Missions Minute - The Bartas (April 17, 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.

My February Missions Minute update and Kyle's February newsletter had information about a new sermon series called Blueprint that was covering relationships, marriage, and sex. Kyle also mentioned in the last newsletter the upcoming March visit of Lucas and Sarah from H2O Cincinnati (they were feeling led to move and join the H2O Buffalo staff ). Kyle also shared information about the challenges of students sharing their faith. Of course the most important piece of February news was the fact Kyle and Lindsey were expecting their first child, a baby boy at the end of April!

Earlier this month I contacted Kyle to see how things are going and what has transpired since February. I mentioned to him that I would be encouraging Summit members to directly engage with him and support his ministry. Kyle Indicated he would be happy to talk with anyone interested about their ministry and vision.

I would like to share Kyle's own words from our last exchange.
"The Blueprint series was great. Each service had a Q/A that followed and each time I was shocked by how many questions were submitted. All of our Q/As were around an hour long. I'd say it was super valuable. Yes, the topics were about relationships, marriage, etc... but really we're teaching people to submit every area of their lives to Jesus and showing them how.

Lucas and Sarah's visit was really good. I was encouraged by them overall and by them seeking the Lord's will for their lives. Unfortunately, I got the news a couple days ago that they'll be remaining in Cincinnati. Personally, I'm pretty disappointed and sad about it. I'd appreciate prayers for myself and our team here. Lucas and Sarah would have benefited our church and campus a ton.

Something else we're noticing is that a lot of our students are trying to learn to share their faith... which is really cool. But the part that's been interesting is I have noticed how difficult it has been on them! They don't have a lot of success stories here at UB - the demographic isn't the same as the midwest where a lot of people have some understanding of Christianity. I think that can be discouraging.  Something we're going to try to focus on is faithfulness in these areas and try to remind people that the way is narrow that leads to heaven. These things shouldn't be surprising to us. Part of the reason we moved to Buffalo was precisely because it seemed to us to be more similar to another country than to an American university and we wanted to be around people with lower access to the Gospel.

My largest prayer concerns are the health of Lindsey and baby Barta! We are on the home stretch there. I'd also continually ask for prayers for more financial support. That's something I've been working on this semester and will probably be spending some time working on over the summer. I certainly feel a greater weight to that knowing I've got a child on the way."

I would like to add to Kyle's prayer concerns the following: That God provides strength and wisdom to them as they become new parents!
 
You can learn more about the Barta's ministry and provide direct financial support at https://reliant.org/kyle.bartaYou can contact Kyle directly with words of encouragement and support at bartakyle@gmail.com,

If you are so led, you can send cards and gifts for Baby Boy Barta after he arrives at:
Kyle and Lindsey Barta
196 Koenig Rd
Tonawanda, NY 14150-7533
( I asked Kyle to notify me once the baby arrives)


You can find out more about Kyle and Lindsey's ministry at H2O Buffalo at www.h2obuffalo.net