Author: Russell Lightner

5 minutes with Todd Gray

Todd Gray has served as pastor of Brownwood’s Coggin Avenue Baptist Church since November 2021. Gray, a captain in the U.S. Air Force before being called to the ministry, and his wife, Tammy—with their three children: Isaac, 18; Autumn, 16; and Christian, 13—moved to Brownwood just over a year ago.

What is something you’ve been able to celebrate at your church recently?

TG: There’s so many things to celebrate at Coggin this first year. We’ve celebrated over 140 members joining in 2022 as people have come out of COVID. We’ve seen a lot of people grow in their faith. We also celebrated going to three services. Pretty exciting. What’s also been so impressive are the baptisms at the Brown County jail. It’s a ministry we do through Celebrate Recovery, led by Bill Allen. We’ve got 10 men and women who go in there every week to share the gospel. There were 46 baptisms in 2022. We are about to baptize one in church, but most baptisms have been in the jail.

What have been some of the biggest challenges in your ministry lately?

TG: A transition is a challenge. This one meant taking my son, who was playing his senior year in football, to another school. He’s playing at a very high level, and to make that change is a challenge—but he did it with grace. He has excelled. Bringing my family to another place is always a challenge, although it’s turned into a blessing. We now wonder why we were so worried about it.

[Editor’s note: His son, Isaac, signed a letter of intent with Harding University on the day of this interview.]

What’s one lesson you’ve learned to this point of your ministry that you know you’ll never forget?

TG: Balance. I just think it’s balance. Pressing toward your passions but having balance in your life. I learned it early. I have always put my family first. I’ve always been up front with churches about my priorities concerning my wife and family. I try to be clear that the church hired me and that my family are regular members. It’s a lesson I learned early from many mentors.

What’s one thing you want to see God do specifically in your church?

TG: That we would see God do a movement in such a way that we could not get credit for it. A revival. Some rejuvenation of the soul that, when we look back on it, we’ll say that it had to be God. Human intervention and invention couldn’t do it.

How can the other churches of the SBTC be praying for you?

TG: One thing is effectiveness with these young pastors I am mentoring. Honestly, they are teaching me more than I am teaching them right now. The goal is for lifelong ministry friendships, spiritual health, and longevity in ministry. I am encouraged about the future of the SBTC with young pastors like these. For Coggin, [pray] that we would continue to be a spiritual lighthouse for Christ in Brown County.

What’s your story? With God, everything is going to be alright!

I was four years old when Jesus saved me. Our church, St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church in Bakersfield, Calif., was a bigger version of my current church [Creekstone Church in North Richland Hills]. Tyree Toliver was our pastor. I came down the aisle one day and told him I wanted to know Jesus during an altar call—and I knew what that meant. I remember going up the stairs at the front and I remember being baptized. My family was very involved in church—my dad was a deacon and my mom was in the women’s ministry. They helped me come to the Lord.

I grew up and raised a family, and we moved to DFW about 11 years ago. I now have two grown daughters and our household is multigenerational—my girls, me, my mom and dad, and my grandmother. My husband is currently living in another country, but we’re doing OK, taking care of each other as families should do.

I’m currently a teacher in Arlington. I teach English to 9th through 12th graders. Since I started teaching, I’ve earned two master’s degrees. As I got up one morning about the time I was finishing my second master’s … something wasn’t right. My ear was kind of numb and my face was weird, and it ran down the right side of my body down to my knee.

“I had been having pain that I now learned was from the tumor pressing against the nerves. ... They were able to remove the tumor. There’s none left on my brain, on my spine—nothing there.”

Marissa Wright-Williams Tweet

I was like, “Hmm, that’s not right.” I called my mom to ask her about it. She told me to call 911, but I just asked my dad to take me to the hospital. … It turns out I was having a little stroke. As they were doing the MRIs and the CAT scans and stuff, they saw that I had a tumor at the base of my brain and they told me the tumor was pressing on my spinal cord, where the cord connects to my brain. I had been having pain that I now learned was from the tumor pressing against the nerves. I had been going to physical therapy for years to manage that pain.

They were able to remove the tumor. There’s none left on my brain, on my spine—nothing there. It was malignant, but now there’s no cancer in my body.

I really do love our church. I was pretty new to Creekstone [when this happened], but the hugs that I get and the genuine love, and just the realness from everyone checking up on me and asking how I’m feeling has meant a lot. My pastor [Kason Branch] came and told me everybody was praying for me. He brought me this really nice devotional book. I needed that because … the devotional just spoke to me each day that I was in the hospital. The words for each day were very specific and they were very much needed. We just prayed that pain away. Even though it was kind of scary, I just really wasn’t worried.

I actually finished my master’s in the hospital. I was nearly done and couldn’t see waiting another semester. I’m still recovering, doing physical therapy to restore movement as the nerves wake back up. I’ve been able to kind of get back to being myself. I’m back at work and starting to work out again. I haven’t started dancing yet, but I’m going to get back to it. God is good.

As I recover from this, and an earlier Achilles tendon injury, I’m asking God for discernment, wisdom, peace—just reminders to get in bed on time and get enough rest. Sometimes I struggle to sleep. I’ve found Psalm 4:8 to be of help: “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” It’s what I do when I’m anxious in the middle of the night. More than anything, I am asking the Lord to help me heal. I’m asking the Lord to help me heal inside and out. I’ve been through quite a lot, not just with these surgeries, but some other things in my life.

So, what’s my story? While I’ve been through big and little crises over the past few years—and I do get anxious sometimes—with God, I just feel like it’s no big deal. It’s going to be alright.

“While I’ve been through big and little crises over the past few years—and I do get anxious sometimes—with God, I just feel like it’s no big deal. It’s going to be alright.”

Marissa Wright-Williams Tweet

Want to share a story of what God is doing in your life or your church?

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Iglesia centenaria experimenta un resurgir al alcanzar a una comunidad cambiante

Cambio de enfoque los lleva a la revitalización

Los cristianos vivimos en un mundo cambiante, pero con un evangelio inconmovible. Teniendo en cuenta esa realidad, muchas iglesias se encuentran adaptando sus estrategias evangelísticas para llegar a las nuevas generaciones y culturas que las rodean.

La Primera Iglesia Bautista (PIB) de Galena Park, situada en una ciudad en la que, a lo largo de los años, ha visto cambiar drásticamente la población, ha aceptado estos cambios.

Esta iglesia, de 105 años de antigüedad, comenzó como una congregación anglosajona en el 1918. Unos 90 años más tarde, el número de miembros de la iglesia empezó a disminuir considerablemente, pasando de ser más de 800 en su momento álgido a menos de 100.
A medida que la iglesia experimentaba cambios, también lo hacía su población. En el 2002, la población de Galena Park se había convertido en un 85% hispana.

La iglesia decidió abrazar ese cambio y tratar de llegar a otras culturas. Lo que sucedió luego sólo puede describirse como una revitalización de la iglesia. Parte del plan de la iglesia para adaptarse a su nueva realidad incluía traer a un pastor hispano bilingüe para así poder proveer servicios en inglés y español con el fin de alcanzar a los hispanos de la comunidad.

Ese pastor bilingüe era Marcos Ramos, quien, junto con su esposa Irma y sus tres hijos, respondió al llamado de dirigir la iglesia hacia un nuevo futuro. Según Ramos, la iglesia se fortaleció y adquirió solidez financiera cuando comenzaron a alcanzar activamente a los hispanos. Hoy en día, Ramos ha sido el pastor de esta congregación bilingüe durante casi 21 años.

La PIB de Galena Park celebra tres cultos dominicales: en español a las 9:30 a.m., en inglés a las 11 a.m. y un servicio bilingüe a las 6 p.m.

“No queríamos ser sólo un departamento o misión hispana de Galena Park.Queríamos ser una iglesia [en varios idiomas].”

—Marcos Ramos Tweet

“No queríamos ser sólo un departamento o misión hispana de Galena Park,” dijo Ramos. “Queríamos ser una iglesia [en varios idiomas].”

Ramos sintió el llamado al ministerio a los 16 años, cuando vio la necesidad de más pastores hispanos. Más tarde, decidió prepararse para su llamado obteniendo un diploma en teología de la Universidad Bautista de las Américas (antes Instituto Bíblico Bautista Mexicano) y un bachillerato en estudios teológicos de la Universidad Bautista de Dallas. También realizó cursos de posgrado en el Criswell College y en el Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

A lo largo de su extenso ministerio pastoral de 46 años, Dios ha sido fiel al darle a Ramos la oportunidad de pastorear tanto iglesias anglosajonas como hispanas. A sus 67 años, sigue predicando el evangelio de Cristo, guiando a su rebaño en Galena Park y disfrutando de sus 10 nietos. Ramos sirvió dos términos consecutivos en la Junta Directiva de la Convención de los Bautistas del Sur de Texas (SBTC), del 2003 al 2012, y fue presidente del Comité de Credenciales en el 2007.

La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Galena Park ha recibido tres veces el premio “Look Like Heaven” de la SBTC, otorgado a iglesias multiculturales que se encuentran entre las que más aportan financieramente al Programa Cooperativo en todo el estado. La iglesia ha estado afiliada a la SBTC desde sus comienzos.

“El año pasado, dimos $11,998 al Programa Cooperativo para la gloria de Dios,” dijo Ramos, “y también apoyamos financieramente otras obras misioneras, como nuestra asociación bautista local, la Asociación Bautista de San Jacinto.” Durante la Reunión Anual 2022 de la SBTC, Ramos y su esposa, Irma, recibieron el Reconocimiento de Legado Ministerial Michael Gonzáles, debido su trayectoria ministerial de 46 años.

Durante todo el año, la iglesia organiza eventos y programas para evangelizar y alcanzar a la comunidad. El Día de Acción de Gracias organizan una comida en dónde se comparte la Palabra de Dios. La iglesia también tiene una despensa de alimentos para aquellos en la comunidad que solicitan ayuda, empacan cajas de regalo para el proyecto Operación Niño de la Navidad, y organiza fiestas en la cuadra para proporcionar cortes de pelo, alimentos, útiles escolares y actividades para los niños. La PIB de Galena Park también es sede de AWANA, un programa de discipulado y recreación para niños. Además, la iglesia ha participado en varios viajes misioneros a varios países hispanos.

La PIB de Galena Park tiene la misión de ser “un organismo espiritual dinámico, empoderado por el Espíritu Santo para compartir a Jesucristo y alcanzar a la mayor cantidad de personas posible en nuestra comunidad y en alrededor el mundo.” La iglesia cree que lo que dice la Biblia es verdad: que un día, personas de todas las naciones, tribus, pueblos y lenguas adorarán ante el trono de Dios.

Hasta entonces, seguirán cumpliendo su misión alcanzando a todas las naciones, tribus, pueblos y lenguas que Dios ha puesto al cruzar la calle.

Century-old church experiences new life by reaching out to changing community

From refocused to revitalized

Christians live in an ever-changing world with a never-changing gospel. Considering that reality, many find themselves adapting their evangelistic strategies to reach new generations and cultures around them.

First Baptist Church of Galena Park, located in a city that has seen its population demographic shift dramatically over the years, has embraced these changes.

The 105-year-old church began as an Anglo congregation in 1918. About 90 years later, the church began to experience a significant decline in membership, dropping from more than 800 members at its high point to less than 100. As the church experienced change, so did the population around it. By 2002, Galena Park’s population had become 85% Hispanic.

FBC Galena Park decided to embrace that change and begin reaching out to other cultures. What followed can only be described as a revitalization of the church. Part of the church’s plan to adapt to its new reality included calling a bilingual Hispanic pastor to lead services in English and Spanish to reach the growing number of Hispanics in the community.

That bilingual pastor was Marcos Ramos, who, along with his wife Irma and their three children, answered the call to lead the church into the future. According to Ramos, the church gained strength and became financially sound as it began reaching out to Hispanics.

FBC Galena Park hosts three Sunday worship services: in Spanish at 9:30 a.m., in English at 11 a.m., and a bilingual service at 6 p.m.

“We didn’t want to be just the Hispanic department or mission of Galena Park. We wanted to be one church [in multiple languages].”

—Marcos Ramos Tweet

“We didn’t want to be just the Hispanic department or mission of Galena Park,” said Ramos, who has pastored the church for 21 years. “We wanted to be one church [in multiple languages].”

Ramos felt a call to ministry at age 16, when he saw a need for more Hispanic pastors. Later, he decided to prepare for his calling by earning a diploma in theology from the Baptist University of the Américas and a bachelor’s degree in theological studies from Dallas Baptist University. He also took graduate courses at Criswell College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Throughout his 46-year pastoral career, God has been faithful to give Ramos the opportunity to pastor Anglo and Hispanic churches. At 67, he is still preaching the gospel of Christ, leading his flock in Galena Park, and enjoying his 10 grandchildren. Ramos served two consecutive terms on the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) Executive Board from 2003-2012 and was chairman of the Credentials Committee in 2007.

FBC Galena Park is a three-time recipient of the SBTC’s “Look Like Heaven” award, given to multicultural churches that are among the state’s top givers to the Cooperative Program.

“Last year, we gave $11,998 to the Cooperative Program for the glory of God,” Ramos said, “and we also financially support other mission work, such as our local Baptist association, the San Jacinto Baptist Association.” During the 2022 SBTC Annual Meeting, Ramos and his wife received the Michael Gonzales Ministerial Legacy Award for their many years of ministry.

That faithful ministry has included leading the church to host events and programs throughout the year to evangelize and reach out to the community. During Thanksgiving, FBC Galena Park hosts a meal where the Word of God is shared. The church also has a food pantry for those in the community who need help, members pack gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child, and it hosts block parties to provide haircuts, food, school supplies, and activities for the children. FBC Galena Park also hosts AWANA, a discipleship and recreation program for children. Additionally, the church has participated in several mission trips to various Hispanic countries.

FBC Galena Park has a mission to be “a dynamic spiritual organism empowered by the Holy Spirit to share Jesus Christ and reach as many people as possible in our community and around the world.” The church believes what the Bible says is true—that one day, those from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue will worship before the throne of God.

Until that time, they will continue to fulfill the mission by reaching every nation, tribe, and tongue God has placed right in their own backyard.

Pastoring in an active war zone

Iwill never forget the day Craig Miller and I drove through the Jordanian desert at 95 miles per hour to deliver cash and encouragement to embedded missionaries in Baghdad. These heroic Southern Baptist Convention missionaries were working alongside the equally heroic U.S. military to replace water pumps in the immediate aftermath of the Iraqi War.

Except the war wasn’t over. Not even close.

Craig and I only heard the part of President George W. Bush’s speech that we wanted to hear on May 2, 2003: “In the battle of Iraq, the major phase of combat is over. The United States and our allies have prevailed,” Bush said, while standing on the enormous flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.

If we had listened carefully to the rest of his speech, Craig and I would have heard Bush say there is still “difficult work to do. Parts of that country remain dangerous … The al-Qaida terrorist organization is wounded, not destroyed…”

Once we arrived two months later, it became obvious that Baghdad was still a very active war zone. We saw firefights almost every day—the most active one at the United Nations building, which was soon after destroyed by a suicide bomber. In a separate attack a few months after we left, three of the brave International Mission Board missionaries we worked with were ambushed in traffic and killed.

"Although our ultimate war has already been won through Jesus’ finished work on the cross, our wounded enemy is shrewdly taking aim at the commissioned officers of the church."

Mark Dance Tweet

Pastors, missionaries, and other ministry leaders live and fight daily in an active war zone that is just as real as what we experienced in Baghdad. In some ways, pastors are dealing with even more insidious enemies because their battle is, for the most part, invisible. The world, Satan, and even our own flesh conspire against us every day, which makes it hard to win.

Sometimes our worst enemy is the person in the mirror. No right-minded minister ever woke up thinking, “How can I blow up my ministry today?” Yet the recent epidemic of messy ministry exits ranges from slow-fading burnouts to epic moral meltdowns.

God has a much better plan for our lives and ministries. He has called us to start well, serve well, and finish well. On the Apostle Paul’s last ministry lap, he shared his resolve with Timothy and his team: “My purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:24). His follow-up letter to Timothy from death row was a legacy statement: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Although our ultimate war has already been won through Jesus’ finished work on the cross, our wounded enemy is shrewdly taking aim at the commissioned officers of the church. Jesus warned us of our enemy’s schemes to strike the shepherd so that the sheep of the flock will be scattered (Matthew 26:31).

Our legacy will be determined more on how we finish our race than how we started it. When we win, others in our family and ministry win. When we lose, the collateral damage is often bigger than we will ever see in our lifetimes.

SBTF adds products aimed at impacting kingdom

Several opportunities local Southern Baptists of Texas Convention congregations utilize to maximize investments are now available to individuals in SBTC churches—certificate investments that currently yield between 2.00% and 3.75% annually, as well as daily certificate accounts and donor advised funds (DAF). SBTF Executive Director Bart McDonald and Investment Services Director Terry Jeffries answered questions for the Texan about the new products.

Q: Why should individuals invest through the foundation instead of a secular institution?

Jeffries: Since opening certificate investments to individuals on Jan. 1, we have had dozens of people reach out for information and several have already opened accounts. For example, a couple from Houston invested $100,000 in an 11-month certificate that provides 2.70% APY. During this investment term, they will earn $2,475 in interest. The same $100,000 invested in a 30-month certificate would yield 3.30% APY and earn $8,250 during its term.

While banks pay similar rates, investing with the foundation has the added benefit of making a kingdom impact, as those dollars fund loans to plant new churches and expand existing church campuses. Setting up a certificate account at the foundation is easy, and nearly anyone can participate because our minimum investment is only $2,500.

Q: How does a daily certificate account offer immediate access to funds?

Jeffries: This option works similarly to a savings account at a bank. A daily certificate account is an excellent way for individuals to earn 2.00% APY on emergency funds that might otherwise be in a savings account, often earning little interest. These funds are available for withdrawal without penalty, and there are no associated fees for investment. Our online member portal allows clients to make deposits and withdrawals quickly and conveniently.

Q: Why should ministries and individuals invest with the foundation if banks offer similar rates?

Jeffries: First, banks invest in many different types of institutions and organizations, some of which likely do not align with Christian values. The foundation utilizes certificate investments to fund loans to gospel-proclaiming ministries. Dozens of churches across Texas have built new facilities or planted churches with loans from the SBTF.

When Jason Collins first arrived at CrossRoads Baptist Church in Rowlett, 80 members worshiped in a 5,400-square-foot building. The church experienced explosive growth from 2015 to 2018, baptized 248 people, and grew to over 500 in attendance. The foundation loaned CrossRoads $3 million in 2018 to build a 25,000-square-foot facility. They now worship with over 1,000 on Sundays and baptize around 100 people annually. Certificate clients are the ones who make kingdom growth like this possible through their investments. The foundation has loaned more than $100 million to churches and ministries that are committed to reaching Texas communities.

“While banks pay similar rates, investing with the foundation has the added benefit of making a kingdom impact, as those dollars fund loans to plant new churches and expand existing church campuses.”

Terry Jeffries Tweet

Q: What exactly is a donor advised fund?

Jeffries: DAFs are charitable giving tools growing in popularity because they simplify the giving process, multiply the impact of giving, and maximize tax benefits. Individuals can contribute to their DAF and receive an immediate tax deduction, allow those invested funds to grow tax-free, and take time to decide what ministries to support and how often. The DAF can send a one-time check or recurring checks on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis to your designated charities on your behalf.

Funding a DAF by donating stock or other appreciated value assets provides an immediate tax-deductible contribution of the present value of the asset and also allows the donor to avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciated value. Donors can choose to contribute stock to a DAF when its share price is high rather than [tying] the donation to a specific ministry need, then allow these funds to grow over time and make a more significant kingdom impact. DAFs can make regular title payments to a local church and support other vital ministries or missions like disaster relief, Criswell College, Jacksonville College, or the Texas Baptist Home for Children.

Q: How do DAFs avoid tax liability?

McDonald: DAFs are great vehicles to avoid capital gains taxes on capital appreciated non-cash assets, thereby maximizing resources available to direct toward kingdom causes. The avoidance of capital gains issues related to the sale or liquidation of capital appreciated assets may be another element worthy of disclosure.

Two of the foundation’s DAF clients had investments in several pieces of real property. Their cost basis in those properties was incredibly low in comparison to current market valuations. Having decided it was time to sell, they donated those properties into their family-styled DAF accounts. At the point of donation, they receive a tax deduction based on the appraised value of the properties. The added benefit of the avoidance of capital gains taxes on the liquidation was significant in their choice of the DAF as a giving platform.

After receipt, the foundation liquidates the assets with proceeds going into the DAF (less a minor asset handling fee to cover the foundation’s costs and efforts of converting the asset to cash). The foundation is a 501c3 entity and not subject to taxation—in other words, no capital gains levied by the IRS.

Current 2022 capital gains are 15% on households whose income exceeds $41,676. On several of these properties, the gains would have been well in the high six- to low seven-figure range. Instead of the related capital gains ending up in the IRS coffers, those amounts were preserved and end up in the DAF cash balances, which can in turn be directed by the donors to benefit their church and other kingdom charities. DAF accounts are excellent ways to direct capital appreciated assets to fund kingdom endeavors, with stocks, investments, and non-cash real property assets being the most common.

SBTF is available by calling 844-351-8804, online at sbtexasfoundation.com, and in person for churches and individuals at 2331 Brookhollow Plaza Drive, Arlington, TX 76006. SBTF staff are also available to make presentations to local churches by request.

Panhandle church finds unexpected blessing from God—and uses it to bless others

Kelley Fennell has attended First Baptist Church in Springlake all her life. In addition to serving as church treasurer, she is the vacation Bible school director and ladies Bible study teacher.

According to Pastor Rob Norris, she also spearheaded the church’s Bless Your Socks Off campaign—which has not only impacted its members, but the local community, tornado victims in Kentucky and Tennessee, missionaries in India and Pakistan, and so much more.

Not that Fennell wants any of that light shined on her.

“It’s not about the church. It’s not about what we have done, but it’s about how God has blessed us,” she said.

FBC Springlake is a small church in a really small panhandle town, located about 45 miles from the New Mexico border. There’s a post office, a cotton gin, and the church. The population is approximately 120, with about 50 people attending the church on Sunday mornings.

In 2020, the COVID pandemic presented the church with a surplus through continued faithful giving. Fennell and the finance committee met on numerous occasions to determine how they could use those extra funds to help others. Through those meetings, God provided opportunities.

Fennell said Norris loves to remind church members that the Hebrew word for “cheerful” in 2 Corinthians 9:7 (“God loves a cheerful giver”) is hilaros—from which the English word hilarious is derived.

“And so we did,” Fennell said. “We’ve just had a hilariously fun time doing this.”

And thus, FBC Springlake’s Bless Your Socks Off campaign was born, with Luke 6:38 becoming its driving force: “Give and it will be given to you, good measure pressed down, shaken together and running over.”

Soon, the Lord began to do something abundantly more than anyone in the church could really imagine—and something Fennell had never seen in her 25-plus years as treasurer. Namely, the monthly reconciled bank balance registered at more than $100,000.

“So many churches we would hear from during this time, and from friends and families, were struggling to meet their budgets during COVID,” Fennell said, “and because of God’s grace, here we were with an abundance of finances.”

At the church’s December 2021 business meeting, Fennell challenged committee members to look for ways they could bless others with the monetary blessings they had received from God. “We just wanted to bless their socks off,” she said.

Those blessings came in the form of helping people in Springlake with medical expenses and unexpected repairs to vehicles and homes. Then the blessings expanded to the southeast U.S., where tornados had devastated entire communities. The church also supported a young man on a mission trip, instituting vacation Bible schools throughout New Mexico. The blessings even went global, as the church assisted ministries in India and Pakistan.

“It’s not about the church. It’s not about what we have done, but it’s about how God has blessed us.”

Kelley Fennell Tweet

FBC Springlake members wanted the blessings to be more than just monetary; the church also desired to make new connections and cultivate relationships. In August 2022, a young girl whose dad pastors in war-torn Ukraine went through the long process of coming to America to attend Wayland Baptist University in nearby Plainview. She arrived with nothing more than a suitcase. Through what Fennell describes as “a lot of God connections,” the church was able to bless her with money to purchase items she needed to attend school. The church has committed to support her throughout her college career. The student even came to the church to share her testimony, report on her progress in school, and share her talent of playing the violin.

Fennell says through Bless Your Socks Off, FBC Springlake has truly learned that it is more blessed to give than receive. “It’s opened our eyes to the needs of those around us as we seek out those to minister to, and not just wait on them to come to us. We’ve experienced the joy of giving, and we continue to be blessed by God in ways that we can’t even comprehend.”

Since implementing Bless Your Socks Off, the account from which the church blesses others has never dropped below $90,000. In fact, the balance has steadily increased—leaving the church more resources to continue blessing its community and beyond.

“It has been exciting to see how our people have responded,” Norris, the church’s pastor, said. “They have caught a vision and [started thinking about] where we can help people in a way that honors God and helps folks out.” Norris said the next round of blessings may include helping provide resources for earthquake relief in Turkey and Syria.

Added Fennell: “We pray that we will continue to be faithful to bless others as God has so abundantly blessed us.”

The 5: Praying your way to an Easter that will impact eternity

Last month in this column, I offered five practical ways to pray more effectively this year. This week, I once again write about prayer, but with specific emphasis on praying about Resurrection Sunday (April 9). Here are five ways to pray for your church’s services on that special day:

1

Pray for the health of your pastoral staff.
Easter weekend is a busy one, and stress can sometimes make us more vulnerable to illness. We want everything to go well, knowing that some guests will be in church for the first time in a long time. If we’re being honest, sometimes we work harder on the Resurrection Sunday sermon than we typically do for others. We long for lost people to get saved and for wayward believers to return to God.

2

Pray that the truth of the death and resurrection of Jesus will refresh your heart in new ways.

Too many of us take the resurrection story for granted, and we celebrate by simply having a big day in church. We work hard at getting people to church during this time of year, but we sometimes miss the gospel for ourselves in the process. Pray that Resurrection Sunday will have new meaning for you this year.

3

Pray for church members to invite their non-believing friends to the services—and for non-believers to be burdened about their need for Jesus.

We need to reach out to non-believers we might have a close relationship with and invite them to come hear about Jesus. Pray for other believers to do this as well. At the same time, pray that unchurched folks will make the right decision to attend where they will hear the gospel.

4

Pray against the enemy snatching the Word as it’s proclaimed.

Jesus warned us this would happen in the parable of the sower (Mark 4:1-20). Satan has many ways of distracting people from hearing the Word, but he appears to work overtime during gospel proclamation. On Resurrection Sunday, pray during the service that God will guard the hearers of the Word from the enemy’s arrows. Begin the prayer for yourself as you listen to the sermon, and then extend the prayer to others seated around you.

5

Pray for the more than 4 billion people around the world who have never heard the resurrection story—and for the missionaries giving their lives to get that story to them.

Resurrection Sunday will mean nothing for much of the world. Billions of people will come and go that day as if there never were an empty tomb that once held Jesus, the Son of God. If that reality does not break your heart, meditate more on the miracle and grace of the resurrection this year. Thank God for eternal life.

Chuck Lawless is dean of doctoral studies and vice president of spiritual formation and ministry centers at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. For more from Lawless, visit chucklawless.com.

Dallas pastor finds ministry opportunities inside, outside the church

Austin native Ed Johnson III, pastor of Harvest Fellowship Baptist Church in DeSoto, finds ice storms such as the one in early February that shut down Dallas to be problematic in more ways than one. Not only does he shepherd a congregation of 75 adults, children, and youth, but he also serves as director of programs for a Dallas-based homeless ministry.

Johnson planted Harvest Fellowship while pursuing a doctor of ministry degree at Dallas Theological Seminary. After serving 10 years as a Christian education pastor at a South Dallas church, he and his wife, Tiffany, were encouraged to start the DeSoto congregation.

“Providential circumstances and consultation with fellow believers in my D.Min cohort confirmed the decision to plant Harvest Fellowship,” Johnson said. After a pre-launch in 2016, in which Johnson approached the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention for a church planter assessment, training, and assistance, Harvest launched on Easter 2017.

“We were very compassionate but intentional regarding how we responded to COVID as a church,” Johnson said. “We started gathering in person as soon as the mandates were lifted [in] July 2020.” Although the church posted sermons for those who could not attend, virtual church was not recommended as a substitute for in-person fellowship.

“Those [who were] able were encouraged to come. If you resumed your life, if you were at AT&T Stadium to watch the Cowboys, or if you were flying on airplanes, you could come to church,” Johnson said. “Thankfully, God honored that.” Attendance soon resembled what it had been pre-pandemic.

“We ask our homeless guests two questions: ‘Will you trust the Lord?’ and ‘Will you let us help you off the streets?’”

Ed Johnson III, speaking of his work with Our calling Tweet

In August 2021, two months after completing his doctorate, Johnson came on staff with Our Calling, a Christian nonprofit where he works while pastoring Harvest. As program director, he supervises 20 staffers comprising five teams, including on-site men’s and women’s care ministers, search and rescue personnel who assist the homeless, placement experts focusing on exit strategies from homelessness, and staff members who work with the organization’s anti-trafficking initiative.

Johnson directs the “people-engagement” arm of the ministry. “We ask our homeless guests two questions: ‘Will you trust the Lord?’ and ‘Will you let us help you off the streets,’” he said.

The ministry also has a national mobile app designed by CEO Wayne Walker, a former software developer who co-founded Our Calling with his wife, Carolyn. The app directs users to homeless services in their area and receives upward of 100,000 hits per day. Our Calling is also constructing a 500-unit tiny home community for the homeless near Ferris, located about 20 miles southeast of Dallas.

Our Calling keeps Johnson busy, as does the church. Finding balance can be challenging.

Time limits

Time is at a premium. “You don’t have as much time to visit church members at their homes or jobs or when they are in the hospital. You can’t go to lunch with them,” Johnson said of his bivocational status.

Sermon preparation and meetings take time too. Johnson said he plans sermon topics six months in advance to stay organized.

“You have to crunch a lot into a little bit of time,” he said. “You have to be faithful to the church and faithful to the job you have too. You don’t want to cheat your job. You want to give job and church your best energies.”

Juggling family life with job and church can also be challenging. Johnson said he formerly worked all day each Saturday preparing Sunday’s sermon. To make time for his two daughters, Desirae, 11, and Gabrielle, 4, and alleviate the strain on his wife, who also works outside the home, the pastor changed his schedule. He now studies through the week and writes his sermon manuscript starting at 9 p.m. Saturday, working late into the night or early into the next morning.

Making that adjustment was worth it. “I need to be a good husband and father before I can be a faithful pastor,” he said.

“I need to be a good husband and father before I can be a faithful pastor.”

Ed Johnson III Tweet

Besides encouraging structure and organization, having a bivocational pastor forces congregations to focus on what is most important, Johnson noted.

“We look at what is absolutely essential to making disciples and allowing the church to be on mission for Jesus,” he explained. Sometimes this focus means they “dial down and refine what ministries are essential for the church to function.”

For example, rather than hosting outreach events at the church, members volunteer at city-sponsored events. If the city of DeSoto is putting on a fall festival, Harvest Fellowship will have a booth with church information. Members, wearing their church T-shirts, assist by handing out candy, monitoring a bounce house, or doing whatever is needed.

“Whatever events our city is hosting, we try to jump on that opportunity and serve them and make their event successful,” the pastor said. “Doing so gives us the chance to rub shoulders with non-Christians.”

For Johnson and Harvest Fellowship, a multi-ethnic, multi-generational congregation, the strategy is working.

bivo pastors
network

Bivocational pastors make up the majority of pastors across Texas and the demand on them and their families is difficult. The SBTC works to network with bivocational pastors across the state.

Delayed until eternity

I’ve recently taken several personality profiles for a work-related endeavor. Typically, these profiles include an assessment where the participant is required to answer a series of questions, often choosing between or ranking a list of options, until an algorithm can create a profile of your strengths, weaknesses, giftings, and preferences. These findings are then expressed in single words or phrases such as “motivator” or “hospitable” or “works better alone.”

No shade here—I’m finding these latest assessments (I’ve taken many of them) to be insightful. Even so, I recently stumbled upon another series of words and phrases you likely won’t find on the most popular personality profiles available in the marketplace today. They’re found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, as historically recorded in Matthew 5-7.

In Chapter 5, Jesus offers the profile—we might even say DNA—of someone who is a faithful and devoted follower. That devotee is poor in spirit (v.3), one who mourns (v.4), and one who is humble (v.5). The faithful disciple is one who will withhold punishment and extend grace even when it is not deserved (v.7) and make peace, even though the human heart often looks for a good ol’ knock-down, drag-out fight (v.9).

"Satan likes to set a trap for us, somehow convincing our hearts that we must go all-in—no matter what it takes—to achieve our best lives now."

jayson larson Tweet

I can just see the results from that personality assessment: “Jayson is destined to embrace a life of mourning and humility ….” Held up to societal standards, such an assessment would be disappointing, to say the least. But juxtaposed with the biblical standard, you’d be hard-pressed to find a follower of Jesus who wouldn’t want that as their epitaph.

The question is, how do we bring our hearts to a place where we see words such as “humble” and “mourning” not as flimsy or discouraging, but empowering? Jesus tells us a few verses later: “Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven.”

His words ought to be a convicting reminder that this world is not our home. We all want great things for our lives, for our kids, and (hopefully) for everyone we know. But herein lies a landscape where Satan likes to set a trap for us, somehow convincing our hearts that we must go all-in—no matter what it takes—to achieve our best lives now. I personally believe Jesus would tell us instead that our best life is coming, when we exist in a perfect place with a perfect God as has always been intended.

Delayed gratification is the idea that we give up what may be rewarding now for a greater reward later. Christians—no, I—need to learn how to delay gratification, giving up the battles regarding all the things for which I might contend—money, power, significance, status—in exchange for the unfathomable glory that is to come for we who have put our trust in Jesus.

Where is the strain in your soul? What situations in life are causing you the most discomfort? What is stealing your Jesus-promised peace today? With deeper examination, you may find that the source of that which is troubling you is rooted in a desire to take hold of a reward now that may not be experienced until heaven.