A word from your missions office

By HEITH MITCHELL

Jesus instructed us to, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus not only taught this truth but he modeled it perfectly. The people around Him didn’t always want to love their neighbors. They looked for a loophole. Jesus was asked, “Who is our neighbor?” You likely know the story Jesus used to teach a Jewish audience that a Samaritan was a good neighbor.

Emmanuel Baptist Church in Garland just loved their neighbors well. This BMA church started back in the 1960s near downtown Garland. This church saw healthy missional ministry for many years. They have struggled for a few years now. Their neighborhood transitioned in ways they didn’t realize. In the last 5 years, they have gone into their neighborhood to learn that it now speaks spanish. They began to pray for these neighbors and for laborers who could reach them. Last year, they were able to start a Spanish speaking church. They just chose to end their services and leave their building to the Spanish church. This church is reaching the neighborhood and BMA of Texas Missions is helping.

Go Forth Baptist Church in Kilgore is loving their neighbors well. They are sharing Jesus and seeing salvation and life transformation stories. They recently outgrew their building and merged with another church assuming a bigger facility. The question of what to do with the old Stone Ridge building came up. Obviously, they could have sold it and funded future expansion. They chose instead to love their Spanish-speaking neighbors. There is currently no Spanish-speaking Baptist church in Kilgore. Go Forth is starting one out of their old property and BMA Texas Missions is helping.

I would love to come and share Texas Missions with your church or association. I have open dates and look forward to hearing from you. We also have resources we can share with you. Let us know.

PROJECT 2029
100 New Churches/10 years

  • That we see an aggressive multiplication movement of churches who make disciples, equip and release leaders, and start churches for the glory of God and the advancement of his Kingdom Mission
  • That each new mission begin with a plan to begin three new churches in their first 10 years
  • That pastors and churches of the association be encouraged and equipped to start new churches
  • That we connect, evaluate, identify and train new prospective church planters

A word from your missionaries

Cesar Leal – New Mission in San Antonio

cesarleal2002@yahoo.com

I am very grateful to God for his multiple blessings, in health, and providing for my material needs of my family. Pray for the progress of my personal and legal documents in this country.

Wesley Burke – Redemption Baptist Mission, Nacogdoches

wesleydavidburke@gmail.com

Prayer Needs:

Pray God would grow our church through authentic conversion.

Jesse Hales / Chris Mindi – Anchor Austin in Leander

halesjesse@gmail.com | chris.mindi@bmats.edu

God is good! It is always encouraging when you feel led to pray for someone you know who needs Jesus and then that person shows up at your door unexpectedly or you run into them unplanned in the community. God has been faithfully giving us opportunities just like this to share the Gospel. It’s also very encouraging when people hear about your church before they even move to the area and connect with you wanting to meet up. It is obvious that God is working and wants Anchor, Austin to a bright source of His light in the north Austin metro area. Praise Him with us for all He is doing. Thank you for your support.

Prayer Needs:

We have had a few of our families in our small groups tell us recently that they will be moving out of the area. Although this is expected in any ministry, I think it is especially hard for a new church plant to lose a good percentage of committed families all at once. Please pray that God will be with these families and lead them to others who will continue to faithfully disciple them in God’s Word. Pray also that we will be able to quickly fill the void they will leave behind in our groups. Thank you.

Chris Driver – West Texas Multiplication Network/Texas Missionary Care

cjdriver316@gmail.com

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). The longer we strive toward the vision God has laid upon our heart for reaching West Texas with the gospel, the more I have experienced this truth. But I am so thankful for the clarity that God continues to provide as we remain faithful to that vision. He has recently established some steps that I had avoided for several years. We are so excited about these new steps, but they promise to stretch us and challenge us in so many areas of our lives and faith. I will be sharing these new steps soon, but for now, please just join us in praying specifically for the towns of Levelland, Whitharral, Sundown, Smyer, Whiteface and Morton. We continue to marvel at God’s goodness and faithfulness and His willingness to use us in His plan to reach west Texas. Thank you all for your support and your love and your prayers.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for the towns of Levelland, Whitharral, Sundown, Smyer, Whiteface and Morton.

Isaias Rojas Osechas-Church Plant in Spring

isaias.roja5299@gmail.com

Prayer Needs

Pray that we achieve the our goal of starting 10-12 family groups. Also, pray for our vision, purpose and mission as we work with our great BMA family.

Ronnie Mills – Kingdom Chapel Mission, Saginaw/Fort Worth

ronnie@kchapel.org

BMA churches, what a pleasure it is planting alongside each of you. We trust and pray the Lord is blessing according to His will in your context as He is here as well. Thank you for all of your prayers and support. We are doing well, and have seen the Lord moving among us as a church body. One celebration this month is we’ve received two new families into our family covenant, and we’re very excited about that. We continue to press forward in Christ and His calling on our lives. Blessings.

Prayer Needs:

Continue to pray for our mission here in Saginaw. We know the Lord hears, and answers accordingly, and we’re truly grateful for each of you.

Jaime Henriquez – Fuente De Vida Eterna Mission, Houston

dairyjeny@yahoo.com

I am glad to be part of the family of the BMA of  Texas. The Lord is working among our people, saving souls and discipling them. God continues to transform life in our congregation.

Prayer Needs:

Pray that the Lord will provide our own building for our church.

Mike Watt – Cross-Work Mission, Tahoka

mike.watt@crossworkchurch.org

Pray for us this coming month as we gear up for Easter! We want to meet needs and share Jesus.

After school Bible club

Marriage Conference

Robert Lee – Harmony Baptist Church in Normangee Replant

bro.robert.f.lee@gmail.com

God has been good to us even in the midst of an ice storm. We were given a great opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ to our community by simply opening our doors and offering for others to come in out of the cold. I firmly believe the gesture, as well as other ways we were able to show the love of Christ this month, were noticed and reflected Christ’s love for the folks around Normangee.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for God’s guidance as we fill new roles and begin to lay the framework for areas of ministry not currently in place.

Neptaly Molina – Iglesia Bautista Mission, Nacogdoches

nrmolina23@gmail.com

Biblical Passage: Philippians 3:10-14; 2 Timothy 4:7,8

Romans 1:16-17 is a message consistent with the time in which we are living. I see in Paul’s courage in preaching the gospel. I see in Paul the courage not to be ashamed to lose that redemptive message. This text appeals to me and also moves me to preach the gospel. It motivates me and challenges me not to be ashamed of my task that I have to fulfill.

Roberto Marcelletti – Anthony Drive Mission, Ennis

robbyypatty@hotmail.com

We are trusting that the Lord will guide us in this process of carrying the gospel and that people will approach Christ in repentance and faith.

Timothy Alba – New Mission in Seagoville

timalba1986@gmail.com

I have learned that running a race can be difficult. Paul used this analogy to explain to the Corinthians that running well will end in reward. However, this race feels more like a marathon than a one time event. I tend to over plan and get lost in my directions at times. I need to slow down and bring things back into perspective when making plans and reaching goals. I also need to not get so down on myself when plans don’t get accomplished. I know that God is at work and I am where I need to be, but I know that I want to move things faster than I should. I pray that God gives me patience and I learn to celebrate the small victories God gives me each day.

Prayer Needs:

Pray that God gives me wisdom each day. There are situations that I am not always equipped to handle, but I know God is in control and teaching me each day. I pray that I stay on course and remember why I went on mission to begin with.

Spencer Simpson – Redeemer’s Love Mission, Houston

spncrsmpsn@gmail.com

Thank you for your continued support and prayers. The Lord has continued to bless us as a church as 2021 has gotten underway, and we are excited to see how He continues to use us in southwest Houston to advance His Kingdom.

Prayer Needs:

One of the greatest needs in our community is godly families. In particular, godly men who would be responsible fathers and husbands. Please pray that the Lord would continue to build relationships with families and men in our community. We truly believe that southwest Houston could look totally different in generations to come as the gospel impacts families here, and we want BMA of Texas churches like ours to be a driving force behind that.