FOCUS - July 2016
Bowie Baptist Association
From the Harvest
I often receive calls from church leaders seeking assistance with the identification or vetting of potential staff members. While some of the positions to be filled are full time (I prefer the term fully-funded), a growing number of requests are for bivocational or even volunteer personnel.
The questions about fully-funded positions are easy to answer, for there are many godly candidates across the country seeking the opportunity to serve the Lord and His church.
Questions about bivocational personnel are becoming harder to answer. It seems that, at least locally, there are not as many individuals called, willing, and equipped to serve as has been the case in the past.
I believe several factors contribute to this. A few of the best equipped consider themselves only available to serve full-time. Larger churches that in the past encouraged gifted leaders to accept staff roles in smaller congregations tend now to hold on to those persons, benefitting from the depth they add to their own ministries (not a criticism, just an observation). And there are many gifted individuals who have stepped up to serve, only to leave ministry after getting worn down by the dysfunctional congregations they served.
But the greatest factor contributing to the shrinking pool of bivocational ministry candidates is that the discipleship practices of most churches do not intentionally develop them.
As a missionary with North American Mission Board, facilitating church planting in places where paid ministers were few, I was taught that the resources are always in the harvest. Living out 2nd Timothy 2:2 became a matter of life and death for our churches. Paul wrote, “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others.”
Get this! The majority of church staff positions in the Bowie Baptist Association are bivocational. If present financial trends continue, our dependence on bivocational ministers will only increase as positions currently fully funded become unsustainable. This is not a bad thing! But to maintain our present ministry, or better yet to penetrate lostness, we must raise up a new generation of pastors, youth and children’s ministers, worship leaders, deacons, and other leaders from among the people we now serve. And most of these will serve bivocationally.
The association can help through our new Bi-State School of Ministry. But even this effort only builds upon the discipleship people receive in your church.
So, my question to you is… How are you practicing 2 Timothy 2:2?
Blessings,
Bro. Jim
Administrative Committee Meeting
The BBA Administrative Committee next meets July 12th, 10:00 AM, at the BBA Office. Meetings are open to your participation. If you would like to place an item on the agenda, contact Valerie.
Executive Board Meeting
The next BBA Executive Board Meeting will be July 12th, at Buchanan FBC, 12 Noon. To stay up to date on your association, please plan to attend.
RSVP by calling the BBA office at 903-792-0641 or by emailing receptionist@bowiebaptist.org.
BBA Annual Meeting & Partnership Celebration
Sunday, October 16th
Location: Siloam Baptist Church
Simms, TX
More information coming soon!
Bi-State School of Ministry
Seminary Extension is becoming the Bi-State School of Ministry! A partnership between BBA and Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention, the School of Ministry will provide affordable, local, and personal ministry training to persons in Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas.
The Fall Semester begins August 15, 2016 with Introduction to Christian Counseling on Mondays and Communicating the Gospel (Preaching and Teaching that Transforms) on Tuesdays. Classes remain at FBC Wake Village.
An enrollment day is set for Monday, July 25, 6pm, at FMC Wake Village. To apply for admission, contact the BBA office. For more information, visit the BBA website at www.bowiebaptist.org.
2016 Summer Mission Trips
We would love to pray for you and share with others how God is moving through your upcoming mission trips. Please contact the BBA Office with your plans.
Pray for the following mission trips in partnership with the association:
Navajo Nation
July 1 - 9 Myrtle Springs,
Nahodishgish, NM
July 20-25 FBC Redwater,
Nahodishgish, NM
Brazil
July 8-21 Liberty Eylau
Manaus, Brazil
2016 BBA Children’s Camp
There is still room available!
If you have yet to register, and would like to do so, please contact Valerie at the BBA Office at 903-792-0641 or email her at receptionist@bowiebaptist.org.
Camp Pastor
Worship Leader (Camps 1 & 2)
Worship Leader (Camp 3)
July 4
Independence Day
The BBA Office will be closed July 4th in observance of Independence Day.
Youth Ministry Search
Churches Seeking Staff
Please continue to pray for the numerous churches in the Association that are seeking staff members.
Pastor:
- Myrtle Springs
- Sand Hill
- Cross Pointe
- Avery FBC
- Malta
- Liberty Hill
Praise & Worship Leader:
- Siloam Baptist Church(siloambaptist561@aol.com)
Youth Leader:
- Korean Mission
- Flower Acres (call 903-824-8412),
- FBC DeKalb (dekalb-youth@googlegroups.com)
- Highland Park Baptist Church (call 903-792-6996)
For more information, you may contact the respective
congregations with the information provided, or contact the BBA Office.
Southern Gospel Concert
FBC DeKalb will be having the Steel Magnolias in concert on Tuesday, July 12 at 6 PM. For more information, or if you would like to invite the Steel Magnolias to your church, visit www.steelmagnolias.com or www.debbiedaniel.com.
Vacation Bible School
VBS is happening across the BBA. Please be sure to send in your VBS report to the association. You may mail, fax, or e-mail your VBS information to Valerie at receptionist@bowiebaptist.org.
And remember, it is not too late for VBS assistance. Materials, including curriculum and decorations, are available from sister churches. Contact the association to facilitate the connection.
2016 Region 10 RA Summer Camp
Lakeview Baptist Assembly
July 8-11, 2015
Cost $155.00
For more information contact Charlie Jones at 903-746-2048 or by email at
1st Choice Pregnancy Center
1st Choice Pregnancy Resource Center offers parenting classes in Atlanta, Texas, Wednesday afternoons at the Atlanta Public Library. If you know of anyone who might benefit, refer them to Dee Dee Jones, Education Services Coordinator, at (903) 792-5735.
JULY 2016
12 Administrative Team Meeting, 10 AM
12 Executive Board Meeting
Noon, Buchanan FBC
13-16 BBA Children’s Camp 1
16-19 BBA Children’s Camp 2
19-22 BBA Children’s Camp 3
AUGUST 2016
9 Administrative Team Meeting, 10 AM
July Friendship Center
- Calvary
- Eylau Hills
- Flower Acres
- Hooks FBC
- Nash FBC
- Oaklawn
- Bowie County Cowboy
- Wake Village FBC
- Midway FBC
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
Joshua McDonald
Baptist Student Ministry Director
Fraternal Organizations
Sam Clem
Runnin’ WJ Ranch
Edna Walker
Hospitality Director
Bryan Bixler
Friendship Center Director
Bowie Baptist Association
Email: receptionist@bowiebaptist.org
Website: www.bowiebaptist.org
Location: PO Box 7740 Texarkana, TX 75505
Phone: 903-792-0641