Notes from our Director of Missions
What am amazing time we had at our 2026 Annual Meeting Saturday afternoon at First Baptist Church in Melrose. Here are a few pictures of the afternoon:
It was a wonderful afternoon of fellowship, worship and stewardship of our Association's business. Thank you in particular to First Baptist Church of Melrose, and pastor Tyler Eanes for hosting us so well. Thank you to Moderator Rusty Kenyon for leading our business discussion so smoothly. Thank you to every guest who prepared an exhibit and shared vision about their ministry with us at the meeting. Thank you most of all to every messenger and guest who joined us for worship, inspiration from the Word of God, and fellowship together.
My message came from Isaiah 6, one of the most powerful revival experiences recorded in the Word of God. These are the truths I tried to share:
* Revival starts with the DESPERATE - "In the year King Uzziah died..."
* Revival starts with the HONEST - "I am a man of unclean lips..."
* Revival starts with the COMPASSIONATE - "I live among a people of unclean lips..."
* Revival starts with the REDEEMED - "Your guilt is taken away..."
* Revival starts with the OBEDIENT - "Here am I. Send me!"
Remember that when Revival happens in our communities, it will start in our CHURCHES. When it happens in our churches, it will start among us as LEADERS. I was blessed that so many joined me on our knees at the altar cyring out to the Lord for a fresh movement of the Spirit in our homes, churches and communities. I intended to share a vision for continuing that petition for revival as I concluded my message, but I wound up going in another direction. I would like to share it with you here:
Everything that we know from Scripture about God's people seeking to know and do God's will teaches us that it starts with prayer. We know there is power in consistent, purposeful prayer. I am asking our church members and congregations to join together each day at 3:20 pm using the words of Ephesians 3:20 as a prompt for prayer asking for Revival in our lives, churches and communities. Whether for one minute or five or ten or just for a second, let's JOIN together at 3:20 each day to pray. Pray for REVIVAL.
With the coming of the Thanksgiving Holidays, our schedule for Pastors and Wives Fellowships will be a bit condensed in November. Here is the schedule as it stands right now:
It is a little bit discouraging to already be thinking about Christmas dates, but please save some time Saturday afternoon December 12 to join us at our home for some great refreshments, fellowship and a gift for each of our pastors and their wives.
I appreciate each of you and all you do for our churches, communities and the Tri-Area Baptist Association. I want to honor and encourage you. Join us on December 12.
As we enter the Christmas season, please help us promote your church activities and ministry by sharing them with us. If you have a holiday calendar or flyer advertising your Thanksgiving and Christmas ministries, please send it to the Association so we can include it in our newsletter and web site.
This week we will be finalizing plans and purchasing airplane tickets for our April 2027 Mission Trip to Honduras. NOW is the TIME to let us know if you would like to join us on this project. Contact me or CJ Garrett to register and we will share about airline departure times and flights. It may be possible to join at a later date, but it will really help if we all get on the same flights at the same times going to and from Honduras in April. Join us now to make these plans.
As you may have read, there was recently extensive flooding in the Four Corners. Our Tri-Area Disaster Relief workers are preparing to deploy to that area to help with flooding cleanup. Also, other NMBDR team members are deploying today to Santa Fe for chainsaw work after the tornado and high winds there. The relief work after the Clovis flooding has been finished. Pray for these teams and others from across the state as they share the Compassion of the Gospel to those experiencing such a terrible disaster.
With the end of the year we will celebrate the service on our Association Executive Board of Tommy Hohstadt and Sheila Owen as they end their terms of service. Rusty Kenyon has completed one term and is beginning a second term of service. At the Association's annual meeting, John Birkey from the Clovis Area, and Shelly Best from the Portales area were voted to positions on the Board. We appreciate these folks to give of their time and wisdom to guide our Association.
Sunday I had the privilege to lead worship in the early service at Central Baptist Church in Clovis, then we made the drive up to worship with San Jon First Baptist. Sunday night I enjoyed visiting in the Experiencing God study at FBC Melrose. I will be taking my first Sunday off since starting this ministry this coming Sunday, and getting away with some friends for a few days in Ruidoso. Please do not hesitate to call me if I can help you in any way. I am preaching at Melrose on November 22, but the rest of my Sundays for the coming weeks are open. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.
I am grateful to serve with you!
Damon
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