More Than A Building
We are Yah's Fellowship. We are His people, once lost but now found. We're the broken, being restored. We were prodigals who left the Father's care to live as we pleased. Rebellious or religious, angry or afraid--however we expressed it, we did life our own way. But nothing satisfied. Then, we turned around.
We saw the Heavenly Father, arms open wide. He welcomes each wandering child to return to Him. He reaches out to restore the broken and heal the wounded. He lovingly calls each one of us by name. Even when we had turned our backs to Him, in His great love, He gives us The Way home.
Turn and return to the Good Father. We are His children, and we welcome you home.
Our Approach
Our Purpose
Obey Yah's Word, yield to Yah's Spirit, and love people as Yah loves us, by ...
- Growing in healthy respect for the Torah and prophets, hearing and obeying as we are led by the Holy Spirit,
- Yielding to the Holy Spirit's work in us to produce the fruitful character of Messiah, building up each member of His Body to reach maturity in the faith, and to bless each person He puts in our paths, making ourselves available for His use by receiving and exercising His gifts and callings in whatever capacity He chooses, and
- Reaching out to people who are lost in the chaos and darkness of a dying world, holding out to them the light of hope, the promise of new life in Messiah, to all those who entrust their lives to Him.
Our Vision
... coming soon ...
Our Story
Our Story
Our Fellowship in Emory has traceable roots as an assembly that go back to the 1920’s. Our congregation today is made up of quite a few descendants of those who accepted the “come out of Babylon” message nearly a century ago. Brother L. D. Snow came to East Texas to hold an extended revival meeting around 1930, and many people were tremendously affected by that meeting. Sabbath-keeping groups in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas enjoyed gathering together back in the 1930’s and 1940’s for fellowship and fun.
In 1950, Sabbath-keepers in the Emory area constructed a building and established a Sacred Name Assembly called The First Assembly of Yahvah. In addition to L. D. Snow, some of the founders were L. F. Wilds and E. B. Adair.
In 1975, the Assembly was instrumental in organizing a neighborhood community to provide a place for people who wanted to get their families out of the cities and prepare for the coming of our Messiah. The Assembly operated a private school until about 1990. Former pastors included L. F. Wilds and Paul Wilds.
The Assembly has been blessed with many wonderful times of visitation by the Holy Spirit and happy memories of camp meetings held here over the years. We have also had plenty of failures to keep us humble. As a group, we have repented of our sins and have attempted to make restitution and/or reconciliation whenever possible.
We are continually in the process of being purged and purified. Many in the congregation have long been honoring Sabbath, eating Biblically clean, and recognizing the importance of the Sacred Name. Some have been celebrating Yah's appointed times/Feast Days for years, and others are newcomers to them.
Over the years we have had good fellowship with a wide variety of Yah’s children, and we always welcome interaction with people of like faith. The differences of understanding among Yah’s people are a necessary element of our growing in grace and knowledge, and we try to keep the bond of peace until we all come into the unity of the faith.
In obedience to Scripture, we do not cling to the past but reach forward to the future. Whether good times or bad, we will not be held back by what has gone before. Instead, we race into the future, striving for the goal, Messiah's high calling.
We believe our calling as a fellowship is to be available to the Holy Spirit of Yah in Messiah for the purpose of repairing damaged lives, crumbling moral foundations, and broken relationships. Ours is a history and ministry of restoration. For this reason, as of 2019, we have received a new name. We are Yah's Restoration Fellowship.
We are still coming out of Babylon and preparing to meet our Beloved Savior in the air at His glorious appearing. We invite you to share in our journey and destination.
Our Ministries
- Missions - Yah's Restoration Fellowship helps to support mission work in Kenya with monthly contributions.
- Music - We have always been very blessed with anointed musicians. We have CD’s with original songs available for distribution. Contact Us if you are interested in a CD.
- Prayer - Our ladies pray together monthly, and we take your prayer requests on this website. See Contact Us.
- Prisons - We do prison ministry in our local county jail and state prisons, which consists of personal correspondence and visitation.
- Unborn - We join others in their efforts to stop the abomination of abortion, giving mothers a real choice by assisting them to keep their babies or give them to loving couples for adoption. We do this by making these options available to them as they prepare to enter the abortion facility in Shreveport. Several of our fellowship caravan to Shreveport, usually every third Sabbath. Abortions are committed each Sabbath. We Sabbath-keepers are committed to the infinite value of all life--that of the mothers and the unborn.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe Yah/YHVH desires for His people to know Him and call Him by Name; so we do our best. We vary in our pronunciations and humbly admit none of us are absolutely certain which, if any, are correct. In the following Scriptures, we have replaced common titles and names, as follows: YHVH or Elohim is used rather than Lord, Adonai, or God; Yeshua or Yahshua is used instead of Jesus; Messiah replaces Christ, and Master replaces Lord used as a title rather than a name.
These replacements are ours; they are not found in the versions of the Bible being quoted.
You can scroll or link to any of these topics: Creator Redeemer, Humans, Bible, and Names .
CREATOR REDEEMER
“Sh’ma, Yisra’el! YHVH Eloheinu, YHVH echad [Hear, Isra’el! YHVH our Elohim, YHVH is one]; and you are to love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart, all your being and all your resources. --Deuteronomy 6:4-5 CJB, brackets included in the text of this version; see also Mark 12:29-30
Haven’t you known, haven’t you heard that the everlasting Elohim, YHVH, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow tired or weary? His understanding cannot be fathomed. --Isaiah 40:28 CJBi
YHVH, you have probed me, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I stand up, you discern my inclinations from afar, you scrutinize my daily activities. You are so familiar with all my ways that before I speak even a word, YHVH, you know all about it already. --Psalm 139:1-4 CJB
For I am YHVH, your Elohim, the Holy One of Isra’el, your Savior. Let them stand and present their case! Indeed, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, announced it in times gone by? Wasn’t it I, YHVH? There is no other Elohim besides me, a just Elohim and a Savior; there is none besides me. ... I, YHVH, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Ya‘akov." --Isaiah 43:3a, 45:21, 49:26c CJB
“See! Elohim is my salvation. I am confident and unafraid; for Yah YHVH is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation!” --Isaiah 12:2 CJB
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; dominion will rest on his shoulders, and he will be given the name Pele-Yo‘etz El Gibbor Avi-‘Ad Sar-Shalom [Wonder of a Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace], --Isaiah 9:5, including brackets, from CJB
Then Miryam said, “My soul magnifies YHVH; and my spirit rejoices in Elohim, my Savior ..." --Luke 1:46-47 CJB
Before the world began, there was the Word. The Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was with Elohim in the beginning. All things were made through him. Nothing was made without him. In him there was life. That life was light for the people of the world. The Light shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not overpowered the Light. –John 1-5 ICB
The Word was in the world. The world was made through him, but the world did not know him. He came to the world that was his own. But his own people did not accept him. But some people did accept him. They believed in him. To them he gave the right to become children of Elohim. They did not become his children in the human way. They were not born because of the desire or wish of some man. They were born of Elohim. The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his glory—the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace and truth. John told about him. He said, “This is the One I was talking about. I said, ‘The One who comes after me is greater than I am. He was living before me.’” The Word was full of grace and truth. From him we all received more and more blessings. The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Yeshua Messiah. No man has ever seen Elohim. But Elohim the only Son is very close to the Father. And the Son has shown us what Elohim is like. --John 1:10-18 ICB
Yeshua answered, “I am the way. And I am the truth and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. If you really knew me, then you would know my Father, too. But now you do know him, and you have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father. That is all we need.” Yeshua answered, “I have been with you a long time now. Do you still not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. So why do you say, ‘Show us the Father’?' Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say to you don’t come from me. The Father lives in me, and he is doing his own work." --John 14:6-10 ICB
No one has seen Elohim, but Yahshua is exactly like him. Messiah ranks higher than all the things that have been made. Through his power all things were made—things in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, all powers, authorities, lords, and rulers. All things were made through Messiah and for Messiah. Messiah was there before anything was made. And all things continue because of him.--Colossians 1:15-17 ICB
In the past YHVH spoke to our ancestors through the prophets. He spoke to them many times and in many different ways. And now in these last days YHVH has spoken to us through his Son. YHVH has chosen his Son to own all things. And he made the world through the Son. The Son reflects the glory of YHVH. He is an exact copy of YHVH's nature. He holds everything together with his powerful word. The Son made people clean from their sins. Then he sat down at the right side of YHVH, the Great One in heaven. --Hebrews 1:1-3 ICB
There is only one YHVH. And there is only one way that people can reach YHVH. That way is through Yahshua Messiah, who is also a man. --1 Timothy 2:5 ICB
But we see Yeshua! For a short time he was made lower than the angels. But now we see him wearing a crown of glory and honor because he suffered and died. Because of YHVH’s grace, he died for everyone. YHVH is the One who made all things. And all things are for his glory. YHVH wanted to have many sons share his glory. So YHVH made perfect the One who leads people to salvation. He made Yeshua a perfect Savior through Yeshua's suffering. Yeshua, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers. --Hebrews 2:9-11 ICB
These children are people with physical bodies. So Yahshua himself became like them and had the same experiences they have. For this reason Yahshua had to be made like his brothers in every way. He became like men so that he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to YHVH. Then Yahshua could bring forgiveness for their sins. And now he can help those who are tempted. He is able to help because he himself suffered and was tempted. –Hebrews 2:14a, 17-18 ICB
Humans
Sin
How terrible it will be for people who call good things bad and bad things good. They think darkness is light and light is darkness. They think sour is sweet and sweet is sour. --Isaiah 5:20 ICB
As the Scriptures* say: “There is no one without sin. None! There is no one who understands. There is no one who looks to YHVH for help. All have turned away. Together, everyone has become evil. None of them does anything good.” --Romans 3:10-12 ICB, *quoted from Psalm 14:1-3 ICB
All people have sinned and are not good enough for YHVH’s glory. --Romans 3:23 ICB The payment for sin is death. But YHVH gives us the free gift of life forever in Messiah Yahshua our Master. --Romans 6:23 ICB
Salvation
“For YHVH loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. YHVH gave his Son so that whoever believes in [entrusts his life to] him may not be lost, but have eternal life. YHVH did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him. He who believes in [entrusts his life to] YHVH’s Son is not judged guilty. He who does not believe [entrusts his life to] has already been judged guilty, because he has not believed in [entrusted his life to] YHVH’s only Son. --John 3:16-18 ICB, bracketed words added to define "believe in," which is more than a mental agreement
I mean that you have been saved by grace [divine power to produce holy character] because you believe [entrusted your life]. You did not save yourselves. It was a gift from YHVH. You cannot brag that you are saved by the work you have done. YHVH has made us what we are. In Messiah Yeshua, YHVH made us new people so that we would do good works. YHVH had planned in advance those good works for us. He had planned for us to live our lives doing them. --Ephesians 2:8-10 ICB, brackets added
Faith
Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to YHVH must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him. --Hebrews 11:6 ICB So you should know that the true children of Abraham are those who have faith [confidence in YHVH's revelation of Himself and what He says]. --Galatians 3:7 ICB, brackets added My brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does nothing, his faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save him? So you see that Abraham’s faith and the things he did worked together. His faith was made perfect by what he did. A person’s body that does not have a spirit is dead. It is the same with faith. Faith that does nothing is dead! --James 2:14, 22, 26 ICB
Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat YHVH. A person harvests only what he plants. If he plants to satisfy his sinful self, his sinful self will bring him eternal death. But if he plants to please the Spirit, he will receive eternal life from the Spirit. --Galatians 6:7-8 ICB
New Life
If anyone belongs to Messiah, then he is made new. The old things have gone; everything is made new! --2 Corinthians 5:17 ICB
Peter said to them, “Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Yeshua Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.--Acts 2:38 ICB
So when we were baptized, we were buried with Messiah and shared his death. We were buried with him so that we could live a new life, just as Messiah was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father. Messiah died, and we have been joined with Messiah by dying too. So we will also be joined with him by rising from death as he did. We know that our old life died with Messiah on the cross. This was so that our sinful selves would have no power over us, and we would not be slaves to sin. --Romans 6:4-6 ICB
So I tell you: Live by following the Spirit. Then you will not do what your sinful selves want. Our sinful selves want what is against the Spirit. The Spirit wants what is against our sinful selves. The two are against each other. So you must not do just what you please. But if you let the Spirit lead you, you are not under the law. The result of sin’s control in our lives is clear. It includes sexual immorality, impurity and wild living, worshiping false gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing divisions among people, having envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing other things like this. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not be in YHVH’s kingdom. But the Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. Those who belong to Messiah Yahshua have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. We get our new life from the Spirit. So we should follow the Spirit. We must not be proud. We must not make trouble with each other. And we must not be jealous of each other. --Galatians 5:16-26 ICB
Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments. You know that such arguments grow into bigger arguments. --2 Timothy 2:23 ICB
Brothers, someone in your group might do something wrong. You who are spiritual should go to him and help make him right again. You should do this in a gentle way. But be careful! You might be tempted to sin, too. Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you truly obey the law of Messiah.--Galatians 6:1-2 ICB
I do not mean that I am already as YHVH wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Messiah wants me to do that. That is the reason Messiah made me his. Brothers, I know that I have not yet reached that goal. But there is one thing I always do: I forget the things that are past. I try as hard as I can to reach the goal that is before me. I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize. That prize is mine because YHVH called me through Messiah to the life above. --Philippians 3:12-14 ICB
The Bible
All Scripture is inspired by YHVH and is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching how to live right. Using the Scriptures, the person who serves YHVH will be ready and will have everything he needs to do every good work. --2 Timothy 3:16-17 ICB
Don’t add to these commands. And don’t leave anything out. But obey the commands of YHVH your Elohim that I give you. --Deuteronomy 4:2 ICB
Israel’s priests do cruel things to my teachings. They do not honor my holy things. They make no difference between holy and unholy things. They teach there is no difference between clean and unclean things. They do not remember my Sabbaths. So I am dishonored by them. –Ezekiel 22:26 ICB
[Messiah says,] “Don’t think that I have come to destroy the law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets. I have not come to destroy their teachings but to do what they said. I tell you the truth. Nothing will disappear from the law until heaven and earth are gone. The law will not lose even the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter until all has happened. Whoever refuses to obey any command and teaches other people not to obey that command will be the least important in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys the law and teaches other people to obey the law will be great in the kingdom of heaven. --Matthew 5:17-20 ICB
Everyone who hears these things I say and obeys them is like a wise man. The wise man built his house on rock. But the person who hears the things I teach and does not obey them is like a foolish man. The foolish man built his house on sand. --Matthew 7:24-26 ICB
Names
We prefer to use the Name of our Creator Redeemer, rather than a title. As Creator, He is often called Elohim [pronounced El-oh-HEEM] in Hebrew, usually translated as God in English Bibles. We prefer to say, "Elohim." As our Creator Redeemer, His Name is YHVH (pronounced Yahweh, Yahvah, Yehovah, or similar), typically shown as LORD or GOD in English translations. We prefer to say His Name, and we often employ its contraction, YHH, which is also found in the Bible and which we all pronounce as Yah. No one can be absolutely certain how YHVH is pronounced; but we prefer to do the best we can rather than use a substitution, such as HaShem (TheName), Adonai (Lord), the LORD, or God. Scripture indicates that Yah intends for His people to know and use His Name. Instead of saying Jesus, which is an English transliteration of the Greek transliteration of His Hebrew name, we prefer Yeshua or Yahshua to approximate the Hebrew. We also prefer to identify him as Messiah instead of Christ. However, we do not condemn people who choose not to attempt to pronounce these Hebrew words.
Our Leaders
John Robinson was born in Missouri in 1957, was raised on a farm, and was "born again" in 1979 after much wooing of the Holy Spirit. Immediately thereafter, he started on a quest for Biblical truth, which still continues today. He came to Texas in 1981 in search of some people of like faith. Here he met an amazing young lady named Tammy, who became his wife in 1984. They are blessed with four children and ten grandchildren. John has been pastor at Emory since 2000, and he enjoys being with friends and family.
Tony Clawson was born October 1937 in Eldorado, Arkansas. He joined the United States Air Force at the age of 17 in 1955. In September 1959, he met a 16-year-old schoolgirl named Janie Emerline, and three months later, they married. He had not been raised in a church-going family, but he became a church-goer when he started courting Janie, who was raised in a 7th-day Sabbath, Sacred Name, Biblically clean foods home. He became a believer in 1970. He spent 20 years in the military, traveling both in and out of the country, as his family grew to include five children. He retired from the Air Force in 1975 and moved his family to Emory, Texas where the children could go to a school with other believers. He was pastor of New Covenant Fellowship in Emory from 1994-2010, after which he became part of the congregation now known as Yah's Restoration Fellowship.
What Next?
Give the pastor a call or send him an e-mail to discuss any of these or other topics. If you have a question that isn't answered on the Get Answers page of this website, feel free to Contact Us.