FBC Portland pastors walk through Pave together; emphasize baptisms and discipleship

First Baptist Church Portland “had been through a period of plateau and decline” that was “accelerated by COVID,” so pastor Ron Earley began searching for resources and programs to revitalize his church.   

In spring 2024, Earley and FBC Portland’s associate pastor, Austin Young, met with Jonathan Smith, director of Church Health and Growth at Texas Baptists, to discuss whether or not Pave, Texas Baptists’ church revitalization strategy, was the right fit for them. 

“I was looking for outside perspectives and ideas on how to move forward, and I investigated several. We interviewed, met with other groups and had a meeting with Jonathan. He met with us online personally and [we] decided that was the best process for us,” said Earley.

Earley and Young began the Pave process together in October 2024. Earley said he decided to go through Pave alongside Young to increase their collaboration, divide responsibilities and “get each other's perspectives on things [we learn].” 

Young said they have not faced the same challenges as other pastors in their cohort because they have “complementary strengths.” 

“Ron's been able to provide a lot of wisdom to me,” said Young. “This is my first full-time ministry job, and so being only six years in, I'm starting to gain that people experience [that seminary education doesn’t teach you]. But to be able to hear the experience of someone that's done this a lot longer has really kind of helped me develop [those skills].”

Earley said that from their different strengths, he’s been able to gain a different generational perspective on ministry from Young. 

“Austin's educational experience is fresher. He's been exposed to more current [ministry tools, and] I haven't been in that environment formally in a while. I think once again, [having] different perspectives… that’s been really positive [for us],” said Earley. 

Earley said that the relationship he has built with Young, walking through Pave together, has encouraged their congregation. 

“Churches are multi-generational and we struggle some in our context sometimes with the [gap between the] older and the younger [generations], but it's really not about that. It's really about all of us trying to accomplish the mission of the church [together],” said Earley. 

Emphasizing baptisms had “an immediate impact” 

Early and Young decided to lean into the Pave principle “display the church you want to become” and began emphasizing baptisms, membership and mission trip reports.

To emphasize baptisms, video testimonies are shown and a sermon series is about to kick off where members “share their story about growing in Christ.” 

Earley said this has had “an immediate impact” on the congregation. 

“We had a spell right after we started [emphasizing baptisms] where we baptized a whole bunch and then we didn't baptize for a couple months and people thought that was weird. Whereas I think before we emphasized [baptisms], people wouldn't think it was weird to have a gap in baptism,” explained Young. 

Young said emphasizing baptisms has shifted “the overall mentality of the church.” 

“Intentionally highlighting things that God is doing [and] making the church aware of those things [is] a huge thing,” explained Young. “I think that people feel like the Lord is doing something, and it's something that's tangible… Church members are starting to shift their attention to it.”

Earley said he has seen “more energy, more enthusiasm,” and awareness, from church members about how God is moving as he and Young have applied Pave principles to their leadership. He said he hopes to provide the congregation with more context behind the “why” of implementing those principles. 

“The ‘Know Your Church,’ the demographic and psychographic report – a simple stat I can pull out of there… is that 60% of our community are millennials or younger,” explained Earley. “People get in their own bubble, they only see what they want to see, and so, I'm looking forward to when we really expand some of that out into the church to help inform people and help people understand more of, ‘This is why we're doing this. This is why we think we should do this,’ not just because it's cool or new or innovative… I hope [the reports will] really help us with that.”

21-week discipleship study creates “tighter spiritual community”

FBC Portland has also been putting an emphasis on discipleship with a 21-week discipleship study called, “The Grow Series,” which started with the church’s leadership team last September. 

Earley said there has been a unique response to the study. 

“I just became burdened that our leaders needed to be discipled, and I thought, ‘I've been here 14 years, and so I thought ‘[If] I would have spent time [investing in] three or four or five people every year for 14 years, just think how many people that would be… [So] I said, ‘Now let's start!” said Earley. “Men have primarily latched on, which I think is unique for our setting. The women have [too], but the people that are most excited are men.”

Young said he was pleasantly surprised by how God moved in his “Grow Series” cohort. 

“I did the 21-weeks with three other guys in my church and I was kind of expecting it to go as well as it did. But [I got] to see each of these guys grow in their faith, and grow in their ability to share in their faith, and really hunger for the things of God and also their desire to [say], ‘Let's take what we have learned [and apply it],’” said Young. “Now they're going to start their own cohorts this fall.”

Young said the discipleship study has “really developed into more of a tighter spiritual community within the church.” 

“Out of that 21-week study, I built a community [where] we still text every day. It's just been something that obviously God has breathed on, as I’ve built those relationships… It's this picture of discipleship that now they're walking through this with other people and building those relationships,” said Young. 

Young said he was encouraged by the Pave principle “don’t microwave the brisket.” He encouraged pastors going through revitalization to not rush the process. 

“My tendency is to rush into things and to just try and get it done all at once… [and] you can get discouraged because it takes a while, but you can also burn yourself out trying to do all of it at once, too,” said Young. “So sitting back watching God work, trusting the process, and not microwaving the brisket, I think is pretty important.” 

Earley echoed this. He encouraged pastors to “not get discouraged [and] don’t give up.” 

"It's taken us a long time to get where we're at, so [Pave is] not like a magic bullet that’s going to fix everything. It's going to take time for us to move forward and grow through this. So just be encouraged to work through it. Don't give up,” said Earley. 

Earley and Young’s Pave coach, Doug Cassady said the pair’s receptiveness and application of what they assessed and learned in Pave has made them valuable leaders. 

"Leadership openness and the resulting servanthood provide one of the powerful ingredients towards church revitalization,” said Cassady. “[Earley and Young’s] love for their church and community drives this servant-hearted approach, and its value can't be overstated. They are leaders who love, learn, and serve.” 

Visit txb.org/pave to learn more about Pave and how it can be a resource to your congregation.