Stories of Impact

Sixteen years ago, Mark Lindsey, lead pastor at First Baptist Church Big Spring, and his wife Sherry, were new residents in Big Spring, home to a “bible college ministry and a two-year college,” but no established church. Their neighbor, whose late husband happened to be a basketball coach at Howard College in the 1950s and 1960s, encouraged them to get “involved with basketball and things at the college,” as she was ministering to the athletes at the time. 

“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 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.

“God burnt a passion in me that week… to serve people, to share the hope that I found in Christ, the joy I found in Christ with other people. And really the work that started in my heart like 20 something years ago during that mission trip, it’s never stopped,” - Eric Hunter, WTAMU BSM director

“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.

“Baptism always represents life, new life, transformation of life. A life that was going one direction but has turned around and is now going in a different direction.”

“So no matter how old you are, you haven’t arrived and no matter how young you are, there’s something I can learn from you,” said Curley. “I think that’s by God’s design that we can learn from one another, no matter how young or old we might be.”

More than 500 students and leaders learned to “make a wave” in the culture for Jesus while attending African American Ministries’ Wave Student Conference, a four-day event for 7th graders to college students held June 9-12 at Resurrection Baptist Church in San Antonio, TX.

Ken Anderson “rode out Beryl” in his Jones Creek home south of Houston. “We got hit harder than anybody, I believe. Lots of damage. Thousands of trees down.”

The Apostle Paul noted in 2 Corinthians that “God loves a cheerful giver,” and James “Jim” William Lemuel Adams, Jr., founder and executive director of International Baptist Ministries, or IBM, is as cheerful as they come. 

“Strong perfume and casseroles” is just one of many memorable responses Dr. Katie McCoy, director of Women’s Ministry for Texas Baptists, receives when she asks women what comes to mind when they hear the phrase “women’s ministry.”

Lee Baggett, missionary and founder of Manos Hermanas, and Charles H. Whiteside, a committed educator and servant leader across numerous Texas Baptists ministries, were recipients of the 2024 Texas Baptists Legacy Award.

“As you encounter all the different philosophies and religions there are in all the world, you don’t need to apologize that you represent the one true living God of the universe who created us all.”

After deciding that the church didn’t have answers to his many questions about spiritual matters and the soul, Daniel Nieto declared himself an atheist at age 15. 

While the state of Texas continues to be a mission field, it is also a mission base from which individuals are sent to go and make disciples. 

Once Scott Patz and his wife Angela agreed that God was leading them to move to Texas from Orlando, Florida, the long-time pastor began the usual process of putting out resumes and seeking open positions. 

Eleven construction projects were completed by 199 participants from 10 churches this past spring break through BOUNCE student disaster recovery, a ministry of Texas Baptists.

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