Rick Barton Ministries
  • Home
  • Newsletters
  • Do you know Jesus?
    • How to become a Christian
    • Steps to Peace with God
  • About
    • About Rick
    • Rick's History
    • Board Members
    • What's Going on Now
    • Calendar
    • Our Prayer Requests
    • Financial Requirements
    • Sermon Audio Samples
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Newsletters
  • Do you know Jesus?
    • How to become a Christian
    • Steps to Peace with God
  • About
    • About Rick
    • Rick's History
    • Board Members
    • What's Going on Now
    • Calendar
    • Our Prayer Requests
    • Financial Requirements
    • Sermon Audio Samples
  • Contact Us

​Newsletters

New Year-New Creations-New Power

1/17/2020

 
Mountain Chapel: Two weeks ago, I was sharing God’s Word at the outdoor chapel on top of Crested Butte Mountain.  As everyone introduced themselves, I realized that we had two VIPS in our midst.  Noah and Jonah were both in attendance!  Thoughts came to mind of when Jesus, Moses and Elijah met on the Mount of Transfiguration! In this case, Noah and Jonah were wonderful boys from Dallas who paid careful attention to the message.  In fact, they took my notes and went over them later with their parents.

The message was, “It’s a New Year-We Are New Creations-We Have Been Given New Power!”  You see, I’m one of those who really likes the New Year.  It gives me a chance to “reset” my priorities, my schedule, and most of all, my devotion to our Savior.  It’s a chance to remember that I’m a New Creation.  I have been forgiven of my sin, been made righteous in God’s eyes, and have been given a mission by my Savior (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).  In addition, I have been given New Power; the person-work-gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit, in order to live my new life in His power (Acts 1:8).  

December Happenings: Of course, December was a busy and blessed month for all of us.  December 1st, we had the privilege of sharing at First Baptist Church of Josephine, TX (Josephine is a small but growing community NE of Dallas-we’ll be returning there February 2-5).  Then our focus became more local with Saturday Night Worship Services, weekly discipleship training, a myriad of ski school meetings and teaching skiing.  Melva and I had the privilege of conducting two “Celebrations of Life” for local families.  In mid-December we started our weekly Bible study for ski area employees and the Sunday afternoon mountain chapel services.  I recorded several Christmas devotionals for the local radio station as well.  

On December 31st, I led a prayer for over 75 ski instructors before we skied down the mountain in our annual torchlight parade.  This prayer is a tradition I’ve been able to lead for over 40 winters.  It started one New Years Eve when the ski school director turned to me and called out, “Rick, pray for us!”  and has continued through five directors.  Invariably, one or more instructors talk to me later about the prayer.  By the way, I really appreciate your prayers for our safety as we ski down a black diamond run, in the dark, holding highway flares!

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones” (Psalm 116:15): Several wonderful friends went to be with our Savior during the past month.  Glenn Miller, a college roommate, ministry co-worker, and best man at our wedding left us suddenly.  John Dennison, longtime friend, ministry supporter and godly example passed in San Antonio.  Ski buddy and ministry friend Monty Goodwyn was “promoted to glory” January 2.  1 Thessalonians 4:13 reminds us that even though we grieve, we don’t grieve as those who have no hope.  As born-again followers of Jesus, we know where they are right now, in His presence, and that we will join them soon to enjoy heaven’s joys forever!

Fire and Police New Testaments: This week we received word from a Canadian Chaplain that he was able to minister to the family and co-workers of a young firefighter who died.  He used the New Testaments and devotionals we had sent him to share God’s love.  The Lord has been pleased to use these pocket-sized Testaments and daily devotionals in wonderful ways.  Inserted in the pages are pictures and testimonies by a number of us along with the plan of salvation.  So far, we’ve sent out over 21,000 fire and police New Testaments around the world with requests this month coming from British Columbia and Washington DC, as well as North and South Carolina!  Your prayers and support make this possible, Thank You!

Missionaries: Several years ago, we felt a burden to help our “alumni” missionaries and pastors in the field prepare financially for the day they retire from their posts.  Sadly, we often see faithful workers facing major financial hurdles upon their return.  So, as the Lord allowed, we started sending a year-end gift from RBM to help them start or build up their retirement fund.  This year, because of your faithful support, we are sending out support to 18 “alumni” and co-worker families.  Several have shared how they had little or no retirement savings and what a difference this makes.  One missionary family decided to only take part of what we sent and asked us to give the rest to another missionary!  The great reformer Martin Luther once said, “Even if I felt the Lord was returning tomorrow, I would plant a tree today.”  Even though we hope and pray that Jesus is returning soon, we want to help these faithful servants prepare for tomorrow. 

Finances: “The generous man will be prosperous, And, he who waters will himself be watered.” (Proverbs 11:25).  We continue to see God’s faithfulness through each of you!  This year we were able to help many families in Jesus’ name.  We’ve been able to share with “alumni” missionaries around the country and around the world! Our benevolence fund was down to fifty dollars with more families in need over Christmas, and the needed monies came just in time!  The Lord has used your prayers and support to enable us to continue to minister in many ways!

Family:  What a joy to see our children and grandchildren grow in the Lord!  Part of our New Year’s “refocusing” is that Melva and I are committed to spending time with each of our children and grandchildren this year.  Please pray this will happen.

More Testimonies and Prayer Requests:  Testimonies include the Lord sparing Glenda Schammerhorn’s life after a heart attack; Glenda and Jimmy direct the chapel services in Tin Cup.  We’ve experienced the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon us as we share in town and on the mountain.  Please continue to pray for CRU staff Rick and Soozie Schneider as Rick fights a major battle against disease, and for little Owen Pennington to be healed. Please continue to pray for the Holy Spirit’s anointing as we share in Josephine, Texas February 2-5, on the mountain each Sunday and Wednesday, and our Saturday night services.  Thank You!

Upcoming: Please see below in highlights 😊

By His grace and to His glory, Rick and Melva Barton

Picture
Rick at Decker Fire
Picture
Rick, Jonah, Noah
Picture
Singing at Senior Care Center

Rick Barton Ministries 2019 Ministry Highlights

As we celebrate over 50 years of God’s faithfulness to our ministry, we give thanks to Him and to each of you who faithfully pray for and support us!  We have sensed a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit as we share and have seen several decisions for Jesus and recommitments this year!

On Crested Butte Mountain: 
  1. Weekly Bible study with ski instructors and others.
  2. Praying with 70+ instructors on New Year’s Eve before skiing down in a Torchlight Parade.
  3. Sharing Jesus with students and employees.
On the Road: (approximately 60 days)
  1. Revival services: Guthrie and Crescent Oklahoma, Delta Colorado.
  2. Preaching: Esterbrook Wyoming, Cripple Creek, Pitkin, and Tin Cup Colorado, Louisville Kentucky, 
  3.        Josephine Texas.
  4. Speaking: At Texas A&M University to graduate students and professors.

On Forest Fires:
  1. Chapel service on Decker Fire-Colorado.

Local Worship Services:
  1. Various churches in Gunnison CO.
  2. Chaplain for the Cattleman’s Days professional rodeo and held a Chapel Service.
  3. Weekly Saturday night worship services. 
  4. Weekly theological training for men called to ministry.

New Testaments and Devotionals:
  1. In the past 4 years we have sent out over 21,000 firefighter, police, and cowboy New -- Testaments free of charge around the United States and several foreign countries.  They are then distributed by chaplains, churches and individuals. 
  2. In the past 4 years we have sent out over 8,000 Fire/EMS and Police daily devotionals free of charge.

Other ministries:
  1. Serving as hospice pastor.    
  2. Conducting numerous funerals for local families.
  3. Our Philippians 4:19 benevolence ministry has assisted numerous families in need, in Jesus’ name.
  4. Writing articles for The Encourager, a Christian firefighter magazine.
  5. Devotionals on the local radio station.
  6. 8th annual dinner for all the evangelical pastors and their wives from Gunnison, Lake City and Crested Butte CO.  This is an evening when we provide a wonderful meal and spend an hour praying together for each other’s families, ministries and revival in our valley and nation.


Upcoming events: Lord willing!
December 31         Prayer with 75+ ski instructors before torchlight parade.
February 2-5        Revival services @ 1st Baptist Church of Josephine TX outside of Dallas.
February 18         9th annual Evangelical pastors and wives dinner.
February 26-28      Rick helps lead worship at High Ground men’s Bible/ski retreat at Beaver Creek.
March 27-28          Rick speaks at a men’s retreat in Westcliff CO.
April 16         Rick speaks at Texas A&M University.
April 26-May 3        Revival services at Abell Church outside of Guthrie OK.
June 7  &  Sept 6    Tin Cup Chapel CO


These are just some of the “highlights”.  Your prayers and support have done wonderful things for Jesus!  
Thank You, Rick and Melva!

    Newsletters

    We send out monthly newsletters. If you would like to be on our mailing list, enter your email address and click the "Subscribe to Newsletter" button at the very bottom of this page.

    If you would like us to send you a paper copy of our newsletter, visit our "Contact Us" page and send a request for a paper copy with your physical address.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016

    RSS Feed

Rick Barton Ministires

PO Box 1155
Gunnison, CO 81230

barton@gunnison.com

​970- 641-3583
Contact Us

Rick Barton Ministries exists for the dual purpose of:

• Presenting the Gospel message of salvation to men and women, boys and girls around the world.

• Encouraging Christians everywhere to greater faith in God, joyful service to Him, and full participation in a local, Christ-centered church.​
Would you like to support RBM?

    Join our monthly newsletter

Subscribe to Newsletter