Making disciples of all nations

Our schools and our churches are shifting into summer ministry mode! It is an exciting time. Although we should be about the Great Commission year-round, the summer offers opportunities to engage with it in special ways.

During VBS and church camps, we get to invite children, students and also adults to become followers of Jesus. When they respond in faith, we follow up with baptism, and the disciple-making journey continues. We pray for thousands of new disciples from these events.

Furthermore, church teams and BSM students participate in short-term mission experiences around the state, around the country and oftentimes internationally. Going and making disciples of all nations becomes very visible. We ask the Lord of the harvest to give us a bountiful one this way.

Who gives us permission to go into our communities and other countries to share the gospel? Who sends us? Jesus commanded us to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” This commission comes with his supreme authority over heaven and earth! We go in that authority!

A couple of weeks ago, we had the opportunity of attending the retirement reception of George Russ, executive director of the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association (MNYBA). Brother Russ served in that role for sixteen years, during which Texas Baptists enjoyed a strong partnership with the MNYBA.

We presented him with a cowboy hat and his wife with a Texas-shaped serving board. The program for the reception and the participating guests gave evidence that New York Baptists are committed to making disciples of ALL NATIONS. Many of these were represented in the room!

It has been our privilege to partner with the MNYBA through our Missionary Adoption Program, in church planting and with our BSM’s Go Now Missions. Many of our churches and hundreds of students have invested time and money to share the good news of Jesus among the different people groups that call New York home.

God has prospered the work. Churches are multiplying and mobilizing people for God’s mission.

One of the very special moments during the program consisted of Brother George passing the mantle to the next executive director for the MNYBA, Larry Mayberry. This was especially meaningful to those of us who were there representing Texas Baptists.

Larry and Lindsey Mayberry have been Texas Baptists church starters in New York! They started Queens church, which is thriving, producing leaders and multiplying. Both Larry’s and Lindsey’s fathers have served as pastors and associational leaders among Texas Baptists! We were honored to sit by Larry’s parents, who pastor in Charlotte, Texas.

Larry is already doing a fantastic job of leading the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association. We look forward to a continued partnership for the sake of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Please keep him, Lindsey and their children in your prayers.

Thank you for your participation in making disciples of all nations as you carry out summer ministry in your church, as you give through the Cooperative Program, as you send teams out on mission trips to New York and elsewhere and as you pray. He has given us the authority. He has sent us, and He promises to be with us.