Author: Russell Lightner

On Earth as it is in heaven

You probably don’t have to be told that high school football in Texas is big. Is there a more appropriate word we can use to describe it? Mammoth? Colossal? No matter which adjective we choose, it all feels like an understatement sometimes.

Earlier this season, the grandiosity that is Texas high school football was on full display in a booming town in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It was homecoming at a large school, and a reported 4,000 students packed into a gymnasium to celebrate with a pep rally.

It looked like a concert. Air raid sirens and loud rock music blared over the speaker system. Drums thundered in unison as students waved lasers over their heads. Colored LED lasers beamed wildly around the room. Pyrotechnic cannons—yes, fire cannons—shot flames toward the ceiling.

It was big. Huge. Monumental. Videos of the pep rally made the rounds on social media, and even a couple of local TV stations picked up on the story.

The next day, a much smaller school in a much smaller town—Mabank, located about 50 miles southeast of Dallas—did something that also ended up garnering quite a bit of attention. At the Mabank High School homecoming dance on Sept. 21, students were caught on video doing something unusual—publicly and unashamedly praising God.

As the story goes, students submitted a list of songs to the deejay working the dance that night. The list included plenty of secular songs, but also at least one Christian worship song. When that song was played—Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude”—videos show many of the students lifting their hands and singing along:

So come on, my soul

Oh, don’t you get shy on me

Lift up your song

‘Cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs

Get up and praise the Lord …

The Mabank homecoming dance became the talk of social media and, like the pep rally in the Dallas area the day before, was even reported on by at least one local TV station. Several Southern Baptists of Texas Convention pastors also took notice. Michael Cooper, lead pastor of Grace Community Church in Mabank, posted on Facebook, “The gospel is present in Mabank ISD. From inviting ministers to pray at the beginning of the year, the Jesus club, to spontaneous worship at the homecoming dance, God is actively present.”

“Let’s go!” exclaimed Teddy Sorrells, lead pastor of Living Water Church in Gladewater, on Facebook. “If this doesn’t fire you up for the next generation, I don’t know what will!”

This isn’t a criticism of the spectacularly elaborate pep rally, but rather a celebration of what happened at the dance. It’s an encouragement—God is still working. He is moving among the next generation, and He is using things like homecoming dances out in the middle of nowhere to spread His message and lead people to faith in Jesus.

Who came to faith because of what happened in Mabank? Who knows? Our job is not results, but faithfulness, and that’s what a gym full of kids exhibited on a Saturday night a couple of months ago. As the world around them spins dizzily with football games and college pressures and a million other things, they elevated the name of Jesus in a space where His name isn’t often elevated.

And now you’re reading about it. Lots of people are hearing about it.

Isn’t it neat how God works?

Gospel seeds, family roots, and a legacy of serving

I grew up in Southeastern China and was raised in a Christian family. My parents and grandparents attended an underground church with me every Sunday in my hometown. My grandma would read a Bible story to me every night and we would talk about it, sometimes until midnight. And I remember my family teaching me to memorize Scripture. In my childhood, my parents would prepare a small whiteboard with a verse on it every week, and then I would read that very short verse every day until I memorized it. Then they would change it to a new verse. I think more than half of the Scriptures in my mind now were those I memorized when I was a child.

My mother’s parents also emphasized family worship. They had begun that during the 1970s. If you know Chinese history, you know China had a cultural revolution from 1960 until the 1980s. Chinese Christians were facing great persecution during those years. Families of my mom’s generation would secretly find brothers who knew the Bible well and invite them to teach every Friday evening and then teach their children. Now, 50 years later, they still keep that family worship tradition.

I was in fifth grade, about 10 to 11 years old, when I became a Christian—I raised my hand at an evangelistic meeting. During my teenage years, I began to be interested in helping others discern biblical truth after a close friend fell into a cult and I began to research Christian doctrine. I also began to play piano and minister in other ways in our church as I grew older. I very clearly remember when I was 17 years old, when I was in 11th grade, a Sunday school teacher asked us, “Hey, what’s your dream? What do you want to do in the future?” I answered that I wanted to be a pastor. It was a serious answer, though now I realize I did not know clearly what it meant to be a pastor.

“The example of other, older pastors and other churches has taught me the importance of shepherding God’s people with patience, love, grace, and mercy.”

—Boaz Wenhao Yang Tweet

During my college years, I studied microbiology and later anthropology, but I always knew I wanted to be a pastor, so I studied theology alongside these majors. My college years were also a time of maturing in my faith. Our church was influenced by Tim Keller and his City to City ministry. We tried to teach our congregation to have a gospel-centered view of our faith and the Bible. Through this, I was challenged at the point of pride and self-righteousness. It helped me go back and think about what grace is, what salvation is, and it helped me start to know the gospel is good news for me. It’s not just for other people—it’s my good news.

There were seminaries in Taiwan and Singapore available to me, but I felt led to search among U.S. seminaries. At that time, I was not a Baptist because my home church was underground and we didn’t have any denomination background, but I found Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. I saw a lot of “gospel-centered” phrases on the website like, “We provide gospel-centered theological education. We want to build gospel-centered churches,” and so forth. I graduated in 2020 and was married to my wife, Dan Song, at Third Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville.

Northwest Chinese Baptist Church in Houston is my first pastorate, and I have been here since January 2022. As a young pastor, I am still learning. The example of other, older pastors and other churches has taught me the importance of shepherding God’s people with patience, love, grace, and mercy. My ministry is a heritage of so many who have taught me through the years—family, pastors, my seminary professors and president, and men like Tim Keller and Mark Dever.

My grandparents have all passed away now, but my mother and my uncle still keep this family worship as a family tradition every Friday. Following that heritage, my uncle, my cousin, and now me—we three are the only male members remaining in my mother’s extended family, and we are all full-time pastors now.

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‘Jesus is working and using the SBTC’

Forshee prepares to preside over first annual meeting as convention president

The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s 2024 Annual Meeting is scheduled for Nov. 11-12 at Sagemont Church in Houston. Danny Forshee, lead pastor of Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin, will preside over the meeting—his first as SBTC president. Forshee recently spoke with the Texan about the meeting’s theme, “Side by Side,” the importance of prayer, and what makes him most hopeful about the convention’s future.

Like many of your predecessors who have served as SBTC president, you have used your public platform to talk about the importance of prayer. How have you specifically been praying for our convention over the past year?

Danny Forshee: As part of my daily prayer time, I pray for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and its people, pastors, churches, and leaders. I pray specifically for Nathan [Lorick, SBTC’s executive director] every day. Nathan and I are discussing the prayer service on Monday night at the annual meeting on Nov. 11 and we are excited about this.

The theme of this year’s annual meeting is “Side by Side.” How have you seen God use our churches working alongside one another to advance the mission for His kingdom?

DF: Having served on the executive board and now as SBTC president, I have a front row seat to see the work of the SBTC—and it is truly remarkable. We are a large state convention of 2,780 churches with resources to help plant churches, support missions, and help pastors be healthy. One example is when Jeff Lynn [SBTC’s Church Health & Leadership senior strategist] and his team came to our church earlier this year and led an excellent training for about 20 pastors.

Next year, Southern Baptists will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program. Why is Great Hills so faithful to give through CP?

DF: We give because of the kingdom impact the CP makes. I am grateful that God gave our ancestors this golden idea in 1925, and it is unparalleled among denominations. We can help reach our state, North America, and the world. We join with others in supporting disaster relief, our six seminaries, and numerous other initiatives of the SBC.

What are some of the victories we will be able to celebrate at this year’s meeting, as well as some of the challenges that lie ahead?

DF: I am looking forward to the annual meeting. Our theme, “Side by Side,” is so needed as we seek to build one another up and help pastors and staff not go it alone, but be in harmonious fellowship and relationship with others on the same team. There will be many victories to celebrate, such as the planting of new churches, the ongoing work that the SBTC does in areas like pastoral help and training, disaster relief, and the overall unity God has given us. As for challenges, we will have to keep focused on unity and what unites us and not let the enemy divide us. We should pursue unity amid diversity but stay centered on our core convictions. We should fight against any kind of arrogance or intolerance toward those who disagree with whatever position we take.

It seems our world and our culture continue to move further away from God’s truth every day. What are some things Great Hills has been doing to reach people with the gospel in the Austin area that might serve as an encouragement to other pastors working to reach their communities?

DF: Pastors and churches are unique and should exegete their culture well and ask the Lord to lead them in reaching the lost. We started another campus 2.5 years ago, and while that has been costly and hard work, God has blessed us and we are reaching new people. Also, we try to follow the BLESS strategy: Begin with prayer; Listen with care; Eat with and fellowship; Serve others; and Share Jesus with them. We have quarterly community impact days where our church comes together to go out and do various service and evangelism projects in and for our city. We also have a robust ESL ministry that allows for many opportunities to share Jesus with people from literally all over the world. And finally, we are big on short term missions, sending our people all over the world.

As you look to the future, what are some things you are most hopeful about among our network of churches?

DF: I am very optimistic and hopeful! Jesus is working and using the SBTC along with numerous other churches and denominations to reach people. I am hopeful also because of the excellent leadership we have at the SBTC, beginning with Nathan Lorick and the other men and women who serve us. And finally, I am hopeful because of the continued emphasis on the Cooperative Program, an ingenious plan to help reach the world.

4 Simple Ways To Honor Your Pastor

Scripture is crystal clear about the importance of honoring our pastors, yet the pastor is often the one left to initiate it. I have three decades of firsthand pastoral experience with this awkwardness since Focus on the Family initiated Pastor Appreciation Month in 1994.

I am writing directly to church leaders to help you take full advantage of this opportunity to create a culture of double-honor in your church this month. Here are four ideas to help prime the pastor appreciation pump in your church:

1. Own the initiative

What good are ideas without someone to implement them? Will you take the initiative to step up and lead out? If you do, I believe your church will follow your lead and your pastor will appreciate your efforts tremendously.

Aaron and Hur stepped up by lifting up Moses’ hands during a crucial battle: “When Moses’ hands grew heavy … Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down” (Exodus 17:12).

Your pastor needs an Aaron or Hur to do for him what he cannot do for himself.

2. Recognize your pastor publicly

“Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you” (1 Thessalonians 5:12).

A pastor appreciation day or month can help your church members translate private sentiments into public expressions of love, respect, and appreciation. A public blessing on Sunday morning increases the positive impact exponentially—for your pastor, your church, and your Lord. Pick a Sunday early in October to have a lay leader speak on behalf of the church and pray for your staff and their families by name. Sharing pictures on the screen makes it even more fun, especially if they are throwback pictures.

3. Encourage your pastor personally

“Regard them very highly in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:13).

If your pastor is doing his best to manage his life, family, and ministry, give him the gift of personally acknowledging him. Don’t complicate it—simply write a note (and add a gift card) and/or take him to lunch to clarify that he is a beloved member of your church family and not just an employee.

4. Bless your pastor tangibly

The pastor’s job is to take care of his church, and it is the church’s job to tangibly take care of their pastors. Your pastor’s job and joy is to keep watch over you (Hebrews 13:17), but sometimes he needs you to watch over him—and his wife—as well.

My favorite idea for Pastor Appreciation Month is to leave a blessing basket in the worship lobby on Sundays in October for people to leave notes, gift cards, and personal gifts for their ministry staff.

“The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium (double-honor), especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17).

October is a great opportunity for church members to honor and bless your pastors, but if your church calendar won’t cooperate, do it any time of the year, such as during a key anniversary or birthday.

God bless you for blessing your pastor!

Everything you need to know for SBTC AM 2024

Messengers to celebrate ‘Side by Side’ ministry at this year’s Annual Meeting

In Philippians 1:27, Paul wrote, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”

That verse is the foundation for the theme at this year’s Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Annual Meeting, where messengers will gather “Side by Side” at Sagemont Church in Houston on Nov. 11-12.

Each session will include inspirational messages and worship, while meals and gatherings will allow messengers to connect with others from around the state. Each year’s meeting is also an opportunity to celebrate the advancement of the gospel through cooperative work—a timely recognition on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program happening next year.

“As devoted followers of Jesus, we strive—as Scripture commands—to live a life worthy of our calling,” SBTC Executive Director Nathan Lorick said. “We do that by furthering the gospel. We do that by mobilizing churches to multiply disciple-making movements. We do that by cooperatively giving and sending to advance the mission. And we do all of this together. This is how we stand firm in one spirit, speaking in one accord, and contending for the faith of the gospel. We do this standing side by side.”

This year’s meeting will once again feature a powerful prayer gathering on Monday night, led this year by SBTC President Danny Forshee. A church planter commissioning service is also scheduled, as well as an in-person report delivered by Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee.

SBTC officer nominations announced

Byron McWilliams, senior pastor of First Odessa, has announced his intention to nominate Danny Forshee to serve a second term as president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention at its annual meeting in November.

Forshee has served as lead pastor of Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin since June 13, 2010. He has been president of the Danny Forshee Evangelistic Association since it was formed in May 2004.

“I would be honored to serve a second term as president of the SBTC,” Forshee said. “God is working in powerful ways in and through our convention. I am excited about what the Lord will do in the future.”

McWilliams said he is honored to nominate Forshee for a second term, noting he has led Great Hills with “pastoral integrity and exceptional wisdom.”

“He has led the SBTC well this past year, and I’m confident he will lead us well in his next term as president,” McWilliams said. “I am also confident Danny will continue the theme of his life and ministry—to lift high the name of Jesus and make His name known wherever he goes.”

Great Hills gave $211,175.62 through the Cooperative Program in 2023 and $233,730.08 in 2022.

Forshee holds a doctoral degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, where he has served as a professor. He and his wife, Ashley, have three grown children, four granddaughters, two grandsons, and another grandchild on the way.

Ed Johnson III, lead pastor of Harvest Fellowship Baptist Church in DeSoto, will be nominated to serve as SBTC vice president. Johnson, a bivocational pastor who also serves on the convention’s executive board, will be nominated by Caleb Turner, senior pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church. The convention vice president fulfills the duties of the president in the president’s absence or when requested by the president to do so.

Amy Hinote, a member of First Baptist Church Justin and the wife of its pastor, Beaux Hinote, will be nominated to serve as convention secretary. She will be nominated by Matt Kendrick, lead pastor of Redemption City Church in Fort Worth. Mrs. Hinote previously served on the SBTC resolutions committee. The convention secretary’s duties include receiving copies of motions offered for consideration at the SBTC Annual Meeting.

The secretary and vice president also serve on the credentials committee, as outlined in Article III of the convention’s constitution and bylaws.

Meals & Events

Meal registration is required at sbtexas.com/am24.

At a Glance

Messengers to the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Annual Meeting will gather for a powerful time of prayer, worship, and fellowship at Sagemont Church in Houston on Nov. 11-12.

Sagemont Church, Houston

11300 S. Sam Houston Pkwy E

Houston, TX 77089

Main Sessions

Monday Evening 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Tuesday Morning 9:00-11:40 a.m.

Tuesday Afternoon 1:30-4:10 p.m.

Spanish Session

Sagemont Church, Houston

Sunday

4:30-6:00 p.m. Spanish Session Concert

6:00-6:45 p.m. Spanish Session Fellowship

6:45-8:30 p.m. Spanish Session

Monday

10:00- 11:45 a.m. Spanish Session Breakouts

12:00- 2:00 p.m. Spanish Session Lunch

ANNUAL MEETING MEALS

Monday

Tuesday

• SBTC Disaster Relief Taco Truck | 7:30 a.m.
• Seminary Breakfasts
Southern & Southwestern | 7:30 a.m.
• President’s Lunch | Panel Discussion | 12:00 p.m.

Resolutions

A resolution allows convention messengers to express consensus on a current issue. While resolutions are non-binding on convention churches, they add substance to current conversations in Baptist life and the culture at large. Any member of an SBTC church may submit a resolution to the resolutions committee for consideration. The resolutions committee considers these proposed resolutions when preparing resolutions to present to messengers at the annual meeting.

The 2024 resolutions committee will receive proposed resolutions from Wednesday, Sept. 18, until Wednesday, Oct. 16. A proposed resolution must include your name, church membership, phone number, and email address.

Please review the format of previous SBTC resolutions at sbtexas.com/resolutions.

All proposed resolutions should be emailed to Jenna Griffis at jgriffis@sbtexas.com.

El mensaje de Miranda, servirá como uno de los momentos más destacados de la sesión en español de la Reunión Anual ’24

Congregaciones de habla hispana de todo Texas se reunirán en la Iglesia Sagemont en Houston en noviembre para la sesión en español de la Reunión Anual 2024 de la Convención de los Bautistas del Sur de Texas.

El tema de la reunión de este año, programada para los días 11 y 12 de noviembre, es «Lado a lado», basado en Filipenses 1:27 (RV-2015): «Solamente procuren que su conducta como ciudadanos sea digna del evangelio de Cristo, de manera que, sea que yo vaya a verlos o que esté ausente, oiga acerca de ustedes que están firmes en un mismo espíritu, combatiendo juntos y unánimes por la fe del evangelio…».

La sesión en español comenzará el domingo, 10 de noviembre a las 4:30 p.m. con un concierto dirigido por Job González, pastor de adoración de Champion Forest en Español. González es un cantante, productor y compositor de McAllen apasionado por impactar a las generaciones con excelencia musical.

Tony Miranda, pastor y orador internacional que capacita a pastores y líderes en América Latina y los EE.UU., servirá como orador principal. Él ha enseñado en varios seminarios bautistas y es autor de varios libros en español.

Los talleres se ofrecerán el lunes desde las 10 a.m. hasta el mediodía con Lázaro Riesgo, pastor de Sagemont Encuentro y Livan Quintana, pastor de la Iglesia Bautista Vida en Cristo en Nassau Bay. Además, Amparo Medina y Karina Vázquez, quienes ministran a mujeres en Champion Forest en Español, dirigirán los talleres para mujeres.

El lunes a mediodía también se celebrará un almuerzo en el que Julio Arriola, director de Send Network SBTC y del departamento en Español de la Convención, entrevistará a Ramón Medina, pastor principal de Champion Forest en Español.

Para más información, visite sbtexas.com/am24.

Hotels

Fairfield Inn & Suites NASA/Webster
401 W Texas Ave.
Webster, Texas
832-932-3633
King/Double $104
Cut-off: 10/11

Holiday Inn Express Space Center
900 Rogers Court
Webster, Texas
281-316-9750
Double $102
Cut-off: 10/11

Tru by Hilton
901 Rogers Court
Webster, Texas
281-672-7025
King $94, Double $104
Cut-off: 10/21

Group Rates
Specify SBTC for group rates
when making any hotel reservations.

CHILDCARE
Childcare is available at sbtexas.com/am24childcare.

Housing Assistance
Senior pastors with financial need may request hotel cost assistance by visiting sbtexas.com/am24housing.

Questions?
Email aminfo@sbtexas.com or call 817-552-2500.

Handouts & Materials
Only SBTC ministries and approved exhibitors may hand out material to the messenger body on the premises of the annual meeting.

‘There’s hope for any church’

Snyder church experiences turnaround by becoming more ‘gospel-centric’

SNYDER—In just over a year, Avenue D Baptist Church went from about 30 people on Sundays and no one remembering the last baptism to seeing 80 to 90 on Sundays and more than 20 baptisms.

In his initial meeting with the church’s pastor search committee, Charles Lowery, a former church planter, said something he knew could be hard to hear.

“Whether you call me or not, somebody needs to tell you this,” Lowery remembers telling committee members. “Unless you have some significant changes, you’re probably looking at maybe not even being here in the next decade.”

The committee “could have been negative about that,” Lowery said, “but they were so very encouraging.”

Evangelism and discipleship have been the keys, Lowery said, adding, “It’s not rocket science.”

“If you think about it, we haven’t done anything that’s been crazy or has cost a lot of money,” he said. “None of it has been that. I think we have just had a confidence that if you just follow God’s plan and you share the gospel and be gospel-centric, God will take care of everything.”

When Lowery arrived as pastor in May 2023, he asked if the church had ever had a formal discipleship ministry. No one could remember, so he began to form one. He also knew the church would need a missional mentality, so he encouraged outreach events.

“It’s easy to adopt the idea that people are just going to walk through our doors,” Lowery said. “We love it when that happens, but that rarely happens.”

Last October, rather than a trunk or treat, Avenue D hosted a “Dine and Dash” where parents could take their children for a quick meal at the church before heading out together for a night of candy gathering. “It was a huge success,” the pastor said.

During a Snyder festival called White Buffalo Days, Lowery headed out with a backpack full of gospel tracts and found lines of people waiting at food trucks. He projected his voice to share a quick gospel presentation and then passed out tracts with a few church members.

“We led a family to Christ that day,” Lowery said, noting that probably 70% of the people who sit in one section at the church are related to that family in some way.

Another thing the church started doing to create a culture of evangelism was to give a brief gospel presentation every Sunday during the worship service around announcement time. “They hear me say that every single Sunday. I think it helps keep everything gospel-centric,” Lowery said.

The pastor also coaches Sunday school teachers to open each class with an opportunity for someone to articulate the gospel, no matter what lesson they’re studying.

Regarding intentional discipleship, Lowery chose a curriculum which has three sections: found, following, and fishing. In 16 lessons, the curriculum covers such topics as salvation, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer.

“Discipleship is a lifelong process. We’re lifelong disciples, but we want to make sure, especially in the beginning, that people get a good foundation,” he said.

Last year, Avenue D had three discipleship classes meeting each week. One met during the Sunday school hour in the pastor’s office, another met on Tuesday mornings, and another on Tuesday evenings.

In May, about 30 people graduated from the first round of formal discipleship ministry. They received a certificate in a worship service, and the church commissioned them to go out and disciple others.

Before launching the discipleship ministry, Lowery taught the congregation about the biblical mandate for discipleship.

“Discipleship is simply the Great Commission,” he said. “It’s not something separate from the Great Commission. … So many of us think the Great Commission is just getting people saved. That’s wonderful. We love that, but until we’re involved in discipleship, we haven’t fully embraced the Great Commission.”

“It’s easy to adopt the idea that people are just going to walk through our doors. We love it when that happens, but that rarely happens.”

—charles lowery Tweet

Lowery, 51, may have been the youngest person at Avenue D when he arrived, he said, but the church has seen growth in the 30-45-year-old age group. “We recently started a young adult class that our church hasn’t had in decades,” he said, adding that the church recently marked its 75th anniversary.

This summer, they sent a group to student camp, something else no one could quite remember doing recently.

Looking at what has happened this past year, Lowery said he saw the potential when he first considered accepting the pastorate. He knew it would be a revitalization ministry.

“The people had a heart for the Lord,” he said. “I could sense that.” If a church is not resistant to outreach and evangelism, Lowery added, “I think there’s hope for any church.”

How can we honor our pastors?

Many churches observe Pastor Appreciation Month in October. How or when your church chooses to show love to your pastors is up to you. But just in case you’re needing a few ideas, we reached out to a number of Southern Baptists of Texas Convention pastors recently to ask them how churches might best show them appreciation. Here’s a sampling of their responses:

1 “Last year, our church threw a fish fry supper for pastor appreciation and collected gift cards for a ‘shower’ for us. Our family ate at different restaurants for over six months, bought groceries for a few months off that … it was such a blessing.”

2“My church provided me with the time and the funds to take a sabbatical. It was an amazing time that they ‘made us’ take. It was a truly refreshing time I didn’t realize I/we really needed after nearly 30 years of ministry.”

3“In the past, members have signed up to do something nice for our family every day for a month. It was everything from mowing my yard to washing my car to giving me a gift card to my favorite restaurant.”

4 “Our church recognized my family during a Sunday service. They gave flowers to my wife and gave me a card signed by all the kids in the kids ministry.”

5 “One church where I served was very creative—they paid to have my master bathroom remodeled and also gave my family a weekend at a resort.”

6 “My church filled an entire calendar with people in the church to pray for me and my family. We were covered for 365 days straight, and we used the calendar to pray each day for those who were praying for us.”

7 “One way my church could show me appreciation would be to share the gospel with someone and then tell me about it via text or email or a phone call.”

8 “I received a public acknowledgment of appreciation from the deacons and the personnel committee. I hated it at first and did not want it, but after it was done, it was really meaningful.”

9 “Last year, our church blessed us with a cruise. I know that’s not possible for everybody, but it was helpful for us to get to go on vacation.”

10

“I love me a good handwritten note of specific ways God has used me in someone’s life. I also love when people give my wife and I date nights—gift cards to our favorite restaurants as well as babysitters.”

11

“Last year, our church held a lunch in my honor and invited people to share some meaningful parts of my ministry.”

12

“Our church had people write anonymous notes of encouragement and drop them in a basket along with gift cards. Some people have watched our kids so my wife and I could go on a date night.”

13

“I think the most meaningful ways the church has encouraged me are the times when they make a point to include my family in the gift or recognition. My work is extremely visible … but the ways my family serves and sacrifices are typically not seen.”

Never too young to make a difference

Harper Sparks is a pretty typical sixth grader. She loves football, her friends, and swimming. She also reigns as Young Miss DeKalb over in Bowie County. Her dad, James, is pastor of First Baptist Church in DeKalb, where Harper is an enthusiastic participant in church ministries and events.

But Harper also has an unusual item on her growing resume—she’s the youngest columnist for the Bowie County Citizens Tribune newspaper.

Starting a year ago, the 12-year-old middle schooler writes a weekly devotional in the lifestyle section of the paper. Her July 24 column spoke of her participation in a project for Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, a ministry that serves families who have a baby in intensive care.

“This ministry helps these families and mothers know that they are not alone, and the love of God is with them,” she wrote.

The column went on to encourage readers to find ways to let their own lights shine in the lives of those around them. She concluded with an invitation to attend her church.

James says Harper’s relatable style has made her articles popular. “[Her writing] is easy for anybody of any age to grasp … a lot of people in this community have been touched by how down to earth it is,” he said.

Her connection to the paper came about unexpectedly. Her mom, Mindy, posted an anecdote involving Harper to their church’s Facebook page after a 2023 mission trip. The editor of the paper saw the post and ended up inviting Harper to write a weekly devotion.

Taking on a weekly column is indicative of Harper’s confidence and maturity. She is bold to invite her teachers to attend First Baptist with her. Some of them have started attending, and one even credits Harper’s persistence with strengthening her own spiritual life and that of her family.

“I told [Harper], ‘No matter what else you do with your life, this is the real stuff,’” Mindy said. “You’re making a real difference in people’s lives.”

Thank you, pastor

This time of year is my favorite. The weather begins cooling off and the leaves start changing colors. I also love this time of year because it’s football season. There is nothing like high school football on Friday nights and college football on Saturdays.

However, of all the things we can highlight this time of year, one that often goes unmentioned is the time churches can set aside for pastor appreciation. Many churches designate October as Pastor Appreciation Month. It is a time when church families can express their thankfulness for their pastor and his family.

It is extremely important as a church to let your pastor know you love and appreciate him. I pastored two churches and know firsthand the challenges pastors face. Allow me to give you three reasons your church should set aside time to show appreciation to your pastor:

Pastors work hard

There is an old joke that pastors only work on Sundays and Wednesdays. There is absolutely no truth in that statement. Pastors are some of the hardest working people there are. Every week, a pastor must seek the Lord for what he should share out of God’s Word for the congregation. He spends hours studying and crafting that message. On top of that, he is leading an organization. A church has many administrative duties that require leadership. He also must shepherd the people the Lord has called him to. Sometimes that requires counseling people. Sometimes that means early morning or late night visits to the hospital. Sometimes that means fixing things around the church. Your pastor works hard.

Pastors can feel isolated

Pastoring can be a lonely calling. It’s one of the only positions in the world that has a constant revolving door of relationships. A pastor will see people come into the church and see people leave the church. People get engaged in the ministry and then they may move to another city. This makes it difficult for a pastor to establish deep relationships and can lead to feeling isolated. Make sure your pastor knows you love him and are here to support him. See him as a friend and a pastor.

Pastors need time away

I often encourage churches to give their pastors time away. The nature of being a pastor means you are always on call. It’s not a job you can leave at the office. At any moment, a pastor’s time with his family could be interrupted for various reasons. There is rarely any time to unplug and recharge. I encourage your church to find time when your pastor can be away and be refreshed. I promise you, he will be a better pastor when his heart has been refreshed with rest and family time.

I have always believed being a pastor is the greatest calling one can have. But it can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining. However, your pastor does it with joy day in and day out because he loves the calling the Lord has given to him. I encourage you to take time as a church to show appreciation to your pastor. When your pastor feels loved and appreciated, he will love and lead you well.

I love you and am humbled to serve you!

Dios ha usado una serie de relaciones para moldear a Sagemont Encuentro, ministerio Hispano de Sagemont Church—y a su pastor

“Hemos crecido juntos”

HOUSTON—Lázaro Riesgo, pastor de Sagemont Encuentro, es producto de las personas que Dios ha traído y sacado de su vida.

Riesgo tenía tres años cuando su padre salió de Cuba buscando encontrar una vida mejor para la familia en EE.UU. Sin embargo, el padre no regresó, dejando a la familia luchando por superar el trauma y el sufrimiento que conlleva el abandono.

“Recuerdo [oír] llamar a la puerta y querer creer que era mi padre el que estaba en casa”, recuerda Riesgo, “pero no era así”.

Riesgo reconoce la pesada carga que su madre, Cary, asumió al criar a su familia y al mismo tiempo cuidar de su propia madre.

Él recuerda a una tía, Obdulia Peña, que un año vino de visita desde Miami y llevó a su madre a la fe en Cristo. La tía, que murió en el 2023 a la edad de 96 años, animó a Cary a encontrar una comunidad de fe que pudiera apoyarla mientras enfrentaba las dificultades de la vida.

Cary lo hizo y empezó a asistir a la Iglesia Bautista Libre, una de las pocas iglesias de la ciudad que seguía en pie después de la revolución cubana. Fue la presencia del Señor y la comunión entre los hermanos y hermanas de la iglesia lo que sostuvo a esta familia quebrantada.

Riesgo tenía nueve años cuando entregó su vida a Cristo durante un llamado al altar. Varios hombres cristianos que habían estado invirtiendo en él desde que era más joven continuaron impartiendo sabiduría bíblica en su vida, enseñándole a no odiar al padre que le abandonó, sino a tener amor y misericordia por él.

“Estos hombres me enseñaron a amar al Padre celestial y a llenar la ausencia de mi padre terrenal con la suficiencia del Dios del cielo”, dice Riesgo.

A los 17 años, otro hombre importante llegó a la vida de Riesgo: Rolando Delgado, un nuevo pastor que llegó a la iglesia. Fue a través de Delgado que Dios llevó a Riesgo a responder a al llamado del Señor para asistir al seminario y prepararse para el ministerio.

“Lázaro”, recuerda Riesgo que le dijo Delgado, “necesitas encontrar tu lugar en el cuerpo de Cristo”.

Riesgo nunca quiso ser pastor ni dedicarse al ministerio. “Sólo quería ser un buen creyente, casarme y tener una carrera exitosa en el deporte”, dice Riesgo.

Pero Dios empezó a cambiar su corazón durante uno de los mensajes de Delgado, en el que advertía que la fama y el éxito son a menudo piedras de tropiezo para servir a Dios. Al poco tiempo, Riesgo se matriculó en el seminario de su ciudad natal para prepararse para el ministerio.

Puertas abiertas

Riesgo conoció a su esposa, Ariadna, antes de entrar en el seminario. Ella comprendió y aceptó el llamado de Dios a sus vidas y nunca dudó de ese llamado, dice él, ni siquiera cuando tuvo que tomar la difícil decisión de dejar su carrera de medicina en Cuba para servir en el ministerio con él.

Tras licenciarse en Teología en el 2003, Riesgo fue enviado a pastorear su primera iglesia. Unos años más tarde, en el 2007, Dios abrió una puerta para que él y su esposa ampliaran su ministerio a través de la Red Nacional de Liderazgo Juvenil, una asociación de tres convenciones bautistas de Cuba. Esto condujo a un trabajo a tiempo completo para que ellos viajaran por toda la isla para ayudar a discipular a la juventud cubana hasta el 2010.

Los Riesgo comenzaron a visualizar la expansión del ministerio que estaban haciendo en Cuba a un área más grande. En el 2011, salieron de Cuba para cumplir un llamado misionero en Panamá en un instituto bíblico, preparando futuros líderes para el pastorado y las misiones. En el 2015, esa visión más amplia se hizo más evidente cuando recibieron una invitación de una agencia misionera bautista en Nashville para expandir el trabajo que estaban haciendo en Panamá por toda América Latina. Aceptaron y pasaron cuatro años capacitando líderes en muchos países de América Latina, incluyendo Uruguay, Perú, Ecuador y el Salvador.

Dios no ha terminado contigo

En el 2019, sin embargo, Riesgo sintió que algo faltaba. Él echaba de menos las conexiones asociadas con servir en la iglesia local debido a sus frecuentes viajes para capacitar líderes de las iglesias. Él supo de una oportunidad para pastorear una iglesia en Miami y aunque parecía una respuesta a sus oraciones, le esperaban muchas dificultades.

Antes de la pandemia, les robaron a él y a Ariadna sus pasaportes y documentos de residencia durante un robo en su casa. Ser pastor durante la pandemia resultó física y emocionalmente agotador, lo que llevó a Riesgo a tomar la difícil decisión de dejar de ser pastor en 2020 para cuidar de su salud.

“Nos quedamos solos en Miami, prácticamente sin nada”, cuenta Riesgo.

Pasaron seis meses, de junio a diciembre, caminando por esa etapa de desierto. Aunque fue una época de desánimo para Riesgo, Él recuerda los constantes ánimos de Ariadna.

“En aquel momento me veía sin futuro”, dice Riesgo, “pero mi esposa me recordaba fielmente que esto era temporal… [que necesitaba] recordar a qué y por quién habíamos sido llamados.”

“Dios no ha terminado contigo”, le decía Ariadna.

Él admite que en aquel momento le costaba creerlo, pero que desde entonces ha visto a Dios actuar de una manera poderosa a través de una nueva asignación ministerial.

Un nuevo comienzo, una nueva historia

Después de pasar medio año alejado del ministerio, Riesgo recibió una llamada de un pastor estadounidense, John Carswell, que había ido a Cuba a enseñar a otros pastores y allí se conocieron. Carswell se enteró de que la iglesia Sagemont de Houston buscaba un pastor para su ministerio hispano y animó a Riesgo a presentar su currículum.

A pesar de su inquietud, Riesgo lo envió y le llamaron para una entrevista. Aproximadamente una semana después de regresar a Miami, los líderes de Sagemont le enviaron una carta en la que le hacían extensivo el llamamiento para pastorear Sagemont Encuentro. Riesgo y Ariadna empacaron las pocas pertenencias que les quedaban y llegaron a Sagemont Encuentro para predicar el Domingo de Resurrección del 2021.

A partir de ese momento, comenzó a escribirse una nueva historia para los Riesgo y para la iglesia.

Las relaciones—con Dios, entre ellos e incluso con iglesias hermanas—son uno de los puntos centrales de Sagemont Encuentro. A Riesgo le impactaron mucho las relaciones que estableció con aquellos hombres que invirtieron en él cuando era más joven, y ahora quiere conectar a otros para que crezcan y aprendan a servir a los demás.

Riesgo también se centra en animar a la gente a profundizar en su experiencia con el Señor y a tener una identidad arraigada en Cristo. Él escribió recientemente un libro, Contrastes: El valor de ser diferente, para desafiar a los creyentes a vivir vidas genuinas mientras toman decisiones que se alinean con los valores del reino de Dios.

Como resultado de este enfoque en Jesús y en los demás, Riesgo—quien también trabaja con nuevos plantadores de iglesias a través de su colaboración con Send Network SBTC—dijo que Dios está permitiendo que el ministerio experimente un crecimiento numérico, espiritual y relacional.

Dijo Riesgo: “Hemos crecido juntos”.