You may have noticed that I did not send out an update last week. I was on the road more than usual, and I wish I could share with you all that is taking place around our state. It is sobering to realize that today marks one month since the devastating floods in the Hill Country took place.

I started last week in the Lubbock area, then traveled with our staff to Waco and Independence. I wrapped the week up in the Hill Country. When you receive this update, I will be in Colorado Springs with our four Pastor Strong cohorts in a capstone retreat for 2025.

As my wife and I drove through farming land in West Texas, we reflected on the vastness of our state. We thanked God for the churches that are in small towns and big cities, and the incredible ministry they do week in and week out.

We are blessed as the people called Baptists in this great state! The Psalmist pondered on God’s omnipresence. He could not escape God’s presence. Not even the darkness can hide God (Psalm 139:12). In the good times and in the hard times, God is there. He is with us!

The highlight of the week was our Texas Baptists Staff Week. Twice a year, we convene all of our staff to worship together, share what God is doing through our various ministries, seek His face for the future, fellowship and plan together.

We held staff week in Waco and in Independence. We had the joy of meeting with all of our Texas BSM staff. They comprise approximately half of our entire staff team as they minister in 137 campuses in Texas and beyond. What a rich time it was to meet and interact with them!

As we heard presentations, worshiped together, listened to reports and had conversations with one another, one thing was clear: God is on the move in our state, including our college campuses, churches and mission field.

From staff week, I had traveled to the Hill Country: to Boerne, Kerrville and Marble Falls.

Accompanied by Chad Schapiro, San Antonio area TXB representative, we visited with Chad Mason, missions pastor at FBC Boerne; Robert Wheat, director of the Hill Country Baptist Association; John Wheat, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, Kerrville; Rafael Muñoz, Rebuild coordinator with Texans on Mission and Ross Chandler, pastor of FBC Marble Falls.

We drove through the affected areas, visited a homeowner in a home that was being prepared for rebuilding, heard the stories of loss, grief, ministry and hope, and prayed together.

These churches, in collaboration with Texans on Mission, have housed volunteers and affected families on their campus, have mobilized well over one thousand volunteers to do mud outs and “box ministry” in affected homes, comforted grieving families, distributed food, water, gift cards and other financial assistance, sharing God’s love in word and deed.

As we drove along the Guadalupe River, an emotionally wrenching experience, we saw mountains of gathered debris for miles, search and rescue teams continuing to search for missing people, hundreds of foundation slabs wiped from their structures and destroyed vehicles in the wake of the massive flood.

Much work has been done by volunteers, churches and multiple organizations. While we were there, the work was shifting from recovery to rebuilding. While many relief organizations were leaving after completing their assignment, Texans on Mission, our disaster relief arm, are staying for the long haul.

Your prayers for the work of rebuilding, the families who are grieving and dealing with loss, the post-traumatic stress and the continued ministry of our churches are needed. The national news headlines have changed, but the need in the Hill Country continues.

We can say with the Psalmist, “Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you” (Psalm 139:12 NIV). In the highlights of ministry around the state and in the Hill Country tragedy, God is present.

In the spirit of worship for what God is doing and for what He will do through us as we follow Him, I would like to invite you to the 50th anniversary celebration of the Singing Men of Texas in Austin, Texas, next week.

Thank you for your prayers and your financial support of the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program!