Month: April 2026

Rediscovering zeal

Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective.

When your dog ages, its energy and enthusiasm decreases. She no longer leaps off the couch and instead carefully stretches and touches down upon the floor. Treats don’t make her move like they once did. The days of sprinting, jumping up to your chest, and vigorously playing seem to be in the past.

For many of us, that’s not just our dog. It’s our devotion to Jesus.

Fifteen years into ministry, I sometimes think my passion for the Lord flickers like a wick burning the last of the wax. Where did the days of full-steam abandon for the Lord go?

At Passover, Jesus enters the temple and finds the worship corrupted. The sacrifices are overpriced and the people are being exploited. He makes a whip, drives them out, and overturns their tables. The Bible says, “His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me,’” (John 2:17).

Jesus, among many things, is zealous. Zealous for the worship of His people. Zealous for the glory of His Father. Zealous for righteousness, good works, and justice. Zeal is like a pot of boiling water—it churns, bubbles, and rolls.

Why does it seem like seasoned Christians sometimes lack this godly churning—a zeal like that of Christ Jesus?

Pastor Josh Smith points out that godly zeal is built by three main ingredients: knowledge, passion, and action. Zeal begins with knowing God, then ignites in the affections and spills over into action. True knowledge of God shapes us. It presses on the heart until it stirs real affection. Those affections don’t stay contained. They compel us outward, moving us to act in obedience, love, and service for Jesus. Take any one of these ingredients out and zeal will flicker, but when all three are present, you will burn with a steady, godly zeal.

So why does it feel like the older our faith-age grows, the less zealous we become for Jesus?

My best guess is attention drift—the slow reallocation of our focus from Christ to lesser things. What’s the first thing you look to in the morning? News, social media, the to-do list, or God’s Word? Recall your last unhurried quiet time. How long ago was it? Do you have real connection in your local congregation with believers? Are you memorizing Scripture? Do you have a prayer life to speak of? If you compared the time spent with your attention on the Lord versus the time spent with your attention on reels and media consumption, which would take the cake?

Could it be that our zeal flickers because in our sin we have begun to value lesser things more than Him? Christ has become familiar rather than glorious to us.

So here’s my encouragement: Repent of lukewarm affections, commit to focus your attention on God, and actively pursue the ingredients of zeal. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be casual with my sin. I don’t want to be unmoved by challenges in the church. I don’t want to be flippant with pain or joyless in pleasure. I don’t want to be bored by the Great Commission.

Ultimately, we can’t manufacture godly zeal. The Scriptures indicate we must behold Christ until our hearts burn again. As we fix our eyes on Him—His glory, His mercy, His holiness, His cross—our affections are stirred and our lives are infused with zeal, even as our bodies, just like our dogs, slow down.

As Second Amarillo nears its 120th anniversary, it reflects on what was, what is, and what is to come

By the time the American frontier was officially closed in 1890, Amarillo had transitioned from a bustling Wild West town into a thriving hub of cattle shipping, and later a center for grain elevators, milling operations, and feed manufacturing. The population boomed as well, growing from just over 1,400 in 1900 to nearly 10,000 a decade later, according to the Texas Almanac.

At one point, three newspapers served the public, printing railroad timetables and carrying advertisements for goods ranging from clothing and dry goods to medicinal remedies. Amarillo ISD was formed in 1905, and a new courthouse and jail were completed a year later.

That same year, 1906, marked the founding of Second Baptist Church in Amarillo. To establish this mission of First Baptist Church, 20 charter members gathered in what the church website describes as “a humble frame building” at the corner of Fourth and Pierce streets. Over the past 120 years, the church has remained at that same location, though the facilities have been expanded and remodeled through the decades.

“We’ve always been right here,” said Larry Davis, who has served as senior pastor of Second Baptist the past two years.

The church will celebrate this milestone anniversary in October with a banquet, special worship services, guest singers and preachers, and representatives from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.

“There’s a lot of history in this church,” Davis said, noting that the celebration will honor that legacy while looking toward the future.

Among those invited to the October celebration is Charlie Jones, who served as pastor for 32 years beginning in 1971, a time during which the congregation experienced significant growth. As part of the anniversary celebration, the church will recognize not only Jones but other former pastors who have faithfully served the congregation.

“Our church has been blessed with a strong history of long-tenured pastors,” Davis said.

After pastoring churches in Missouri and working with homeless veterans at a mission in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Davis and his wife, Sissi, sought God’s direction for their next place of ministry.

“The Lord answered the desires of my heart,” Davis said of Second Baptist. “This is one of the most loving churches we have ever been a part of. The church continues to grow, and people are excited about what God is doing. We have baptized 25 people during our first two years here.”

“This is one of the most loving churches we have ever been a part of. The church continues to grow, and people are excited about what God is doing. We have baptized 25 people during our first two years here.”

Senior Pastor Larry Davis Tweet

Outreach with intentionality

Intentional evangelism is a hallmark of the church.

“We are blessed with dedicated volunteers who truly desire to live out the will and work of God,” Davis said.

Outreach efforts take many forms.

“Last year, we took our first international mission trip in over 20 years,” Davis said. The trip ministered to churches in Brazil and resulted in 100 people praying to receive Christ.

Other efforts remain close to home. The church continues to host its annual VBS and fall festival, the latter drawing approximately 600 people for games, fellowship, and a gospel message in late October.

The latest Hope in the Park took place in March at Woodland Park. “For this event, we distributed 1,700 flyers to nearby homes, inviting families to the park and to our Easter service,” Davis said. Families enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs grilled by church volunteers, while police officers and firefighters brought squad cars and fire trucks for children to explore when the kids weren’t having fun in the bounce house. Fellowship and gospel conversations ensued. The church plans to host several such events throughout the year at local parks.

Outreach with a kick

The family life center is also home to a unique outreach through a karate program. Sensei Candy, a karate instructor, was seeking a space to hold classes when Sissi Davis connected with her. The church offered the use of its facilities with the understanding that each session would begin with prayer and that church volunteers could connect with families as opportunities arose.

Sensei Candy now attends Second Baptist, along with several families involved in the program.

“It’s an outreach God brought into our own building,” Davis said. “We want people to know they don’t have to go through life alone. We are here to walk alongside them.”

The church’s second annual karate tournament drew approximately 300 participants and spectators.

“Sharing the love of Christ and helping people become part of the body of Christ is central to what we do,” the pastor said, noting that some have even joined the church through additional programs such as a ladies’ exercise group.

Another popular ministry is the church’s Thursday night pickleball gathering, which offers open play, friendly competition, and an opportunity to connect with the community.

“We have a lot of fun,” Davis said. “We invite people to come, build relationships, and introduce them to the church. Many have come as a result.”

He added, “We are using every opportunity to reach people and share the gospel. Like the apostle Paul, we are willing to become all things to all people, that we might win a few.”

Prayer as the foundation

All of these efforts are grounded in prayer. On the second Wednesday of each month, the congregation gathers in the sanctuary for a dedicated prayer service.

“We ask for God’s favor,” Davis said. “He tells us to ask of Him, and He hears us. Too often we leave blessings untouched because we do not call on Him. God is able to do all things.”

“When Pastor Larry first came, he told us, ‘You all wear many hats,’” said Shelley Reid, the church’s children’s ministry director. Her husband, Galen, grew up in Amarillo and was raised at Second Baptist. The couple was married at the church, and their sons were baptized there.

Reid, who also serves on the anniversary planning committee, expressed excitement about the upcoming celebration.

“We have incredible volunteers,” she said. “They are faithful servants who love the Lord and are always willing to help wherever needed. We also have strong prayer support, and we know people are lifting up this church.”

Randall Byers serves in multiple roles at the church, including youth minister, director of television ministry, chief financial officer, and IT support. After a career in the health industry as a licensed paramedic, he now invests his time in ministry at Second Baptist.

“Over the years, I’ve seen many changes, as most churches have,” Byers said. “But through it all, the most important constant has been a shared commitment to faithfully follow God in every season.

“… I’ve had the privilege of serving under three pastors and witnessing decades of growth and a deepening understanding of our purpose,” Byers continued. “That purpose is clear—to serve God right here where He has placed us.

“My hope for the future is that evangelism will always remain at the forefront—that bringing people to Jesus and growing the kingdom of God will continue to define who we are and what we do.”

Chosen to Serve training carries with it a firm conviction: Healthy churches are served by healthy deacons

Bay Area Church is a large congregation located between Houston and Galveston in Southeast Texas. The church has a broad selection of ministries ranging from local benevolence and family ministries to church planting and missionary involvement in other countries, in addition to the usual selection of discipleship and fellowship opportunities for all ages.

Yet as church leaders considered ways to make their ministry more effective, they could see areas that needed shoring up. Their deacons were perhaps an underutilized resource as they focused on traditional roles such as widows ministry and serving the Lord’s Supper.

“[Those ministries] had been done in our church for a long time,” said John Eckeberger, a Bay Area deacon who also serves as the church’s pastor for missions and mobilization, “but there seemed to be a lot of gaps in service to our church that we’ve since asked the deacons to step into. It’s been a very positive thing.”

As he considered how the deacons might catch a revitalized vision for their service, Eckeberger thought of his friend, Jeff Lynn, who once pastored Yorktown Baptist Church down the road in Corpus Christi. Lynn moved from Yorktown to be senior strategist for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Church Health and Leadership team, a ministry area that includes deacon ministry.

Lynn saw a need and began developing a training tool called Chosen to Serve.

“I did a deep dive into what the Word said about deacons,” Lynn said. “There’s not really a job description for deacons. We infer a lot from Acts 6. We selected the title Chosen to Serve from that passage.

“This kind of broadens the understanding of the possibilities for service as a deacon. I think it’s an awareness—that’s what this training is for—that this is an office that functions to serve the church, though not to lead the church.”

When Bay Area’s deacons met with Lynn, the resource was in the testing and final development phase and the training manual that is now used had not yet been published. The manual has since been completed and is used by SBTC staff to train deacons in churches across the state.

The application of the training will be specific to churches applying its principles. One way Bay Area Church broadened the service of its deacons was through ministry teams. One team helps with the church’s benevolence ministry, another does fix-it jobs such as repairing fences that blow over during coastal storms, still another focuses on outreach, and there are several others. A recently launched ministry of deacon teams provides a short course in financial management for families.

“We really have challenged them,” Eckeberger said. “‘Figure out where you fit in this equation. Everybody needs to serve on a team, so pick a team that works for you and get after it.’ The challenge came from our time with Jeff, reminding them that we’re called to serve the church, not only to help widows.”

As part of his time with the deacons of Bay Area Church, Lynn also provided each deacon with a copy of Praying for Your Pastor by Billy Taylor. Eckeberger said his fellow deacons still talk about that book and its impact eight months after receiving it. These are also crucial parts of being a deacon—supporting the pastor and being spiritual men.

“Why,” Lynn emphasizes, “if all these seven men did was serve food, why was there such a premium on their spiritual nature, as we see in Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 3? All the other elements flow from the deacons being spiritual. We really do spend a lot of time on this spiritual element.”

One of the challenges Bay Area’s deacons faced prior to gathering for training and prayer was the sense they didn’t know what they were supposed to be doing. It led to a drop off in meeting attendance and general discouragement within that ministry body. Using Chosen to Serve has made a difference. Partly because of the size of their church and partly because of this expanding of their channels of service, the church is adding 15 men so it has 40 active deacons.

“I think it’s really been an encouragement [to our deacons]. ... There’s a different attitude in the meetings.”

John Eckeberger Tweet

“I think it’s really been an encouragement to them,” Eckeberger said. “I mean, there’s a different attitude in the meetings. In fact, I was just going over our agenda this morning because we meet this Sunday, and three of the things on the agenda are service-oriented. And that’s changed from two years ago.”

“I don’t think most deacons are aware of the potency of their ministry,” Lynn added. “I think a training like this broadens their understanding of what they do to stabilize the church, to work as a team. We’ve trained hundreds of deacons already. Can you imagine the extrapolated effect of that across Texas? I mean, I think healthy churches are served by healthy deacons.”

Interested in Chosen to Serve training? Email jlynn@sbtexas.com.

The building is temporary, but the mission is eternal

Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective.

Nobody tells you that you might lose your mind when you start a building project at your church. The excitement of finally moving forward overshadows the reality of all the challenges and obstacles you’re about to face during a relocation.

It is possible, however, to maintain a gospel focus—and your sanity—during a church build and live out Hebrews 12:1-3 in a tangible way.

In our context, we walked through a full relocation over a three-year period, facing numerous hurdles along the way. There were delays, unexpected complications, and moments when the process felt overwhelming. Yet, by God’s grace, the church did not stall and we actually experienced significant growth during that season. The defining factor was a deliberate and consistent commitment to remain gospel-focused, gospel-driven, and gospel-motivated in everything we did, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

From the beginning, we established a clear priority: The building was never the mission. The mission was, and always will be, reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. While the facility was an important tool for future ministry, it was not the end goal. This mindset protected us from becoming inwardly focused or distracted by timelines, budgets, and construction details. Instead, we continually asked whether our efforts were advancing the gospel. That clarity helped us stay unified and mission-minded, even in the midst of stress.

A crucial component of maintaining focus and sanity was trusting and empowering key leaders. Rather than attempting to oversee every detail personally, we placed capable individuals in charge of the building process and allowed them to lead. This created space for ministry to continue thriving. Our staff was consistently reminded to stay focused on people through discipleship, evangelism, and shepherding rather than being pulled into construction concerns. By keeping roles clear, we avoided burnout and ensured the work of ministry remained strong.

On a personal level, I had to be intentional about protecting my own health and perspective. It would have been easy to become consumed with the project, visiting the construction site daily, stressing over decisions, and carrying the full weight of the process. Instead, I made the conscious choice to step back, trust the team, and even take regular days off. This was not a lack of concern, but a necessary discipline. Rest allowed me to lead more effectively and maintain clarity throughout a long and demanding season.

Looking back, the growth we experienced during those three years affirmed that staying anchored in the gospel was the right approach. Only because we refused to let the building take center stage did people continue to come to Christ, grow in their faith, and engage in the life of the church. The process ultimately strengthened our leadership, deepened our dependence on the Lord, and clarified our mission.

Church building projects will always come with pressure and unpredictability. However, when leaders remain committed to the gospel, empower others to lead, and guard their own spiritual and emotional health, it is possible not only to endure the process but to thrive in the middle of it. The building is temporary, but the mission is eternal.

Keep that truth at the center, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, keep running the race with endurance, and watch as God makes all the difference.

Slovenia’s gaming culture leads to gospel connection for IMB missionary

Editor’s note: Slovenia is one of the countries that is part of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Reach Europe ministry partnership with the International Mission Board. Click here to find out how your church can partner to bring the gospel to Europe.

Daniel Bates couldn’t believe his eyes. But there it was, tucked between a pastel row of cafés and cobblestone alleys in downtown Ljubljana, Slovenia—a friendly local game store. The International Mission Board missionary grabbed his wife, Heather, and derailed their shopping trip.

“If there’s a game shop, then there are gamers here,” Daniel said, energized by the discovery in their new city. He pulled Heather through the door and into a world alive with colorful miniature role play scenes and towers of board game boxes.

Daniel loves playing board games.

Heather? She played them in the past but wasn’t at the same die-hard level when she and Daniel were younger. So early in their marriage, Daniel went to the local coffee shop or game store to play with other enthusiasts. He used those game nights in Wake Forest, N.C., to share the gospel.

Finding a game shop in Slovenia wasn’t just fun, it was a gamechanger for the missionaries. They found their people.

It had been hard for the missionary family to make close local friends when North Wake Church in Wake Forest, N.C., first sent them to Slovenia through the IMB. Their Slovenian language skills were still a work in progress, so most interactions with parents at the kids’ school or with neighbors stayed polite and surface-level.

But in this game shop, the connection through board games was immediate. The owner invited Daniel to join a weekly game night in another town. The distance wasn’t an issue. Slovenia, after all, is roughly the size of New Jersey, and the gaming group drew people from every direction. They used a Discord channel to keep in touch during the week.

Discord was once mainly a gamers’ chat platform, but is now a gathering place for every possible niche. It became a digital living room where Daniel checked in throughout the week. It’s where friendships grew after game night ended.

“We use different social platforms—Reddit, WhatsApp, Messenger, Discord—as part of our digital engagement strategy for ministry. This is where people gather, so we want to be there too,” Daniel said. “We’ve found most will never talk to you in person, but they will chat on the computer with you.

“But taking these relationships from digital to physical is hard,” he continued. “That’s what made this gaming group so different. It’s hybrid. They meet physically and use their Discord channel to keep in touch during the week.”

As Daniel interacted in person and online, he became a part of the group. They shared strategies and swapped stories. He found that many were hungry for authentic conversations and relationships. In this space, the missionary asked questions about religious beliefs and shared his own faith in Jesus Christ. One player even asked to meet one-on-one, giving Daniel the opportunity to share the full gospel.

Through this group, Daniel and Heather caught a glimpse into Slovenian young adult culture. They were board-game obsessed. Shops like the one downtown rented out games.

“We began thinking of how we can use this to reach our city,” Daniel said. “Gaming culture isn’t really about the games. It’s about being in a group and connecting over something. It really fits this need for authenticity we are seeing.”

This insight sent the missionaries back to their roots in North Carolina—back to the days when Daniel first used board games to open doors for gospel conversations. Only, the Bateses went bigger. They helped churches host game and Lego nights. The young adults they’d met online weren’t afraid to step into a Protestant church—so long as they had a reason to be there. In Slovenia, evangelical Protestants are often viewed with suspicion, sometimes even seen as a cult. In a country of 2.2 million, there are only nine evangelical churches with roughly 300 total members.

“To get people who are not part of the church to come in is very difficult,” Daniel explained about the stigma. Slovenians claim Roman Catholicism by heritage, but many young adults privately identify closer to atheism. Family and cultural expectations keep them from exploring other faiths. They could be shunned by family or lose friends.

So, when young adults show up for board games at a church, it’s a big deal. They are breaking long-standing traditions just by coming in the door. They spend hours sitting next to church members discussing life and what it means to have faith in Jesus.

It’s just the beginning.

5 minutes: Q&A with Afshin Ziafat

Afshin Ziafat, lead pastor of Providence Church in Frisco, was born in Houston but moved with his family to their native country of Iran when he was two years old. His family returned to Houston when he was six, during the Iranian Islamic Revolution. As a high school senior, Ziafat became a Christian while reading a Bible an elementary school tutor had given him years earlier. His family disowned him because of his faith in Christ. Ziafat and his wife, Meredith, have three young children.

What is something Providence Church has been able to celebrate recently?

This past year we celebrated 20 years of our church. It was very special to look back and remember all that God has done in and through our body of believers. It inspires us greatly to continue seeking the Lord for more of His kingdom in our lives and extending through us to our community.

What do you want American Christians to know about the current conflict in Iran?

Although war is never something we desire and there are many debates online surrounding the conflict, the truth remains that God is sovereign over all the affairs of the world. Our desire is to pray for safety for all nations involved but also to pray for freedom for the people of Iran. I would want people to make sure they separate in their minds the people of Iran from the government of Iran. The people of Iran are some of the warmest and most hospitable people in the world.

How can American Christians be praying for Iranians, including fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?

The people of Iran have suffered 47 years of oppression under this Islamic regime, and yet one of the fastest growing underground churches in the world is in Iran. Our prayer is that a new day will dawn where these courageous believers will be able to spread the gospel openly without fear of retribution from the government.

What is a challenge Providence is facing?

We have been blessed to see God move in powerful ways as we have been a thriving and growing church. We have planted churches over the years and will continue to do so. To increase our capacity to reach more and send more people out, we have purchased land and are moving four miles to a new church site. There are many challenges as we are in the process of this expansion over the next year and would covet prayers for wisdom, guidance, and provision.

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

I have learned that God is bigger than anything I face. He sees the big picture and no obstacle stands in the way of His purposes. It is a joy to know that He sees the big picture and is in control. It reminds me to not keep looking ahead for my satisfaction but look to Him and enjoy the process of ministry.

How can SBTC churches be praying for Providence Church?

We would be so honored for you to pray for us to continue to be faithful to unashamedly proclaim the gospel and the whole counsel of God’s Word, that God would continue to make us a disciple-making church that pursues maturity.

5 minutes: Q&A with Beth Holder

Beth Holder and her husband, Phil, have served at Friendship Baptist Church in Beaumont for eight years. Phil is the church’s senior pastor. Beth, an elementary school special education inclusion teacher, leads a women’s Bible study and is involved with other ministries. The Holders have two married children.

What’s something you are celebrating at Friendship Baptist Church?

We’ve been praying about an apartment outreach ministry for some time. There are several apartment complexes around our location. We have not had any open doors until this year. In mid-January, we were able to start a Bible study at a complex. The manager has been very helpful and has even promoted it to residents and prospective residents. Adults and children attend, and we have been able to start planting seeds and sharing the gospel. The children have especially absorbed the Bible stories. It is a joy to see their interest and awe in the stories they have never heard before.

What are some things you are praying will happen at Friendship over the next year?

I am praying for God to use the apartment ministry and our food pantry to reach more people and that they will come to know Jesus. I am also praying God will send committed families to our church that are called to join us in the work of reaching our community. I am also praying God will strengthen our members and give them energy and passion to keep working to reach the community around us. They work hard, and I pray God will allow them to see some of the results of their labor.

What are some of the challenges of being a pastor’s wife others may not recognize?

I laugh when I am asked this question. I grew up as a pastor’s kid and said I would never marry a pastor. Despite being in a wonderful home with parents who sheltered me and my brother from many church difficulties, I saw challenges that I didn’t care to have. God has a sense of humor! One of the challenges others may not recognize is the loneliness of the pastor’s wife. So often it seems she has many friends because she interacts with many people, but the reality is that the pastor’s wife has few close friends with whom she can be completely open and honest. Another challenge is the assumption she knows everything about the church and its members. She does not. Another of the greatest challenges facing the small church pastor’s wife is weariness. She holds many responsibilities, some chosen and some by default. She often works outside the home while still fulfilling church and family responsibilities.

What’s the best piece of advice you have received about your calling?

In the midst of an extremely difficult time of ministry, my father said to me, “Don’t miss what God has for you, even in this.” I have tried to heed that advice in all circumstances—good, bad, hard, easy, etc. That is also advice I have passed on to others, especially fellow pastors’ wives. No matter what season we are in, God has something for us. If we aren’t focused on Him, we will miss it.

How can SBTC churches be praying for you, your church, and your ministry?

Pray that God will give us strength, energy, and passion to continue outreach efforts, and that God will direct us in those efforts. It is our prayer to experience growth through new believers, be a positive light in our community, strengthen the body we have, and glorify God.

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The power of small things

We recently had a small crisis at our house: The adhesive glue that bonds our kitchen sink to the countertop stopped adhering, causing the sink to collapse down into the cabinet below and severing the drain pipe in the process. Repairs were delayed for several days due to the lingering effects of the January ice storm, which brought with it below-freezing temperatures for nearly 80 straight hours.

The sunk sink—which left us washing dishes in a bathtub for several days—wasn’t the only problem. We still needed to drip that kitchen faucet to keep the pipes from freezing. Since the dripping water had no way to drain, we decided to catch it in a large, plastic storage container that we would just have to empty every few hours.

Dumping that container in the mornings after the faucet had been dripping all night was an especially loathsome task. The water would slosh back and forth and, despite my best efforts, splash over the edge of the container and onto the living room floor as I awkwardly shuffled to the bathroom tub to empty it.

But each time I poured out that water, something occurred to me. The container, now half full and heavy, started with a single drop. And then another. And then another … until it was something much more formidable.

Yes, you know where I’m going with this. You should. We all should. It’s not rocket science. We know the little things add up. And yet somehow, I continually forget this. I want what I want, and I want it now. I want more money in savings. I want to lose a few pounds. I want to read more books. Unfortunately, now only comes in one size, and it’s not little drops.

It’s March, which means for many, the goals and resolutions set at the end of December (or on the morning of Jan. 1) have long been forgotten. When this happens to me, I look back and realize some of the goals I set at the beginning of the year weren’t as important as I once thought. But others do matter and I want to reclaim them. My sink crisis served as yet another God-given reminder that finding momentum to accomplish my goals and dreams begins not with a downpour, but with a few small drops. It’s a dollar in savings. It’s one less fast food meal. It’s setting a 10-minute timer to finally start chipping away at the book I bought two years ago. These things add up.

I can’t help but think about God’s Word. For many of us, it feels as unwieldy as trying to walk with a sloshing container full of water. The Bible covers thousands of years of human history and parts can be difficult to understand. And yet, it’s miraculously simple and accessible to anybody.

We don’t talk about this much, but churches are full of people who are ashamed of what they perceive as their lack of biblical knowledge, and they’re scared to death someone will ask them a question they might not be able to answer. I suppose that’s just where Satan wants us—intimidated, tentative, and distant from God and His truth.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. The reality is, God’s Word is for you. Not just the scholars. Not just the experts. It’s for you.

All you’ve got to do to start owning that truth is to drip the faucet. God will provide the increase.

Caring for Europe’s seniors turns crisis into gospel opportunity

European streets and sidewalks still bustle with a young generation that is growing through immigration. However, more and more neighborhoods are filled with senior citizens. Many local populations are aging rapidly. Birth rates are falling. Migration is bringing in fresh faces, yet the continent’s native population is slipping into the senior bracket faster than any other region on the planet.

This is on the mind of Josh Cobb, an International Mission Board missionary who is a physician assistant and serves the IMB as a health strategy coach for Europe. He knows what the World Population Review is reporting, that by 2050, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and parts of Eastern Europe will rank among the top five countries in the world for elderly populations. Population Reference Bureau reports that, by percentage, 29 of the top 30 aging countries are currently found in Europe.

“Asia will have the biggest numbers, but Europe isn’t far behind,” Cobb said. “In the U.K. we still see 90-year-old neighbors driving to the store, yet they live alone until the very end.”

The cultural truth, Cobb explained, is that many European societies venerate their elders, but that reverence doesn’t always translate into practical care. In parts of Western Europe, older adults live alone, enjoying hard-won independence that can quickly turn into isolation. In Eastern Europe, multigenerational homes still exist, but even there the rhythm of daily life can leave the oldest family members out of sight.

Cobb splits his time between trauma therapy for young clients and counseling for aging adults who have slipped through the cracks.

“You have people with a lifetime of stories, of wisdom, now living in quiet apartments, sometimes Deaf, sometimes with a mind that slips,” Cobb described. “Their families are busy with grandchildren; their own identities evaporate as they shift from providers to dependents.”

He spoke of the mental health fallout—depression, anxiety, even suicidality—that can accompany the loss of purpose, and of the caregiver burden that weighs down adult children who feel guilty for wanting their own lives. “It’s a battle of guilt versus self-preservation,” he said, “and it’s exhausting.”

What may appear to be a lament is Cobb expressing a hidden opportunity for sharing the gospel. He sees caring for Europe’s elderly as a strategic opening for both health and spiritual outreach.

Missions through health strategy is for missionaries and volunteers to come to Europe as physical therapists, nutritionists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists with gospel-centered conversation tools.

“Loneliness and yearning for meaning among seniors create a fertile ground for the good news of Jesus,” Cobb said. “Even a brief moment of compassionate listening can become a bridge to deeper spiritual conversations.”

With the U.S. having a growing number of professionals experienced in elder care, Cobb proposed creating healthcare missions teams at IMB’s MedAdvance conference that could travel to Europe. These teams would offer resources and run workshops, which would include sessions on safe home modifications and caregiver burnout prevention. He mentioned partnering with existing organizations such as Still Me, a dementia ministry where Cobb lives in England, that could benefit from healthcare missions.

Cobb has met with other health strategists, looking to integrate elder care into existing IMB training. He believes an effective approach is being aware of seniors nearby and engaging them in conversation.

“If you see a senior alone, go talk to them and ask how you can help,” Cobb said.

Europe’s demographic shift is not just a statistic; it is a human story of lives that have built communities now declining toward solitude. By weaving together clinical expertise, spiritual compassion and strategic partnerships, a hidden crisis could turn into a visible ministry.

Pray for those involved in healthcare missions to reach those in need of elder care. Ask the Lord to raise up skilled healthcare workers to serve in Europe and other regions with large aging populations who would share the gospel through compassionate care.