Stories of Impact

Ten days of intensive ministry to college students on South Padre Island yielded the highest number of professions of faith in recent memory.

More than 200 pastors and church leaders gathered in Querétaro, Mexico, to receive training in discipleship, pastoral leadership, church planting and evangelism during a fall session this past year.

Learning and growing in relationship with Christ can take time, community and resources. But what about those who aren’t in a community where Bible studies or other teaching materials are not readily available? 

Duce Cooper, pastor of Key Heights Baptist Church in Perryton, TX, wants to make one thing very clear: the cleanup and recovery in the city of Perryton is not the work of his church. It’s a movement of God.

What started as a one-week service emphasis at First Baptist Church in San Marcos evolved into a multi-church ministry with its own nonprofit status and big goals for the future.

The Baptist Student Ministry has been reaching students on UTMB’s campus since the 1950s, and we continue to be a safe place for students to be supported, cared for and encouraged spiritually.

Despite being a vibrant part of the San Antonio community for 102 years, Saint Luke Baptist Church appeared to some to be dying.

Offerings generously given by BOUNCE student missionaries have gone to adopt three Missionary Adoption Program (MAP) missionaries in Uganda and Spain for three years.

While the Conclave NextGen conference underwent a remodel back in 2018, this year’s event saw breakthroughs in both attendance and connection opportunities that Texas Baptists ministry leaders believe brought it to a whole new level.

“Ministry on Baylor’s campus is growing. It’s growing through the BSM and through the unity of the local churches,” Will Bowden, director of Baylor University’s Baptist Student Ministry (BSM), said.

This past August, a group of Texas Baptists church leaders and ministry staff traveled to the East African countries of Uganda and Tanzania in support of a continuing partnership with the Baptist Union of Uganda and the Baptist Churches of Tanzania. While the purpose of the visit was to provide training and resources and preach the gospel, the group received a lesson in cooperation in return.

Hernandez, who is not eligible to receive Social Security, lives off of his pension from working more than 20 years at the local school. While it can be difficult for pastors like Hernandez to make ends meet, Texas Baptists’ Center for Ministerial Health is providing some much-needed support.

“Our church feels challenged to call out the called. That is my heart,” said Ronny Marriott, pastor of First Baptist Church Burleson.

“By investing in these students, we are ministering, discipling, mentoring and developing leaders that will impact the generations that are coming behind them. Our churches do not need more members; our churches need more disciples of Jesus, and this is what this program is about: making disciples that make disciples.”

“It was buzzing, it was loud, and the students were responding really well to the worship and the message,”

“It was just so easy to use it, and they explained every aspect of it, so it wasn’t overwhelming. I didn’t feel like I had to wade through difficult legal terms,”

“This is such a special place because we’re able to develop leaders through the local churches and lead them as they grow, first as campers, then as counselors and leaders.”

Middle and high school students give a week of their summer vacation learning about and serving church plants through BOUNCE Student Church Planting.