Sharing the gospel with the nations this summer

We are halfway through our 50 days of praying for a GC2 Awakening. This week, we are praying for the health and vitality of each local church. Jesus said that we are the light of the world. The church needs to shine in the midst of the darkness. Local churches need to be cities on a hill. 

I hope that you are joining in this prayer focus. If you have not, you can go to the Texas Baptists home page, sign up and download the prayer guide. It is not too late to join this effort. 

As of this update, there are 432 users of this online resource, while 177 have downloaded the prayer guide. We are thankful for the number of people this represents who are praying during these 50 days between Easter and Pentecost. Yet, there is still room for more intercessors.

Speaking of being the light of the world, I mentioned in a previous update about the opportunities we will have to share Christ during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

As I mentioned in that update, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be hosted by North America (Canada, USA and Mexico) this summer. Six-and-a-half million fans from around the world are expected to travel to North America to watch these soccer matches. There will be 16 host cities, 11 of them in the USA, including Dallas and Houston.

Forty-eight countries will send teams to compete in 104 matches from June 11 to July 19 to determine the victorious recipient of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Sixteen of these matches will take place in Dallas and Houston, with an estimated 5 million fans participating. This global event anticipates having 5 billion viewers from around the world.

Whether you are a soccer fan or not, the reality is that the nations are coming to Texas and North America in an unprecedented manner, with a focus on the sport most played and watched globally. There will be a soccer fervor among young people and many others.

What it means to us as Texas Baptists is an opportunity to share the gospel with the nations. The opportunities and ways to do this are as abundant as our imagination. For those in the Dallas and Houston areas, it means serving in various ways around transportation and hospitality hubs.

One Texas Baptists pastor is displaying a soccer museum at a Dallas-area hotel. Volunteers are needed to have casual gospel conversations with those attracted to the soccer memorabilia. 

For everyone anywhere, it can mean hosting watch parties, organizing block parties with giant screens, leading soccer camps or clinics for kids, interacting on social media and more. I encourage you to talk to others at work, church and school to pray about what your role might be in sharing the love of Christ during this time.

There are resources like the yellow card initiative and the eBall, a multicolored soccer ball that can be used for personal gospel conversations or presentations to small gatherings.

We are praying for 100 Texas Baptists churches that will take advantage of this opportunity and engage in at least one way to share the love of Christ, and for at least 1,000 people to trust Christ as Savior and Lord. If you want to sign up to be one of these churches or you’d like more information, please fill out this form.

Over these past few days, North Texas has been affected by severe thunderstorms that have brought heavy amounts of rain, hail, winds and even tornadoes. We are thankful that Texans on Mission, as usual, have responded with expediency to provide aid in the most affected areas. As they shine the light of Christ, meeting human needs and having gospel conversations, pray for them and for those affected by the storms. 

Lastly, if you are a worship leader or pastor, we would like to ask you to fill out this survey, which Tom Tillman, Texas Baptists Music & Worship director, tells me will help the SBC Worship Research Committee better understand current trends and practices regarding music and worship in churches. The deadline for completing it is today, April 30.

Thank you for your cooperation and for your prayers. Let’s pray for awakening. Let’s pray for disaster recovery efforts and spiritual conversations. Let’s pray for a harvest this summer through World Cup evangelism events, VBS, camps, and mission trips. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and our focus on those who do not know Him yet.