Author: Jayson Larson

The challenge of anger

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.

My son ought to be given a black belt in misplacing items. He’s fluent in it. When he was younger, I opened the pantry to find a warm carton of milk. I laughed on that occasion, but what wouldn’t be comical is to regularly go looking for milk in the pantry. That would be senseless. The pantry is not milk’s home.

I’m convinced it’s the same with our sin. We go looking for all the things Christ offers in all the wrong places—and pastors are no exception. One misplaced and prevalent sin in the life of a pastor is anger. It’s historically known as one of the seven deadly sins because it is highly volatile like old dynamite. Anger is old, universal, and complicated.

We find it in the first family. After God rejected his offering, Cain “was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?’” (Genesis 4:5b-6).

Anger is as old as Adam’s family and it’s as universal as air. We’ve all felt it. A member prefers your predecessor’s preaching. A Sunday school teacher steps down during the holidays. A family leaves for petty reasons. You work with excellence on a project only for it to be misunderstood by the congregation. And right amid these disappointments, anger wells up like Old Faithful.

Anger is also complicated. God gets angry (Psalm 7:11), and yet He cannot sin (1 John 1:5; Psalm 92:15; Habakkuk 1:13). Anger isn’t inherently evil. God’s anger against sin—which is a form of love—motivates His judgment. Pastor, our problem with anger isn’t that we feel it; it’s that we misappropriate it. We decide a certain reality is intolerable, and our anger rushes in to defend what we cherish.

When anger rises, we must ask the same question God asked Cain: Why am I angry?

Take a simple example: a deacon suggests you wear a sports coat. Why does that comment feel painful? Perhaps you feel he’s questioning your competence, maybe threatening your freedom, or making you feel insecure. Whatever the case, your anger exposes a cherished idol—competence, freedom, or praise—that feels threatened.

So, we see red and spiral. We vent (baptized gossip). We defy the command, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19b). In worst-case scenarios, we let loose our tongue, leaving a wake of hurt. In the best-case scenarios, we become embittered, writing people off.

OK, all this is really bad news. What is a pastor to do? Here are four simple steps to help you defeat anger.

Ask early

Right when you begin feeling angry, ask the question: Why am I angry? This will help you understand if your anger is righteous or not. Are you being selfish with your time, schedule, or money? You might just find that your anger is all about you.

Repent immediately

Don’t let the sun set on this deadly sin. An angry pastor will be more inclined to wound sheep, breed fear surrounding their leadership, and distort grace—particularly if unrighteous anger seeps out in public settings. Take it to the Lord in prayer immediately.

Remember rightly

Anger grows out of misplaced affection, out of treasuring something more than God. When we interpret a situation as unacceptable, anger rushes in to protect our conclusion. Thus, we become beholden to something lesser than God and His glory. And in that, we lose out. We miss God’s best for us. We forfeit wonder. We become calloused to intimacy. Anger is a thief.

Love outrageously

Love is the virtue that puts anger in its place. Love is the great commandment. The more we love God and God’s people, the less we will give way to the sin of anger.

Deep down, I believe we want the carton of cold milk—which is Jesus and His presence. But anger keeps us reaching into the pantry only to come up with something far less than it’s supposed to be. Almost every instance of anger pulls us away from the fulfillment we long for in Christ and the joy we desire in our pastoral work.

Pastor, Christ offers something better. We don’t have to be awash in the deadly sin of anger.

FBC Brownsville’s Dorman reflects on the ‘goodness of God’ as he shifts into a new season

BROWNSVILLE—In the nearly quarter century Steve Dorman has been senior pastor of First Baptist Church Brownsville, he has seen vast changes in the Rio Grande Valley and remarkable consistency in his mission-minded congregation.

Dorman—who recently marked 53 years of church ministry, the last 23 at FBC Brownsville—will retire in December. The church plans to recognize him with a reception Dec. 14 from 2-4 p.m. and has already voted to designate him pastor emeritus.

“We’ll be in and out the rest of our days,” Dorman said of his continuing relationship with the congregation.

But Dorman is also going to be quite busy—nothing new for the pastor who has engaged in a “lifelong quest to prepare … to teach the Bible and serve in church ministries.” He also served eight years on the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Executive Board.

When he arrived at FBC Brownsville in 2002, Dorman inherited a mission-focused congregation engaged in active ministry in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. First Baptist School, founded 65 years ago, served students through the eighth grade. During Dorman’s tenure, the fully accredited school added a high school. The school of 240 students from the U.S. and Mexico continues to thrive.

Dorman acknowledged the work done by one of his predecessors at the church, Pastor Bob Clements, who pioneered missions work along the border and in Mexico after Hurricane Beulah, founding orphanages and schools and starting the church’s mission center.

Today, the Hendrick Mission Center, with housing for 160, hosts volunteer church teams from across the U.S. that come to work in the Rio Grande Valley and Mexico assisting impoverished churches, aiding missionaries, and supporting church plants

“We have just tried not to mess it up,” Dorman said of the rich legacy he inherited at the beginning of his FBC Brownsville pastorate.

The church’s disaster relief ministry grew during Dorman’s tenure, with the congregation participating in SBTC DR projects in Texas, Mexico, Japan, Haiti, Chile, the Philippines, and Nepal.

Building the future

In retirement, Dorman plans to continue the emphases characteristic of his ministry—not only teaching the Bible but working with missions, disaster relief, church plants, and pastors.

Through the recently incorporated non-profit called Nehemiah Blueprint, Dorman and his wife, Karen—a Christian school educator, administrator, and adjunct college professor—will be hitting the road in retirement. Dorman will teach theology, preach, work with pastors in impoverished areas, engage in DR work, and generally do the work of “building the kingdom.”

A travel trailer, a gift from their oldest daughter who also assisted with the incorporation, will enable the Dormans to head to various locations, drawing upon the relationships and mission partnerships built over the years at FBC Brownsville to do ministry in the field.

The nonprofit is a family affair—with the Dormans’ four adult children contributing to honor their parents.

Retirement will also be a family affair, as Dorman said he looks forward to spending time with his children and 10 grandchildren scattered across Texas.

“Now we will be able to go see them, spend a week, and pester them,” he said with a laugh, musing that the travel trailer will come in handy for extended visits.

“I am looking forward to making up some time with my kids, grandchildren, and wife … and still teach, preach, and do DR,” he said. “I am thankful I have the liberty to do that.”

Going out in gratitude

What will he miss?

“The people,” he said. “We have the best people of any church I have been in. … They have loved me, my wife, my children, my grandchildren.”

He will also miss being the pastor of a church along the Texas-Mexico border. The location has attracted church members—including many chaplains, former pastors, and ministry minded people—who embrace outreach.

Dorman called his deacons “godly, spiritually minded men” who are ministry oriented, noting church business meetings have never been contentious.

“In the end, we can pray, get together, and go forward,” he said.

He will miss his colleagues, including Craig Smith, his executive pastor who will spearhead the search for Dorman’s successor. Dorman also acknowledged the service of ministry staff Terry Roberts, Jeremy Knight, and Daniel Simons, and church planters James Martinez and Samuel Gomez.

Above all, Dorman expressed gratitude at how God has provided for FBC Brownsville over the years.

“The RGV is among the poorest sections of the U.S. and God has supernaturally provided financially for the church, the Christian school, and the mission center in incredible ways,” he said. “ … God has made it work. We have been shocked and blessed.”

His career, he said, has seen “the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

How pastors can influence the prayer climate at their churches

As the spiritual leaders of the local church, pastors can adjust the prayer climate of their congregations. No pastor wants to be the thermometer when he is called to be the thermostat as it relates to the spiritual fervor and prayer culture of the church. Still, pastors need help in this area. With that in mind, here are five effective, practical ways pastors of any size congregation can adjust the prayer climate in their churches.

The pastor shapes the prayer climate by example

You can never lead anyone spiritually to a place you’ve never gone. Pastors lead more by example than they may realize. As Matthew Haste observed, “A brilliant sermon can be silenced by a lifestyle that contradicts it.”

Haven’t we all seen enough pastoral failure in recent years to agree that a good example, by contrast, is worth its weight in gold? Unfortunately, more than 70% of pastors struggle with consistent faithfulness in prayer.

The spiritual ceiling of the local church, therefore, is greatly determined by the pastor’s personal example—whether good or bad—in prayer. This was clear from the earliest days of the church when our apostolic role models devoted equal time to the priorities of “prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). Can we do less? Obviously not. If you want to lead a praying church, you have to be a praying pastor.

The pastor strengthens the prayer climate through preaching

The 19th century Anglican Bishop J.C. Ryles taught that preaching is God’s “principal instrument” of “the edifying of saints.” No wonder Stephen Olford said, “Only one thing will ever take the place of great preaching and that’s greater preaching!”

For most pastors, the pulpit is ground zero of his leadership. He influences more people from the pulpit than from any other platform. For this reason, the pastor must preach on prayer if he hopes to lead a house of prayer.

There are hundreds of passages in Scripture where the word “prayer” appears. In fact, one pastor could preach on prayer every Sunday for a decade and never use the same passage twice.

For this reason, a faithful pastor’s preaching schedule should include numerous Sundays devoted to thundering the truth about prayer.

The pastor supports the prayer climate with resources

We live in the information age. The average American consumes 74GB of information every day—about 850% more information consumed than only 30 years ago. That’s the equivalent of reading four or more books daily.

Americans crave information, and pastors must intentionally enter the arena of providing quality information if we want to make a difference in this culture. Our teaching role demands that we resource what we believe in. Tell people which books on prayer you recommend. Write or otherwise provide free prayer material for your church website. Guide people to sermons and teaching online. Remember, the appetite grows on what feeds it; so, provide excellent resources which feed a growing hunger for more prayer.

The pastor sustains the prayer climate by equipping

God has placed “watchmen on the walls” who are “never silent” in prayer, and they give God “no rest” (Isaiah 62:6-7). There are prayer warriors and intercessors, the watchmen on the walls, already in your church who will help the pastor change the prayer climate.

In addition to these few “watchmen,” the pastor should organize prayer conferences and training events to equip as many prayer warriors as possible. Equip men to pray. Equip teenagers in prayer. Host prayer training for women. Equip the staff in prayer. Of course, the pastor should be on the lookout for those men and women who are most inclined to intercede but train the entire church!

In this way, the church becomes saturated with a passion for prayer. Never stop equipping prayer warriors and intercessors.

The pastor stewards the prayer climate in prayer meetings

In order to ignite a climate of prayer, we must break out of the anonymity of the prayer closet alone and let the church see prayer in action (Acts 1:14). The church was born in a prayer meeting, but today an astonishing number of believers know nothing of the power of praying together. In fact, 98% of believers never join with their church in a gathering for prayer.

It seems like an outrageous claim, but it is true that no church will ever develop a dynamic culture of prayer apart from regularly scheduled, organized, powerful prayer meetings. The pastor, therefore, must do whatever it takes, no matter how long it takes, to host life-giving prayer meetings for the entire church.

The New Testament is clear about the need for praying churches, and the pastor’s leadership is essential in creating a climate for prayer. It will take time, but every minute invested is time well spent. The time is now, therefore, to turn the prayer temperature up!

This article was originally published by Baptist Press.

State of Theology report offers insights, reveals opportunities for churches

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.—What people believe matters—and Lifeway Research’s State of Theology Insights Report helps leaders understand those beliefs and take a step toward meaningful ministry.

The State of Theology is a biennial study from Lifeway Research sponsored by Ligonier Ministries, tracking Americans’ beliefs about God’s nature, sin, the Bible and more. The 2025 study surveyed more than 3,000 U.S. adults and follows previous studies in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022.

Many Americans affirm foundational doctrines of Christianity, but the State of Theology research reveals persistent misunderstandings and areas where biblical teaching is often overlooked.

“While many aspects of American society can accurately be described as secular, large numbers of Americans have theological beliefs that line up with the Bible’s teaching,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “A pandemic and debates around moral standards in political spaces appear to have some minor impact on some beliefs, but most Americans are not quick to change their views of matters related to God.”

Lifeway Research’s State of Theology Insights Report explores data and uncovers practical tips regarding the spiritual landscape in America, equipping churches to lead with wisdom and compassion.

Beliefs about God

When it comes to their beliefs about God, many Americans are a mixed bag, affirming some truths about God while also revealing misunderstandings.

Seven in 10 (71%) agree there is one true God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, according to the 2025 State of Theology. However, many Americans struggle with the logical conclusions of that belief. Most (57%) say the Holy Spirit is a force, not a personal being. And nearly half (49%) agree Jesus was a great teacher but not God.

U.S. adults may feel complicated or even contradictory beliefs about God are OK because many don’t see religion as an area of clear right and wrong. Around 2 in 3 (65%) say God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Almost half (46%) agree religious belief is not about objective truth.

“When a clear majority of Americans think God is flexible when it comes to religion, it’s not surprising that agreement with some teachings in the Bible does not translate to accepting all biblical teaching. Americans want the same flexibility they think God has, even if that contradicts other beliefs they have and how God is revealed in Scripture,” said McConnell.

Beliefs about sin and punishment

Americans feel good about their own goodness and innocence. Two in 3 (66%) believe everyone sins a little but most people are good by nature. Also, 3 in 4 (74%) agree everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God.

Most Americans have no issues with the existence of hell and the return of Jesus to judge, but they might assume those don’t apply to most people.

More than 3 in 5 Americans (62%) believe there will be a time when Jesus Christ returns to judge all the people who have lived.

Almost 3 in 5 U.S. adults (57%) say hell is a real place where certain people will be punished forever. However, less than a quarter (23%) agree that even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation.

Beliefs about the Bible and its authority

Americans’ perspectives on the Bible are divided. Around half (49%) believe the Bible is 100% accurate in all that it teaches. Similarly, however, 48% say the Bible, like all sacred writings, contains helpful accounts of ancient myths but is not literally true.

Today, more than a third (36%) believe modern science disproves the Bible, down from 40% in the last State of Theology.

“More Americans believe the Bible is a myth than believe it has been proven to be false,” said McConnell. “While two-thirds of Americans believe key truths taught in the Bible, it is almost evenly split between those willing to trust and dismiss the entire message of the Bible.”

Half (50%) of Americans believe the Bible has the authority to tell us what we must do, while 44% disagree. And 16% believe the Holy Spirit can tell them to do something forbidden in the Bible.

Whatever else they may believe about God or the Bible, 2 in 3 Americans (65%) agree the biblical accounts of the physical or bodily resurrection of Jesus are completely accurate. They say this event actually occurred. Around a quarter (24%) disagree. Acceptance of Jesus’ resurrection has remained stable since 2016.

Beliefs about the church

One of the few areas of change in the State of Theology surrounds joining and attending a local church. In 2025, 63% of U.S. adults say their personal or family worship is a good church attendance substitute, down from a high of 66% in 2022 but up significantly from pre-pandemic levels.

Not only do most Americans say personal or family worship is a valid replacement for church attendance, but most also don’t believe Christians must become church members. Only a third of U.S. adults (33%) say every Christian has an obligation to join a local church.

“While the focus of this study is on Americans’ beliefs, an important part of those beliefs is what people think it means to practice a faith in God,” said McConnell. “There are many people inside the church and even more outside who think believing without attending in person or belonging is OK.”

Where do churches go from here?

The research paints a vivid picture of the beliefs, doubts and spiritual questions present in American culture today. Across every section—beliefs about God, sin, the Bible and the church—church leaders will likely find both encouraging signs and areas of concern. Many hold to foundational truths, yet misunderstandings and cultural influences continue to shape how faith is lived out—even among those in church.

In the latest Lifeway Research report, insights based on the last State of Theology data encourage pastors and church leaders to engage thoughtfully and compassionately with their congregations and communities. The report will challenge pastors and church leaders to move from information to transformation—whether it’s clarifying the nature of the Trinity, cultivating a culture of evangelism or guiding conversations about social issues.

Executive board affirms commitment to mobilize SBTC churches to reach Europe with the gospel

LUBBOCK—The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention has taken steps to deepen its commitment to reversing the growing trend of lostness in Europe.

During its Oct. 29 meeting, the SBTC Executive Board approved a $556,000 grant to strengthen its ministry partnership with the International Mission Board. The grant will be used over the next three years to support IMB’s “Everyone Equipped” initiative in Europe.

The scope of the initiative would provide IMB personnel in Europe with coaching, mentoring, and accountability training in an estimated 20 cluster groups from 102 regions. Additionally, it would provide Great Commission training for local believers and funding for a one-time affinity-wide gathering for all IMB field leadership.

“This will not be just a series of trainings, but the development of a culture of coaching, mentoring, and accountability for our workers and local partners,” according to information provided from IMB to the Executive Board. “We trust that as we focus on the Word in the power of the Spirit, the Lord of the harvest will answer our prayers for multitudes of maturing disciples, leaders, churches, and missionaries across Europe.”

In 2023, the SBTC launched a new mission focus—to mobilize churches to multiply disciple-making movements in Texas and around the world. Part of that strategy includes its ministry partnership with the IMB called Reach Europe. In May 2025, 33 pastors and association leaders traveled on a vision tour of Europe to identify opportunities for SBTC churches to mobilize alongside local churches on what IMB considers the most lost continent on the planet.

SBTC churches are already being mobilized through Reach Europe. This past August, members from more than 20 churches traveled to Prague to minister to and encourage approximately 200 missionary children. Additionally, more than a handful of SBTC churches have already stated their intention to travel to Europe in the near future to work with local churches to strengthen them and widen their gospel reach.

Additional Reach Europe vision tours are planned for 2026.

New board officers selected

Wes Hinote, senior pastor of Old River Baptist Church in Winfree, was chosen to serve as board chairman at the Oct. 29 meeting. He replaces Steven Gaither, who is stepping down from the position after announcing he has accepted the call to serve as the new executive director of Highland Lakes Camp and Conference Center.

James Jordan, executive pastor at First Baptist Church Forney, was selected to serve as the board’s vice chairman, filling the role left vacant by Hinote. Averri LeMalle, senior pastor of The Church at Jersey Village, was elected secretary.

Latest Richards endowment recipients announced

Board members learned the latest recipients have been selected for the Jim and June Richards Endowment for Kingdom Advance.

The endowment’s purpose is to support individuals or organizations which promote kingdom causes through religious ministry consistent with the doctrinal statements of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. It was established by the Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation in 2021.

Richards, the convention’s founding executive director from 1998 through 2021, said he and his wife made the decisions for this year’s recipients after much prayer and consideration. Those recipients are:

The National Hispanic Baptist Network, led by former and longtime SBTC staff member Bruno Molina. Richards said he was excited when Molina accepted the role as the NHBN’s executive director, adding, “He is in a strategic position to influence millions for the cause of Christ.”
The La Chapelle Church Planting Network, a movement that has started numerous churches in Montreal, Canada—one of the largest unreached places in North America. “June and I have a special place in our hearts for Montreal,” Richards explained, noting that David Pothier, pastor of La Chapelle Church, has labored to bring the gospel to that area “with integrity and sacrifice.”
The June Richards Scholarship Endowment at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, which will be disbursed to support other women to faithfully fulfill the roles to which God has called them as Mrs. Richards has done in her own life. “June—my wife and ministry partner for 52 years—is a Proverbs 31 woman,” Richards said. “She served with me when I was a pastor, church planter, director of missions, and at the SBTC. Her prayers have impacted untold numbers of lives.”

Richards now serves as executive director emeritus. The SBTC grew from 120 churches to more than 2,600 churches during his tenure. Prior to coming to Texas, he pastored for 21 years in Louisiana and then served as an associational executive director in Northwest Arkansas.

Executive Committee expresses support for Credentials Committee’s work

Following the meeting, the SBTC Executive Committee released the following statement:

“We had an amazing annual meeting at Southcrest Baptist Church followed by a great Executive Board meeting as we celebrated what we are seeing God do through our network of churches, including our growing partnership with the IMB in Europe and the many ways our churches are advancing the mission in Texas and beyond. We also wish to express our appreciation in support of the Credentials Committee’s work in faithfully applying our governing documents and look forward to the results of our constitution and bylaws review committee that will begin work in November.”

Reunión Anual 2025: Oración y testimonios poderosos marcan una exitosa sesión en español

LUBBOCK—Más de cien pastores, líderes y miembros de iglesias hispanas se reunieron del 26 al 27 de octubre para celebrar lo que Dios está haciendo a través de sus congregaciones durante la sesión en español de la Reunión Anual de la Convención de los Bautistas del Sur de Texas (SBTC, por sus siglas en inglés).

El evento dio inicio el domingo 26 con un tiempo de compañerismo y comida. El director ejecutivo de la SBTC, Nathan Lorick, se unió al grupo para compartir unas palabras de aprecio y ánimo hacia las iglesias.

“Estoy muy agradecido de que estén aquí”, expresó. “Sepan que la convención está para caminar con ustedes. Doy gracias a Dios por todo lo que Él ha hecho a través de los eventos, retiros y el trabajo de SBTC en Español. Ha sido fenomenal. Pero queremos que sigan caminando con nosotros, porque necesitamos plantar más iglesias en todo Texas, y contamos con ustedes”.

Haciendo más juntos

Esa misma noche, los asistentes se reunieron para un tiempo de adoración —dirigido por el pastor Diego Manosalva y el pastor Jonathan Reyna junto a su esposa Karla— y enseñanza bíblica. El mensaje principal fue predicado por Bruno Molina, director ejecutivo de la Red Nacional Bautista Hispana.

Su sermón, titulado “El Compañerismo Transformador” y basado en Hechos 2:41–47, destacó que los creyentes forman parte del equipo de Dios y que las obras preparadas por Él se cumplen en comunidad.

Molina explicó que la iglesia primitiva perseveraba en cuatro áreas esenciales:

Doctrina: escuchar, aprender y maravillarse ante la Palabra de Dios
Comunión: cultivar relaciones a través de la oración, la celebración y el servicio mutuo
Partimiento del pan: compartir la vida cristiana y recordar el sacrificio de Cristo
Oración: mantener una vida constante de comunicación con Dios

“Yo no creo en los milagros —dependo de ellos”, afirmó Molina, subrayando que la cooperación y la oración son la base de una iglesia viva. “Podemos hacer mucho más juntos que separados. La colaboración es el antídoto contra el individualismo expresivo”.

Durante el servicio hubo un tiempo especial de oración por plantadores de iglesias y sus esposas, dirigido por Luis González, director de SBTC en Español, junto a Luis López, pastor de Forney en Español y líder catalizador de plantación de iglesias hispanas para Send Network SBTC. Más de una docena de parejas de plantadores pasaron al frente y fueron rodeados por pastores de todo el estado para interceder por ellos, pidiendo fortaleza y provisión para su llamado.

Rivera es honrado por su legado ministerial

Durante la sesión, Michael Gonzales presentó el Reconocimiento al Legado Ministerial al pastor José “Joe” Rivera, de la Primera Iglesia Bautista en Grand Prairie, por su servicio fiel y compromiso con el evangelio.

Rivera, nacido en Monterrey, México, y criado en Texas, ha servido por más de 25 años en esa iglesia, donde pastorea desde el 2008. Junto a su esposa Nancy, con quien lleva 28 años de matrimonio, ha dedicado su vida a servir a Dios y a su comunidad con humildad y entrega. También ha sido activo en la Convención Bautista del Sur, la SBTC y diversas juntas y ministerios locales.

Capacitación y enseñanza

El programa del lunes 27 incluyó talleres enfocados en liderazgo, carácter y misión.

Terry Coy ofreció una perspectiva histórica sobre el poder transformador del evangelio en su taller “El Legado de la Cruz”.
David Ramírez habló sobre “Carácter antes que carisma”, exhortando a los líderes a priorizar el ser antes que el hacer.
Arlene Sanabria dirigió una sesión para mujeres titulada “Mi Parte en el Plan de Dios”, ayudándolas a descubrir su propósito en el reino.
Clara Molina enseñó “Testificando en medio del dolor”, animando a las mujeres a compartir su fe en tiempos de sufrimiento.

Un testimonio impactante

El programa del sábado concluyó con un almuerzo y un tiempo de testimonio dirigido por Luis González, quien compartió cómo ha visto la mano de Dios sostenerlo a él y a su familia a lo largo de su vida y ministerio.

González relató momentos en los que el Señor se mostró fiel: desde su llamado al ministerio, pasando por retos de salud que requirieron cinco cirugías, hasta el milagro del nacimiento de sus hijos después de un tiempo de oración y espera.

También compartió la historia de su hijo menor, Josué, quien partió con el Señor después de ocho meses de vida debido a una condición médica desde su nacimiento. Durante ese tiempo, Dios usó la vida de Josué para cumplir un propósito eterno: fortalecer la fe de sus padres, abrir puertas para compartir el evangelio en el hospital y ministrar a otras familias en medio del dolor.

“Dios nos permitió ver Su poder en nuestra debilidad”, dijo. “Nos sostuvo con una fuerza sobrenatural para seguir sirviendo, predicando y pastoreando en la Iglesia Bautista Lamar en Arlington”.

González exhortó a los pastores y líderes a buscar unidad, a no guardar silencio en tiempos difíciles y a apoyarse mutuamente en el cumplimiento de la misión.

AM25: Prayer, powerful testimonies mark Spanish sessions

LUBBOCK—More than a hundred pastors, leaders, and members of Hispanic churches gathered Oct. 26-27 to celebrate what God is doing through their churches during the Spanish session of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Annual Meeting.

The event began Sunday, Oct. 26, with a time of fellowship and food. SBTC Executive Director Nathan Lorick joined the group to express his appreciation and encouragement to the churches.

“I am very grateful you are here,” he said. “Know that the convention is here to walk with you. I thank God for all He has done through the events, retreats, and work of SBTC en Español. It has been phenomenal. But we want you to continue walking with us, because we need to plant more churches throughout Texas, and we are counting on you.”

Doing more together

On Sunday evening, attendees gathered for a time of worship—led by Pastor Diego Manosalva and Pastor Jonathan Reyna and his wife, Karla—and biblical teaching. The main message was delivered by Bruno Molina, executive director of the National Hispanic Baptist Network and former SBTC associate.

His sermon, titled “Transforming Fellowship” based on Acts 2:41–47, emphasized that believers are part of God’s team and that the works prepared by Him can only be accomplished in community.

Molina explained the early church persevered in four essential areas through:

Doctrine: listening, learning, and marveling at the Word of God;
Fellowship: cultivating relationships through prayer, celebration, and mutual service;
The breaking of bread: sharing Christian life and remembering Christ’s sacrifice; and
Prayer: maintaining a constant life of communication with God.

“I don’t believe in miracles—I depend on them,” Molina said, noting that cooperation and prayer are the foundation of a living church. “We can do much more together than apart. Collaboration is the antidote to expressive individualism.”

The service included a special time of prayer for church planters and their wives led by Luis González, director of SBTC en Español, along with Luis López, pastor of Forney en Español and Hispanic church planting lead catalyst for Send Network SBTC. More than a dozen planter couples were accompanied by pastors from across the state in a time of intercession, asking for strength and provision for their calling.

Rivera honored for lifetime of service

During the session, the Ministerial Legacy Recognition Award was presented by Michael Gonzales to José “Joe” Rivera, pastor of First Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, for his faithful service and commitment to the gospel.

Rivera, born in Monterrey, Mexico, and raised in Texas, has served faithfully for more than a quarter century at the church, where he has been pastor since 2008. He and his wife of 28 years, Nancy, have dedicated their lives to serving God and their community with humility and commitment. He has been active in the Southern Baptist Convention and the SBTC, as well as various local boards and ministries.

Teaching and training

The program on Monday, Oct. 27, included workshops focused on leadership, character, and mission. Terry Coy, who offered a historical overview of the transforming power of the gospel, spoke about “The Legacy of the Cross.” David Ramirez spoke about “Character Before Charisma,” encouraging leaders to prioritize being over doing.

Arlene Sanabria addressed the women in attendance, speaking about “My Part in God’s Plan” and guiding them to discover their purpose in the kingdom of God. Clara Molina’s topic, “Testifying in the Midst of Pain,” encouraged women how to share their faith during times of suffering.

A powerful testimony

Saturday’s program concluded with lunch and a time of testimony led by Luis González, who shared how he has seen God’s hand sustain him and his family throughout his life and ministry. González recounted moments when the Lord proved Himself faithful—from his call to ministry, through health challenges that required five surgeries, to the miracle of the birth of his children after a time of prayer and waiting.

He also shared about the life of his youngest son, Josué, who departed to be with the Lord after eight months of life, facing a medical condition since birth. During that time, God used Josué’s life to fulfill an eternal purpose: to strengthen his parents’ faith, open doors to share the gospel in the hospital, and minister to other families in the midst of pain.

“God allowed us to see His power in our weakness,” González said. “He sustained us with supernatural strength to continue serving, preaching, and pastoring [during our time at] Lamar [Baptist] Church in Arlington.”

González encouraged pastors and leaders to seek unity, to not remain silent when going through difficult times, and to support one another on the path to fulfilling their mission.

AM25: Turner elected president as messengers conduct the business of the convention

LUBBOCK—Messengers to the 2025 Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Annual Meeting held Oct. 27-28 at Southcrest Baptist Church conducted several items of business to support the work of the convention for the coming year.

Caleb Turner, senior pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church, was elected president Tuesday morning. Turner formerly served as chairman of the SBTC Executive board—the youngest ever to hold that responsibility.

Ed Johnson III was re-elected vice president. He is lead pastor of Harvest Fellowship Baptist Church in DeSoto and was nominated by Averri LeMalle, senior pastor of The Church at Jersey Village. Kason Branch, senior pastor of Creekstone Church of North Richland Hills, nominated Amy Hinote to serve a second term as convention secretary. She is a pastor’s wife from First Baptist Church in Justin. All three officers were elected by acclamation.

The convention’s operating budget for 2026 will be $27.83 million, a .18% increase over the 2025 budget. The budget is essentially flat, with a $50,000 increase funded from designated funds. The SBTC budget continues to call for 55% of undesignated receipts to be sent to the Southern Baptist Convention, while 45% of undesignated receipts remain in Texas to mobilize SBTC churches.

The convention’s Executive Board submitted resolutions commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the Cooperative Program and the Baptist Faith and Message. Jim Richards, SBTC executive director emeritus, presented the resolutions on behalf of the board. Reading from the resolution, Richards described the Cooperative Program as “a missions-funding strategy God has blessed to support and strengthen Southern Baptist efforts to share the gospel throughout the world.”

Messengers considered five resolutions produced by the Resolutions Committee. The first honored Danny Forshee, lead pastor of Great Hills Baptist Church, as he completed his second and final year as SBTC president. Another honorific resolution expressed gratitude to Southcrest Baptist Church and its senior pastor, David Wilson, for their “kind hospitality and generosity.”

The remainder of the resolutions highlighted the importance of freedom of speech; the need for prayer, fasting, and repentance; and an appreciation for the convention’s Texas Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee for “[representing] our biblical convictions before the Texas Legislature.”

The convention registered 790 messengers for their West Texas meeting. Registered guests brought the total number of attendees to 1,289.

Three motions regarding Fielder Church in Arlington were ruled out of order due to being inconsistent with the convention’s Constitution and Bylaws. In August, the SBTC Executive Board formed a committee to review the Constitution and Bylaws. The committee will review the documents in their entirety to ensure the convention’s polity and affiliation requirements are clearly stated, particularly as they relate to the office and title of pastor. Proposed amendments will be published 90 days before being voted on by messengers to the 2026 annual meeting.

The 2026 SBTC Annual Meeting will be hosted by First Baptist Church Forney Oct. 26-27, 2026.

AM25: President’s lunch panel highlights ways SBTC churches can reach the nations

LUBBOCK—Paul Chitwood was pastoring a small rural church in Kentucky while attending seminary when he was invited to a world missions conference featuring speakers from the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board. It was his first real exposure to missions.

“My imagination and heart were captured by these people and what they were doing with their lives,” Chitwood said.

In 2002, while pastoring and teaching at seminary, Chitwood became an IMB trustee. It was another mile-marker moment in his life and ministry, he said, changing how he preached and taught.

Today, Chitwood serves as president of the IMB. Although he never served as a career missionary, he said he and his wife, Michelle, “feel called to do everything we can do to ensure that our missionaries have everything they need to do what God has called them to do.”

On Tuesday, Oct. 28—the final day of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Annual Meeting—Chitwood sat on a panel during the President’s Luncheon to share how the convention’s churches can engage with the IMB to do what God has called them to do. SBTC Missional Ministries Associate Colin Rayburn joined the panel, which was moderated by outgoing SBTC President Danny Forshee.

Mobilizing through M-Link, Reach Europe

Referring to Matthew 24:14—“This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come”—Forshee asked the panel how SBTC churches can partner with the IMB to evangelize the world so Christ’s return might be hastened.

Rayburn mentioned M-Link, a new online tool that matches churches that have needs with sister churches that can meet those needs. Those churches may not only include SBTC churches, but those that are part of the convention’s ministry partnerships in Nevada, Puerto Rico, and Europe.

Chitwood also referenced the latter partnership, known as Reach Europe, as a way SBTC churches can engage with the nations. Reach Europe is a partnership between the SBTC and IMB to bring the gospel to what has been described as one of the most lost continents on the planet. In addition to churches mobilizing toward those opportunities, Chitwood urged continued giving through the Cooperative Program, which marked its 100^th anniversary this year.

“When you give a dollar to the Cooperative Program or the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, your church has a witness in 155 countries around the world,” he said. “They are your missionaries.”

Those missionaries are working hard daily to bring the gospel to the roughly 3,000 unreached, unengaged people groups—also known as UUPGs. Hundreds of people groups have been reached since the IMB’s Project 3000 launch a few years ago, but others have been discovered since. France, one of the countries included in the Reach Europe initiative, has 29 UUPGs, Chitwood noted.

A unique role

During a question-and-answer session, the panel conversation turned to the impact churches can have when they work together.

“The church working together is such a beautiful thing in SBC life,” Chitwood said, adding that missions might look different for a large church than it does at a smaller church.

“We are a large denomination of small churches,” Forshee added. He told the story of two pastors from smaller congregations who, after meeting with an indigenous IMB worker in South Asia, realized their churches could adopt a UUPG there for $250 per month— affordable for many congregations.

Rayburn said M-Link can help churches identify those kinds of opportunities, as well.

“Your church, no matter what size … [has] a unique role to play in the Great Commission,” he said.

AM25: Amid a year of celebration, Lorick challenges messengers: ‘Let’s lean in like never before’

LUBBOCK—Churches across the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention are mobilizing.

They are focused on prayer and continuing to generously support their shared mission by giving through the Cooperative Program. They are planting more churches than ever and joining forces with church leaders across state and national lines through strategic partnerships.

And they are seeing—and celebrating—God’s blessing in those areas and many more.

In his Oct. 28 report to messengers at the SBTC Annual Meeting, hosted by Southcrest Baptist Church, SBTC Executive Director Nathan Lorick shared some of the victories the Lord has provided in 2025. Thousands came to faith in Christ through events such as Crossover Dallas, which included 59 SBTC churches; disaster relief deployments that included a response to historic flooding in the Texas Hill Country; and evangelistic events such as M3 student camps and Youth Week.

Throughout the past year, Southern Baptists marked the 100^th anniversary of the Baptist Faith and Message, as well as the Cooperative Program—the giving mechanism through which SBTC churches have given $580 million over the past quarter century. Thirty-four churches have been mobilized overseas as part of the convention’s Reach Europe ministry partnership with the International Mission Board.

And by the end of the year, leaders expect 70 churches to have been planted in Texas—the most in any single year in SBTC history. In the four years since the SBTC teamed up with the North American Mission Board to plant churches under the Send Network SBTC banner, 200 churches have been started, Lorick said, noting that an “amazing” 98% of those have survived to date.

“Our vision is to mobilize all SBTC churches to mobilize disciple-making movements—movements energized by prayer, that prioritize evangelism, normalize disciple-making, maximize sending, and synergize partnerships,” Lorick said.

Each of those five markers, he told messengers, can be seen through the ministries of SBTC churches across the state. They are exemplified by a movement of God reported at First Baptist Church in Carrizo Springs, about an hour from the Texas-Mexico border, where an emphasis on prayer has led to 52 people being baptized and regular attendance rising over 40% this past year.

In the North Texas community of Colleyville, disciple-making has been normalized in a way that is creating a pipeline of leaders—including, in one instance, a man leaving a successful business career to step into full-time ministry—who are making second- and third-generation disciples. Or in League City, where Bay Area Church sacrificially sent out one of its younger youth workers to plant a church in an area that needed a strong gospel witness.

As he spoke of each marker, Lorick cited other examples of SBTC churches making an eternal impact. When considered together, they reveal a unified, growing convention of more than 2,800 churches laser-focused on advancing the mission.

“That is what we see: a vision of all SBTC churches mobilized and multiplying disciple-making movements,” Lorick said. “Movements where our churches are resourced, leaders are networked, and the mission is advanced. Movements that saturate our state with the gospel and take it to the ends of the earth.

“It is a vision of cooperation—doing more together than any one church could do on its own,” he continued. “The apostles saw this vision. The messengers at the 1925 SBC Annual Meeting [where the Cooperative Program and the Baptist Faith and Message were adopted] saw it. The founding churches of the SBTC in 1998 saw it. Now, it’s our turn to pursue it.”

In closing, Lorick thanked messengers for their commitment to the gospel and their generosity in supporting “our shared mission.”

“Let’s lean in together like never before,” he said. “Let us lead the way as the gospel advances in America and the world, starting right here in Texas through the churches of the SBTC.”