By: Rev. Steve Zimmerman
2024 has been an eventful year for us! We have had activity in all three areas of ministry that we concentrate on helping local churches. As we enter our 15th year in the partnership, we are grateful to God for these opportunities to serve.
One way we help congregations is Encouragement. This is where a partner comes to provide a one-day service in a local church. This year we lead a Sunday School training event in a Virginia church as well as provided pulpit supply to nine other churches in North Carolina and Virginia.
Another component of our work is Focus. This is when a partner labors alongside a church for a set amount of time to provide help in certain aspects of ministry. This could range from one topic like children’s ministry, vision planning or a broader reach such as interim pastorate. Steve Zimmerman concluded a four- and half-year commitment as an interim pastor earlier this year and started another interim pastor role last month.
Our third approach to our ministry is Cluster. This takes place when more than one church comes together to join other churches in a one-day leadership training event. This year we were fortunate to partner with the Baptist General Association of Virginia and local associations in three such events in the Southside region of the state.
Going forward 2025 is looking bright! Not only will Steve continue to provide interim pastorate support, but there are six spring Clusters scheduled either in North Carolina or Virginia. We anticipate that there will be even more ways we will serve local congregations in the coming year.
For a more in-depth look at where we have served this year and where we will serve in the future, go to our Ministry Calendar.
We could not have done all this ministry this year without your prayerful support. One way that we gauge that is through our newsletter, the E-ncourager. This monthly form of communication reaches almost 500 people. Our average monthly open rate of people reading the newsletter is 49.2% with a high of 52.4% last month. The total opens (either reading the article again or forwarding to someone else) per month averages 358 with a high of 399 last month. These last two categories are superb for a ministry group like ours!
In looking back on this year, we are thankful that God has allowed us to use our ministerial gifts. At the same time, we are excited about where He may also lead us in the new year! May the same be said for you as well.
On behalf of all of us at the Barnabas Partnership, we pray that your Advent season be blessed and that our Lord supplies you and your church with hope, peace, joy, and love to share with all those he has called you to minister to in his name.
Steve Zimmerman
Martinsville, Virginia
Paul Raybon
Asheville, North Carolina
Jerry Chiles
Raleigh, North Carolina
Rick Jordan
Lewisville, North Carolina