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October Is
Notes From Our
Director of Missions
I think I have learned something new - the best way to start a Monday Morning is to focus on MISSIONS. That is how I started my Monday - in conversation with several people about our common call to share the Gospel with the world. I am looking forward to several upcoming projects related to missions. I am celebrating how people in our association are following the leading of the Lord in their lives to missions. It was a true Missions Monday for me. Here are some details on a few of these opportunities.
First of all, it was an incredible blessing to join with First Baptist Portales and other Tri-Area congregations to commission David and Kenzie Aguirre as missionaries Sunday evening. This wonderful couple and their two children are preparing to leave in 2027 to serve as ministry catalysts in Eastern Europe. A great crowd of friends and family joined together Sunday night to hear their testimonies of how God has called them to this mission and what they will be doing next. We surrounded them with prayer and celebrated their faithful response to God's call on their lives. For information about how you can receive their reports and support them in prayer contact FBC Portales.
Beginning of the service
Praying over the Aguirre's
One of the things that blessed me about the service was how David and Kenzie planned the service to focus not only on their plans, but to challenge all of us worshipping together to each find our specific mission field to which the Lord is calling us. The service was not just a commissioning for them, but a challenge for all of us to follow the Lord's direction to share the Gospel. There are opportunities for each and every believer to be a missionary if we will just seek them and be willing to obey.
One such opportunity is our developing ministry partnership in Honduras. Tuesday morning was our monthly Pastor's Zoom meeting called "Kingdom Conversation," and was dedicated to the Honduras Mission Project. We are planning a Vision Trip in April 2027 for this Project. The deadline to join in that journey is October 24, our Annual Meeting. Remember that there are many ways to join in this effort - by PRAYING for us, by PROVIDING assistance, and by PARTICIPATING in the trip.
We are just a couple of weeks away from our Annual Meeting, and we have planned a Week of Prayer for Associational Missions during the week leading up to the meeting. Prayer Guides are available for the week. Please contact me or Elaine to see about getting copies of the prayer guide for your congregation. Also, remember our weekly Churches Praying for Churches ministry. Here are the churches for this week:
Registration is open for the Annual Meeting at First Baptist Melrose on Saturday, October 24. It will really help us if you register your messengers in advance. Our annual gathering is more than just a meeting. We will work on the business of our Association for the coming year, but we will also celebrate what the Lord has done in this past year and challenge ourselves for ministries to come. There will be some wonderful food and fellowship as well. PLAN to join us for the Annual Meeting, REGISTER your church messengers, and PRAY for a great movement of the Lord as we meet on October 24. Here is the LINK to the registration page to register.
If you are going to be in Albuquerque for the BCNM State Convention on October 19-20 I would like to invite you to join us for dinner, Here are the details. Please let me know if you would like to join us:
Bonnie and I were blessed to worship in the early service at Central on Sunday and hear their new pastor, Taylor Woods, share his first sermon. Then we joined Highland Baptist in Clovis for their morning worship and a great fellowship meal after.
On my office wall I have maps of our communities and colored pins where each of our churches are. There are only a few blue pins left for churches that I have not been able to visit yet. If you haven't seen me on a Sunday morning or Wednesday night yet, hang in there. I am getting to every one as quickly as I can. In the mean time, if I can help you in any way, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Thanks for being a part of our Association!
Damon
Commissioning Service for
David and Kenzie Aguirre
Just over 100 people were in attendance with at least 8 churches represented at the commissioning service for David and Kenzie Aguirre on October 4, 2026 at First Baptist Church Portales. This included Matt Thackerson from Baptist Convention of New Mexico and International Mission Board missionaries, Ben and Maggie who serve with NAME affinity.
The FBC praise team lead in several songs of worship and Matt Thackerson lead the congregation in prayer David and Kenzie gave their testimony for how they feel God's leadership and are following that in going to serve overseas. C J Garrett, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church, brought the challenge message to everyone in attendance. The service ended with a time of prayer led by Brian Arnold, member of FBC, while everyone gathered to pray over David and Kenzie.
New Mexico Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have been serving the Clovis and Portales communities after the recent flooding. So far there have been 11 requests for assistance and several jobs have already been completed.
You never know when a disaster - large or small - may occur close to you! Although volunteers from this area are usually traveling away from home, this time they got to sleep in their own beds after a day of work! If you are interested in learning more about this ministry, contact Jim Hogg at 575-799-7873 or Elaine Williford at 575-714-7788 to see when the next training will be held. (Hint - the next one is Sunday, October 11 at First Baptist Church Tucumcari.)
The Mayor of Clovis is shown presenting a check to Tri-Area Baptist Association's Disaster Relief Coordinator, Jim Hogg.
Pictured are Damon Pearce, our Director of Missions, Disaster Relief volunteers Deanna and Jim Hogg, and Clovis Mayor Mike Morris.
Two items were auctioned at the Mayor's Ball this past weekend as a fund raiser for this Disaster Relief ministry.
One item was a United States flag donated by the Cannon Air Force Base Commander. This flag had been flown from Cannon on a C130 plane to the first mission in Iraq Operation Epic Fury. The other item was a handmade quilt made by a local volunteer group.
Speakers Highlights
Connie Dixon
Connie has lived her whole life in the small town of Elida, NM. She began her missions involvement as a Sunbeam (now called Mission Friends) when she was just preschool age. Connie grew up being involved in all things WMU and that continued into her adult life. She served as the New Mexico WMU Director for 14 years and then was elected to serve for 4 years as the National WMU President a year after she retired from her position in NM. She completed her service with National WMU this past June. She and her husband, Herschel, love New Mexico and missions! Connie will be sharing at the Missions Celebration how she is "Meant for the Mission, That All May Hear!"
Jamila Toya
Jamila is 1 of only 4 teens chosen as a national Acteens Panelists for the year 2026. She is the first Native American ever to have this honor. Jamila has been active in her church, Jemez Valley Baptist Church, for many years serving on the praise team, as a youth helper for children’s weekly Bible study and volunteering in many other capacities. She has been an active part of Indian Family Camp and Children's Mission Camp and has surrendered her life to missions and serving wherever God leads.
Gerome Fragua
Gerome serves as Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church of Albuquerque, where he helps lead the church’s worship and discipleship ministries. He is a Native from Jemez Pueblo and was raised on the reservation by his grandparents. His upbringing there, along with the influence of his family and his early connection to Jemez Valley Baptist Church, played an important role in shaping his life and faith.
Gerome later earned a master’s degree from Gateway Seminary and has served in pastoral ministry in New Mexico for a number of years. He and his wife, Bianca, are raising their family in Rio Rancho, NM.
At the WMU Missions Celebration, Gerome will lead music and share part of his family’s story, reflecting on his Native upbringing, the influence of generations before him, and God’s faithfulness in bringing the gospel to his family and continuing that story into another generation.
JOIN OUR PRAYER TEAM
If you would like to join our Tri-Area Prayer Team, text your first and last name to Elaine at 575-714-7788. She will pass along prayer needs that are submitted by our churches via a text to the team.
You can see a list of the items above that the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home are requesting from our association for their Fall Food Drive. You may bring these to our association's annual meeting on October 24 at FBC Melrose. And, as always, you may provide a financial donation by clicking this LINK.
Emmanuel Baptist Church in Portales is inviting men, sons, and grandsons to join them on Saturday, October 10th for their quarterly men's breakfast. Coffee will be on by 6:30 am and breakfast served at 8:00 am. Bring yourself and someone else!
Remember that Annual Church Profile and Leadership Reports are due no later than October 12, 2026.
PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES WITH
NEW MEXICO TIES
Would you like to receive monthly updates from IMB missionaries with NM ties? Emily Taigaafi prepares the WMU prayer update newsletter. You can sign up to receive the newsletter by clicking on thisLINK.
ClickHEREto check out the Good Books section of our website. We also have a Spanish version called Buenos Libros which you can check out by clickingHERE.
The Book of the Week is As Iron Sharpens Iron: Building Character in a Mentoring Relationship by Howard Hendricks and William Hendricks. It is listed under the Mentoring tab of the Good Books section on our website.
Think about the people who influenced your life most.
Why did they do it? What did they do? How did they go about it? Answer these questions and you will be hooked on mentoring for the rest of your life.
In As Iron Sharpens Iron, respected authors Howard and Bill Hendricks show that the most dramatic spiritual and personal growth often happens through the influence of a mentor.
Rooted in biblical principles, this book is both a profound and practical guide to mentoring relationships for men. You'll learn how to:
Identify the kind of mentor you need
Maximize your mentoring relationship
Model your relationship after biblical examples
Grow through the shared wisdom of another believer
Influence others as you replicate the mentoring process.
Whether you are looking for a mentor or wish to mentor someone else, this book provides specific steps to begin the relationship and make the most of it.
CLICKif you want to purchase this resource from Amazon.com. It may be available through other sources as well.
Ministerial Staff Searches
Submit a résumé and cover letter by sending it to the following address:
Iglesia Bautista Belen Senior Pastor Position
820 N. Reid
PO Box 2046
Clovis, New Mexico 88102
Central Baptist Church
Central is seeking their next Worship Pastor and Student Pastor. Learn more about applying for these positions HERE. You can mail application/résumé to:
Central Baptist Church
Worship Pastor Position
Youth Pastor Position
2501 N Norris
Clovis NM 88101
First Hispanic Baptist Church - Tucumcari
Senor Pastor Search - Bi-lingual andBi-vocational
PO BX 972
Tucumcari, NM 88401
Emmanuel Baptist Church in Portales, is seeking a parttime Children’s Director. Duties include planning and supervising the Children’s Sunday School Department, and supervising Wednesday evening activities for children.
This church is also seeking a parttime Music Director. Includes selecting and leading music for Sunday service and leading/directing a praise team. Must consider these positions as a ministry rather than a job! Contact ebc@yucca.net or phone at 575-356-8275 for information and/or an application.
First Baptist Albuquerque is seeking a youth/families pastor. Contact Pastor Steven Ball at 214-541-4640 for additional information.
September FINANCIAL REPORT
Beginning September 1 $ 70,564.86
Receipts 12,306.76
Disbursals 10,920.36
Balance September 30 $ 71,951.26
Please make any checks you send payable to: Tri-Area Baptist Association and mail them to 1100 W. Mañana Blvd, Clovis NM 88101
Got a question about any of the above events? Call Elaine at 575-714-7788.
PRAY FOR NEEDS
IN OUR ASSOCIATION
New or updated requests appear below in bold type.
Pray for the potential mission work in Honduras.
Pray for potential Kenya mission trip.
Pray for Ronna Jordan and the ministry to provide water wells in Kenya.
Pray for the potential new ministry between Oklahoma Baptist University and the prison at Santa Rosa.
Pray for Foundations of Faith Dairy Ministry.
Pray for our pastorless churches: Iglesia Bautista Belen in Clovis, First Hispanic Tucumcari, and GracePointe Portales. FBC Portales has called their next pastors but he will not be in place until later in October.
Pray for the Christian Challenge ministry at Eastern.
Pray for all our pastors and other ministerial staff and leaders.
Pray for Joel Castro and his wife, Sara, from Honduras, that they might be able to secure the necessary visas to come to the U.S.
Pray for Carlos Cervantes and his wife, Adrianna, from Mexico, that they might be able to secure the necessary visas to come to the U.S.
