09/15/2025
I want to thank everyone who came out this weekend to support our first Fall Family Funfest. We did not get quite the crowd we wanted but we made some friends and had a great time. I also want to say thank you to all of the vendors that came and set up in the heat and supported this ministry. We especially thank the artists that came to perform for us, you all sounded great.
We would also like to apologize for any confusion that may have been relayed about the event. This is a first-year event for Stone Soup Ministries, a ministry that wants to support and uplift the community. We had a mission to raise money to support East Texas Food Bank, fingers ministry , and Stone Soup Ministries, while we did not raise the amount of money we wanted, God has a way of multiplying faithful offerings which is where the money will go.
As for the location, being a new ministry, we did not have the funds to pay for a site so the owners offered up their property for free to allow us to have the event. They moved their equipment and animals ahead of the event and mowed the area to ensure it was as presentable as possible. They were not paid for their time or labor, it was an offering for the Lord.
I thank our Board Members, all 6 of us, for planning and working so hard for the last 8 months to make this event happen.
We also want to thank April Scrubby Love Gladewater for taking on the responsibility back in March for helping direct and manage the Vendors. Without you we would not have known how to handle the plot sizes, the types of vendors, the fee, or the setup without you. We thank you for coming alongside us and giving us direction.
We thank Herc Rentals Equipment for donating the light towers, generators, and equipment for the event. We thank JLBJ Septic Services for donating the toilets. We thank Isaacs Wrecker Service for donating the stages. We thank Classic Stitch for the shirts for the bands. We thank Cavender's for sponsoring the playday. We thank Brett Weisenburn - State Farm Insurance Agent and Tara Harris for sponsoring the Bounce Houses. We thank Austin Bank for sponsoring the advertising. We thank Sera Madison Maberry at Mayberry Socias for handling all of the advertising. We thank Gilmer High School Student Council and ROTC for their volunteers. We thank Wise Man Ministries for their volunteers. We thank East Mountain Fire Dept for coming and setting up to ensure we were safe. Finally, we thank God for allowing us to live in a country that allows us to publicly share His name.
In our eyes, we saw several come to Christ this weekend, we made some money for the ministries we support, and it was a fun-filled weekend and we are thankful that you were all here. May we all walk with our heads held high and shine the light of Jesus to all we encounter because we share Him in our actions and deeds.
‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ Numbers 6:24-26
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