Encouraging Hearts in the Cowboy State
Wyoming: There and Back Again
by James Barham, Director of Healthy Family Initiative
Pic right to left:
Pastor David Mason, Walnut Valley Baptist Church, Hot Springs
Aamie Mason, Living Well Counselor, Hot Springs
Pastor Grey Falanga, Walnut St Baptist Church, Jonesboro
James Barham, Healthy Family Initiative Director, member Central Baptist Jonesboro
Recently, we packed our bags and headed west to spend time with ministry leaders from the Wyoming Baptist Convention for a Marriage Tune-Up. For two days, we laughed, learned, prayed, and shared life together. It wasn’t just an event—it felt like a family gathering with people we had only just met.
We were inspired by the stories we heard. Some of these leaders are planting churches in wide-open Wyoming towns. One couple serves faithfully in prison ministry, bringing hope behind bars. As they shared their challenges, we realized something—what they face in Wyoming isn’t all that different from what we see here in Arkansas. Ministry has a way of reminding us that, no matter the zip code, the need for strong marriages and families is the same everywhere.
Our heart for this trip was simple: to equip and encourage these leaders with practical discipleship tools for marriage and family they can take back to their churches. We introduced The Way of Grace, a resource designed to help couples and families grow together in faith. [Click here to see a short clip about this resource.]
If your church is looking for a mission connection that makes a real difference, I hope you’ll consider Wyoming Baptists. They’d welcome the chance to share their hearts and partner in ministry.
God has a way of refreshing His people, and He didn’t disappoint. Each morning, the crisp 45-degree breeze drifted down from the mountains, reminding us of His goodness and presence.
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”
Proverbs 4:18 ESV
—
James Barham serves as Director of the Healthy Family Initiative, a ministry of Arkansas Baptist Children and Family Ministries. To bring a Marriage Tune-Up to your church, contact James at James.barham@abcfm.org.