|
|
To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances, to seek him the greatest adventure, to find him the greatest human achievement.
—St. Augustine
|
|
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
With Valentines Day observed in February, I got to thinking about the word “love”. What a wonderful thing that is. The dictionary will define love as a strong affection for someone or fondness toward something; devotion, benevolence or kindness toward others. A person can “love” their mom and dad, “love” hotdogs and “love” the movie
Gone with the Wind
. It is interesting how we use the word “love” in the English language in so many different ways.
In the New Testament the word for “love” most used is the Greek word “agape”. I read it as a caring, merciful, unconditional affection toward others: that would refer to God’s love towards us. God used the word “agape” when He spoke of His love for the world
(John 3:16)
. Jesus used a form of the word “agape” when He shared the Great Commandment
(Matthew 22:37-39)
. Paul uses the word to show us how nothing can separate us from His love
(Romans 8:35-39)
. In I John 4:16 we read that
“…God is love…”
In the world we live in today we may not see this kind of love…at least not very often. People will love all kinds of “things”: food, pets, cars, movies clothes, etc, but unfortunately the love they have for people may not be there or it may be conditional.
I am so grateful for who God is and that He loves me no matter what. He loves me when I am doing good. He loves me still when I am not doing so good. He may be unhappy with me when I do wrong and I may have to face the consequences of that wrong, but He still loves me. As Romans 8 says that nothing can separate us from the love of God. What a difference we could all make in our world if we loved others like God loves us. Who knows, maybe more people would come to know the Lord as their Savior and Lord.
I John 4:7 says: “
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God
. Let’s all of us put this verse into practice, OK? We know the Lord and He lives in us. He has given us His love. Yes, we all are different in many ways, but we are one in the Lord. When this love is shown not only amongst us Christians, but with everyone, I believe the lost world will take note and may want what we have. Let’s all do our part and the Lord will do His.
Enjoy this month of February. On the 14th don’t forget to do something special for your closest loved one. Happy Valentines Day!
Your Fellow Servant,
Bro. Loren
|
|
February 2020
4th - OCL Meeting - 6:30pm
5th - South Zone Pastor’s Prayer Meeting
7th-9th -
Ocean's Deep
Ladies' Retreat
(Alto Frio)
11th - FRBA CPR/1stAid/AED Training
(details below)
13th - East Zone Pastor's Prayer Meeting
24th-25th - SBTC Empower Conference
(Irving Convention Center - Irving, TX)
27th - North Zone Pastor's Prayer Meeting
29th - FRBA Deacon Training
(details below)
|
|
March 2020
1st - FRBA Compañerismo Quarterly Meeting
(at Primera Iglesia Bautista Jerusalem - Natalia, TX)
3rd -
OCL Meeting - 6:30pm
4th - South Zone Pastor's Prayer Meeting
8th - TIME CHANGE - Don't forget to "Spring Forward"
9th-13th - SPRING BREAK!!
(Local Schools)
12th - East Zone Pastor's Prayer Meeting
2
4th - FRBA Executive Board Meeting
6:30pm – Fellowship
7:00pm – Business Meeting
26th - North Zone Pastor's Prayer Meeting
|
|
|
|
SAVE THESE DATES!!
April 23rd-25th
- Texas Baptists Ministry Assistant's Conference
(at Lakeside Baptist Church - Grandbury, TX)
April 25th -
VBS Clinic
(at FBC Charlotte)
May 1st-4th
- FRBA Annual Ladies Retreat
(at H. E. Butt Foundation Camp)
May 11th-13th
- SBTC Administrative Assistant's Retreat
(at Embassy Suites - San Marcos, TX)
|
|
|
Click
HERE
for details and registration information.
|
|
LAST CALL!!
If you're looking for affordable training, this is it! Most places will charge $80 for this same class, and you can get it here for only $30!! Don't miss this opportunity!
|
|
The
Singing Men of South Texas
are singing at
FBC Pleasanton
on
Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7:00pm
. All are welcome.
The Singing Men of South Texas is a 60-voice men's choir composed of men in music ministry from South Texas Baptist Churches, singing a variety of traditional, gospel and contemporary worship music. John Coleman has been singing with this group for 40 years and David Hightower from FBC, Devine plays saxophone in the choir's orchestra. Larry Danks from Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville is their director.
The Singing Men have sung around the world on mission projects in Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, the Holy Land, California, New England and most recently at Carnegie Hall in NYC. Come join them as they lead in this time of worship through singing.
|
|
SERVANT LEADERSHIP: The Biblical Role of the Deacon
The Frio River Baptist Association is offering a special training
led by
Fred Ater of
Texas Baptists, for deacons and their pastors.
The training will be held at the FRBA Resource Center on
Saturday, February, 29th from 10:00am to 1:00pm.
A catered BBQ lunch will be provided.
Please contact Laurie Beth at the FRBA office to RSVP.
RSVP and payment of $5/person must be received
no later than February 20th
.
|
|
Feel like you are spreading yourself too thin?
Would you like to connect with other bi-vocational pastors throughout Texas?
Then join us to pause, refresh and revive at a retreat designed for
specific issues bi-vocational pastors face.
*Capacity is 35 couples. Those who register after full capacity will be placed on a wait list.
SCHEDULE
Friday – March 20:
3:00pm – Check-In
6:00pm – Dinner
6:15pm – Welcome, Introductions, Prayer: Alex & Tabitha Gonzales
6:45pm – Speakers: Patrick & Shalonda Nolen
8:00pm – Closing & Prayer: Alex & Tabitha Gonzales
8:30pm – Connecting/Free Time
Saturday – March 21:
8:45am – Breakfast
9:00am – Welcome & Prayer: Alex & Tabitha Gonzales
9:30am – Breakouts
– men
– women
10:45am – Patrick Nolen & Alex Gonzales
11:45am – Gifts & Dismissal Prayer: Alex & Tabitha Gonzales
900 N Shoreline Blvd
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
|
|
Registration is now open for our
4th Annual Ladies' Retreat
at HEB Foundation Camp.
Pass the word to the ladies in your church and get your group signed up while the early-bird rates are still in effect!
(Special discounts available for groups of 10 or more.)
REGISTRATION FEES:
--Early Bird Registration (before March 1st) - $45.00 per person
--Early Bird Group Registration (before April 1st - for groups of 10 or more) -
$40.00 per person
--Regular Registration (on or after March 1st) - $55.00 per person
--Group Registration (on or after April 1st - for groups of 10 or more) - $50.00 per person
FINAL REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 17, 2020
Click
HERE
for registration information, and all the details!
|
|
DEACON ORDINATION SERVICE
|
|
Primera Iglesia Bautista (Laredo) held a
Deacon Ordination service on
January 19th. Reinstalled as a deacon was
Lorenzo Gonzalez (wife Margaret) and ordained as a new deacon was
Jesus Ortega (wife Margaret)
.
Bro. Dorso Maciel is the Pastor.
|
|
If you’ve never been to an ordination ceremony, they’re the most special thing you can ever attend. When the calling church is afforded the privilege of ordaining one of their own as their pastor, the ceremony is that much sweeter! Congratulations to the now
Reverend
Dan Newburg
, pastor of
First Baptist Church Devine
!
|
|
Here are a few pictures from the first weekend of
Upward Basketball
on Saturday, February 25th. There are currently 205 kids between 1st and 6th grade that are playing in the basketball league. At halftime of each game, there is a devotion for everyone in the gym that focuses on the real reason for the league - to share the name of Jesus with the players and their families. The league was started 7 years ago in Pleasanton by
Pastor Clyde Butter
and
Crosspoint Fellowship
but nowadays it is partnership between Crosspoint Fellowship,
Cowboy Fellowship
and
FBC Pleasanton
. The league is open to any child in Atascosa County. Many of the kids don't have any church affiliation, so it is a great outreach to the community.
|
|
FRBA RESOURCE LIBRARY
This NEW Bible study and many more are available
through our resource library!
Listen, Love, Repeat
Other-Centered Living in a Self-Centered World
by Karen Ehman
(6-session DVD study)
Click
HERE
to download one of our checkout forms.
Then just complete it and bring it by the office to borrow a
Bible study to meet your needs.
We’re also accepting donations of used DVD Bible study kits.
If you or your church have some that you are no longer using, we’d love
to have them here to share with other churches in our Association.
|
|
|
Frio River Baptist Association | Phone: 830-334-2061 | Fax: 830-334-3025 |
Email |
Website
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
