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Julio Guarneri, executive director of Texas Baptists, gave his report to the 2024 Texas Baptists Annual Meeting messengers and guests during the evening worship session on Monday, Nov. 11. He shared an update from the study group comprised of Texas Baptists staff, pastors, lay people and institutional leaders who had been working over the past year to clarify Texas Baptists’ calling and values.

During the Monday morning business and worship session of the 2024 Texas Baptists Annual Meeting, messengers elected Convention officers, heard reports, passed recommendations and introduced motions. 

“I’m convinced that everything God pours into us he desires to pour out through us. Jesus poured his life out for us so surely we should do the same… The kingdom of God was never designed to stop with us,” Meghan Hendrickson, director of the Dallas Baptist University Baptist Student Ministry (DBU BSM), shared with attendees of the Monday morning worship session. 

Kicking off the first worship session of the Texas Baptists Annual Meeting on Nov. 10 in Waco, Albert Reyes, president and CEO of Buckner International, told attendees that the kingdom we are offering the world is “a kingdom of wholeness” that “offers peace, healing and justice.”

Church leadership and members from Hispanic Baptist churches across Texas gathered Sunday at the 2024 Texas Baptists Annual Meeting to encourage one another in the work of their diverse congregations. They were also reminded of Jesus’ agenda in ministry in a message from Dr. Albert Reyes, president and CEO of Buckner International.

“We’re doing this to remind pastors how much their ministry matters and how important having fellowships, friendships, accountability and encouragement is. Ministry isn’t easy, but it’s not meant to be done alone; it’s meant to be done in community. And that’s what we want to be,” David Miranda, former director of Millennial/Gen Z Ministers Network, said at the Millennial/Gen Z Ministers Network (The Pastor’s Common) Rally.

More than 300 volunteers from around the U.S. completed 33 service projects across the Rio Grande Valley as a part of Serve Tour Brownsville held Oct. 11-12.

Texas Baptists Intercultural Ministries is again highlighting an area of special emphasis for the upcoming International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), which will occur on Sunday, Nov. 3.

A group of eighty-two church planters and spouses from Texas, Michigan, Indiana and New York converged on the convention center along Seawall Boulevard in Galveston, TX, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 for a conference “for church planters by church planters.” 

“My heart is really to help churches to saturate their communities and their cities with Jesus Christ by teaching them to define, declare, defend and demonstrate the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

On Nov. 10-12, messengers and guests from across the Texas Baptists family will gather at the Waco Convention Center for the 139th Texas Baptists Annual Meeting. 

Texas Baptists is donating $35,000 to ministry partner Texans on Mission, formerly Texas Baptists Men, to support feeding efforts related to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

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.

Do you have a talent or hobby that you want to use for the kingdom? David Sanchez, director of Ethics and Justice for the Christian Life Commission (CLC), answered ‘yes’ to this question. 

“...it comes first from spending time with Jesus, the Word, worshiping, being in community and from that place of being filled, we get to pour out into other people.”

The September meeting of the Texas Baptists Executive Board was held on Sept. 23-24 in Dallas, TX.

“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.