Colorado Baptist Association: May 2020: Vol.14, Issue 5 Logistics Center : 1515 Briar Lane; Wharton, Tx. DOM: Barry Barnet, Email: [email protected]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 !
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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.
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