WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

May 7, 2026

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Glorify God among the Nations -Seeking Him In All Generations 

That is the theme for this year's National Day of Prayer.

Thursday, May 7 is the National Day of Prayer in the United States.  There are a couple of events planned for communities in our area.

Walk & Pray at Hillcrest Park in Clovis from sun-up to sun-down starts the day.  People who happen to be in Clovis will gather in front of the Curry County Courthouse (7th and Main) at noon.  In case of rain (💧!), it will move to Legacy Life Church.

People who happen to be in Portales will gather at RCEC Park (corner of First and Main) from noon to one p.m.

When we gather together in prayer, we support and encourage one another, creating a powerful atmosphere of faith. It is in these moments that we can set aside our differences and come together, united by a common purpose—to seek the presence of God. Let’s rethink unity in our gatherings and acknowledge how it invites God’s Spirit to move among us as we pray together.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

May 6 is Reading of the Scriptures Day in Clovis. This takes place at a location of your choice: at home, on a walk around your neighborhood, etc.  Choose a passage of scripture and read out-loud!

Notes From Our Director of Missions

On the road again… It was an honor to preach Sunday at FBC Elida. What a great fellowship they have. Met people from newborn to seasoned adults. Thanks to pastor Cheston Fair for the invitation while he and a number of church members attended first responder training in Ruidoso. I met some great people.  They had every age group represented from newborns to senior adults.  A number of their students participate in the worship service, sharing announcements, playing instruments and helping with the offering.  It was a blessing to share God's Word with a great church family.  

That afternoon I enjoyed spending a few minutes at the Awana Closing Ceremony at Highland Baptist in Clovis, then joined Calvary Baptist in Portales for a favorite hymn sing. I’m grateful to serve with some great churches.

You may have heard that the House of Representatives passed last week the Clergy Act of 2025-26, which would provide a one-time opportunity for ministers who chose in the past to opt out of Social Security to rescind their decision.  The act now goes to the Senate.  I am not sure what the positions of our Senators will be on the bill, but it passed 300-5 in the House, so I would say that its passage is likely, and the President has indicated he plans to sign it.  I encourage you to stay tuned for information on this law and investigate its implications for retirement for pastors.

We had a WONDERFUL meeting this past Thursday at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Portales, discussing an opportunity to partner together for a mission project in Honduras.  Some folks from Emmanuel were recently there with Mario Navarro, our BCNM Regional Missionary.  Plans are just beginning, but there will be three ways you and your church will be able to partner with other Tri-Area Congregations for this ministry:

• PRAY - you can begin this NOW.  Pray for direction and discernment as we seek how to move forward with this ministry.

• PROVDE - We are setting up an account where we will be able to financially support ministry opportunities in Honduras.

• PARTICIPATE - We are beginning the process of planning a Vision Trip to Honduras next year, to see and seek ministry opportunities for our churches.

The Baptist New Mexican recently had a great article on the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home and how they can assist with Vacation Bible School this Summer.  We are blessed to have them as partners and neighbors in our association.  You can read the article HERE.

Bonnie and I are looking forward to moving the week of May 18.  God has provided in an amazing way for our transition and new home here.  It will be a blessing to finally move and be settled.

I am committed for Sundays on May 24, June 7, 14 and 21.  If there are dates I can help you with in the Summer, contact me. If I can help you in any other way, let me know.  My phone number is 806-392-1191.

Joe Sparks Has Gone North,

North to Alaska

Joe Sparks, pastor at FBC House, and his wife, Becky, are on a mission trip with Northern Lights Missions.  You can watch his sermons on his YouTube page. *They had technical difficulties this past Sunday.

Per Joe's Facebook post, "Jeff Sulfridge of Northern Lights Missions in Tok Alaska introduced me before I preached at Northway Village Mission."

Joe posts some fabulous pictures on his Facebook page frequently.  Here are a few of his scenic pictures from Alaska:

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.  Discipleship will be under the leadership of Joe Garrett.  CJ Garrett will lead the youth group and 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.

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.

PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES WITH

NEW MEXICO TIES

Would you like to receive monthly updates from IMB missionaries with NM ties? Emily Taigaafi has taken over the WMU prayer update newsletter that Karen Pilgreen has faithfully sent out for several years. The format has changed and you will need to sign up even if you already received the newsletter. You can do that by clicking on this LINK.

A message from Emily:

"I am so excited to be given this opportunity to carry on the newsletter. Prayer is so powerful, and it allows us to partner in a very important way with New Mexico missionaries overseas. 

I grew up overseas as a missionary kid, and these prayers from people back home have directly impacted my family and me. 

While moving to a new country, my family struggled to find a place to live. At the time, I was three and a half years old and my brother was one. We spent weeks living out of suitcases in a hotel while my parents tried to make connections and begin ministry. We were understandably growing discouraged. 

One day, after looking at several apartments that clearly wouldn’t work, my dad noticed one last apartment complex as they were leaving the area. Expectations were low because of the price and location, but they decided to check it out. It turned out to be far better than anything they had seen, and my dad was able to secure the apartment for our family. 

When he returned to the hotel, my mom shared with him that it made perfect sense he found an apartment that day. It was her birthday, and she knew people all over the world were praying for her and our family. 

Although I was very young when this happened, I have heard this story many times and seen God’s hand move through prayer. Having prayer partners in the States is a crucial part to ministry as a missionary overseas. We were never meant to do God’s work alone, and prayer truly changes things. 

When we were on the mission field, there was no New Mexico prayer update. The IMB put out a general list, but our own state did not know anything about what we were doing. This is why it’s so important that the WMU started this prayer update newsletter. I am deeply grateful to Karen Pilgreen for faithfully leading this effort over the past five years, as I believe this newsletter has been a crucial lifeline for our New Mexico IMB missionaries. 

Blessings, 

Emily Taigaafi"

Sign up for the newsletter by clicking HERE.

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.

The Bible Study of the Week is 14 Habits of Highly Effective Disciples.  It is listed under The Evangelism and Disciple-making area of the Goods Book section under the Encourage tab on our website.

14 Habits of Highly Effective Disciples

Regular physical check-ups are an important part of a healthy life. 14 Habits of Highly Effective Disciples can serve as a spiritual check-up for our lives. The habits studied will provide a helpful baseline for measuring our spiritual health. 14 Lessons.

This resource was mentioned in a recent sermon brought by Jim Brown, Interim Pastor at Central, Clovis.

CLICK if you want to purchase this resource from GC2 Press. It may also be available through other sources as well.  

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

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 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 Baptist Church Logan

Senior Pastor Search

Email your cover letter and résumé to

Nick Bradfield

Pulpit Committee Secretary

nbradfield@hc.edu

First Baptist Church - Santa Rosa

Senior Pastor Search

635 Lake Drive

Santa Rosa NM  88435

MARCH FINANCIAL REPORT

                    Beginning Feb 1   $67,381.61

                    Receipts                 10,890.26   

                    Disbursals                6,463.41

                    Balance Feb 28    $71,808.46

Please make any checks you send payable to the Tri-Area Baptist Association and mail them to 1100 W. Mañana Blvd, Clovis NM  88101

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.

May 2026 - 

7th - National Day of Prayer - noon

14th - Portales-Area Ministerial Fellowship

21st - Clovis-Area Ministerial Fellowship

Tucumcari-Area Ministerial Fellowship

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.

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 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, FBC Dora, FBC Portales, Central Clovis, and FBC Santa Rosa..

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.

Helpful Links

Click HERE to go to their website.

Copyright © 2019 Tri-Area Baptist Association, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is: 1100 W. Mañana  Clovis, NM 88101

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