A desire for kingdom connection and impact

On Sunday, my wife and I had the privilege of attending First Baptist Church in Midland and preaching in both English-language services. FBC Midland is an exemplary church in regard to missions in their community, their region and around the world. Their commitment to the Cooperative Program is exceptional. I enjoyed sharing with them the kind of impact they have.

On Tuesday, I had the honor of preaching in the Baptist University of the Américas’ chapel. As we worshiped with students and sensed their joy and their commitment, I thanked God for the partnership we share with BUA.

While in San Antonio, we had lunch with area pastors at the San Antonio Baptist Association offices on Tuesday and with Kerrville area pastors on Wednesday. I am so thankful for these pastors and the respective associational leaders, Darrel Horn and Robert Wheat.

As I interact with church members, university students and leaders, I sense that there is gratitude for the cooperative work we share. When they hear about professions of faith, vocational ministry students receiving theological education, churches planted, BSM work, revitalized churches, River Ministry and more, their eyes light up, and often they applaud.

My experience during these visits around the state is not that people do not care about the churches, partners, and ministry staff of the state convention, or the Cooperative Program that funds our shared ministries and missions, but often that they are not sufficiently informed about our combined kingdom impact. There may be multiple reasons why this is so, including those at the local church level, as well as at the convention level. Yet, the desire for kingdom connection and impact seems very much alive.

When Paul commended the Philippians for their financial support, he acknowledged that they had the disposition for generosity but had not had the opportunity to demonstrate it (4:10). In other words, they had not been informed how they could be a blessing. Yet, when they were informed, they exercised faithful stewardship.

This week, as I shared with pastors how to subscribe to this weekly update, one of them shared with me the following, “every year when our finance committee plans for the following year’s budget, they want to know what the Cooperative Program is and what it accomplishes. This year one of the committee members told the rest of the committee, ‘I get a weekly email update that tells me what happens with the Cooperative Program offerings we give. You all should subscribe.”

That story made my day. Yet, it also reminded me how many folks do not know or understand the power of what we do together as the Texas Baptists family through the Cooperative Program. Our communications team has been working diligently to share stories with you that will inform you and that you can share with others in your church.

Here is a link to CP stories in a written format, as well as videos that you can download and share with your Sunday School class, small group, staff, leadership team and in a worship service. We will keep this page updated and share it with you weekly. I believe people will rejoice and renew their commitment to participate.

And while we are telling stories of convention work and cooperation among churches, allow me to share with you a video about a recent trip some of our Texas Baptists pastors made to Ukraine as part of the Healing Path partnership between Texas Baptists and the Ukraine Baptist Union, led by Pastor Brent Gentzel of First Baptist Church Kaufman.

What an incredible opportunity and what great commitment these pastors and churches are demonstrating to serve! What a great example of how we are better together! What a great testimony of the power of cooperative work!

I invite you to pray for the Healing Path Partnership in Ukraine. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing. I’m looking forward to seeing you in Waco soon.

The growing lostness in our state and in our world compels us to pray together, collaborate together and together advance the mission of God. The greatest faithfulness to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will be lived out when we work together as churches, institutions and ministries. May we accomplish God’s purpose in our generation!

Next week I will be in Weslaco, Port Isabel and McAllen/Mission. See you soon!