had that ability.

00:09:27.840 - 00:09:39.560

Nobody argues that. He was an orator by birth, I suppose. But you need to understand the history and the workings of the Bible.

00:09:39.560 - 00:09:48.760

God has not made great progress with the orators of the Bible, but rather with those who were faithful in what they were doing.

00:09:48.760 - 00:09:58.760

(audience cheering) That's it. - Come on, brother. - Moses couldn't do no talking, you know that.

00:09:58.760 - 00:10:07.760

- That's right. - He couldn't do no talking whenever he stood up. And he told God that day one. He said, "Now listen, I don't do no much talking.

00:10:07.760 - 00:10:18.840

"I have some problems with my speech. "I stammer, I have to say 'I' three or four times. "I have to say my words over and over again, "and it would take me 40 minutes

00:10:18.840 - 00:10:26.760

"to deliver a 10-minute address." You know that. - That's right. But eloquence of speech does not necessarily

00:10:26.760 - 00:10:40.040

depict that you got it. [INTERPOSING VOICES] Now Aaron had it. And when Moses left, he wanted to keep it.

00:10:40.040 - 00:10:59.000

Now he thought that all that he was doing was going on because of him. He didn't know that his was a delegated kind of thing. He thought that they were listening to him, you know.

00:10:59.000 - 00:11:09.400

He thought that. And as soon as Moses left and they couldn't find him and wasn't around, they said to Aaron, you fix us a guard that we can operate with.

00:11:09.400 - 00:11:21.160

He said, I'll tell you what you do. Bring me all the gold, I'll fix you one. And they did. But the irony of a split kind of situation,

00:11:21.160 - 00:11:42.720

a disturbing kind of situation, a situation that is not totally together, you gotta always be careful that God doesn't come back. (audience murmurs)

00:11:42.720 - 00:12:05.400

You know, I'm making a statement every Sunday Shiloh Church and Sister Washington who's been there, I won't tell y'all how long, who's been there, she testifies to this that I said to the Shiloh Church often, I don't have no problem not being afraid of you. I'm almost as large as anybody in the Shiloh Church now that I've become obese,

00:12:05.400 - 00:12:19.040

you know, I'm almost as large as anybody in that church. I'm not afraid of anybody in that church, But the idea is that God may come back. [Audience Agrees] Yes, He'll come back.

00:12:19.040 - 00:12:31.040

[Audience Agrees] And while they were busily engaged with their idols, [Audience Agrees] here comes Moses stumbling off the mountain.

00:12:31.040 - 00:12:42.580

[Audience Agrees] But let me, and I told you I was going to sit down, Let me just mention this one and do sit down. - Yes, you can.

00:12:42.580 - 00:13:01.660

- I think if I had been in Moses' shape or in Moses' shoes, I think they would have heard from me. And he was really worked up, you know. He got all disturbed and really laid it on him.

00:13:01.660 - 00:13:18.460

He really did that. broke up that little stuff and really got worked up. But then when he faced God with it, he didn't want God to act like he acted.

00:13:18.460 - 00:13:32.820

Isn't that amazing? Isn't it strange that he really blessed him out? He really laid it on him, but when he got to God and God said, "Get out of the way

00:13:32.820 - 00:14:16.020

"and let me do something too." He said to God, "No, no. No, no. I'm not going to get out of the way. No, no. I'm not going to move. No, no. I'm going to stay right here. No, no. I'm not going to let you destroy me. And if you insist on doing it, when you write your record, don't tell nobody I was in it." [laughter] When you write the record, don't tell nobody I had nothing to do with this. Blot my name out.

00:14:16.020 - 00:14:48.460

Now, now, now, now, let's face it, it takes a mighty strong personality to look over realistically the faults of an individual and still go to God saying, "I want no part of it," if you're going to destroy. Let's face it, my brothers and sisters,

00:14:48.460 - 00:15:05.520

the critical analysis of any force, any turbulence, I'm not sure who all said it this week, but a number of persons have already said, I simply repeat, and I know it's redundant,

00:15:05.520 - 00:15:30.440

but I simply repeat that destruction normally doesn't come to nations, or to governments, or to churches, or to conventions, or to associations, from the outside. It's always from the inside.

00:15:30.440 - 00:16:03.120

Always. I get the feeling that we can do what we want to do, if we want to do it. You know when I started preaching 40 years ago at the Fourth Missionary Church in Houston, Texas, I had the privilege to witness some of the things that Baptists carried on.

00:16:03.120 - 00:16:15.500

In my lifetime I've seen all this happen. And I don't think SR Prince and Albert Lucas and GL Prince and S.A. Pleasant and all that crowd, I don't think they had no more sense

00:16:15.500 - 00:16:24.080

than Marvin Griffin and Harold Branch and Sam Gilbert and Albert Chu. I don't think those guys had no more sense than I got. And I'm not being vain, Sam,

00:16:24.080 - 00:16:33.680

I just don't think they had no more sense than we got. And I know they didn't have no more money than we got. (audience shouting) Yeah, yeah.

00:16:33.680 - 00:16:40.420

(audience laughing) I know that. Yeah. I went to the Shiloh Church 26 years ago

00:16:40.420 - 00:16:53.040

and their offering that Sunday was $700. And you know, the Shiloh Church has always been a strong giving church.

00:16:53.040 - 00:17:07.300

Yeah. $37,000 they raised that year. Yeah. But you know what bothers me and has bothered me more as I get nearer to the grave?

00:17:07.300 - 00:17:32.300

They did more with $37,000 for what we are about than I'm doing with $300,000. [Audience shouts "Yeah!"] Can I say amen? Thank you.

00:17:32.300 - 00:17:58.300

Thank you too for facing a reality. Thank you. That's the only way. We're going to move from where we are to where we should be.

00:17:58.300 - 00:18:10.300

Thank you. Inspiration singing. Inspiration of singing from this music department to then our state.

00:18:10.300 - 00:18:22.060

And I need to send this to this fine group of workers. May God bless you. They have been wonderful this week. And I like the way they do it.

00:18:22.060 - 00:19:01.060

may God bless you. We don't ever have to look for them. We don't ever have to wait for them. And you know some of our churches, if you happen to stop a few minutes earlier than you normally do, when you preach you got to wait until the musician get inside of the house so you can have music. Amen. But this group has really been wonderful this week and we just thank God for them along with the ministers, Reverend Smith and Reverend Robinson, who works hard with this group. Let us hear our music.

00:19:01.060 - 00:19:34.400

>> Stand please and sing None But the Rotties. [ Music ] ♪ Angels, angels ♪ ♪ Angels, angels ♪

00:19:34.400 - 00:19:59.980

♪ Help me God ♪ ♪ Angels, angels ♪ ♪ Rangers ♪ ♪ Angel ♪

00:19:59.980 - 00:20:30.360

♪ Angel ♪ ♪ Angel ♪ ♪ I believe he can save me ♪ ♪ He lives on the mountain ♪

00:20:30.360 - 00:20:47.360

♪ On the right ♪ ♪ On the right ♪ No, no, no, David, listen. You hear me now?

00:20:47.360 - 00:21:03.700

Yes, sir. ♪ I'm a lover of the day ♪ ♪ I'm a lover of the day ♪ ♪ I'm a lover of the day ♪

00:21:03.700 - 00:21:34.680

♪ I'm a lover of the day ♪ ♪ I'm a lover of the day ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Righteous ♪

00:21:34.680 - 00:21:55.580

♪ Righteous ♪ ♪ Non but the righteous ♪ ♪ Angel ♪ ♪ Yes, you see ♪

00:21:55.580 - 00:22:12.800

Thank you. We are blessed to have in our midst one of our long hard workers, faithful leaders, Dr. O.L. Hickman.

00:22:12.800 - 00:22:24.920

We're certainly happy to have him in our midst. And we thank God for him. I need to say a couple of things to Ross, if we want Dr. Birch to give words of appreciation

00:22:24.920 - 00:22:38.200

to this host pastor and church and other churches of the city for such a grand, glorious entertainment. Dr. Obey has done a marvelous job with the ministers of the city.

00:22:38.200 - 00:22:49.160

We shared with him and his churches. But I need to say a couple of things to Ross. And that is, our last year, we received quite a few phone calls.

00:22:49.160 - 00:23:02.440

We just need to inform you as to how we operate. Some of you do not know about your checks. You honor them. And our treasurer lives--

00:23:02.440 - 00:23:27.040

resides in Fort Worth, Dr. Albert Hsu. President M.L. Price, Dr. M.L. Price, as you know, resides in Houston. Treasurer goes to Fort Worth and then he goes to Houston to get that money in there. So, don't run those checks through until after Wednesday.

00:23:27.040 - 00:23:54.040

And that's why you've been running them early. Don't run those checks, please, through until after Wednesday of next week, and the money will be there. If you'll just cooperate with us. Then I'm only a steward, the leader of the Congress, and I have to make a report, as I said yesterday, to the state convention.

00:23:54.040 - 00:24:20.040

And I'm not talking about what happened before my time. But I think the Congress ought to set the tone. If by chance your count is a little low and you issue a check, and we get it back, pick it up before we say convention. Be sure.

00:24:20.040 - 00:24:42.040

That let us know you really meant to give. But if you don't pick it up, we have a kind of a feeling that you might not. As I tell the young people, remember there'll be another day. There will be another day. So be sure and keep abreast.

00:24:42.040 - 00:24:58.040

And I think all Christians need is to be reminded of what they're to do. I said Christians. I didn't say church members. I said Christians.

00:24:58.040 - 00:25:17.040

And I just believe out of the depths of my heart, we have a band of Christians that's in this Congress. Yes, sir. All right. So that's about the extent of it, of what I would like for us, if you will, to do for us.

00:25:17.040 - 00:25:38.520

for us, and this goes from the pulpit to the door. All of us, yeah. All right, our financial secretary, Smith, is present, and he's going to, when we get ready, give to us this report.

00:25:38.520 - 00:25:53.720

But before we get into our executive session, I've asked that Pastor Burks, our correspondent secretary, with coming to give greetings to this great pastor who has done a marvelous job entertaining us.

00:25:53.720 - 00:26:07.160

And someone said, "Dang, we just never had "these many people to enroll." And that's the way it should be. And we thank him for such a wonderful job.

00:26:07.160 - 00:26:14.240

Let us hear, Burch. I just wanted to say this, President, he's gonna say it for all of us, but I want to say it.

00:26:14.240 - 00:26:26.880

Thank you. Thank you, Brother President. President Davis, President Gilbert, and the official staff of the Visionary Baptist General

00:26:26.880 - 00:27:02.360

Convention Congress of Christian Workers here assembled and to Pastor Obey, in very few words, we trust you have accepted our gratitude of appreciation in our attitude toward you for your hospitality, your spacious, clean, comfortable buildings, your spacious, clean grounds.

00:27:02.360 - 00:27:19.340

You have sweetened our soul with angelic voices. You have revived our soul with the gospel. You have strengthened our bodies with your palatable, nutritious, and delicious food.

00:27:19.340 - 00:27:34.920

We appreciate your invitation, and we are very gratified by our stay, and for all of us, to all of you, May God be with you till we meet again.

00:27:34.920 - 00:27:37.880

Amen. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

00:27:37.880 - 00:27:45.540

[INTERPOSING VOICES] [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] Amen.

00:27:45.540 - 00:28:16.740

President, Dr. Burks, thank you for those very kind words. That was an elephant statement of thanks and a hippopotamus elucidation. [laughter] I appreciate that. I don't know whether I understood everything Dr. Burke said, but I think what he was saying was that we done all right.

00:28:16.740 - 00:28:29.300

[laughter] We're really grateful. Reverend O.T. Arnold, would you stand? Reverend Charles Watts.

00:28:29.300 - 00:28:57.780

Is Dr. M.C. Griffin here? Somebody tell him to step in a minute. Dr. Clark here. Reverend O.S. Davis. Is Reverend Davis here? Irvin Barry Jackson.

00:28:57.780 - 00:29:25.860

My brothers and sisters, the kind of entertainment that you've had this week, I could not have done it. The only reason it has been, because I've had the kind of help and the kind of cooperation that is seldom found.

00:29:25.860 - 00:29:38.820

I have not asked the members of David Chapel to stand. They're not here. They're so tired. These pastors, including the others whose names I called who are not here, and I hope

00:29:38.820 - 00:29:59.700

I didn't miss anybody, have let us use their facilities. They've gone out of their way to share with me. And every one of them have just said to me, "Obie, tell me what you want me to do and what you want our church to do."

00:29:59.700 - 00:30:12.840

And it's done. Reverend Barrett Jackson is president of the Baptist Ministers Union. He's almost like a son of mine. I know he argues with me, and I know why he argues with me,

00:30:12.840 - 00:30:24.140

'cause he's trying to find out more of what I know. Barry won't accept nothing you say. He's gonna challenge and question you to make sure you know where you're coming from.

00:30:24.140 - 00:30:40.200

But all this week, you know all I've done? Is walked around here fast and acted like I was doing something. I haven't been doing anything this week.

00:30:40.200 - 00:30:55.880

My church family and these brethren, we started planning several weeks ago. And I've learned that being a good administrator is not how much you can do, but how much you can get done.

00:30:55.880 - 00:31:07.320

And all I've done is just walk fast around. And all my old buddies know my physical condition. They tell me, slow down now. Well, they didn't know I wasn't doing anything.

00:31:07.320 - 00:31:23.400

It was so well set that all I've had to do was just be around here and just stay out of the way and let it move. And I want to thank these pastors and my sister churches,

00:31:23.400 - 00:31:40.880

the president of my union, the members of David Chapel, our music staff, the church secretary, and all who have done this great job. And I feel very humble that men of this caliber

00:31:40.880 - 00:31:55.200

would stoop to following the leadership of such a person as me, to the extent that the kind of job which has been done is now history.

00:31:55.200 - 00:32:13.120

And I want, if you're thanking me, I want to pass that thanks on to them because they deserve the credit. God bless you. Thank you, Post Pastor Obey.

00:32:13.120 - 00:32:36.240

Persons who are to make reports, would you come to the front, please. Have we made those reports to the general body? Yes, all the reports from the auxiliaries. All right.

00:32:36.240 - 00:32:52.240

All persons who are to make reports today, music ready, we'll hear music. Mr. Chair, ready? President Davis, may I make a moment of your presence? Since you've made the report, then after that you can.

00:32:52.240 - 00:32:59.240

Uh-huh. All right. Mr. Davis. Jerry.

00:32:59.240 - 00:33:27.720

I'd like to make an additional report for the music department. Reporting from the Music Department, the State Congress of Prison Workers, Course Number 123, Ministry of Music by Osweg, instructed by George Miles. Okay, on Tuesday we had 26 to enroll.

00:33:27.720 - 00:33:43.160

Tuesday our offering was $191.01. Wednesday we had 12 to enroll. Wednesday's offering was $110. Total for the two days enrollment was 38.

00:33:43.160 - 00:33:59.680

Total for the two days offering, $301.01. On Thursday we had four to enroll. Thursday's offering was $31. Total for the three days enrollment, 80.

00:33:59.680 - 00:34:16.160

Total for the three days offering was $332.01. On last night we had the musical. offering of musical was $261.46. We had a special trophy report,

00:34:16.160 - 00:34:31.280

I did not present our trophy, but we did a special report. We had $315. So for the musical offering, 261.46,

00:34:31.280 - 00:34:48.800

special trophy report, 315, and an additional $6 check. We have over three days grand total for the music department, $914.47. Thank you.

00:34:48.800 - 00:34:55.640

Thank you. [INAUDIBLE] OK. Thank you.

00:34:55.640 - 00:35:08.920

Thank you, Mr. President. I'm getting a little old now, and I can't remember everything. And I forgot to say one little thing. And there are a whole lot of other pastors in this area, men like Reverend Evans sitting

00:35:08.920 - 00:35:27.920

back there and others, who offered to share with me in any way they could. They bought ads in our souvenir book and what have you. I appointed these brothers now because we use their church facilities. But I want all of the pastors of the Austin area to know that I'm grateful for whatever

00:35:27.920 - 00:35:36.120

you did in sharing with me to make this a great entertainment. Thank you. Reverend Avins. Maypard, can he --

00:35:36.120 - 00:35:53.120

>> Oh, yes, Reverend Wynn, I'm sorry. At Willett Chapel. I forgot to call his name. >> Thank you.

00:35:53.120 - 00:36:16.720

Report from the youth convention. [ Inaudible ] to all of the constituencies that make up our competition. My teaching has been called to practice

00:36:16.720 - 00:36:37.040

as a pastor and also associations that have a lot of influence with us. And if we would do so, we would appreciate it. And we are going to make our report as for the day.

00:36:37.040 - 00:36:46.680

At this time, I should present to you, Mr. Patterson, I would yield. - Amen. - I would yield and join in great history.

00:36:46.680 - 00:36:57.320

- Thank you. Let's hear our General Director, Mr. Patterson. - Thank you, Senator. Without the help of Christ and his absence,

00:36:57.320 - 00:37:06.540

to the presidents of our countries, their officials, staff, and those of you here today, without God, I could not have done it. - Yep.

00:37:06.540 - 00:37:17.200

- I would tell them, I would pray. We give God praise for the success that we've had in our meetings, which we have a few of them. Our young people were very quiet.

00:37:17.200 - 00:37:25.380

- Wonderful. - And as we tell them, we're not looking for perfection, but we're looking for participation. And this is what they did.

00:37:25.380 - 00:37:41.380

We had a lot of complaints and criticisms, but the accomplishments outweighed the issues. We wanna thank you, moderators and pastors, For the interest that you have given, we want to thank you for your contribution that enabled us to go over the top.

00:37:41.380 - 00:37:58.380

Our youth officers worked well because we're trying to teach them to work as a team. One word, if you don't understand, the other one will help you. And they were beautiful. And we thank you for this. We're sure that you must have trained them at home because we didn't have any problems.

00:37:58.380 - 00:38:16.660

Our financial report goes as follows. We have a number of 61 churches enrolled, 11 districts, personal enrollments of 665. We turned over to the parent body as of yesterday, $5,272.80.

00:38:16.660 - 00:38:41.380

We're making a supplementary report this morning of $134.40, giving us a grand total of $5,357.20. Thank you. Amen. Thank you. Thank you. We appreciate the leadership that's given to this youth

00:38:41.380 - 00:39:18.460

convention by our General Director, Sister Patterson, and we also appreciate the Reverend Dr. L.E. Cheney, L.F. Cheney, who serves as pastoral advisor, one of them, and the others who share. If there's any one group in our Congress that needs our special attention, I would think it would be the Youth Convention. They are the treasure, today and tomorrow.

00:39:18.460 - 00:39:52.540

group ready. All others who remain to file reports. Thank you. We're ready for our secretary to come and give the tolls for the week.

00:39:52.540 - 00:40:02.640

We see brothers that you all are not the only one you heard what the [ Silence ]