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Jul '24
Intern Insights – July 2024
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Jul '24
by Cailin Powell
School is out and the youth are relishing the freedom that summer brings. Every Sunday and Wednesday night has been filled with shouts of joy as kids rally around each other at the ping pong table or in the gym for Gym Rats. Yet, there are also bitter cries of disappointment as the beloved championship spot is claimed and the winning basket is shot in the gym.
Through the ups and downs of competition, the goal for our students is connection with each other, with adults, and ultimately, with God. The connections we build with each other point us back to the connection we have with our Heavenly Father.
Walk into the refinery on a Sunday morning and you will encounter the sweetest song of praise being proclaimed unto God. Wednesday nights we are looking at the “whys” behind the songs that unite us as Christians. As a student ministry, we’re taking a step back and learning what it is that we proclaim, why we proclaim it, and taking a moment to contemplate and acknowledge the greatness of the God who loves us and desires a relationship with us.
Being an intern again this summer has given me a unique opportunity to see these connections lived out through our students. I’ve seen students who were afraid of talking last summer, initiate conversations with strangers and walk away with new friends. I’m excited to see what the rest of the summer holds and ask that you join us in prayer on this journey!
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Jul '24
Children’s Day Out – July 2024
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Jul '24
by Beth Ann Brown
We wrapped up another successful year of Children’s Day Out at Trinity. It is always a time of mixed emotions: sadness, exhaustion, joy, anticipation, and relief. Most of the children will be returning next year but we said goodbye to some families that have been with CDO for many years through many children. It is so incredibly rewarding to watch these children grow and change throughout the year.
We also said goodbye to some coworkers moving on to homeschool their children or because they took a full-time job. They will be greatly missed. Our CDO staff is a close one. We pray for each other and care about each other like a family.
As we look toward the next CDO year, we are looking for some teachers and substitutes to join us in this ministry. Trinity CDO is a great place to be. We meet Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-2:30 August through May. If you would like to be a part of a great group of ladies working with wonderful children and families, contact the church office.
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Jul '24
Friendship Class – July 2024
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Jul '24
by Melinda Cox
Our Bible Study Class meets in room 221 at 9:45 AM. Recently, the Friendship Class has conducted sermon-based lessons, doing an in-depth analysis of the sermon preached the week before at Trinity Baptist Church. But, beginning in June, our class shifted gears and began a unit of study on the topic of eschatology, entitled “The End is Near—or Is It?” This will lead into a series of lessons on the topic of Heaven beginning sometime in July.
Our Bible study follows the method known as “Con-Con-App,” or Content, Context, and Application. With this method of study, the class begins with an in-depth analysis of the actual Biblical text (often with emphasis placed upon key words from the original languages—Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic). Then, the Biblical passage being studied is placed within its original historical and cultural context. Only after completing these steps, do we apply the Biblical passage to our current life situation (you can’t properly apply the Bible to the present without first understanding what the text actually says and what it meant to its original audience).
Prayer is another very important aspect of our class. Prayer requests are received from class members, prayed over during class time and subsequently also sent out via email to class members and certain TBC staff members for prayer reminders during the week. If an emergency situation happens during the week and the class needs to be notified, another prayer request will go out to this group so that these needs will be lifted up to the Lord as soon as possible.
Acts 2:42 states that the early Christians “continuously devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer.” Koinonia, or fellowship, is an important part of the Christian life. Whenever we gather together as a group, we are imitating the early church. Fellowships for our group include lunch at the TBC Café after church services or at a class member’s home.
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Jul '24
TBC Missions Committee
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Jul '24
by Suzii March
Can you serve missions and never leave home?
Seated at a simple table on Jackson Street, the Trinity Missions Committee is helping TBCK to be the sending hands of Jesus Christ.
This committee is guided by scripture. Following the mandate of the great commission “Go ye therefore into all the world,” and seeking, like Acts 1, “ to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea , Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” we have supported missions as a coordinating hub to:
- Review applications for long-term missionary families who want to stay in the TBCK Missions house. The house is booked two years out & people will come from three countries this year.
- Explore refurbishing another mission house to be ready in 2025. People are already asking for 2026.
- Review applications and allocate funds for TBCK members to serve on short-term missions in the U.S. and other countries. This year members served in the Dominican Republic, Kenya, Thailand and Mexico.
- Support TBCK staff as a critical part of worldwide church leadership. Pastors and missionaries taught and mentored in Africa and Mexico.
- Contact and support mission families who serve in partnership with TBCK on 3 continents—Central America, Africa, Asia.
- Cooperate with mission agencies to explore possible mission service sites—groups among our Texas Baptist family and also in Nashville, Chicago, and Atlanta.
- Pray for and communicate with missionaries serving short-term and long-term.
- Plan and supervise the collection of 5 very important mission offerings throughout the year—Hunger, Christmas, Easter, Short-Term & Long-Term offerings.
Guided by Clint Brown and the TBCK staff, the Missions Committee coordinates historic mission partnerships like Dominican Republic and also explores new emerging mission needs.
Serving in a sinful and treacherous world is complicated. We strive to serve effectively, compassionately, and safely – but it is not easy. We need discernment and prayer from thoughtful TBCK disciples with caring hearts . We extend our appreciation to our Godly TBCK staff and to all using their time, talents and relationships. We offer our praise to God, with the added prayer “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” through our missions.
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Jul '24
For the Journey – July 2024
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Jul '24
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine on us –– so that Your ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among the nations. May the peoples praise You, God; may all the peoples praise You.” Psalm 67:1-3
If you reread the printed verses, you will find that the psalmist begins talking about God only to switch audiences and speak directly to God. This happens several times throughout the psalms. We are a blessed people at Trinity Baptist Church. God is the one who blesses for sure. Though there are many things ahead of us, we are grateful for the faithful things behind us and blessed with the present direction God is placing before us.
The summer ministry opportunities are in full swing. Once again, we have completed, with help from incredible church volunteers, our Vacation Bible School and Mini-Kids Camp. Our children and students are gearing up for camps in July while making the most of each week’s gatherings to learn more and grow in community. Our prayers remain constant regarding the issues around the world. We are traveling our summer pilgrimage through a reaffirmation of choices or making choices regarding our devotion and direction. God has a purpose. God makes it known to us. God’s purposes are really the best purposes. I am thrilled when I see us staying in the middle of God’s choices.
Please continue to pray for our New Deacon Selection Task Force. They have continued to meet and research the direction for Trinity Baptist regarding the need for new deacons. One of the discussions before us this summer will be the role of women serving as deacons at Trinity Baptist Church. Let us continue to lift up Dr. David Sprouse, Scott Barns, Diane Donaldson, Suzii March, Pennie Olivo, Dan Petty and Vern Stahl.
Remember that we will only have one service on July 7th. We will start with a worship service at 9:00 a.m. and then have Bible Study at 10:00 a.m. There will be a place for every Bible Study class to meet because a couple of classes have agreed to go to a new space for one Sunday. Thank you for all you do to help us do what we do. We are looking forward to our Family Gathering and Member Meeting this month. It will be our annual ice cream Sunday and game time.
Melinda and I are blessed to get to serve Trinity Baptist church. This month marks our twelfth anniversary. I anticipate year thirteen and the future years to come. Thanks for loving us and our family so well.
In Christ,
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Jul '24
Lois Home Group
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Jul '24
by Tabor McMillan
The Lois Home Group is a tight-knit community comprised of young families who come together on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:45 to discuss our faith in Jesus, our lives, and to foster personal growth as Christians. Each family brings its own unique experiences, perspectives, and strengths to the group, creating a great atmosphere for discussion. We typically meet inside the home of one of our members, share a potluck meal for an hour and then have our discussion time for the following hour. While we have our discussion time, our children spend time playing together or watching a movie so the adults can converse without distraction. Discussions range from exploring biblical passages and books, to navigating the complexities of everyday life or diving deep into specific biblical themes. Through dialogue, reflection, and prayer, our group seeks to deepen its understanding of scripture and its relevance to the lives we lead.
Beyond the designated discussion time, the Lois Home Group is also a source of practical support and friendship. Members rally around each other during times of need, offering assistance, meals, and a listening ear. We have welcomed new life through babies being born, we’ve mourned the loss of parents and other loved ones, and have even celebrated the marriage of two of our members.
The connections we have established through this group permeates into our everyday lives. We gather for social outings, we celebrate holidays together, and provide a sense of belonging that has really helped this small group feel more like a second family. It’s a great thing to witness whenever you have a community around you that continually shows up for one another.
We are glad to welcome any who might be interested in attending a small home group. We typically meet 3 Tuesday nights a month and also regularly meet with the Kerrville West Home Group for monthly fellowships.
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May '24
Kerrville West Home Group – May 2024
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May '24
by Scott Barns
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24
As Christians, we are called to live out the many “one anothers” listed in scripture. Our small group meets weekly at the Whitehead’s home and I believe this gives us the opportunity to live out the “one anothers” together with the many families that we meet with. This weekly gathering is something that my family looks forward to every week. A time that we know we can be vulnerable, pray with/for one another, and let our kids be in a safe environment with other kids their age. In my perspective, these are things that Christians need as they grow in their walk with the Lord—a community of other believers and God’s Word. This is something we get each week when we go to our small group.
Our time together consists of a meal, fellowship, and then a Bible study. We make a schedule each semester that consists of who will be bringing the meal and who will be leading the Bible study. Our discussions vary, but we always focus on the goodness of God and the ways that he is using us and blessing us. We are currently going through a study on solitude and it has been so encouraging to see how others in the group handle solitude in their relationships with the Lord. Oftentimes, during our Bible studies, we are able to share what the Lord is doing in our lives but also things that we may be struggling with. This vulnerability that we have with one another really makes it easy to open up to one another and be there for each other, as we have been called to do as Christ followers. I truly believe that this is a time that everyone in the group looks forward to each week as we try our best to love one another, hold one another accountable, and pray for one another.
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May '24
Jubilee Class – May 2024
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May '24
by Gene Ayers, Doug Lusk, and Eva Euler
“As new members, we were immediately surrounded by the warmest, most loving and genuinely caring new friends, folks who were passionate about their faith and were spiritually mature.” Most of these earlier members are now with our Lord, but others have joined our fellowship, continuing to serve the Lord in like manner, and support the ministry of the church. As a class, we have always been there for one another through illnesses, accidents, family problems and too many tragedies to count!”
Caring, sharing, and praying — hallmarks of this class of couples and individuals who are bound together by their love for the Lord and for families, friends, and neighbors. One of our notable missions is to care for one another, for their families, and for others that they know and love. We have cried together.
We spend time sharing prayer requests for loved ones, friends or perhaps an acquaintance who is in need. Prayer requests are sent out to the membership during the week, as well to our network of emails and postage mail. All done in the name of the Lord.
Each Sunday the class joins together in the singing of a popular hymn, the celebration of birthdays and anniversaries, and the sharing of other activities that are scheduled for the church family.
We have had wonderful teachers over the years, including Kay Miller, Gene Ayers, Chris Christopherson, and Bill Parr. Currently the centerpiece of the class is Mr. Parr’s lessons, taken directly from the scriptures, book by book and verse by verse. We just finished the book of Daniel and will study Ephesians next.
Throughout all these activities runs a deep current of fellowship that is both comforting and encouraging. What a privilege it is to have this place where we can sing together, pray together, worship together and know that our Savior Jesus is there with us, guiding and directing us in all we do. It is a warm inviting place that welcomes anyone in need of a church family. Oh, and we laugh a lot, with JOY!
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May '24
Women’s Bible Study – May 2024
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May '24
by Shelby Peschel
What is your favorite Bible study? Recently, during a leadership training meeting, several ladies answered this question. With so many wonderful authors, speakers, books and topics, it was difficult to narrow it down to just one. So many studies have been richly meaningful in different ways to different ladies. After giving it some thought since that meeting, I would like to change my answer. My favorite Bible study is “the next one.”
Women’s Bible Study (WBS) at Trinity has a rich history of reaching women in our community. Studies have varied through the years, but the focus on learning and growing together has not. With much prayer and planning, a core team of ladies selects which study we will do together, typically a year in advance. Laying personal preferences aside, they truly seek the Lord for what He would have us study together. As long as the Word of God and hearts are open, each “next” study provides the opportunity to learn and understand more. And, in knowing more, taking next steps to apply God’s truth to our daily actions.
So what is the next one for WBS? We just wrapped up studying the Book of John as well as The End Times. Coming up next is our summer series on Jude: Contend Earnestly for the Faith by Debbie Taylor Williams. This 3-week study meets on Wednesday mornings and Thursday evenings, beginning July 10th. Registration and details are available on the church website. Next, will be our fall study on Elijah: Faith & Fire by Priscilla Shirer, followed by a focus on Gratitude: Giving Thanks to God in All Things leading up to the holiday season. There is a place for you, and you are invited. We’d love to have you join us for the next one!
“Lord, Your word is forever; Your faithfulness is for all generations; I will never forget Your precepts, for You have given me life through them.”
Psalms 119: 89-93
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