Texas Baptists announces three new ministry teams, additional realignment updates

DALLAS–June 1, 2026–During an address to Texas Baptists ministry staff on Monday, June 1, Executive Director Julio Guarneri shared updates on the convention’s ongoing organizational realignment. The remarks were delivered during Texas Baptists’ regular weekly all-staff Chapel Service in Dallas, TX, and were broadcast remotely to staff across the state. 

Effective June 1, three new teams will be formed – the Church Strong, Minister Strong and Mission Strong teams. These teams will replace the previous structure of five ministry centers, which had been in effect since 2021. The Center for Cultural Engagement was previously realigned in February of 2026.

Guarneri announced the leaders of each of the three new teams. Jonathan Smith, previously associate director of the Center for Church Health, will lead the Church Strong team; Kevin Abbott, previously the director of Pastoral Health Networks and Area 5 representative, will lead the Minister Strong team; and Noé Treviño, previously the director of the Center for Missional Engagement, will lead the Mission Strong team. 

The Church Strong team will build upon successful results through the Pave, Texas Baptists’ church revitalization strategy. Smith has been instrumental in the development of the successful program that has seen more than 300 churches strengthened over the last five years. He also served on the GC2 Design Team as Church Curator and helped develop the new GC2 Discovery Process and subsequent pathways for church strengthening. Smith will oversee a team of “GC2 Navigators” as they connect with churches, assess their greatest needs through a prayerful process and then develop next steps for effective ministry within the church’s unique context.

The Minister Strong team will focus on the vitality of ministers, with Abbott drawing from the success of Pastor Strong for the last five years. Last year, through Pastor Strong networks, more than 80 ministers across Texas built habits and relationships that help them minister well and improve the health of their churches. The new Minister Strong Team will focus on the holistic health of ministers. 

The Mission Strong team is the third focus, continuing its prominence as a core function of cooperation through the statewide convention since its founding 140 years ago. Treviño previously served as the director of the Center for Missional Engagement and also served as a curator for the GC2 Design process. In 2025, more than 230,000 people were served through missional engagement efforts including River Ministry/Mexico missions and Missionary Adoption Program (MAP) missionaries. Additionally, 101 new church starts were supported through Church Starting. Treviño’s team will help churches identify ways for their congregation to develop a missional mindset locally, statewide and globally. 

The Christian Life Commission, which advocates on public policy issues and provides resources on ethical Christian living, and Collegiate Ministries, with a ministry presence on 137 college campuses across the state, will continue their ministry assignments. Both ministries will partner with the Church, Minister, and Missions teams, to help churches live out the Great Commandment and Great Commission.

Transition from Area Representatives to GC2 Navigators

Additionally, Guarneri shared about an intentional transition from Area Representatives to GC2 Navigators as the Texas Baptists ministry staff continues to seek ways to provide both the highest quality relational support and specialized resourcing local churches need the most. 

The current Area Representatives, which comprised 10 individuals serving across nine sectors of the state, were informed the prior week that their positions would come to a close no later than August 31. Some representatives will begin new assignments and others may serve as GC2 Navigators. 

Guarneri expressed gratitude for the Area Representatives and how they have served as a touchpoint for thousands of churches to connect them with the missions and ministries of the convention. 

Through the GC2 Discovery Process, a GC2 Navigator will guide churches through a spiritual process to discern where they are and to develop plans to get them where they sense God is leading them. This guiding work will be the primary function of GC2 Navigators, in addition to otherwise promoting and supporting the process, relating to others across the Texas Baptists family and providing occasional church consulting and referrals as needed. 

Several pilot GC2 Navigators will have an initial training in July and begin serving in different geographical areas around the state. Consideration will also be given to affinity groups, church size and context. 

GC2 Strong integration across organizational culture

Guarneri emphasized the integration of GC2 Strong into every aspect of the organization. 

“Every aspect of what we do as Texas Baptists staff should be directed to strengthen churches, strengthen ministers and strengthen missions engagement for the sake of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission,” said Guarneri. 

He noted that GC2 Strong implementation will be under the Church Strong/GC2 Strong Team, which will oversee GC2 Navigators, and integration across the organization will be under the Office of Relational Development. 

Guarneri provided additional information on the reporting structure for ministry areas under the Executive Leadership Team and a timeline for any additional realignment changes. He expressed a desire to finalize all realignment changes by July 1, in advance of the organization’s bi-annual staff gathering.