WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
April 2, 2026
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Damon Pearce called as
Director of Missions
at Special-Called Association Meeting
The Moderator of our Executive Board, Rusty Kenyon, led a special association meeting on March 28, 2026 at First Baptist Church House. The purpose of the meeting was to have messengers vote on the Director of Missions Search Committee's recommended candidate for our next Director of Missions, Damon Pearce. The meeting was attended by almost 100 people (including the childcare attendees) with 21 of our 40 churches represented.
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| The meeting started with a worship song led by Fernando Gomez and the praise team from GracePointe Church. Fernando also provided interpretation for the meeting.
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After a slide presentation and description of the search process that the committee performed (brought by two of the committee members, Joe Sparks and Tyler Eanes), Damon spent some time giving additional information about his background and calling to the ministry and discussing what he believes to be God's plans and goals for the association and what he would plan to do as DOM, if called.
Jim Peabody, chair of the committee, announced a question and answer time which included a wide variety of topics.
Jim then brought the motion to call Damon Pearce as the next Director of Missions with a salary as approved at the last annual meeting. Rusty reminded everyone that since the motion came from a committee, it came with a second. He asked if there was any other discussion (none) before calling for ballots to be completed.
Anonymous ballots were then completed and turned in via passing of offering plates. While the ballots were counted, the praise team from GracePointe Church led everyone in a time of worship thru music.
The counting of the votes revealed that it was a unanimous decision to call Damon Pearce as the next Tri-Area Baptist Association Director of Missions. The meeting ended with a call for all who desired to come lay hands on Damon and his wife, Bonnie, and pray for their ministry.
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Of course we had to have a meal afterwards with brisket catered by Steve Smith and all the sides, salads, and desserts brought by members of the various churches.
We want to thank First Baptist Church House for hosting this meeting. And we want to thank the Search Committee for their hard, and lengthy work to come to this conclusion.
We welcome Damon and Bonnie back to this area and look forward to what God has in store for us!
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The theme for this year's Young Lives Ablaze. is "Made in God's Image". It will be held Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Parkland Baptist Church in Clovis. Registration/check-in/t-shirt distribution begins at 9:30 am with actual sessions beginning at 10:00 am and ending at 3:00 pm.
Sessions will include music worship times, object lessons, messages, recreation and bounce house games, lunch, and ends with a sharing of the gospel for salvation.
A $10 suggested donation per t-shirt is requested but no child will be denied a t-shirt.
Parents/guardians and sponsors will need to register each person with their church's children's leaders. Information needed will include their t-shirt size and any gluten-free or food allergy needs.
Children's leaders will need to submit registration information on our website's FORM. Additions and/or corrections need to be submitted but we need to know if it is an addition to previous information or takes the place of the prior submission.
Deadline to guarantee t-shirt order is Monday, April 6.
Use the link above or the QR code to access the church registration form.
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Ladies had a great, fun evening of Bunco at FBC Tucumcari recently.
Churches: please continue to share your pictures/stories with us or post to Facebook. Let's see how we can encourage each other (and maybe get program ideas!) by sharing good things going on in our association.
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Special Prayer Request for Future Ministry
Dr. Joe Bunce announced a special prayer request at the Association's meeting. There have been discussions of starting an educational ministry at the prison at Santa Rosa with Oklahoma Baptist University. Please add this ministry possibility to your prayer list!
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The following is from Will Bishop.
The Worship Initiative is conducting a survey of music and worship practices in SBC churches—the first survey of its kind since 1938 (!)
We're asking SBC churches of all sizes, ethnicities, and worship styles from across the country to let their voices be heard by completing this 10-minute survey. The more feedback we get, the clearer the picture of what worship and music looks and sounds like in our SBC churches.
So far, we've had 9 churches from New Mexico complete the survey. That's a great start, but we'd love to hear from many more of the 300+ SBC churches in New Mexico. That's why they are asking for your help.
Only one response from each church is needed, given by the worship leader, music minister or senior pastor. Would you help us by completing the survey on behalf of your church (the link is below).
Here is:
This survey will be open until April 30. The results and findings from the survey will be presented on Monday, June 8 at the SBC Worship Micro Conference 2026 held in Orlando, FL. This event will take place the day before the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting (June 9-10).
Thank you for supporting this important research and for your faithful ministry to your church and to New Mexico Baptists.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Will Bishop
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Emmanuel Baptist Church Portales is inviting all men, sons, and grandsons on April 11, 2026 for their quarterly men's breakfast. Coffee will be ready by 6:30 a.m. and breakfast will be served at 8:00n a.m. This is a free breakfast - just bring yourself and someone else!
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Central, Clovis is inviting all men, women, boys and girls to a Sportsman's Fellowship Banquet on April 11, 2026 at 6 p.m. The fellowship will feature a barbecue dinner, vendor displays and informational booths, and a drawing for sporting goods door prizes. The speaker will be Brent Henderson.
For more information about the evening's schedule and to register to attend, click HERE.
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Camping on the Rock,
Build Your Life on Him!
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock; in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2
That is the theme and verse of this year's Ute Lake Camp Meeting. It will be held June 4-6 at Ute Lake. Make plans to attend!
Patrick Pachta will be the Camp Pastor and James Golden will lead music. Kay Erwin will lead the children.
Nathan Windsor is the Camp Director and Bevin Avent is the Assistant Camp Director. Contact Joe Garrett at 575-309-9065 for reservations.
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LINK to the Spanish version of the April One Day Prayer Guide.
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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 via a text message that are submitted by our churches.
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PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES WITH
NEW MEXICO TIES
Emily Taigaafi is providing a great ministry of sending out a monthly newsletter. about missionaries with New Mexico ties. She created a FORM for those who wish to sign up for the updates.
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Click HERE to check out the Good Books section of our website. We also have a Spanish version called Buenos Libros which you can check out by clicking HERE.
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The Book of the Week is Great Leader, Great Teacher: Recovering the Biblical Vision for Leadership by Gary Bredfeldt. It is listed under the Christian Education and Leadership: Education and Teaching tab in the Good Books section under the Encourage tab on the Tri-Area website.
The greatest leaders among us are the great teachers among us.
Whether you’re a preacher in the pulpit, an instructor in the classroom, or a behind-the-scenes trainer, you are a leader because you teach.
Using pointed case studies and impeccable research, Gary Bredfeldt informs, inspires, and challenges your teaching skills, allowing you to achieve maximum influence as a leader.
No matter what the size of your flock, you will:
- Learn from such proven leaders as the Old Testament scribe Ezra, the apostle Paul, Martin Luther King Jr., and Jesus Christ, himself
- Examine eight competencies basic to effective leadership
- Identify common pitfalls and cultural traps
- Compare virtues with values to see why quality character counts
- Discover how each congregation requires a different leadership style
Bredfeldt offers realistic leadership paradigms and explores four basic types of churches to show you how best to lead in your situation.
Be the most powerful leader you can be by fulfilling your sacred call... as a teacher.
CLICK if you want to purchase this book from Amazom.com. It may also be available through other booksellers as well.
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Submit a résumé by sending it to the following mailing address:
Iglesia Bautista Belen
Senior Pastor Position
820 N. Reid
PO Box 2046
Clovis, New Mexico 88102
First Baptist Church
Senior Pastor Position
226 Avenue A
PO Box 275
Dora, New Mexico 88115
First Baptist Church
Senior Pastor Position
100 S Avenue C
Portales, NM 88130
Central Baptist Church
Senior Pastor Position
Applicants can find additional information at searchteam@connect2central.com or by using the following QR code:
Central is also seeking their next Worship Pastor. Learn more about applying for this position HERE. You can mail application/résumé to:
Central Baptist Church
Worship Pastor Position
2501 N Norris
Clovis NM 88101
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Restoration Baptist Church is looking for a new Kids Director. See below:
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FEBRUARY FINANCIAL REPORT
Beginning Feb 1 $59,535.90
Receipts 11,031.48
Disbursals 3,185.77
Balance Feb 28 $67,381.61
Please make any checks you send payable to the Tri-Area Baptist Association and mail them to 1100 W. Mañana Blvd, Clovis NM 88101
Click HERE to read or download the latest contribution report for Tri-Area.
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IMPORTANT DATES
Have an event coming up at your church? Email us at tri.area.baptist.association@gmail.com or
send us a text message at 575-714-7788.
April 2026 -
5th - Easter/Resurrection Sunday
6th - Deadline to order Young Lives Ablaze t-shirts
6th - Ft Sumner area ministers and wives fellowship - noon - Rodeo Grill
9th - Portales area ministers and wives fellowship - 6:30 p.m.
16th - Clovis area ministers and wives fellowship 6:30 - Juanito's
18th - Young Lives Ablaze - Parkland - sessions begin at 10 a.m.
20th - Tucumcari area ministers and wives fellowship - 6:30 p.m. - La Cita
24th-25th - Missions Connection - Calvary Las Cruces
27th - Executive Board Meeting - Sandia - 1:30 p.m.
May 2026 -
7th - National Day of Prayer
June 2026 -
4th - 6th - Ute Lake Camp Meeting
September 2026
26th - One Day Mission
Got a question about any of the above events? Call Elaine at 575-714-7788.
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PRAY FOR NEEDS
IN OUR ASSOCIATION
New or updated requests appear below in bold type.
Pray for our new Director of Missions and his wife (Damon and Bonnie Pearce) as they transition to Tri-Area.
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 Baptist Dora, FBC Portales, and Central Clovis.
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.
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Helpful Links
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Click HERE to go to their website.
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Copyright © 2019 Tri-Area Baptist Association, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is: 1100 W. Mañana Clovis, NM 88101
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