ABOUT US

 
Gerald and Sherry Cumby GERALD AND SHERRY CUMBY acknowledge that our personal lives matter as well as our personal living matters as we travel on our journey home. Everyone is of worth; however, Jesus helps to make life worthwhile and worth living. The challenge is to live life everyday as disciples of Jesus Christ-making our lives count toward expanding the Kingdom of God.

Your walk home might be different than ours. It might be more exciting and rewarding and it might be a walk that you would not mind walking again. Although our walk has been interesting and thought provoking, we would not want to do it over again even though our times of rejoicing have been far more plentiful than our defeats and failures. We have realized that we have to sometimes lose to enjoy the win in the end. Our walk has been like playing the children's game "Mother, May I?"...For we found that there were times we failed and would have to move back in lieu of going forward. In the end, however, it has helped strengthen our resolve to go forward as we head for the finish line.

As a married couple (61 years), we have seen "the good, the bad, and the ugliness of life." We have shared our hearts with each other. Now, we would like to share our hearts with you. Although we read about and experience the joys of the Christian walk, we want to bring to you, the reader, our Bible Study materials, the devotions we have shared with other servants of God, and our hearts in providing some of our own materials for your personal use as you teach and train others for the journey home.

There were triumphs and tragedies throughout our life. Sherry and I together realize that the journey has been fulfilling and challenging in order to appreciate the walk from this life to the next. It indeed has been worth the wait as we stretch toward the mark of the high-calling of God getting ready to cross the threshold into "The Promised" Land.

GERALD AND SHERRY CUMBY BELIEVE:

  • The biblical revelation in both the Old and New Testament testifies that there is only one God and that He is eternally existent in three persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • The Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, is the infallible, inspired Word of God, and that its authority is ultimate, final, and eternal.
  • The Bible is the source of all doctrine, instruction, correction, and reproof. It contains all that is needed for guidance in godliness and practical Christian conduct.
  • Christ's vicarious death on the cross paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world, but its benefits are only applicable to those who receive Jesus as their personal Savior. Healing of body, soul, and spirit and all of God's provisions for His saints, are provided for in the blood atonement, but must be appropriated.
  • Salvation is a free gift of God, based on the merits of the death of His Son, and is appropriated by faith. Salvation is effected by personal repentance, belief in the Lord Jesus (justification for one's sins), and personal acceptance of Him into one's life as Lord and Savior (regeneration). This new life in Christ includes the privileges of adoption and inheritance in the kingdom of God's beloved Son. Salvation is an act of free will in response to God's personal love for mankind. Salvation should produce an active lifestyle of loving obedience and service to Jesus Christ our Savior.


WE BELIEVE:

  • The Scriptures portray the life of the saint in this world to be one of balance between what is imputed to us as Christians and what is imparted to us according to our faith and maturity.
  • God's provision for His children is total, and the promises are final and forever.
  • The Christian life is filled with trials, tests, and warfare against a spiritual enemy. For those abiding in Christ until their deaths or His return, the promises of eternal blessing in the presence of God are assured.
  • The Church is to make disciples of all nations and to present the saints complete in Christ.
  • Two (2) perpetual ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ are aligned with the Church's responsibility according to the Word of God.
    1. The first, WATER BAPTISM, is the outward sign of what God has already done in the individual's life and is a testimony to all that the person now belongs to Jesus. Baptism is the total immersion in water to signify a changed life as one is buried (symbolic of the Lord's burial and death to the sin nature) and raised out of the water (symbolic of the Lord's resurrection and new life in Christ). It is identification with Jesus and is affected in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
    2. The Lord's Supper (COMMUNION) is a commemoration of the death of the Lord and is done in remembrance of Him until He comes again; it is a sign of our participation in Him. Note: Both institutions are reserved for those who are believers.
  • The Holy Spirit (3rd Person of the Trinity), who was active in the Old Testament and given to the Church in fullness at Pentecost, empowers the saints for service and witness, cleanses man from the old nature and conforms us to the image of Christ.
  • The baptism in the Holy Spirit, subsequent to conversion, releases the fullness of the Spirit and is evidenced by the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit.


WE AFFIRM:

  • The bodily, personal, second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the saints, the millennium, and the final judgment are Scriptural truths to base our faith and trust.
  • The final judgment will determine the eternal status of both the saints and the unbelievers, determined by their relationship with Jesus Christ.
  • With the Bible as to how the final state of the new heavens and the new earth will be completed.


WE BELIEVE A PERSON MUST BE "BORN AGAIN" AS JESUS WITNESSED AND CONFIRMED TO NICODEMAS (JOHN 3). TO GAIN ACCESS INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD ONE MUST ACCEPT JESUS AS SAVIOR AND LORD. IT WAS A "MUST" IN JESUS DAY AND IT IS AN IMPERATIVE TODAY.


Credentials:

Gerald E. Cumby

EDUCATION
Gerald graduated from Abilene High School in Abilene, Texas, 1959. He graduated from McMurry University in 1963 with a Texas life-time teaching degree/certificate. After graduation, he taught and coached in the Abilene and Burkburnett Independent School Districts teaching Creative Arts, Texas History, Language Arts, Health and Physical Education classes, and coached Jr. High/Middle School Athletics.

CAREER
In 1967, Gerald accepted an opportunity to be employed by General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas, in the Transportation Department (Management). Thirty eight years later (2005), Gerald retired from General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin being in management/administration for all of the 38 years. He managed Transportation, Material Operations, Sanitation, and Shipping employees. At one time, he was the Manager of 238 employees (3 tiers of management and a variety of skilled hourly employees). He taught Certified Manager classes for 13 years and was President of the Lone Star Chapter of Certified Managers (DFW area, 1997-1999).

HIGHER EDUCATION
While at General Dynamics, Gerald worked on his Master's Degree, completing many hours of Business, Work Place Ethics, and Human Resource courses. Gerald also taught several OSHA classes for several businesses in the Fort Worth, Texas area. After retirement, Gerald completed a Master's Degree in Biblical Studies from Tyndale Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

BIBLE STUDY/TEACHING
Gerald has taught Sunday School/Equip classes in the children's, Youth, Young Adult, Young Married, Single Again (divorcees, widows, widowers), and Mid-Age and Senior Adults. He started teaching Bible classes at the age of 15 and still teaches Bible Studies/Courses at his local church. Gerald and Sherry have taught Marriage Seminars together and both have worked together ministering to the Senior Adults (hospital and home visits) as well as many children in the public school system with the Child Evangelism Fellowship Organization (After school gospel presentations). Gerald has preached funerals for friends, neighbors and family as well as speaking at other events/retirement parties.

AUTHOR
Gerald E. Cumby has authored and published two books since his retirement, The Bridge Builder and the sequel, The Bridge Builder, Bracing for Life's Challenges. (Create Space Publisher, amazon.com, Kindle). He has written several articles in magazines while working at Lockheed Martin. He has also written many poems honoring family, retirees and special friends. Many devotions and lessons of encouragement have also been taught and preached while he walked the trail called "life."


Sherry A. Cumby

EDUCATION: Sherry graduated from Abilene High School, Abilene, Texas, 1961.

BACHELORS DEGREE: University of North Texas, Denton, in Elementary Education with Kindergarten Endorsement, 1971.

HIGHER EDUCATION: Master's Degree in Biblical Studies, Tyndale Bible Seminary, 2007.

CAREER: Early years: Receptionist for Abilene Independent School System Administration Bldg.; Income Tax Preparation Business Associate; Substitute Teacher for Lake Worth ISD and Everman ISD.

TEACHING AND BIBLE STUDY INVOLVEMENT: After graduation, Sherry taught children in the 2nd and 4th grades for the Everman Independent School District for 20 years. She served as the director of the 4th grade Sunday School class at her local church for a few years; other years, served alongside her husband in adult classes.

She and her husband have taught Marriage Seminars/Retreats together, Sunday morning Bible classes for Youth, Young Marrieds, Single Again, and Adult classes. She has led committees for Calls to Prayer and ladies retreats.

Besides her work in the public schools of Texas, she served as Children's Sunday School Coordinator for her church, served as Director of Ladies of Victory Family Ministry (L'OVM), served with the Maranatha Widow/Widowers Luncheons, and has been on numerous coordinating committees for church planning.

She has worked with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) as the local church coordinator and served as secretary on the CEF Board of Directors for the North Texas (Fort Worth Area) District.

Her work with other organizations (Evangelistic and Community Service) include: Past Chair, Fort Worth Christian Women's Connection; a Stonecroft Ministries Prayer Consultant; Past President, Everman Area Retired School Employees Association (EARSEA), and Past State Chair of the Community Volunteer Service Committee and two special committees for the Texas Retired Teachers Association (2010-2014). She is still involved with most all of these organizations.

Sherry and Gerald have monthly Home Bible Studies (fellowships) in their home for about 18 adults (average) through their local church with church members, neighbors, and friends.

Sherry has prepared many devotions and Bible studies for various groups through the years. Many of those studies and devotions are available at the maranathatoday.com website.

 

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