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Nathan Lino, a fourth-generation South African, founded Northeast Houston Baptist Church in 2002 and served as its senior pastor until June 1, 2022, when he began his tenure as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Forney. He has served as president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and as a trustee of the International Mission Board. He currently serves as an evangelism consultant for the SBTC. Lino and his wife, Nicole, have been married since 1999 and have four children: Colton, Campbell, Cassidy, and Chloe.
What is something you’ve been able to celebrate at your church recently?
We have seen Jesus Christ do two really big things in the life of our church family over the past few months. First, Christ put it in our hearts to make seeking His manifest presence together the activity of first importance in the life of our church. Second, we’ve seen a significant surge in the number of non-Christians that Jesus is saving.
What have been some of the biggest challenges in your ministry lately?
Nicole and I only joined this 160-year-old congregation last June. We are a bit of a culture shock for the church and vice versa. But I can honestly say that both the Lord and the congregation have been incredibly gracious and welcoming to Nicole and me—none more so than my longtime, beloved predecessor’s wife, Jeannette Pritchard. She has been amazing. (Editor’s note: Jeanette Pritchard shared the story of the death of her husband, Jimmy, in the December 2022 issue of the Texan.)
What’s one lesson you’ve learned to this point of your ministry that you know you’ll never forget?
Almost every leadership decision I regret I made in isolation. On the other hand, I’ve rarely made a bad decision after sincerely seeking and taking to heart the wisdom and counsel of leaders who have earned my trust through their godliness. The Lord is not wrong on either account: every church needs a senior leader willing to make hard decisions, and wisdom truly is in the counsel of many minds.
What’s one thing you want to see God do specifically in your church this year?
What I want more than anything else for our church family is for our hearts, homes, and church to be filled with more of the manifest presence of Jesus Christ. If we have the Lord, we have everything we need.
How can the other churches of the SBTC be praying for you?
I’d appreciate prayer for two things: wisdom and holiness. I need understanding from the Lord as to how to lead this new flock to which He has assigned me, as well as my personal family because our children have begun transitioning out of our home and into their next stages of life. I also want the Lord to transform me into a more advanced state of personal godliness.
