Author: Jayson Larson

Latest Lifeway Research study finds churchgoers aim to serve in and out of church

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.—Most churchgoers say they’re looking for ways to serve God as well as the people in their churches and communities, but many still struggle to make that a reality.

Serving God and others is one of eight key signposts measuring distinct characteristics for believers progressing in their spiritual maturity, according to the Lifeway Research State of Discipleship study. The average U.S. Protestant churchgoer scores 73.1 out of 100 in serving God and others, placing it third among the signposts.

The six statements involved in this signpost evaluate churchgoers’ willingness to prioritize others, both within and outside their congregations.

“The command Jesus gave that’s referred to as the Golden Rule, hinges on the words ‘do to others.’ Jesus prescribed a life that focuses on loving God and others, and this is actively shown in serving others. Most churchgoers embrace this goal and, to varying degrees, say they are doing it,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research.

Spiritual service

In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul described spiritual gifts as being given to believers by the Holy Spirit for the benefit of the congregation. As churchgoers look to serve, many say their spiritual gifts are part of that service.

Around 2 in 3 U.S. Protestant churchgoers (68%) say they are intentionally putting their spiritual gift or gifts to use serving God and others, including 29% who strongly agree. One in 5 (21%) aren’t sure, and 10% say that’s not something they do. That highlights an increase in spiritual gift usage compared to a 2012 Lifeway Research study, when 58% of churchgoers purposely put their spiritual gifts to use and 17% disagreed.

“These self-evaluations of serving are definitely more yes than no but also more partial agreement than full agreement,” said McConnell. “Sharing the work of ministry with people who have different gifts is incredibly effective when all participate. But partial or inconsistent service weakens that person’s contribution to the congregation’s work.”

Another way churchgoers look to serve God and others is by being proactively forgiving. Almost 4 in 5 churchgoers (79%) say they forgive others regardless of whether they ask for forgiveness, including 39% who strongly agree. Few say they aren’t sure (14%) or aren’t forgiving in that way (7%).

Beyond the church walls

As churchgoers think about serving others, they aren’t limiting their focus to their congregation. They say they are looking for ways to meet the needs of those in their communities.

Four in 5 U.S. Protestant churchgoers (80%) care for strangers, including 35% who strongly agree. Few aren’t sure (16%) or disagree (4%).

Churchgoers say they work to be proactive in serving others. More than 2 in 3 (68%) say they regularly find themselves meeting a need without being asked, including 25% who strongly agree. A quarter (25%) neither agree nor disagree, while 7% disagree.

Two in 3 (67%) regularly use their gifts and talents to serve or help people in need who are not part of their church, with 27% who strongly agree. Fewer aren’t sure (21%) or disagree (12%).

Specifically, almost 2 in 3 (64%) churchgoers intentionally try to serve people outside of their church who have tangible needs, while a quarter neither agree nor disagree (24%) and 11% say that’s not part of their practice.

This has consistently been a part of the way most churchgoers live out their faith. In 2012, 60% said they intentionally served those outside their church who had tangible needs. Similarly, in a 2019 Lifeway Research study, 62% said they did so.

“A distinctive teaching of Christianity relates to serving,” said McConnell. “Salvation is shown to come from the kindness and grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, not by a person’s good works. Yet Paul says believers are ‘created in Christ Jesus for good works’ (Ephesians 2:10, CSB). Good news people should be diligent in good works.”

One of the most faithful expressions of leadership we can offer

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.

If we’re honest, many of us have felt the tension around corporate prayer. We affirm it theologically. We schedule it strategically. We want our churches to value it deeply. And yet we’ve all felt how fragile it can be, especially when attendance fluctuates or participation feels thin. In those moments, it’s tempting to pivot toward something more measurable or immediately productive.

I’m convinced the issue isn’t whether the church believes prayer matters. The deeper question is whether we, as shepherds, are truly leading our people in it.

Corporate prayer doesn’t drift toward strength, but it will always drift toward neglect. That’s not because people are indifferent, but because every church is shaped by what’s consistently emphasized. Our rhythms reveal our theology. Few things expose our functional dependence more clearly than how we pray together.

Corporate prayer is one of the clearest expressions of a church’s dependence upon God. We can preach trust while operating from competence. We can teach grace while subtly modeling self-reliance. But when we intentionally create unhurried space to seek the Lord together, we declare with our actions prayer isn’t preparation for the work—it is the work.

In 2 Chronicles 20, when enemy armies stood at the doorstep, King Jehoshaphat didn’t begin with strategy. He gathered the families of Judah to seek the Lord. His prayer was marked by honesty and humility: “We are powerless … We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” Before plans were formed, dependence was declared and demonstrated.

Corporate prayer also forms a people in ways preaching alone cannot. What we consistently pray for shapes what we long for. It trains reflexes of humility and deepens instincts of surrender. It reminds us Christ is the head of the church, and we are not its engine.

How can we, as pastors, lead our people to embrace these truths?

Clarity lowers fear

Many believers avoid corporate prayer not because they lack desire, but because they lack confidence. Lower the entry point without lowering the vision. Offer short prompts. Pray Scripture. Model simple, sincere language.

Pace communicates priority

If prayer is consistently compressed between announcements and the sermon, it will always feel secondary. Unhurried time, even moments of silence, signals that seeking God isn’t a transition but a priority.

Substance invites engagement

Pray for real things: holiness, repentance, unity, courage, endurance, the lost, suffering saints, boldness in witness. When prayers carry weight, people lean in.

Tone sets culture

A church often prays the way its leaders pray. So pray sincerely and with conviction rather than with polished perfection. Pray with honesty and humility. Over time, a culture of dependent prayer will grow.

If you want to strengthen corporate prayer, begin with one intentional shift:

Reclaim meaningful space on Sundays. Build 5-10 minutes of intentional prayer into the weekly gathering. Frame it clearly and give people room to participate.
Establish a consistent rhythm. Consider a monthly gathering dedicated to praise and intercession. Repetition shapes culture.
Tie prayer to pivotal moments. Before major decisions, transitions, or during seasons of hardship, gather the church to seek the Lord together. Make dependence visible early and often.

Corporate prayer isn’t a box to check, it’s a culture to cultivate.

In a ministry landscape driven by outcomes and efficiency, leading a church to say together, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” may be one of the most faithful expressions of leadership we can offer.

El mensaje de Apoderados es claro: la evangelización es parte de la identidad fundamental de toda iglesia

FORT WORTH—Apoderados, el evento de evangelismo organizado por la Convención de los Bautistas del Sur de Texas y celebrado cada año juntamente con la Conferencia Empower, reunió a líderes hispanos de todo el estado con un mensaje claro: la evangelización no es opcional, es la esencia misma de la iglesia.

Aproximadamente 175 pastores y sus esposas se reunieron para una cena especial el viernes, 20 de febrero por la noche, seguida de 520 asistentes el sábado para las sesiones generales y los talleres prácticos. La adoración durante la conferencia fue dirigida por el equipo de alabanza Cántico Nuevo del Seminario Teológico Bautista Southwestern.

El viernes, el director de la SBTC en Español, Luis González, compartió una visión estratégica relacionada con la próxima Copa Mundial de Fútbol de la FIFA, que se estima que atraerá a millones de visitantes al estado. González dijo que ve el evento no sólo como una celebración deportiva, sino como un campo misionero sin precedentes. Con este fin, la SBTC ofrecerá capacitación para las iglesias.

La velada fue presentada por González y Bruno Molina, director ejecutivo de la Red Nacional Bautista Hispana. El director ejecutivo asociado de la SBTC, Joe Lightner, también estuvo presente, agradeciendo a los líderes hispanos y destacando cómo la conferencia refleja el corazón de la convención.

“Aquí experimentarán juntos los recursos, la conexión y el avance de la misión”, dijo Lightner. “Toda esta movilización es posible gracias a la generosidad de nuestras iglesias a través del Programa Cooperativo. Gracias por dar para que podamos movilizar a las iglesias y tener un impacto en todo Texas y más allá”.

Eddie López, catalizador hispano de la Red SBTC, se dirigió a los equipos de plantación de iglesias presentes y les recordó que Texas sigue teniendo el mayor número de plantaciones de iglesias del país. Animó a los líderes a seguir desarrollando iglesias enviadoras.

Lo que sostiene el ministerio

El mensaje principal del viernes fue presentado por el pastor y plantador de iglesias Adrián Amézquita, quien habló sobre Marcos 1:35-39 bajo el tema “Lo que sostiene el ministerio”.

“El ministerio puede agotarnos cuando todos piensan que estamos llenos”, dijo.

Amézquita advirtió sobre el peligro del activismo sin la presencia de Dios. En un entorno marcado por la urgencia y la demanda constante, Jesús modeló algo diferente: reservar tiempo para orar. “El poder público nace de la presencia privada”, enfatizó.

Amézquita recordó a los asistentes que la presión ministerial a veces puede hacer que los líderes se sientan indispensables. “Cuando creemos que somos el salvador, dejamos de buscar al Salvador”, dijo. Muchos líderes, explicó, fracasan no por falta de talento, sino por agotamiento espiritual.

Su llamado final fue claro: antes de “hacer”, debemos “estar” con el Señor. Antes de ser pastores, somos ovejas, dijo.

La evangelización en la actualidad

El sábado, durante el almuerzo, un panel compuesto por varios pastores, oradores y miembros del personal de la SBTC abordó el tema “Ejercitar la evangelización y la misión en el mundo actual”. La conversación destacó los desafíos contemporáneos que enfrenta la iglesia, incluyendo el relativismo moral, la creciente dependencia tecnológica, el escepticismo cultural y el cambio generacional en la forma en que se procesa la fe.

Los panelistas coincidieron en que, aunque la cultura cambia, el mensaje de Dios no lo hace. El evangelio sigue siendo el poder de Dios para la salvación. Sin embargo, la iglesia debe comunicarlo con claridad, convicción y sensibilidad cultural. Se hizo hincapié en que la evangelización no puede limitarse a eventos especiales, sino que es un llamado a todos los creyentes a compartir su fe.

Defender la fe en una cultura escéptica

El sábado por la mañana, el apologista Jorge Gil presentó sus enseñanzas bajo el tema “No tengo suficiente fe para ser ateo”, inspirado en el libro del mismo nombre.

Gil abordó cuestiones fundamentales sobre la verdad, la existencia de Dios y la fiabilidad histórica de la resurrección de Jesús. En una época en la que las generaciones más jóvenes recurren a la inteligencia artificial para resolver sus dudas espirituales, Gil hizo hincapié en la necesidad de una fe informada y bien fundada.

Durante su segunda sesión, “La resurrección de Jesús: el caso del cristianismo resuelto”, Gil destacó que el cristianismo no se basa en sentimientos, sino en hechos históricos verificables. La iglesia, dijo, debe estar preparada no solo para proclamar el evangelio, sino también para defenderlo con gentileza y claridad.

Equipados para avanzar

Los talleres de Apoderados ofrecieron herramientas prácticas para la misión. Entre ellos, Humberto González, pastor hispano de la Primera Iglesia Bautista de Dallas, hizo hincapié en los modelos bíblicos de discipulado y crecimiento evangelístico para la iglesia actual.

“Si una iglesia quiere crecer, debe hacer más discípulos, y para eso, la escuela dominical sigue siendo el modelo a seguir”, dijo.

José y Natalie Arzate compartieron estrategias para llegar a las generaciones Z y Alfa. El trabajo no termina con el simple hecho de llegar a esas generaciones, sino que continúa en un proceso de hacer discípulos.

“Si el discipulado no da como resultado una vida transformada, no es un discipulado bíblico”, dijo Arzarte.

Clara Molina abordó las mentiras culturales que afectan a las mujeres y cómo pueden defender la verdad bíblica con amor y respeto. “Para defender algo, primero necesitamos conocer la verdad de Dios”, dijo.

Apoderados concluyó con un poderoso recordatorio: la evangelización no es una estrategia pasajera, sino la identidad de la iglesia enviada por Cristo. Ante las oportunidades históricas y los desafíos culturales, el llamado es claro: depender del Señor, proclamar el evangelio y avanzar con fidelidad.

EMPOWER 2026: Apoderados call is clear—evangelism is part of every church’s core identity

FORT WORTH—Apoderados, the Spanish-language evangelism event organized by the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and held in conjunction with the annual Empower Conference, brought together Hispanic leaders from across the state with a clear message: Evangelism is not optional—it is the very essence of the church.

Approximately 175 pastors and their wives gathered for a special dinner on Friday night, Feb. 20, followed by 520 attendees on Saturday for general sessions and practical workshops. Worship during the conference was led by the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Cántico Nuevo praise team.

On Friday, SBTC En Español Director Luis González shared a strategic vision related to the upcoming FIFA World Cup soccer championships, which is estimated to attract millions of visitors to the state. González said he sees the event not simply as a sporting celebration, but as an unprecedented mission field. To this end, the SBTC will be offering training for churches.

The evening was hosted by González and Bruno Molina, executive director of the National Hispanic Baptist Network. SBTC Associate Executive Director Joe Lightner was also present, thanking Hispanic leadership and highlighting how the conference reflects the heart of the convention.

“Here you will experience resources, connection, and the advancement of the mission together,” Lightner said. “All of this mobilization is possible thanks to the generosity of our churches through the Cooperative Program. Thank you for giving so that we can mobilize churches and have an impact throughout Texas and beyond.”

Send Network SBTC Hispanic catalyst Eddie Lopez addressed the church planting teams present, reminding them that Texas continues to have the highest number of church plants in the country. He encouraged leaders to continue developing sending churches.

What sustains ministry

Friday’s main message was presented by pastor and church planter Adrián Amézquita, who spoke about Mark 1:35–39 under the theme, “What sustains ministry.”

“Ministry can drain us when everyone thinks we are full,” he said.

Amézquita warned about the danger of activism without God’s presence. In an environment marked by urgency and constant demand, Jesus modeled something different: setting aside time to pray. “Public power is born of private presence,” Amézquita said.

Amézquita reminded attendees that ministerial pressure can sometimes cause leaders to feel indispensable. “When we believe we are the savior, we stop seeking the Savior,” he said. Many leaders, he explained, fail not because of a lack of talent, but because of spiritual exhaustion.

His final call was clear: before we “do,” we must “be” with the Lord. Before we are shepherds, we are sheep, he said.

Evangelism in the present day

On Saturday, a lunchtime panel composed of several pastors, speakers, and SBTC staff members addressed the topic, “Exercising evangelism and mission in today’s world.” The conversation highlighted contemporary challenges facing the church, including moral relativism, growing technological dependence, cultural skepticism, and generational change in the way faith is processed.

The panelists agreed that although culture changes, God’s message does not. The gospel remains the power of God for salvation. However, the church must communicate it with clarity, conviction, and cultural sensitivity. It was emphasized that evangelism cannot be limited to special events, but a call for every believer to share their faith.

Defending faith in a skeptical culture

On Saturday morning, apologist Jorge Gil presented teachings under the theme, “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist,” inspired by the book of the same name.

Gil addressed fundamental questions about truth, the existence of God, and the historical reliability of Jesus’ resurrection. During a time when younger generations turn to artificial intelligence to resolve spiritual doubts, Gil emphasized the need for an informed and well-founded faith.

During his second session, “The Resurrection of Jesus: Christianity Case Solved,” Gil stressed that Christianity does not rest on feelings, but on verifiable historical facts. The church, he said, must be prepared not only to proclaim the gospel, but to defend it with gentleness and clarity.

Equipped to move forward

Apoderados workshops offered practical tools for mission. Humberto González, Hispanic pastor of First Baptist Dallas, spoke about biblical models of discipleship and evangelistic growth for the church.

“If a church wants to grow, it must make more disciples, and for that, Sunday school continues to be the model to follow,” he said.

José and Natalie Arzate shared strategies for reaching generations Z and Alpha. The work does not end with simply reaching those generations, but instead, continue in a process of making disciples.

“If discipleship does not result in a transformed life, it is not biblical discipleship,” Arzate said.

Clara Molina addressed cultural lies that affect women and how they can defend biblical truth with love and respect. “In order to defend something, we first need to know God’s truth,” she said.

Apoderados concluded with a powerful reminder: Evangelism is not a passing strategy, but the identity of the church sent by Christ. In the face of historic opportunities and cultural challenges, the call is clear—depend on the Lord, proclaim the gospel, and move forward with faithfulness.

God is the goal of the gospel

“In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a person to get to heaven?”

This key question has stuck with me since I first heard it training as a youth in Bobby Welch’s FAITH evangelism method. I remember going door-to-door with the church that equipped me to evangelize, and by God’s grace, I saw numerous people come to faith and brought into the life of the church.

While this method was effective in inviting people to consider how to get to heaven, I came under a conviction that we were unintentionally withholding a crucial element of the gospel. Sure, the FAITH method and other evangelism tools like it shared the truth that Christ died for our sins according to Scriptures, that He was buried, and raised on the third day. But its target question stopped short of telling the whole gospel, withholding an incredible promise—the resurrection of the dead unto eternal life with God in a new heaven and a new earth.

I experienced a significant shift in how I evangelize and train others in evangelism about 15 years ago while pastoring in Trenton. Our aim in sharing the gospel was to ensure that when people died, they would go to heaven. We would ask people, “Do you know where you are going to go when you die?” Certainly, this is an important question, but is it the goal of the gospel that people who die go to heaven?

I wrestled with that question and became convinced that, without realizing it, we pushed God aside as the goal of the gospel. As a result, there were unintended consequences that impacted the church.

We were no longer comforted by the hope of resurrection.

Believe it or not, many Christians do not know or understand the hope that we have of resurrection. In 2020, I attended a relative’s funeral where the pastor stood up and said death was a door that led to the next part of this person’s journey.

If the gospel was simply about knowing where we are going when we die, why would we need any hope of the resurrection? Paul could’ve just told the Thessalonian believers to comfort one another with the reality that their loved ones are enjoying an eternal disembodied existence in heaven with God. Or he could’ve said those loved ones already received their immortal bodies upon death and told them to find solace in the idea that death guides the dead to their final resting place.

But Paul never says that. Yes, he does say, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” However, that state was only to be temporary. He would go on to say in that same letter that he wanted to share in the sufferings of Jesus, including His death, so that he might share in His resurrection from the dead. Why? Because death is not a friend, not a doorway, or anything else positive and good.

To be clear, death is an enemy—the last enemy to be vanquished and placed beneath the feet of our resurrected king. When death is dead, no one will shed a tear, and until the resurrection, we find ourselves in an intermediate state, awaiting the day when Christ’s foot will once again step upon the earth. It will be on that day that we will all shoot up from the ground like bluebonnets in spring and receive our new bodies, enjoying the new creation where it will be said, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man!”

When heaven is the goal of the gospel, we fall short of seeing God’s ultimate plan. But when God is the goal of the gospel, we are filled with a hope that extends beyond death, for upon the resurrection of the dead, death will work backward.

We forgot heaven has already come.

What makes heaven beautiful is the full, unfiltered presence of God. One day, we will see Him as He is. There will be no sin, no unholiness that will pollute our experience of God and His presence. We will enjoy Him as our first parents did in the garden.

In the meantime, God has gifted us with a foretaste of heaven, sealing every believer with the promised Holy Spirit. The heavens were torn open, God descended, and heaven came with Him. As the Spirit of God abides in every follower of Jesus, we carry with us a burning reality of heaven. And when believers join together as the church under the lordship of Christ every Sunday to worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we get to enjoy a foretaste of heaven divine as God inhabits the praise of His people.

We forgot to live the reconciled life now.

Paul told the Corinthian church we are ambassadors of reconciliation calling on the lost to be reconciled and restored into a right relationship with God. The beauty in that message is that we can enjoy a redeemed relationship with God now. We don’t have to wait until death.

When heaven is the goal of the gospel, we focus on a destination. But when God is the goal of the gospel, we focus on a relationship that can be lived out now unto eternity. It is the glorious truth that God is already with us—in the midst of all the sin, death, and brokenness—that causes me to long in greater degree for the day when I will be with Him in a world where everything sad becomes untrue.

George Eldon Ladd’s The Gospel of the Kingdom played a great part in shaping my understanding of the gospel. Also, I have appreciated evangelism tools like Two Ways to Live and Three Circles as they keep God has the hope of the gospel.

Don’t get me wrong, as someone who has preached more funerals and experienced much death, I long for heaven. But it is not the streets of gold, the mansions, or the saints that stir my longing. I long for God to create a world where nothing again will separate us from Him or His presence. God is the gospel, He is heaven, and He is our eternal home.

EMPOWER 2026: Pastor testifies to the ‘high priority’ of giving through the Cooperative Program

IRVING—In 3 John 5, John commends Gaius for his generosity to brothers and sisters in the faith.

Some 2,000 years later, standing behind a podium at the Irving Convention Center, West Conroe Baptist Church Senior Pastor Jesse Payne referenced that passage of Scripture and echoed John’s words before a ballroom filled with hundreds of believers representing Southern Baptists of Texas Convention churches from across the state.

Payne, the keynote speaker at this year’s Cooperative Program luncheon held Feb. 24 during the annual Empower Conference, thanked SBTC churches for their generous giving while issuing a stirring challenge.

“Kingdom cooperation is in our DNA as Southern Baptists and more so as New Testament Christians,” Payne said. “It is worth your church’s continual investment. It is one of the greatest tools to see the kingdom advance. … This goal, this vision, [should not be] the last item that is budgeted if there are a few dollars left over at the end of the month,” but instead “an item of high priority.”

Earlier, SBTC Associate Executive Director Joe Lightner explained the Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ united giving model for fulfilling the Great Commission. The SBTC forwards 55% of undesignated receipts to the Southern Baptist Convention for national and international ministry while retaining 45% to mobilize Texas churches. Those churches are mobilized on three pathways: resourcing churches, networking leaders, and advancing mission.

“CP maximizes a church’s return on kingdom investment,” Lightner said. Later, SBTC Executive Director Nathan Lorick added that the Cooperative Program “is still the most effective financial means for churches to cooperate to see the world won for Christ.”

In addressing the luncheon, Payne said his aim was not so much to preach a sermon, but to offer an encouraging reminder “about your church’s place in the story God is writing around the world through the Cooperative Program.”

He then shared how CP giving had shaped his own story.

‘Let’s stay faithful’

As a 21-year-old college baseball player, Payne’s sights were set on a professional career as a player, scout, coach, or front office executive. He had opportunities, but developed a deep burden that the Lord wanted him to serve in a local church.

“I love people, the Scriptures … I wanted to serve,” Payne said. “I had no clue what a call to ministry meant. I could turn a double play, but I could barely turn to the book of Haggai.”

Payne started attending a Southern Baptist church where he met his future wife, met fellow believers, and learned that his seminary education could be partially subsidized through the Cooperative Program.

“Just like I have never gotten over the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have never gotten over the generosity of Southern Baptists throughout the country who helped me,” Payne said.

That generous spirit, he argued, must be maintained.

“In a world increasingly marked by individualism, suspicion of authority, economic uncertainty, and tribalism … the risk is that people and even churches will pull back and begin to do their thing rather than our thing,” he said. “Our thing as Southern Baptists has always been coming together to advance the gospel to the ends of the earth.”

Confusion reigns in our culture, Payne said, but God has called Christians not to be confused about what is of first importance: Christ’s death and resurrection—the news of which they have been commissioned to carry throughout the nations.

“In this broken world, let’s not be confused. Let’s stay faithful. Let’s stay generous,” Payne urged. “I can’t wait to see the stories God will write through the churches represented in this room.”

EMPOWER 2026: Panel addresses burnout and finding a path forward

The Monday evening session of the 2026 Empower Conference included a question-and-answer session on the topic of avoiding ministry burnout. The panel, led by Southern Baptists of Texas Convention evangelism consultant Ryan Fontenot, included Amy Hinote, a pastor’s wife and educator; Danny Rangel, a young adult pastor; and Shanon Thomas, a pastor and counselor. The following is an excerpt of that conversation edited for clarity and length.

Fontenot: What’s often behind the feeling of burnout that a pastor or church leader might have?

Thomas: I think there are a couple of things happening when we see this. One is that we’re very good at establishing unrealistic expectations for ourselves. We look at the work we’re doing and establish these expectations that are not really realistic to where we are or to the tools or skills we have. The other thing is that we can be very good at working for God and not working with God. What tends to happen is, we look at the work we want to do, and we think it is a great work. In the meantime, the Lord is working [in a different place] in our ministry, and rather than working with Him, we’re over here working for Him. We’re not necessarily doing anything bad, but we’re not joining the work God is really doing. I’ve learned that when I’m joined to what God is doing and working with Him, it is always fruitful. When I’m working for God, the results are not as good.

Rangel: Social media is prevalent in the lives of every single one of us. What it causes us to do is look at what other people are doing, and we start comparing ourselves to them and then we feel so tempted to do what they are doing. I think social media is a beautiful thing, especially for churches and ministries, but I pray we would [interact on social media] not out of comparison, but out of celebration. … I don’t think Gen Z really cares as much about prosperity as they care about platforms. That’s the reality young adults are facing—not a false prosperity gospel, but a false platform gospel. “How can I raise my platform? How can I get more social media followers? How can I raise that status for myself?” My hope is that we can show them who Jesus is, and that they would fall more in love with Him and not more in love with a platform.

Hinote: I think as a pastor’s wife, you can struggle with your identity and say things like, “I’m not as good as the pastor’s wife over there” … or [question] what my role is. So, you compare yourself, and that is not the role God has called you to. If He wanted you to sing or lead the children’s ministry, He would have called you to do that. So, if you’re a pastor’s wife, you need to figure out what God is calling you to do in that role. … [Suffering in silence] makes you feel like you have nobody to talk to, that nobody would understand your position or how you can serve your church when nobody knows you’re struggling yourself. There’s things you can’t go talk to another woman about because it’s confidential information, or it’s a job change and so you harbor a lot of anxiety, maybe even anger inside, and you have no outlet for that.

Fontenot: What has God used to help pull you out of a season of despair that you’ve experienced?

Rangel: Fifteen years down the road of my ministry, there have been moments when burnout was close to being a reality. I think for me, having moments of rest, living a life of margin, [have helped]. Sabbath is one of those things we love to read about or listen to conversations about on podcasts, but something we rarely practice. I would encourage you to find really practical ways to make rest happen. Over the past couple of years, we’ve implemented some practices like putting our phones away. Our phones have a great setting where you can turn it on focus mode. It literally transforms my phone into Sabbath mode. That’s brought so much health and rhythm to my life.

Thomas: For me, it was really two things. One was to create a self-care routine. How do I take care of myself? How much sleep do I get? How much movement do I get? What am I putting in my body [for fuel]? The second thing is probably the most powerful for me—I learned how to be a servant. I wasn’t good at being a son in my relationship with the Lord. I really needed to work on that. I was very focused on what it means to serve others and to serve them well, but I hadn’t really focused on what it meant to be His son. That was transformational for me. I found rest in what it meant to just be His son.

Hinote: When I grew up, I was raised in a Christian home, but not a lot of personal Bible reading time was applied in my home. When I learned how to [Sabbath and rest], it grew my faith. When I’m getting stuck, I can recall Scripture, I can recall a story or a situation, and that would help me through that. Also, having somebody I can go and vent to in a safe space, instead of harboring these things inside, also helps. It’s a place for me to know somebody else cares. Sometimes I’m not looking for answers. I’m just looking for what you might call a listening ear, somebody to bounce an idea off of … somebody to reassure me that, “Yes, this is really happening, and it’s going to be OK.”

Fontenot: What would you say to somebody who’s in this room right now and they’re struggling and ready to quit?

Rangel: Remember that the gospel is for you, too. So many of us in this room are pastors. If somebody asked you to preach right now, you could articulate the gospel. … But when was the last time you reminded yourself of the gospel? I think [pastors and church leaders] need to be reminded that the gospel is for us, too. And when we’re reminded of that, we’re reminded of our identity in Jesus.

Thomas: That you have a Father who unconditionally loves you and sees where you are in this moment, and no matter how painful it may be, He will meet you in this moment and carry you through. That this is only a fraction of time that will pass, and He will even use the pain you’re dealing with right now to build upon what He’s going to do in and through you.

Hinote: You’re not alone. This reminds me of Mary. She was told she was going to [be the mother of] our Savior, and who does she turn to? Nobody believed her. You might feel that way, but you are not alone. God has a purpose for you. Ask for help and know God’s Word is there for you. That’s what you should turn to first, and then turn to somebody who can also lead you, encourage you, and edify you in those situations as you go through them.

Study: Pastors are hanging tough and remaining faithful to their calling

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.—The call to pastoral ministry is both a privilege and a weight. Despite frequent strain, data reveals very few pastors step away each year.

The 2025 Lifeway Research study, sponsored by Houston’s First Baptist Church and Richard Dockins, an occupational medicine physician concerned about pastoral attrition, surveyed more than 1,500 current Protestant pastors and more than 700 former Protestant pastors.

Only around 1 in 100 pastors leave the ministry each year, according to a Lifeway Research study of evangelical and Black Protestant pastors. The percentage of pastors who leave for reasons other than retirement or death has remained statistically unchanged over the past decade: 1.3% in 2015, 1.5% in 2021 and 1.2% in 2025.

“The rate of pastors departing the pastorate is steady and quite low given the demands of the role,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Many of those leaving feel they are moving at God’s direction to another role of ministry. However, it’s easy for both those outside and inside the church to fixate on those who leave because of conflict, burnout or moral failure. Speculation always overstates these cases, yet these are the outcomes churches can seek to prevent.”

Lifeway Research’s Beyond the Pulpit Insights Report explores key findings on pastoral resilience, burnout, family dynamics, counseling trends and factors that most influence long-term ministry health. Based on this research, the report uncovers insights to better support and strengthen ministry leaders in churches.

Pastors and their families

The pastor’s role can compete with their family for attention. When that happens, however, pastors say they choose home life over church life.

Among married pastors, 9 in 10 (89%) say their spouse is enthusiastic about their life in ministry together.

“Overall, pastors are very positive about their family life and report that their spouse is as well,” McConnell said. “They are not describing a utopia—in fact, almost half give a rating lower than strongly agree when saying their spouse is enthusiastic about their life in ministry together—but pastors are saying that in most cases, both they and their spouse are fully committed to this work despite its difficulty.”

For evangelical and Black Protestant pastors, 4 in 5 (80%) consistently put their family first when they have time conflicts, while 18% disagree and 2% aren’t sure.

Pastors and counseling

Compared to a decade ago, pastors have less training in counseling but are more hesitant to refer church members to professionals.

Most pastors follow best practices and refer a member to a professional counselor if the situation requires more than two sessions. Almost 3 in 4 (72%) say they refer someone after a couple of visits, but that’s down from 2015 (76%) and 2021 (77%).

Additionally, the number of pastors maintaining a list of counselors to whom they can refer people has steadily dropped over the past decade. In 2015, 2 in 3 pastors (67%) had such a list, but that fell to 60% in 2021 and down to almost half (52%) in 2025.

Compared to 10 years ago, churches are also less likely to have a lay counseling ministry. In 2015, 34% of congregations had this. That dropped to 28% in 2021 and remains at 27% today.

Despite being less likely to send people to professional counselors beyond their church and have lay counselors within their church, evangelical and Black Protestant pastors have less counseling training than they did a decade ago.

Few pastors (9%) have a graduate degree in counseling, a percentage that has remained steady over the past decade. But fewer pastors are gaining counseling knowledge in other ways.

In 2015, around 2 in 3 pastors (64%) attended a counseling conference. That fell to 58% in 2021 and less than half (48%) in 2025. The percentage of pastors who have read several books or articles on counseling has dropped from 90% in 2015 to 87% in 2021 and 81% in 2025.

“We are seeing a simultaneous decline in pastors developing their counseling skills, having lay counseling ministries and being ready to refer people to counselors they trust,” McConnell said. “If only one of those were down, we would say pastors’ methods were changing, but counseling appears to be getting less attention in general.”

Evaluating why pastors leave the pulpit

Few pastors leave the pulpit each year, but those who do mostly say it was a personal decision.

Among pastors from four denominations who stepped down, 2 in 5 (40%) say it was related to a change in their calling.

Other leading causes are conflict in a church (18%), burnout (16%), family issues (10%) and personal finances (10%). Some point to an illness (6%), being a poor fit with a church (6%), not being able to find a church that was a good fit (4%), denominational issues (4%) or the church closing or issues related to the pandemic (3%). Only 1% blame a lack of preparation for the job. While pastors stepping down for a moral or ethical issue garners the most headlines, only 3% are connected to that. Some say another reason (6%) or none of these (3%).

“Because social media tends to spread current stories that are far from normative, we run the risk of becoming convinced of falsehoods about pastors today,” McConnell said. “This research study provides uncommon access to a reliable sample from four denominations of those who left the pastorate early, and the most frequent reason for stepping away from the senior pastor role is them claiming God’s leadership to do so.”

Despite leaving the pastorate, half (53%) of former pastors are still working in the ministry, just in a role other than pastor. A third (32%) work in a non-ministry role. Few took early retirement (7%), disability (3%), are currently looking for work (2%) or have some other employment situation (2%).

Next steps for pastors and churches

The research illuminates the realities pastors and church leaders face, offering a nuanced understanding of what sustains ministry over time and what threatens its continuity. Ultimately, the data clarifies that pastoral wellness isn’t just a personal matter; it’s a shared responsibility. Thus, the research invites both pastors and their churches to take steps toward pastor health and wellness.

In the latest Lifeway Research report, insights based on the 2025 pastor wellness data equip pastors and church leaders to take steps toward long-term ministry health. This report will challenge pastors and leaders to clarify expectations, invest in family, maintain rhythms of rest, cultivate transparent relationships and engage trusted counseling experiences.

EMPOWER 2026: Wilkin calls Christians to embrace the power of working together

IRVING— Women of all ages flocked to the Irving Convention Center on Monday, Feb. 23, to hear author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin at the Empower Conference Women’s Session.

Wilkin entertained and informed in two sessions filled with humor, amusing family anecdotes, a lengthy Q&A time, and Scripture. Worship was led by Cody and Anna Kujawa and Summer Franklin from First Baptist Church in Celina.

For her main message, Wilkin focused on John 14:12-14, where Jesus promises believers they will do greater works than even He has done and reveals the importance of praying in His name. John 14 is the reason Christians pray in Jesus’ name, she explained.

“Names imply something about the person,” Wilkin explained. “The same is true of the name of Jesus.” The name of Jesus references the “sum total of His character.” Praying in His name is tantamount to saying to the Lord, “According to who you have shown yourself to be, let it be done.”

Praying in Jesus’ name is different from “postage-stamping my agenda,” Wilkin said, and is actually a form of submission. Indeed, the fundamental purpose of prayer is that we would be in submission, not control, she added. “The locus of power … is not with us,” she said.

Greater works than Jesus?

What about the promise that believers will do even greater things than Jesus did?

Wilkin noted John 14 is part of what is known as the “upper room discourse,” Jesus’ final moments with the disciples as a group. These same men had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus, restoring sight to the blind, casting out demons, cleansing lepers, feeding thousands, walking on water, and calming storms—acts that demonstrated His power over the spiritual and physical realms, even life and death.

“When we think of greater works that we can do in Jesus’ name, we think of miracles,” Wilkin said. Referencing Matthew 7:21-23, she reminded the audience of Jesus’ words to those who claimed to have prophesied, driven out demons, and done miracles in His name: “Depart from me, you lawbreakers.”

“We are drawn to the flash. We are drawn to the spectacle,” Wilkin said, adding, “Jesus means something greater than this”—an empowering of believers that began at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended.

Our works can be greater than those of Jesus in that in His humanity, His ministry was regional. He was limited to one physical body in the incarnation. He primarily taught a small audience of only 12 men. He had no social media, webpages, microphones, or podcasts to amplify His message. There is no record of His speaking more than two languages.

“We don’t think that proximity to other believers who are filled with the Spirit is as powerful or meaningful as proximity to Jesus,” Wilkin said, but when we have proximity to other believers, we have proximity to Jesus.

The key is understanding John 14 in the original language, she said. When Jesus says “you,” He is speaking corporately, as if He were saying “y’all,” Wilkin explained. Thus, it is not for the individual to pray in Jesus’ name, but for “y’all” to do so. She urged listeners to understand how Jesus’ original hearers would have understood His words.

A call to commitment

The power of believers working together led to a conversation about the dangers of the modern church drifting toward individualism. This, Wilkin noted, can sometimes be fueled by phraseology that emphasizes a person’s ability to have a “personal” relationship with Jesus Christ.

“The Bible spends very little time talking about your personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” Wilkin said.

Christian witness, she said, must be collective: “We need each other. We need a collective obedience.”

Wilkin also lamented a dearth of biblical literacy and biblical fluency. Quiet times are good, she noted, but “quiet time culture” can be toxic, with devotionals often lacking depth.

When interpreting Scripture, it is important to consider layers of application, she added. It is more important for us to understand “What did it mean for them for then?” and “What does it mean for us and for always?” than “What does it mean for me and for now?”

If we are to fulfill the Great Commission, we must be disciples and make disciples, defined not as converts but learners, she said. Jesus walked the earth only 33 years. Current life expectancy in the U.S. is 80. We have more earthly time than the Lord did, she noted. We must not waste it.

“Discipleship takes a lot more time and a lot more work than converting. So does sanctification,” she said.

May we become “quicker to repent” and “slower to repeat,” she said of sin, ending with not only a call to Christian fellowship but also a commitment to the Word.

“It’s a big book,” she said of the Bible. “But we have been given way more time than other generations … a wealth of ways to amplify the message.”

And, as Wilkin says, to be “godly together.”

EMPOWER 2026: Shepherds Collective events underscore the value of connections through SBTC networks

IRVING—Over the course of two days, pastor and seminary professor Robert Smith Jr. poured out his heart to other pastors and shared the experience he has gained over decades of ministry.

Beginning Sunday, Feb. 22, Smith led a preaching summit hosted by the Shepherds Collective, speaking about the Holy Spirit’s central role in the proclamation of God’s Word. The next day, on the official start of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s annual Empower Conference, he participated in a question-and-answer session that covered topics ranging from his advice to younger pastors to the importance of maintaining personal spiritual disciplines.

“I preach out of the depths of my devotional life,” Smith said during the Q&A, “and they have given me stability. My preaching life goes as my devotional life goes.”

Later, Shepherds Collective pastors and others attended a dinner where panelists discussed artificial intelligence, deconstruction, and preaching in a rapidly changing world.

The events illustrated the value of SBTC networks that offer not only a venue for information and ideas to be shared, but for connections to be made. Networking leaders is one of the SBTC’s three pathways, and as such, networks exist for children’s, student, and collegiate ministry leaders, pastors’ wives, executive pastors, and many more.

Josh Fields, lead pastor of First Baptist Church in Iowa Park, said he has been a member of the Shepherds Collective since its inception and, before that, the Young Pastors Network. He said the network brings value to his life and ministry through the friendships he has built with people who can relate to his calling.

“They understand the joy, the toil, and the burden of pastoral ministry,” Fields said. “We are all doing the same basic work which, by nature, creates a camaraderie. … I’m convinced that lifelong ministry is fueled by long-term friendships that encourage and strengthen you. Shepherds Collective has created more opportunities for these.”

Like Fields, Ed Fenton—senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Malakoff—attended the preaching summit. He said Smith’s insights reminded him that “the effectiveness and power of preaching doesn’t come from personal giftedness, but through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.” Fenton added that the connections he has made through SBTC networks such as the Shepherds Collective have been invaluable as he fulfills God’s calling on his life through the local church.

“It really is a brotherhood where we sharpen one another, encourage one another, and are spurred on by one another to continue fighting the good fight of the faith,” Fenton said. “It’s always good to be with other pastors who are striving to lead their churches well.”

Click here if you are a lead pastor and want to learn more about joining the Shepherds Collective.