FOCUS April 2017
Bowie Baptist Association
Making Disciples (Part 3)
This post continues a series on the essential components to fruitful discipleship. You can review the first two, intentionality and biblical focus, in the February and March editions of the FOCUS.
The third essential component to fruitful discipleship is relationship. Discipleship is a relationship including at least two people, a disciple maker and a disciple. Robert Coleman in his classic, The Master Plan of Evangelism, describes the discipleship process of Jesus this way, “Having called his men, Jesus made a practice of being with them. This was the essence of his training program—just letting his disciples follow him,” (p. 37).
Now the church is full of relationships, but few are intentionally disciple making. We miss the intentional connection of mature, growing believers with those less mature in the faith.
Sure, we teach them God’s word. Sermons and Bible studies abound. But sadly, these bear little fruit apart from personal or small group relationships where the truths learned may be discussed, personally pondered, and applied to life.
Let me put it this way. Jesus preached, but then he gathered a few into a more intimate setting where his followers could see how he lived the very things he taught. It was through both the public teaching and the personal connecting that the disciples eventually caught Jesus’ message.
If we want to see lives transformed through our teaching, we must do the same. It was Jesus’ way. It should be ours.
But wait, there’s more…
With several mission opportunities coming this summer, the time to act is now. If you are interested in these, contact the BBA Office.
The Children’s Camp committee is seeking committed Christian teens and college students to serve on this year’s Rec Team. Applications are available at the BBA office. Call Valerie.
Registration is open for the Navajo Nation mission trip, June 24-30. The team will be conducting foot clinics, VBS, and light construction. The cost is $200. Contact Bro. Jim for more information.
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.
Blessings!
Bro. Jim
SBTC State VBS Training
Date: April 1, 2017
Registration cost: $10
Longview, TX
This event will offer in-depth training and ideas for churches 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
Administrative Team Meeting
The next Administrative Committee Meeting will be April 11th, 10:00 AM, at the BBA Office. Meetings are open to participation from interested persons within the association.
Executive Board Meeting
The next BBA Executive Board Meeting will be April 18, at Plentiful Harvest Church & Mission Center, 6:00 pm. To stay up to date on your association, please plan to attend. RSVP by calling the BBA office at 903-831-0194 or by emailing receptionist@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.
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
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.
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
Evangelism Event Trailer
Churches continue using the Evangelistic Event Trailer to reach into their communities.
To secure the trailer for your event, please contact the BBA office. When scheduling the trailer, make sure you allow for training if no one at your event has yet used the equipment.
1st Choice Pregnancy Center Walk/Run for Life
May 6th, 2017
Spring Lake Park, Texarkana, TX
Pavilion 2 (by the airplane)
7:00am - Race Registration
7:30am - Race Start
8:00am - Kid’s 1 mile/no fee
9:30am - Walk Begins/no fee
There will be plenty of other activities to enjoy including a bouncy house for the kids, pancakes, face painting, and more.
Register by clicking the Walk/Run for Life link on our webpage www.firstchoiceprc.com
or call 903-792-5735 or 903-748-3408 for more information
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.
Lakeview Senior Adult Rally
May 11, 2017
Registration: 9 AM
Program begins at 9:30 AM
Speaker: Dr. John Hatch (Retired DOM, Gregg Association)
Music: James Runnells (Music/Assoc. Pastor, Crossroad Baptist Church, Marshall
Cost: $10.00 per person, Includes lunch & 2 snacks
Each church please call with number attending by Monday May 8, 2016, 903-656-3871.
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.
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.
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
MAY 2017
6 Walk/Run for Life, Spring Lake Park, Pavilion 2
9 Administrative Team Meeting, BBA Office, 10 AM
11 Lakeview Senior Adult Rally
14 Mother’s Day
29 Memorial Day
April Friendship Center
- Liberty Eylau
- Korean Baptist
- Leary FBC
- Maud FBC
- Cross Power
- Pleasant Grove
- Red Springs FBC
- Rock Creek
- Siloam
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