Colorado Baptist Association:

May 2020: Vol.14, Issue 5

Logistics Center : 1515 Briar Lane;

Wharton, Tx.

DOM: Barry Barnet,

Email: bdbarnet2017@gmail.com

Cell: 903-227-9019

Skype: bdbarnet2017

Website: www.coloradoba.org

Facebook: Colorado Baptist Association Texas Coastal Plains

Table of Contents: May 2020 Newsletter :

Financial Report and contact information ...pg.1

Gov. Abbott’s Health Protocols for Churches

including Executice Order & Church guidelines

( Churches are ESSENTIAL ! ) ………. pgs. 2-5

2020 CBA Staff & Spouses Retreat …… Page 6

Prayer Requests ………………..…..……. Page 7

Barry’s Reflections …………….... Pages 8-10

Men’s Ministry ………...…………… Page 11

Life’s Celebrations ………...…….. . Page12

Biblical Associational Roots ………… Page 13

Block Party Trailer Ministry …. … Pages 14-16

Pastorless CBA Churches …………….. Page 17

Barry’s MARCH: Food 4 Thought …… Page 18

Frelsburg NEWS ! …………………… Page 19

ATTENTION: Youth Ministry Opportunity in

Frelsburg. June 1-5 . VBS SOS Squad.

Barry’s Thoughts for April …………. Page 20

Barry’s Thoughts for May …..……… Page 21

——————————————————————

Ministry Projects in CBA:

- Frelsburg: June 1-5: Youth help in VBS Music!

- VBS Volunteer Squad at FBC Matagorda

- Ebenezer Bapt., Bay City : Building Maintaince

Fix-Up & Keep Up ; short 1 day Projects.

UPCOMING EVENTS: May 2020

We hope to offer postponed CBA events

later in 2020. ——————————————————

May 30th : Hispanic Workshop

Multiplying Leaders in the Church:

9 am. till Noon. Alpha y Omega Iglesia

El Campo, Tx. Free Training !

———————————————-

COVID –19 Corona Virus

Health and Church Protocol Updates:

CHURCHES are ESSENTIAL !

COVID 19 Gov. Abbott’s Exec. Order

Updates and information for churches

and pastors pages: 2-5

effective May 1st Good News !!!!!

————————————————

Need some encouragement ?

Messages of Hope on CBA Face Book

Online weekly Video Messages at

Colorado Baptist Association Texas

Coastal Plains ( Face Book )

CBA Financial Report and Update for 2020

2020 Yearly Budget: $109,003.84

Monthly average needed: $9,083.65

Received in April: $6,834.27 Shortfall: $2,249.41

Thank you for your support & contributions !

SHOPPING AT HEB & WALMART DURING COVID 19 Virus !

Gov. Abbott considers Churches as Essential with Health Guidelines and Protocols: by John Litzler on April 28, 2020 in news : BGCT Information Flash On Monday, April 27, Governor Greg Abbott announced that he will allow Executive Order GA-16 (the old EO) to expire, as scheduled, at the end of the month. It will be replaced with Executive Order GA-18 (the new EO). The new EO will take effect beginning May 1. Under the new EO, Texas will enter “Phase 1” of reopening businesses across the state. If all goes well, Texas will be able to move into “Phase 2” of reopening the Texas economy as early as May 18. Under the new EO, retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls may reopen beginning this Friday. Libraries, museums, and outdoor sports will be open on a limited basis. Additionally, “reopening services” are restricted to 25% occupancy at any particular time. Gov. Abbott said maximum occupancy for reopening busi-nesses will be increased to 50% occupancy when Phase 2 begins. In counties with fewer than five cases of COVID-19, as reported in compliance with the standards of the Texas Department of State Health Services, reopening services in Phase 1 will be allowed to have 50% occupancy. Gov. Abbott says this will apply to half of the counties in Texas. However, under the new EO, barbershops, hair salons, and gyms will remain closed. Abbott hopes to reopen these businesses in Phase 2 and is optimistic Phase 2 can begin in mid-May. The new EO also specifically mentions houses of worship. Churches are still defined as “essential services” and are allowed to remain open under the new EO. Along with the new EO, Gov. Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have released updated “Guidance for Houses of Worship as Texas Reopens.” Click here to view. Because churches are “essential businesses” not “reopened businesses” under the new EO, they are not re-quired to follow any occupancy guidelines and are not subject to any occupancy restrictions. However, the Minimum Standard Health Protocols recommend churches, “alternate rows between attendees (every other row left empty)” and “keep at least two empty seats (or six feet of separation)” between people not in the same household on either side. The practical result of following these recommendations is a drastic reduction on the maximum occupancy during a worship service. The new EO does not address camps. Gov. Abbott said his strike force is still working on plans to reopen summer camps. At the moment, church camps in Texas are still closed. The new EO will supersede any local orders. This means even if a church is located in a county or city with a more restrictive EO, the Governors’ EO is the controlling law. This is good news for churches as it provides statewide clarity. If the Governor had simply allowed the old EO to expire without replacing it with a new EO, Texas would be left with a “piecemeal” approach where churches in different cities would be operating under different rules. The recommendations and rights for churches in the new EO means that standards remain uniform across the State of Texas. Gov. Abbott also emphasized that although certain businesses may be authorized to reopen under Phase 1, businesses are certainly not required to open. Some churches may still choose not to have in-person gather-ings for a few more weeks in order to take the steps necessary to meet Minimum Standard Health Protocols for churches. The intent of this article is to help church staff and church leaders understand how the new EO taking effect May 1 will be applied to churches in Texas, and to help churches understand their rights under the law. This article does not offer an opinion as to whether a church should return to in-person services. As the “Guideline for Houses of Worship” says, “houses of worship should conduct as many of their activities as possible remotely.” From a legal perspective, when and how a church in Texas returns to in-person gatherings is the decision of that individual congregation. Churches should prayerfully consider if the permissible action is also the right action. Attorney John Litzler directs the church law division of Christian Unity Ministries in San Antonio. He also serves as a BGCT legal consultant to assist Texas Baptist churches in understanding various legal issues. Disclaimer: This article provides general information and a general understanding of the law and does not constitute specific legal advice. By utilizing the Texas Baptist website, you understand that there is no attor-ney/client relationship between you/your church and the author or between you/your church and the Bap-tist General Convention of Texas. This article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state with the specifics of your situation.

2020 CBA Spring Pastors & Staff and Spouses Retreat

Prayer Requests and Praises:

Praise the Lord for growing our churches and ministries during the Corona Virus outbreak. Our churches are reporting growth

not decline as they seek to minister creatively and innovatively outside of their church walls. God is at work ! Join the winning side !

Pray for all our CBA pastors and churches as they seek to creatively minister in their local areas during the COVID-19 Virus

outbreak. Pray for the health of our pastors and their families during this time. Pray for the many members of our CBA churches

who may be especially vulnerable to the virus due to age, or health problems that they are facing.

Pray for Gary Henneke as he will be retiring from pastoring at Frelsburg Baptist church. He has done a wonderful job there, and

has seen God working in and through his congregation there. The church has under gone a renovation and revival as they studied

through the Experiencing God study series recently. He will continue to serve throughout 2020, while the church forms its pastoral

leadership search team and transitions through this time.

Pray for Frelsburg church as they beging the process of prayerfully selecting and forming their pastoral search team. Pray for God

to direct and give His counsel to those members as they serve, and guide them with all spiritual maturity and wisdom in the search

for their future pastor.

Pray for FBC Louise, and Frelsburg Baptist church as they prayerfully seek for their next pastors and families to go forward with

God’s next chapter of ministry in their churches and local areas. Pray for their pastoral search teams to be guided by the Holy

Spirit in their search for their next pastors.

Pray for Pastor Ernesto at Living Water as he continues to serve there as pastor. They will be postponing surgery until after May

now due to the COVID-19 Virus problems. Continue to pray for Martina during this time of preparation for the upcoming surgery.

God has revealed His will to Ernesto as he cannot return to Mexico due to COVID-19

restrictions.

* Answer to Prayer: Living Water is growing during the Virus Outbreak ! Since they are so small legally they have

continued to meet and the church has miraculously grown by over 50% . They have had a family join and they want to

serve. They have gone from 9 to 19 on Weds. Night. Ernesto is looking at splitting the group into 2 small group Bible

studies on Weds. nights now, alternating meeting times to keep their numbers under 10. He is having growing

problems ! PTL ! Ernesto is being creative and innovative while remaining legal under the law and following the

leadership of the Holy Spirit in order to minister creatively to his growing congregation. PTL !

GOD is still in CONTROL !!! Pray for Pastor Ernesto, Marta, and his church as they minister in Ganado !

Pray for Primera Iglesia Bautista in Wharton as the church transitions through this time of leadership transition and new

growth.Pray for the Holy Spirit to be directing and guiding Primera, Wharton as they seek God’s direction and will for the future.

Pray for Gilberto Garza and Brother Roy Sañazar as they lead out pastorally and lead the worship service. The church us basically

starting over, rebuilding and reconnecting with their neighborhood ministerially. Pray for them to continue to grow in service and

reaching out to their community.

Pray for our new CBA pastors as they begin their pastoral

ministry in CBA. : Rev Russell Rose at Carancahua Chapel at

Schicke Point; Kenneth Hibbs at College Heights, Wharton;

and Joel Usher at Glidden Baptist church. Welcome aboard !!!!

Pray for Church Revitalization to take place in our CBA

churches and for our churches to venture outside their church

buildings to minister and to make disciples in new creative ways.

Praise the Lord for His healing presence and power and your prayers

for James Collins as he is out of the hospital and doing well. Pray for

God´s healing touch and presence to be with James and his family

during this time of healing and restoration.

Pray for our CBA pastors and churches to be creative and

innovative in ministry during the COVID-19 Virus outbreak.

Pray for them as they learn to use new technolgies and formats

to communicate the Gospel in their areas.

Pray for God to form more small group Bible studies in our CBA

area and churches in order to communicate the Gospel..

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

I wanted to thank you for your prayers and intercession for my mother as she was nearing

the end of her time in this world. The Lord answered our prayers as she peacefully passed from

this life into the glorious presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I believe in keeping

with God’s Word and promises that she is alive, well, and rejoicing as she worships her Lord

and Savior Jesus Christ, lovingly adoring and serving Him for eternity along with all the faith-

ful believers who have preceded her. In Revelation 21-22 the Apostle John wrote describing

his victorious vision of Heaven. In believe that she is not suffering pain nor fear, she is alive

and well in a place where there is no sorrow, fear, dread, pain, darkness, and especially no sin

with its corruption and consequences.

My family and I, we miss her, and our hearts are pained at her loss, and we are grieving, but

not like those who have no hope of a future eternal life. Paul says it in this way “ …. We

grieve, but we grieve in and with hope in Jesus Christ and the promises God has shared with us

that this life is not the end of all existence. We do not grieve like those who have choosen to

reject God’s grace, and plan of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Personally, all of us would be in the worst of situations and crisis if we did not have the prom-

ises from God’s Word to give us hope of eternal life and a new glorious existence in His pres-

ence and glory with a new glorious body made for us by God to live in for eternity, a perfect

body liberated from the ravages and consequences of sin in this fallen sinful world. So let us

encourage our faith, and our souls by briefly feeding our souls upon the rapture of Heaven:

Barry Barnet, DOM

Rev. 21-22 Heaven is …..

Glorious and magnificent, beyond our expectation, and description of beauty, awesome

New and fresh, joyful, New Creation, New Heaven, New Earth, New existence, New body

Full of light provided by God Himself, no darkness, no night, a joy to behold

Spiritual and eternal, never ending, clean and free from sin and its consequences

Joyful and worshipful, full of praise to God, a place of eternal adoration, & thanksgiving

Active & purposeful, the saints are not asleep / bored, but actively praising & serving God

Victorious, death has been overcome and defeated by Jesus’ sacrifice & resurrection

No sorrow, no grief, no tears, a place of rejoicing and celebration

No pain, no suffering, no torment

Faith and hope in Jesus Christ becoming reality in His presence, new reality

A reward & gift of personal faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings

A place of release and relief from the torment and injustices of this fallen world

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Baptists’ Theological Distinctives & Beliefs: Why are we Baptists ? On October 31st Martin Luther shared his 95 point thesis on needed Catholic Church reforms. This is im-

portant since he was a Catholic priest and professor that had his life transformed radically as he experienced a

near death experience. During this period in his life he was teaching the book of Romans. As he taught it and

expounded upon the scriptures his own life was touched and transformed and he began to seek spiritual

reformation in the Catholic Church. His efforts were rebuffed by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, and he

was persecuted for his beliefs and reformation efforts. However, he set in motion the Protestant reformation

movement which would impact the world, and return the Bible back into the hands of the laity, and focus back

on the basics of Christianity. What does it mean to be a Protestant? These are five of the major

teachings of the reformers by which they distinguished their beliefs from those of the Roman

Catholic church of their day. As Baptists these theological points formed who we are today.

1. Sola Scriptura – “The Bible alone.” Scripture alone speaks authoritatively, and it speaks to all

believers, independently of church leaders and councils, human interpreters and so-called spokes-

men for God.

2. Sola Gratia – “Grace alone.” It is only by the unmerited favor of God that Christ went to the

cross and paid the price for man’s salvation. Man is by nature depraved—he has no virtue that

commends him to God. Therefore God’s grace to him is truly undeserved and amazing, and God’s

grace alone has the power to draw people to himself.

3. Sola Fide – “Faith alone.” Only total righteousness is acceptable to God, and that is found in

Christ, not us. Man can only accept Christ’s work by placing his trust in him. Man is justified by

faith alone in the finished work of Christ, not by any works of his own.

4. Sola Christus – “Christ alone.” Salvation is accomplished by Christ alone, and mediated by

Christ alone—not by angels, saints, relics, sacraments, priests, teachers, churches, or anyone or

anything else. Christ alone was the perfect Savior, and he alone is the perfect prophet, priest and

king.

5. Soli Deo Gloria – “To God alone be glory.” God should be thanked, praised and given full

credit for his sovereign grace and spiritual and physical provision. Theology should be God-

centered, not man-centered. God should be put in his place and humans in theirs. Our efforts

should not elevate and celebrate men but God. We should bring him glory in our work, in our

homes and at play. He, not we, should be the center of all things.

Barry’s thoughts ….. We should never be ashamed to be called “ Christians” or a “ Bible

believing people ”. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, nor am I ashamed of my

Savior , who lovingly and willingly sacrificed himself for me and my sins upon the altar of

that cross in order to bring me and you, including every sinner, back to our loving and

gracious God. Be proud to be called by the name of “ Christ “ and to be counted among the

faithful few referred to as “ Bible-believing ” PTL ! It is not bad to be “ Baptist ” as we

follow in Jesus Christ’s footsteps and as we put into practice his love and obey His word.

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2020 : A New Year & A New You !!!

In 2020 you are going to hear a lot

about our CBA focus on the church.

Our training and equipping will be

focused upon building up the church

and reaching the next generations

with the Gospel. In order to reach

this generation and the next ones

coming, we must retool, refocus, and

recommit ourselves and our churches

to asking the right questions in order

to reach the lost around us, around

our churches, and in our local

communities.

In 2020 in order to impact our

local communities for Jesus Christ

we must …..

I. Refocus our churches on reach-

ing the lost at our door steps. We

must refocus on life-impacting min-

istry that reaches out to the lost and

meets their physical, emotional, and

spiritual needs in order to effectively

communicate the love of God.

II. Revitalize our local churches:

Church revitalization begins with

personal spiritual revival. We cannot

hope that our churches become revi-

talized, if we personally are not liv-

ing in obedience and faith. Our

churches will only be revitalized to

the extent that members are walking

rightly in their relationship with Je-

sus Christ as their personal Lord and

Savior.

III. Church revitalization begins

with Lay-renewal and Pastoral

leadership focusing on unity of

purpose: Reaching the lost, making

disciples, and developing leaders.

BREAKING FREE IN 2020 !

How often do you eat ? In a

day ? In a week ? a month ?

3 x’s a day, more, maybe too

much too often ? Hmm …..

My point is , “How often do

you feed yourself spiritually

from God’s Word ? ” If we fed

our soul as much as our bodies

would we be stronger and

healthier spiritually ? I believe

so.

Maybe this explains why we

are so anemic and weak

spiritually. Food for thought !

Barry

With each new year, we

usually set some new year goals

to try to achieve for the coming

year. What are your spiritual

new year resolutions for 2020 ?

- Return to your Quiet Time ?

- Read your Bible more ?

- To be more loving ?

- To be more forgiving ?

Ask God to help you achieve

your spiritual resolutions !

2020 CBA

New Year Church

Growth Resolutions:

1. I will re-establish my

quiet time with my

Lord through coming

back to spending

personal time in prayer

and Bible study.

2. I will reconnect with my

local church.

3. I will get involved with

serving in a ministry

within my church.

4. I will get involved with

serving in a ministry

through my local church

reaching outside my

church into my

local community.

5. I will pray for one

person with whom I can

share my faith.

6. I will seek out

opportunities to verbally

share my faith and let

others see Jesus in me.

7. I will seek out

opportunities to actively

share my Christian faith

outside my home and

family.

8. I will build up my

church in every way.

9. I will do it !

2020 New Year

Resolutions and

Challenges going

forward in 2020 !!!

“ Together in Christ Jesus we can do more than apart ! ”

Men’s Ministry Opportunities :

Men’s Prayer Breakfasts :

FBC Bay City : Men’s Prayer Breakfast—Every 1st Saturday of the month

In the Gym / Kitchen area. 7:30 am.

FBC Sargent : Men’s Prayer Group and Brotherhood : Every 2nd Saturday monthly.

7:30 am. in Fellowship Hall.

FBC Columbus : Men’s Prayer Breakfast

7 am. Every Tuesday AM. in the Main Bldg. Kitchen area.

Local Mission Service Projects in CBA :

Ebenezer Baptist Church: painting and carpentry

jobs. Tear down of old building. Great short—term

men’s ministry projects in our local area.

Consult w/ Rev. LV Harvey…..or Barry.

Student Work: Wharton Jr. College Campus, :

Student Ministry and Prayer Coordinator to develop

student ministry new work on campus. Both

Bay City and Wharton Campuses.

TIPS for serving locally :

Ask your local pastor how you can help around your

church !!! What needs to be done.

Find a Community Project or Food Bank in your

local area and volunteer to serve & meet that need.

Search out church widows and those needing help in your neighborhood and lend a hand.

Drive a widow to her doctor’s appointment and help the shut-ins by visiting with them.

See a need then meet that need !

Adopt a shut-in neighbor and volunteer to do shopping for them and bring it to their door

during the COVID 19 Virus for those shut in by it.

Volunteer to mow a neighbor’s lawn for them. It will really open their eyes and shut their

mouths !!! Do a good deed for your neighbors !!!!

Celebrating Life´s Big Moments with you !

MAY 2020 :

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2 Shirley Harper, pastor’s wife, FBC Matagorda

5 Kenneth Hibbs, pastor, College Heights, Wharton

8 Linda Barnet, DOM’s wife

9 Mei-Ling Melton, pastor’s wife,

Magnet Baptist Church, Magnet

10 Tony Wishert, pastor, FBC Wharton

24 Michael Moore, pastor, Pilgrim Rest El Campo

26 Mary Garcia, pastor’s wife, Primera, Louise

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

5 Damon & Saunceré Rambo, pastor, FBC Markham

8 James & Lori Ann Collins, associate pastor/music minister, FBC Palacios

18 Mike & Judy Patterson, pastor, Cedar Lane

23 Mario & Dee Vasquez, pastor, Gethsemani, Eagle Lake

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

1990 Mike Zimmerman, pastor, FBC, Bay City

2017 Howard Harper, pastor, FBC Matagorda

Where did “ associations ” come from ?

Where did the idea of associations come from ? Who invented them ? Are they

biblical ? In the Bible, we find the reality of the early church and Christians who

actually formed the idea of the association starting in the book of Acts and going through the New Testament

books of Paul, Peter, James, there is amble source material supporting and justifying the association as a

strategic tool and reality. As Paul wrote in his writings, he repeatedly referred to a network of fellow servants,

evangelists, pastors, apostles, and unnamed Christian supporters and workers throughout the area of his

missionary journeys throughout Europe, and Asia. Without his network of fellow believers, servants, and

ministers he would have been severely handicapped and limited in his ministry. He would not have reached as

far as he did planting churches and discipling new believers without the assistance and support of his fellow

believers and ministers. He had his association / network of churches that he supported, and who supported

him in his ministry. The association started as a team effort existing and forged between the Christian

churches, and their leaders. Paul needed their prayer, emotional and spiritual support as well as their financial

support to allow him to continue serving the churches, preaching, teaching, and discipling new believers, as

well as developing new leadership to carry the Christian faith forward into the future. Paul’s association was

predominantly established among the Gentile areas, the Greek and Roman people, even reaching into what is

considered Europe today. The churches needed the vision, drive, and strategy of the Apostles to knit these new

churches together with a common bond of ministry, missions, and fellowship.

Peter and James in their writings indicate the existence of their own associations. Their ministries and

associations tended to be more focused among reaching the Jewish people, and revealing to them their Messiah

from the Old Testament and how Jesus Christ is that Messiah sent from God in fulfillment of their own

prophecies. We find within the various writings of Peter and James many references to the existing networks

between believers, churches, and their own missionary endeavors, which would form our modern day

associations. The Apostles had clearly developed their own ministry based networks and fellowships among

themselves, their new believers, and the churches that they had planted.

So we can see from reading the book of Acts, and all through the New Testament that these spiritual

networks were in existence and flourishing. They were vital for sharing the faith, for supporting evangelists

and missionaries as they went out to proclaim the Gospel and plant new churches. They were vital for sharing

the letters of the Apostles and Paul, they were like a Christian postal service, carrying and sharing the letters of

Peter, Paul, and the other apostles between the newly planted church bodies. In this way they were

instrumental in distributing and promoting Christian discipleship and developing new leaders to serve in the

churches scattered across Asia Minor, Rome, Greece, Africa, and into the future European area. Without the

work and role of the association in the early church period, the spread of the Gospel and the growth of

Christianity would have been severely hampered and limited.

Does the association have any relevance in today’s world ? I would say definitely, “ Yes !” Why ? Because

our world is no different spiritually from the New Testament time. We as believers still need fellowship,

resources, encouragement, and we still have a lost world to guide to a saving faith and knowledge in Jesus

Christ. It is still true that we can accomplish more together for the kingdom of God than we can apart. Local

associations or church networks also provide means for practicing Biblical accountability, church discipline,

Christian community, and providing guidance and stability during times of pastoral leadership transitions in

the local churches. Associations or church networks share resources with small struggling congregations as

well in following with the example of the Jerusalem and Greek churches providing assistance during times of

scarcity, persecution, and need for many of their fellow New testament churches and believers.

From the desk of your local Director of Missions,

Barry Barnet,

God is on the move in Colorado Baptist Association !

BLOCK-PARTY TRAILER MINISTRY : VOLUNTEER TEAMS NEEDED

Honestly, we as an association must act and start training and empowering our own church

members and leaders to reach the unreached. The field is ripe unto the harvest, lost souls

abound all around us, but where are the workers? Sadly, the majority of God´s

workers are not working in the fields, but resting at the table with a full plate of food in front

of them. We sit around debating, arguing, and dissecting theological details, while we miss the

desperate cries of the lost and dying all around us. My challenge is for each church, big or

small, to recognize a man, woman, or a couple, and a youth, for the purpose of forming a

Volunteer Ministry Team from each church.

We have a new Block Party trailer ministry and we are providing training on how to use it

presently. There is some paperwork and guidelines which churches planning on using it must

complete and fill out. The trailer is being parked at FBC Ganado. Call me, Barry, to reserve it,

fill out the necessary paperwork, and arrange training on how to use it. You cannot use it

without first being trained and being orientated on it use.

We are blessed to have this resource and tool in our association, and we want to see it used

by every church accordingly to reach the lost and to build bridges into our local communities.

We had an exciting training sesión this past April, with 10 in attendance and everybody

shared many creative ideas of how it could be used in their local community and neighbor-

hoods to reach the lost and build relationships into their local areas.

We must begin focusing upon reaching our associational area for Christ Jesus and planting

new Bible study groups and church plants in our local towns and areas. We have identified at

least 3 areas for starting new work among the Hispanic populations in our association: Lane

City, Blessing, and Garwood. Plus starting student work at Wharton Jr. College.

Please call me or text me with your church´s questions and input. I will follow up on them.

Call or text me at 903-227-9019. Barry

Your association needs YOU ! God has a job for YOU ! God has a ministry for you !

God is moving in our

5 county CBA. area !

Are you up to the challenge ?

Block Party Trailer Family and Outreach Ministry

Block Party Outreach Ministry

Ganado, Tx. - Neighborhood Outreach Celebration

Pastorless Churches in CBA:

Lane City, FBC.: Bi-voc & Bi-lingual Pastor.

Bob Keptra is local pastor leading out there.

Primera Iglesia Bautista, Wharton: In Pastoral

transition

Frelsburg Baptist Church: Pastor Gary Henneke is

retiring at the end of this year.

FBC., Louise : Rick Harrison, Interim Pastor

If you have candidates and prospects for pastoral

consideration in these churches, please let

Barry Barnet know by emailing their resumes to

bdbarnet2017@gmail.com for consideration and

distribution. Thanks. Barry

CBA exist to help member churches during times of pastoral

leadership transition with resources, search committee training, and

assistance through the process of finding God’s next pastor.

We are here to serve you ! We want to serve you ! Let us know how we

can help and be of assistance to you and your church. We want to hear

from you ! Barry Barnet, Dir. of Missions, CBA.

Thank you for enabling CBA to minister, support, and

encourage our local Baptist churches, and pastors in their times of

need, and pastoral leadership transitions.

Together we can do more !

…. From the desk and Bible of Barry Barnet …. to you and your church.

March 2020: Well, it seems that we are in the middle of a pandemic plague spreading all

around the world. People are panicking and buying out all the toilet paper, and bottled water in any size, with hand sanitizer selling like hot cakes. It is interesting to me that so many peo-ple are hitting the panic button on toilet paper and bottled water. Why ? The Covid-19 virus is not an intestinal virus, so extra toilet paper is not really a necessity. The last time that I checked our water supply was safe and secure, so far there is no evidence that the virus passes through drinking water and thus contaminating it, so there is no real need for stock-piling and hoarding toilet paper nor bottled water. The hand sanitizer now that I understand. All this makes me think about 2 things , the first is why are we not so concerned or urgently seeking out the billions on earth infected with a much more serious condition called “ inherent sin “ the fact that millions die daily and have not heard the Gospel in their own language or have rejected the Gospel. We evidently have no problem with them dying and going to hell as long as we are taken care of, and we are comfortable. I am afraid that we have been inoculated or that we have inoculated ourselves spiritually and so now we are de-sensitized to the millions of lost souls that are dying and going to hell. …..oh well….. We can’t be expected to win them all….. This thought really haunts me and makes me upset. The second thought that struck me was the speed and ease with which the Covid-19 virus circulated around the world silently crossing international walls and cultural barriers without a problem. It crossed seas and continents without any obstacles or problems. I thought about this for quite a while, why dose a virus of suffering, pain, and death make its way so effortlessly around the world and we cannot stop it ? What about the Gospel seed ? What about the Gospel message ? It is so small and invisible to our eyes, and yet it too is so powerful, but in positive ways. We cannot explain the hope and encouragement, or the peace that the Gospel brings into dark and sinful lives, yet it does. It also seeks to infect mankind’s heart and soul with God’s eternal and unconditional love found in His Son Jesus Christ. The world has no problem believing in, and even panicking as an microscopic virus terrorizes their lives, jobs, and families. On the other hand, God sends His son, and seeks to redeem us to himself, and the world shrieks and runs away from God’s gracious act. The Gospel and the faith that God wants from us are so minuscule and delicate, just like a mustard seed, or better stated today, just like a microscopic virus, yet that Gospel message of salvation, forgiveness, peace, and transformation did radically change our world when it entered through & by one man, Jesus Christ. The world was forever changed and altered after His coming, His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection to glory. Oh that our faith would make such a dramatic impact on our world today for the positive, as the Covid-19 virus is for the worst. What if we got as excited about sharing our faith as we are about stocking up on toilet paper, bottled water, and hand sanitizer ! The world would again be transformed and God’s kingdom extended here as well as in heaven. I. Corinthians 15:27 till the end of that chapter speaks about how sin entered into this world through one man, Adam, but salvation has entered our world as well through one man, Jesus Christ the Messiah. Let’s hope and pray that we can make as big an impact as the Covid-19 virus in the lives of our neighbors, families, and fellow workers for the positive and for the extension of God’s kingdom in their hearts. Food for thought, Barry Barnet, DOM of CBA

News from Frelsburg Baptist Church

Pastored by Rev. Gary Henneke

979-733-7134

Email: frelsburgbaptist32@yahoo.com

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ministry Opportunity

Frelsburg VBS

June 1—5th, 2020

5:30 pm.— 8 pm.

Frelsburg needs help with their VBS this year.

They need 2-3 Youth, a small youth group,

to lead out in the Musical aspect of their VBS.

Can your church youth help out ?

The Youth will have host families and homes

Available for them to stay with during this week

of VBS at Frelsburg.

Usually VBS attendance is about 14 kids.

Wanted:

Energetic & Musically gifted Youth to do

Interactive VBS Songs with the kids.

…. From Barry’s desk to your’s …..

Well, we have passed a month more or less under the new

social distancing guidelines and restrictions for the protection of the pub-

lic’s health and to limit the spread of the COVID-19 Virus outbreak. Our

world looks a lot different today than a month ago. Our stores have

survived many runs on them for toilet paper, hand sanitizer, water, meat,

eggs, milk, and etc…

We all will have friends, loved ones, neighbors, church members, family,

and ministries that will be impacted by the COVID-19 virus, and the worst

is yet to come as it peaks in the near future. At least we have a month of experience to look back over

and review.

I wanted to share with you what I have observed and learned from the past month of living under the

threat of COVID-19 and what I have learned along the way. God has reminded me of these spiritual

truths and principles from His Word:

1. Life is fragile and delicate. God’s Word teaches that life is to be protected, preserved,

valued, respected, and it is a gift from God. The world has never experienced an epidemic on such a

grand scale that erupted and spread across the world so fast and so powerfully. God has reminded me

that life is precious and to be lived focused upon Him.

2. We live in a fallen world under the consequences of man’s sinful choices from the very beginning of

creation as Adam and Eve willfully chose to disobey God and thus sin entered into this world and

corrupted God’s beautiful and good creation. Suffering entered into our existence and tainted God’s

beautiful and innocent creation. Pain, disease, and suffering are now part of the world that we live

within.

3. No one receives a “ Get out of jail free ” card in this world. Thanks to Monopoly we all know about

the “ get out of jail free ” card. COVID-19 has reminded ALL of us that pain, suffering, and death im-

pacts EVERY life around the world, no matter how rich you are, how beautiful you are, or how un-

touchable you may think that you are, or how religious you think that you are. No one is immune to the

consequences of sin in our fallen world. We cannot dismiss this reality and COVID-19 has shaken every-

body to their soul around the world, no is immune to the reality of death.

4. Ministry & Missions has to be creative, and innovative today if we hope to meet needs & communi-

cate the Gospel. We have to think outside of our traditional box. We will have to take risks like never

before, and we will have to dare to break out of our established ways of doing things. Be creative !!!

Drive-In Church services are looking like a great idea right now. Where are all those great Drive-Ins

that we used to bring the family to enjoy a family night out. Radio ministry is looking good again. We

have to learn to use new technologies to communicate the Gospel like never before as well. Dare to fail !

Small groups are the fad now ! Person to person Ministry, neighbors

caring for shut-in neighbors ! Old is new !

5. God is Faithful, constant, never-changing, and His

message speaks even louder today than a month ago.

God’s Word and Promises are never changing. We can

count on them . Remember, God is still in CONTROL !

Hebrews 13:5b - “ (God) I will never leave you, or

forsake you. The Lord is my helper; I will not be

afraid.”

Extra Reading: Isaiah 43: Speaking to Israel, but also to

us today as His people. God is with His people !

May 2020 … Thoughts From the desk of Barry to you …

April has seemed like an endless month as we sought to stay safe and work at / from home. Some of you

were juggling teaching your children at home and working from home at the same time. WOW ! Kudos to you

all. Some of you have suffered from “ cabin fever “ just itching to get out. Some of you completed every

“ Honey Do “ item on your wife’s list from the past 10 years, Kudos to you all as well. It seems that the worst

has past for now, and we are slowly emerging from our homes to enter into the sunny world again around us.

We are ready to return to a more normal format of working, traveling, and shopping as before more or less.

In light of this hope to return to the norm as before, which we will not be able to do completely, I would

like to share what God has been doing during this outbreak among our churches, and ask you to think about

what God has shown and taught you and your church through this epidemic and quarantine time.

First of all, as I was calling our pastors and seeking to hear from them about their ministries, I was surprised.

I was amazed to hear from them exciting testimonies of how God was at work in their community, church, and

members producing positive results. Our churches and pastors were guided by God to become creative and

innovative in their ministries and proclamation of the Gospel outside of the walls of the churches. Remember,

my goal and motto for 2020 for our association was to move the church outside its walls to creatively minister

in our local communities. Wow ! God has really put our churches and us in situations and crisis that have

forced us outside our comfort zones and into thinking “ outside our box of comfort, tradition, and “ we have

never done it that way before “ mentality. We all have been pushed to our limits and outer edges, going where

no minister has gone before…. and into the world of technology and online communication media. ( Scream of

utter terror like in a Hitchcock movie !!!! ) Many of us have crossed over to the twilight zone of technology

and online media streaming for the first time. Good for you !

Many of our particularly small rural churches have reported exponential growth never experienced before,

so I am glad to testify that God is in control, and working out His plan and purpose to communicate His

Gospel of eternal hope and salvation in ways we never considered before. Many churches started having

“ Drive-In Movie style worship in their parking lots, coming back to the old school strategy from God’s Word

of using small groups again for Bible study, using online media for streaming and recording messages to

broadcast them online to members and non-members, many have found a new opportunity to minister to

people around their churches as they come out on their porches to listen to the music and message being shared

to members in their cars, ...etc….The kingdom of God is growing even as we pass through the valley of Covid

19. I am reminded through Ps. 23 and Romans 8:28 that God is always with us even as we pass through the

valley of the shadow of death, and that God is working, forming, and molding all things that we suffer to have

a positive outcome of growing our faith and bringing us into a closer trust, dependence, and reliance upon His

presence, peace, and resources. One good result of Covid 19 has been a renewed vision on how delicate life is,

and how we need to refocus our lives upon Him as never before. We all have been forced to reconnect with

our families, and loved ones in new ways, coming back to the basics of life again.

What have you and your church learned during this time ? What will you continue doing in the future ?

1. We have a new appreciation for being able to meet with our fellow believers and members in the church

building or in groups. We do not want to forsake the gathering of ourselves together, we miss personal

fellowship like never before. When can we get together ? Churches are ESSENTIAL !

2. We have learned new ways of communicating the Gospel outside the church, beyond the church walls,

through the use of internet technology, via Face Book, You Tube, Zoom, and etc… Hopefully we do not

abandon these in the future, but expand our use of them as effective outreach and ministry to our areas.

3. Small is the new “ big idea “ . Small groups work even in the midst of government protocols. What an old

school Biblical strategy applied out of necessity.

4. Technology is not to be feared, but embraced as a tool to spread the Gospel beyond our churches to the

world around us locally and internationally.

5. Effective Social ministries come from seeing the needs of others around us and stepping up to meet those

needs… food banks, shopping for shut-ins, sharing technology and helpful tips, sharing toilet paper,…..

6. Share with me / others what God has taught you and your church through this Covid 19 Virus crisis ! BB.