Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I officially started as Director of Missions for FRBA back in February of 2018. I have been serving now for almost a year and a half. How time flies. What I want to share with you in this newsletter are some of the goals and activities I have been involved with since I began serving as your Director of Missions (DOM).
Since I had never served in this kind of ministry, I needed training. I attended several DOM retreats/conferences here in Texas as well as one with the NAMB in Georgia and earlier this year I attended one sponsored by the BGCT in Washington, D.C.. I have also attended major annual meetings with the SBTC and the BGCT as well as the SBC Meeting in Dallas last year. Most recently, I attended part of the Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas in McAllen. I will continue to attend these meetings when offered, as there is still a lot to learn in serving the churches.
I have made it a personal goal to visit one-on-one with the pastors in our association. To date I have made 25 of those visits. We are blessed with pastors who come from different backgrounds and experiences and who serve so faithfully to what God has called them to. My desire is to encourage each of the pastors as they walk through the journey God has called them to.
Of the 50 churches and missions in the association, I have brought the Sunday morning sermon to 19 churches. I have preached at a few of those churches multiple times. I always count it a blessing to be able to help serve our churches in this manner. At each church I come to meet more and more of our FRBA family. My family and I are members at FBC Pearsall, but one of my challenges is wanting to visit each one of the churches in FRBA while also being a good and involved member at my home church. I have not accomplished that yet, but I will do the best I can. Some Sunday you may see me visiting at your church.
When I was pastor at FBC Cotulla, I met monthly with the pastors in the churches in the southern part of our association. We enjoyed a simple fellowship over breakfast, then sharing and praying with each other in the churches that hosted us each month. This southern group was very active, however, the northern and eastern churches had nothing similar being offered. Now, pastors in those areas are also meeting once a month, fellowshipping and sharing and praying together. What a blessing!
A new goal I set for myself for this summer was to visit as many Vacation Bible Schools as possible. Now that is a challenge, as many churches have their VBS on the same dates and at the same times. So far, I have been able to visit 18 VBS events. What a joy to see so many kids and adults worshiping the Lord and enjoying it.
What is my work week like? Every week is different. Yes, there are days when I am in the office talking with pastors, taking phone calls, planning for future events, preparing sermons, writing newsletters articles, etc. Then there are days when I am out at meetings, visiting with pastors, doing hospital visits or attending conferences. I thank the Lord for Laurie Beth, who does such a wonderful job at the front desk while I am out. In addition to all of the above, I have helped lead Executive Board Meetings and attended workshops and seminars we have held here at the Associational office. I am enjoying what God has called me to do.
There are other goals and projects I am working on with our churches. Please pray for me and our churches as we seek to do what God wants done here in the Frio River Baptist Association.
Your Fellow Servant,
Bro. Loren
