Missions Minute - The Bartas (November 5th, 2025)

This week's "Mission Minute" is featuring Kyle and Lindsey Barta from H2O Ministries at the University of Buffalo. H2O is an on-campus church that seeks to introduce students to Jesus Christ by meeting them where they are at. Kyle is the lead pastor there and formerly attended the Summit before going on the mission field with H2O.

Hopefully you read all our missionary newsletters that are accessible via links in the Summit's weekly newsletter. If not, I encourage you to do so as they tell firsthand what is happening on the mission field. Kyle sent a great update on September 13th detailing the tremendous growth at H2O Buffalo with the new school year.

Today I want to share with you Kyle's responses to some followup questions I posed to him last week:

Life Groups- Kyle mentioned in his newsletter that these are their Bible Studies that meet weekly, but they're also small families in the church.They want the people involved in Life Group to regularly be growing in their love for God together through community, study, and mission. This year they are letting students lead the group and split their one Life Group into two due to the growth. I asked him how they were progressing.

"They've been good!  There are definitely some growing pains because our students are still struggling with being separated from people in the other life group. But, overall, it's been really fruitful. I think each group has a clearer idea of the people they're responsible for shepherding and discipling."

Prayer After Life Group

The Well - In the newsletter Kyle spoke of an upcoming program called "The Well". It is a discipleship program they conduct with students to show what it looks like to be a follower of Christ. Part of the class is being paired up with a mentor that meets with the participant weekly to help them grow in their walk with Christ!. They just completed this 5 week program. I asked Kyle "How did it go?"
 
"Students loved The Well and I think it was a great success. I think it was a beneficial discipleship "onramp" for those that participated!"

Closing Ceremony at The Well

Fall Retreat -  Kyle was planning their Fall Getaway Retreat for the end of September in his last newsletter. At this event they preach from the Bible, help people get more connected into their community, worship the Lord, and give people time away to connect with Him. I asked Kyle how it went and if there were any new baptisms as a result.

"Fall Retreat was great! We had 31 people attend, and I think strong relationships were formed there. Two people were baptized: Jack and Bethany."

The Spiritually Curious -  Kyle's last newsletter mentioned they had a TON of people coming to the church who were "spiritually curious". In early September they had their largest attendance ever with over 80 people. I asked Kyle if they were seeing additional growth and if there was any impact from the tragic event on September 10th.

"We definitely have seen an influx of searching/exploring people and I think that is, at least in part, because of the Charlie Kirk incident. It's been neat having so many new people on Sunday, we're trying hard to make sure we're sharing the gospel every Sunday as a result. And also trying to encourage/challenge our leaders to make connections with every new person, every Sunday. There are new people coming each week!."

H2O Buffalo's Largest Attendance of Over 80