Press On! Summer Newsletter - 2010
We knew we were back in the South when we heard the caller patiently tell the radio “Swap Shop” host about the room he was a’lookin to rent.
I don’t need a house . . . just a room or apartment to share. I’m a Christian man who doesn’t smoke or do drugs. I also could use help from someone who does clothes mendin . . .I got 5 pair of bib overalls that need some attention.
After 3 long days of Interstate 40, we were headed up the mountain to our home in Tennessee. Since we have not been here for almost a year, we didn’t know what shape our house would be in. We did know that we were no longer in San Diego. Some things you know for sure. Some things you don’t.
We knew that we would miss our new friends at the 5-month old Metro Baptist Church, including Pastor Sneeden and his wife Eileen. With about 35 faithful folks attending, including some seniors, singles and a growing group of military families, the baby church has already seen a boatload of answers to prayer. We knew that God was doing it again in San Diego--planting a church with needy people, souls saved, and plenty to eat (a BAPTIST church).
Claudia and I didn’t know if our first Friday morning Bible study at Cindy’s house would be our last. Cindy had come to church after receiving one of the 32,000 phone calls made in January. We do know that we enjoyed the cake and coffee. We didn’t know that Cindy would be ready at the end of the first lesson to bow her head in childlike faith and call on Christ to save her soul from hell!
We didn’t know if our visit to Ty, a retired widower, would amount to more than a friendly chat, but Roger and I had dropped in on Wednesday after he visited the church. It was a door-hanger delivered by a visiting mission team that got him to come. Praise God for summer mission teams from IBC in Phoenix, BJU in Greenville, and Westside Baptist Church (Bob Lehn) in Augusta, GA. We didn’t know what God knew--that Ty was ready and eager to turn from sin and trust Christ. After he prayed, his countenance made the breathtaking ocean view from his living room window look almost boring.
I do think I knew that Carol was going to trust Christ as her Savior just after the pastor had clearly preached the gospel. Claudia and I had recently visited her and learned about her church denomination that usually teaches salvation via works, especially baptism. As I approached Carol to chat over coffee, another lady asked me questions about church membership. Speaking to her across the table, I was careful to explain from Acts 2 that though baptism precedes church membership, it has no power to wash away sin. Carol was listening. My next conversation was with her, and it ended with Carol talking to God in prayer, trusting the finished work of Christ for eternal forgiveness. Five minutes later I photographed Carol as she told Claudia about her new-found peace. I did not need to say “cheese.”
Ty, Cindy, and Carol are now attending services and being faithfully discipled by Metro Baptist folks. We know they will be loved and cared for at Metro.
On Father’s Day we had a wonderful time preaching at Victory Baptist in California City, CA. Pastor Ron Smith planted the church some years ago and has a vital ministry to town folks and especially the military at Edwards Air Force Base. What a blessing to think of the thousands of lives touched through the military personnel who have been discipled and sent out to serve all around the globe!
This Sunday I will preach at Oak Ridge Baptist (Tom Craig) in Oak Ridge, TN, planted several eons ago by Dr. Marty Marriott. We have watched this church grow and increase over the years, from a baby church plant into a beautiful new building full of people, with a long hallway of photos of missionary families who serve God everywhere. We don’t know what God plans to do when a new church is born. Some things you know for sure. Some things you don’t.
After a few weeks at home in Tennessee, we will return to San Diego for a final month with the Sneedens in San Diego. This fall we will be either helping a new church plant in Las Vegas or assisting Pastor Jim Oesterwind (just diagnosed with lymphoma) at Heritage Baptist in Antioch, CA. We may be able to serve both churches. We just don’t know. Pray for God’s will. Thank you for your prayers and support. God hears and is answering. America needs balanced churches!
Press on!
Dave & Claudia Barba
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The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalm 23:1
