LIFE@TRINITY

 
 
Life at Trinity is given order through three words: Worship, Connect, and Serve. God has gifted each of us differently and equipped us with different passions and preferences. With the choices at Trinity we ask that you seek to Worship with the church, Connect with a small group, and Serve in a way God has gifted you once a week. To help make that simpler we place the things we do under the word that best fits that group or activity. Start by choosing one thing from each area.
 
 

For the Journey – May 2023

It almost feels like we were just celebrating the New Year with one service together. A lot has happened in a short amount of time. We began using our new ministry space on January 8th. We called Charlie Barganier as our next Worship Minister. The Barganier’s will start making their way to Kerrville this month. Vanessa will finish teaching through her contract and the family will join Charlie here when school is out. We dedicated our marker not only setting it in place but celebrating baptism also.
 
We celebrated once again the season of Easter by not only gathering on Resurrection Sunday but presenting the Victor the week prior to our community. We are most blessed by our journey together.
 
A mission team has gone to Alto Frio to help prepare the camp for summer ministries while another mission team went to Kenya to support European missionaries who gathered for a conference. Two others from our church headed out to Kenya and Turkey to share God’s word through words and actions. It is a joy to see how God is using Trinity Baptist to share the gospel and meet needs here at home and around the world.
 
Don’t miss out on any opportunity to do good during the season God has granted. There is a summer full of ministry options for all ages. We will celebrate with our church families the accomplishments of their children as they graduate to next steps this month. We are in good hands as these incredible individuals begin to take their place in our world.
 
We will once again join together on Thursday, May 4th for our National Day of Prayer breakfast. Doors will open at 6:45 am and breakfast and prayer program will begin at 7:00 am. Please come if you can and let’s pray for our nation together.
 
Encore will be taking place for our Senior Adults on May 8-9, from 10:00 to noon. Dr. Gary Manning will be our guest from FBC, Bandera. There will also be a Parent Dedication and Child Blessing on Mother’s Day. Be sure to call the church office if you would like to participate.
 
I want to give a quick thanks to Bobby Ayala and our custodial team of A.J. Lopez, Alex Del Toro, Richard Schmitt, and Jon Von Heeder. They are sure making our place sparkle and shine. The outside landscaping is looking great. We are blessed by our whole team at TBC.
 
Remember Jesus is always waiting for an invitation to join you. And when we invite Jesus, His answer is always, YES!
 
In Christ,

Pastor John

 

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Women’s Bible Study – May 2023

by Chana Johnson
 
What a great year we are having in our Wednesday morning and Thursday evening Bible study classes! We continue growing in our numbers as we study God’s word together. Not only do we have our TBCK women in our study, but as we reach out beyond our church to our community, more and more ladies are coming to hear the message of the Gospel.
 
WBS has been studying the book of Acts, from the Joy of Living Bible Studies. Debbie Williams, our teaching leader, blesses us each week as she expounds on the message God has for us in each chapter of Acts. Debbie’s teaching videos are available on the TBCK website and You Tube channel.
 
Upcoming News:
  • WBS will use Debbie Williams’ study of 2 Peter for the 4 weeks of July; Wednesday mornings at 10 AM and Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM.
  • In the fall, our ladies will study John, from the Joy of Living Bible Studies. Debbie Williams has committed to be our teaching leader through April, 2024.
  • The first part of John will be September 13 – November 21. We will finish the study of John in the spring of 2024, January 17 – March 27.
  • We are planning a 4-week study in April 2024 using one of Debbie Williams’ studies: Jude or selected Psalms.
  • Ask any lady in our WBS weekly study, and you will hear “we are blessed!”.
 

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Jubilee Class – May 2023

by Jerry Cobb
 
Bill Parr and Gene Ayers have led us through the Book of Job. From healthy and rich, to sick and poor. All he had left was a nagging wife and a sick body. Against the council of friends, enemies and family he refused to lose his faith in GOD. Could we withstand the trials he faced and not lose sight of our trust that God will take care of us?
 
We have a new teacher beginning with the April 2nd lesson.  Barbara Jordan began by informing us that she taught 10-year-old children for years and was sure she could handle us. Sounds a lot like Chris. We can’t wait.
 

Our class met after church on a Sunday in February for a Memorial Gathering to remember and acknowledge the loss of fourteen of our class members that have moved to ‘Higher Ground’ in the very recent past. A  poem written by Doug Lusk, a member of our class, is offered with his permission.

 

Someone is Waiting by Doug Lusk
There in the distance is someone I see.
He stands there so patiently, waiting for me.
I know who it is and I knew He would come;
I’ve counted on this when my journey was done.
He knows who I am and He knows I believe
That He’ll end all my pain and my
struggles relieve.
I know that his son cannot be far away;
He knew I’d come home and was waiting today.He’s prepared me a place where I’ll
stay from now on,And He will forgive all the things I’ve done wrong.
 What a comfort for me that I knew of this friendWho would be there to greet me when
I reached the end;
For the journey was long, though I loved
every mile,
And now I am ready to rest for a while.
Once again, I’ll see loved ones,
what stories we’ll share,
And dear friends I’ve missed will also be there.
I love each of you that I’m leaving behind,
And I want you to know that I’m doing just fine.
For there in the distance is someone I see;

It’s God and His Son and they’ll take care of me.

 

The Jubilee Class meets each Sunday at 9:45 in the Chapel.

 

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Children’s Ministry – May 2023

by Melissa Morris
 
I have two core memories from my early childhood in church. The first is waving palm branches on Palm Sunday. The other is Vacation Bible School. It was my favorite week of the summer!  I loved the music with hand motions, cookies with Kool-Aid, pledges to the flags and Bible, crafts, and getting to see my church friends every day. I was also learning Bible stories and memorizing verses I can still quote. I can still remember the first summer I was in the youth group and got promoted to worker. I got to help my mom go all out decorating her classroom and imparted Biblical wisdom on children SO much younger than my very mature 12-year-old self. (I also discovered that the snacks for teachers are far superior to the kids’ snacks.)
 
As an adult, VBS is still one of my favorite weeks. I have taught the Bible story for several years now. Like my mom, I fully theme my room so that the kids can become immersed in the story. I have enjoyed lightly spraying the kids with water when teaching about Paul being shipwrecked, playing sound effects, and dressing up in costumes. I pray that all of these sensory experiences can help the Bible stories come alive and imprint on kids the way that it did for me.
 
It is time to consider what role you will play in VBS this year. There are several ways you can help. We need Family Leaders who rotate with the children. You don’t have to plan anything and you get to build relationships with precious children as you guide them through activities. We also need teachers for crafts, recreation, snacks, missions, music, and Bible study. Please contact Paula for more details and Kellee to sign up to help. The dates are Monday, June 12 to Thursday, June 15 from 9am to noon. Kids who have completed kindergarten through 5th grade will be able to participate and register beginning in May. The theme this year is “Babylon: Daniel’s Story” and the theme verse is 1 Chronicles 16:34 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”  
 
I can’t wait to see how God is going to show us his goodness and faithful love during VBS this summer!
 

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Student Ministry – May 2023

 
 
Who is someone who has invested in your spiritual life? I can’t help but think about Bro. Lance who asked me if I would be willing to meet with him each week when I was in high school. During those weekly meetings, he taught me about spiritual disciplines, about discipleship, about prayer, about mentoring, and so much more. 
 
I also think about my dad, and the work we got to do together. Looking back, I’m grateful for the countless hours I spent working alongside him. Things I dreaded and resented in the moment have now shaped me into who I am. And the lessons I learned from him cannot be counted on paper.
 
I also think about my prayer grandmother. Every Sunday we would find each other and she would hug me and say, “Wes, I love you and I’m praying for you.” And I knew she was. She was an encouragement to me through some of my hardest parts of high school. And long after I graduated, when we would cross paths, she would repeat the same refrain, because it was still true.
 
What’s the constant in each of those relationships? Time. Each one of those influential adults invested time into me, some intentionally and one partially because I was cheap labor. But time made the difference. And time continues to make the difference.
 
As we enter the month of May, I want to give a shout out to our Youth Workers who have invested time in students this school year. Your efforts may not always produce the result you want or expect, but know that your time is not wasted.
 
And if you’re reading this and aren’t a youth worker (yet!), let’s talk. Maybe you can step into a role where you hug a neck and let a kid know you’re praying for them.
 

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Kenya Mission Trip

by Sharron Hawk & Judy Stevens
 
When I received a message stating that Trinity Baptist was known as a church invested in missions, I was more than excited. IMB (the International Missions Board) was asking for a team from Trinity to volunteer to instruct children while their missionary parents were participating in a Home School Conference in Africa. Because I knew how important these conferences can be to families serving in remote locations, I was ready to go. But was this what God would have us to do? I began to pray, and went to Pastor John, who encouraged me to proceed. Would God lead members of our congregation to become involved in this type of mission? As people began to hear about this opportunity, God brought together a wonderful team of thirteen people who said yes to God’s call. God placed it on Judy Stevens’ heart to help in coordinating the trip. I was thrilled that she and Frank were willing to take on the leadership role as the winter months are busy for pastoral care. God faithfully brought together every detail of the trip and bonded a team of individuals, some who were meeting each other for the first time.
 
On March 9th we began our 24-hours of flights to Kenya. The mission effort was not without challenges. Illness was part of our journey. Team members who were healthy ministered to those who were sick, making sure they recovered while the work of the mission continued without interruption. Judy kept our church members updated on prayer needs and we kept seeing God answer those prayers. We gained strength from knowing our church family and prayer partners were praying for us. For security reasons, we cannot identify the children we taught but I assure you their smiles told the whole story. This was God’s mission not ours. He blessed in so many unexpected ways and left each team member with memories they will never forget. To God be all the glory.
 

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Mission Trip to Alto Frio

by Anna Henson
 

Over Spring Break, I got to go on our Spring Break Mission Alto Frio trip. It was a lot of fun and we did a lot of work for the Lord. The first day my group got to paint one of the Gaga ball courts. I also got to paint a part of the cafeteria with my group. On the last day, we had completed all of the tasks but one. 

Since we had more people than we had groups, we moved around the camp looking for odd jobs. I searched for a hose and got to help mix concrete. I was able to connect with some of the younger girls and I know that many new relationships were formed. I was so thankful to work with such a great group of people. 

On the first day, our group managed to get through almost all of the tasks we had been assigned for the day and looked forward to the next day. Although we woke up early and were all tired, we got to work and worked enthusiastically. 

All three days our group enjoyed getting to come  together and worship through music and the words of one of the leaders from the other group. I personally felt so inspired that, when we had a time around the campfire to share testimonies, I had the courage to share a little of my own story. This opportunity was one I am so grateful for and am excited to go back again at the next opportunity.
 

A note from Wes Henson:  In March, we had a great mission trip to Alto Frio and could not have accomplished all we did without the help of the adults who partnered with us through the Men’s Ministry. I asked Anna Henson to share some of her thoughts and experiences from our time together.

 
 

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Walk Thru the Easter Story

by Marsena Alley

One of my favorite events our church does is coming up.  Join us Saturday, April 8th at 10:00 am for Walk Thru the Easter Story.  Come to the east side parking area off Bluebell as children stamp their passports traveling from Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the Empty Tomb!  Each station will have a craft or hands-on activity for them to participate in. This provides a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel with our children, neighbors, grandchildren and friends!  The morning ends with a fun Easter egg hunt for the children.  See you there!
 

 


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Prayer Room Available

by Loraine Couch

 
The Prayer Room at TBC is located down the hall from the women’s restroom on the second floor across from the Chapel.  Visiting hours are 9:00am to 4:00pm weekdays and Sunday mornings.  Weekday visitors to the prayer room are asked to check-in at the church office prior to and following their visit to the prayer room.
 

Pray as the Holy Spirit leads you for:

  • Ministries and staff of TBC.
  • Sick and sorrowing – an up-to-date list of hospitalizations, procedures, and prayer requests is available in the prayer room.
  • Individual prayer needs.
  • Missionaries – a list of the missionaries supported by TBC is available in the prayer room.
  • Local, national, and world leaders and world situations.

 

Have a prayer request?

  • Leave in the provided notebook for others to pray for.
  • Post on the Prayer Wall inside the prayer room.

 

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”  James 5:16

“Call upon me and I will answer you and I will show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”  Jeremiah 33:3

 

A special “thank you” to Loraine Couch for her work in revitalizing the prayer room! 

 
 
 

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Traditions and New Beginnings

 
I am a huge believer in our Victor ministry but, I must admit, even I was intimidated at the seemingly daunting task of coordinating and putting together The Victor without Larry, or any worship minister for that matter. However, it has been a great lesson to trust God. It was His will for us to present The Victor, just as we have done annually for the past 11 years. And, He allowed it to happen. All of the pieces came together, as only He could do. I am so grateful God gave us this opportunity to present this special gift to our community. It is hard work, but it is so worth it, even if we reach just one person who doesn’t yet know Jesus. We are so thankful for all who prayed with us for everything involved with the presentation.
 
It is an exciting time here in the TBC Worship Ministry, as we prepare for our new Worship Minister, Charlie Barganier, to arrive! The view of a call weekend March 17-19 with Charlie and his family was a wonderful time of music and fellowship. It was a joy to work with him, and I know we are all looking forward to his arrival next month! 
 

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For the Journey – April 2023

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:4 
 
The Scripture goes on to tell us that we all have different gifts and encourages us to use our gift in the measure of our  faith. Everyone can see that God has gifted Trinity Baptist Church with incredible members who use their gifts and talents for God’s best and our blessing. God has a path set out for us both individually and as a family journeying together. It is a beautiful thing to see the wake of our travels and how God has blessed.  
 
The Victor is always a God given task. It has been a faith journey as we have prepared for this years gift to our community without a Worship Minister in place. Others have stepped up and carried great responsibilities in order for us to put ourselves in the position of presenting the gospel to our community. Thank you choir, drama, technical team, advertising and inviting teams, and anyone who took it upon themselves to be on the giving end of this years presentation. Wiley Wilkerson, Suzanne Harston, Riley Gordon and Sue Stewart have gone above and beyond. 
 
If you haven’t heard, Trinity Baptist Church voted to call Charlie Barganier as our next Minister of Worship. Charlie, Vanessa, Noah, Micah and Hannah will be coming our way very soon. Welcome Barganiers, we are excited about our journey together. Charlie’s first Sunday will be May 7th.  
 
We are fully in our new ministry space and it is amazing to see the connections already taking place. People are gathering in our new space all during the week. Thank you, Trinity, for your faithfulness to our process and kingdom agendas. Thank you, Wayne Uecker, Kay Bell, Wayne Comer, Kaleb Kurz, Paula Locke, and Lyda Green for serving on our Building Task force and bringing us home.  
 
I pray you will have a blessed Easter and find time for gratitude and commitment during this season of remembering all God did through Christ on our behalf. May we find ourselves in full service to Christ as we use our gifts together. 
 
In Christ,

Pastor John

 

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Women’s Ministry – April 2023

by Melinda Cox
 
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1b-2
 
Women’s Ministry at Trinity is off to a great start in 2023. Our annual kick-off event was held February 5 in the Family Life Center. This year’s themed event was a High Tea complete with many different types of teas, finger sandwiches, cookies, and other sweet treats. Dr. Katie McCoy, Director of Women’s Ministry at the Center for Church Health Texas Baptists, was our keynote speaker. She framed her talk around our verse for the year found in Hebrews 12:1b-2 and wove the theme of perseverance into the lives of three Old and New Testament women: Hannah, Abigail, and Elizabeth.
 
Women’s Bible Study, under the leadership of Pat Hanna, is currently studying the Book of Acts. The July study will be 2 Peter, which was written by Debbie Williams.
 
Other upcoming events are a Lunch at The Cheesecake Factory and Shopping at La Cantera on April 22, a silk scarf craft on June 24 and a Back to School Prayer Breakfast in August.
 
Ladies, please join us as we study, pray, and fellowship together.
 
 

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