Author: Russell Lightner

Lo incorrecto nunca había sido tan correcto

Dios usa un número equivocado del pastor para llevar a una mujer de Fort Worth a la salvación

Larry Dan Melton, pastor del Campus de Pioneer de la Iglesia Fielder, dice que cuando la iglesia se une para buscar a Dios en ferviente oración y está sedienta de ver su mover en medio de ellos, comienzan a suceder milagros.

Incluso a través de una llamada al número de teléfono equivocado.

Melton dijo que recientemente estaba debatiendo si debía darle prioridad a una de las muchas tareas por completar en su lista de pendientes o dar seguimiento a las visitas del domingo. Mientras reflexionaba, dijo que sintió que el Espíritu Santo lo movió a llamar por teléfono a los nuevos visitantes.

“Dios comenzó a obrar y a moverse incluso desde antes que yo hiciera esa llamada, porque tenía la opción de continuar con mis otras tareas ministeriales, pero sentí que el Espíritu estaba guiándome a llamar”, dijo Melton.

La iglesia es muy diversa culturalmente y uno de los nombres escritos en la tarjeta de visitantes era difícil de pronunciar, dijo Melton. Así que llamó al número, se presentó y preguntó a la mujer que respondió cómo pronunciar su nombre.

La mujer procedió a pronunciar su nombre -Daisy-, que no era el que Melton vio escrito en la tarjeta. Melton no tardó en darse cuenta de que había marcado el número equivocado. Aun así, dijo que sintió que el Espíritu lo inquietaba a continuar la conversación. Al hacerlo, pronto se enteró de que Daisy era una mujer que luchaba en un profundo quebranto.

“Usualmente, cuando llamo a un número equivocado, suelo disculparme, desearles un buen día y colgar la llamada”, dijo Melton. “En esta ocasión, sentí que el Espíritu Santo me impulsaba a preguntar a esta mujer cómo podía orar por ella y fue entonces cuando ella comenzó a llorar y se abrió la puerta para hablar del evangelio”.

"Dios comenzó a obrar y a moverse incluso desde antes que yo hiciera esa llamada, porque tenía la opción de continuar con mis otras tareas ministeriales, pero sentí que el Espíritu estaba guiándome a llamar."

Larry Dan Melton Tweet

Cuando Melton se dio cuenta de que el ambiente en el que se encontraba en ese momento no era propicio para tener una conversación más larga, le preguntó si vive en el área y la invitó a la oficina para hablar y poder seguir compartiendo el evangelio con ella. Daisy aceptó reunirse y, una semana después, se reunió con Melton. Después de escuchar las buenas noticias de Cristo, confesó a Jesús como su Salvador y nació de nuevo ese día, que casualmente era el cumpleaños de su madre.

Desde ese día, Daisy comenzó a asistir a la Iglesia Fielder, fue bautizada y forma parte de la clase de discipulado dirigida por el pastor de español, Rafael Rondón. La iglesia está trabajando para ayudarla a conectarse con otros creyentes y seguir creciendo en su fe.

“La salvación es el punto de partida, pero el objetivo es que sean discipulados para que puedan compartir su historia con otros”, dijo Melton, que cada semana trabaja para que los nuevos creyentes se conecten y sean discipulados para que luego puedan discipular a otros. “Esto no se trata de mí, sino que es el resultado de que nosotros, como iglesia, oramos por el mover del Espíritu y esta historia, junto a muchas más, son la respuesta de Dios a nuestras oraciones”.

La Iglesia Fielder ha comenzado a experimentar un avivamiento desde el momento en que el pastor principal, Jason Paredes, dijo que escuchó a Dios decirle: “Es tiempo de dejar de orar por su estrategia, para hacer de la oración la estrategia.” Desde entonces, Dios ha llevado a esta iglesia, en sus tres localidades en el Metroplex, en una jornada de verlo moverse como nunca lo habían visto, porque están orando como nunca lo habían hecho.

Cada semana, la iglesia clama por milagros de Dios, para que los matrimonios sean restaurados, para que los ciclos de adicción se rompan, para que los ministerios crezcan y personas vengan a la fe en Jesús. Dios está respondiendo.

“A través de la jornada en que hemos estado como equipo ministerial y por medio del liderazgo de nuestro pastor principal, hemos aprendido que nuestra obediencia a Dios debe ser inmediata y completa. Este proceso me ha ayudado a ser más sensible al mover del Espíritu y a caminar en obediencia a su dirección”, dijo Melton.

También compartió que a través de esta experiencia y del proceso de búsqueda en convertirse en una iglesia de oración, Dios lo ha movido a detenerse con más frecuencia para orar y estar expectante de lo que Dios hará, incluso a través de un suceso “equivocado”.

Wrong has never felt so right

God uses pastor’s misdialed number to lead Fort Worth woman to salvation

Larry Dan Melton, Pioneer Campus pastor at Fielder Church, says that when the church joins together to seek God in fervent prayer and is thirsty to see Him move in their midst, miracles begin to happen.

Even through a wrong number dialed on a phone.

Melton said he recently was debating whether he should tackle one of the many things on his to-do list or make contacts with first-time guests to the church. As he pondered, he said he felt the Holy Spirit prompt him to make phone calls to the new visitors.

“God began to work and move even before I made that call because I had the option to continue with my other ministry tasks, but I felt the Spirit leading me to call,” Melton said.

The church is very culturally diverse, and one of the names written on the first-time guest card was difficult to pronounce, Melton said. So he called the number, introduced himself, and asked the woman on the other line how to pronounce her name.

The woman proceeded to pronounce her name—Daisy—which was not the name Melton saw written on the guest card. It didn’t take Melton long to realize he had dialed the wrong number. Even so, he said he felt the Spirit prompt him to continue the conversation. In doing so, he soon learned that Daisy was a woman struggling in deep brokenness.

“When I make wrong number calls, I just usually apologize, wish them a good day, and hang up the call,” Melton said. “On this occasion, I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to ask this woman how I could pray for her, and that’s when she started crying and opened the door to talk about the gospel.”

"God began to work and move even before I made that call because I had the option to continue with my other ministry tasks, but I felt the Spirit leading me to call."

Larry Dan Melton Tweet

When Melton realized the environment she was in at that moment was not conducive for a longer conversation, he asked her if she lived in the area and invited her to the office to talk so he could continue to share the gospel with her. Daisy agreed to meet and, a week later, met with Melton. After hearing the good news of Christ, she confessed Jesus as her Savior and was born again that day, which happened to be her mother’s birthday.

From that day forward, Daisy began attending Fielder Church, was baptized (one of 152 people who have been baptized at Fielder the past two months), and is part of the discipleship class led by the Spanish pastor, Rafael Rondon. The church is working to help her connect with other believers and continue to grow in her faith.

“Salvation is the starting point, but the goal is for them to be discipled so they can share their story with others,” said Melton, who each week works to get new believers connected and discipled so they can then disciple others. “This is not about me, but it’s a result of us as a church praying for the move of the Spirit and this story and many more are God’s answer to our prayers.”

Fielder Church has begun to experience revival from the moment their lead pastor, Jason Paredes, said he heard God tell him, “It’s time for you to move from praying about your strategy to making prayer the strategy.” From then on, God has been taking this church’s three Metroplex campuses on a journey to see Him move like they have never seen Him move before because they are praying like they have never prayed before.

Each week, all three of Fielder’s campuses cry out for miracles of God, for marriages to be restored, for addiction cycles to be broken, for ministries to grow, and people come to faith in Jesus. God is answering.

“Through the journey we have been on as a ministry team and the leadership of our lead pastor, we have learned that our obedience to God must be immediate and complete. This process has helped me to be more sensitive to the Spirit’s move and to walk in obedience to His leading,” Melton said.

He also shared that through this experience and the process of seeking to become a praying church, God has moved him to stop more often to pray and to be expectant of what God will do next—even through a “wrong” move.

The 5: Are you ready for the rest of 2022?

It’s hard to believe that half of the year is now gone. Rather than worry about
days past, let’s focus on preparing for the rest of the year. Use this list as a spiritual checkup to evaluate your walk, and then invite others to pray for you:

1

Am I reading the Bible and praying daily?
If you adopted an annual reading plan at the beginning of the year, is your reading up to date? If you don’t have a plan, how are you doing in your Bible intake? Are you praying regularly without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)? Are you praying for lost people (Romans 10:1), for believers to share the gospel boldly (Ephesians 6:18-20), for government and church leaders (1 Timothy 2:2), for your enemies (Matthew 5:44)? If either discipline has been a struggle, you can renew your commitment today.

2

How often have I shared the gospel this year?
Is the gospel so striking to you that you cannot keep it to yourself? Have you reached beyond the church world to develop gospel-centered relationships with unbelievers? For what non-believers are you praying as Paul did (Romans 10:1)? Ask God to increase your burden for lost people throughout the remainder of this year (Romans 9:1-3). Start praying for a few non-believers by name today and ask other believers to pray you will boldly and clearly share the gospel with them.

3

Am I faithfully fighting sin in my life?
Be honest—have you experienced victory over sin this year? Is there a hidden sin that continually haunts you even though you’ve sought to overcome it? If so, what steps do you still need to take this year? The good news is that God is a God of new beginnings. Turn from that sin, confess it, and seek accountability. Start afresh. God really is “faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

4

Who is walking more with God because of my influence this year?
That is, are you making disciples? Have you purposefully walked with others as they follow Christ? It’s one thing to simply live a good life in front of others; it’s another matter to intentionally invest in somebody else’s life. I would even say that if you can’t name someone in response to this question, you may need to refocus your discipling for the rest of the year. At a minimum, schedule a monthly lunch with someone you might encourage.

5

How would my family assess me as a family member and a believer this year?
Those who live with us are most equipped to evaluate our spiritual walk. If I were to ask your family about your walk with God, what would they say? Would they say your life models Christ? Or, might they recognize that who you are on Sunday is not who you are the rest of the week? Again, you have the opportunity beginning today to make adjustments for the rest of the year. That’s good news!

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.

What’s your story? God sent help in a great time of need

One Saturday morning last fall, I decided to water flowers that were planted a few days prior. There was no thought on that bright sunny day that I was about to face death.

Our townhouse is only 10 feet or so from Lake Conroe. My wife, Joyce, and I are blessed to have lived 17 years in a place with such beautiful surroundings: a 180-degree view of the marina with dozens of docked sailboats, the yacht club’s stately building further away but in clear sight, and several large three-storied condos across the water.

I was walking backward pulling on a water hose, not realizing how near I was to the lake’s edge. As I tugged at the hose, I plunged backward, headfirst into the cold lake waters, clothes and all.

When I surfaced, regaining my feet, I heard a lady’s voice coming from the condo area. “Are you all right?” she hollered.

I immediately yelled back, “Sure, I’m OK!” as I waved, but I wasn’t OK. The water was up to my chest and the bulkhead wall was over a foot higher with nothing for me to grab. My fingers could not grab the wood top. Trying to swim to a more acceptable place in full clothing was not an option. I knew then I didn’t have a chance to get out by myself.

My continued calling to Joyce was so weak I just stopped trying. I began moving step-by-step through the water toward our patio area where our wall-to-wall large windows were located. Perhaps, I thought, Joyce might be able to clearly see me.

I was in and out of consciousness as I continued to move more slowly toward my goal. Out ahead I could see our boat dock, which is connected to the bulkhead boards. It now seemed even more difficult to move forward. Just as I was in full view of our windows, I slipped underwater again. Up I came, this time with the fear of drowning. I felt that another episode would be my last. I was facing death.

"What’s my story? It’s God’s promise in Psalm 91:11: ‘For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.’ God keeps His Word!"

Frank Minton Tweet

I inched forward until I reached the corner of the bulkhead board and our boat dock. I felt totally exhausted and could barely stand up, so I clung even closer to the boards. I was still in chest-high cold water and hoped if I could hang on long enough, Joyce could see me. I felt a huge anxiety because I knew I was stuck. Energy and time were running out.

Hanging on, I looked up and to my grateful surprise a lady was standing in front of me. Weakly I begged, “That’s my house, go get my wife!” I assumed she was the lady from the condos across the lake.

As Joyce retrieved a ladder, the unknown lady grabbed it out of her hands and rushed to me. She quickly lowered the ladder into the water to me. I hardly had enough strength to take step one, and as the ladder was sinking in the mud, I made one wobbly final step on the white handle of the ladder. With a push from my foot, I crawled onto the deck on my stomach and laid there, so exhausted I couldn’t move.

When I looked up, there were six blue-uniformed 911 men. Two guys picked me up and dragged me to our patio where Joyce was waiting. As I sat dazed on the patio edge I said, “Just let me rest here awhile, then I’ll go into the house to lay down.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” they quickly responded. “What hospital do you want us to take you to?” With that, they lifted me on to a gurney and put me in the ambulance.

My “guardian angel” neighbor lady had disappeared after the 911 men appeared. Who was she? My wife only caught her name: “Debbie.” Maybe she lived across the lake in one of the three-storied condos? Without a doubt, God allowed this guardian angel to see me fall into the lake, and led her to follow through to my rescue, both in person and by calling 911. She was God’s messenger for me.

I spent a week in hospital care with a heart catheterization by my cardiologist, which revealed no heart attack. My knees were so battered and bruised from trying to get out that it took three days before I could walk. Our family physician told me that the hospital reports said that my strength was nearly gone and that I would have likely died if not for a timely rescue.

Today, reflecting upon my near-death experience causes me to feel closer to God. Certainly, God has yet a plan for my life. I continue to thank Him for His guardian angel! We found her, by the way. Debbie is a librarian. Yes, she lives in one of the three-storied condos across the lake. She saw me fall in the lake and called 911 while driving over to try to help me. God bless her!

What’s my story? It’s God’s promise in Psalm 91:11: “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” God keeps His Word!

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

Share your story here

Connection and conviction in Southern California

As the worship singing ended and a line of chairs were queued on the stage at a small Baptist church in this suburb of Los Angeles, those in attendance quickly realized that a sermon wasn’t going to be delivered on this breezy and bright Southern California Sunday morning.

What members and guests got instead was a panel discussion consisting of church members who, in various ways and apart from any ministry of the church, have found ways to connect and minister to their communities. One by one, each panelist gave a testimony of how they are planting gospel seeds as they go about their daily routines.

One couple, the Nishimotos, said they decided to go door-to-door during the pandemic and meet the practical needs of their neighbors, distributing hand sanitizer, face masks, and toilet paper at a time when stores couldn’t keep them in stock. Another couple, the Spykermans, used their daily walks to engage other walkers who, over time, trusted them enough to share struggles in their lives for which they had no answer.

The pastor, Mike, said he has used walking his dog as an opportunity to talk to people he sees along his regular route. One of the women he greets regularly on those walks, a Muslim, recently told him she has lost two husbands—one to cancer and another to a car wreck. “She was just desperate, and you could tell she wanted to tell someone her story,” he said. “And when she tells me her story, it opens the door for me to tell her my story. And my story is God’s story.”

"The modern church does a lot of things well. We preach well. We teach well. ... But one thing we struggle to do well is connect with our brothers and sisters in Christ."

Jayson Larson Tweet

These couples weren’t just describing “buddy evangelism,” a practice of befriending someone with the intent of eventually sharing a gospel message that never seems to conveniently fit in the friendship. They were describing efforts to make personal, relational connections with people they don’t know for the purpose of inviting them into a spiritual space—either by praying for people or telling them their own stories of how Jesus has transformed their lives.

The modern church does a lot of things well. We preach well. We teach well. We are great at putting on world-class events. But one thing we struggle to do well is connect with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I’m not talking about small talk and handshakes on Sunday morning. I’m talking about down-and-dirty, sometimes-inconvenient, real-life connections that you can count on when the going gets tough. I’m talking about the manifestation of Galatians 6:2, where the overwhelming burden that you are carrying is lightened by someone who loves and cares about you enough to give their most precious—and rare—commodity: their time.

As needs have been met and the gospel has been proclaimed, several of the panelists testified that they have been blessed in ways they would have never imagined by simply putting in the effort to get to know the people God has put in their lives.

“I can’t tell you how much joy there is in loving people without expectation,” one woman on the panel said.

No, the congregation didn’t hear a sermon on this particular Sunday, but that’ll preach.

As the second-fastest-growing city in Texas, Fort Worth needs more churches

Through prayer and partnerships, Redemption City is seeing God move in a mighty way

The population of Fort Worth has increased by 30% since 2010, making it the second-fastest-growing city in Texas, according to statistics cited by church planter Matt Kendrick. Projections indicate Cowtown will basically double in population by 2040 compared to 2000, prompting a major need for more churches.

“The counterintuitive thing is how many more churches Fort Worth and cities around Texas need now,” Kendrick, lead pastor of Redemption City Church in Fort Worth, said recently. “A misconception even that I had before planting here was that there are plenty of churches, but that is not the case.”

A culture shift has accompanied the population growth so that fewer Fort Worth residents are attending church today than in 2010, Kendrick said, indicating a need for fresh congregations to reach the city.

People are moving to Fort Worth from other parts of the country and the world. Kendrick said his neighborhood is a good illustration of the trend: he has neighbors from Michigan, California, and a country in the Middle East. “God is bringing the nations to our doorstep,” he said.

Kendrick served at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano and at Biltmore Church in North Carolina before God led him to plant in Fort Worth in 2020. Redemption City started with four core families, and they officially launched last August at the Benbrook YMCA, where they still meet.

The YMCA is “the perfect location” because it’s at the center of a five-mile target radius the church has identified to reach, Kendrick said. Another reason for planting in Fort Worth is its proximity to students.

With Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Texas Christian University, and other colleges, “we see Fort Worth as a strategic city to accomplish the Great Commission,” the pastor said. In its infancy, Redemption City already is sending students to about 10 countries this summer.

Kendrick said 100% of the people attending Redemption City are unchurched, dechurched (haven’t attended church in 15-20 years), or are new to the area. In other words, their growth isn’t from taking people from existing churches.

The church has identified 120,000 households in its target area, and church leaders have a goal of knocking on all of those doors within 10 years. “We’re eating an elephant one weekend at a time,” Kendrick said.

With knocking on doors as their primary outreach strategy, Redemption City also has taken a posture of servanthood in Fort Worth, Kendrick said. “We find ways to serve our neighbors. We do free car washes. We go on running trails and give out free bottles of water.

"A misconception even that I had before planting here was that there are plenty of churches, but that is not the case."

matt kendrick Tweet

“At Christmas, we gave all of the teachers in Benbrook—two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school—a coffee gift card or a Sonic gift card of $25 to say, ‘Thanks for all you’re doing. You’re surviving the pandemic through all the different things. Way to go.’”

Redemption City had 176 people on Easter this year. The average attendance is around 150, but it has grown by 10 percent each month since the beginning, Kendrick said. “When we were growing from 30 to 33, that was exciting,” he said, “but now that we’re at about 145-150 people growing 10 percent a month, it’s really kind of snowballing and getting fun.”

Just like Jesus, Kendrick said Redemption City will “take anybody,” but the kind of stories that are emerging of people being reached include that of a couple that got pregnant at age 16 and were “judged harshly” by their church. That was 20 years ago, and they’ve only recently started attending church again, this time at Redemption City.

Now the family has grown to six, and recently the mother, father, and four children received Jesus as Savior, Kendrick said.

“Those are the kinds of people that we’re reaching, and it’s so exciting. From death to life, new kingdom growth,” he said.

Established churches play an integral role in church planting, Kendrick said. Prestonwood is their sending church, and churches across the state, including Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler and Broadview Baptist Church in Abilene, support them monthly or yearly and send mission teams to spur them on.

In fact, mission teams from partner churches have knocked on most of the doors in the target radius on behalf of Redemption City, Kendrick said. Such teams also help set up and tear down at the YMCA on Sundays, “which is such a big feat for us because that’s such a grind.”

All Southern Baptist churches are supporting church planting through the Cooperative Program, Kendrick noted, but he advised churches that don’t currently have a direct link to a church plant to reach out to the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention so they can get connected.

“I can’t tell you how many Sunday school classes and Wednesday night prayer meetings are praying for Redemption City,” he said. “All across the country, churches are praying for us, and we are growing and seeing the lost saved. Those two data points are connected.”

Let’s charge ahead with confidence

We are seeing something phenomenal happen across our nation. There is a wave of prayer movements rising in various places. I am hearing story after story about churches that are recognizing the absence of the presence and power of God and have called their people to corporate prayer. Churches are returning to weekly prayer meetings and are devoting the entire gathering to calling on the name of the Lord.

The outcome of these prayer meetings has been amazing! These churches are seeing the supernatural presence of the Holy Spirit being poured out among them in exponential and tangible ways. They are experiencing radical conversions, record baptisms, marriages restored, addictions broken, sin confessed, miraculous healings, church unity, and the sweetness of fellowship with Jesus.

New Beginnings Baptist Church, where I serve, is one of those churches. We were a church that found ourselves headed into 2021 in a state of crisis. From the perspective of how many churches are measured, we looked healthy. We were growing numerically, we were financially stable, and our ministries were busy and thriving. We looked alive, but we were on the brink of death! We were missionally distracted, spiritually dry, and relationally divided. We had lost our passion, were not seeing spiritual fruit, and were going through the motions of church. Unfortunately, it was difficult for us to recognize.

"I truly believe that if we devote our congregations to prayer, we will see a movement of God in our state and nation that we have never seen."

Todd Kaunitz Tweet

In this season of darkness, God brought us to a place of brokenness and called us to pray. Our church cleared our Wednesday night schedule and we began to meet weekly for corporate prayer. It is difficult to describe what God has done in our church over the past 18 months. We have seen an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that cannot be explained by preaching or plans. The only explanation is that we called on the Lord and He heard our cry and is answering.

Our story is just one of dozens of stories of churches that have returned to prayer and are seeing God move in power among them. I believe that revival is coming! But it is coming for those who will return to the Lord in prayer. Throughout God’s Word and church history, we have seen that when prayer is prioritized among God’s people, it becomes a catalyst for God moving with power among His people. Every significant movement of God both biblically and historically is birthed through desperate prayer.

My prayer is that the churches of our convention will prioritize corporate prayer as essential. Let us pray more in our Sunday gatherings. Let us set aside a corporate time of prayer weekly. Let us have special seasons of fasting and prayer built into our yearly rhythms. I truly believe that if we devote our congregations to prayer, we will see a movement of God in our state and nation that we have never seen.

My heart’s desire is to see the greatest prayer movement in the history of our nation. I believe that it would lead to us witnessing the greatest revival we could ever imagine. Let us clear our schedules, gather our people, and cry out to the God who hears!

Lone Star Scoop • July 2022

Pastors Boswell, Lino join SBTC as consultants

GRAPEVINE Matt Boswell, pastor of The Trails Church in Celina, and Nathan Lino, pastor of First Baptist Church of Forney, have joined the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention as consultants.

Boswell will serve as a worship consultant in the Church Health & Leadership department. His duties will include establishing and developing a young worship pastor’s network where leaders will not only meet with one another on occasion, but be encouraged, resourced, and coached in their respective churches and ministries. He is the founding pastor of The Trails Church, has been involved in church planting and pastoral ministry since 1998, and is an author and hymnwriter.

Lino will serve as a ministry consultant in the Missional Ministries department. Among his duties, Lino will host periodical Zoom meetings to assist pastors in a variety of ministry areas; provide evangelism support and training for pastors; and help pastors learn how to lead corporate prayer meetings as requested. He will also stand ready to assist pastors and churches implement a global missions strategy. Lino, the founding pastor of Northeast Houston Baptist Church, recently answered a call to serve as senior pastor at FBC Forney.

Kaunitz offers update on Sexual Abuse Task Force

LONGVIEW—SBTC President Todd Kaunitz said its Sexual Abuse Task Force that has been asked to review the convention’s sexual abuse practices and policies has entered a season of evaluation as it moves closer to possibly bringing recommendations for changes to annual meeting messengers in November.

The update from Kaunitz, pastor of New Beginnings Baptist Church, was provided via a video released on SBTC social media accounts on June 8. In the video, he says the seven-member task force has completed the first phase of its work wherein it evaluated current SBTC sexual abuse policies and procedures and those of other, similar organizations. The second phase is an evaluation of those findings, and the final phase will include the drafting of possible changes to convention policies. Those proposed changes will then go to the SBTC Executive Board, and finally, church messengers, for consideration.

The 2022 SBTC annual meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14-15 in Corpus Christi.

“I encourage you to continue to pray for us as we examine all of these areas,” Kaunitz says in the video. “It is so important that we as a state convention are doing everything we can to not only protect people from sexual abuse, but also have a proper response when those unfortunate cases occur. … We’re so excited to be a part of a convention that takes these things seriously.”

SBTC chaplains, ministers respond to Uvalde school shooting

UVALDE—Pastors, chaplains, and Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief volunteers were among those who responded to the May 24 shooting that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. Veteran Quick Response Unit (QRU) feeding volunteers set up a mobile food truck and served meals to first responders from federal, state, and local government agencies. SBTC DR chaplains made themselves available at the QRU site to talk and pray with visitors as needed. “This is where we need to be,” SBTC QRU volunteer Ronnie Roark said, noting that they had been feeding 85-100 at each meal. His wife, Connie, added, “A meal and a prayer. That’s what we bring.”

East Texas pastor honored for 7 decades of ministry

HUGHES SPRINGS—Charles Russell, pastor of Turkey Creek Baptist Church, was recently honored for 77 years of ministry during a meeting of the Enon Baptist Association, which covers deep Northeast Texas. Russell has pastored at Turkey Creek for 22 years. Among the honors, Russell was given a plaque expressing gratitude for his ministry by Roy Ford, the Northeast Texas field representative for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. “I love my people,” said Russell, 93. “It’s a small, rural church, a very loving people. I enjoy the fellowship of working with a local church.” With the exception of a pastorate in Bonham, Russell’s ministry has been in Northeast Texas. He also has served as director of missions for three counties around Jacksonville.

Special Needs Sunday scheduled for July 10

Special Needs Sunday, which is observed by Southern Baptists of Texas Convention churches the second Sunday of each July, will be July 10 this year. This yearly event reminds followers of Jesus of their calling to make the gospel accessible to all people. It also provides an opportunity to celebrate those in the church who can often feel forgotten or neglected and educate church members about ways they can make accommodations for those who need them as an outreach to special needs families who are longing for a church home. For more information, contact Sandra Peoples at specialneeds@sbtexas.com.

A treasury of riches

What pictures come to mind when you think of a great preacher or teacher? There are several images in the Bible. Perhaps you imagine an Old Testament prophet who announces the holiness and glory of God. Maybe you imagine a New Testament shepherd who carefully teaches and instructs his church through various circumstances. In general, maybe you imagine a dynamic speaker or a great motivator.

In Matthew 13, after teaching the value of the kingdom through parables, Jesus asks His disciples, “Have you understood all these things?” (13:51). They answer, “Yes,” but over and over they reveal their need for further explanation of what they’ve heard. Later, in Matthew 15, Jesus will ask them again, “Are you still without understanding?” (15:16). Clearly, understanding is important (and difficult) for the life of a disciple. If Jesus, the greatest teacher in history, had to slow down and reteach for clarity, how much more difficult will it be for us to lead people in truth and teach them to share it with others?

To be effective preachers and teachers of the kingdom, we must have a clear understanding of the weight of responsibility that has been entrusted to us. In verse 52, Jesus compares His disciples to scribes or teachers of the law. Scribes were those who were properly trained to instruct others. They had authority and wisdom concerning the right understanding of the law. Yet, Jesus’ comparison draws attention to the difference between His disciples and the Jewish scribes.

"Our responsibility as pastors and teachers is to continually search the Bible and display the full meaning of it by connecting it to Jesus and His riches."

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See, the Jewish scribes, including the Pharisees, ultimately failed to grasp the full message of Jesus and His kingdom. They relied on what is “old” because they had not been instructed in the “new” secrets of the kingdom. Jesus tells them this is why He taught in parables. It is not that these things were truly new. They’ve been hidden since the foundation of the world (13:35) but have now been revealed in Jesus. All the old is made clear in light of the new. Jesus tells His disciples that it is their role as scribes of the kingdom of heaven to bring out “what is new and what is old,” leaving nothing behind.

I love the imagery that Jesus gives in describing this responsibility of preaching and teaching. In Matthew 13:52, He says, “… every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom treasures new and old.” The picture Jesus is painting is that the Word of God is a storeroom and the truths of the kingdom in it are treasures to be displayed. He wants us to see our responsibility as preachers and teachers as simply taking the treasures in the storeroom and showcasing them for all to see!

As disciples of Jesus and teachers of His Word, there is storeroom of treasures available to us called the Bible. Our responsibility as pastors and teachers is to continually search the Bible and display the full meaning of it by connecting it to Jesus and His riches. The kingdom of God is our pearl of great price and Jesus is the “yes and amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20) to all we need. Let’s be devoted to this storeroom and showcase the great value and beauty of its treasures!

Lone Star Scoop • June 2022

Salado church pressing on after tornado destroys building

It wasn’t church as usual, but there was much to thank the Lord for when First Cedar Valley Baptist Church met for Sunday services on May 8.

Meeting in a temporary building with only studs holding up a partial roof, the church sang hymns such as “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” prayed, and pastor Donnie Jackson did what he does every Sunday—he preached the Word of God. A little less than a month before, on April 12, an EF-3 tornado tore through Salado and destroyed 76 buildings. First Cedar Valley was one of them.

“Lord, we’re facing some things ahead where we know we’re going to have to work together,” Jackson prayed as the service began, with a steady breeze blowing between the studs and crinkling Bible pages.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the ministry of the church carries on. At the service on May 8, Jackson reminded the congregation that they were continuing their campaign to donate funds to a local pregnancy center. Immediately following the tornado, the church met outside, then in a tent, and now is meeting in a temporary building.

“You’ve got to accept what is. Don’t look at what was. Look at what is to come,” Jackson told the Texan last month. “It’s been hard in the flesh, but I believe Romans 8:28. I don’t know what God’s purpose is, but we’ll be stronger. We’ll reach more people than we would have been able to reach.”

Svajda joins SBTC as pastoral ministries associate

Anthony Svajda has been named pastoral ministries associate in the Church Health & Leadership department of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. He was officially hired by the SBTC Executive Board in April and began work in May. Svajda has served as lead pastor at Harvey Baptist Church in Stephenville since 2015 and has also served as an associate pastor, collegiate pastor, and student pastor in locations including Jewett, Colleyville, Keller, and Watauga. He received his Ph.D. in evangelism and church vitalization from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2018 and his Master of Divinity in evangelism from SWBTS in 2013. Svajda and his wife, Kristen, have two children. In addition to his pastoral duties, he currently serves as a member of the SBTC Executive Board.

CP giving among SBTC churches in 2021 is highest ever

Cooperative Program giving in 2021 was the highest it has ever been in Southern Baptists of Texas Convention history, Executive Director Nathan Lorick said in April. Lorick attributed the record amount—$27,283,572.03—to two things: a belief in cooperative missions work that encourages faithful giving, and also the quality of missionaries, church planters, disaster relief workers, and all other efforts “that the Cooperative Program fuels and sends.” The record giving, he noted, happened in the midst of uncertain times that some felt might lead to a decrease in giving. “Let’s not miss that today,” Lorick added, “that in the midst of people saying the sky is falling, I think God’s just getting started.”

SWBTS board approves $37.3 million budget

heological Seminary board of trustees has approved the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget of $37.367 million, representing a 5.86% increase over the current year. The budget includes a 3% cost-of-living increase for faculty and full-time staff, a 3% increase in tuition and fees, as well as targeted investments in Hispanic programs, technology infrastructure, and other campus improvements. “It is my joy to report to the board of trustees that the state of Southwestern Seminary is strong, and it is growing stronger every day by God’s grace,” Adam W. Greenway, president of Southwestern Seminary and Texas Baptist College, said in his report to the board during the April 5 plenary session. Additionally, Danny Roberts—executive pastor of North Richland Hills Baptist Church—was re-elected to role as chairman of the board. Information from SWBTS was used in this report.

SBTC executive board takes action to support life initiatives

GEORGETOWN—The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention executive board unanimously approved two motions that will provide ministry for the most vulnerable at its April meeting. One of the motions approved a reserves funding grant to be given to the Psalm 139 Project, a pro-life ministry of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. The funds specifically will be used to purchase six ultrasound machines and training for pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) in Texas. Each of the six PRCs have made urgent requests for the machines, as there has been a drastic increase in the number of women being served since the passing of the Heartbeat Bill in Texas. One clinic in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has reported a 48% increase in clients over the previous year. On the other end of the life spectrum, the board approved another reserves fund grant to Mission Dignity, a ministry of Guidestone Financial Resources which serves to honor retired Southern Baptist ministers, workers, and widows struggling to meet basic needs through advocacy and financial assistance. Mission Dignity funds 12 monthly gifts to approximately 263 individuals in Texas, of which 178 are widows or widowers. The reserves fund grant approved by the executive board will be used to provide a 13th check as a bonus/love gift over and above the normal 12 monthly gifts.

FBC Seagoville marks 150 years of ministry

SEAGOVILLE—First Baptist Church of Seagoville celebrated its 150th year of ministry with a ceremony held at the church on April 24. The church, pastored by Don Cole, was founded in 1872. “I was not the founding pastor,” Cole joked during the ceremony, which was attended by church members, former pastors and staff, and longtime friends, among others. Many of those in attendance testified to how God has used the church for the betterment of their faith, their lives, families, and the community. The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and Dallas Baptist Association were among those on hand to present plaques or proclamations to the church. “God has blessed,” Cole said. “He’s touched a lot of families through this church.”