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SBTC

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

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

Dallas pastor finds ministry opportunities inside, outside the church

Disaster relief has carried South Texas couple across many, many miles to serve people in crisis

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

I was four years old when Jesus saved me. Our church, St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church in Bakersfield, Calif., was a …

By Marissa Wright-Williams By Russell Lightner

Opinion

By Mark Dance

Pastoring in an active war zone

Iwill never forget the day Craig Miller and I drove through the Jordanian desert at 95...

By Jayson Larson

Delayed until eternity

I’ve recently taken several personality profiles for a work-related endeavor. Typically, these profiles include an assessment...

Faces of the Faithful

A guide to celebrate—and pray—for those standing on the frontlines of the faith

Manuel Martinez

Age: 30 Spouse: Karla

Total Ministry Years: 10

Church: Lead/preaching pastor, Logos Baptist Church, Brownsville

Years at Current Church: 3 years

What is something you’ve been able to celebrate at your church recently?
We had a very fruitful summer! We partnered with Mission City Church from San Antonio to host a VBS at a local apartment complex. We also had a back-to-school bash at a different apartment community, and the summer culminated with two college students confessing Jesus as Lord and getting baptized.

How can SBTC churches be praying for you?
Pray for us as we continue to do campus evangelism at the university and one-on-one evangelism. Also help us pray for more laborers in God’s vineyard. As we train up brothers and sisters to bear the burden of ministry, we pray they can get rooted at Logos and serve for many years. Lastly, we pray for wisdom in the area of logistics. Our meeting space can only fit about 45-50 people. We are at capacity and may need to look for a new space.

Kacey Jackson

Age: 39 Spouse/Children: Chris/Addie (11), Cooper (9) & Beckett (7)

Total Ministry Years: 3

Church: Special needs minister, First Baptist Church, Forney

Years at Current Church: 5

What’s one lesson you’ve learned to this point of your ministry that you know you’ll never forget?
I have learned that all God’s children deserve the opportunity to learn about the love of Jesus, to hear the gospel, and be given the opportunity to attend church together as a family. Individuals with special needs and their families are craving Jesus.

How can other SBTC churches be praying for you?
Please pray for the families that our special needs ministry serves, both our regular attenders and the families that currently only take advantage of our community outreach programs. Pray that they feel loved and welcomed and their hearts are softened to hear the Word of God. Pray for more volunteers so we can expand our infrastructure to serve more families with special needs.

Josh Bonjour

Age: 38 Spouse/Children: Libby/Noah, Jude & Jonah

Total Ministry Years: 20

Church: Pastor, New Life Deaf Fellowship, Fort Worth

Years at Current Church: 13 years

What’s something you’ve been able to celebrate at your church recently?
Our children’s ministry has exploded! God has opened the door for us to minister to deaf children and their families. And we are seeing salvations and baptisms among children and adults. On the other end of the spectrum, God has been growing our senior adult ministry as well. After a long time period of limited outreach at a nearby assisted living center for the deaf, we now have full access to reach and serve deaf senior residents.

What’s one lesson you’ve learned to this point of your ministry that you know you’ll never forget?
God will not be stopped. No one is beyond His reach, and He draws some of the most unlikely people into His service.