Conclave encourages church leaders to invest relationally in the next generation pg.28
PUBLICATION TEAM
JOSHUA MINATREA Senior Director of Resource Development
HEATHER PENNA Content Manager
JESSICA KING News Writer
NEIL WILLIAMS Sr. Multimedia Specialist & Coordinator
LAUREN CHILDS Graphic Designer
MARITZA SOLANO Production Designer
You are receiving a free copy of Texas Baptists Life because of your generous support of the Cooperative Program. To subscribe or update your subscription preferences, visit txb.org/subscription.
God calls His church to faithfully live out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, or the two “GCs”. GC2 churches love God well, love their neighbor tangibly and make disciples of all nations. Read as Texas Baptists faithfully live out this calling.
BIG BEND DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS SERVES MEXICO BORDER TOWNS THROUGH MEDICAL CLINICS WITH RIVER MINISTRY
By Jessica King
‘HERE’S WHAT I CAN BRING’: LUBBOCK CHURCH ORDAINS SPECIAL FRIEND AS DEACON
By Jessica King
FBC PORTLAND PASTORS WALK THROUGH PAVE TOGETHER; EMPHASIZE BAPTISMS AND DISCIPLESHIP
By Jessica King
21 PASTOR STRONG COHORTS FINISH ON COLORADO RETREAT, A TIME OF "REST AND RECHARCHING" By Jessica King
23 LAREDO CHURCHSTART RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM TEXAS BAPTISTS; COMMITTED TO SHARING THE "GOOD NEWS" TOGETHER By Jessica King
28 CONCLAVE ENCOURAGES CHURCH LEADERS TO INVEST RELATIONALLY IN THE NEXT GENERATION By Jessica King
GEAR UP FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING IN ABILENE
Bypass the paper program at signature events and stay up-to-date on news and other important information.
Dear Texas Baptists family,
I am so excited to be with you in Abilene this year for the 140th Texas Baptists Annual Meeting! My hope and prayer is that you and your church will be both encouraged by our time together and better equipped to live out GC2–the Great Commandment and the Great Commission–as you return to the communities you seek to serve in Texas and beyond.
In this edition of Texas Baptists Life, you will read stories of Texas Baptists churches and institutions living out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission by loving God, loving others and making disciples. Whether you are reading online, at the Abilene Convention Center or elsewhere around the state, I hope this magazine inspires you to consider how God is calling you to faithfully live out GC2.
This magazine also serves as a practical guide as you navigate the convention center halls in Abilene. Information on the schedule, speakers, featured workshops, rallies and more are available throughout the pages of this magazine and on the Texas Baptists App, which is available for download at txb.org/app.
God is at work in Texas and beyond! Through River Ministry, Texas Baptists churches are serving along the border through medical missions. Through Pave, the Texas Baptists church revitalization strategy, churches and pastors are being equipped for renewed ministry andrecognizing the unique ways God has called them to serve. It is such a joy to be a part of this cooperative work!
I am also excited about the Texas Baptists Indemnity program, which
¡Estoy muy emocionado de estar con ustedes en Abilene este año para la Reunión Anual 140 de los Bautistas de Texas! Mi esperanza y oración es que usted y su iglesia sean exhortados por nuestro tiempo juntos y mejor equipados a vivir el Gran Mandamiento y la Gran Comisión al regresar a sus comunidades donde sirven en Texas y más allá.
Por amor al Reino, MESSAGE
En esta edición de Texas Baptists Life, leerá historias de iglesias e instituciones Bautistas de Texas que ponen en práctica el Gran Mandamiento y la Gran Comisión al amar a Dios, amar a otros, y hacer discípulos. Sea que lee en línea, en el Centro de Convenciones de Abilene, o en otro lugar del estado, espero que esta revista le inspire a considerar cómo Dios le llama a vivir con fidelidad el Gran Mandamiento y la Gran Comisión.
Esta revista también sirve como una guía práctica al recorre las salas del centro de convenciones en Abilene.
Información acerca del programa, conferencistas, talleres, sesiones generales, y más está disponible en las páginas de esta revista y en la aplicación de Texas Baptists App, disponible para descarga en txb.org/app.
¡Dios está obrando en Texas y más allá! A través del Ministerio del Río, iglesias Bautistas de Texas sirven a lo largo de la frontera por medio de misiones médicas. A través de Pave, la estrategia de revitalización de iglesias de los Bautistas de Texas, iglesias y pastores son equipados para un ministerio renovado y reconocer las maneras particulares como Dios los ha llamado a servir. ¡Es un gran gozo ser parte de esta labor cooperativa!
También estoy emocionado acerca del Programa de indemnización de los Bautistas de Texas, el cual está progresando. Este programa nos permitirá servir a iglesias Bautistas de Texas al proveer seguro asequible cuando tal cobertura es difícil, si no imposible de
continues to progress. This program will allow us to serve Texas Baptists churches by providing affordable insurance at a time when such coverage is difficult, if not impossible to find. You can learn more about the program at tbip.org.
It is a blessing to serve you. I can’t wait to see how God continues to work in and through the Texas Baptists family for His glory leading up to and following our time together in Abilene. Please join me in praying for unity as we rally around the Great Commandment and the Great Commission this fall and beyond!
For the sake of the Kingdom,
encontrar. Encontrará información adicional acerca del programa en tbip. org.
Es una bendición servirle. Anticipo ver cómo Dios continúa obrando en y a través de la familia de los Bautistas de Texas para Su gloria, durante y después de nuestro tiempo juntos en Abilene. ¡Por favor, acompáñeme a orar por unidad cuando celebremos alrededor del Gran Mandamiento y la Gran Comisión este otoño y más allá!
JULIO GUARNERI, PH.D. Executive Director
LOVE GOD
Big Bend Director of Missions serves Mexico border towns through medical clinics with River Ministry
By Jessica King
Before Gary Lamar, director of missions (DOM) for the Big Bend Baptist Association, knew he was involved in River Ministry, he was a missionary along the Rio Grande River with the association, as they have been “working across the border for many years,” ministering to 14 Mexico churches by caring for their medical needs.
He said Mario Gonzalez, director of River Ministry/ Mexico Missions at Texas Baptists, heard of the work he was doing along the border and in Mexico with the association and recruited him to be a part of the River Ministry team.
“[Gonzalez] called me up and he said, ‘Gary, what would you think about being our representative on the river out there?’” said Lamar. “I said, ‘Man, I really don't have time, possibly, to do this because I’m so involved in these churches in Mexico and Texas and on the border.’ And he said, ‘Well, Gary, that's what this River Ministry is... you're basically already doing a lot of this work.”
Lamar accepted Gonzalez’s invitation to join the River Ministry team.
Texas Baptists’ River Ministry connects churches to specific projects along the Texas/Mexico border and in the most populous Mexican cities. The specific projects and areas of ministry include medical clinics, counseling sessions, events to help various family needs, outreach, VBS and social events.
Gonzalez said Lamar’s “contagious spirit motivates us to continue working to extend the kingdom of God to Big Bend and the border.”
“Brother Lamar joining the Rio ministry has been a blessing. Every month, he organizes medical clinics to support the churches in Ojinaga, a border town, where they express that they have felt more supported by the BGCT,” said Gonzalez.
Lamar said since taking the DOM position at the association in June 2024, this year has been “a wonderful, glorious busy” one, and he looks forward to the completion of the association’s dormitory to house missionaries traveling to Mexico to serve in River Ministry’s medical clinics.
The dormitory is a renovated building located on one of Big Bend Baptist Association’s border churches’ campuses in Presidio, Texas. Once the renovations are finished, Lamar said it will have the capacity to house up to 30 missionaries and will
help doctors and medical teams cross the border safely and efficiently.
“This dormitory in Presidio is going to help us on the river so much, [especially] when people want to come down and help out,” said Lamar. “Their biggest expense a lot of times is a place to stay and… if we can have that, the Lord's work can really prosper, I believe, on the river down here.”
CARING FOR BORDER TOWNS PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY
Lamar said every two or three months, a team of missionaries and medical professionals travel across the border to host churches who provide their buildings as a space for medical clinics.
The medical teams consist of a doctor, a psychologist, two nurses, two missionaries willing to set up and convert the space into a medical clinic, then tear it down afterward and two missionaries who get patients signed up for their appointments.
As patients enter the clinic, they are “greeted with gospel” before they sign in for their appointment.
“When they first enter the [waiting] room, they are, for the most part, greeted either by the pastor or another brother or sister and a table… with Bibles on it and tracks,” explained Lamar. “When they leave, we give them a Bible, we give them tracks… and we like to invite them to the next morning's [church service].”
He said that the clinics being held on Friday and Saturday is “a big deal” because the team is able to invite the patients back to that same church that hosted the clinic for Sunday worship.
“You would be surprised how many show up to church [the next morning],” said Lamar.
At the conclusion of each appointment, a missionary has the opportunity to pray over the patient.
Lamar’s first medical clinic with River Ministry was held in Templo Bautista Getsemani (Getsemani Baptist Church) in Ojinaga, Mexico, in March, where he and his team had “61 appointments in a day and a half.” He said one patient left an impact on him.
At the conclusion of this patient’s appointment, Lamar was asked to pray over him, and “he was so thankful.” But what caught Lamar’s attention was that he didn’t leave, but “sitting down and just relax[ing]” in the waiting room “maybe three and a half, four hours later.”
“[I wondered], ‘Why is this man still in here?’... I'm assuming he felt like he was in a place of peace and a place of comfort and a refuge away from outside of that church,” said Lamar.
Throughout the weekend, he said he started to notice that other patients were doing the same.
“When [patients] came into that church to get medical attention, I guess the average stay [was] at least 45 minutes or an hour–when they weren't even at the doctor–up to three, three and a half hours because they felt so at peace being in that place with the love that was shown to them in both the Word of God being spoken to them, the prayer for them, as well as the service to them,” explained Lamar. “Then, of course, the gift for them of medicine and the hope of eternal life through Jesus, [and] the hope of a better life with the gift of medicine.”
Medication is prescribed and administered to patients by Victor Hugo Castillo, a River Ministry missionary in McAllen and doctor who is “licensed in Mexico.”
Lamar returned with other River Ministry missionaries to operate the
medical clinics again in May. The next trip is scheduled for August.
Lamar said each trip, the medical teams “try to [visit] 3 or 4” different churches.
TRUSTING GOD IN UNCERTAINTY
He said “River Ministry is a great ministry because you are able to reach people for Christ, some of which are in the most trying times in their lives,” but it also grows “your relationship with Jesus.”
Serving as a River Ministry missionary has grown his faith by having to trust in God to do the work, he said.
“There is so much to do and so much uncertainty, and you’re just flying by the seat of your pants and you just have faith that ‘Okay, this can work out, and it's gonna happen and we put it in your hands, Lord… we hope that we can fulfill your purpose here,’” said Lamar.
He said the medical clinics are “just a wonderful, spirit-filled place,” and his faith has been sharpened by the kindness of the people he gets to serve.
“My personal faith has grown every time I [work] with the pastors across the river… Every time that I think that we're going to go down there and these [patients] are going to get so much from, but we end up, and I personally end up, growing in my faith because of the gift that they give me without even knowing it– in their kindness,” said Lamar.
He said the people he gets to serve
through the medical clinics “go back out and spread the word” after they are treated.
“The people that you actually take care of are your biggest market. They do all your marketing for you. You don't have to do anything [except] show them [Jesus’] love,” said Lamar. “[So], the Lord can use you to reach so many people in this ministry, both national and international.”
Lamar said “there is a great need for river ministry.” He encouraged anyone interested in serving with River Ministry to not be afraid to contact a River Ministry missionary for more information or schedule a trip to serve on the River to be hands-on and learn “what it takes to minister on this river on both sides.”
“[River Ministry is important because it] gives someone an opportunity to go in and learn the real culture and [adversities] of these people and make a roadmap on how to reach them [for] Jesus Christ,” said Lamar.
Lamar asks for prayer for funds to be able to provide meals and housing for the medical teams and River Ministry missionaries, medicine to provide the clinic patients and a large vehicle to transport teams and supplies to the churches.
To learn more about River Ministry, visit txb.org/riverministry.
LOVE PEOPLE
‘Here’s what I can bring’: Lubbock church ordains special friend as deacon
By Jessica King
“When he's up here, that's his offering to God… with that mindset [and] heart behind what he does, how can it not be encouraging to others to say,
‘Here's what I can bring,’”
Bacon Heights Baptist Church member Victor Reta, who lives with “very severe” aphasia, a language disability that affects one’s ability to speak and understand what others say, serves in several capacities on Sunday mornings despite his disability.
“He loves [Bacon Heights],” said his mother, Rosie Rodriguez. “He's always around. I don't think there's one person in the whole church that doesn't know his name.”
In 2017, Bacon Heights’ previous pastor approached Rodriguez with a desire to honor her son, who is “always helping,” “always opening doors,” “always smiling,” and is an active participant in the congregation and the church’s special needs ministry.
“Our pastor came, and he said the deacons want to do something for Victor… I thought, ‘Okay, they want to give him some chocolate, coupons or something [else], and he said, ‘The deacons have talked and they voted, and they would like to ordain him as a deacon,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said Reta’s desire to serve “came on its own,” so showing up to serve has “started growing him and blessing him in ways that we were not aware [of].” She said through the years, he has “gotten so many recognitions at church [and] at work” for his service.
“I call him our Forrest Gump because all he does is show up, and he's Victor. He just does what Victor does. But then all these other blessings come his way without him even asking or knowing about it,” said Rodriguez.
“God has really used him and we're really proud of him, but we know that it's God working in him.”
As a deacon, Reta serves as a greeter and takes up the offering at the end of Sunday service, helps new members and guests get to the right places, and even helps out in Bacon Heights’ special needs ministry Sunday school class. He also volunteers during the week, helping facilities manager and “Victor's best friend,” John Kjosa, with building upkeep.
Kjosa participated in Reta’s deacon ordination ceremony by washing his feet, “which [was] such a special thing for [him].”
“LOVING WELL” THROUGH SPECIAL NEEDS MINISTRY
Bacon Heights Lead Pastor Sammy Elliott, who joined the church staff in 2021, said, “an exciting thing in the life of Bacon Heights is their emphasis and strategy of loving well… [and] that shows up in so many ways, [especially] with special friends.”
The special needs ministry hosts a Sunday school class called “Aspire,” which gives special friends “learning opportunities and activities” during both service hours. Once a month, the special needs ministry also hosts “First Fridays,” a worship service specifically for special friends.
“One of our pillars of our vision and mission is that we love as Jesus loved. And that's easy to see on paper, but we see that play out and fleshed out in all of our ministries, but especially our
special friends ministries,” said Elliott.
HIS SERVICE “REMOVES EXCUSES”
Elliott said Reta “provides a light for us to follow” in serving in the church.
“When you see somebody like Victor serve, it removes excuses,” said Elliott.
Elliott said “[Victor’s] willingness to say ‘Here’s what I can bring,’” encourages the congregation to do the same.
“When he's up here, that's his offering to God… with that mindset [and] heart behind what he does, how can it not be encouraging to others to say, ‘Here's what I can bring,’” said Elliott.
In addition to serving as a deacon, Reta has also participated as a camper at the Texas Baptists Special Friends Retreat, a retreat for individuals aged 12 and older with cognitive or intellectual disabilities, for 25 years, since it began in West Texas.
He said going to retreat every year reminds him of how deeply Jesus loves him. His favorite part of the weekend, he said, is getting to worship with his friends.
Special Friends Retreats are kicking off Oct. 3-4 at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Camp & Conference Center in Cedar Hill. Special Friend Retreat is scheduled for four different weekends and locations around the state, including at Bacon Heights on December 6.
To find the dates and location of the Special Friends Retreat nearest you, visit txb.org/specialfriends.
MAKE DISCIPLES
FBC Portland pastors walk through Pave together; emphasize baptisms and discipleship
By Jessica King
First Baptist Church Portland “had been through a period of plateau and decline” that was “accelerated by COVID,” so pastor Ron Earley began searching for resources and programs to revitalize his church.
In spring 2024, Earley and FBC Portland’s associate pastor, Austin Young, met with Jonathan Smith, director of Church Health and Growth at Texas Baptists, to discuss whether or not Pave, Texas Baptists’ church revitalization strategy, was the right fit for them.
“I was looking for outside perspectives and ideas on how to move forward, and I investigated several. We interviewed, met with other groups and had a meeting with Jonathan. He met with us online personally and [we] decided that was the best process for us,” said Earley.
Earley and Young began the Pave process together in October 2024. Earley said he decided to go through Pave alongside Young to increase their collaboration, divide responsibilities and “get each other's perspectives on things [we learn].”
Young said they have not faced the same challenges as other pastors in their cohort because they have “complementary strengths.”
“Ron's been able to provide a lot of wisdom to me,” said Young. “This is my first full-time ministry job, and so being only six years in, I'm starting to gain
that people experience [that seminary education doesn’t teach you]. But to be able to hear the experience of someone that's done this a lot longer has really kind of helped me develop [those skills].”
Earley said that from their different strengths, he’s been able to gain a different generational perspective on ministry from Young.
“Austin's educational experience is fresher. He's been exposed to more current [ministry tools, and] I haven't been in that environment formally in a while. I think once again, [having] different perspectives… that’s been really positive [for us],” said Earley.
Earley said that the relationship he has built with Young, walking through Pave together, has encouraged their congregation.
“Churches are multi-generational and we struggle some in our context sometimes with the [gap between the] older and the younger [generations], but it's really not about that. It's really about all of us trying to accomplish the mission of the church [together],” said Earley.
EMPHASIZING BAPTISMS HAD “AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT”
Early and Young decided to lean into the Pave principle “display the church you want to become” and began emphasizing baptisms, membership and mission trip reports.
To emphasize baptisms, video
testimonies are shown and a sermon series is about to kick off where members “share their story about growing in Christ.”
Earley said this has had “an immediate impact” on the congregation.
“We had a spell right after we started [emphasizing baptisms] where we baptized a whole bunch and then we didn't baptize for a couple months and people thought that was weird. Whereas I think before we emphasized [baptisms], people wouldn't think it was weird to have a gap in baptism,” explained Young.
Young said emphasizing baptisms has shifted “the overall mentality of the church.”
“Intentionally highlighting things that God is doing [and] making the church aware of those things [is] a huge thing,” explained Young. “I think that people feel like the Lord is doing something, and it's something that's tangible… Church members are starting to shift their attention to it.”
Earley said he has seen “more energy, more enthusiasm,” and awareness, from church members about how God is moving as he and Young have applied Pave principles to their leadership. He said he hopes to provide the congregation with more context behind the “why” of implementing those principles.
“The ‘Know Your Church,’ the demographic and psychographic
report – a simple stat I can pull out of there… is that 60% of our community are millennials or younger,” explained Earley. “People get in their own bubble, they only see what they want to see, and so, I'm looking forward to when we really expand some of that out into the church to help inform people and help people understand more of, ‘This is why we're doing this. This is why we think we should do this,’ not just because it's cool or new or innovative… I hope [the reports will] really help us with that.”
21-WEEK DISCIPLESHIP
STUDY CREATES “TIGHTER SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY”
FBC Portland has also been putting an emphasis on discipleship with a 21-week discipleship study called, “The Grow Series,” which started with the church’s leadership team last September.
Earley said there has been a unique response to the study.
“I just became burdened that our leaders needed to be discipled, and I thought, ‘I've been here 14 years, and so I thought ‘[If] I would have spent time [investing in] three or four or five people every year for 14 years, just think how many people that would be… [So] I said, ‘Now let's start!” said Earley. “Men have primarily latched on, which I think is unique for our setting. The women have [too], but the people that are most excited are men.”
Young said he was pleasantly surprised by how God moved in his “Grow
"Leadership openness and the resulting servanthood provide one of the powerful ingredients towards church revitalization."
Series” cohort.
“I did the 21-weeks with three other guys in my church and I was kind of expecting it to go as well as it did. But [I got] to see each of these guys grow in their faith, and grow in their ability to share in their faith, and really hunger for the things of God and also their desire to [say], ‘Let's take what we have learned [and apply it],’” said Young. “Now they're going to start their own cohorts this fall.”
Ron Earley baptizing Laney Foxsmith, a member of the deaf community and ministry at FBC Portland, on Feb. 27. Early and Young decided to lean into the Pave principle “display the church you want to become” and began emphasizing baptisms, membership and mission trip reports.
Young said the discipleship study has “really developed into more of a tighter spiritual community within the church.”
“Out of that 21-week study, I built a community [where] we still text every day. It's just been something that obviously God has breathed on, as I’ve built those relationships… It's this picture of discipleship that now they're walking through this with other people and building those relationships,” said Young.
Young said he was encouraged by the Pave principle “don’t microwave the brisket.” He encouraged pastors going through revitalization to not rush the process.
“My tendency is to rush into things and to just try and get it done all at once… [and] you can get discouraged because it takes a while, but you can also burn yourself out trying to do all of it at once, too,” said Young. “So sitting back watching God work, trusting the process, and not microwaving the brisket, I think is pretty important.”
Earley echoed this. He encouraged pastors to “not get discouraged [and] don’t give up.”
"It's taken us a long time to get where we're at, so [Pave is] not like a magic bullet that’s going to fix everything. It's going to take time for us to move forward and grow through this. So just be encouraged to work through it. Don't give up,” said Earley.
Earley and Young’s Pave coach, Doug Cassady said the pair’s receptiveness and application of what they assessed and learned in Pave has made them valuable leaders.
"Leadership openness and the resulting servanthood provide one of the powerful ingredients towards church revitalization,” said Cassady. “[Earley and Young’s] love for their church and community drives this servant-hearted approach, and its value can't be overstated. They are leaders who love, learn, and serve.”
Visit txb.org/pave to learn more about Pave and how it can be a resource to your congregation.
Schedule
16
SUNDAY
3:00–4:30 p.m. Afternoon Reception
4:00–6:30 p.m. Registration Open
4:00–6:30 p.m. Exhibits Open
4:00–6:30 p.m. Rallies
5:00–6:45 p.m. Dinners
7:00 p.m Worship Session #1
8:30 p.m. Receptions
17MONDAY
7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m Registration Open
8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Exhibits Open
8:00–9:00 a.m. Workshops Session #1
9:30–11:30 a.m. Business Session #1 / Worship Session #2
7:00–8:15 a.m. Breakfasts 8:00–9:30 a.m. Registration Open 8:00–10:00 a.m. Exhibits Open 8:00–9:00 a.m. Workshops Session#4
9:30–11:45 a.m. Business Session #2 / Worship Session #4
Awaken the Church's Heart:
Igniting Mission Through Six Transformative P's
Clinton W. Lowin
Texas Baptists: Beautifully Diverse
Mark Heavener
Cultivating a Church Planting Culture
Tom Howe
Thriving Churches in Small Towns & Rural Communities
Ruben Castillo, Albert Walker and Ira Antoine
Gen Z and Millennials: How They Lead and Follow
Kyle Jackson, Israel Mendez, Cameron Strange and David Foster
Pastor Strong
Kevin Abbott and Chad Schapiro
Sexual Abuse Prevention –An Effective Safety System
Gregory Love and Olga Harris
Executive Board hears GC2 Strong reports, insurance program update during September board meeting
The September meeting of the Texas Baptists Executive Board was held on Sept. 22-23 in Dallas, TX. Board Directors approved the 2026 proposed budget, elected officers, heard ministry reports and considered 19 unique recommendations during the two-day business meeting.
Camp Fusion students learn that “Christ has made us for community”
July 22-26, 350 students across 36 churches gathered at Latham Springs Camp & Retreat Center in Aquilla for a week of worship, teaching and fellowship. With the theme “Converge,” students learned that “as believers, it is our goal and our joy to be fully united as one body.”
Singing
Men of Texas celebrate 50 years of proclaiming the gospel through song
The Singing Men of Texas (SMOT) celebrated their 50th anniversary on August 15 by playing a concert at Riverbend Centre in Austin. The concert featured 360 singers and orchestra members, with representatives from all six regional chapters, and welcomed 1,840 attendees.
Texas Baptist Mission Foundation holds groundbreaking ceremony for new Baylor BSM building
In July, the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation (TBMF) announced that it had officially met the requirements of the Mabee Foundation Challenge Grant, awarded in July 2024, toward the construction of the new Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) building at Baylor University. TBMF held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new BSM building on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
STAFF
CLAY JACOBSON
HOWE
CURLEY III
CURLEY III HAS JOINED THE CENTER FOR CHURCH HEALTH AS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EVANGELISM SPECIALIST. TOM HOWE HAS JOINED THE CENTER FOR CHURCH HEALTH AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF CHURCH HEALTH & GROWTH. Does your church or pastor have an anniversary coming up? Let us know at news@texasbaptists.org
Oct 5
Silva
Grateful to represent Texas Baptists alongside Kris Knippa, Tim Pierce with Wayland Baptist University, BSM Staff Hannah Green and Staci Byrd with WTAMU & Amarillo College at the Amarillo Area Baptist Association 72nd Annual Meeting. A Great time of celebration with New Church Start Falam Christian Church and a challenge for compassion for Missions led by Robert Wheat, Hill Country Baptist Association Director of Missions.
Jose Aguilar Jr.
Sep 15
We may not have turned in a scorecard with the best round BUT we did have fun at the Texas Baptists Golf Tournament in San Antonio today. #TexasBaptists #TXBMH #GreatCommandment #GreatCommission
James-n Rochelle Roots
Sept 4
What a great "Art of Preaching & Teaching Lab" today in McAllen, Texas!!! Pastors and ministry leaders were encouraged and equipped, including us! It was wonderful to see many friends and to make new ones.
Thank you Texas Baptists for planning the event and Stark College & Seminary for hosting it!
First Baptist Church, Mathis, TX
Sept 14
Really thankful to have had Dr. Julio Guarneri, Executive Director of Texas Baptists here with us today. After service, Julio met with other church members from the Blanco Baptist Association to share more about our state convention and its resources, mission and values.
Oct 7
Jones
What a blessing to train NextGen Leaders in Evangelism at the Conclave Conference! Always great catching up with Dr. Dennis R. Wiles All Things Evangelism. Texas Baptists
Tag Texas Baptists on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for a chance to be featured in our next magazine.
Arnoldo Juarez is with Texas Baptists
Sept 15
Thank you, brother Rolando Rodriguez for the invitation to celebrate Hispanic heritage month with Texas Baptists Texas Baptists en Español
Pablo
Oza
Johnny
Pastor Strong Cohorts finish on Colorado retreat, a time of “rest and recharging”
By Jessica King
August 3-7, 47 Pastor Strong Cohort participants traveled to Buena Vista, Colorado, for a time of “worship and soul care and… community” to celebrate how God moved in and through the cohorts since their start in April.
“We end with the retreat on purpose after four or five months together in the trenches of learning and growing and being shaped and formed and gaining clarity of who we are, as Christ followers and as leaders, and then we come together at this moment of respite and rest and just soul care,” said Kevin Abbott, Area 5 representative and director of Pastoral Health Networks at Texas Baptists. “It's a beautiful way to end [the cohort sessions].”
The Pastor Strong Cohorts, made up of “pastors who are serving in kingdom work and the local church,” met once a month to focus on “elements of mental, spiritual, emotional or physical health” in ministry.
Abbott said the cohorts are intentionally designed to “introduce [pastors] to those areas of health that are so important.”
“The spiritual formation of us as leaders and pastors is crucial… [So] we believe with the [Pastor] Strong Cohorts, it's important to get information, but you need to take that and process it in a safe community together, and then you need to be coached through it, and have accountability and that leads to transformation,” said Abbott.
RE-ENERGIZED BY AUTHENTIC CONVERSATION
San Antonio Cohort Participant Calvin Copeland said being a part of the Pastor Strong Cohorts “has been nothing but rewarding the entire time.”
He said he loved that his cohort’s meetings engaged in genuine discussion about their ministry.
“[We were] sharing our hearts. We weren't talking about congregation sizes, and we weren’t talking about how much money we were raising, but we were talking about what it meant to us to impact the lives of others,” said Copeland. “For
the first time, there was none of the performance things that I have seen over the last 40 years of being in ministry, but there was a real connection. Quite frankly, it's something that I have always longed for in ministry… There was a time that I was done with ministry, and so Pastor Strong really did re-energize me in believing that we really can make a difference.”
Copeland said the cohorts have been impactful because “they deal with soul care” and help pastors “understand why we're doing what we do and how to manage our bitterness and our wounded places and our hurt places.”
“[I’m reminded of] what the Scripture says, that Christ loved the church by washing us with the water of the word to remove every wrinkle, every stain and blemish, so that he can present us back to himself without any of those wrinkles and stains and blemishes again,” said Copeland. “I just love the fact that this is a group that gets that we're on a constant journey for healing. People call it transformation, but I don't think you can be transformed without getting healed. Clearly, this cohort, Pastor Strong, gets that.”
Copeland encouraged pastors to get involved with Pastor Strong because it will “help you to identify how to be more authentic because they'll model it.”
“It'll be an initial shock to your system to be in a room full of pastors who are authentic and genuine, but you stay there long enough and you will be able to do the same thing, and there is nothing more transformative for us to be authentic with God because that's when we get to see his authentic self,” said Copeland. “Many of us don't know what we're struggling with until we're confronted, or until we find a friend who wants to sit with you and just let you share, and that's what Pastor Strong does for you.”
RETURNING A REFRESHED, MORE EFFECTIVE LEADER
Jose Perez, church planter from Cleveland, Texas, said the Pastor Strong Cohorts encourages and teaches pastors that
“you’re not alone.”
“Pastor Strong, I guess in one word, you could say it's a community. Being a pastor personally, I know that a lot of times we feel isolated… there's a lot of stuff that we have to deal with in the congregation, and a lot of times our own feelings around situations, we don't have anybody to talk to,” explained Perez. “Pastor Strong is a community where we could talk to each other… we could be ourselves with them, and they could totally understand [what we’re going through].”
Perez said his church plant was “one of the pilot programs” for Resilient Cohorts, now Pastor Strong, developed by Abbott when he was on staff at the Union Baptist Association.
“[I] heard about [Resilient Cohorts and] fell in love with it. It actually helped me out personally as well. So, when Kevin invited me to be part of [Pastor Strong Cohorts]... I said, ‘Kevin, absolutely!’ I know it transformed my life, and I would like to see other lives be transformed as ours was as well,” said Perez.
Perez said by walking through the cohorts, Pastor Strong creates a sense of unity for pastors and reminds them of the call God has put on their lives.
“No matter if we’re Hispanic, Anglo, African-American, we're all called by God to do his service for his people. But I love it because we find out that there's other people going through the same thing, and we just all share our stories, and it encourages our spirit to keep on and keep on loving our congregation, but above all, to obey what God has for our lives,” said Perez. “[Pastor Strong is] uniting the body of Christ to continue to encourage them and get stronger, and also to replicate churches with the same DNA that they are now teaching us.”
Perez said Pastor Strong is “just life-transforming,” but “not only for the pastors, but also for our congregations” because they receive “a refreshed pastor” and are encouraged to begin serving in the church.
Troy Allen, senior pastor of First Baptist Church College Station, echoed this. He said the retreat was valuable because it gave him some “time and space to hear from the Lord” and be
encouraged to “stay in the fight.”
“I think that's something that's really great about this retreat is just having time to be away and to just spend time with God, and giving him that space that a lot of us don't necessarily have, to really intentionally listen to the Lord and what he has to say to us and to remind us that he has us where he has us for a reason, to encourage us and to encourage one another to continue to stay in the fight and continue running the race that he's laid out before us,” said Allen.
He said concluding the cohorts with a retreat that’s “strictly devoted to rest and recharging and rejuvenation is incredibly important” to leading well in ministry.
“When pastors are mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually healthy, they're better leaders, they're better pastors and are able to care for people better because they've cared for themselves,” said Allen. “I imagine that the guys that are here are going to be able to go back and serve their churches a lot more effectively because they've just had some downtime where they haven't had to answer a bunch of questions and solve a lot of problems… but just have time to worship together, time to pray and reflect.”
PASTOR STRONG “MET AN IMMEDIATE NEED”
David Smith, Austin Baptist Association (ABA) executive director, said he is “always looking for ways to provide value and serve the pastors of our association” and Pastor Strong “met an immediate need” in that regard.
When Smith heard that Abbott had joined the Texas Baptists staff and brought Pastor Strong with him, he said, “‘Whatever you’re doing, I'd like to be a part of.’”
“[Pastor Strong] chose to do a cohort in San Antonio, in Houston, College Station and in Dallas, and, not wanting to be left out, I said, ‘Hey, listen, I'm in Austin. Can I drive my guys down?’ And very graciously, they said, ‘Absolutely, this would be great,’” explained Smith. “It works out well. Most of the days, [sessions are] about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We'll get up, leave Austin about 6:30 in
the morning, grab coffee, visit on the way there, go through the training with some extraordinary leaders and then head home and debrief.”
Smith said his hope for his pastors is that “we can take [what we learned] back to Austin and begin other groups and really have an opportunity to impact pastors across the association.”
“We talked about this last night at dinner: ‘What does it look like for us to go back home and to replicate what we've experienced here?’” said Smith. “There's a lot of excitement around the table.”
“THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE”
Abbott said the cohorts have made a “powerful impact” in the life of participating pastors.
“We've seen many [pastors] come back after 4 or 5 months of this and say, ‘Kevin, I'm leading differently,’ or ‘I see leadership through a different lens,’ ‘My people are noticing a difference when I teach and preach and when I lead meetings and how I do discipleship,’” said Abbott.
Abbott said “one of the biggest desires” of the cohort is that it would band a community together and lower the number of pastors leaving ministry “in an intentional way.”
“We've had several pastors come in and out of the cohort, and they've been very honest and raw moments throughout it saying, ‘Kevin, I wasn't going to be a part of this cohort, but I'm glad I did because I was thinking about leaving ministry all together and this band of brothers, this cohort, this process, kept me in the game,’” said Abbott.
Allen said, “the best thing about Pastor Strong is you learn this: you're not alone.”
“[Pastor Strong will] probably be the best investment that you can make in yourself,” said Allen.
To learn more about Pastor Strong and how you can get involved, visit txb.org/ strong.
Laredo church-start receives support from Texas Baptists; committed to sharing the “Good News” together
By Jessica King
Itell people], ‘You don’t have to come work out, you just got to come worship God,’” said Jesse Liendo Jr., church planter and lead pastor of Good News Church.
Good News Church has met “inside of a gym called Muscle Fitness Center” in Laredo since it was planted last spring. Liendo said his previous church “had a Spanish ministry for about 10 years,” and he was given the opportunity to “plant an English service.”
“We were there for about a year, a little over a year, and then there was some things that went on, and they decided not to have an English service anymore, so we formed Good News Church,” said Liendo.
He said the name “Good News Church” was inspired by his own experience of not understanding the gospel for his “whole young life.”
“Laredo is primarily a Catholic community, and I was raised actually in a Catholic school… but I never understood the gospel,” said Liendo. “I think people think that they need to earn God’s salvation, and it was earned on the cross, and when people hear the gospel, the true gospel, it’s hard not to respond in the proper way, [with] gratitude.”
Liendo wanted to prioritize helping the community understand “the true gospel.”
“Like Romans says, ‘How can they hear if they don’t have a preacher?’” said Liendo. “That’s where the name came from.”
He said his desire for church planting came from his time as a worship leader at a previous church, where he recruited and taught musicians.
“After COVID, we lost a lot of people, a lot of volunteers, and I replanted the welcome team and started recruiting again, building a new thing,” said Liendo. “I was thinking, ‘Well, I’m a starter. We plant things. We keep going.’”
He said since planting the church, he has received much confirmation from God to “keep going.”
“Maybe I’m not the one that continues it, but in this case, I am, and… While there’s doubt often if I’m even suitable for the pulpit, when I see these people coming together, people that would’ve never met if this church didn’t exist and people from totally different backgrounds, and I see them having fellowship, it’s a confirmation from God for sure,” said Liendo.
GOD’S PROVISION IS HIS CONFIRMATION
Good News Church began receiving support from Texas Baptists after Liendo’s Facebook friend and Texas Baptists Church Starting Strategist for South Texas, Daniel DeLeon, noticed a change in where Liendo was serving.
“[DeLeon] said, ‘Hey, is this a new church? We’d like to support you.’ I said, ‘Actually, no, we’re part of this [established church].’ Then, when we came in on our own, he noticed the change of background and scenery, and he messaged me again,” explained Liendo. “So we started in April [2024] and I think it was around July, August that we started officially being supported by Texas Baptists.”
He said Texas Baptists has been “a huge support” in establishing Good News Church through donating all of the technology equipment: “The soundboard, the microphones, the laptops, the cameras.”
“When God is providing it, it’s another confirmation [from him]: ‘Keep going. Stay true,’” said Liendo.
Liendo said beyond providing for the church’s physical needs, Texas Baptists has been a support to him spiritually.
“[Church planting] can be a lonely hill,” said Liendo. “I meet with Daniel quarterly and even then he’s pretty open to taking my call. Whenever I need [advice], he’s affirming things that are going well, giving me pointers.”
Joe Aguilar, Area 3 representative for Texas Baptists, has also been a mentor to Liendo.
Alongside pastoring Good News Church, Liendo serves as chaplain and paramedic instructor for the Laredo
Fire Department.
“I’m actually also a chaplain for the fire department, and there’s another chaplain, so anytime I need peer support or I need counsel, I call him,” said Liendo.
CREATING A CULTURE OF WALKING TOGETHER
Liendo said doing ministry together is important and “encouraging to know you’re not the only one out there.”
“The way I see it is if I can help anybody, my ceiling will be their floor, and they won’t make the same mistakes I made, or they still might, but at least they’ll remember me [sharing about] it and say, ‘Oh, wait, okay, he knows what we’re going through,’” explained Liendo. “[It’s similar to] when God delivers you from a certain sin that you’ve been struggling with, and now you can walk in that freedom and help somebody else struggling with a similar sin.”
Liendo said since planting Good News Church, the church does “attract a lot of people that have had church hurt in the past,” and he is “committed to holding people accountable to make a safe space for people to come worship.”
“We need to stick to the word of God, and people need to be welcomed and loved,” said Liendo. “Once you have church hurt, it’s hard to come back… Praise God that he gave me that desire to just keep going.”
Liendo said having “healthy places for people to come and worship God and hear the gospel” yields more people accepting Jesus, so Liendo’s goal is to create “a culture of supporting one another, walking with one another.”
“Here at Good News, we’re seeing a lot of people who didn’t want to have anything to do with God, and now they’re in a community where they can be uplifted by the people around them,” said Liendo. “Instead of coming to sing some songs and listen to me blab all day long, we want people, [and] we want hearts to be changed through the gospel.”
LAREDO IN NEED OF THE GOSPEL
Liendo said he is grateful for Texas Baptists’ support because it has allowed him not to worry about things that are of lower priority and focus on what truly matters.
“What’s important is for people to know who God is, and when Texas Baptists supports you this way and support we’ve gotten from them, we can focus on the people and for them to grow, discipling them and loving them through their hurt and through their issues,” said Liendo.
He said “Laredo is in need” of the gospel, and his prayer for the future of Good News Church is that they would lean into that mission.
“My prayer for Good News Church is that people will leave here with what they need to go and share the gospel with the people around them. You love somebody and share the gospel with them,” said Liendo.
To learn more about Texas Baptists Church Starting visit txb.org/ churchstarting.
CHALLENGE & INSPIRE
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Conclave encourages church leaders to invest relationally in the next generation
By Jessica King
More than 900 children, youth, college ministers and pastors from across Texas and beyond gathered in Arlington, October 6-7, to attend Conclave NextGen for a time of worship, breakout sessions, training and networking, learning how to invest in and win the next generation for Christ.
“YOUR ULTIMATE CALLING IS TO BE A DISCIPLE OF JESUS”
Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen director for the North American Mission Board (NAMB), opened the conference with a message titled “What I Have Learned in 20+ Years of NextGen Ministry.”
Pruitt gave attendees seven lessons he learned in ministry to encourage, empower and remind attendees of their calling: “Never get over the power of the gospel in your life,” “Always focus on the depth of ministry,” “Never stop being a servant,” “Good leaders need good friends,” “Sometimes, fruit surprises you,” “You can say ‘no’ and let people walk away,” and “Let the thornes lead you to the throne.”
“Your ultimate calling is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ,” said Pruitt. “We’re striving to be obedient, to sit at the feet of Jesus… [and] you can't shortcut that. The only way to build godly character and integrity is by sitting at the feet of Jesus through spiritual disciplines, because at the end of the day, we don't want our gifts and talents to outpace our character and integrity [for ministry].”
Pruitt encouraged attendees that “God doesn’t need any of us, but yet he chooses to use us.”
“This is why we do what we do, because we believe no young person is too lost for Jesus to find [and] no young person is too sinful for Jesus to save,”
THE ROLE OF THE LEAD
PASTOR IN A
DISCIPLE-MAKING CHURCH
Over the two days, attendees had the opportunity to attend more than 40 unique breakout sessions on topics such as family ministry, evangelism, mental health, empowering volunteers, navigating current trends and more. A specialized “Pastor’s Track” was offered for senior church leaders to learn from and form community with other pastors.
Rick Howerton, former Small Group and Discipleship specialist at LifeWay, led a “Pastor’s Track” breakout session on the first day titled “The Role of the Lead Pastor in a Disciple-Making Church.” He gave pastors four roles they should take in disciple-making: leader, resource provider, doctrine protector and model.
Howerton encouraged pastors to lead by solidifying the small group or discipleship group systems, establish groups as a core value and expectation, promote and protect the group ministry and set realistic goals with accountability.
“God has given you the role of primary influencer in your church, and it is not a lack of humility for you to use your influence to move your ministry forward. It is a necessity for you to use your influence to move the ministry forward,” said Howerton.
Howerton concluded his breakout session by challenging pastors to model the importance of small groups by leading a group or being part of a group and sharing their story with the church.
“I would suggest to you all before you leave here: If you're not in a group, you find a way to be in one,” said Howerton.
Rob Jones, pastor at First Baptist Church Port Neches, said Howerton’s expertise “was a confirmation that the focus that we've been putting on groups [in our church]... is on track.”
“[Discipleship groups have] been very beneficial in developing ministry leaders in all areas, preschool through adults, and hearing the little tidbits of information on how we can
improve in a lot of areas is always beneficial,” said Jones.
Jones said it was important for him to come to Conclave with his staff to model “being learners.”
“I'm always telling our ministry team that we have to be learners, and if I'm not modeling that for them, then there's no incentive for them to do it,” said Jones. “I started coming to Conclave over 20 years ago as a student minister and saw the immediate benefit that it had on my ministry. So, I want to make sure that they are part of this community and that they're building relationships, [too].”
OFFERING AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS TO THE NEXT GENERATION
Chris Trent, NextGen catalyst for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, also led a breakout session on the first day titled “Current Trends and the Next Generation.”
He gave attendees six general observations of current trends to encourage and prepare them for ministering to the next generation: “This generation needs and can be reached with the gospel,” “We will never retain or disciple them well by entertaining them,” “Smart phones, social media and AI will continue to have major impact in the lives of teenagers,” “Youth workers that are maintaining relationships with students into their college years are making a huge impact,” “Don’t underestimate the power of prayer,” and “You don’t have to be a NextGen trend expert, but you do have to keep an eye on [the trends].”
”We're not going to out-AI, AI, but what we can do, more so now than ever before, is we can offer authentic [relationships and] real-life people that are checking up on you because they know you and they're calling you… and I think the future of youth ministry has to be there,” said Trent.
Abigayle Jonse, second-time attendee and youth ministry volunteer at Holly Brook Baptist Church in Hawkins, said Trent’s emphasis on being relational caused her to reflect on a church leader who poured into her own
life and is still mentoring her today.
“[During this breakout], I was really thinking about one of my leaders at my church that I grew up in. She moved me into my college dorm and still texts me… She poured into me so much, and she continued to pour into me even when I moved churches, even when I moved towns and even after I got married, she's still someone that I know I can talk to,” said Jonse.
She said she is encouraged to be a mentor to girls in her youth ministry.
“I was able to think about implementing it in our church, because I know a lot of the kids at our church don't have very big role models in their lives and in their families, so that's something I'm wanting to work on after hearing this [presentation],” said Jonse.
“BEHIND EVERY STATISTIC IS A STORY”
David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, concluded the first day with a message about “what it looks like to prepare for the current harvest.” He gave attendees four ways they could do this: “We can prepare for spiritual openness,” “We need to prepare for the next generation for digital Babylon,” “We can prepare ourselves for hard questions,” and “We can pursue evidence-based discipleship.”
Kinnaman said, “Behind every statistic is a story.” He challenged attendees, “Are you preparing the conditions for growing relationally deep discipleship?”
“We end up counting how many people come in… but we don't always measure what matters, which is our people actually growing through their connectedness relationally with other Christians,” said Kinnaman. “I think there's spiritual power in hearing other people tell how Jesus has changed them, and we need to help expose young people to those powerful stories.”
Kinnaman encouraged attendees that “the work you’re doing to help people place their lives with confidence on the gospel matters.”
“This is the opportunity that I believe that we have, to use this kind of rich, relational moment, this openness, to prepare ourselves, to look at this generation with compassion because
they're like sheep without a shepherd,” said Kinnaman. “But the moment is ripe. This generation is ready for us to know them, for us to help them understand their gifts and their giftedness and for us to prepare them to flourish even in suffering.”
STORING UP TO SHARE OUT
Kicking off day two, Bobby Contreras, pastor of Alamo Heights Baptist Church in San Antonio, shared a message from Proverbs 6:6-8. He gave attendees three things to do to keep pointing people to Jesus in their ministry: “Store up,” “Share out,” and “Don’t slow down.”
“It's time to store up [the Word of God in our hearts]. We don't know what… January 2026 will bring yet. We must be ready for the sake of our marriages. We must be ready for the sake of [everyone in our ministries],” said Contreras. “We store up [God’s word] only to share out… Even if it's bringing to memory what students, parents, family members [and] church community already know… I've heard it often said, ‘God doesn't yell, he repeats himself.’”
Contreras encouraged attendees to “fix our eyes on Jesus,” so that others may do the same.
“Conclave, there’s an invitation that we would be people [who]… point people young and old to fix their eyes on Jesus because nothing else will sustain them or us,” said Contreras. “Would we not take for granted the stirring that God has given us in our hearts? Would we not take for granted the race marked out for us, and would we run from here?”
WINNING THE NEXT GENERATION FOR CHRIST
Jana Magruder, Strategic Initiatives director at Lifeway NextGen, led a breakout session on the second day titled “Serving Every Generation from the Kids' Minister Seat.” She explained the cultural and leadership differences between generations. She said children’s ministers are in a role to strategically reach all generations in their church.
“Think about the heart of what you do, that being children's, student ministry. But then think about who else
you're ministering to, when you take into account their families… you are influencing several generations,” said Magruder. “What you’re doing right now is really All-Gen ministry.”
She gave children’s ministers seven key takeaways for doing “All-Gen ministry”: prioritize in-person gatherings, incorporate intergenerational discipleship, contextualize your communication and training, support spiritual gifts and continue to develop, mobilize around mission, generate urgency around ministry to Gen Z and Gen Alpha and reconnect and reach through relationships.
“[Film writer and actor] Alex Kendrick said, ‘Whoever wants the next generation the most will win them.’ So my question for all of us is, ‘Does the church want them the most?’” said Magruder. “It's going to take the whole church rallying around [them]... [and] every generation pouring into all generations [to win the next generation].”
John Strappazon, a Trajectory, College Ministry and Leadership coach from Fort Worth, also led a breakout session on the second day titled “Strapp's Secret Sauce for Success in College Ministry.”
Drawing from Colossians 1:2829, he explained that the ultimate goal of college ministry is “for people to be mature in Christ.”
“We have to move people forward. The goal in ministry, I believe, is progress, not perfection… to move them forward into a relationship with the Lord,” said Strappazon.
He gave attendees a tool he called
the “Ministry Focus Funnel,” which has five steps: community, crowd, consumers, committed and communicators. The purpose of the funnel is to help college ministers build their ministry from a crowd to “communicators,” who are sharing the gospel and growing the ministry.
He challenged attendees to consider, “What are you doing to call all [students] to a deeper level of commitment to Jesus?”
“Pray that God will give you some students for your ministry and begin to invest in them… [then] when God changes lives, [the students you invested in] will tell people about it,” said Strappazon.
REACHING GENERATION ALPHA
Shelly Melia, associate dean for the Graduate School of Ministry, program director for Master of Arts in Children’s Ministry and in Family Ministry at Dallas Baptist University, concluded the conference with a message titled “The changing landscape of Generation Alpha.”
In her message, she answered three questions: “Who are they?” “What kind of world are they growing up in?” “What do they need from us?”
She explained that Generation Alpha needs ministers to be relationship-focused, which creates belonging; Bible-saturated, which roots them in truth; and prioritizing parents, which will provide them with Godly influence.
“We need to talk to them about what it's really like to love and serve the Lord,
but still have hard things happen in our lives so that it's not a faith they grow out of, but a faith they grow into,” said Melia. “Despite all of these challenges that we have [to reach Gen Alpha], God’s word is still sufficient. It’s never changing in an ever-changing world.”
Melia encouraged attendees to examine, “Which of these [three things] do we do well and keep on doing those? Which of these might we need to tweak or to do better… to be able to reach Generation Alpha?”
“[CONCLAVE] IS MY FAMILY”
Attendee Jeffri Foster, children’s minister at Liberty Christian School in Argyle and lay leader at Valley Ridge Church in Lewisville, said her favorite parts of Conclave are the community and the resources she receives from exhibitors, keynote and breakout sessions.
“I feel like [Conclave] is my family… [and] I always leave Conclave with ideas that I can practically implement immediately into ministry,” said Foster.
Conclave NextGen 2026 is scheduled to take place on October 5-6 at First Baptist Church Bryan. The annual twoday event is made possible by faithful giving through the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program and support from the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation and the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.
To learn more about Conclave NextGen, visit txb.org/conclave.
Conclave exhorta a líderes de las iglesias a invertir relacionalmente en la próxima generación
Por Jessica King
Más de 900 niños, jóvenes, ministros universitarios, y pastores de todo Texas y más allá se reunieron en Arlington, el 6 y 7 de octubre, para participar en la conferencia anual Conclave NextGen para un tiempo de adoración, talleres, entrenamiento y conexiones, y aprender cómo invertir en y ganar a la próxima generación para Cristo.
“NUESTRO PRINCIPAL
LLAMADO ES SER DISCÍPULOS DE JESÚS”
Shane Pruitt, director de Next Gen (“Próxima Generación”) Nacional de la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas (NAMB), inició la conferencia con un mensaje titulado “Lo que he aprendido en más de 20 años en el Ministerio Next Gen”.
Pruitt compartió siete lecciones que ha aprendido en el ministerio para exhortar, empoderar, y recordar a los participantes de su llamado: “Nunca olvidar el poder del evangelio en nuestras vidas”, “Siempre enfocar en lo profundo del ministerio”, “Nunca dejar de servir”, “Los buenos líderes necesitan buenos amigos”, “A veces, el fruto nos sorprende”, “Podemos decir que no y permitir que las personas se vayan”, y “Permitir que las espinas nos lleven al trono”.
“Nuestro llamado principal es ser discípulos de Jesucristo”, dijo Pruitt. “Nos esforzamos por ser obedientes, sentarnos a los pies de Jesús…[y] no hay atajos para esto. La única manera de desarrollar un carácter en santidad e integridad es a los pies de Jesús por medio de las disciplinas espirituales, porque al final del día, no queremos que nuestros dones y talentos dejen rezagados nuestro carácter e integridad [para el ministerio]”.
Pruitt exhortó a los participantes: “Dios no nos necesita, pero escoge usarnos”.
“Esta es la razón para hacer lo que hacemos, porque creemos que ningún joven está demasiado perdido para que Jesús lo encuentre y ninguno es demasiado pecador para que Jesús lo salve”.
EL PAPEL DEL PASTOR EN UNA IGLESIA QUE HACE DISCÍPULOS
Durante los dos días, los participantes tuvieron la oportunidad de asistir a más de 40 talleres en temas como el ministerio a la familia, evangelismo, salud mental, empoderar voluntarios, navegar tendencias actuales, y más. Se ofreció un programa especializado para pastores, para aprender de y formar comunidad con otros pastores.
Rick Howerton, especialista anterior de Grupos pequeños y discipulado en LifeWay, inició el programa para pastores el primer día con el tema “El papel del pastor en una iglesia que hace discípulos”. Mencionó cuatro roles que el pastor debe asumir al hacer discípulos: líder, proveedor de recursos, protector de la doctrina, y modelo.
Howerton exhortó a los pastores a solidificar los sistemas de grupos pequeños y grupos de discipulado, establecer grupos como valor y expectativa fundamental, promover y proteger el ministerio de grupos, y fijar metas realistas con rendición de cuentas.
“Dios les ha dado el papel de influenciador principal en sus iglesias, y no es falta de humildad el usar su influencia para mover el ministerio hacia adelante. Es necesario usar su influencia para mover el ministerio hacia adelante”, dijo Howerton.
Howerton concluyó su sesión con un desafío a los pastores a modelar la importancia de los grupos pequeños al dirigir un grupo o ser parte de uno y compartir su historia con la iglesia.
“Antes de que se vayan, les quiero sugerir: Si no pertenecen a un grupo, encuentren la manera de hacerlo”, dijo Howerton.
Rob Jones, pastor en First Baptist Church Port Neches, dijo que la experiencia de Howerton “fue confirmación de que el enfoque que hemos estado haciendo en grupos [en nuestra iglesia]… es el correcto”.
“[Los grupos de discipulado] han ayudado a desarrollar a
líderes de ministerio en todas las áreas, de preescolares a adultos, y escuchar información acerca de cómo mejorar en muchas de las áreas ha de beneficio”, dijo Jones.
Jones dijo que es importante venir a Conclave con sus otros ministros para modelar el “ser aprendices”.
“Siempre le digo a nuestro equipo de ministerio que tenemos que continuar aprendiendo, y si no lo modelo para ellos, no tendrán incentivo para hacerlo”, dijo Jones. “Comencé a venir a Conclave hace más de 20 años cuando era ministro de estudiantes universitarios y reconocí el beneficio inmediato que tuvo en mi ministerio. Por eso, quiero asegurarme de que ellos son parte de esta comunidad y de que desarrollen relaciones también”.
OFRECER RELACIONES AUTÉNTICAS A LA NUEVA GENERACIÓN
Chris Trent, catalítico NextGen para la Junta de Misiones de los Bautistas de Georgia, también dirigió un taller titulado “Tendencias actuales y la Próxima Generación”.
Ofreció seis observaciones generales de tendencias actuales para exhortar y preparar a los participantes para ministrar a la próxima generación: “Esta generación necesita y puede ser alcanzada con el evangelio”, “Nunca los retendremos ni discipularemos entreteniéndolos”, “Los teléfonos inteligentes, las redes sociales, y la Inteligencia Artificial continuarán haciendo impacto en las vidas de los adolescentes”, “Los ministros de jóvenes que se mantienen conectados con los jóvenes durante sus años en la universidad están haciendo un gran impacto”, “Nunca subestimen el poder de la oración”, y “No tienen que ser expertos en las tendencias, pero sí tienen que estar atentos”.
”No vamos a eliminar la Inteligencia Artificial, pero lo que podemos hacer, ahora más que nunca, es ofrecer relaciones auténticas y personas en la vida real que se preocupan porque los conocen y están pendiente…y pienso que el futuro del ministerio de jóvenes tiene que estar ahí”, dijo Trent.
Abigayle Jonse es líder voluntaria en el ministerio de jóvenes de Holly
Brook Baptist Church en Hawkins y asistió por segunda vez. Dijo que el énfasis de Trent en ser relacionales la hizo reflexionar en un líder de la iglesia que invirtió en su propia vida y continúa hasta el día de hoy.
“[Durante la sesión], pensé en uno de mis líderes en la iglesia donde crecí. Ella me ayudó a establecerme en el dormitorio en la universidad y todavía nos comunicamos por texto…Ella invirtió mucho en mí, y continúa haciéndolo aunque ahora estoy en otra iglesia, y en otra ciudad, y estoy casada. Sé que puedo hablar con ella”, dijo Jonse.
Ella dijo que se sintió exhortada a invertir en jovencitas en el ministerio de jóvenes.
“Pude pensar en cómo implementar esto en nuestra iglesia, porque conozco a muchas jóvenes en la iglesia que no tienen buenos ejemplos en sus vidas y familias, así que eso es algo que quiero hacer después de escuchar esta [presentación]”, dijo Jonse.
“DETRÁS DE CADA ESTADÍSTICA
HAY UNA HISTORIA”
David Kinnaman, CEO del Grupo Barna, concluyó el primer día con un mensaje de “a qué se parece prepararse para la cosecha”. Compartió cuatro maneras cómo hacer esto: “Podemos prepararnos para franqueza espiritual”, “Tenemos que preparar a la próxima generación para la Babilonia digital”, “Tenemos que prepararnos para preguntas difíciles”, y “Tenemos que perseguir discipulado basado en evidencia”.
Kinnaman dijo: “Detrás de cada estadística hay una historia”. Desafió a los participantes: “¿Están cultivando las condiciones para desarrollar relaciones de discipulado profundo?”
“Contamos cuántas personas vienen…pero no medimos lo que importa, si están creciendo al estar conectados con otros cristianos”, dijo Kinnaman. “Creo que hay poder espiritual al escuchar a otras personas compartir cómo Jesús los ha cambiado, y tenemos que exponer a los jóvenes a esas poderosas historias”.
Kinnaman exhortó a los participantes a que “la labor que están haciendo para ayudar a las personas a confiar en el evangelio importa”.
“Esta es la oportunidad que tenemos, usar este tipo de momento relacional, esta franqueza, para prepararnos, mirar a esta generación con compasión porque son como ovejas sin pastor”, dijo Kinnaman. “El momento es ahora. Esta generación está lista para que los conozcamos, los ayudemos a entender sus dones, y los preparemos para dar fruto aun en el sufrimiento”.
ATESORAR PARA COMPARTIR
El segundo día, Bobby Contreras, el pastor de Alamo Heights Baptist Church en San Antonio, compartió un mensaje en Proverbios 6:6-8. Ofreció tres cosas que hacer para seguir apuntando a las personas a Jesús: “Atesorar”, “Compartir”, y “No disminuir la velocidad”. “Es tiempo de atesorar [la Palabra de Dios en nuestros corazones]. No sabemos que nos traerá enero del 2026. Debemos estar listos por el bien de nuestros matrimonios. Debemos estar listos por el bien de [las personas en nuestros ministerios]”, dijo Contreras. “Atesoramos [la Palabra de Dios] solamente para compartirla…Aun si es recordarle a los jóvenes, sus padres, miembros de la familia y la comunidad de la iglesia lo que ya saben…Una vez escuché decir que ‘Dios no grita, solamente se repite”. Contreras animó a los participantes a “fijar sus ojos en Jesús” para que otros hagan lo mismo.
“Conclave, hay una invitación para ser las personas que apunten a jóvenes y mayores de edad a fijar sus ojos en Jesús porque nada más nos sostendrá”, dijo Contreras. “No tomemos por sentado la carrera que tenemos por delante”.
GANAR LA PRÓXIMA GENERACIÓN PARA CRISTO
Jana Magruder, directora de Iniciativas Estratégicas en LifeWay NextGen dirigió un taller titulado “Servir a cada generación desde la posición del ministro de niños”. Explicó las diferencias culturales y de liderazgo entre las generaciones. Dijo que los ministros de niños están en una posición estratégica para alcanzar a todas las generaciones en sus iglesias.
“Piensen en lo que hacen en el ministerio de niños o jóvenes. Entonces piensen en quiénes ministran y, cuando toman en consideración las familias…
están influenciando a varias generaciones”, dijo Magruder. “Lo que están haciendo realmente es ministerio para todas las generaciones”.
Compartió siete cosas que recordar para hacer “ministerio para todas las generaciones”: dar prioridad a las reuniones en persona, incorporar discipulado intergeneracional, contextualizar la comunicación y el entrenamiento, respaldar los dones espirituales y continuar desarrollándolos, movilizar alrededor de la misión, generar urgencia para ministrar a la generación Z (nacidos entre el 1997 y el 2012) y la generación Alfa (nacidos entre el 2010 al 2025) y reconectar y alcanzar por medio de las relaciones.
“[El autor y actor de cine] Alex Kendrick dijo: ‘El que desee más a la próxima generación los ganará’. Entonces, pregunto: ‘¿Desea la iglesia más a la próxima generación?”, dijo Magruder. “Se requiere a toda la iglesia alrededor de ellos y a cada generación invirtiendo en todas las generaciones [para ganar a la próxima generación]”.
John Strappazon, instructor de Trayectoria, Ministerio Universitario, y Liderazgo en Fort Worth, dirigió un taller titulado: “Mi salsa secreta para el éxito en el ministerio con universitarios”.
Basándose en Colosenses 1:28-29, explicó que la meta suprema para el ministerio con universitarios es “que las personas maduren en Cristo”.
“Tenemos que mover a las personas hacia adelante. La meta en el ministerio, creo, es progreso, no perfección… moverlos hacia adelante en una relación con el Señor”, dijo Strappazon.
Compartió una herramienta
conocida como “Embudo para enfocar en el ministerio” (Ministry Focus Funnel), el cual incluye cinco pasos: comunidad, capacidad, consumidores, comprometidos, y comunicadores. El propósito del embudo es ayudar a los ministros de estudiantes universitarios a levantar su ministerio desde la comunidad a los comunicadores, los que comparten el evangelio y hacen crecer el ministerio.
Los desafió a considerar: “¿Qué están haciendo para llamar a los estudiantes a un nivel de compromiso más profundo con Jesús?”
“Oren porque Dios les de estudiantes en sus ministerios y comiencen a invertir en ellos…[entonces] cuando Dios cambia vidas, [los estudiantes en quienes invierten] comparten con otros acerca de eso”, dijo Strappazon.
ALCANZAR LA GENERACIÓN ALFA
Shelly Melia, decana asociada para la Escuela Graduada de Ministerio, director del programa de Maestría en Ministerio de Niños y Ministerio Familiar en la Universidad Bautista de Dallas, concluyó la conferencia con un mensaje titulado “El panorama cambiante de la Generación Alfa”.
En su mensaje, contestó tres preguntas: “¿Quiénes son?”, “¿En qué clase de mundo están creciendo?”, y “¿Qué necesitan de nosotros?”
Explicó que la Generación Alfa necesita ministros enfocados en relaciones, lo cual crea sentido de pertenencia; empapados en la Biblia, lo cual los arraiga en la verdad; y que dan prioridad a los padres, lo que provee una influencia en santidad.
“Tenemos que decirles cómo es amar y servir al Señor, para cuando sucedan cosas difíciles en la vida no sea una fe que abandonan sino una fe que profundizan”, dijo Melia. “A pesar de todos los desafíos que tenemos [para alcanzar a la Generación Alfa], la Palabra de Dios continúa siendo suficiente. Nunca cambia en un mundo que en cambio constante”.
Melia exhortó a los participantes a considerar: “¿Cuál de estas tres cosas hacen bien y deben continuar haciendo? ¿Cuáles hay que mejorar…para poder alcanzar a la Generación Alfa?”
“[CONCLAVE] ES MI FAMILIA”
Jeffri Foster, ministro de niños en la escuela Liberty Christian School en Argyle y líder en Valley Ridge Church en Lewisville, dijo que lo que más le gusta de Conclave es la comunidad y los recursos que recibe de los exhibidores, los talleres, y las sesiones generales.
“Siento que [Conclave] es mi familia… [y] siempre regreso a casa con ideas que puedo implementar en el ministerio”, dijo Foster.
Conclave NextGen 2026 está programado para el 5 y 6 de octubre en First Baptist Church Bryan. Este evento anual de dos días es hecho posible por las fieles ofrendas al Programa Cooperativo de los Bautistas de Texas y el sostén de la Fundación de Misiones Bautistas de Texas y la Ofrenda Mary Hill Davis para misiones en Texas.
Para información adicional acerca de Conclave NextGen, visite txb.org/ conclave.
