Making Christ Known to the World by Living Sanctified Lives unto Him.
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Purchase Area Baptist Assocation
"The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father.'" (John 1:14 HCSB). Our theme is, "Truth with Measured Grace and Compassion."
Statement from Purchase Area Baptist Association
We are aware of the arrest of Barry Hungerford, pastor of Aurora Baptist Church. The Purchase Area Baptist Association is standing with the church as it grieves over the accusations and seeks to minister to all involved. The church is fully cooperating with the authorities as they conduct their investigation. We pray for justice and for healing and will have no other public comment at this time.
Dr. Jeff Vann Purchase Area Baptist Association (PABA) Associational Missions Strategist (AMS)
Churches Helping Churches and Others
PABA's Mission: Encourage Strengthen Bare One Another's Burdens Assistance Support We are not Alone and We Each Matter Stand Alongside Each Other to Take the Good News of Jesus Christ to Our Region and Beyond Making Disciples of Jesus Christ to the Glory of God
Contact: Dr Jeff Vann Phone: 615-812-4773 Cell: 615-812-4773 Email: jlvuk5477@gmail.com
Mailing Address: 1245 Lamkins Rd. Hickory, KY 42051
Associational Meeting - July 24, 2025, at Dexter Baptist Church, 6:00 pm
Meal 6:00 pm--Meeting 7:00pm
We want to give a big thanks to Dr. Steve Freeman and East Marshall Baptist Church for hosting us all in such a grand and hospitable way! We were treated to great food but greater fellowship! Thank you! In our next meeting, July 24th, Thursday, at 6:00 pm, which will be hosted by Dexter Baptist Church and Brother David Little, we will be considering the following:
The Purchase Area Baptist Association (PABA) Associational Mission Strategist (AMS) will update some of the items of New Business brought up in our last meeting. Most especially he will update everyone on the search for the PABA Strategy Task Force (PSTF).
We will be recognizing Brother David Little for his new position with WVHM radio station and allow him to speak about the opportunities for all our churches via his new job. The possibilities may not be endless, but they are greater than before!
Brother Jeff wants to remind everyone to please send their latest and greatest contact information to him at 615-812-4773 (text) or email: jlvuk5477@gmail.com. This means everyone as some of the information I have on file is incorrect or incomplete.
He additionally would like any submissions of articles, sermons, events in your areas, testimonies, and pictures to incorporate into this newsletter webpage. This would be digital images or pictures of all the various churches, their pastors and staff; a church calendar of church events or local events (fairs, Tator Day or such, parades, or civic functions in which everyone in our association might be interested;) times of regular services at your church; and any articles, prayer lists, or special events you would like widely disseminated. The AMS is still putting together the webpage, perhaps a Facebook page, and other media platforms that might be used to promote our churches and our association. Send them to jlvuk5477@gmail.com or text them to 615-812-4773.
There will be an update on the possible partnership with Shane Carvalho, the BSM director at Roger Williams University and church planter in Fall River, Massachusetts, his hometown. There are still many things to iron out in this matter.
We also need to look at a request from Summit Christian University for us to appoint one from our association to sit on the Board of Directors of that institution. I believe this has already been approved but not acted on.
If you have new business to include for our meeting, please let me or Brother Steve Freeman (270-519-9166 or teresafreeman72@gmail.com) know so we can insert this into the upcoming meeting agenda.
We want to thank Brother David Little and Dexter Baptist Church for hosting our July gathering!
Do not forget the other requests from the Kentucky Lake Cowboy Church and perhaps others! Also, I would like to send the association's condolences to Dr. Keith Roach (Community Fellowship BC) on the passing to heaven of his sister. May the Lord's comfort and guidance direct the family. [If there are others you would like published on the webpage please contact Brother Jeff.]
Vision Statement: Our vision is to see Jesus Christ transform our region and beyond through the lives of our authentic churches--grounded in the Bible and boldly living out God's Love and Mercy in the world." (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)
Mission Statement: Our mission is to glorify God by seeking to embody the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we equip the saints for deeds of service, fostering genuine discipleship among our churches to serve the Purchase Area of Kentucky with Christlike compassion. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Devotional thought for our pastors and leaders: "Letters to Shepherds" 1 Peter 5:1-5 (CSB) "1. I exhort the elders (pastors and leaders) among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: 2. Shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you, not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3. not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5. In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because 'God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." This passage reminds us in the ministry that our calling is not a mere job--it is a stewardship. God has placed people under your care, not for your advancement, but His glory and their spiritual growth. We are to do this, as Peter tells us, with eager willingness. The sheep of the flock are not ours; they belong to God. We are stewards of God's trust and He entrusts us with the flock's wellbeing for a season only--to feed them, protect them, guide them, and love. When we are invested in this trust the sheep will hear our voices and follow. Now, that's responsibility! In our day, when ministerial efforts and endeavors might seem wearying, transactional, competitive, or exhausting, remember this one thing, we are shepherds walking among the flock of God's sheep, not ahead of them to leave them behind us rendering them vulnerable to attack or prey: not above them, that we are better treating the flock as if they are beneath us in importance to God. For we are all sheep, and our Lord Jesus is the Master Shepherd who shepherds us all! [Week of July 22-28, 2025.]
I will attempt to provide one of these devotionals on a weekly basis--stay tuned!
ANNOUNCEMENT: Mrs. Marina Shelton, communications specialist from the KBC will be giving a one-night training session at Yahweh Baptist in Mayfield (HWY 58 East next to the Mayfield/Graves County airport) on July 28th, 2025, at 6:30 pm. There will be light refreshments available for attendees. This training will include how to start or improve current media promotion - websites, Facebook page, other social media outreach points giving our social media a facelift and professionalism for which you have hoped. Marina is a Mayfield native but works for the KBC. This is a golden opportunity and pastors if you are not able to attend, send someone from your church that could be your IT Director for your church. Anyone is free to come. Come join us in this crucial area of promotion and information dissemination for our churches and association. I will be there to learn -come join me!
The Purchase Area Baptist Association affiliates through cooperation with the following entities:
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2,400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. These churches have a total membership of around 700,000 people.
The term “Kentucky Baptist Convention” refers to both the denomination and its annual meeting. Working through 71 local associations and in cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention, Kentucky Baptists share a common bond of basic Biblical beliefs and a commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world. CLICK HERE to visit the KBC website
Upcoming Events in which You Might Be Interested:
Interim Pastor Training: July 17th-18th, Kentucky Baptist Building, 13420 Eastpointe Center Drive, Louisville, KY. Steve Rice will be leading this instructive event over two days. He is the contact point for any of our Interim Pastors who are interested in going. There was no mention of cost. Steve would know more about it. The conference begins at 5:00 Pm on the 17th.
EQUIP training event at Trace Creek Baptist, Graves County. This event covers all areas of discipleship you would have in your church. One-night event, August 19th. Cost: $15/person --maximum of $75 per church.
CONVERGE 2025- Crossings Cedarmore, Bagdad, KY (North of Frankfort, KY). Cost this year will be $40 per college-aged person (until August 11th, after which registration will be more). Dates will be September 26-28.
Evangelism Training and Resources for Multi-language Ministries. August 16th at Living Hope Baptist Church, 1805 Westen Street, Bowling Green, KY. Time: 11:00 am to 4:45 pm (Central Time).
Launch Retreat for Student Ministers and their Wives. August 8-9, at the Kentucky Baptist Building, 13420 Eastpointe Center Drive, Louisville, KY. Cost: $100 per couple. I believe meals are included in this, but lodging I am not sure about.
The 188th KBC annual gathering will be begin on November 10th with a Bi-vocational Pastors Dinner and Pastors' Conference. Annual Meeting is on November 11th. Host church is First Baptist Church of Cold Spring. To see about lodging and other details see the KBC website.
That's all so far.
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a body of like-minded local churches cooperating together to reach the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. There are currently more than than fifty thousand Southern Baptist cooperating churches and church-type missions. Though as many as two hundred could be counted as “mega-churches,” the vast majority run less than two hundred in weekly worship. No two churches are alike; but there are certain commonalities that bind Southern Baptists together, regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, language, size, or location.
Southern Baptists are as varied and diverse as the cities, towns, neighborhoods, and rural communities where they live. Each Southern Baptist church is autonomous and unique; only when viewed together can one grasp the diversity that is the Southern Baptist Convention.
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering: This is a unique opportunity for all our churches and members to be "on mission" with God in regions all over the world. It is a gift from our hearts to the Cooperative Program of the KBC and SBC to help in funding the efforts and endeavors of our overseas missionaries in necessities of ministry that may not be funded through their regular budgets through the International Mission Board (IMB). If you would like to learn more on how you or your church might participate in this check with your pastor or the ASM (Associational Mission Strategist,) or local WMU director.
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering: This again is a unique opportunity for each of us to give out of our abundance to help those domestic missionaries serving our college campuses, church planting efforts, chaplains of governmental organizations like the military or civic organizations like hospitals or even companies, first responders, and other places. These folks work through the North American Mission Board (NAMB). They reach ethnic communities, places where most will not go into the inner cities, resources depleted areas, and a host of other "mission fields," some domestic and others abroad. Again, for more information contact your pastor, the AMS, or local WMU director.
Eliza Broadus Offering: This is another opportunity to give to worthy causes within the Commonwealth of Kentucky in State Missions. This offering goes through the Kentucky Women's Missionary Union (WMU) to fund scholarships for worthy candidates in their secondary education, graduate, and post graduate degrees. It also engages language ministries and ethnic evangelism, disaster relief, collegiate missions, evangelism, Kentucky Changers, mission scholarships to members of KBC churches. Assisting missionaries from the IMB and NAMB is care packages, counseling for missionary kids and those in distressful situations. You name it and the WMU of Kentucky leave no rocks unturned to reach those within Kentucky and beyond with the hope and peace of Jesus Christ. They are really troopers. Many times, they have helped Susan and I in our ministries, with our children's needs and so much more. This offering is given usually in the month of September.
Barkley Moore Father's Day Offering: These offerings go to Oneida Baptist Children's Homes in Southeastern Kentucky and help children and families with various ministries including presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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