Church Health

The Texas Baptists Center for Church Health selected Jonathan Smith as its new associate director. Smith accepted this position alongside his current position as the director of Church Health and Growth.

Jonathan Smith launched Pave Podcast to encourage pastors ‘church revitalization is possible’; shares testimonies, practical help for revitalization.

New Discipleship & NextGen team looks forward to serving together to reach the next generation; providing resources and responding to churches’ needs.

Morse Street sees unity and renewed vision through Pave; integrating youth into worship and providing food for the homeless. 

FBC Crosbyton applies Pave principles and experiences “almost 100%” growth by partnering with Ukrainian church-start, celebrating baptisms, and “doing real life discipleship.”

One thousand Congreso attendees learned how to obey Christ by walking by faith, taking action, and staying connected to him.

Attendees of [un]Apologetic Evangelism Conference learned to defend their faith; respond and minister to loved ones engaged in deconstruction. 

On Feb. 17, during the Evangelism Strategic Planning Committee meeting, Texas Baptists’ Evangelism director, Oza Jones, signed a memorandum of understanding with Pete Kelly, CEO of Apartment Life. The partnership helps Texas Baptists churches to identify and send missionaries to Apartment Life’s communities.

Discipleship & NextGen’s Preschool & Children’s Ministers Retreat encouraging attendees to be resilient, in community and support one another. 

Nadeem Hajir talks how he found Jesus and how the [un]Apologetic conference gave him “newfound confidence” to defend his faith. 

Ethan Hollis, Stephen F. Austin (SFA) State University graduate and active member of First Baptist Church (FBC) Nacogdoches, grew up with inconsistent attendance in church and little understanding of the gospel, but after a friend invited him to youth group, he became more engaged with both.  

In the spring of 2023, Hannah Hopkins, a senior at East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) and Texas Baptists’ 2024 Prestidge Endowment Music & Worship Scholarship recipient, transferred to the school with a passion to lead worship. She’d heard the original song “New Day” performed by Lampsato, ETBU’s worship band, and wanted to audition to be a part of the group.

When Nathan Adams joined First Baptist Church Hereford as their senior pastor in Nov. 2022, every area of the church was on a downhill trajectory. Adams was determined to get the church “thinking differently and on an uphill trajectory.” 

“I love seeing from the Pastor’s Coalition more of these churches get involved because it's not all about our church and what we're doing; it's about seeing the kingdom of God is growing and going forth into a community, and Jesus' name being known.”

More than 700 children, youth, college ministers and pastors from across Texas and beyond gathered in San Antonio, TX, October 7-8 to attend Conclave NextGen for a time of worship, breakout sessions, training and networking, learning how to invest in and win the next generation for Christ.

“We’re no longer a 60 and older church, we’re actually a four-generation church, which is exciting but challenging that I’m preaching to the five-year-old in the room and I’m preaching to the 90-year-old,” said McNeal.

October 7 and 8, Conclave NextGen conference is back at First Baptist Church San Antonio for two days of worship, breakout sessions, training and networking with NextGen, family ministers and church leaders. 

Congreso, I came to tell you that your identity is in Christ. You are loved, you are forgiven and you are called.