FOCUS March 2017
Bowie Baptist Association
Making Disciples (Part 2)
Last month I began a series sharing with you the essential components of fruitful discipleship. If the goal of the Great Commission is to make disciples, then the church is responsible to act in a manner that most facilitates this end. Yes, believers are responsible for their response to God’s word. But the Church must provide an environment where people not only hear the word, but receive the support necessary for incorporating that word into every aspect of their lives. The first essential component to this end, shared last time, is intentionality.
The second is being biblically based. Now, this should go without saying. What church does not value the Sunday morning sermon and other scheduled Bible studies? But too often we stop short in our teaching ministries. We fill people’s heads with Biblical knowledge - facts, doctrines, commands, and principles - but we seldom help people discover what obedience to God looks like on account of these truths.
When Jesus gave His commission, He made it clear in Mt. 28:20 that we were to “teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Given the same Holy Spirit behind Jesus’ teachings inspired the rest of scripture, we can conclude that Jesus expects us to apply all we learn from His word to life. This is what fruitful discipleship is about.
Jesus’ disciples obey Him. And His church helps new disciples do the same.
I’ll share more on this topic next month.
One more thing....
Welcome New Friendship Center Director
On behalf of the Texarkana Friendship Center Board of Directors, I would like to welcome Bro. Cody Howard as the new TFCI Executive Director, to succeed Bro. Bryan Bixler who recently resigned.
Cody comes to us from the staff of FBC Atlanta Texas. You may know him as the pastor of Church Under the Bridge Texarkana. He has a unique gift for relating with struggling persons, helping them to follow Christ as they overcome numerous challenges.
Please pray for Cody as he begins ministry with us. Invite him to share his vision for Friendship Center with your church.
And remember Friendship Center in your giving. Let’s assure Cody and his team have the tools necessary to do that which we have asked them to do, a task we believe God has called us to pursue.
Blessings,
Bro. Jim
2017 BBA Children’s Camp
Camp 1: July 12-15
Camp 2: July 15-18
Camp 3: July 18-21
Cost: $140 (BBA & Lakeview Cooperating Churches)
$145 (All other congregations)
For more information or to receive a registration pack, please call Valerie at 903-831-0194 or visit the BBA webpage at www.bowiebaptist.org
Disaster Relief / Training
Thank you for your response toward completion of the Disaster Relief feeding unit. The items are now being secured and we expect the unit to be available for deployment soon.
In the meantime, there will be basic Yellow Hat training at Westside Baptist Church, Atlanta, Texas, on Saturday, March 25th. Registration opens at 7:30 AM, with training to begin at 8:00. Shower / laundry training will follow. Persons needing to renew their ID’s as well as new volunteers may participate. If you would like to carpool with a group from the BBA, contact Bro. Jim at jimturnbo@bowiebaptist.org. If you are interested in the two day chainsaw training, March 24 – 25, please register through the SBTC website.
Administrative Team Meeting
The next Administrative Committee Meeting will be March 14th, 10:00 AM, at the BBA Office. Meetings are open to participation from interested persons within the association.
2017 BBA Navajo Mission Trip
June 24-30, 2017
Window Rock, Arizona
Cost is $200, includes transportation, meals on site (except on free day), and supplies. Families are welcome, but children should be old enough to participate. Children 12 and under must be in the company of their parents. Youth are welcome with an accompanying sponsor.
Volunteers are needed for: Basic Construction, Foot Care, Bible Clubs, & Support Crew.
Itinerary:
· Saturday, 6/24, 5 AM - Depart
· Saturday, 6/24, 10 PM - Arrive at Gateway
· Sunday - Wednesday, 6/25-6/28 - Serve
· Thursday, 6/29 - Free Day
· Friday, 6/30, 5 AM - Depart for home
· Friday, 6/30, 11 PM - Arrive in Texarkana
Interested persons should contact Dr. Jim Turnbo by email at: jimturnbo@bowiebaptist.org
D-Life
Want to learn how to effectively grow disciples for Jesus Christ? Consider D-Life. D-Life is not a program; it is a process for focusing the church on disciple-making. You can review this resource online at www.livingthedlife.com.
A D-Life boot camp for participating churches and others interested in exploring this resource will be held Sunday, April 2, from 4 to 7 PM, at First Baptist Nash. The facilitator will be Dr. Bill Wilkes, originator of D-Life and pastor of Northpark Baptist Church, Trussville, Alabama. Also, BBA has a limited number of accounts for churches to “test-drive” the process. Contact Bro. Jim about these opportunities.
2017 Week of Prayer For North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
March 5-12, 2017
100% of this offering is used to support North American Mission Board missionaries and church planters as they push back lostness in the United States and Canada.
SBTC Pause Retreat
March 24-25, 2017
Retreat for Bi-vocational Pastors and Ministers of Music in Tyler, TX. For more information or to register, click here.
SBTC State VBS Training
Date: April 1, 2017
Registration cost: $10
This event will offer in-depth training and ideas for churches and associations in many areas...leader enlistment, decorating, music, worship, missions, bible study, recreation, crafts, and more!
A special gift will be given to those churches pre-registered at least one week prior to the event!
For more information or to register to attend click here, or email Joanna Thornhill at Joanna@fbcredwater.org
1st Choice Pregnancy Center Walk/Run for Life
Save the Date for First Choice Pregnancy Center’s Walk/Run for Life, which will take place Saturday, May 6th. For supplies or information, call (903) 792-5735.
Brazil 2017
The annual Brazil Mission trip, coordinated by Dr. Dwight Lowrie of Liberty-Eylau Baptist Church, will be July 6-19. This year’s team will conduct a crusade in Belo Horizonte. Registration is open now, with all costs due by April 15th. For information or to register, please contact Bro. Lowrie at 903-244-4108. Registration forms are also available at the BBA office.
Youth Ministry Search
Highland Park Baptist Church, Texarkana, is seeking a couple to serve as bi-vocational youth ministry leaders. If you believe God is calling you to youth ministry or you know someone who may be a candidate, please contact HPBC at (903) 792-6996.
2017 NetXtreme
Camp 1: June 5-9, 2017
Camp 2: June 9-13, 2017
Cost: $190 per camper
Camp Pastor: Tiny Dominquez
Worship Leader: Abandon
Entertainment: 321 Improv
Registration for camp is now open! Reserve your spots by paying the $50 deposit per camper. Final payments are due May 15, 2017.
The registration packet and more information can be found at www.netxtreme.org or by emailing info@netxtreme.org.
Churches Seeking Staff
Please continue to pray for the churches in the Association that are seeking staff members.
Pastor:
- Siloam
- Malta
- Victory City
Youth Leader:
- Highland Park (call 903-792-6996)
- Flower Acres (call 903-824-8412)
- Korean Mission
- Myrtle Springs
- New Boston FBC
For more information, you may contact the respective congregations with the information provided, or contact the BBA Office.
MARCH 2017
5-12 Week of Prayer & Annie Armstrong Easter
Offering
12 Daylight Savings Time Begins
14 Administrative Team Meeting BBA Office, 10 AM
25 Disaster Relief Training Atlanta, TX
APRIL 2017
1 VBS Training Longview, TX
2 D-Life Training Nash FBC, 4 PM
11 Administrative Team Meeting BBA Office, 10 AM
14 Good Friday
16 Easter Sunday
18 Executive Board Meeting Plentiful Harvest, 6 PM
March Friendship Center
- Downtown FBC
- Faith Community
- Fellowship
- Myrtle Springs
- New Baptist Bible Fellowship
- Oak Street
- Old Salem
- Redwater FBC
- Cross View
These churches have been asked by the Friendship Center to get involved in the food drive for this month. The Center needs all kinds of canned goods, flour, corn meal, dried beans, macaroni and cheese, powdered milk, baby foods and formulas, and diapers. Any effort made for the Friendship Center will be appreciated. Some churches have chosen to include the Friendship Center in their annual budget and send a monthly check for support.
Runnin’ WJ Ranch needs financial support, volunteers, and supplies as well.
Associational Staff
Dr. Jim Turnbo
Associational Missionary
Valerie Mills
Ministry Assistant
Paul Burkhalter
Ministry Training Director
Brandon Sanders
Baptist Student Ministry Director
Fraternal Organizations
Sam Clem
Runnin’ WJ Ranch
Edna Walker
Hospitality Director
Cody Howard
Friendship Center Director
Bowie Baptist Association
Email: receptionist@bowiebaptist.org
Website: www.bowiebaptist.org
Location: PO Box 7740 Texarkana, TX 75505
Phone: 903-831-0194