Author: Russell Lightner

Arlington church’s ‘Dollar Club’ shows what many can do when united

A dollar doesn’t buy what it used to. Even the venerable Dollar Tree stores, which held the price line for decades, now offer most items for $1.25. 

But a dollar can still make a difference, as one Arlington church is discovering. 

Since October, Rush Creek Church has asked each member to donate a dollar per month to the Dollar Club, creating a fund used to provide financial gifts benefiting deserving—and unsuspecting—church and community members, like Ms. Jessie Roberson.

Ms. Jessie’s story

Growing up, “church was all we had,” Ms. Jessie, a beloved Rush Creek senior citizen from the Green Oaks campus, recalled in a video filmed for church. 

“We didn’t get to go to swimming pools. The only time we got to go to a swimming pool was Juneteenth,” Roberson said.

“Because of that, I learned to forgive,” she added. “God wants us to have a spirit of forgiveness.”

On video, Ms. Jessie also mentioned the difficulty of life as a widow, now legally blind from glaucoma, whose husband had taken her everywhere. She described the source of her joy: God, and her regular two-hour times of daily morning prayer. 

During the video, Brian McFadden, Rush Creek compassion pastor, prompted Roberson to discuss the OrCam MyEye, a visual-enhancement device that, through artificial intelligence, helps the visually impaired read, identify people, and even scan grocery items.

“Man, I just can’t afford that thing,” Roberson said.

That soon changed as church staffer Mariela Ellis entered with a boxed OrCam MyEye device, courtesy of the church’s Dollar Club initiative. Roberson covered her eyes and cried, shaking her head in disbelief. She had been giving to the Dollar Club herself and had no idea she would be on the receiving end. 

“We know God is just starting … he’s not done with you yet, and we wanted you to have as much freedom, autonomy, independence, as possible,” Ellis said while making the presentation to the teary-eyed, emotional Roberson, who hugged both Ellis and McFadden.

“You’re making me do an ugly cry,” she told McFadden. “I just can’t believe this …. I am overwhelmed. I’ve never had anything like this happen to me. … I am never at a loss for words. I am at a loss for words.”

Rush Creek’s Brian McFadden looks on as Mariela Ellis surprises member Jessie Roberson with an OrCam MyEye device, courtesy of the Dollar Club. Photo submitted

It started with staff

The Rush Creek Dollar Club originated with Pastor Marty Collier, McFadden said. Collier had heard of a similar program at a church in Nashville and tasked McFadden and staff with exploring the possibilities.

“In July, we let the staff know this was coming,” McFadden said. They assembled a team of 6-7 staff members, including Ellis, who serves as Rush Creek’s finance director, and representatives from human resources, communications, and the church’s local compassion ministry.

“We wanted the viewpoints of all different people from staff,” McFadden said, explaining that the group set parameters regarding who could apply, how to qualify, and how recipients would be selected.

In advance of October’s official churchwide launch, Rush Creek staff members started contributing in July to an initial “seed” fund, McFadden said. Staff-generated funds provided the first gifts to the first surprised recipients, Robert and Miguel, both long-time employees of the local Colter’s barbecue, who had helped cater Rush Creek events for years. Neither man is a member of the church.

A five-minute video of Robert and Miguel’s response was shown to the congregation in October 2021. Collier also preached a sermon from 1 Corinthians 8:1-5 that day.

“In 1 Corinthians 8:4, the people are begging earnestly for the privilege of giving,” McFadden said. The sermon kickstarted the campaign and in October and November, three more Dollar Club gifts were presented, with another planned for this February.

Church members started contributing to the fund after that initial video.

Blessed so far

Recipients are invited to come to the church offices to film their stories, a practice common at Rush Creek.

“We like to capture stories of how God is using our people,” McFadden said.

At some point during the filming, Ellis, the designated Dollar Club host, typically interrupts the video and presents the gift.

Ellis said she loves being the Dollar Club host. “I was very nervous at first … but it’s been a blessing to be able to watch and be part of that connection with the recipients.” She added that she had “learned a lot along the way.”

McFadden said the choice of Ellis as host was perfect and confirmed that beneficiaries really are surprised: “We haven’t done this long enough so the recipient knows what’s coming.”

In addition to Ms. Jessie, Robert and Miguel, other Dollar Club beneficiaries have included Brooke, a volunteer at the church’s Handley Hope Center to whom the church gifted a hedge trimmer and Home Depot gift card; and Al and Martha, volunteer leaders in Rush Creek’s Spanish-language ministry, who had recently lost a son, one of their four children.

Michelle Fornal, a single mother of two whose daughter, Savvy, had lost her sight because of brain tumors, was also helped.

“We blessed them with a check to help with expenses and gave the little girl a computer for the visually impaired,” McFadden said, adding that the church also bought the girl’s brother a new bike.

“The ask is just a dollar per person per month,” McFadden said. “United, we can do something to make an impact.” Many, he added, give more than a dollar, but with an in-person attendance of 4,000-5,000, even a dollar per person adds up quickly for the church.

Rush Creek does not foresee the Dollar Club ending.

“We plan to go on for years and years to come,” McFadden said.

At Rush Creek, the buck doesn’t stop, but goes on to bless many.

To view the Rush Creek Dollar Club stories, visit rushcreek.org/dollar-club.

Spanish radio ministry brings gospel message to wide audience

Busy mother and wife Roxana Bravo, a native of Peru who has lived in the U.S. for 19 years, worked in the tourism and childcare industries before she found an unexpected calling as a Christian broadcaster.

Bravo’s route to Texas was somewhat circuitous after she met her husband-to-be more than 25 years ago when he was visiting Peru. Although she was reluctant to leave her home country, she followed her husband to California, then Texas.

“Now, as the years have gone by, I realize it was necessary for me to leave my country in order to have a real encounter with Christ,” Bravo said.

For the past eight years, the family has been active in El Camino Church (Companerismo Biblico El Camino)  in Lewisville, where Bravo is involved in the praise and creative arts and women’s ministries. Pastor Felix Cornier called Bravo a “great asset to the church and a blessing” who is “always ready to help.”

Her relationship with Christ combined with encouragement from others led her to start “Caminando en Fe” (“Walking in Faith”) in August 2020, when things were shuttered by COVID. During the livestream and internet radio program, she interviews Christian leaders about matters of faith to change the lives of her listeners. 

Cornier, a frequent guest, noted the program has a wide reach. Most recently, he discussed Christian ethics on a November broadcast. Other topics include doctrine, church polity, faith, and culture.

Q: How did Caminando de Fe/Walking in Faith begin?

RB: I started making 15- to 20-minute videos on topics that I began sharing on the radio in August 2020. That October, I decided to extend the program to one hour and show it simultaneously both on the radio and on Facebook.

The topics are of a Christian nature. I try to choose topics that many people do not dare to ask for fear of being judged, or about which they still do not have very clear answers. Our approach is simple.

I thank God that he has given me people [to interview] full of wisdom, but above all who are willing and available to help and go the extra mile by sharing the word, thus obeying the command of our Lord to go around the world sharing the good news, making disciples, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The programs are every Saturday at 8 a.m. so I would have more time to take advantage of the day in extra activities such as volunteering.

Q: Tell us about your radio career.

RB: It all started in a fortuitous way. At the beginning of 2020 a very dear friend and sister in Christ proposed that I do a program with her. The idea did not seem bad, but I was not sure if I was the right person, so I told her that I was going to think about it. After about two weeks, I decided to help her, but since I hadn’t given her an answer, she had already proposed the project to another person. I was very happy about that because I knew she would do very well. 

Then the pandemic came and with the closure of the churches, I was left thinking what I could do to remain in communion with the sisters, share devotionals or Bible studies with the ladies with whom I had been meeting. I thought about Zoom but not all the ladies are very skilled in the technology. I then remembered the radio, and through my friend I was able to contact the owner of the station. I asked him for only two hours on the second Saturday of each month to have the broadcasts, but he encouraged me to do them weekly. I was reluctant, but God reminded me of the Bible studies I had led every Friday before the pandemic and that gave me encouragement to do so. On May 2, 2022, I will celebrate two years with Radio PM 24.7.

Q: Who listens to the program?

RB: I hope in the Lord that those who hear are those who need to listen, who need prayer or a word of encouragement in life, who have a thirst to learn and want to apply what they have learned. I always ask [for the Lord’s guidance] because I would not like to further confuse a world that lives totally confused and ignorant of the truth. 

Listeners come from the United States, Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Canada, Brazil, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.

I want to add that it is not easy to do this, that many times it scares me a little to do the program,  especially on the radio since 24.7 is not Christian but a secular station. I accepted the challenge to do the program because, even though there are spiritual needs in the people of God, they have the opportunity to hear the word and choose obedience. Non-believers do not have the same opportunity. With non-believers, those of us who claim to be children of God must act not with our strength or with our wisdom, but with the strength, the wisdom, and the grace of God. How can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without a preacher (Rom 10:14)? We have a great responsibility.

Q: When did you begin to follow Christ? 

RB: I think I was always his, but I didn’t know it. Despite being in a family who belonged to the traditional church, we were never practitioners. Since we were little, we were surrounded by Christian people. We grew up with the 700 Club and cartoons like El Super Libro. We even attended an evangelistic event in a stadium … in Peru. Our parents raised us with a very solid moral foundation and in the fear of God, but as the years went by, like every adolescent, I began to move away a little and without realizing it, I became an atheist. 

Little by little I began to immerse myself in loneliness and depression, but God’s unconditional love saved me. I remember that wherever I went there was always someone who spoke to me about Christ. One day when I was traveling as a land hostess attending to a passenger, she began to tell me about Christ. I thought: Well, here too? It was unbelievable. It was like God was always looking for me and I couldn’t hide from him. 

I remember the day I met my future husband. It turned out that he was a Christian! I could not believe it! I did not understand what was happening. On the one hand, I said I did not believe in anything but very hidden in my heart, I needed to believe in someone. I wanted to fill my emptiness, to be free because I felt like a prisoner in a dark world. After meeting my mother-in-law and out of respect for her, I accepted the Lord as my savior when I was 19 years old.

It was not until March 2005 that I had a real encounter with Christ. That day I couldn’t take it anymore and I totally surrendered at his feet. There began my beautiful adventure with Christ, a long story full of ups and downs like everyone else’s, of pleasant and not-so-pleasant situations, but with the total assurance that the Lord will not leave me alone. His word tells me that in this world I will have afflictions, but to be of good cheer because he has won and he will be with me all the days of my life.

Bravo’s livestreams can be accessed through her Caminando en Fe Facebook page. Listeners can also download the Radio PM 24.7 app at radiopm247.com to tune in.

U.S. Pastors Identify Their Greatest Needs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Pastors face unique difficulties inherent in their career, but what are their greatest needs? Pastors themselves say they’re most concerned about seeing their churchgoers grow spiritually and making connections with those outside of their churches. 

After speaking directly with pastors to gather their perspectives on their ministry and personal challenges, Lifeway Research surveyed 1,000 U.S. pastors for the 2022 Greatest Needs of Pastors study to discover what they see as their most pressing issues. 

“The pre-existing challenges of ministry were amplified by COVID, and it’s important we lean in and listen closely to pastors,” said Ben Mandrell, president of Lifeway Christian Resources. “This project has shed light on critical needs they have and will point the way forward in how we partner with them to fuel their ministries and improve their health in multiple areas.”

Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said his team began the study by speaking with more than 200 pastors, asking them to think beyond the current pandemic-related struggles and share some of the enduring needs of pastors and their churches today.

“Their responses to the challenges they face and the areas that are most important for them were then presented to more than 200 additional pastors,” explained McConnell. “Based on those responses, 1,000 pastors were asked about almost four dozen needs to measure the extent to which each is something they need to address today.”

Of the 44 needs identified by pastors and included in the study, 17 were selected by a majority as an issue they need to address.

  • Developing leaders and volunteers: 77% 
  • Fostering connections with unchurched people: 76% 
  • People’s apathy or lack of commitment: 75% 
  • Consistency in personal prayer: 72% 
  • Friendships and fellowship with others: 69% 
  • Training current leaders and volunteers: 68% 
  • Consistency of Bible reading not related to sermon or teaching preparation: 68% 
  • Trusting God: 66% 
  • Relationships with other pastors: 64% 
  • Consistency in taking a Sabbath: 64% 
  • Stress: 63% 
  • Personal disciple making: 63% 
  • Confessing and repenting from personal sin: 61% 
  • Consistency exercising: 59% 
  • Avoiding overcommitment and over-work: 55% 
  • Challenging people where they lack obedience: 55% 
  • Time management: 51%

“The number and breadth of needs pastors are currently facing is staggering,” said McConnell. “All seven spiritual needs asked about on the survey are a current concern for most pastors, as well as practical, mental, self-care, skill-development and needs around ministry difficulties. Clearly pastors are not looking for shortcuts and are taking their roles as spiritual leaders in their church seriously.”

The 44 identified needs fall into seven broader categories. Subsequent releases in Lifeway Research’s 2022 Greatest Needs of Pastors study will explore each of the categories and the related needs specifically.

Single greatest need

When asked to narrow down their list to the single greatest need requiring their attention, pastors’ responses varied. At least one pastor surveyed picked each of the 44 possible needs, while 23 needs garnered at least 2% of pastors. Eight needs were chosen by more than 3% of pastors, and one reached double digits. 

  • People’s apathy or lack of commitment: 10% 
  • Personal disciple making: 9% 
  • Fostering connections with unchurched people: 8% 
  • Developing leaders and volunteers: 7% 
  • Establishing a compelling vision: 5% 
  • Technology: 4% 
  • Consistency in personal prayer: 4% 
  • Consistency exercising: 4% 

“When asked to prioritize their own greatest need, pastors tend to put the needs of their church’s ministry ahead of personal needs,” said McConnell. “Personally making disciples, developing leaders, connecting with those outside the church and mobilizing the people in their church are the most common ‘greatest needs’ and are among the most common needs pastors want to make a priority.”

Pastoral help 

When thinking about getting help with their needs, pastors want to hear from their fellow clergy who have been through the same struggles. 

Three in 4 U.S. pastors (75%) say they would be interested in getting advice or guidance on the issues they are facing from other pastors who have already been through those problems. Similar numbers (74%) would like to hear from those who understand churches like theirs.  

Another 70% would listen to other pastors who are currently facing the same needs. Slightly fewer (57%) want to hear from experts on those types of needs. Older pastors are the least likely to say they’d like advice from any of those sources.

“The most monumental needs of pastors are not new to this generation of pastors,” said McConnell. “They know other pastors and pastors who have gone before them are best positioned to understand and help them with the wide variety of ministry and personal needs a pastor faces.”

Still, previous Lifeway Research shows not all pastors are actively seeking out advice from their fellow clergy. More than 8 in 10 U.S. Protestant pastors say they feel supported by other pastors in their area. Fewer than half (46%), however, know and spend time with 10 or more other local pastors, according to a 2020 Lifeway Research survey.

Most pastors (54%) have those relationships with fewer than 10 other area clergy, including 1 in 20 (5%) who aren’t connected with any area pastors and 8% who have relationships with only one or two other ministers.

Pastors may also look to retired pastors for advice and wisdom for navigating common challenges. A 2019 Lifeway Research study of retired Protestant pastors, ministers and missionaries found some have struggled with the transition into retirement and are looking for ways to serve and connect with others.

More than 4 in 5 retired ministry workers (86%) say they have continued to make new friends in recent years, but 29% admit they feel lonely or isolated. When asked what resources would most help them with their relationships today, most say they want to make additional ministry connections: 25% say making friends who have similar experience in ministry, 23% making friends who live near me, 20% relating to a church in which I am not in leadership and 17% making friends who have had similar experience in leadership.

“Retired pastors and other ministry workers still want to serve the church,” said McConnell. “When Lifeway Research asked them how ministries could best serve those like them who are retired from full-time ministry, the most common response was to provide them with opportunities to serve or minister (16%). Current pastors looking for guidance may find retired pastors ready and willing to help.”

Galván, preparándose para su celebración navideña número 42

Esta navidad tiene un significado especial para el pastor David Galván, el pastor de la Iglesia bilingüe Nueva Vida New/ Life Baptist Church ubicada en Garland, una comunidad en las afueras de Dallas, Texas. Después de servir como pastor en esta iglesia por 40 años, junto con su esposa Elvia, El pastor Galván está preparando su última celebración navideña como pastor en su iglesia. El pastor Galván también fue el plantador de la iglesia El Buen Pastor, en el este de Texas, por dos años por medio de la iglesia First Baptist Dallas, donde también planeó dos celebraciones navideñas, las cuales le da un total de 42 celebraciones navideñas proclamando el nacimiento de Cristo Jesús.   

La vida ministerial del pastor Galván está basada en edificar a la iglesia predicando la palabra de Dios, y entrenando y capacitando a los creyentes a servir al Señor según sus habilidades y los dones espirituales dado a ellos por Dios. Esta determinación es el resultado de su fe en Efesios 4:11-12 que dice, “Y él mismo constituyó a unos apóstoles, a otros profetas, a otros evangelistas, y a otros pastores y maestros,  a fin de capacitar a los santos para la obra del ministerio, para la edificación del cuerpo de Cristo.”(RVA). Con esta misma dinámica Galván está orando sus versículos bíblicos personales para el próximo pastor que vendrá a servir a la iglesia; Proverbios 3:5-6, que dice, “Fíate de Jehová de todo tu corazón, y no te apoyes en tu propia prudencia. Reconócelo en todos tus caminos, y él enderezará tus veredas” (RV1960). Galván se va a retirar como pastor de Nueva Vida y la iglesia está en búsqueda de su sucesor. 

En el 14 de noviembre, la iglesia Nueva Vida celebró al pastor Galván al cumplir 40 años sirviendo a la comunidad de Garland durante un servicio especial. Asistieron a la celebración varios lideres bautistas los cuales presentaron a Galván con placas de reconocimiento. Entre ellos estaba el Dr. Jespersen de la Asociación Bautista de Dallas (DBA), el Dr. Bruno Molina representado a la Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC).  

Galván apoya generosamente al programa cooperativo por medio de su iglesia, y aunque estuvo críticamente hospitalizado for COVID y usando oxígeno para predicar, se recuperó y sigue fielmente sirviéndole a Dios. La iglesia Nueva Vida actualmente tiene cerca de 700 miembros activos sirviendo con Galván y apoyando las misiones y a los misioneros locales e internacionales en El Salvador, México, Nicaragua, Guinea Bissau en África, Nuevo México, Texas, y en Israel por medio de su apoyo mensual. 

Galváns

Galván se graduó con una licenciatura de la Universidad Pan American, la cual actualmente es la Universidad de Texas en Arlington (UTA), y obtuvo una maestría por medio de Criswell College en Dallas, Texas. Él es autor de varios libros, La estrategia de grupos de crecimiento, y el Manual de discipulado escrito en ambos idiomas. Galván ha hecho 2 viajes misioneros a Israel trabajando en la réplica del Tabernáculo en el sur de Israel, y 3 viajes cuando una de sus hijas servía como misionera en Jordania. Él dice que está enamorado de Israel, la tierra santa de Dios. 

En el 1997, el Pastor Galván fue el primer hispano de ser nombrado vicepresidente de la Convención Bautista del Sur (SBC) al igual que vicepresidente de la SBTC desde el 2002 hasta el 2004. Él ha sido vicepresidente en la Convención Bautista de México, fue parte del comité para la Conferencia de pastores de la SBC, y mediador para el Comité Ejecutivo. Desde el 1998 hasta el 2006, fue parte del Consejo de Administración del Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary y presidente de este por dos años. Actualmente, Galván ha sido parte del Consejo de Administración de Criswell College por los últimos 12 años. 

El pastor Galván y Elvia celebraron sus 49 años de matrimonio, y él dice que él ha sido bendecido porque, “Dios me ha dado una esposa linda y una verdadera ayuda idónea.” Ellos tienen tres hijas y un hijo, Jonathan, quien sirve en el Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary en Carolina del Norte. Estos hijos les han dado a los Galván 17 nietos y nietas.

El pastor Galván y su esposa Elvia también iniciaron un colegio cristiano, New Life Christian Academy, en el 1983 con el objetivo de capacitar a los jóvenes cristianos en los más altos principios del liderazgo cristiano, autodisciplina, responsabilidad individual, integridad personal, buena ciudadanía, moralidad, y comportamiento cristiano. 

En su historia ministerial favorita, El pastor Galván cuenta que una vez estaba teniendo “una fiesta de lástimas” para sí mismo y dijo, “esta iglesia no me merece.” Al entrar en una tienda cristiana vio un marco en la pared con el Salmo 100:2 que dice, “Servir a Jehová con alegría.” Al ver la cita, Galván dice que, “En esos momentos el Espíritu Santo me llenó de convicción y de inmediato, viendo la cita bíblica mientras mis ojos derramaban lágrimas, le pedí perdón a Dios por mi torpeza. Gracias a Dios por su misericordia, y porque me llamó a ser su hijo ,y porque tengo el privilegio de servirle en su viña.” Su vida cambio desde ese día. Galván dice que su mayor consejo para los siervos de Dios es, “ ¡Servir al Señor con alegría,” teniendo en mente las palabras de Pablo en 1 Corintios 15:10a que dice, “Pero por la gracia de Dios soy lo que soy, y su gracia para conmigo no ha sido en vano.”

Galván closes chapter on faithful pastoral ministry after four decades

GARLAND—This Christmas had special meaning for David Galván, the pastor of the bilingual church Nueva Vida/New Life Baptist Church located in this community on the outskirts of Dallas. After serving as pastor in this church for 40 years, together with his wife Elvia, he transitioned into retirement. 

Galván also planted El Buen Pastor Church in East Texas for two years, through First Baptist Dallas, where he also planned two Christmas celebrations, which gave him a total of 42 Christmas celebrations as a pastor proclaiming the incarnation of Jesus Christ.   

Galván’s ministerial life is based upon building up the church by preaching the word of God and training and empowering believers to serve the Lord according to their abilities and their God-given spiritual gifts. This determination is the result of his faith in the truth of Ephesians 4:11-12 which says, “And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ.” With this same confidence, Galván is praying his life Bible verses—Proverbs 3:5-6—for the next man who will lead the church: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

The Galvan family

On Nov. 14, Nueva Vida celebrated Galván’s 40th anniversary during a special service. Various Baptist leaders attended the celebration and presented Galván with plaques of recognition. Among them was Dr. Ryan Jespersen from the Dallas Baptist Association (DBA) and Dr. Bruno Molina from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC).

Galván is missions-driven and has generously supported the Cooperative Program through his church. When hospitalized with a critical case of COVID, he used oxygen so he could continue to preach. He has made a full recovery and continues to faithfully serve God. Nueva Vida currently has about 700 active members serving with Galván, supporting Great Commission efforts through local and international missionaries in El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Guinea Bissau in Africa, New Mexico, Texas, and in Israel through its monthly support.

Galván graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Pan American University, now the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and earned a master’s degree from Criswell College in Dallas. He is the author of several books, The Group Growth Strategy and the Discipleship Manual, written in both English and Spanish. Galván has made two missionary trips to the Middle East: one to southern Israel while working on a replica of the Tabernacle, and three trips to Jordan while one of his daughters was serving as a missionary there. He says he is in love with Israel, God’s holy land.

In 1997, Galván was the first Hispanic to be named vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). He also served as vice president of the SBTC from 2002 to 2004. He has been vice president of various Baptist conventions in Mexico, part of the committee for the SBC Pastors Conference, and mediator for the Executive Committee. From 1998 to 2006, he served on the Board of Directors of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and was its president for two years. Galván has been serving on the Criswell College Board of Directors for the past 12 years.

Galván and Elvia celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary this past year, and he said that he has been blessed because “God has given me a beautiful wife and a true helpmate.” They have three daughters and one son, Jonathan, who serves at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina. These four children have given the Galváns 17 grandchildren.

The Galváns also started a private Christian school in 1983, New Life Christian Academy, with the goal of training young Christians in the highest principles of Christian leadership, self-discipline, individual responsibility, personal integrity, good citizenship, morality, and Christian behavior.

In his favorite ministry story, Galván tells how he was once was having “a pity party” and said to himself, “This church doesn’t deserve me.” As he entered a Christian store, he saw a frame on the wall on which Psalm 100:2 was inscribed: “Serve the Lord with gladness.”

“In those moments, the Holy Spirit filled me with conviction and immediately, seeing the biblical verse, while my eyes were shedding tears, I asked God for forgiveness for my ineptness,” Galván said. “I thanked God for his mercy, because he called me to be his son, and because I had and still have the privilege of serving him in his vineyard.” He said that since that day, his life changed and has never been the same.

Galván’s greatest advice to God’s servants is to, “Serve the Lord with joy,” keeping in mind Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:10 stating, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain.

Pastor to Pastor: Critical connections will help in our battle against weariness

It’s not just you. I am weary too. Every ministry context has enough challenges to wear any pastor down emotionally, physically, mentally, relationally, and spiritually. We know that perseverance is required. Remember the words of Paul, “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Maybe we are not tired of doing good, but perhaps we are weary from trying to sort out all the complexities of the last two years. When COVID-19 began to change our world, I was six months into a new pastorate. Each day my list of areas of importance grew longer. However, responding to a global pandemic hadn’t made my list of considerations. But who had that on their list?

Instantly the complexities of COVID-19 and its ripple effects began to steal our attention, drain our energy, and demand action. Our local church community has suffered devastating losses due to COVID-19, heart attacks, and even a murder in the last 18 months. Absolutely layers of awful. It makes me cringe just to think about it again along with all the meetings. Oh, the meetings!

Our experiences may differ but the emotional exhaustion, decision fatigue, no-win scenarios, and sideways energy expended have left all of us depleted and weary. Confusion mixed with irrational aggression surrounding speculative issues sure has worn me out! Where are we going to find the energy to re-establish ministries when we are so depleted from trying to navigate these complexities in leadership?

Through it all I am reminded that the mission still matters and so does our leadership. In many ways we are weary as we attempt to rebuild ministries, relationships, and facilities all in the midst of collective trauma. It is hard work. It is spiritual work. It is worth it to cultivate a healthy church culture for the years ahead.

As pastors we understand the importance of basic spiritual practices, but often find that the tyranny of the urgent can steal away precious time from our own spiritual and relational health. Here are several intentional practices that continue to help steady my life during this time:

Slow down to be with Jesus

My intentional communal connection with Jesus should never be sacrificed on the altar of “I just didn’t have time to get to it today.” We have all been in crisis mode for far too long and slowing down to be in the word, walking quietly whispering prayers, journaling our experiences, and breathing deeply while looking at the horizon are all powerful rhythms we need.

Eat a meal with a trusted friend

Something special happens when we prioritize time with safe people who embrace us as a person rather than a position. I am so thankful for another pastor friend who takes the time to meet together on a weekly basis. We all need a friend who gets it. Be that friend and pray for God to send you that friend, too.

Be present and engaged with family

Our families have been impacted by the trauma of the last couple of years. They need us to be present and engaged. Turn off the phone, get off social media, take your day(s) off, use your vacation time, look your family in the eyes when you talk, ask open-ended questions, and pay attention to them. They need you!

Brother, it isn’t just you. You are not alone. Your role in the kingdom matters. Remember that the shadows of suffering cover this world and we need the light of Christ to shine through you.

As Jimmy Draper said, “Don’t quit before you finish.” We believe there is hope and healing in Jesus. We believe we can experience it and help others experience it as we abide in Christ, build healthy relationships, and care for our community.

Let’s take our weariness to Jesus and trust him to help us persevere one moment at a time.

Counseling leaders say biblical connections key to mental, spiritual wellness

Counseling leaders say biblical friendships, churches helping each other key to navigating mental health issues

The state of addressing mental health-related issues is improving in our churches, but there’s still work to do. We asked some of the top counselors and Christian counseling directors in Texas to chime in on topics ranging from the stigma that can exist in the church regarding mental health and wellness, to how pastors can take steps to care for their own mental health, and what churches of any size can do to minister to others who are struggling.

Why is mental health an issue that should be addressed by the church? Why is there still a stigma attached to the issue of Christians struggling with their mental health?

The church should care for people struggling with anxiety, depression, and other struggles, because hope is desperately needed. True hope is found in God (Psalm 42). The church has an opportunity to share the gospel with non-Christians and show Christians how the gospel is relevant for our problems in life. Trusting God doesn’t mean problems will go away, but we can know joy and peace as we seek God’s perspective through Scripture and depend on the Spirit (Romans 12:2; Galatians 5:22). Our confidence in life is not in ourselves, but in God who created us and knows us more intimately than anyone else in the world (Psalm 139). 

Often, it’s hard for Christians to talk about their struggles because of shame and fear of man. Sometimes, it’s hard to share because we mistakenly believe that the Christian life means a happy life, at least on the outside. Church leaders promote transparency in the church when they acknowledge that the Christian life is hard and all Christians, including themselves, need God’s help on a daily basis. God also created us to be relational beings, meaning that we need fellowship with other godly people. 

— Lilly Park, associate professor of Biblical Counseling, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Based on what you’re seeing professionally and gathering from colleagues and others, what impact has COVID had on mental health in the church?

I see a dramatic increase in depression and anxiety as the presenting problems especially since COVID. However, when I look a little deeper and explore a little further, I see something new and pervasive now more than ever and definitely since COVID. It’s loneliness. New research from Harvard suggests that social isolation is on the rise especially among older teens and young adults. Research from other sources suggests that most of us, over 60 percent, feel lonely. Prolonged use of social media was also linked to greater feelings of loneliness.

According to the American Psychological Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, loneliness has been linked to physical and mental health issues like diabetes, insomnia, depression, obesity, and premature death. It’s one thing to face depression and anxiety and other mental health challenges on a daily basis. It’s quite different to feel like you are all alone in the battle and that no one really cares.

— Steve Hunter, professor and Hope for the Heart Chair of Biblical Counseling, Criswell College

The pandemic has been and still continues to be very difficult. Too many people hang on to every word that the mainstream media is putting out there. The mainstream media needs to up their ratings so, of course, they make it more exciting, but in turn it has ramped up anxiety in everyone, especially children. I also think that isolation contributes greatly to this issue. We are made to be in communion with God and with one another and sometimes it is just good to have interaction with someone in the flesh. One good thing that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did early in the pandemic was to allow virtual sessions in order to allow counselors to access their clients. Prior to this order very few counselors did virtual counseling, in fact some of our ethical codes forbid it. Although the governor opened the door for access to everyone, working with a child or teen online is next to impossible. Children typically express themselves more through play and teens hate discussing their issues online. I have wondered if their hate is more of a paranoia that someone is listening, especially their parents.

— Sharon L. Good, LPC Superior, Christian Counselors of Texas treasurer

COVID has isolated people and that is never good for mental health. We are created to be with people. Upon God’s review of all he created in the Garden of Eden, the only thing that was “not good” was that man was alone, so he created Eve. Corporate worship is an even deeper level of person-to-person connection. While watching church from home is a “next best” way of going to church, it is a far-second-place substitute that does not replace corporate worship. As such, I see that people have struggled more in their faith and in their mental health. Even now, as we are increasingly back in church on Sunday mornings, I know a lot of people who struggle to come on Sunday because they are used to the convenience of watching from their living room couch, drinking their coffee, and in their PJs. 

Another aspect of COVID and the church is that the fear of getting COVID has created a lot of anxiety. This results in people staying home more, being more isolated, and then feeling more depressed. It becomes a downward cycle of mental unhealth.

— Audra Dahl, director of counseling, Rush Creek Counseling Center (Arlington)

Why do pastors still struggle with admitting their own mental health struggles, and what can the church and its leaders do to minister to them?

I have worked with pastors and the main reasons they don’t want to admit their own struggles with mental health is shame, embarrassment, and fear of losing their job. What I tell those pastors is that they are human and sometimes life just happens. Instead of living in fear, let their congregation know what is going on and trust that they will love and embrace their pastor. Churches can help by praying for their pastor (even if they aren’t struggling—I firmly believe that we should be praying for those that shepherd their flock). Next, take your pastor a meal once in a while. I’m sure his wife would appreciate a day off from cooking. If your pastor has kids, offer to babysit so mom and dad can go out on a date. A healthy marriage goes a long way to mental health. There are so many other ways that can help: take him out to a ballgame, give him an extra week off for vacation time (your pastor has been under intense pressure for the last two years due to COVID, bless him with time to relax), or just offer to hang out and fellowship with him.

—Jonathan Okinaga, assistant professor of Biblical Counseling, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

I have been a pastor and a missionary. I think we have come a long way in getting the professional help we need, recognizing our limitations, sharing our own personal struggles, and seeking out biblical friendships with mature, same-sex Christians for the purpose of transparency, accountability, support, and encouragement outside of the context of our personal ministries. In addition, more than ever before, I am seeing more pastors and denominations publicly addressing mental health issues especially since COVID. It is a beautiful sight to see. For example, the SBTC is doing a great job in providing resources for pastors and their spouses during this difficult time. This includes financial help for counseling services. I have been honored to see the fruit of this ministry. At the same time, it is difficult for us as ministers to admit our own mental health challenges. One reason is because of unrealistic expectations, either self-imposed, perceived, or both ….

— Steve Hunter, professor and Hope for the Heart Chair of Biblical Counseling, Criswell College

What can churches do—especially smaller churches that don’t have trained counselors or counseling ministries—to address and minister to those struggling with their mental health?

It is important for churches to provide resources that address mental health concerns. This can come in many forms including: training church pastors and staff to be on the front lines of mental health needs while knowing their limitations in providing services; partnering with community mental health providers who can act as referral targets for needs requiring professional intervention or for guidance in cases where the church staff may need direction; establishing support groups that can encourage community for those dealing with potential triggers for mental health problems, such as caregivers for persons with longterm health care needs, substance use, grandparents parenting their grandchildren, domestic violence and sexual assault recovery, and many more; and partnering with larger churches who may have mental health services available and cooperate on publicizing those services throughout the community.

—Dr. Bobbie Burks, 4:13 Center for Change (Tyler)

There are great group programs that churches can do or partner with other churches that already have them. Celebrate Recovery, ReGeneration, Grief Share, and Divorce Care are just a few. These programs are run by lay people who have been through the program themselves and then are trained as leaders. At the Rush Creek Counseling Center, we have many churches who refer to our counseling services. Many of these churches also help their members in financial need by providing scholarships for counseling. But, more than anything, being willing to have the conversations in church, doing what you are doing by having the conversations in other media, starts to remove the stigma and can even help put someone on the path to healing.

—Audra Dahl, director of counseling, Rush Creek Counseling Center (Arlington)

What else can churches, church leaders, and denominations do to help?

I think one of the first steps and probably one of the most difficult steps is to begin to change the way our church culture views mental health disorders and issues. We could even begin by changing our language when it comes to mental health issues. For example, we can change our language from what we “can” do when it comes to mental health to what we “must” do. We can change our language from “addressing” and “helping” to “prioritizing” mental health as one of the major issues in Baptist life and leadership. 

— Steve Hunter, professor and Hope for the Heart Chair of Biblical Counseling, Criswell College

5 Ways Pastors Can Manage Their Own Mental Health

1

Intentionally develop genuine friendships with other believers
God created us with a need to have him and others in our lives (Gen 2:18). It really is not good for us to be alone in our spiritual walk. In healthy relationships we find love, support, accountability, and examples. In these relationships we find fellow spiritual warriors who help us fight against the enemy’s arrows. To choose to be a loner, though, is to invite trouble. Our struggles almost always increase when we fight alone. 

2

Enlist an ongoing group of prayer partners—and daily give them prayer needs
Don’t wait until you have a significant need to request their prayer; instead, every day ask them to pray for you. Invite them to join you in praising God. Ask them to cover your day in prayer. Share your needs and burdens so they might pray for you with intentionality and insight. Something powerful happens within us when we know brothers and sisters are praying for us every day: we gain renewed hope because we know others have our back. 

3

Invest in 2-3 other believers and model good spiritual disciplines for them
I’ve learned by experience that focusing on others helps turn our attention away from burdens that can wear us down. Others watch our lives. They look to us as spiritual examples. They pray for us and challenge us even as we equip and guide them. When we practice good disciplines, we feed our own souls and show them how to do the same for themselves. The joy of a growing relationship with God and others results. 

4

Regularly take time off
Frankly, I confess my own struggle here, but I’m learning. In particular, I’m learning there’s nothing spiritual about ministry workaholism. At least one day each week, let the work go and relax. Take a walk. Get some exercise. Enjoy a hobby. Hang out with a friend. Then, be sure to plan your vacation—and take it. Make it long enough that you actually relax a bit. A rested pastor is almost always a healthier pastor. 

5

Don’t be afraid to talk with a Christian counselor
For some reason, many pastors aren’t willing to do what we recommend others do: talk with another believer trained in counseling. Our ego gets in the way. Fear of what others will think captures us. Sometimes it feels like leaning on someone else is an indication of faithlessness. And, we aren’t always sure how to find someone to help us. What we do, then, is remain silent—and we miss an opportunity for another Christian to help us manage our own mental health. 

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.

Church plant benefits from mother church’s ‘send out our best’ mindset

Looking to the Old Testament example of giving God the best of flocks and herds, Currey Creek Church in Boerne sent 200 of its best members to plant The Bridge Fellowship, a new congregation in a fast-growing community northwest of San Antonio.

“These sheep belong to the Kingdom. They’re not my sheep or our church’s sheep,” John Free, pastor of Currey Creek, said. “They’re the Lord’s sheep, and we’re stewards, under-shepherds, of these sheep.”

Beyond recognizing the people are God’s and not his, Free saw a practical aspect to sending faithful church members. 

“When you send spiritually mature people that are pursuing the Lord, that are active in serving in their local church, they’re going to do the same in a new environment where they’re going to be needed even more,” Free said.

Currey Creek learned how to send its best because First Baptist Church in Boerne, with pastor Bubba Stahl, sent members out to plant Currey Creek 20 years ago. Eight years ago, when Currey Creek had about 250 people, Jared Patrick was hired in part to oversee missions. 

“I asked John what our missions philosophy was, and he said, ‘We’re going to plant churches,’” Patrick recalled of Free. 

Currey Creek planned to plant once it reached 1,000 people. The church began to grow quickly, and Patrick said, “I didn’t really think about it too much until we kind of looked up and Currey Creek was 1,200 people, and John came in one day and said, ‘We need to plant churches.’”

Patrick knew in that moment he was supposed to plant the next church. When he mentioned it, Free told him, “I’ve been waiting for you to figure that part out.” 

The church gave Patrick “a long runway,” he said, including a sabbatical to pray and visit other church plants.

By meeting as a church plant in an elementary school, The Bridge Fellowship has been able to draw people who, for whatever reasons, may not feel comfortable attending an established church. 

“In February 2020, John gets up, and we announce the church together, and John says, ‘I want the very best of Currey Creek to get up and leave with Jared to go get this church started,’” Patrick said.

In March 2020, 180 people were at the first interest meeting for The Bridge Fellowship. After navigating COVID shutdowns, the plant launched in September 2020 with about 200 people. In the first year, they reached 300 additional people and baptized more than 50 believers.

What’s more, Currey Creek has backfilled everyone who left.

“They sent us out in a really healthy way with a bunch of people and a bunch of resources, and now they’re even seeing more people come, and we’re seeing our church over double in the first year,” Patrick said.

Free noted that Currey Creek has seen that they can’t out-give God. “Money is way down on our list, but we grew the numbers back, and we met our [annual] budget at the end of the third quarter.”

A principle promoted at Currey Creek is that when God’s followers are open-handed, he can place something in their hands, Free said. “When we’re tight-fisted, he can’t put anything in our hands. When we say, ‘Here, Lord, these are yours,’ then he gives more to steward.”

What happened with Currey Creek and The Bridge won’t necessarily be replicated anywhere that principle is practiced, Free said, because the phenomenal growth rate of Boerne makes for a unique situation. Free spent the majority of his ministry in slow-growing or non-growing environments, he said, so he knows it’s not always this easy.

The Bridge has been meeting in an elementary school which has a cafeteria with a stage and a wall that opens to a gym, and they’re exploring opportunities for purchasing land in the near future. On their first anniversary, 607 people attended, and their average attendance is just under 500 people.

The idea of a church plant and a new start intrigues some people, including those moving to the area from others states, Patrick said.

Jared Carter, pastor of community and discipleship, and Jared Patrick, lead pastor (right), are leading The Bridge Fellowship in reaching the fast-growing community of Boerne, northwest of San Antonio. 

“People who don’t necessarily feel ready to jump into an established church for whatever reason will come to an elementary school just because it feels different, and the Lord certainly does his work through it,” Patrick said.

An example is a former Marine who moved from California and showed up at The Bridge because his fiancée “kind of dragged him,” Patrick said. The man spoke casually with the pastor a few Sundays and then asked to meet for coffee, where he disclosed that God was working in his life. Three weeks later, he gave his life to Christ at church.

Lives are changing at The Bridge because Currey Creek gave them “a fighting chance,” Patrick said.

“There are established church pastors who have so many people in their churches who, if they were given the green light to do some work together,” Patrick said, “would see some really significant traction of people coming to know the Lord through the local church.”

Sagemont Counseling director: ‘We all walk with a limp’

Mike Schumacher, the counseling director at one of the most active church counseling centers in Texas, talks expectations, ‘radical honesty,’ and being vulnerable enough to let others pour into your life

JL: From a broad perspective, what would you say the state of mental health in the church is right now?

MS: In general, we’ve come a long way, but we’ve got a long way to go. There’s still a significant stigma about mental health and Christian counseling. We take very seriously that not everybody who calls themselves a Christian or a Christian counselor actually approaches counseling from a Christ-centered perspective. I do think we’re establishing more and more credibility in our church and in our community. 

Just to put some context to this, I’ve got 14 counselors here in our counseling center—all licensed professional counselors. We see about 500 appointments a month—that’s a huge number of people. I say that just to give you some perspective of the need and the growth of this ministry. The numbers are growing and our ministry is growing, which I think is a good sign that the community at-large and our church is recognizing the need for what we provide. It’s a constant battle educating people about the reality of mental health issues. Normalizing the struggle is a big part of what we like to try to do. 

JL: I know there’s no easy answer for this, but why do you think that stigma exists? 

MS: That’s a really good question. I did a message here a while back at Sagemont trying to communicate this very thing and illustrating various characters in the Bible.
I focused a lot on Elijah and his struggle with depression and, frankly, suicidal ideation. I also illustrated the struggles that Paul alludes to, that even Jesus alludes to—a kind of emotional distress that was not uncommon even for him in his humanity. There’s a few points I think I would emphasize about why there’s this stigma.

I think some of it, unfortunately, is a certain amount of bad theology, to tell you the truth. Most of us evangelicals are aware of and cautious of the prosperity gospel, in terms of financial prosperity. But I think we as Southern Baptists and evangelicals have fallen prey to an emotional prosperity gospel. In other words, if you get saved, if you pray, if you’re active in reading the Bible and you go to church regularly and you serve and you give, then you should be living a victorious Christian life that doesn’t include struggle. Obviously, those [spiritual discplines] are all relevant and important, but I contend that there is a kind of overpromising that I think pastors and teachers are a bit guilty of. I think even with the best of intentions, there’s a tendency to emphasize that if you walk seriously in the faith, your marriage will be great, your kids will be great, and you will be psychologically and emotionally healthy. That is not the reality for a lot of people.

What we’re saying is, that sinfulness of the fall—the depravity, the radical corruption—infiltrates every part of our life. It affects us relationally, psychologically, spiritually, neurologically, physically. So we’re trying to approach mental health much more comprehensively than a lot of the more simplistic thinking that exists out there about what it takes to be healthy. 

JL: In Western culture, the idea is often that we’re supposed to achieve, we’re supposed to climb, we’re supposed to rise to the top. But that kind of thinking seems to clash with the message of Christ, who says, “The first shall be last and the last shall be first.” 

MS: It’s a bit paradoxical. I think it gets back to even why there’s a stigma, because I agree with you—I deal with all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds every day in my office and I think there is more and more recognition that, because of the radical corruption of sin and the fall, we all walk with a limp. I mean that figuratively, but it’s a very profound notion to get your head around as a Christian, as opposed to the message that if you’re a Christian you don’t have any limp at all and life should be great. I just don’t think that’s biblically true, theologically correct, and certainly it’s not practically evident. 

JL: Can you give me a general sense of what kinds of struggles you’re seeing among leaders right now?

MS: Church leaders are dealing with so many of the same kinds of normal things that everyone else is. We see a lot of depression. Discouragement among pastors and staff is high because sometimes the expectations are so high. They struggle with a lot of performance anxiety, which I think of as “encore anxiety”—you know, “What are you going to do next time to make it bigger and better?” 

We see a lot of addictions in church leaders and pastors. We’ve got a lot of pastors that are struggling with sexual addictions … social media can be quite addictive, in its own right. So many pastors are just struggling with the normal emotional issues that we all do, like fears of rejection and failure. Those kinds of things are so real in the lives of so many pastors who feel pressure to feed the monster—building the congregation and meeting the budget and attracting people. I do a lot of marital work and I see a lot of pastors and church leaders who look really good on the stage or behind the pulpit, but their marriages and their families are falling apart—for all kinds of reasons that yours or mine could, too, but with the additional stresses and strains, the expectations, the time and the energy—it’s really difficult.

JL: Among those pastors and church leaders who seem to be turning a corner and improving, what are some of the commonalities you’re seeing? 

MS: First, they’re reframing their expectations. That’s a good place to start. They’re coming to the realization that, “If I’m struggling, I’m not weird, I’m not messed up, I’m not crazy and, frankly, I’m more normal than the people who are not struggling.” Just getting your head around that can help validate the struggle.

I think another big part of what helps people get better is when they’re heard—whether it’s a good friend or a therapist or a mentor—somebody you trust enough to be open and authentic with, to share the real you. Get in the company of someone you trust that you can be radically honest with. I don’t know of many people or pastors who wouldn’t benefit from having a good friend or mentor or professional counselor. I’ve got my people that I have to talk to that give me perspective and let me vent and hurt and wrestle and be messy. I think those pastors and leaders who are making progress have that kind of open and honest relationship with someone else, too.

It takes a lot of guts for a pastor or a staff member to show up at a counseling center and admit that he or the family or the marriage is a mess. That takes a humility and a vulnerability, and I don’t think that’s easy. It may be hard to find that person, but that’s such a crucial part of good mental health and self-care—having someone who can speak into your life. If you don’t have that, you’re going to die on the vine. If you don’t have someone filling up your cup, you can give out of your cup for a while, but you’re eventually going to run dry.

Mike Schumacher is an ordained minister and associate pastor at Sagemont Church in Houston. He has been the director of the Sagemont Counseling Center since 2001.