Tag: Trending

Five minutes with Samantha Calimbahin

A true pastor’s kid, Samantha Calimbahin got looped into ministry early. At age 12, she began serving on the worship team at Caprock Church in Arlington, where she played piano and guitar while singing backup vocals. By age 20, she assumed the role of worship leader and continues to lead Caprock’s music ministry. Calimbahin has a degree in journalism with a music minor. In addition to leading worship at Caprock, she works in marketing for a large healthcare provider. She also releases and performs her own music.

What’s one victory in Caprock’s worship ministry you have experienced recently?

One thing I’d consider a success is the stability of our current team. Having been in this ministry since age 12, I’ve seen many musicians and worship leaders come and go for various reasons. Our current band, though, has been the same four people for several years now. It’s a stability we haven’t really experienced before, and it’s a blessing. In addition to me, our team consists of a pianist, a guitarist, and a drummer who’ve all been faithful, available, and understanding of the purpose behind our performance.

What’s one challenge you are facing?

Being a small church with a small praise team, we don’t have the same resources you may find at larger churches. We don’t have in-ear monitors, backing tracks, or fancy lights. We don’t even have a bass player. But we have a big heart for worshiping the Lord! And that’s what matters most.

What’s one thing you are praying will happen in your ministry over the coming year?

While I’m grateful for the stability of our team, I still hope we’ll be able to grow. I’d love to add some backup vocalists, especially people I can trust to take over if I get sick or go out of town. And, of course, we’d love a good bass player. I’d also like to see our team continue to build on our current talents and “play skillfully,” as Psalm 33 says. Even though I’ve been doing this since I was a kid, I still feel like I have a lot to learn. 

What’s one lesson you’ve learned to this point of your life and ministry you know you’ll never forget?

You’re not that big of a deal [laughs]. It’s true. Church musicians are probably among the most susceptible to developing an ego. When you’re up there playing music on a stage, it’s easy to fall into that feeling like you’re some kind of rock star. Or even feeling like you’re so anointed and good at ushering the Holy Spirit. Trust me, it’s not cute. It’s a dangerous way of thinking that can lead to a person’s downfall very quickly. I have to constantly remind myself that I’m only up here by the grace of God—that I have an audience of one.

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

Please pray for the continued faithfulness of our current team, that we grow both musically and spiritually. If it’s God’s will, please pray we can add more members who are not just talented but also committed and understand what worship is all about. Please also pray for financial provision to improve our equipment, media, and other resources needed to enhance our ministry.

El ministerio de adoración se convierte en la puerta de entrada para la próxima generación en iglesia del sur de Texas 

Antes de entregar su vida a Cristo, el camino de Fernando, de 17 años, estuvo lleno de lucha, dolor y confusión. Criado por su madre, una mujer soltera y trabajadora después de que su padre se marchara, él se metió en problemas, enredado en drogas y comportamientos destructivos.  

“Iba camino de la muerte, pero Dios me habló, diciendo: ‘No he terminado contigo’”, recureda Fernando. “Él me dio otra oportunidad de vivir y de compartir Su Palabra”.  

La segunda oportunidad de Fernando comenzó cuando su madre desesperada lo llevó a una iglesia, la Iglesia Esperanza, en dónde los estudios bíblicos juveniles de los miércoles por la noche le abrieron el corazón al evangelio. A través de esas enseñanzas, Fernando se dio cuenta de que Dios lo estaba llamando a la transformación. Aceptó a Cristo como su Salvador, fue bautizado por el pastor Rey Cantú y encontró una nueva familia en la iglesia.  

  Una de las figuras más influyentes en el caminar cristiano de Fernando ha sido Randy Cantú, el hijo del pastor y ahora líder de jóvenes en la Iglesia Esperanza. Randy fue un director creativo publicitario de alto nivel, teniendo una exitosa carrera trabajando en grandes marcas y elaborando campañas de mercadeo.  

Pero en el 2024, se enfrentó a una decisión crucial. Después de años sintiéndose distante de la iglesia y luchando con su propósito, el llamado de Dios se hizo innegable. Le ofrecieron un trabajo lucrativo, pero lo rechazó, escogiendo en su lugar dedicar su vida al ministerio.  

“Tenía una elección”, dijo Randy. “Seguir subiendo en la escala corporativa o seguir el llamado de Dios. Yo sabía que Él me estaba llamando a algo más grande”.  

Randy se reconectó por primera vez con el ministerio ayudando con la adoración en la iglesia de sus padres, en dónde notó a algunos jóvenes profundamente involucrados en la música. Al ver su pasión, comenzó a enseñarles a tocar instrumentos, formulando vínculos que se extendieron más allá de la adoración.  

Este pequeño acto de mentoría pronto se convirtió en algo más grande.  

“Vi cuánto se conectaban a través de la música, y me di cuenta de que Dios me estaba llamando a invertir en ellos”, dijo Randy.  

Las simples lecciones de música se convirtieron en un profundo cuidado, ya que Randy comenzó a dirigir estudios bíblicos y a ser mentor de jóvenes que necesitaban desesperadamente orientación. Su enfoque para discipular a los jóvenes es práctico. Él no sólo los guía en la fe, sino que también invierte en sus vidas enseñándoles música, pasando tiempo con ellos en eventos escolares y simplemente estando presente.  

Pastor Rey Cantú ora por un grupo de jóvenes durante un reciente servicio de adoración en la iglesia.  FOTO COMPARTIDA

“Cada joven es diferente”, dice Randy. “Me tomo tiempo para descubrir cuál es su pasión. Para algunos, es la música. Para otros, los deportes. Los veo jugar, los llevo a pescar, juego baloncesto con ellos. Quiero que sepan que me importan más allá de la iglesia”.  

La dedicación de Randy ha llevado a un floreciente ministerio juvenil. Lo que comenzó con sólo tres jóvenes en la escuela secundaria se ha convertido en un grupo vibrante de 20, muchos de los cuales sirven activamente en el ministerio de adoración de la iglesia. Fernando, que una vez fue un adolescente perdido, ahora toca el bajo en los servicios de adoración, aprovechando su talento para glorificar a Dios y animar a otros jóvenes.  

“Dios me ha permitido servirle a través de la música”, dijo el adolescente. “Mi vida es mucho mejor ahora. Tengo dificultades, sí, pero confío en que Dios me ayudará a superar cualquier cosa”.  

El impacto de este movimiento juvenil se extiende más allá de los muros de la iglesia. A principios de este año, la Iglesia Esperanza organizó un servicio de jóvenes que atrajo a más de 50 jóvenes, un número significativo para su comunidad. Muchos se pasaron al frente para oración y 30 aceptaron a Cristo o volvieron a dedicarle su vida, mostrando evidencia de cómo Dios se está moviendo los corazones.  

“Me tomo tiempo para descubrir cuál es su pasión. Para algunos, es la música. Para otros, los deportes. Los veo jugar, los llevo a pescar. ... Quiero que sepan que me importan más allá de la iglesia”.

El ministerio de jóvenes se está volviendo más estructurado, eligiendo una directiva de jóvenes. Los estudiantes han escogido a Fernando como presidente del grupo. Randy dijo que Fernando está ardiendo por Dios, guiando a sus compañeros con pasión. Es una pasión que Randy quiere ver extenderse más allá de los muros de la iglesia.  

“Queremos que no sólo sean espiritualmente maduros, sino también que estén preparados para la vida”, dijo Randy.  

La misión de la Iglesia Esperanza es llevar amor y esperanza a los hogares rotos, y esa visión se está haciendo realidad a través de sus jóvenes. No sólo asisten a la iglesia, sino que se están convirtiendo en discípulos, guiando a otros y viviendo el Evangelio.  

“Estoy orgulloso de ellos”, dijo Randy entre lágrimas. “Muchos de estos jóvenes nunca han escuchado palabras de afirmación en casa. Por eso me aseguro de que sepan [diciéndoles]: ‘Te quiero. Estoy orando por ti. Dios está contigo’”.  

A través del liderazgo fiel de Randy y el compromiso de jóvenes creyentes como Fernando, la Iglesia Esperanza está siendo testigo de un mover de Dios entre la próxima generación, uno que está cambiando vidas y dando forma al futuro de la iglesia.  

“Dios tiene un plan para mí”, dijo Fernando. “Él me habla de muchas maneras, y sé que puedo superar cualquier cosa con el poder de Su Espíritu Santo”.  

In the UK, a promising development: more young people are interested in Jesus, the Bible

NASHVILLE (BP)—A curiosity about Scripture and God may be one of the leading factors behind a study that claims a “quiet revival” is expanding among young people in the United Kingdom, said an International Mission Board leader.

“In churches across society something amazing is happening, challenging long-held predictions about the future of Christianity in the 21st century,” said the report produced by the UK-based Bible Society. “Where once we saw aging congregations and a steady decline in attendance, we see dramatic growth, led by the young.”

That growth is showing among several key findings from the study.

  • An increase in church attendance among 18-24-year-olds from 4% in 2018 to 16% in 2024, with young men’s attendance jumping from 4% to 21%.
  • Among churchgoers, 67% read the Bible at least weekly, up from 54% in 2018. Bible reading has doubled from 6 to 12% in England and Wales.
  • A more diverse church has emerged, with 19% of churchgoers part of an ethnic minority. Among 18-54-year-olds, that figure rises to 32%.

Kenny Dubnick, the IMB’s European People’s Affinity cluster leader for the UK and Ireland, said most of the study’s findings reflect his own observations and those of other IMB personnel.

“On the whole, we are seeing an interest in spiritual matters, including Christianity, among 18-24-year-olds,” he told Baptist Press. “They are not necessarily interested in ‘church’ or religion, but in spirituality and Christ’s teachings. For many, they are initially often suspicious and cynical towards religion and the church, but not Jesus.”

Those observations generated changes in how to share the gospel.

“One of our primary evangelistic practices is to invite people to study the Bible,” said Dubnick. “Sometimes this is done in a formal gathering of 10 to 15 people who meet once a week for dinner and a Bible study.”

Those studies typically begin with about seven weeks of going through the gospel of Mark and usually meet in a home, pub, or community center. Those early gatherings are more informal, as missionaries meet almost weekly with individuals for one-on-one Bible study.

The American Bible Society, a separate organization whose founding was influenced by its UK counterpart, recently reported a similar growth in Scripture engagement among men.

Although women are still more engaged with the Bible, men are more likely to be “Bible-curious” and have surged in their Bible-reading practices from 34% in 2024 to 41% now. What’s more, Millennial men reported a 25% increase from in Bible use last year, while Gen X men reported a 29% increase.

Dubnick’s observations match the UK study’s findings on diversity and immigration. Christians arriving from elsewhere have helped spur church growth.

“We trust that the Spirit is bringing believers to the UK to spread the gospel among the Brits,” he said. “The UK was once a missionary-sending nation. Now, it is a missionary-receiving one.”

The UK study also put forward what it called “a clear difference between church-going and non-churchgoing Christians.” Namely, fewer Britons see themselves as Christians “by default.”

In 2018, 32% identified as Christians even though they didn’t regularly go to church. That number dropped to 27% in the recent study while reflecting increasing desires for discipleship and Bible study.

That mirrors Dubnick’s observations.

“In my 18 years serving in the UK and Ireland, every person I’ve seen come to faith in Jesus has done so via studying the Bible,” he said. “People are not interested in church or organized religion, but the Bible and Jesus are topics they are more willing to engage with.”

The latest report on Southern Baptist engagement indicates something similar.

While church membership continued a downward trend, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination recorded the highest number of baptisms in seven years. That came with increases in total worship attendance as well as small group or Sunday School participation.

“The Quiet Revival” also reported a deep desire “for meaning, order and belonging.”

“With the normalization of Christianity in culture, and the confidence and comfort of Christian friends to share their own faith experience, a large number of young adults now appear to be looking towards the Church as a space for finding healing and community as well as a deeper sense of meaning in their life,” it said.

Those thoughts reflect the Global Flourishing Study released on May 1 by Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“Most of the countries that reported high overall composite flourishing may not have been rich in economic terms, but they tended to be rich in friendships, marriages, and community involvement—especially involvement in religious communities,” wrote the study’s authors.

The report also described young people as “struggling” in terms of mental health, with flourishing scores staying consistent from 18-49 years of age before showing stages of increase.

Matthew Spandler-Davison, a Kentucky Baptist pastor still heavily involved in ministry in his native Scotland, noted the encouraging signs of the UK study while calling for discernment and a “need to look beyond the surface.”

“In some of our church plants in Scotland, we have seen a growing group of teenagers interested and curious about the church,” he said. “However, many of them are navigating a syncretism in their belief and worldview. They’re piecing together their worldview from various voices, including online and social media influencers.”

The result is an amalgamation of different beliefs, with Jesus sprinkled in. This points to the ongoing importance of discipleship.

“It’s a gift to have them with us, but the exclusivity of Christ—that He alone is the way, the truth and the life—is a real stumbling block for some,” Spandler-Davison said. “We may see some drift away in the coming year if we are not clear about the claims of Jesus and the call to a life of repentance and faith in Christ alone.”

As in America, there are also long-held associations with organized religion keeping many from the church. White, working-class men in particular, said Dubnick, view the Church of England as the “Religion of the Royals” and are thus disconnected from it in almost every way.

There are others, though, such as many Anglican churches that are “doing a good job in contextualizing the gospel to the working classes.”

“These Anglican churches are committed to sharing the gospel in urban-deprived communities,” he said. “We are thankful for these Anglican brothers and sisters. The work is a marathon and not a sprint, but the Lord is at work!”

This article originally appeared in Baptist Press.

For Peoples, passion for special needs equipping ministry is personal

When Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Ph.D. student Sandra Peoples recognized God’s call to ministry in her life as a teenager, she knew it was a call to discipleship and specifically women’s ministry. Little did she know at the time that God would use the special needs ministry of her family’s church to shape her calling.

Peoples was born in Oklahoma and grew up going to First Baptist Church in Duncan, where she was part of the fourth generation in her family that had been faithful members, volunteers, and leaders in the church.

Peoples recalls praying in her bedroom when she was seven years old with her mother, confessing her sins and her need for Jesus. From that early age, Peoples said she “saw the importance of plugging in and being part of a church family and serving with our gifts.”

While still a teenager, Peoples began to have the opportunity to use her gifts to help lead Bible studies for other girls and was also mentored by youth and children’s leaders. But while she was being invested in by other women, Peoples said the church had another lasting impact on her life in how they cared for her family and specifically her sister Sybil, who had Down syndrome.

Peoples said their church provided disability programs that supported her family as well as four other families. Of those families, Peoples said four of them now have siblings of the special needs members serving in full-time ministry.

“I just think about how if that church hadn’t accepted Sybil and welcomed her, then I couldn’t have attended either, and that really would have changed our family for generations, potentially,” Peoples said. “It certainly would have made it harder for us to love Jesus and love the church. So that church was a real gift to my family and to the families that attended.”

Peoples attended Hardin-Simmons for her undergraduate, taught for a year in Dallas, and then went to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she met and married her husband Lee and had their first son. She was pregnant with their second son when she graduated with her Master of Divinity in Women’s Studies in 2007.

Upon graduating, Peoples began to lead women’s Bible studies and disciple other believers while her husband pastored. But in 2010, while they were living in Pennsylvania, their son James was diagnosed with autism, and they realized that the small church they were a part of, and many other Baptist churches in the nation, did not have programs and resources in place that would help their family and other special needs families. While she had grown up in a special needs family and in a church that supported families such as theirs, Peoples faced the realization that not all churches had that available to the congregation.

“What I had kind of taken for granted growing up wasn’t available to me as a mom,” Peoples said, adding that reality led to her “wanting to make churches more accessible and inclusive.”

Peoples’s husband spent time pastoring in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, and for the past 10 years in the Houston area, where Lee has pastored Heights Baptist Church in Alvin, Texas, for eight years. At each church, Peoples and her family helped create programs that would ensure their son and others could receive the discipleship opportunities they needed.

In 2021, she began working for the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention (SBTC) as their disability ministry consultant, SBTC being the first Baptist state convention to have that position, working closely with and for Karen Kennemur, Southwestern’s professor of children’s ministry and children’s and family ministry associate with the SBTC.

In working with the SBTC, Peoples has the opportunity to travel and provide training, visiting churches and assessing what their needs are as they provide a place for families with special needs to worship and fellowship.

In 2022, Peoples decided to continue her education at Southwestern as a Ph.D. student with Kennemur as her supervisor.

“When I thought about getting my PhD, Southwestern was at the top of my list,” Peoples said, adding the online options were especially a blessing. “… I love the family ministry and generational studies area. It fits so well with my passion of inclusion for special needs families. So it really was just the perfect fit at the perfect time.”

Peoples said she has enjoyed the family ministry degree program at Southwestern, which has led her to look at her own experiences through a biblical lens, asking questions such as what discipleship looked like in the early church and the Old Testament, and to consider how families might have participated in the church.

“All of that has been really interesting to think through and then apply to our context,” Peoples said, adding she has enjoyed her classes and learning with her classmates.

Peoples said her Southwestern education has also helped her as she teaches classes at Liberty University on disability ministry, leading her to look at that ministry as discipleship for the entire family.

“We’re not just talking about programs for a kid with disabilities; we’re really talking about holistic discipleship, and how a church welcoming somebody with a disability allows their entire family to attend,” Peoples said.

Using her experiences of training churches, consulting with the SBTC, teaching at Liberty, and even joining churches that did not have resources available to her own family, Peoples authored Accessible Church: A Gospel-Centered Vision for Including People with Disabilities and Their Families, set for a July 1 release through Crossway.

Peoples said the catalyst for the book was hearing from so many churches asking the same questions about disability ministry and believing “that they’re starting from scratch because there just aren’t a lot of resources out there.”

The book looks at elements of disability ministry, including how it fits with other ministries of the church, how to disciple an individual with disabilities, and how to make the proclamation of the Gospel priority in that ministry. Specifically, Peoples said her studies at Southwestern led her to write the book focusing on ministering to the entire family, not just in the children’s ministry or to the individual with a disability.

“How do we support the whole family in our churches?” Peoples said of what sets her book apart from others. “And then how do we make sure that we’re building ministries that meet people with disabilities at every age and stage, because we don’t want the inclusion to end when they’re done with children’s ministry, or even done with youth, next-gen ministry.”

Peoples said this book is to help churches of all sizes, but that it is also more than just a how-to book as it looks at the theology of disability and what the Scriptures say about disabilities. She said leaders of any area of church ministry could benefit from the information.

In her studies at Southwestern, her writing, and her teaching, Peoples said “my goal is always just to help churches, [to] do that however I can as a pastor’s wife and as a consultant and as a professor, all these ways. The goal is just to make churches stronger and to help them, especially as they reach special needs families and people with disabilities.”

Easter remains high attendance day for most churches, study shows

Most pastors are expecting one of their largest crowds on Easter, but those expectations have tempered some in the past decade.

The three highest-attendance Sundays for pastors—Easter, Christmas and Mother’s Day—have remained the same since 2011, but each is now less likely to be among the top days, according to a Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors.

“While many churches consider high attendance as something from their pre-pandemic past, seasonal changes have resumed,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Church attendance is predictable again with periods of consistency in the fall and early spring, as well as holiday crowds at Christmas and Easter.”

Today, 90% of pastors identify Easter as the day their church has its highest, second-highest, or third-highest attendance for worship service. Four in 5 (81%) say the same for Christmas, and 51% identify Mother’s Day. But fewer pastors point to high attendance on those three days compared to 2011. Easter, down from 93% to 90%, and Christmas, down from 84% to 81%, dropped three percentage points, while Mother’s Day fell eight points from 59% to 51%. A day the church designates to invite friends is the only day to have a statistically significant increase in the past decade, climbing from 14% in 2011 to 20% in 2024.

An additional study finds several of the top days for church attendance are among U.S. Protestant churchgoers’ favorite holidays to celebrate.

Easter Sunday gatherings

More than half of U.S. Protestant pastors (52%) identify Easter as the day their church typically has its highest attendance for worship services, statistically unchanged from the 55% who said the same in 2011. Another 30% say Easter is the second most attended day at their congregation, while 8% identify it as the third-highest-attendance worship service.

“On any given Sunday, a large minority of a congregation may not be present for worship,” said McConnell. “Easter is the day when the most church members get to church—and for a good reason: No other theme is as profound to a Christian than celebrating that they died with Christ and as Jesus was raised to life, so too Christians are now alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Pastors of churches that exceed 100 attendees are more likely than small church pastors to say Easter is one of the highest attended services, if not the highest, at their churches. Those at churches with 250 or more for an average weekend worship service (67%) and those with 100 to 249 (60%) are more likely than pastors at churches with 50 to 99 on average (51%) and those with fewer than 50 (44%) to say Easter is their highest-attendance service of the year. Additionally, those at churches that average 100-249 for worship services (93%) and those at churches with 250 or more (98%) are more likely than pastors of churches with attendance of less than 50 (87%) to rank Easter in their top three high-attendance days.

Non-denominational pastors are more likely than Presbyterian/Reformed pastors to have their largest crowds on Easter (64% vs. 45%). Also, Lutherans (98%) and Methodists (95%) are more likely to have Easter near the top than Presbyterian/Reformed (87%), Pentecostal (84), or Restorationist Movement pastors (78%).

Among churchgoers, Easter ranks third among their favorite holidays to celebrate (10%). Those who attend worship services at least four times a month are more likely than those who attend one to three times a month to pick Easter (14% v. 5%). Also, churchgoers with evangelical beliefs are more likely than those without to choose the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection (13% vs. 6%).

Christmas crowds

Perhaps unsurprisingly, U.S. Protestant pastors say Christmas is also one of their most well-attended services. More than a quarter (28%) say they typically have their highest attendance for worship services as they celebrate the birth of Jesus, statistically unchanged from 29% in 2011. Around 2 in 5 (39%) point to Christmas as the second in their attendance rankings, while 14% place it third.

“Pastors may have been thinking of different types of worship services for Christmas since the question did not specify a Sunday morning or weekend worship service,” said McConnell. “Different churches have different traditional Christmas celebrations that may not land on December 25. The largest attendance may be on Christmas Eve, the nearest Sunday or the day of a concert.”

Mainline pastors are more likely than their evangelical counterparts to identify Christmas as their best-attended service (35% v. 26%). Protestant pastors in the Northeast are also more likely than those in the South to have Christmas at the top of their attendance rankings (33% v. 24%).

Additionally, pastors in the Midwest are more likely than those in the South to have Christmas in their top three (84% vs. 78%). The largest churches, those 250 or more, are more likely than the smallest churches, fewer than 50 in attendance, to say Christmas is one of their three most well-attended services (89% v. 79%).

Christmas is by far the favorite holiday of Protestant churchgoers (63%), but those at the smallest churches are least likely to agree. Those attending churches with weekly worship services that average 500 or more (69%), 100 to 249 (69%) and 50 to 99 (63%) are more likely than those at churches with fewer than 50 (53%) to say Christmas is their favorite holiday to celebrate.

Mother’s Day visits

While pastors identify Christmas and Easter as far and away their highest-attendance seasons, Mother’s Day remains the clear third, despite dropping in popularity in the past decade. Few Protestant pastors say Mother’s Day is their highest (6%) or second-highest attendance day (14%), but a plurality (31%) point to the holiday as their third highest.

African American pastors are more likely than white pastors to say they have their highest attendance for a Mother’s Day service (12% v. 5%). They are also more likely than white pastors to rank the holiday in their top three (66% v. 49%). Additionally, pastors 65 and older (55%) are among the most likely to say Mother’s Day is one of their three highest attendance services.

Non-denominational pastors (64%), Baptists (59%), Restorationist Movement pastors (59%) and Pentecostals (54%) are more likely than Presbyterian/Reformed (39%) and Lutheran pastors (30%) to place Mother’s Day in their top three.

Other days

U.S. Protestant pastors say the other days that make their three highest-attendance services include a day the church designates to invite friends (20%), homecoming or anniversary of the church’s founding (18%), Fourth of July (3%) and Father’s Day (3%). Around 1 in 8 say part of their top three includes no particular Sunday (12%).

Around a quarter of pastors (22%) said another specific day. The top choices offered among those included Thanksgiving, Palm Sunday, a baptism service, Reformation Day, Confirmation Sunday, Christmas Eve and All Saints Day. Each of those had fewer than 3% mention them.

The special day to invite friends is the only day that saw significant growth since 2011, with 20% of pastors now including it in their top three, compared to 14% in 2011. The special friend day is more popular in the Northeast (29%) than the Midwest (18%) and South (17%). Pentecostals (32%) are among the most likely to include this as part of their three highest-attended services. Pastors at churches with an average attendance of 250 or more are among the least likely (11%).

“Only the most visible church in the community is likely to get visitors who simply appear at church on Christian holidays,” said McConnell. “People who don’t think of themselves as Christians or who do not have a church typically need a personal invitation before they will show up at a church. Many are open to these invitations, as evidenced by higher attendance when they are emphasized.”

Large churches are also among the least likely to say homecoming or the anniversary of the church’s founding is one of their most popular services (8%). For African American (33%) and Baptist pastors (28%), however, this is more likely to be among their top three attended services.

U.S. Protestant churchgoers also have clear favorite holidays to celebrate, whether that includes a visit to church or not. Christmas (63%) and Easter (10%), along with Thanksgiving (14%) are the most popular holidays among churchgoers, followed by Halloween (4%), New Year’s Eve and Day (3%) and Independence Day (3%). Fewer choose Memorial Day (1%), Labor Day (1%), Juneteenth (1%), Columbus Day (<1%) and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (<1%), while 2% say they’re not sure.

Iglesia en Port Arthur acoge a los marginados de la comunidad

Para David quizás era usual que la gente se aleje de él, en lugar de acercarse. 

Descrito como un hombre cubierto de tatuajes y con un aspecto “aterrador”, David se presentó en la iglesia Port Arthur City el primer día que se inauguró como nueva congregación.  

Julian Martínez, el pastor de la iglesia, lo recuerda bien: David apareció con su madre y, después de que terminara el servicio esa mañana, se acercó a Martínez de forma agresiva.  

“Parecía estar drogado”, recuerda Martínez.  

Sin embargo, David regresó a la iglesia, visitando todas las semanas y, finalmente, entregando su vida a Jesucristo. Sí, ese mismo David, el hombre “aterrador”, vendedor de drogas y adicto a las drogas, había sido transformado y hecho nuevo. Ese mismo David, que apenas había puesto un pie en una iglesia, ahora sirve mano a mano con su pastor apuntando a otros hacia Cristo junto a una iglesia que lo acogió y amó desde el primer día.  

“Cuando llegué a esta iglesia, encontré la paz que necesitaba”, dijo David. “[Esta es] una congregación de personas que no me juzgaron, sino que me aceptaron y oraron por mí y mi familia”.  

“Ha sido una historia increíble verlo levantar las manos en adoración y ver su pasión por el Señor y cómo Dios ha cambiado literalmente quién es Él en tan sólo un año”, dijo Martínez.  

Gente como David es la razón por la que Martínez y su familia respondieron al llamado de Dios para fundar la Iglesia Port Arthur City—para llevar esperanza a los perdidos, a aquellos que se refugian en los rincones oscuros de una cultura en dónde muchos no se atreven a entrar.  

Martínez conoce muy bien de esos rincones.  

El pastor Julian Martínez (de pie a la derecha) se prepara para bautizar a David durante un reciente servicio de adoración.

Lo viejo hecho nuevo  

Martínez se mezcló con malas compañías a los 12 años. Empezó a consumir drogas y a llevar una vida desenfrenada. A los 15 años, su novia, Melissa, que ahora es su esposa, quedó embarazada. En su búsqueda por proveer a su familia, hizo otra mala elección, convertirse en un “coyote”, una persona que ayuda a introducir ilegalmente a otras personas en el país. A los 17 años, el ahora padre de dos hijos casi fue atrapado, lo que lo llevó a intentar cambiar su vida. Se mudó a San Angelo, pero al poco tiempo, volvió a sumergirse en la cultura de fiestas y el consumo de drogas.  

Después de vivir ese estilo de vida durante varios años, Martínez dijo que comenzó a sentir que Dios lo atraía hacia Él. Algo cambió después de que él y Melissa asistieran a la iglesia el Domingo de Resurrección en el 2001. El pecado que una vez dominó su vida ya no lo dejaba satisfecho. 

Una tía, durante una visita, comenzó a sentir que el Señor estaba obrando y comenzó a compartir el mensaje de Cristo con Julián y Melissa. Finalmente, ambos le dieron su vida a Cristo y, al poco tiempo, Martínez dijo que comenzó a sentir que Dios lo llamaba a predicar.  

Él pasó la próxima etapa de su vida estudiando teología y apologética, y más tarde, el Señor le abrió una puerta para servir primero como pastor de alabanza y luego guiando a parejas jóvenes casadas en una iglesia en Nederland, una ciudad del sureste de Texas ubicada a unas 10 millas al norte de Port Arthur. La iglesia en Nederland le brindó la oportunidad de servir eventualmente como pastor interino y luego como pastor asociado. Él permaneció allí durante ocho años, hasta que el Señor lo llamó para fundar la Iglesia Port Arthur City.  

“Un día, mientras comía tacos en un pequeño pueblo cercano al otro lado de las vías llamado Port Arthur, el Señor me llamó a plantar una iglesia”, dijo Martínez.  

Aunque está enclavado entre un grupo de pueblos rurales más pequeños, Port Arthur es muy urbano y culturalmente diverso, dijo Martínez. Una vez que Dios llamó a Martínez a plantar, dijo que se dio cuenta de inmediato de la gran necesidad que había allí de escuchar el Evangelio. La ciudad, de casi 60,000 habitantes, sólo tiene un puñado de iglesias bautistas del sur.

La Iglesia Port Arthur City trabaja para tener una fuerte presencia en la comunidad, aprovechando esas oportunidades para invitar a la gente a la iglesia y compartir el evangelio. FOTO COMPARTIDA

“Un día, mientras comía tacos en un pequeño pueblo cercano al otro lado de las vías llamado Port Arthur, el Señor me llamó a plantar una iglesia.”

‘Gente como yo’  

La Iglesia Port Arthur City abrió sus puertas el Domingo de Resurrección en el 2024. Su misión es clara: llegar a la comunidad con el evangelio de Jesucristo y hacer discípulos. La iglesia logra esto a través de esfuerzos intencionales para conectarse con las personas, repartiendo comida o camisetas junto a escuelas y negocios en eventos comunitarios. La iglesia también tiene una fuerte presencia en las redes sociales, que es como David y su familia supieron sobre la iglesia. Martínez dijo que constantemente responde mensajes en las redes sociales de personas que piden oración.  

Martínez dijo que no lo ha hecho solo. Él comparte cómo su propio pastor, Daniel Ward, quiso apoyarlo desde el principio en la plantación de una iglesia. Ward es quien puso a Martínez en contacto con Julio Arriola, director de Send Network SBTC, que trabaja con la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas para plantar iglesias en todo Texas. Una vez conectar con Send Network SBTC, Martínez pasó por un proceso formal de evaluación y capacitación antes de lanzar la iglesia.  

Ubicada en una de las calles más transitadas de Port Arthur, City Church recibe alrededor de 75 personas cada domingo, con nuevos visitantes cada semana, dijo Martínez, y señaló: “La gente sabe quiénes somos”. Él recuerda una ocasión en la que un hombre sin hogar se le acercó y le dijo: “He oído hablar de ustedes y nos alegra que estén aquí. Escuché que están tratando de llegar a personas como yo que necesitan esperanza y aliento”.  

“Por eso”, le dijo Martínez al hombre, “exactamente es que hemos venido”.

EMPOWER 2025: El récord de asistentes al evento Apoderados lanza el desafío de alcanzar más para Cristo  

LEWISVILLE—Si hubiera una palabra para resumir Apoderados, la sesión en español de la conferencia anual Empower de la Convención de los Bautistas del Sur de Texas, sería “más”.

Con poco más de 500 asistentes que representaban a 66 iglesias, Apoderados atrajo a más asistentes que nunca, lo que indica que un número cada vez mayor de iglesias hispanas de la SBTC están deseosas de estar equipadas para cumplir la Gran Comisión.

Asimismo, 150 parejas, más que en cualquier otro año, asistieron a la cena para pastores y esposas que da inicio al evento anual.

Y a lo largo del evento, celebrado del 21 al 22 de febrero en la Iglesia Bautista de Lakeland, los asistentes se enfrentaron al reto de llegar a más personas para Jesucristo.

“No todos tenemos el don de evangelismo, pero todos somos testigos”, dijo Gilberto Corredera, pastor de Prestonwood En Español, quien predicó en el evento. “El plan de salvación sigue en marcha y Dios sigue buscando al pecador. Por eso debemos seguir proclamando el evangelio”.

Además de las sesiones de predicación principales, Apoderados ofreció una sesión para jóvenes y talleres para adultos que abarcaron una amplia gama de temas, desde identificar la sana doctrina y desarrollar evangelistas hasta involucrar a múltiples culturas con el Evangelio y construir ministerios dentro de la iglesia, como el de niños, cuidado, asimilación y seguimiento. Otras sesiones se centraron en aprovechar las redes sociales como herramienta evangelizadora y llegar a la próxima generación.

Uno de los ponentes de los talleres, José Arzate, pastor de la Iglesia Northlake, dijo que la Generación Alfa se convertirá en una de las generaciones con mayor diversidad étnica de la historia. El noventa por ciento se graduará de la escuela secundaria, dijo, y el 65 % de ellos tendrá trabajos que actualmente no existen. Por eso cree que la forma más eficaz de discipular a las próximas generaciones será mediante el desarrollo de relaciones.

La cena de apertura del 21 de febrero contó con Esteban Vázquez, pastor de enseñanza y director de residencia para plantadores de Send Network en la Iglesia Bautista Champion Forest en Houston. A él se unió su esposa, Karina, que sirve en el ministerio de mujeres de la iglesia y en el programa de plantación con las esposas. La pareja compartió algunos de los errores que han cometido en el matrimonio y en el ministerio, esperando dar a la audiencia herramientas para el éxito en sus propias vidas y ministerios.

También hablaron sobre compartir las responsabilidades del hogar y cuidarse el uno al otro. Además, el pastor Vázquez enfatizó a los pastores presentes la importancia de asegurarse de que escribir los sermones cada semana y hacer trabajo ministerial no reemplace su intimidad personal con Dios.

Cuando la conferencia se reanudó el sábado 22 de febrero, Julio Arriola, director de Send Network SBTC (la asociación de plantación de iglesias de la convención con la Junta de Misiones Norteamericanas), recordó a los asistentes que Dios está levantando más trabajadores para plantar y dirigir iglesias en Texas. Aun así, él desafió a las iglesias a seguir enviando plantadores al campo misionero, ya que todavía se necesitan muchos. Arriola también presentó a Arlene Sanabria, una nueva integrante del equipo de SBTC en Español, que dirigirá la parte hispana del ministerio de mujeres de la convención.

Después de un tiempo de adoración dirigido por Diego Manosalva y el grupo La Peska, Corredera compartió un mensaje de Lucas 19:1-10 titulado «Razones para buscar a los perdidos». Él ofreció tres razones:

  1. Porque el plan redentor de Dios sigue en marcha;
  2. Porque el poder de Cristo aún está transformando vidas; y
  3. Porque el propósito de la venida de Cristo nos tiene trabajando.

Más tarde, Annel Robayna, director hispano de la Junta de Misiones Internacionales, predicó sobre Hechos 8:26-39, desafiando al pueblo de Dios a cumplir su misión. Robayna dijo que el llamado de Dios es específico en términos del lugar, el mensaje y las personas a las que Él está llamando a los creyentes para alcanzar. “Señor”, oró Robayna más tarde, “ayúdanos a estar presentes en el lugar específico en el que quieres aprovecharnos para tu misión”.

Un grupo de pastores ora por Bruno Molina durante una emotiva despedida. Molina, que ha trabajado con la SBTC durante 16 años, culmina sus funciones para convertirse en director ejecutivo de la Red Nacional Bautista Hispana. FOTO DE SBTC

Honrando a Molina

La sesión final de la conferencia fue una emotiva, ya que Bruno Molina, que ha servido a la SBTC durante 16 años, fue reconocido en su último día de servicio en la convención. Él ahora servirá a tiempo completo como director ejecutivo de la Red Nacional Bautista Hispana.

En su nuevo cargo, Molina seguirá trabajando con la SBTC y otras convenciones para conectar iglesias y proporcionar recursos para alcanzar a las naciones. Jesse Contreras, que sirve en el ministerio en español de la SBTC, compartió amables palabras sobre Molina y le agradeció sus años de servicio a la SBTC.

“Ha sido una alegría y un privilegio de toda una vida haber servido fructíferamente con el equipo de la SBTC durante los últimos 16 años”, dijo Molina. “Pido sus oraciones y colaboración ahora que dirijo la Red Nacional Bautista Hispana para alcanzar y discipular a los aproximadamente 61 millones de hispanos perdidos en EE. UU. y, a través de ellos, multiplicar los movimientos de hacer discípulos en EE. UU. y en todo el mundo. La SBTC siempre tendrá mi sincera gratitud, oraciones y apoyo”.

EMPOWER 2025: Women encouraged to embrace the ‘power of wonder’

IRVING—It began with prayer and ended with prayer.

In between, the 170 women who gathered in the upstairs ballroom at the Irving Convention Center worshipped God and learned to embrace the “power of wonder” during the women’s session of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s annual Empower Conference.

Those expecting speaker and author Marian Jordan Ellis to immediately launch into her keynote topic may have been surprised by her opening request. Ellis, founder of This Redeemed Life and women’s ministry director at Mission City Church in San Antonio, asked the moms of prodigals in the rooms to raise their hands.

“There’s no shame in that … I was [a prodigal],” Ellis said. “We are in a safe room. It’s hard to have a sheep that’s not in the fold.” With her voice cracking with emotion, she then led the room in prayer, asking the Lord to restore the prodigals.

“I am a prodigal. I am a miracle of the grace of God,” she said, beginning her story by showing a photo of her family. Marriage at 38 made her an instant mom with two stepsons; a “little miracle,” the couple’s daughter, was born five years later.

Using Psalm 107 as her text, Ellis interwove exposition with autobiography.

Born and raised in a “typical small East Texas town,” she admitted to running “as hard and far from God as possible.” At age 25, in a bar in Houston, she finally prayed what she called her first real prayer: “God, if you are real, help.”

“My sin had so clouded my vision that I didn’t know what truth was anymore,” she recalled.

But God had not given up on her. She later discovered her mother and friends had been praying for her. A coworker invited her to a large Southern Baptist church where she heard and finally understood the gospel.

David in Psalm 107 reminded the people the Lord delivered them in their distress as they cried out to Him. Likewise, Ellis’s salvation came from the same God who heard her desperate cry.

“The God of redemption restores us to what He originally meant … to be a people who glorify His name,” Ellis said.

Following her salvation, Ellis was discipled by godly women, an experience which reinforced the importance of small group Bible study and the “spiritual surgery” of the transforming power of the Word of God.

“Our identify in Christ is so important,” Ellis said. “Satan has been discipling people a long time. …When we take the Word of God and start discipling people … it transforms their minds,” resulting in a biblical worldview where believers “see the world as God sees it.”

Younger generations today experience crippling anxiety, Ellis said. Scientists are recognizing the importance of focused meditation, she said, noting that 20 minutes a day spent focused and in awe and wonder of God can rewire our minds.

“His Word heals us and delivers us,” she said. “As women, we need to learn the power of wonder … of God.”

‘Hope is a choice’

Ellis opened the afternoon’s second session with a call for women with unmet desires to raise their hands for prayer. She recalled her own days of singleness when, after becoming a Christian at age 25, she longed to meet a godly man to marry. Instead, she “was in more weddings” than she could count.

“Depression isn’t a label any of us wants to wear. Sometimes it can be like a low-grade fever. Your unmet desire is how the enemy can lead you into despair,” she said. “I would have despaired unless I believed.”

Drawing from Psalm 33, which David intended to be read to the people of God on Yom Kippur—an expectant time of the new year—Ellis spoke of faith and hope, two related yet distinct concepts.

“Faith is what happens, the choice, the decision of the will to look back on what God has done,” whereas “hope is faith activated forward,” the “confident expectation of God” based on “His person, promises, and presence,” she said.

The reading of Psalm 33 centered the nation on hope in the Lord, Ellis said.

“Praise is the password into God’s presence,” she said. Worship “drives out our anxieties and calibrates our souls to the frequency of heaven,” aligning the soul with the character of the redeemer.

Focusing on God changes reality, Ellis said, encouraging the audience that “if God has not redeemed your story, He is not done with your story.”

“When God is big, everything else is small,” she reminded the crowd. “Your God and my God is sovereign. He doesn’t say, ‘Oops.’”

“Hope is a choice,” she continued. “It’s the choice to believe what is true about the Lord. It’s the choice to look to Him as your secure one, your provider, your strength.”

Before concluding the women’s session with more prayer, SBTC women’s ministry associate Laura Taylor challenged the crowd that included women from all stages of life—from grandmothers to young mothers with infants in tow—asking, “Do we believe that? God is good. God is faithful because that is His character.”

SBTC’s Lorick lauds prayer, progress at Puerto Rico convention’s annual meeting

PEÑUELAS, Puerto Rico—God is moving in a big way on this small Caribbean island.

At its annual meeting Feb. 15, the Convention of Southern Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico heard a series of encouraging reports revealing heightened participation among its pastors and leaders, as well as with organizations such as the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

Luis Soto, executive director of the Puerto Rico convention, said affiliated churches experienced a 24% increase in baptisms, as well as increased Cooperative Program giving, during the past year. Those achievements, he said, “mark a milestone in the history of Southern Baptists in Puerto Rico, evidencing the commitment and faithfulness of our congregations.” Soto noted that representatives from 75% of the convention’s churches were present at the meeting.

In November 2022, the SBTC Executive Board voted unanimously to enter into a multiyear ministry partnership with the Puerto Rico convention, offering resources, tools, and training to strengthen existing churches on the island—roughly the size of the state of Connecticut—while also working with leaders to plant new congregations.

As a result of the partnership, Soto told the Texan the Puerto Rico convention has experienced a 30% increase in participation in its programs to train pastors and leaders, as well as a 25% increase in donations directed toward its projects supported by the SBTC over the past two years.

“The partnership with the SBTC has been incredibly fruitful,” Soto said. “We have seen an increase in collaboration and support for our initiatives, which has allowed our churches to be trained in church revitalization, providing our pastors with the tools to carry out the Great Commission.”

SBTC Executive Director Nathan Lorick spoke at the meeting, emphasizing the foundational role of prayer as a catalyst for change in Puerto Rico’s churches and cities. Lorick led a corporate time of prayer, imploring pastors and church leaders to cry out to God for revival.

“It was an honor to be with our friends at the annual meeting [in Puerto Rico],” Lorick said afterward. “My friend, Luis Soto, is doing an incredible job leading this network of churches. I am excited for the SBTC to continue ministering alongside these great churches.”

Other highlights from the meeting, hosted by Oasis of Love Baptist Church and Pastor Raúl Torres, included:

  • A report from Xavier Torrado, director of Send Puerto Rico, who highlighted God’s faithfulness over the past year and presented a plan to plant new churches this year;
  • Charles Grant, associate vice president for convention partnerships for the Southern Baptist Convention, who offered a message of encouragement and support for the Puerto Rico churches;
  • The introduction of Pastor Bryant Morales, who will coordinate efforts and resources to reach and disciple college students in Puerto Rico;
  • Recognition of Pastor Camilo Méndez, who concluded his term as president of the convention’s board of directors, as well as the unanimous election of his successor, Pastor Gil Ramos from Renacer Baptist Church in Ponce; and
  • The celebration and welcome of two new churches to the Puerto Rico convention: La Iglesia Bíblica la Comunión in Bayamón and Coram Deo Church in the town of Aguada.
SBTC Executive Director Nathan Lorick prays during the meeting. PHOTO COURTESY OF ESTEBAN DANIEL PHOTOGRAPHY

SBDR Roundtable celebrates year of ministry and innovation

SAN ANTONIO—More than 200 leaders and volunteers representing 37 Southern Baptist state conventions gathered Jan. 28-30 for the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Roundtable.

The three-day event resembled an extended reunion of family and friends, with ample opportunities for attendees to acquire advanced training in the latest DR practices. SBDR holds two national Roundtables per year, one in January and one following the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in June.

Coy Webb, Send Relief crisis response director, called the meeting a celebration following an “extremely active year of disasters” in which SBDR offered “help and hope during times of crisis.”

Continuing education to meet crises

The day before the conference opened, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention DR Director Scottie Stice and SBTC DR associate Wally Leyerle conducted a special “train the trainer” session for Alaska DR leadership.

Participants chose among training sessions on mass feeding, incident management, data reporting, and electronic asset protection. Some opted for instruction in the safe operation of man lifts and the latest methods of using ladders and tarping roofs. Others received training in shower and laundry operations or emergency first aid.

Kentucky’s Karen Smith, chair of the SBDR national feeding committee, conducted special training for a new position in DR: feeding operations chief. Stice and Leyerle, both on the national feeding committee, assisted Smith. Recent SBTC DR work in Spruce Pine, N.C., following Hurricane Helene generated discussion—the deployment followed a new model for SBDR involving a cooperative arrangement with Walmart which offered both parking lot space and support.

A Tuesday session featuring state Baptist DR directors addressed questions from last June’s Roundtable.

On Wednesday, a panel discussion among Salvation Army and SBDR representatives explored the successful cooperative relationship between the two groups in mass feeding efforts recently showcased in the response to Hurricane Helene, with Stice serving as a panelist. The current national model of cooperation between SBDR and The Salvation Army was piloted by SBTC DR and the Texas Division of The Salvation Army.

Dennis Belz, Colorado Baptist DR director, presented Resiliency in Disaster Relief, a workshop on preparing DR teams to recognize the signs of stress and trauma precipitated by disaster work.

Send Relief continuing national and international efforts

Thursday’s Roundtable featured the annual directors’ meeting, kicked off by the Send Relief report from Webb and Send Relief vice president Josh Benton.

Send Relief supports SBDR with resources, assistance in coordination and administration, national partner relations, and advocacy, the report noted. Benton highlighted some accomplishments of Send Relief in 2024:

  • 53,503 volunteers mobilized
  • 6,117 churches engaged
  • 2 million people served
  • More than 1 million people presented with the gospel
  • Supported ministry centers serving communities and saw the development of 37 affiliate ministry centers in the last 18 months

Webb offered the following SBDR-specific 2024 statistics:

  • 109 responses to disasters
  • 110,603 ministry contacts
  • 42,472 gospel presentations
  • 4,204 professions of faith
  • 120,396 volunteer days
  • 83,239 homes helped with recovery
  • 1,430,938 meals provided
  • 50,604 showers provided
  • 26,061 laundry loads washed

Praising SBDR’s work during hurricanes Helene and Milton, Webb said SBDR workers have been noticed at a national level for “consistent work in times of disaster.” Send Relief provided approximately $3 million of supplies and grants to the SBDR network for relief during Helene and Milton, he added.

SBDR workers during the 2024 hurricanes made 2,602 gospel presentations, saw 261 professions of faith, initiated 51,584 ministry contacts, served over 1 million meals, and completed 55,373 recovery jobs, Webb said.

SBDR continues to serve the survivors of Los Angeles area wildfires, with California and Arizona state teams engaged in chaplaincy and feeding. Fire clean-up is anticipated to begin this month, Webb said, noting that Send Relief is supporting DR efforts with funds and supplies.

Webb shared that over the last 12 months across the globe, Send Relief International has done some 420 projects in 78 countries, resulting in 933 new areas being opened to the gospel, impacting 1.54 million people, and involving more than 3,600 church partners. Food assistance has been provided to 686,000, and 684,000 have heard the gospel.

International aid has been provided in the Sudan, where over 40,000 have heard the gospel and 833 have come to Christ; the Middle East, where 11 new areas have been opened to the gospel and 2,400 have heard the gospel with 20 coming to faith; and Cuba, where 26 new areas have been opened to the gospel, over 943,000 have heard the gospel, and 821 have responded in faith. Send Relief has also supported relief efforts following flooding in Kenya and Brazil and wildfires in Chile.

Directors’ meeting

Following the Send Relief presentation, DR leaders heard reports from representatives of SBDR partners including Bobbi Geery and Jeff Jellets of the Salvation Army, Laurynn Myers of the Red Cross, Justin Harris of Home Depot, and April Wood and Bethany Piehl of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).

Webb introduced new state DR directors Bill LaFolette of Michigan and Keith Myer of Maryland/Delaware.

Highlights from the committee and regional reports included information on the establishment of the feeding chief position and the adoption of a new SBDR IMT manual. “These two policy matters were the most significant coming from the Roundtable,” Stice said.

Other major issues addressed included updates in financial policy and reporting, plans to develop materials offering long-term rebuilding guidance to states, technology, and regulations covering drone and UAV use during disasters.

Regional reports summarized the disasters each state faced, often involving multi-site responses.

The meeting closed with an address by Gaylon Moss, current chair of the SBDR steering committee and Missouri Baptist DR director. Moss, who also served as presiding officer of the Roundtable, urged leaders to “Hold the Net,” reminding them that SBDR is “not an entity” but a “network of Southern Baptist state conventions working together to bring help, hope, and healing to people in crisis.” Southern Baptist DR “brings order to chaos” and mobilizes people for mission,” Moss said.

SBDR will assist in Crossover events at the SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas this June, which will be followed by the second SBDR Roundtable of the year scheduled for June 12 in Grapevine at the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention offices, with SBTC DR Director Scottie Stice and SBTC DR hosting. The June 2026 Roundtable will take place in Orlando, Fla.

This article includes reporting from Baptist Press.