Some pastors may be sensitive or even nervous about a new church being planted in their city. Not Dr. Marty Marriott, pastor of Faith Baptist in Warren, MI! He and his church family have prayed and planned for years to birth a new church out of their own. Claudia and I are privileged to help them start Faith Baptist (North) in Shelby Township, a northern suburb of Detroit. They will be sending several of their good families to the new work, and we are working to add to that core via a “Phone’s for You” project.
About a year ago, Pastor Marriott added Pastor Troy Budreau to his staff as an intern “church-planter-in-training.” Pastor Troy and his wife Cherie have what it takes to pioneer a new work, but will also benefit from the encouragement and counsel of Pastor Marriott. During August, the folks of Faith in Warren made 33,857 phone calls to find 2,422 households who requested mail about the new church. We have never had so many faithful folks man the calls night after night to get the word out!
Check out actual phone responses from this campaign . .
“I am a Catholic, but I have a Baptist friend. Send me the mail and I will give it to her.”
I’d give my right arm if I had heard about your church 13 years ago. I’m so glad you are starting in my neighborhood!”
“Are you active in a local church?”“ No, I am a Catholic.
“What did you say?” I SAID . . .my NAME IS DAVE BARBA!”
“Oh …well, I’m not interested in State Farm. I don’t have no car anymore!”
Recorded voice – “I am sorry, but the party you are trying to reach is temporarily out of service.”
The Grand Opening service will be on September 28th. Please pray hard and often as we send 5 pieces of mail, spend several Saturdays hanging invitations on neighborhood doors, and use the phones to make one more call to those on the mailing list reminding them of the opening service. Visit this new church’s website at
www.faithbc.infoPray also for two church planters I am currently assisting who will be planting in spring of 2009. Pastor Seph Coutinho will use “Phone’s for You” to start a new work in Alpharetta, GA (Atlanta area), in February. Claudia and I will move our fifth wheel there in January to assist him until next summer. Pastor Brandon King is planting in North Carolina next spring. We will be training his callers in December. Remember these men who will soon bring new gospel preaching stations into the world!
We will be on the road October-December in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, reporting to several supporting churches, preaching a conference or two, etc. Our schedule is on our website,
www.ipresson.comWe appreciate you and covet your continued prayers for safety, health and wisdom to assist pioneer church planters in America. As usual, we will be voting for our new president (anti-abortion) via absentee ballot. Vote on!
Press on! - Dave and Claudia Barba
P.S. I’m Dave Barba and I approve this newsletter.
