Assisting Churches Today for Tomorrow

Blessings for Church Assist Ministry Association

God has really blessed Church Assist in recent days.  We have decided a new method of connecting with our donors and supporters as well as seek to involve new people on our team.  We held our first CAMA fellowship two weeks ago and had a wonderful turnout.  Steven and Judy Cranston did a great job in hosting our first fellowship.  There was a maximum attendance and several blessings came from the meeting with new supporters and commitments for more fellowships.

During the last two weeks I have had two great opportunities to teach.  I was especially glad to teach at the Sunday School in High Definition conference at FBC Woodstock.  The conference had over 1300 present and there were hundreds of pastors and educators.  I have already had a commitment and invitation from another pastor about working with them to do some in depth analysis and training with his new young minister of education.

In addition to these blessings I am so pleased with the way God is blessing our team at Houston’s First Baptist Church, where I serve as Minister of Education.  Our Bible study team is working together and our efforts are being blessed in significant ways.

We thank God for these and many more blessings.

Church Assist in 2010

As I write this blog an old year comes to an end a new year is about to begin.  At times like this we take time to look back over what this past  has brought and to look ahead at the opportunities that a new year brings.  Church Assist is not quite three years old and these have been years of laying a foundation with Gods’ blessings.  This past year 2009 has been a good year yet with some of the same difficulties that all are experiencing in this economy.  

I am excited about the vision God is giving me as CAMA goes forward.   When I felt led to start Church Assist Ministry Association it was with a deep commitment to do be used by God in helping reach Pastors and other church leaders in an effort to teach them foundational principles of effective church ministry.  Through my forty years of ministry I have been privileged to learn firsthand effective ministry practices based on solid Biblical foundations.  I was blessed in the early days to be approached by Gary and Tamera Luce who were interested in helping such an effort to reach church leaders and together we launched under God’s direction Church Assist Ministry Association.  

I feel that as 2010 approaches our ministry is needed more than ever.   I see many pastors, churches and church leaders that need clarity on how to effectively implement the mission Christ gave His church.  I believe that mission is found in Matthew 28:18-20.  We call this passage the Great Commission yet a survey of our churches indicates that many have lost sight of its importance.  While there may be different methods to use there has not been any changes to the mission.   I see many churches today that are not effectively implementing a strategy that makes fulfilling this mission a priority.  There are many other churches that give evidence of trying hard to fulfill the mission but have either determined not to use effective strategies known to work or have never been taught those strategies.   

If you are reading this and sense that CAMA could be  of any assistance or feel  that you would like to know more about our ministry and how you could get involved  please contact me by sending an e-mail to bpritchett@churchassist.org.   Happy New Year!

Church Assist Ministry Associtation progress and challenges

As we enter the holiday season there is much to be thankful for and praise God for during this past year in Church Assist Ministry Association.   It is hard to believe that CAMA is over 2 years old on the one hand and yet on the other it seems we are just getting started.  Much has happened in these two years and much has yet to happen that we dreamed of.  One of the key blessings for me has been the move to Houston's First Baptist Church.  Not only has this been a joyful family to serve God with but it has been a tremendous opportunity to prove in the field that the principles which Church Assist is built on really work in the 21st century.  Perhaps an even bigger blessing has been the platform which it has provided me, enabling me to reach out and speak with an accepted authority from serving a church with a rich heritage and ministry of integrity.

I would ask those who support us to accept our thanks and our gratitude.  I ask to for your continued support as we seek to keep providing a strong and growing voice to keep our ministries focused on the Word of God and authentic ministry.  Discipleship and Bible study go hand in hand and seem less and less focused on in our churches.  Large churches set the pace for smaller churches and the entertainment/arts model is forcing many churches to lessen if not drop their ministries to small group Bible study and real discipleship.  If God leads you I encourage you to click on the "donations" tab and give to support our efforts.

Fall 2008 Supporters Meeting

On Thursday Evening, October 23, 2008 we held our second annual CAMA supporters meeting.  There were a number of supporters and new attendees as well.  CAMA is still a new and fledgling ministry but the group of those praying for, encouraging and supporting this ministry are important to its future.

God blessed the evening as we discussed all that we have done through the year as well as what we have learned about the ministry.  There are many exciting developments and encouraging signs that God is using this work to make a difference in the church practices today.  It is our prayer that more will soon join us in our effort.

Exciting Opportunities

There have been some very exciting opportunities in recent days to teach a group of seminary students at New Orleans and connecting with two strong churches led by young pastors in Houston.  These are the type of opportunities CAMA is all about.  Helping the next generation of church leaders discover tried and true principles of church ministry and growth.

Happy New Year!

I truly hope that God will bless you and your family with all you need or desire according to His perfect will for your life! God has a plan and purpose for us all! All He ask from us is obedience and faith to walk with Him.

This is our prayer for CAMA as we enter a new year. Gary and I were blessed to see God raise CAMA up out of nothing more than an idea and burden for the church in 2007. Now we pray and trust Him to bless this ministry in 2008 as we seek to fulfill our calling.

Join us in our prayer that God will open doors for CAMA as we seek to make an impact on church practices today. Ask God to lead us as we mentor leaders that we can make a real difference in their ministries.

CAMA Discovery Weekend

Last week Gary Luce and I led the Ingram Baptist Church in Baldwyn, Mississippi in a church discovery weekend of analysis, training and worship.   I have been working with Ingram's pastor, Joel Strahan, for over a year in a mentoring relationship.  He had invited me to come spend time with their Pastoral team which had been working with him to develop a new stategy of ministry.  This meeting proved to be insightful and provided opportunities for Gary and I to share insights and new thinking on their strategy, which they call the Ingram Plan.  Through the discussions we were able to offer evaluation to and analysis.

On Saturday I led their Sunday School leadership in a training workshop.  God blessed with a great spirit and a fresh challenge to fulfill the purpose of the church through the Sunday School.  The weekend concluded on Sunday.  We observed their Sunday School in operation and then I preached a message on the work of the church through outreach and evangelism.

A Busy Summer

Like most of us in today's world I have had a very busy summer in 2007.  In July I left the church where I had served when God gave me the vision for Church Assist Ministry Association.  After 6 years of serving the Lord at Metropolitatn Baptist Church I felt His direction to accept a new call from Houston's First Baptist Church where I lead the Sunday School ministry.  I joined their staff in mid July and since that time have been very busy getting my feet on the ground.  Hence, I have not posted to the blog for several weeks.  I am back and working hard to help move CAMA ahead. 

During the summer however, we have been having some significant meetings with key leaders and other interested in helping shape and support Church Assist Ministry Association.  I am very excited about our upcoming Associate's meeting in November.  It is the first time we will all be together from several states to understand our branding, learn and discuss how CAMA can make a significant difference in ministry today.  Another exciting opportunity that is upon us happens September 28-30 when I will be leading a series of meetings with the church pastor and leaders at Ingram Baptist Church in Ingram Mississippi and preaching on Sunday morning.

One of the major developments we are working on right now is hosting our first CAMA conference in 2008 for pastors, ministers of education and other staff who want to learn principles of a solid Biblical based ministry. 

Watch for news and updates on these an other exciting developments with CAMA.

First Supporters and Donors Dinner

Thursday, June 21, CAMA held its first of what will grow to be many supporters and donors dinner meetings with 16 in attendance.  It was a time to thank those who had supported our efforts early on and bring a report of our progress.  It also was a time to inform  guest and new supporters of our vision and purpose as God is leading us into this grand adventure.  It was a time for praise and a time for commitment.  The evening was in my opinion quiet successful and God was honored throughout.