Weekly Update
Go Now students commissioned to serve this summer
May 27, 2026
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)
Pentecost Sunday is behind us, and summer church ministry is afoot! During the weeks between Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday, Texas Baptists provided a prayer guide for churches and individuals to join together to pray for a GC2 Awakening.
We are thankful for all who have participated and are confident that God is at work answering our prayers. We also encourage you to continue to pray for God to awaken us to his heart and his mission. In fact, we are offering additional prayer prompts this week around the topic of the Holy Spirit’s power.
Speaking of prayer, I was honored to offer the commissioning prayer for our Go Now summer missionaries this past Sunday at Dallas Baptist University. What a moving experience it is to see hundreds of college students from across Texas and beyond investing themselves this summer in mission opportunities.
Over 500 BSMers have answered the call this year to serve through Texas Baptists Go Now Missions. Some have done so as semester missionaries. Others served during the Christmas break. Approximately 300 are doing it as summer missionaries.
The assignments include serving in strategic areas of Texas, in other states such as Utah, Washington State and New York, and internationally, including Brazil, Taiwan, Central Asia and Uganda.
Imagine DBU’s Pilgrim Chapel filled with these students, their parents, their BSM directors, in some cases, their pastors and church members. They sang worship songs at the top of their lungs. They heard a challenging message from Eric Hunter, BSM director at West Texas A&M University. They prayed over each other and they stepped on the platform to be commissioned.
I thanked them for saying “yes.” I thanked their parents and churches for supporting them. I thanked their BSM directors for mentoring them and investing in them, and I thank you for supporting them through your prayers and faithful giving through the Cooperative Program.
I’m thankful for Mark Jones and the Texas BSM team, who provide excellent leadership. I’m thankful for Brenda Sanders, who leads Go Now Missions, and for whom this was her 27th annual commissioning service. What an outstanding leader we have in her!
I also told the students that because they are going to serve this summer, the world won’t be the same, the kingdom of God will advance and eternity will be impacted. Even more so, the students will experience personal transformation.
Will you join me in praying for these students as they go? Would you pray for the places where they will serve? Will you pray for spiritual breakthroughs in Texas, North America and around the world? Will you pray for a GC2 Awakening everywhere?
Dr. Guarneri is the 21st executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He holds degrees from Texas A&M University Kingsville, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dallas Baptist University. He has more than 39 years of ministerial experience and is passionate about sharing the Gospel with the nations and cross-cultural missions and ministry.