Commemorative silver coins produced by the Texas Mint in Whitney are being sold to help raise funds to support the Abbott Methodist Church and it’s scholarship programs. The coins have the likeness of Abbott natives Willie and Bobbie Nelson on one side and the Abbott church the siblings helped save on the other.
According to Don Reed of Whitney, proceeds from the sale of the coins will benefit the church and the scholarship established by the Nelsons for high school seniors from Abbott, Aquilla, Hillsboro and Whitney. Willie Nelson , Don Reed and Bobby Messer with the Texas Mint came up with the idea to sell the coins, which go for $55, which includes tax.
“We were looking for a way to sustain the church and scholarship fund,” Reed, who coordinates church and scholarship activities, pointed out. It was Reed who tipped Willie off in 2006 that the church that he and Bobbie grew up in had been closed and was being sold for possible use as a wedding chapel elsewhere.
The Nelsons stepped in and purchased the building. It still functions as a church today, holding services the first and third Sundays of each month at 10:45 a.m.
“When the church closed, they were averaging about five people per Sunday. “We are now averaging about 35 to 40 people with all volunteer preachers, song leaders and music directors,” Reed said.
The church recently ordained its first minister, and a Waco man who preached his first sermon in Abbott now has his own church in Houston with over 300 members.
The scholarship fund has awarded $25,000 in scholarships the past two years and anticipates giving additional scholarships next spring.
You can purchase the coins at the Texas Mint, at the Abbott Methodist Church, the Abbott Cash Grocery Store, and at the Hillsboro Reporter offices. To purchase a coin by mail, you can use the site’s order form:
http://01f31ba.netsolhost.com/order.htm
Can you also buy one at the church or do you always have to purchase first?
Monique, you will be able to get one when you are in Abbott. I think they have them at the cash grocery store.
Thanks, Linda. I will look for it there.
I will confirm that they have it there. Church is on 1st and 3rd Sunday; will you be there on a weekend?
At Sunday November 1st I’m in Austin, so I can drive to Abbott to visit the church.
Just let me know if you will be at church on November 1st and if you want to buy one of the coins, I will get word to Don to be sure and have one available at the service.
Stephen, I hope you and Monique can meet.
Thanks, Stephen. We are in Austin from October 30th till November 2nd and have planned to visit Abbott one of these days. We would love to visit the church, if possible. At what time opens and closes the church?
Willies Place has the coin Carls Corner
Thanks for the info, Steve.
Monique, did you see how someone made a necklace out of the coin for Willie? I thought about doing that, but didn’t know if I wanted to drill a hole in the coin or not.
Thanks, Steve. We will visit Willie’s Place too. I think when we’re driving from Dallas to Austin on October 30th. So there are more opportunities to buy a coin, that’s good to know.
Linda, you don’t have to drill a hole in the coin to make a necklace out of it. There’s another option, I’ll send you a picture by e-mail to show you.
If you are wanting to make a necklace out of the coin, I think you can contact the Texas Mint and there is a bezelle (sp) that you can buy that the coin will fit in and a silver necklace that goes with it. Don’t drill a hole in it.
Monique, if you have any problems finding a coin just let me know and I can direct you in the right direction. They are available at Willie’s Place, the Abbott Cash Grocery, the Hillsboro Reporter newspaper office but if you have any problems just let me know. Hope you can stop in for church on November 1st. Would love to meet you and have you come for the service.
Thank you so much Stephen, I think I will find the coin. We’re going to visit Willie’s Place and will spend some time in Abbott too. We would love to meet you and come for the service. At what time does the service start?
Services start at 10:45 am and we are usually finished about 12ish. I am told that the message for this Sunday’s service , October 4th, will be delivered by the Rev. Joe George Jernigan. Come out for some old country church singing and worship. See you in Abbott.
Thanks, Stephen. We will attend the service and are looking forward to meet you.