Texas Baptists are future-thinking

As the summer draws to a close, we are grateful for the many events that have ministered to children and students this summer. Churches have held VBS, summer camps and mission trips, which provide for gospel proclamation, disciple-making and spiritual decisions by young people.

Several Texas Baptists events have also involved the next generation. BOUNCE, the student disaster relief ministry, engaged students and adults from multiple churches serving areas in Kerr County affected by last year’s floods. A local newspaper article told the story of one group.

This year, 570 participants attended Super Summer, representing 31 Texas Baptists churches, along with 125 adult volunteers. Students learned about Jesus’ sacrifice, their identity in Christ, and were equipped to share the gospel.

The first week of July, several hundred students from Texas Baptists African American churches participated in WAVE camp, led by Texas Baptists African American Ministries, with the theme “Walk it Out” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Last week, Texas Baptists’ Campamento engaged 500 students and leaders from Texas Baptists Hispanic churches in worship, recreation, teaching and 13 missions projects where the gospel was presented 7 times. In total, 63 students made professions of faith, 35 answered the call to ministry and 45 were baptized, with approval of their church, on the last evening by their pastor, youth minister or other designated leader!

This week, more than 550 students from intercultural churches are at Texas Baptists’ Camp Fusion at Latham Springs. 

This investment in children and students is an example of another Texas Baptists value: future-thinking. We are investing in the next generation!

I have been unpacking seven of these Texas Baptists descriptors in my previous updates. I have addressed the biblically-faithful descriptor in two parts, as well as our gospel-centered and historically-rooted values. This week, I’d like to expound a little on the “future-thinking.”

While we are grateful for the 140-year-old legacy we have received, we realize we cannot live in the past. One of the reasons Baptist institutions and organizations can thrive for multiple decades is because they learn how to minister in the present and prepare for the future.

I’ll never forget when, several years ago, I was elected to serve on the Buckner International board. Dr. Albert Reyes gave the incoming trustees a rich historical tour of Buckner’s beginnings in Dallas. Then he showed us a framed photo in his office of a wrecking ball demolishing an old building. He told us that it was a reminder to him that while we build on the past, we should not be afraid to do new things or do things in a new way; in other words, to be innovative.

First Chronicles relates to us about the tribes of Israel that joined David in claiming the God-promised kingship. The list of tribes includes various descriptors for each. The men of Issachar were distinguished for understanding the times and knowing what to do.

That is what Texas Baptists aims for. We need to understand the present, have an idea of the future and act accordingly so that we might be effective servants of our King Jesus.

We have said previously, regarding this value, that “while God’s truth is unwavering, our methods must be adaptive. We discern the times, recognize patterns and are willing to cast the net on a different side of the boat. We approach the future with strategy and a willingness to try new things.”

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The gospel does not change. The Scriptures do not change. Yet, the world is in a constant state of change. Generations are different from the previous ones. We adapt our methods to reach everyone with the gospel.

While we can learn much from the past, we are not restricted to “the way we have always done it.” We become attentive to God’s voice. Even if we have had ample experience in doing ministry, when Jesus says, “throw the net on the other side,” we are ready to obey.

The God of our fathers is alive today. He moves in new ways and challenges his people, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19 NIV).

This summer, we are in the midst of a staff realignment and budget right-sizing. This is driven by our desire to be more effective in our changing context and by the acknowledgment of economic realities.

Furthermore, we are launching the GC2 Strong Pilot Project this fall. I will share more about these three things (staff realignment, budget right-sizing and GC2 Strong Pilot Project) in the weeks to come. They are the most concrete and current examples of our future-thinking value.

Our state is growing. Our churches are seeing their communities change. New generations are rising. Demographic shifts are taking place. The culture around us is changing. God has brought the nations to us. We must be ready to step into the present with a future-thinking posture.

Also, please be in prayer for those who have experienced flooding over the last week in the Hill Country and South Texas. Texans on Mission, the disaster recovery arm of Texas Baptists, has deployed all of its volunteer disaster response teams to serve in Kerrville, Boerne and Uvalde to minister to those in need. You can read more about their response here. Churches and individuals may give through the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation by clicking here. Write in “Disaster Relief” to designate a gift.

Thank you for your commitment and investment through the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program. Together we are investing in discipling the next generation through camps, service projects and collegiate ministry, to name a few. Together we are advancing into God’s future.