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HOUSTON—Southern Baptists of Texas Convention President Jimmy Pritchard welcomed representatives from the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas to a historic joint worship service Nov. 10 on the closing night of the annual meeting of SBTC at Champion Forest Baptist Church.
In addition to sharing in the support of two institutions, Pritchard told messengers from both groups, “We share a mutual commitment that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God, hold to the truth that marriage is defined in the Bible as one man and one woman mutually committed in relationship till death parts them, are together on the right of the unborn for life, and are both confessional fellowships.”
He reminded those gathered that “a cord of three strings is not easily broken,” and added, “SBTC and BMAT together with the Lord Jesus Christ can be really strong in this difficult day in which we live, sharing the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
BMAT was founded in 1899 by 45 churches that left the Baptist General Convention of Texas over a perception that the board structure might override the autonomy of local churches. Five years ago BMAT and SBTC approved a working ministry relationship based on their shared affirmation of a high view of Scripture and basic Baptist distinctives.
Farmersville pastor Bart Barber, in a video presentation, traced the historical context for the reunion 116 years later “Having learned we can live without one another for a century, we are learning we can actually live with each other today. God is making friendships between our two groups of Baptists,” he stated, adding, “God loves to beat swords into plowshares, tilling the ground of the gospel today and beyond.”
Messengers from both conventions heard reports from the two entities they both support—Texas Baptist Home for Children and Jacksonville College.
“We cherish our relationship with both of you,” shared TBH President Eddie Marsh. He told of 32 children placed in permanent homes through adoption during the past year and 34 children professing faith in Christ.
“You have partnered together to love these children. It delights my heart when I hear representatives from both groups refer to this ministry as ‘our children’s home.’ Thank you for loving my kids.”
As the only two-year, faith-based Christian college in Texas, Jacksonville College reported 74 graduates last May, the highest number on record. This fall’s enrollment of 640 students marks another milestone.
“We’re seeing a real movement of God these last two months,” stated Jacksonville College President Mike Smith, describing the 100 students who professed faith in Christ as the beginning of revival on campus.
Smith said, “For a long time Jacksonville College was viewed as a place where BMA churches would send their young people. Now our students are from all walks of life, and most are not from a Christian background,” he reported. With 56 students from 24 different countries, Smith added, “Many never owned a Bible or heard about Jesus,” providing a mission field on the campus.
Criswell College President Barry Creamer described the kind of student the Dallas-based school is recruiting—those who are committed to lifelong service to Jesus Christ in full-time ministry or other vocations and “radically committed to laying down their whole lives for Jesus.”
In terms of curriculum, Creamer said the school requires 42 hours in biblical theology and ministry for every undergraduate degree. The school offers bachelor’s degrees in biblical studies, church planting and revitalization, ministry, psychology, the combination of philosophy, politics and economics, as well as education. In each of those degree plans, he said, “Our desire is for our students to leave Criswell College with the same kind of education you would expect your own preacher to have.”
While tuition and fees for students amount to $8,230 per year, Creamer said the actual cost to the school is $23,500, making it necessary to raise twice as much for each student’s needs. “We give thanks to God for you for the substantial support we receive from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention when you give to Criswell College.”
Wes Pratt, pastor of the BMAT-affiliated Northside Baptist Church in Conroe, delivered the evening’s message from Psalm 66, and the worship team of the SBTC-affiliated West Conroe Baptist Church led music along with the choir from Jacksonville College.
“As a BMA pastor who has a lot of Southern Baptist friends, I am glad we are on the same team for Jesus Christ,” Pratt said. “If there is anything that we can get excited about it is that we serve an awesome God.”
He alluded to Barber’s recollection of a fight that broke out a century ago between feuding editors from each Baptist camp who were riding on a train bound for the annual meeting of Southern Baptists in Hot Springs, Ark., prompting one of the men to fire his pistol. The contrasting harmony of the two Baptist groups meeting in Houston led Pratt to praise their shared evangelistic mission of reaching Texas for Christ. He drew laughter from the crowd when he said, “If we can’t get together on that then shoot me, okay?”
He combined SBTC’s theme of “Walking in Unity” with the BMAT meeting theme of “In All Judea, In All Texas” to express his prayer for unity. “I thought about how we could mold those together and pray we would unite together as Baptists to reach Texas for Christ, run our race well during our watch, and that we would finish exhausted for Christ in a good way.”
Pratt spoke of the Psalmist’s description of the awesome power and work of God and expressed gratitude for believers who in earlier days fulfilled the Great Commission by sharing that message with Baptists who gathered for worship.
“That my friend is worth shouting about, singing about, and being unified about,” he said. “We have an awesome privilege to be a part of this work together for Texas.”
