Make sure you are following all our Facebook pages!

“All the Believers were together and had everything in common.” Acts 2:44

“We are a Brotherhood of Churches.” 

On Sunday, I was blessed to worship with FBC Burnet with pastor Doug Lindley, followed by visiting with new pastor James Spurgeon and his family at FBC Kempner, followed by leading the choir and attending Bible Study led by pastor Bob Ray at Fairy Baptist Church. This past week was a very busy week traveling serving multiple area churches (see our Summary of Service Chart) in ministering to church pastors and leadership. 

This

week, I will be attending a Bivocational Ministry Meeting, serving out at the

Tri-Rivers Retreat Center, meeting with several pastors and ministry

partners.  This week, we will also be sending out a mass mailout to all area churches with ministry information and opportunities.  This Sunday, I will be worshipping and preaching at FBC Llano and that evening I will be leading choir practice at Fairy Baptist Church.

This is spring break for many of our students and their families, but it is also an opportunity to share the message of Christ to those places where we travel. Many college students are being ministered to by those serving at the BSM, several churches are doing local mission trips, and some are even traveling abroad to share the message of Salvation. However, whether you are traveling close or far, we are all called to live in such a way that others are drawn to the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ by planting the seeds of Salvation. Simply put, we are called to introduce everyone to our Savior.

We

continue to provide multiple daily Ministry Resources, Pulpit Supplies, Church

Administration Assistance, Church Search Committees, Providing Background

Checks and Child Sexual Awareness Training, assisted churches in Sound/Social

Media, setting up church websites, providing Encouragement to area pastors and servant leaders while assisting in planning evangelism training and VBS

training.  



Please take time to view the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area Newsletter to remain connected to ministry needs & Resource/Training Opportunities and to

view all upcoming Ministry, Training and Fellowship Opportunities.

If you have a ministry need or request, please do not hesitate to call your

Tri-Rivers Baptist Area Office as we are here to serve you 24/7

Tri-Rivers Baptist Area is proud to announce that

Rev Bob Evaul will be serving as the new

Tri-Rivers Baptist Area Hispanic Ministry Consultant 

Bob will serve area churches who desire to make an impact among the Hispanic population while assisting our current Hispanic Churches and their leadership in reaching the communities where they serve. Pastor Bob Evaul and his wife Carola also serve Community Baptist Church in Dublin as pastor. Bob and his wife are both bilingual and have served as missionaries in many locations. 

We are also grateful for pastor Jaime Lopez for the years he served as the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area Hispanic Church Director as he is now serving in McAllen, TX. Pastor Jaime and his wife Ruth created the foundation for this ministry and now we look forward to the continued growth of this ministry with Pastor Bob and his wife Carola.  

  Hello All, I pray you all had a blessed week and have safe travels for Spring Break!

 This past Sunday I lead worship at Calvary Baptist Church then helped lead choir practice at Fairy Baptist Church for their Easter Sunday Service. Throughout the week I was in and out of the Area Office assisting churches with ministry needs.

This coming Sunday I'll be leading worship at FBC Hico. Following that I will be at Fairy Baptist Church for their Easter Choir Practice. Monday, I will be on a ZOOM Meeting with the Texas Bivocational Small Church Association.

 I am available to assist any of our area churches who need a guest preacher, worship leader, or musician, and I am available to give sound, video, and media consultations and assistance.

 We are in need of Musicians, Worship Leaders, and Local Church Missionaries to serve in our area Churches. If you feel led to serve in this area, please contact your Area Office at [email protected] or 254-865-1299.

 I am here to serve you in all your ministry needs and it is my joy to do so. I look forward to meeting you as my wife Josalyne and I travel the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area visiting and worshiping with you on Sunday's.

Talon Keeney

Tri-Rivers Associate Director

FBC Kempner

Welcomes their New Pastor

Rev. James Spurgeon and wife Terri

Do you remember your college spring breaks? It was my freshman year at Texarkana College with the Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) that I went on my first mission trip to St. Louis, MO. On that trip I got my first glimpse and feel for what it was like to do mission work. Since then, I have gone on several missions' trip and have continue to learn more about missions and the work being done. Since 1980 going to South Padre for Beach Reach is one of the places to be on spring break. College students from Texas and several other states come to share the gospel to the other college students going to South Padre for spring break. Beach Reach this year is March 4-17^th divided into two groups. Week one March 4-10^th and week two March 11-17^th. Week one has already passed and there were 128 students on the ground sharing the gospel. Week two is there now sharing the gospel. While on the island BSM students help provide free van rides for the spring breaker. During the ride conversations are started, they get to know their riders and share the gospel. Along with BSM students the Texas Baptist Men come and help provide meals for all students, police, fire departments, Beach Patrol and EMTs on the island. One of the largest meals is free pancakes at midnight. Some college students come for the pancakes and others are waiting for the free van rides. This gives the BSM students a time of fellowship and time to share the gospel with the students. During the day, they go and find where the people are and to have conversations with them. Just imagine walking on the beach God’s creation and sharing his love to the people there. As I read the prayer wall from week one there are comments to pray for A* to have someone teach him the bible back home, M just shared the truth to B’s party and our van just picked up someone pray for a great conversation. These are just a few of the comments on the prayer wall. As you read the prayer wall you can see and feel God is working in the one sharing the gospel and those who are hearing it. This week continue to pray for all who are traveling to and from South Padre and for the Lord to prepare the students and staff going to serve. Also pray for the one who are hearing the gospel that they will understand it and come to know the Lord. The website for Beach Reach Prayer wall is beachreachspi.org. On Facebook go to Beach Reach or TXBSM.

If you are interested in someone coming to talk to your church about Beach Reach, contact your local college BSM. Tarleton BSM has 36 students going to Beach Reach and would love to come and share at your church. The number for the BSM is 254-965-4179.  “And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? 

The staff of Tri-Rivers Baptist Area will be spending the week in the Burnet/Llano Baptist Association Area to Encourage and Engage, while providing on-site ministry Resources. FBC Tow has graciously agreed to allow us to set up a temporary office in their church parsonage that week as we focus on the churches in the Burnet/Llano Baptist Association. 

Please reach out to us to schedule a visit as we want this to be a time to get to know you as church leaders and as a church body while assisting in your ministry needs. 

Become a

Local Church Missionary

Serving Churches within the

Tri-Rivers Baptist Area

Serve Short Term or Long Term

Assisting a Church in reaching their Community for Jesus Christ

To Learn More & To Complete Application

Go HERE

If Your Church is Interested in hosting a

Local Church Missionary

to Serve in your Church & Community

please complete the

Church Missionary Request Form

Tri-Rivers Podcast

"PERSEVERING IN MINISTRY"

feat. Pastor Ken May and Rev. Fletcher Matandika

Tri-Rivers Podcast

"WMU Women's Build"

with Erath WMU Director Donna Trusty

Tri-Rivers Podcast

"Church Culture Engagement"

with Pastor Fletcher Matandica

Tri-Rivers Retreat Center

Supply Need Amazon Wish List

Help support your Tri-Rivers Retreat Center by purchasing supplies through our Amazon Wish List!

Washer and Dryer Need

The Tri-Rivers Retreat Center is in need of

1 washer and 1 gas (propane) dryers

Used/New

If you are interested in donating please

contact us at: [email protected] or 432-202-1526

Has your Church Scheduled a Revival for 2023?

Please let us know by emailing us the following information to [email protected] 

Name of Church 

Dates of Revival Services

Evangelist Name 

Worship Leaders Name

We are promoting all Revival Dates in the Newsletter an on the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area Website

Latham Springs Camp & Retreat Center

Invites you to join us as we celebrate our 100 Year Anniversary

Saturday, May 6th - Beginning at 9 am

Special Guests: David Hardage, Shane Pruitt, Branded Band, Tommy Horton, Branded Cross Bend, Dennis Swanberg

There will be an old fashion BBQ Lunch as well as outdoor events including Cornhole, Fishing, Frisbee Golf tournaments and Wagon Tours. 

Childcare will be available for worship.

Better Together

Networking means leveraging efforts - working together.

And "together" means all of us - youth workers, teenage leaders, teachers, parents, other adults - everyone who loves kids.

We want to equip you to step out and work alongside youth leaders and other caring adults locally - empowered by national connections to reach and equip young people for Jesus Christ.

Or you can Email Kevin Miles

South Central Regional Coordinator

Email Kevin Here

We are excited to share that our latest resource is our online learning system featuring Jesus-Focused Youth Ministry which introduces learners to six essential characteristics emulating Jesus’ ministry:

• Go deeper in intimacy with Christ
• Pray with passion for God’s presence and power
• Build leaders for in-depth and long-term ministry
• Disciple students to move toward maturity in Christ
• Penetrate the culture through relationships
• Create outreach opportunities to reach students for Christ

While we still offer in-person training forums, we believe the addition of individualized online training will put this invaluable resource into the hands of many more people. Because we offer the training in English, Spanish, Russian, and Swahili, it will exponentially increase our reach. 

We are building on our past to influence the future. And we are giving JFYMO away free to youth leaders during our introductory period. You can learn more by visiting JFYMO.com. 

Pastors Join Today

This private Facebook group is created for those serving as Pastors only within the Tri-Rivers Baptist Area. This private group is a safe place for Pastors to share prayer concerns, victories and resources with fellow Pastors. On the 10th day of each month, we are asking each pastor to pray for one another.

This Pastors Only Facebook Page was created by

Pastors for Pastors.

We are a Brotherhood of Pastors.

Join Us Today

Church Registration for On-Site Active Shooter Response Class 

Tri-Rivers Baptist Area will offer free Certified On-Site Active Shooter Response Class. Bob Ray III is Texas DPS Certified in Active Shooter Response. He is available through your Tri-Rivers Area Office to educate your church safety/security team and congregation. There is no cost to your church.

Register your church for the Active Shooter Response Class opportunity by calling your Area Office or Register On-line Below

 (254) 865-1299 * [email protected] 

Start your training by enrolling in an online class below:

Disaster Relief Orientation

This is where TBM Disaster Relief training begins. All TBM Disaster Relief volunteers must complete this training as well as a background check in order to serve. This class provides the fundamentals for serving in the wake of disasters. Click here to begin.

All participants must have first taken the orientation class.

Food Handling Training

A warm meal warms the soul after a disaster. You can provide that critical meal through TBM feeding teams. Click here to begin.

Fire and Flood Recovery Training

Fires and floods can ruin everything a person owns in a few short hours. Learn how you can deliver help, hope and healing after these disasters. 

Click here to begin.

Box Unit Training

When people lose everything in a disaster, they will begin the painful process of trying to salvage their items. Through TBM box ministry, you can walk alongside them in that process. Click here to begin.

Shower/Laundry Training

After a disaster, a hot shower and clean laundry are an immense blessing. You can provide that through TBM shower/laundry teams. Click here to begin.

Rebuild Training

This course empowers you to rebuild homes after disasters. 

Click here to begin.

A class for basic chainsaw has been scheduled in our area for April 22^nd.

If you are interested in working with TBM on a local chainsaw team please go out to TBMTX.ORG and register for the class. It is listed among several other chainsaw classes being taught across Texas so be sure to choose the Basic Chainsaw Training: Marble Falls course lest you accidently sign up for a class taught halfway across the state.



All volunteers are required to have background checks and credentials before taking one of the specialty classes. The DR Orientation class is also a prerequisite. Both can be completed online in the online training section. If you have any questions on how to find these courses on the TBM website, call me.

At this Marble Falls chainsaw training you will meet other TBM volunteers from our area that are interested in helping our churches and communities with chainsaw work produced by windstorms and more recently, ice storms.

Several of their spouses will be in attendance, not so much for the training but for the fellowship. Y’all should feel free to bring your significant other. If the spouse is not going to work on the chainsaw team dragging brush or cutting they do not have to register for the class but simply let me know they are coming so I can get an accurate meal count for lunches.

I would be encouraged if you share this opportunity with your church to take advantage of this training event. It is a small but important step in preparing your church to reach out to your community impacted by a disaster.

Blessings

Paul Henry

TBM

Central Texas West Area Coordinator

509-630-8443

Make plans to join the Discipleship team in Belton this May for the Discipleship Leaders Retreat!

Mark Matlock of Barna Group will walk attendees through relating well across generations and challenge leaders with new insights into reaching the “spiritually curious” in our communities.

There's also a scholarship opportunity! Learn more here: https://www.texasbaptists.org/events/texas-baptist-discipleship-leaders-retreat

To view the list of Bible Studies Available at your Area Office, go to our website tri-riversbaptistarea.com or click Here

Tri-Rivers Baptist Area is partnering with Restoration Advocates, Inc. as we continue to minister to victims of Domestic Violence. 

Restoration Advocates exists to provide the care and support necessary for women, and their dependent children, who are victims of domestic violence and other dangers that place them at risk of life or physical harm and/or deprive them of their overall safety and sense of well-being. Our mission is for every woman in an unsafe home to have the confidence, as well as the resources, to independently support herself and her children.  

To that end, we have established a safe haven called Restoration Place, where survivors of family violence can live in safety as they restore their lives to health and happiness. Restoration Place provides emergency housing for women and children in crisis, and we also offer transitional housing for a period of up to two years if that is needed for the family to be fully independent and self-supporting. Learn More HERE 

Dear friend and Associational Leader,

Dear friend and representative of your Baptist Association, 

I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Oliver R. Martinez, and I am the new Recruiter for the Hispanic Theological Education Program at the B.H. Carroll Theological Institute. If you are interested in learning more about our online Spanish courses, you can visit our website at the following address: bhcarroll.edu/espanol. The great advantage of our Spanish courses is that you can continue serving God in your ministerial context while studying in our Seminary. Besides, our Hispanic Theological Education is totally affordable, accessible, accredited, and achievable! We would love for you to be part of our great B.H. Carroll Family! 

I have copied in this email Dr. Adlín Cotto, the Director of the Master's Degree Programs and Hispanic Studies, who will also be more than willing to clarify any doubts or answer any questions you may have about our Spanish courses.

Without any further comments, I say goodbye, but not before making myself available to assist you in any way that I can. I would love to connect with you, and share about the great things God is doing at B.H. Carroll. I hope to hear from you soon! 

Respectully,

Querido amigo y representante de su Asociación Bautista:

Quisiera tomar un momento para presentarme. Mi nombre es Oliver R. Martínez, y soy el nuevo Reclutador del Programa Hispano de Educación Teológica de B.H. Carroll Theological Institute. Si usted está interesado en conocer más acerca de nuestros cursos en español en línea, puede visitar nuestro sitio web en la siguiente dirección: bhcarroll.edu/espanol. La gran ventaja de nuestros cursos en español es que usted puede continuar sirviendo a Dios en su contexto ministerial, mientras estudia en nuestro Seminario.  Además, ¡nuestra educación teológica en español es totalmente asequible, accesible, acreditada y alcanzable! Nos encantaría que usted pudiera ser parte de nuestra gran familia de B.H. Carroll. 

He copiado en este email a la Dra. Adlín Cotto, Directora de los Programas de Maestría y Estudios en Español, quien también estará más que dispuesta para aclarar cualquier duda, o para responder a cualquier pregunta que usted pudiera tener acerca de nuestros cursos en español.

Sin más por el momento, me despido, no sin antes ponerme a su disposición para cualquier cosa en la que yo pudiera ayudarle. Me encantaría conectarme con usted y compartir las grandes cosas que Dios está haciendo en B.H. Carroll. Espero escuchar pronto de usted. 

Respetuosamente, 

 Oliver R. MartínezRecruiter for the Hispanic Theological Education Program

email[email protected]phone817.807.3988webbhcarroll.edu

6500 N. Belt Line Rd, Suite 170

Irving, TX 75063



Tri-Rivers Baptist Area Churches

&

Surrounding Area Churches

Seeking Pastors & Ministry Staff

View Church Profile and Submit Resume

HERE

Granite Mountain Baptist Church

500 FM 1980

Marble Falls, TX 78654

Seeking Part-Time Worship Leader

If Interested contact Pastor Les Reed at [email protected]

Cherokee Baptist Church is looking for a motivated and energetic person to lead our church in Worship as our part-time music minister.  

Cherokee is on State Highway 16 between San Saba and Llano.  We are a small congregation, running around 50-60 in Sunday School and 75-100 in worship.  We utilize a traditional worship style, primarily singing hymns, while blending in more contemporary worship music. We have projectors/screens/worship presentation software that are used in worship every Sunday morning.

We have a seasoned AV & sound tech team, so expertise in AV & sound equipment is not required but is a plus. We are blessed with musical talent on the piano, so playing piano (or any instrument) is not required, but is a plus. The salary is $250 per Sunday, plus $50 for travel expenses.

Interested and motivated applicants may submit a résumé to:

Cherokee Baptist Church

P.O. Box 117

Cherokee, TX 76832

[email protected]

Cross Bearer Baptist Church is in need of a piano player. For more information contact Bro. Fisher

[email protected]

254-462-7865

Oakalla Baptist Church is looking for a pianist for their Sunday Services.

They are willing to pay a honorarium.

If you are interested please contact Bro. Clay Cole:

[email protected] or (254) 681-7397

FBC Gustine 

Looking for a part-time youth minister

Contact Pastor Emmanuel Jimenez for more information

325-500-5678

[email protected]

Cabin Creek Baptist Church, Lamar Arkansas Seeking Pastor

We're Cabin Creek Baptist; a very small church in a tiny town. The population of our town of Lamar, Arkansas is about 1,000. We are one of two SBC churches (ours was formed after a split 40 years ago.) We have been declining in membership for the past several years, for various reasons. 

However, right now there's a good spirit of unity among the remaining members (we usually run about 25 - 30 on Sunday mornings.) We have had an interim pastor since last August. He's a very Godly man, and has helped us tremendously. We're soon (after next week) going to start a study of Mark Clifton's book, "Reclaiming Glory". We're ready! We've had several outreach efforts within the past year, trying to connect with the community. We live in a very low income area. 

Our property is completely debt-free. We have a lovely worship center and a large Family Life Center which is a perfect location for reaching the community. The members who are left are in harmony and wanting to do whatever it takes to reach the lost around us. We just need a leader who has a burden for the lost and a passion for making disciples! 

Send Resume to:

Sharon Wheeler

479-970-5819 (mobile)

[email protected]

210 South Rogers Street

Clarksville AR 72830

(Not actual picture)

Selden Baptist Church has a 1960s Hammond Organ available. 

It has a single locking base and full keyboard. 

Contact Milton at 254-386-7966

Tri-Rivers Baptist Area

950 CR 227, Hico, TX | 254.865.1299

[email protected]