Lone Star Scoop

By Michael Foust
February 2, 2022

SBTC DR upcoming trainings

Would you like to be trained as an SBTC Disaster Relief volunteer? Only volunteers who are Southern Baptist and trained with a completed background check are able to deploy with SBTC DR units. SBTC Disaster Relief Phase 1 training is for individuals who desire to be the hands and feet of Christ after a disaster strikes. SBTC Disaster Relief meets real needs and shares the good news of hope through Jesus Christ with those impacted by disasters. Trainings offered at this event will give you an orientation into DR ministry and help you to safely work after disasters such as floods, fires and tornados. Phase 2 training prepares credentialed DR volunteers for leadership positions. See sbtexas.com/disaster-relief/dr-training-schedule for a complete list. Online training options are also available. 2022 in-person and online trainings

March 5, 2022: Intro to DR & Phase 1 Training (Spring Baptist Church)
April 22, 2022: Intro to DR & Phase 1 Training (First Baptist Church Linden)
August 13, 2022: EQUIP conference
October 22, 2022: Intro to DR & Phase 1 Ministry Areas Training (Calvary Baptist Church, Beaumont)

Phase 1 Intro to DR, mass feeding and recovery trainings are also available online at sbtexas.com/disaster-relief/phase-1-online-training. SOURCE: SBTC

Developing leaders and volunteers listed as pastors’ greatest need

The desire to develop leaders and volunteers within the church is the greatest need of America’s pastors, according to a new survey by Lifeway Research that asked ministers about their biggest challenges.

A total of 77 percent of U.S. Protestant pastors listed “developing leaders and volunteers” as a need, according to the poll, which involved interviews with 1,000 U.S. pastors for Lifeway’s 2022 “Greatest Needs of Pastors” study.

Two other needs were listed by at least 75 percent of pastors: “fostering connections with unchurched people” (76 percent) and “people’s apathy or lack of commitment” (75 percent).

Fourteen other needs in the survey were listed by a majority of pastors. They were:

72%

Consistency in personal prayer

69%

Friendships and fellowship with others

68%

Training current leaders and volunteers

68%

Consistency of Bible reading not related to sermon or teaching preparation

66%

Trusting God

64%

Relationships with other pastors

64%

Consistency in taking a sabbath

63%

Stress

63%

Personal disciple-making

61%

Confessing and repenting from personal sin

59%

Consistency exercising

55%

Avoiding overcommitment and over-work

55%

Challenging people where they lack obedience

51%

Time management

“The number and breadth of needs pastors are currently facing is staggering,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “… Clearly, pastors are not looking for shortcuts and are taking their roles as spiritual leaders in their church seriously.”

SOURCE: Lifeway Research

Krum church celebrates member’s 60 years of service: ‘a treasure to our congregation’

Plainview Baptist Church recently celebrated a church member who has been part of the church for more than six decades and has served alongside more than four dozen pastors. Annetta Schflitt is the longest-serving member at PBC, having been part of the congregation for more than 60 years while serving as church clerk and hostess for most of that time. The church itself is 128 years old. “She faithfully served our church for almost half of its existence,” Plainview Baptist pastor Tim Robinson said. Servants like Schflitt within a church are rare, Robinson said. “Her record-keeping was impeccable. She kept highly detailed records of baptisms, weddings, minutes of business meetings, vote counts, and other pertinent information. … I’ve been a pastor for almost 40 years and it has been difficult to get people to stay committed for six months—she served for more than half a century for the same church.” Schflitt, who moved to Krum in 1955, said she’s seen “over 50 pastors come and go.” “Miss Annetta is a treasure to our congregation and our community of Krum,” Robinson said. SOURCE: FBC Krum

Euless church’s building project is paid off: ‘God Is good’

A $19.6 million building campaign is paid in full thanks to what its pastor calls the goodness of God. Cross City Church in Euless announced in January its Generations Project was paid for after members donated $9.6 million to a capital campaign. That money, combined with $9 million received from a sold property and $2 million from cash reserves, allowed the project to surpass its goal. Members approved the Generations Project during a 2019 business meeting. “The project is paid for. We have no doubt at all,” pastor John Meador told members at a recent Sunday morning service. The Generations Project included the construction of a new students and kids area and a new commons space. It also included a new guest entrance and two covered entrances. The project was successful despite spanning a world-changing pandemic, Meador noted. The church closed its doors for 11 weeks in 2020. “I would not be shooting straight with you if I didn’t tell you I was worried a little bit during those 11 to 12 weeks,” Meador said. “… Looking back. I can only say God is good. God is wise. And God did an amazing thing during that period of time. It was incredible.” SOURCE: CrossCity.Church