Summer 2018 FOCUS
Bowie Baptist Association
Just a Thought
As I write I remain in recovery mode from IGNITE 2018, the Bowie Baptist Association children's camps. Your camp committee and rec team again performed remarkably as they served nearly 1000 campers and sponsors. Best of all, the Lord moved in a mighty way with 87 children placing their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation!
Camp is one of the reasons I do what I do. Not that I'd ever do camp full time. My energy level is not what it once was. But in camp we see the true value of our partnership, congregations joining together for a greater purpose. Almost 1000 children heard a clear presentation of the gospel, with - I'll say it again - 87 responding. Praise the Lord!
Of course camp is just one of many ministries we share. In recent months we've served the Correctional Officers at Telford, deployed for Disaster Relief, and shared Christ among the Navajo. Coming up we have a new year of campus ministry at TC and A&M, completion of the Disaster Relief laundry unit, along with opportunities the Lord is only now revealing. The common thread running through each is our cooperative vision.
Thank you for your partnership in these ministries. May God continue working through us to elevate His Name.
As summer winds down, many of your churches are entering a season of budget preparation. As you seek the Lord regarding the stewardship of His resources, please remember His work through your association. As I've said before, we really are stronger when we stand together.
Blessings,
Bro. Jim
BBA Pastor's Monthly Fellowship
Monday, Aug 6, 2018, 10:00 AM
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Jones Lane, Texarkana, TX, United States
To volunteer...
First Baptist Church of Leary 100th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, Aug 12, 2018, 11:00 AM
9200 West New Boston Road, Leary, TX, USA
"Can We Talk" Evangelism Training
The future of the world depends on the average believer being able to proclaim the message of the Gospel.
Our one-day equipping session will encourage, challenge and train you how to easily equip your church to kindle a Gospel movement! Benefits of a one-day conference include:
-Revive your passion for the Gospel
-Master the “Can We Talk?” plan and presentation
-Learn best practice methods for creating Gospel-centeredness
-Prepares you to lead “Can We Talk?” in your church
-Leverage powerful materials
-Transform your church culture
-Helps you develop a long-term strategy for reaching people
-Partner in a growing Gospel movement
To register go to https://www.oneconversation.org/upcomingevents/
Thursday, Sep 13, 2018, 09:00 AM
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Jones Lane, Texarkana, TX, USA
Administrative Team Meeting
The next Administrative Committee Meeting will be August 14, 10:00 AM, at the BBA Office. Meetings are open to participation from interested persons within the association.
BBA 2018 Partnership Celebration
Join us for the 2018 Bowie Baptist Association Partnership Celebration, with special guest Dr. Warren Haynes, director of the ADVANCE contextualized leadership program at Gateway Seminary and author of the book Discipleship Uncomplicated.
Hear how God is at work through our partnership across Bowie County and around the world!
Sunday, Oct 21, 2018, 03:30 PM
First Baptist Church, Wake Avenue, Wake Village, TX, USA
BSM Update
Bowie Baptist Association provides Baptist Student Ministry for Texarkana College and Texas A&M University Texarkana, with Bible study and activities on both campuses. If you know any students attending either campus, please pass their contact information to BBA Campus Missionary / BSM Director Heath Coston at hcoston@fbcwakevillage.org.
Churches Seeking Staff
Please continue to pray for the numerous churches in the Association that are seeking staff members.
Pastor:
- Victory City
- Midway FBC
- Maud FBC
Worship Leader:
- Hooks FBC
Pianist:
- Pleasant Grove (903-838-5558)
Youth Leader:
- Flower Acres (903-824-8412)
- Korean Mission
- Cross View - Send resume to 3268 North FM 2148, Texarkana, TX 75503, ATTN: Youth Search Committee
For more information, you may contact the respective congregations with the information provided, or contact the BBA Office.
Church Revitalization - What Can We Do?
Last month I promised to explain the shifts I believe are necessary for congregations to experience revitalization in our current ministry environment. And make no mistake. Change must occur. We follow a myth when we assume that, if we just keep doing what we’ve always done, God will suddenly bless us.
Don’t misunderstand. We must continue in those things prescribed in scripture. No compromises here. In fact, many a congregation lacks God’s blessing because they have ignored, or at least grown lax, with the basic disciplines of ministry. But fruitful ministry today requires both a recommitment to biblical principles and a fresh approach to their practice.
Which brings me to the first necessary shift for revitalization, relational discipleship. If we want to see congregations transformed into a powerful force for the gospel, we must move beyond the programmatic approach to teaching so prevalent in Southern Baptist circles and engage people through transforming relationships.
Here’s what I mean. For years Southern Baptists developed Christians through the programs of Sunday School and Discipleship Training. Beyond these there were numerous classes and certificates one could complete in their ongoing ministry development. And for a season this worked. Members, committed to the church as well as the Lord, attended these, served within them, so that even small congregations maintained fully staffed, relatively complex organizations.
How’s that working now? I don’t know a church in our association close to having every ministry role in their organization suitably filled. Most are fortunate to have Sunday School. Why? Explanations abound.
But what if, rather than nag our people to fill the old structures, we simplified our ministries with a basic, biblical disciplemaking model. I still believe Sunday School has a place. It typically marks the difference in whether one is a part of the crowd or part of the family. But beyond Sunday School, what if we engaged people in simple, small groups, meeting any time, any place, reading God’s word, holding one another accountable in life and service? Sounds a lot like D Life. What might we see? Stand by for more on this topic. Until then, tell me what you think.
Disaster Relief Update
Volunteers from BBA continue to serve through Disaster Relief. Last month several deployed in response to flooding in South Texas, and as I write we have volunteers serving in Colorado in response to ongoing wildfires.
We continue seeking funds to complete the Disaster Relief Laundry Unit. SBTC has provided the trailer. The BBA will equip, operate, and staff the unit. Several congregations have already made special gifts to purchase washer / dryer pairs, but we still need funds for two more washer/dryer units, the AC, and water heater.
Gifts may be sent to BBA, designated Disaster Relief Unit.
When we complete the Laundry Unit we expect to work toward a new trailer for the feeding unit. Our goal is a lighter unit that would allow deployment with a half-ton pickup, more redily available than the larger truck currently needed. We also need volunteers ready to deploy. If you are trained, please watch your email for deployment notifications. If you are available, please respond.
August 2018
6 Pastor's Monthly Fellowship,Pleasant Grove, 10 am
14 Administrative Team Meeting, BBA Office, 10 am
September 2018
3 Pastor’s Monthly Fellowship, Pleasant Grove, 10 am
11 Administrative Team Meeting, BBA Office, 10 am
13 "Can We Talk" Evangelism Training, Pleasant Grove Bapt, 9 am - 7 pm
18 BBA Executive Board Meeting, Cross View, 6 pm
July / Aug Friendship Center
- JULY
- Calvary
- Eylau Hills
- Flower Acres
- Hooks FBC
- Nash FBC
- Oaklawn
- Bowie County Cowboy
- Wake Village FBC
- Midway FBC
- AUGUST
- Avery FBC
- Graceway
- Liberty Hill
- Malta
- New Boston FBC
- Oak Terrace Mission
- New Oak Grove
- Simms FBC
- Regions Christian Center
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
Financial Secretary
Heath Coston
Baptist Student Minister
Related Organizations
Affiliated Organizations
Cody Howard
Mission Texarkana
Collier Scyzdloski
Lakeview Baptist Assembly
Affirmed Organizations
Sam Clem
Runnin’ WJ Ranch
Edna Walker
Hospitality Director, Telford Prison Ministry Inc.
Bowie Baptist Association
Email: jimturnbo@bowiebaptist.org
Website: www.bowiebaptist.org
Location: PO Box 7740 Texarkana, TX 75505
Phone: 903-831-0194
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bowie-Baptist-Association-226712764011425/
Twitter: @drjim1963