Author: Russell Lightner

5 minutes: Q&A with Pam Copeland

Pam Copeland recently retired after 35 years of faithful service as children’s minister at Southcrest Baptist Church in Lubbock. The lifelong Southcrest member met her husband, Mark, in the church’s youth group. They have now been married 44 years. In March, Copeland was honored with a lifetime ministry award at the Heart of the Child Conference for preschool, children’s and family ministry leaders.

What are some of the changes you’ve seen in children’s ministry over your more than three decades of service? 

I would say technology and screen time have been the biggest changes. Keeping kids involved with different attention-grabbers is hard when their little minds are in constant motion already. We know screens are here to stay, so we tried to embrace change and use it to help keep kids involved while also keeping traditional hands-on techniques as well. I always wanted learning about God to be fun. At the core, kids just want to be known, seen, validated, and loved—and God sees all of that. We talk every time we meet about Jesus and what He did for me and them. 

How did you adjust to the changing times?

We adjusted to these changes by using videos to help keep kids involved during our large group times, but we always circled back to being hands-on in God’s Word. We let them know how to use the Bible to find the answers and how they can apply it in their everyday lives. Our culture has a way of [leaning heavily] into technology, but teaching our kids to listen to and think through God’s Word on their own has always been at the root of what we do. Change is inevitable, so see what works and be willing to be flexible. We have to think of these times as an ever-changing way to share a never-changing message. 

What are some of the most effective strategies you’ve put into place or seen others use to teach the Bible to children?

Bible drill has always been one of my favorite ways to teach the Bible to kids. Awana is another great discipleship tool to keep kids involved. If kids don’t know where to find things in their Bible, they become uninterested and give up. It is like trying to get to someone’s house without an address. We want them to seek Him and look to God’s Word for guidance. The Bible is not just a book of do’s and don’ts, but a book of action, adventure, love, and history that is alive with all God has for them. Lifeway’s Explorer Bible is so great for all kids and helps them learn so much. Scripture memory will always stay with a child, and we know God’s Word doesn’t return void. They will use this knowledge the rest of their lives. 

What are some things you can celebrate in children’s ministry at Southcrest as you retire?

Relationships with kids, parents, and my volunteers have been my greatest joy in ministry. Getting to serve with and alongside them all has changed me forever. My heart is full. People at Southcrest have always been servants and invested in me, and I was blessed to be able to share that with others. 

What’s next for you?

Well, I have never found in God’s Word where it says we are to ever quit sharing the gospel or serving, so I will continue to serve in my church, travel, spend time with my family, and see what grand adventure the Lord directs me to next.

Making the gospel accessible to all people

Editor’s note: Each year on the second Sunday in July, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention churches celebrate Disability Ministry Sunday as a reminder of our calling to make the gospel accessible to all people. Disability Ministry Sunday this year is July 12.

In 2020, Lifeway Research shared the results of a study on church accessibility. They found that 99% of Protestant pastors and 97% of Protestant churchgoers believed that people with disabilities would feel welcome at their churches. 

When families like mine read these results, we were astounded. Based on our experiences, we knew the percentage of churches that are accessible and welcoming to our families was nowhere near 99%. There was clearly a gap between what pastors and churchgoers believed and what people with disabilities and their families experienced.

Part of that gap comes down to two words in the question: “disabilities” and “welcome.” “Disabilities” is one word that describes thousands of experiences. It describes a senior adult using a wheelchair for mobility and a 10-year-old who has an autism diagnosis. There’s a big difference in what they need from a church to participate. 

The word “welcome” is also broad. Does it mean a person in a wheelchair can get in the building because there’s a ramp? Or does it mean there are opportunities for the 10-year-old to be discipled at his level of cognitive understanding in a sensory environment where he feels safe and calm?

When families hear that churches believe they are welcoming, they are still left wondering exactly what that means for their loved one with a disability. What steps of accessibility and inclusion is the church taking? 

These families make up a considerable percentage of the population across Texas. For many of them, Sunday morning is not a time of rest and spiritual renewal. Think about the experience of that family that has a 10-year-old with autism. Church can be a logistical challenge filled with uncertainty about whether their child will be accepted, whether staff will know how to respond if he has a meltdown, and whether they will be able to sit in the service or spend the entire hour in the hallway.

I reached out to my local school district to ask how many students are in the special education program, either under an individualized education program or 504 support, which provides accommodations to students with disabilities. They said it’s close to 25%. That means 25% of the kids and teens in my Houston suburb need accommodations to learn at school. These same students may need accommodations at church to learn, participate, and respond to the gospel as well. But do our children’s and youth ministry volunteers feel equipped to meet these needs? Are our worship services accessible to those with physical and sensory needs? Do people with disabilities have opportunities to serve their churches with the gifts God has given them? 

It’s also worth remembering that disability touches nearly every family at some point. A car accident, a diagnosis, the natural aging process—any of these can bring disability into a household that never anticipated it. When that moment comes, the church has a profound opportunity to be a source of comfort, community, and hope—but only if it has already done the work of becoming a place where people with disabilities are genuinely known and included, not just tolerated. For many churches, there are still steps they can take, but they may not be aware of the resources available to help.

"If you want to reach people with disabilities, share the gospel with them, and include them in your church’s opportunities for discipleship, worship, fellowship, and service."

Sandra Peoples Tweet

Church accessibility for people with disabilities will be a big topic at this year’s Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando. The Disability Ministry Task Force, appointed last year by the Executive Committee, will present its findings and recommendations. They will include recommendations for state conventions, and I’m happy to report the SBTC is already leading the way in meeting these recommendations. We have a disability ministry consultant available to talk about the steps your church can take. We have six regional specialists who can evaluate your church’s current level of accessibility and lead trainings for volunteers and church leaders. Our team includes a specialist who can equip our Spanish-speaking churches.

Another way we support churches seeking to be more accessible is through our Disability Ministry Network, which includes a newsletter and a Facebook group. These opportunities are available to any church leader or volunteer who wants to keep up with trainings and conference sessions, learn more about resources, and ask questions that other ministry leaders can respond to with their experience and expertise. 

Lifeway Research recently did a follow-up study to the one released in 2020. Those results have not yet been released, but I anticipate a decline in the number of pastors and churchgoers who say people with disabilities would feel welcome at their churches. But that will be good news! It will show that more churches are aware of the needs they aren’t currently meeting for people with disabilities in their communities. That realization is the first step in reaching out for help and getting training so your children’s ministry, youth ministry, and every ministry in your church will feel equipped and ready to include the people with disabilities and their families God will bring to your church.

The mission field is ripe with opportunity. If you want to reach people with disabilities, share the gospel with them, and include them in your church’s opportunities for discipleship, worship, fellowship, and service—then reach out for help. Start by joining our Disability Ministry Network and let us know what steps you want to take from there. Let’s make every SBTC church a place where every special-needs family is welcome and included.

A letter to God’s leaders

Dear leader,

What an awesome task we have before us. Leadership in the Lord’s church is one of the greatest and gravest assignments an individual can receive. I am constantly reminded how amazing it is to participate in seeing God’s kingdom come to my small piece of this world. It should be our heart’s desire to bring heaven to earth in every deed, word, and thought.

On the other hand, leadership has many challenges. There is always a deadline we must meet and a decision we have to make. I know I cannot be the only one who sometimes feels the weight of the world on my shoulders. 

Although leadership has its rewards, it can also have its regrets. I believe there are three key areas we must never forsake if we want to maximize the time God has entrusted to us.

"My friends, life is a road we have never driven before. Why risk being on spiritual fumes? "

Caleb Turner Tweet

Do not forsake your health

Earlier this year, I began to have a massive headache while I was preaching. By the time I finished, there was a pain shooting from the back of my neck to my head. My blood pressure had skyrocketed and I slowly began to lose the ability to speak. My wife rushed me to the emergency room, and I was quickly admitted to the hospital. I literally went from preaching to being unable to formulate a sentence to undergoing tests.

Needless to say, we were scared. By God’s grace, our fears were soon alleviated, and the event seemed to be an outlier. However, I was reminded of how important health is. The Bible reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We must not forget how important it is to take care of ourselves physically.

Do not forsake your family

As the son of a pastor, I never felt like the church came before me. There may have been moments when I dreaded being there all the time. Yet I never got the impression that ministry was more significant than me to my dad. While faith was always a priority in our home, we knew leading a church was not more important to him than guiding his family.

I try to model the same for my children. Every chance I get, I volunteer at their schools, coach their sports teams, and make my home a place where their friends will want to hang out. Family is a priority. Will there be times when the demands of ministry call me away and I miss things in their lives? Yes. However, I try to ensure these instances are exceptions and not the rule.

Do not forsake your personal time with God

There are seasons when it seems there are not enough hours in the day. I had to learn to regard my time with God as if it were foundational and not a luxury. Without personal time with God, ministry becomes functional but shallow—efficient but not transformational.

Every day our decisions build habits. Often these habits will either drive us further from God’s desire for our lives or pull us closer to Him. If you have ever driven your car on “E,” you know this can be a rather tense situation. Now, imagine driving down country roads you’ve never been on before. The tension is magnified. My friends, life is a road we have never driven before. Why risk being on spiritual fumes? 

If we are going to be all that we need to be as leaders, these three keys are essential. They have been so important to my personal and spiritual growth. I pray God provides you wisdom, courage, and strength as you serve Him faithfully.

Greater clarity, stronger unity

It’s finally happened. Life snuck up on me faster than I expected. I am now at a point where I must always keep a pair of reading glasses with me. It’s not that I can’t see without them; it’s just that when I put them on, I see more clearly. That’s simply part of life.

The same is true for organizations. Governing documents are among the many lenses that provide operational focus to an organization. To strengthen that clarity, a special review committee was appointed last August to examine and propose amendments to the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Constitution and Bylaws. The committee worked diligently and in full unity to propose changes to our Executive Board. 

The board has voted to present these changes to the messengers at the SBTC Annual Meeting in October. The convention will discuss and vote on these changes this year, with a second potential vote in 2027. You can read the proposed changes in this issue. 

Over the past four years, there has been extensive discussion at the national and state levels about the office of pastor/elder/overseer. For the SBTC, affirmations related to this office are required for affiliation. Our Credentials Committee has done a phenomenal job navigating difficult conversations and decisions as they have arisen. I know firsthand how they have prayed, discussed, and, with grace, made decisions and recommendations to our Executive Board. I am so grateful for the integrity with which they have operated. 

Greater clarity will serve our convention’s committees well, and these proposed amendments help provide that clarity. I am excited that messengers will have the opportunity to discuss and vote on them. 

The SBTC has been, remains, and will continue to be a confessional fellowship rooted in the Word of God. We are seeing God do many incredible things among us. It’s amazing to see churches working together to multiply disciple-making movements in Texas and around the world. We believe these proposed changes to our Constitution and Bylaws offer an opportunity to continue moving forward in doctrinal unity and with a stronger missional focus. 

I love you and am honored to serve you.