I do hope you were able to attend the Chapel’s 75th Anniversary and Homecoming! What a gathering! We were all so blessed by the special music and inspired message during worship and the delicious food and warm fellowship that followed. There is much more about that day in this newsletter.
Keep reading!
As I reflect on 75 years of God’s faithfulness and look ahead to what we want to accomplish in the future of the Chapel, I am again reminded what Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” It is all about Jesus. God’s son was sent to earth to be a sacrifice for our sins, leaving us the Holy Spirit for guidance when He ascended, and promising to prepare a new heaven and new earth for all His believers where we will live with Him forever. Jesus Christ was the eternal word from the beginning, and He is present and active in the lives of believers today. While the world may be in constant change, Jesus Christ remains a steadfast and dependable constant, offering unwavering love, grace and hope.
So, what do we do while we wait to be with Jesus? The answer is we share this Good News of love, grace, and hope with others! Consider serving on one of the Chapel’s committees. Join the mission trip to Guatemala! Attend the July covered dish featuring the Summer Youth Program. Go with the team to Boone to pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child! Participate in a Bible study or Sunday School class! Invite someone to church!
Jesus inspired the founders of this Chapel, has remained faithful for our 75 years, and will be with us in the future and forever. What a comfort!
In Him,
Julia Sherron
Julia Sherron, Board of Governors Chair – 2025-2026
jbsherron@gmail.com
REFLECTIONS
The House That God Built
By the time you are reading this reflection, our 75th-Year Celebration of EAMC will be over. But I want to reflect on what has been happening on this end of the island in this chapel for the past 75 years.
It all started in Mrs. Steve Mallard (Elizabeth Keith)’s living room in the summer of 1949 with a small group of people meeting for Sunday School. The following year, construction began to build a chapel by Mr. J.G. Anderson, a land developer of the southern end of the island. He named the chapel Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel in memory of his mother. On July 22, 1951, the first service was held with 68 people present with names like Smith, Turner, Mallard, Bland, Grouse, Hooks, Wilson and of course Anderson, to name just a few. We have been worshipping in the same white concrete block building ever since. Many more names and family members have passed through its double doors and have been blessed by the teaching and preaching of God’s Word.
As our mission statement declares, we are here “to glorify God and to proclaim to all that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior.” I believe God has honored that commitment. We may have done it better at times, but we have been faithful to that commitment over the past 75 years. We give a lot of credit and rightly so, to Mr. Anderson and his vision for our little chapel by the sea. However, as the psalmist says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
We talk a lot about a church being the people not the building. But there is something to be said about a place of worship. It gives the people of the community a focal point, a place to gather for worship. As Miss Mildred wrote in our book, God’s Grace – “Mr. Anderson desired a place to worship on Sundays on this beautiful island.” And that he did create with God’s help.
Now the proof that God is amidst this place working behind the scenes is the impact our little chapel has had with people from all over. To paraphrase Miss Mildred, we have spread the message of Jesus, not just here in Topsail Beach, but throughout the world by our giving, our mission trips and our teaching of God’s Word.
Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel has become the embodiment of what the Apostle Peter wrote in his first letter (which we heard read and sung on Homecoming Sunday), “As we come to Jesus, the living stone -rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him- we also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a royal priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).
Another special aspect of our chapel is that we have become a house of prayer. Every time we gather in the chapel whether it is for worship, Bible study, fellowship or even for conducting business, we pray. Jesus said, “My house will be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13). For the past 75 years, we have tried to honor that. Our chapel has become a gathering place for prayer. So, will you join me in repeating Miss Mildred’s prayer for EAMC? Here is what she wrote,
“My prayer is that God’s love continues to grace our little white Chapel and beyond.” AMEN.
In July 1951, the Chapel’s construction had progressed enough for the Sunday School class to meet in the building. The class included ages 5-19 and it was called the Pioneer Sunday School Class. The class used 10 yard benches purchased for $10 by JG Anderson from Camp Davis Army surplus and added additional seating by putting boards on cement blocks. Lewis Orr donated a piano from the “Sun and Fun” recreational hall, and Merle Mallard was the pianist for the Sunday School. She was 11 years old.
Merle Mallard Morris is still playing the piano(and the organ) for the Chapel and has served EAMC through her music ministry for 75 years! We are so grateful and so blessed by her. Merle was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for her dedication at the Homecoming celebration on June 22, 2025. She was also given a painting of the Chapel by Judy Brock that includes the scripture from I Peter 4:10-11, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another…in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”
And Merle is still going strong!!
BENEVOLENCE COMMITTEE
Celebrate our country’s birthday “month” in July by donating breakfast items for Share the Table! The Benevolence Committee will be collecting cereal, oatmeal, grits, and pancake mix during the month of July. Please bring the items to the North Wing. Many families in our area will benefit from these donations. Thank you again for your support!
SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM 2025
The summer youth program is thriving! We have had an excellent first month of activities, ranging from VBS, putt putt, nacho night, and fishing! We are excited for what the rest of the summer holds, and hope to see more youth as the summer progresses. We can’t wait to see how the Lord continues to work in the hearts and lives of the youth on Topsail!
MISSION TRIP 2025
We’re excited to invite you to be part of our upcoming mission trip to Guatemala, which will take place November 1–8, 2025. This is a great opportunity to serve families in need, grow in your faith, and experience Christ’s work firsthand alongside fellow affiliates of our church.
Our mission team had a wonderful experience serving the people of Guatemala in 2017, and again in 2024. We look forward to returning this year, and hope you’ll prayerfully consider joining us.
This year’s team will include 16–24 volunteers.
Trip Highlights:
Location:
We’ll be staying in San Cristobal (Guatemala City) and serving in the nearby village of Santa Maria de Jesus.
Mission Work Includes:
Constructing two (or 3, depending on the final number of volunteers) homes for families in need
Assisting with meal-packing and distribution (160 meals for every $20 raised)
Visiting and supporting Mimi’s House Orphanage
Additional outreach and relationship-building in the local community
Estimated Cost:
Flight: ~$700 (round-trip, from ILM/OAJ/RDU)
Room & Board: $595 (7 nights, includes 3 meals/day)
Optional Sightseeing: ~$250
Total Estimated Cost: $1,545 per person
Lodging:
We’ll stay in a secure, gated ministry center hosted by Catalyst Resource International (CRI) founders Fontaine and Paula Greene. The facility includes group housing, prepared meals, and common areas.
Next Steps:
If you’re interested in joining the trip or want to learn more about how you can support the team:
Review the attached *PDF for further details, we’ll also be hosting an interest meeting in the coming month to address any unanswered questions about the trip.
Note: Passports must be valid through at least May 8, 2026 to be eligible to travel.
We are excited about what God will do through this trip and hope you’ll consider being part of it.
The Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel Library, located on the second floor of the EAMC Fellowship House, is a self-service library open on Sundays from 8:50 – 9:30 a.m., and whenever the Fellowship House is open. The collection includes books for all ages. Instructions for how to check out materials are available at the check-out desk.
This summer’s featured books are for children and young adults. In addition to the pictured titles, there are a variety of other children’s and young adult titles in the collection. Consider checking out these, and other titles, this summer for your family’s reading pleasure.
For additional information about the library, please contact Karen Gavigan, gavigankw@gmail.com or 336-260-3297.
KINGDOM CRAFTERS
We had another first!
Missionaries spread more than “the word”! Workers who have stayed in the Respite apartment have somehow communicated to each other that Kingdom Crafters makes and gives things for them to take back! So, our items this month went to Togo and Nepal.
The lady who works in Togo came and I showed her what all we make and what kinds of groups we support. So, she asked for 1 premie hat, 4 washcloths, 7 t-shirt dresses, and 3 teddy bears. The second lady used to work with the first one in Togo, but is now on her way to work in Nepal. She chose one toy (cats out of socks), two wool hats and two pairs of wool slipper/shoes. They wished they had more room but were happy to get these items. We are thrilled that our handiwork is helping to spread “The Word” around the globe!!
We have two new requests for infant hats from hospitals in Greenville and Novant Health in Wilmington, so we will continue to be knitting and crocheting baby hats. If you like to knit, or crochet, or want to learn, please feel free to come get some yarn and join us! We are meeting periodically in July and August. Just give me a call – 910-398-1923 to make sure we are meeting in the Fellowship House – first door on the right as you go in, on Wednesdays from 10-11:30.
Submitted by:Julia Pollockfor the Crafters
PRAYER REQUESTS
If you have prayer requests, please submit those through our website on the “Prayer Request” tab or clickhere.
If you wish to join those affiliates that pray regularly for others, please click at the bottom of the Prayer Request form.
JULY AUGUST MINISTERS – 2025
July(Worship at 8 and 10am)
6
Rev. Steve LeRoux, Senior Pastor
Rose Hill Baptist Church – Rose Hill, NC
Sponsor: Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Reynolds
13
Rev. Kyle Graham, Assoc. Pastor of Mission and Church Formation
Bayleaf Baptist Church – Raleigh, NC
Sponsor: Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Hart
20
Rev. Dr. Scott Hagaman, Senior Pastor
First Baptist Church – Marion, NC
Sponsor: Mrs. Teresa Johnson
27
Youth Sunday
August
3
Rev. Margaret Stoddard, Chaplain
St. Mary’s School – Raleigh, NC
Sponsor: The Busbice Family
10(Final 8am service for 2025)
Rev. Trey Martin, Dir. for Foundations and Strategic Partnerships
The Christian and Missionary Alliance – Warren, OH
Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel is a nondenominational church that gathers for worship, the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, and Christian fellowship.
Our mission is to glorify God and to proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all.
