Looking at what God did in 2025

Last week was a busy and exciting week for me. We had our Texas Baptists staff week at the Rambler building in Dallas. Twice a year, all of our staff pause their travel and gather for worship, reporting and planning. It was a very meaningful time together!

I also had the privilege of preaching chapel at ETBU and then speaking to a group of pastors and leaders in East Texas, along with ETBU’s vice presidents and faculty of the Christian Ministry and B.H. Carroll Seminary. We are so thankful for the partnership with this fine school and all they do to prepare ministers for service in the church and God’s kingdom. 

On Friday, I had the honor of preaching the opening message of the inaugural Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching’s Hispanic Preaching Conference at Truett Seminary. With over 200 in attendance, this was an exciting event. With Hispanics being the largest demographic group in Texas, there is an urgency to encourage and equip Hispanic leaders in the gospel.

I reflected on the incredible task the apostle Paul describes in Colossians 1:28-29. We preach and teach that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. Paul acknowledged that, as he strenuously contended to do this, he required all the energy that Christ’s power provides.

What a giant task is ours in the local church, in the mission field, on the college campuses, in our human care ministries, in the public square and as a network of Baptists! It is simple yet demanding. We preach Christ! “He is the one we proclaim!”

During staff week, we rejoiced at what God did through us as we collaborated together in 2025. Space would not allow me to share with you all that was accomplished, but allow me to share a few highlights with you here.

At our 10 Texas Baptists universities and seminaries, there was a record of 2,600 students enrolled in theological education. A little more than 1,000 of these students received ministerial financial aid from the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program. This also is a new record!

BGCT helped churches start 40 new churches in Texas and 99 churches outside of Texas through our partnerships and Missionary Adoption Program.

Texas Baptists has a Baptist Student Ministry on 137 college campuses, touching the lives of 17,700 students. Approximately 580 students participated in GoNow Missions serving in Texas, in the U.S. and internationally.

Two hundred and thirty-five churches engaged in the PAVE church revitalization program and collectively baptized 2,300 people.

Texas Baptists launched the Texas Baptists Indemnity Program, now known as Covenant Solutions, with several hundred churches participating. Some of these churches are reporting significant savings while having increased coverage. In some cases, this has allowed the church to hire a staff member they had not been able to afford previously.

The Christian Life Commission celebrated its 75th anniversary, advocating for a culture of life, justice and mercy in Austin and speaking to Baptists about ethical issues. Beyond advocacy, the CLC has also acted on behalf of the unborn, the vulnerable and the hungry, celebrating 30 years of the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering.

The Hunger Offering partners with 95 ministries in Texas, and 51 in the U.S. and internationally. Texas Baptist Hunger Offering funds provided 7,611,333 meals to 1,206,621 individuals.

Over 80 pastors participated in a Pastor Strong cohort in the Houston, College Station, San Antonio/Austin and DFW regions. This ministry seeks to develop healthier ministers who are well-connected to fellow ministers, contributing to healthier church ministry. Over 230 pastors and their family members received counseling through our network.

Twenty-five additional chaplains were endorsed by our chaplaincy endorsement office, bringing the total endorsements to 1,200 since the office’s inception in 2001. There are currently 600 active chaplains serving in 43 states and 10 countries.

Thank you for making a difference with your prayers, partnership and giving through the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program and the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering.

Our staff and our GC2 design team are currently working to align all our ministries with the GC2 Strong strategy. Our prayer is that we would be even more effective in helping churches practice the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.