Everyone knows that Texas is a

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2 from the director churches planting churches Everyone knows that Texas is a big state. Not only will every Texan brag about how big it is, but the stats back it up. Texas is made up of over 268,597 square miles and has 28 million people who call it home. If Texas was its own country, it would be the 10th largest economy in the world. The harder numbers to face are the large numbers of people living in poverty, and the increase of human trafficking. There is no doubt that we live in a state that needs Jesus. Of the 28 million people who live in Texas, 18 million of them have no relationship with Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. So although it seems as if there is a church on every corner, the work of reaching this state is far from complete. That is why we need Texas churches to plant Texas churches. Currently, in the SBTC, we have less than 5% of our own churches engaged in planting churches in Texas. The need is great and the opportunities are endless. We need churches to reach people young and old, rich and poor, English speakers and 421 other language speakers. We need to plant churches in rural towns and bustling urban areas. We need to plant churches in suburban areas and apartment complexes. Every different economic, demographic and ethnic group needs Jesus. Other religions are aggressively reaching out in Texas to build mosques, temples and places of worship to spreading a false message of hope. All over this state we see false religions staking their claim on the hearts of people. Texas is your home and mine. The hard reality is that no one is going to do this work for us. It is our job to plant churches in Texas that spread the truth of the gospel and seek to reach people far from God. Begin right where you are. The SBTC church planting team exists to help churches plant churches. Our next church planter is in your church. Your church is the one that is needed to sponsor or partner with the church plant in your city, your association or even across the state. Some of the highest percentages of growth, conversions and baptisms come from new church plants. Incredible stories of life change and life transformation come from these new churches that are reaching lost and hurting people who might not have heard the gospel if it were not for the work of a new church plant in their city. We can no longer hope that some other church will do the work. It is up to you and me to fulfill the Acts 1:8 mission of God to reach our city, our region, our state and our world for Christ. I want to challenge you to pray about how your church can be a part of church planting in Texas this year. Don t miss the blessing of your people being on mission in Texas and seeing people find Christ because of your partnership with a new church plant. Our team is fully committed to help every church plant healthy churches with healthy planters who are properly assessed, fully equipped and trained to fulfill the vision and calling to reach people and plant churches. These churches can pierce the darkness and help many of those 18 million people without Christ find salvation through the power of the gospel. Until the Whole World Hears, Doug Hixson Director of Missions and Church Planting

3 contents 4 why church planting is a priority in our church 20 church apocalypse? 8 a movement Do you think your ministry could lead to a movement of God? Have you thought of how you can start a movement in your local church planter s wife: run like the winded church, the state and around the world? If the answer is yes, where do you start? partnership missions: transforming lives and transforming churches 26 serve, love and serve again Over three hundred different ethno-linguistic people groups are present in Texas cities. People from other states are migrating to the Lone Star state too. There is only one way to reach these dear souls with the gospel. We must start new churches in the un-evangelized and under-evangelized areas. 12 reach cities 16 reach el paso 28 there is no plan b God s plan to reach sinners with the good news of the gospel is through the local church. There is no plan B, no contingency plan, and no other options we must weigh to see if he will use us to reach the lost. The vehicle for gospel advancement has always been the local church. 14 reach austin 18 reach houston sbtexas.com 1

4 missions + church planting resources web advance now podcasts + articles: sbtexas.com/advancenow missions department: sbtexas.com/missions missions mobilization: sbtexas.com/mobilization church planting: sbtexas.com/churchplanting reach cities: sbtexas.com/reachcities texas missions initiatives: sbtexas.com/txmi social event Advance Church Advance Now: facebook.com/advance.now.sbtc Church Planting: facebook.com/sbtcchurchplanting Mobilization: facebook.com/missionsmobilzation Church Planting: instagram.com/sbtcplant Church Planter Orientation February Empower Irving Convention Center Missions Empower February 25 Irving Convention Center Church Planter + Wife Retreat March (Invitation Only) ESL Training at EQUIP August 9-10 Champion Forest BC, Houston February 1-2 Harwood Terrace BC, Bedford Missions Dinner October Annual Meeting First Baptist Church, Odessa 2

5 make a difference by planting a church? are you serious? Yes! The SBTC is looking for a few called men of God to make a kingdom difference in Texas. Could you be the one God is calling to reach a city, a people, a community? Do you want to explore that possibility? Three Ways to Start the Process: Call and talk to a member of the church planting team at us at churchplanting@sbtexas.com To register as a a church planter with the SBTC, go to sbtexas.com/churchplanting Join what God is doing in Texas today! sbtexas.com 3

6 church planting why church planting is a priority in our church By Ryan Fontenot Pastor, The Mount Church, Keller In the fall of 2010, God called me to a dying church in Keller. My hope in coming to this church was not to help them close the doors graciously, shut down quietly or even to figure out how to leave a legacy. The prayer, the aim, the dream was to see God breath life back into a congregation that had existed for more than 160 years. We believed God was not finished and we were convinced The Mount could be a lighthouse in the community and around the globe like never before. Over the past seven years, we have seen God give our church life again. The Holy Spirit has moved in and among our people, taking us from looking inward in hopes of survival to moving outward and experiencing revival. I genuinely believe one of the key commitments in our journey back to life was to become a church where church planting was a priority not merely an option. Let me share with you five reasons why church planting is a priority at The Mount. Church Health From the beginning, I was convinced that to experience continued health and growth as 4 sbtc church planting

7 pastor church relations ADVANCE NOW CHURCH PLANTING PODCAST GEARED TOWARD ADVANCING THE KINGDOM OF GOD Also available in the SBTC App FOLLOW US sbtexas.com/advancenow Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. sbtexas.com 5

8 church planting a church, investing in planting new churches would be essential. Tim Keller said well, The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for the continual corporate renewal and revival of the existing churches in a city. Strategic involvement in planting new churches is key to the continued health of existing churches. Simple Obedience We are convinced that church planting is simple obedience to God s initial command to humanity. You might recall way back in Genesis the Lord gave the simple instructions, Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it While this indeed is given with natural reproduction in mind, we believe it reveals the heart of God for multiplication. Just as our Father in heaven wants us to multiply physically, He wants us to reproduce spiritually. God s heart is not merely to fill the earth with physical humans but with bornagain followers of Jesus. Where we see a spiritual multiplication of believers happen church multiplication must happen also. Gospel Saturation As well, we know church planting is one of the most powerful tools for the spread of the gospel. Missiologist C. Peter Wagner says, Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven. We want to see people come to know Jesus, grow in Jesus and live a life going for Jesus. Studies everywhere continue to reveal nothing reaches new people with the gospel like new churches. Our church desires to be a launching pad for making a gospel impact here, near and far. We know church planting is a critical part of ongoing gospel saturation. Make Disciples The birth of a new baby is exciting, thrilling and cause for celebration. But, there must be a good home for that baby to grow, mature, develop and thrive. As an evangelist, We genuinely want to see the name and fame of Jesus continue to spread in our city and around the world. If we are going to be serious about this, we must be serious about investing our time, our people and our resources in planting healthy gospel churches. I love seeing people confess Christ as Lord and be born-again. But I also know these new believers need healthy environments in which to grow, mature, develop and thrive. These environments are known as the local church. Dave Harvey of The Sojourn Network stated rightly, Making disciples, baptizing, teaching where does that actually happen in the New Testament? In other words, what is the focus in Acts and the epistles where the great commission was uniquely embraced, embodied, and executed? The answer, of course, is the local church. We know the church is where disciples are being made, matured and living on mission. We are investing in planting new churches because we are invested in the disciple-making of disciple-makers. City Renewal God calls people to himself individually (salvation), unites us to one another globally (the body) and organizes believers locally (the church). These local churches are placed in geographical areas to bless the city in both works done and words spoken. Justin Lopez of For The City reminds us that in the Bible we see God s people making a difference in their city through an organization called the church. Church planting is vital to for us at The Mount because we know the local church is essential for the health and flourishing of every city. At The Mount, we genuinely want to see the name and fame of Jesus continue to spread in our city and around the world. If we are going to be serious about this, we must be serious about investing our time, our people and our resources in planting healthy gospel churches. In the end our heart echoes that of Jeff Medders when he wrote, The planting of gospel-centered churches, filled with gospel-centered people who live as grace-leaking, missional monsters as lights in the darkness, inviting the dead to come alive in Jesus Christ and to dwell in the kingdom of God that is the hope of your city and mine. 6 sbtc church planting

9 annual meeting 2019 october first baptist church, odessa Sesión En Español 27 de octubre sbtexas.com 7

10 church planting a movement By David Ortega Rio Grande Valley Strategist Do you think your ministry could lead to a movement of God? Have you thought of how you can start a movement in your local church, the state and around the world? If the answer is yes, where do you start? To begin, I think it is God s desire for us to think bigger than our local church. In 1 Chronicles 16:23 it says, Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim good tidings of his salvation from day to day. Tell of his glory among the nations, his wonderful deeds among all the peoples. It goes on to say in 1 Chronicles 16:31, Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let them say among the nations, The Lord reigns! The book of Psalms also has many places where it proclaims that God will be glorified among the nations and peoples. Psalm 18:49 says, Therefore I will give thanks to you among the nations, O Lord, and I will sing praises to your name. Then in Psalm 67:2-3 it says, That your way may be known on the earth, your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; Let all the peoples praise you. This broadens our view from our local church to the world. It begins to show how a movement affects our world, our state, the Rio Grande Valley and the local church. Jesus said he would build his church so that the gates of hell would not prevail. This means that the local church should constantly be on the offensive, moving forward, pushing back the gates of hell and taking the kingdom of God to all parts of the Rio Grande Valley and this world. The last thing Jesus told his disciples was to Go, and make disciples of all nations. We as pastors, leaders and church planters should be thinking big and globally. Our ministry, our church and our efforts, though local, can have global effects. As we start thinking this way, we need to contextualize this idea of a global movement to our local church. You have to believe that your ministry and church can be part of a movement. They can be the spark to set off a movement, not just locally but globally. A movement is something that is God-led. It begins on our knees. It is viable. It is indigenous to our area. It must have churches planting churches which have the inerrant Scripture as their foundation. As we broaden our vision from the local church to the Rio Grande Valley, we must think of multiplication: in sharing the gospel, in our Bible studies and in our church planting. The Rio Grande Valley should be filled with the gospel, discipleship and new congregations, if we are going to move toward multiplication. 8 sbtc church planting

11 revitalization sbtexas.com 9

12 church planting A movement happens when we train others to share their faith and make disciples. They, in turn, go out to share their faith and make more disciples. 5Brownsville, Texas If a movement is going to take place in the Rio Grande Valley we must become students of God s movements in other parts of the world. We must learn from them and see how we can apply their best practices to our context here in the Rio Grande Valley. To have a movement we have to understand what a movement is and is not. A movement is not addition where one person shares with many people and some make professions of faith. A movement happens when we train others to share their faith and make disciples. They, in turn, go out to share their faith and make more disciples. Then, those new believers go out and make another generation of disciples. This model continues, at least to the fourth generation of disciples who are continuing to be discipled and sharing their faith. A movement happens when you have generations of people going out and completing the Great Commission. I believe a movement can happen here in the Rio Grande Valley. It starts with us having a global vision. It is a vision of the nation s praising God. This vision continues with us planting the seeds of the gospel. With Scripture-based discipleship, it moves forward, ultimately creating a movement in our churches. That seed is a seed of multiplication. Like Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:2, You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Movements can happen in the Rio Grande Valley because of pastors like Carlos Navarro and Rogelio Perez. Carlos Navarro is the pastor of Iglesia Bautista West Brownsville. His church has started multiple churches in Brownsville and other countries. Navarro s church has setup a church-planting training center where they train pastors and church planters to go and plant new churches. Pastor Rogelio Perez was one of Navarro s students. He received training at Iglesia Bautista West Brownsville. Then he was sent out to plant a new church, Iglesia Bautista Capernaum. His church has grown to 120 people. Currently, they are about to launch a new church plant and send out a church planter for that work who will be continually trained by Pastor Perez. What is happening in Brownsville is a part of a movement. Not just a local ripple but a global movement growing deep roots that will impact the Rio Grande Valley, Texas and the world. If you are interested in finding out more or partnering with a church or church planter in the Rio Grande Valley, there are vision tours available for you to participate in to catch the vision of the pastors and their churches. Contact David Ortega at dortega@sbtexas.com. 10 sbtc church planting

13 revitalization HOME CHURCH PASTOR THE LOST NATION For 2019 events near you visit Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. An evangelistic tool designed to share the message of the gospel in multiple languages through video/audio presentations. 1cross.com sbtexas.com 11

14 reach cities reach cities By Jim Richards Executive Director Many cities are overcrowded, dirty, and crime-prone. While there are definitely amenities in cities, there are myriad inconveniences. Most cities do not project a good image. John the revelator saw a city where everyone desires to live. Revelation 21 describes for us what we usually call heaven. It is the eternal city, the New Jerusalem. This is same city Abraham looked for whose builder and maker is God, Hebrews 10:11. Jesus said he would prepare a mansion in this city for all who believe in him. People have an opportunity to get some property in this city. God has destined all of his children to live in a city for eternity. Since God wants people to live in his city, we should try to help as many people get there as possible. They need to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The gospel must go where the people are. The vast majority of these folks live in the cities. One thousand people a day move to Texas. Most of these newcomers are settling in cities. Cities in Texas are rapidly becoming mega-cities. We have a great challenge to reach the multitudes God is sending our way. Over three hundred different ethnolinguistic people groups are present in Texas cities. There is only one way to reach these dear souls with the gospel. We must start new churches in the un-evangelized and under-evangelized areas. Over three hundred different ethno-linguistic people groups are present in Texas cities. People from other states are migrating to the Lone Star state too. There is only one way to reach these dear souls with the gospel. We must start new churches in the un-evangelized and under-evangelized areas. Existing churches must catch the vision to not only send missionaries around the world but also evangelistic teams across town to reach the unreached. By placing a healthy church s DNA in a new church plant your church can multiply itself in another location. This is not an extra campus. This is not a satellite. This is intentionally planting a future indigenous, autonomous congregation. It takes sacrifice. You have to send members. You have to send leaders. You have to invest money. This is a vision to reach Texas by giving a part of yourself away. There is a national strategy in place to reach mega-cities in the North and West of our nation. The SBTC has a strategy to reach Texas. We have begun the work with churches to reach Houston, Austin, El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley. Yet, it can only be done with Texas churches planting Texas churches. Not many planters are coming here from other places to help us start new churches. We have to rise up and build. The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Missions Team will help you train the right planters, cultivate the best support system and launch in a strong fashion. All it takes is for you as a pastor, staff member or church member to say, My yes is on the altar! When we do that, we can Reach Texas and Touch the World. 12 sbtc church planting

15 pastor church relations The Reach Cities Initiative is a strategic process to mobilize churches for church planting and revitalization in Texas. Church Planting + Replanting Church Revitalization Mission Team Opportunities reach austin Area Population of 2,000,000 11th largest city in the United States 34% speak a language other than English at home 68% White, 35% Hispanic, 8% Black, 6% Asian/Other 41% lost & unchurched reach el paso Population of 885,226 82% Hispanic 13% White, 3% Black 2% Asian 98% lost & unchurched reach houston The most diverse city in North America (2010 Census) Population of 5,000, % Hispanic, 31.9% White, 18.7% Black, 9.5% Asian/Other 68% lost & unchurched reach rio grande valley Population of 1,353,541 90% Hispanic 1.2% Asian 0.5% Black 81% Catholic 11% claim no faith Steve Cochran Austin Strategist scochran@sbtexas.com Chuy Avila El Paso Strategist cavila@sbtexas.com Ben Hays Houston Strategist bhays@sbtexas.com David Ortega Valley Strategist dortega@sbtexas.com Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. sbtexas.com/reachcities sbtexas.com 13

16 reach cities reach Austin By Steve Cochran Reach Austin Strategist Keep Austin weird! That is the famed slogan for our city. Honestly, many things in our area might lead you to believe that it is a weird place. Let me tell you though, there are thousands of devoted followers of Jesus in Austin who are strategically praying for revival, renewal and righteousness around the clock, day after day (365 days a year). Yes, the need for spiritual awakening is great in the Austin area. There are more than 2 million people within the greater Austin area who call it home. The population continues to grow at the rate of 150 people every day. Strangely enough, that is the same number we can tally in the membership of the average Southern Baptist church. The most concerning spiritual statistic found in the area is that upwards of 90 percent of the population is either unchurched or de-churched. Most people simply do not possess a meaningful faith-based worldview. We are in desperate need of a fresh encounter with Jesus. Austin is recognized as the seat of political power, the live music capital of the world, the Silicon Valley of the Southwest, the gateway to the Texas Hill Country and the Texas barbecue mecca. We love our sports and we love our scenery. This is a place that houses great institutions of higher learning, with 10 major universities within the radius of our Reach Austin area. Recognize also that Austin is not the only city of importance that led the SBTC to initiate this planting and revitalization ministry. Towns like New Braunfels, San Marcos, Georgetown, Round Rock, Hutto, Leander, Liberty Hill, Cedar Park, Bastrop, Elgin, Manor, Seguin, Dripping Springs and Wimberley are important, too. Oh, that a new awareness of long term spiritual impact would saturate these cities with the gospel of Jesus Christ. You see, the University of Texas slogan is Austin-tatious to say the least. What starts here, changes the world! That is exactly what we are praying for with the Reach Austin initiative. We are extremely blessed to have two strong and visionary Baptist Associations in the area. The Austin Baptist Association, led by David Smith and the Bluebonnet Association led by Robby Partain. Both men have expressed their eager partnership with one another in order to see the growth of the kingdom of God through Reach Austin. One will find no lines or boundaries, no spirit of competitive nature within these men, their staff or fellowship of the pastors. There are far too many people who live in this area who are in need of the Savior. The goal of Reach Austin is to see God do amazing things that will change the world for Jesus. We are calling on Southern Baptists to come and help us. We are asking God to send partnering churches, church planters, missionaries, prayer warriors, godly Christian business men and women, educators, medical personnel, laborers, and retirees to help us in planting new churches and to revitalizing churches that are in decline. Our prayer is for many churches throughout Texas and beyond to share the Reach Austin vision. We need visionary, sacrificial and devoted partnering churches that will take the greater Austin area to heart. Within the congregations of many churches, one will discover people who have a burden for those who are far from God in this region of the Lone Star State. Would you and the leaders within your church begin to pray for us? Would you join us on a vision tour? Would you cast the great spiritual need in Central Texas with men who are recognizing a call to plant a church? Would you consider partnering your church with other churches to provide financially through the powerful means of multiple partnerships for the new plants that will arise in the months ahead? What happens here CAN change the world! For more information contact Steve Cochran at scochran@sbtexas.com. 14 sbtc church planting

17 leadership training for all aspects of ministry conference Reaching Generation Z AUGUST 10 champion forest baptist church, houston 8:45am-3pm Breakouts for staff, volunteers & lay leaders in these areas of ministry: + preschool/children + children s music + preteen + student/collegiate + adult sunday school + adult home groups + single adult + men + women + discipleship + family + communication & tech + worship + evangelism + leadership + library + pastoral + missions + en español + asian equipping churches + black equipping churches Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. sbtexas.com/equip sbtexas.com 15

18 reach cities According to the 2018 census of El Paso, the current population is 885,226 and its demographic profile is as follows: reach El Paso + 82 % Hispanic + 13 % White + 3 % African-American + 2 % Asian By Chuy Avila Reach El Paso Strategist Bienvenidos Amigos! This common expression needs no translation in El Paso. It is palpable and understood through the love and hospitality shown to the city s visitors. El Paso is not only a very safe, welcoming and friendly city, but it is an area ready for spiritual harvest. God has sent people of all nations to our backyard making our community a field white for the harvest. During the missions revival that impacted Baptists in Texas and American churches in the 70s and 90s, El Paso became merely a border city, a thoroughfare to cross through for work and missions in Mexico. Churches passed through the city for a night s rest before crossing into Mexico, forgetting our city is a ready and fertile field for missions also. El Paso faces the urgent need of native churches. Many of the non-christian population lack churches reflecting their socio-cultural context. It is unlikely that this population gets to hear the gospel in a way that is meaningful. Consequently, no disciples among these groups are formed. The biblical commandment of Matthew 28: to make disciples of all ta ethne (ethnicities) implies that we must evangelize and plant churches among all ethnic groups and segments of the population of El Paso and surrounding areas in accordance to the guidance of the Lord to each established church. There are nearly a million people in El Paso. Cultural and ethnic diversity continues to increase in the region as it does in North America, as most of society becomes increasingly removed from a biblical worldview. 16 sbtc church planting

19 reach cities By December 2020, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention s El Paso area church planting team aims to meet two goals: y Have 100 church planters, pastors and leaders in training at The International School of Fe (El Paso Baptist Bible Institute) y Facilitate the start of 20 new churches, including: five Spanish-speaking, 10 Spanish/English speaking, two cowboy, one French-speaking, one Chinese-speaking and two additional ethnic churches as God leads. Currently, the SBTC church planting team assists established churches in the five-fold process of planting new churches: 1. Identifying where new churches are needed 2. Prioritizing opportunities to start new churches 3. Communicating the vision of church planting 4. Coordinating the efforts of church planting 5. Assembling those called by God Furthermore, the SBTC El Paso church planting team has identified four essential components to the process of assembling those called by God to support us or to help us on mission trips: 1. Prayer and strategic planning Prayer is the most important element of the entire strategy. The mobilization of the people of God to participate in prayer walking, church planting, evangelism and the strengthening of existing churches depend on God s blessing. 2. Churches in strategic alliance Churches wishing to group together voluntarily and fraternally can organize evangelistic door-to-door visitation, block party festivals, Vacation Bible School programs, gospel revivals, small construction project events, discovery activities, and launching the vision for a new church. 3. Events convoking the called The first two components set the stage for assembling the called. This is an opportunity for church believers to hear God s will for them in church planting ministry. Ideally, the event includes activities to help people discover their talents for service, evangelism, discipleship, missions and teaching as well as praying for an area or specific ethnic group. 4. Evaluation for duplication Our desire is for the principles of this strategy of church planting to be reproducible or transferable in any scenario, under any circumstances. God calls Christians to go to the lost world to reconcile them to himself through faith in Jesus Christ. We hope that the churches started through this strategy have the opportunity to replicate this process. God s call to Christians to serve in the lost world never changes but the context is constantly evolving. Therefore, the last component of this strategy addresses the need for evaluation. Recently, an SBTC church from San Angelo adopted a new congregation in the El Paso area, Iglesia Bautista Dios Con Nosotros. After multiple mission trips and training conferences focused on small groups, this new congregation has been the church with the most growth in our community. Its emphasis on evangelism and discipleship within small groups has provided the spark that has fueled a spiritual revival in the community. Adopting a new church and training the congregation has been the main piece for the success of this ministry. For more information or if you are interested in becoming a supporter please contact Chuy Ávila at cavila@sbtexas.com. So, how can you and your church be a part of this El Paso area strategy? y Pray The mobilization of the people of God to plant churches, participate in mission teams, and strengthen existing churches depends on God s blessing. y Come to El Paso for a vision tour to see the needs and how you can partner with a local church y Adopt El Paso and send missionaries or church planters to start a new healthy congregation in the area y Partner with a local church in order to launch a new church plant as a sponsor church y Organize a prayer walk in a target neighborhood in partnership with a local new church y Partner with a local church planter and help him with a community block party or neighborhood festival y Adopt a new potential church plant and evangelize door-todoor and/or organize a Vacation Bible School program y Adopt a local church and train it in discipleship and evangelism sbtexas.com 17

20 reach cities reach Houston By Ben Hays Reach Houston Strategist The apostle Paul says in Acts 17, And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. A couple of relevant truths are revealed to us here. First, God determines the when and the where of people s dwelling on the earth. And second, that his purpose in ordaining those things is so people can find him! These are very encouraging things to remember as we think about our own cities. In my city, Houston, we see the sovereign hand of God that Paul talked about in our rapidly changing demographics. People of every kindred, tribe and tongue are moving to Houston from all over the country, and from all over the world. God is bringing the people who are far from him to live near us here in Houston. With approximately 350 people groups, 220 languages and a growth rate of 2,000 people per week, Houston has become the premier mission field along the American gulf coast region. A recent report projected that Houston will grow to 14 million people by This means that in order to barely maintain the current spiritual climate of 20 percent Christian, we would have to start at least 133 churches in Houston per year! As you can see, the harvest is plenty, but many more laborers are needed. So what are we doing in response to this reality? The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention is engaging the lost through the Reach Houston initiative. Reach Houston is our very best frontline effort to plant new churches and revitalize struggling churches to reach our city with the gospel. Currently, we have 14 funded or affiliated planting/revitalization projects going in the greater Houston area. Our roster of planters/pastors is diverse both ethnically and geographically. We are planting churches from affluent inner-city areas to forgotten blue-collar areas to the lives sprawling suburbs. We are planting churches to reach people who have lived in Texas all of their life, and for people who just moved here last week. In addition to these current church planting projects, we have several more in our bull pen, being prepared and equipped to join the team soon. Further, we are supporting two People Group Missionaries for the Houston area who are seeking to reach those who have moved here from predominantly non-christian parts of the world. The most exciting thing about Reach Houston is that we can actually see that we are making an impact. My favorite story recently from the front lines of church planting is about one of our church planters in the city who was literally punched in the face by an atheist at a community outreach event. Not only was he attacked but, more importantly, he responded in grace and spoke a word about God s redemptive mission into his aggressor s life. The pastor agreed not to press any charges if he was given the opportunity to sit down and talk to his aggressor for a few minutes in an effort to point him toward Jesus. That s a powerful picture of taking the light of the gospel into dark places with truth and grace. Church planting is the most effective way to reach the unchurched around us. We are working hard and praying towards the multiplication of churches in the Houston area through SBTC church planting. 18 sbtc church planting

21 reach cities Another fresh report from one of our workers is about a recent immigrant from Iraq. One of our missionaries invited the gentleman, who is a new believer, to his home for dinner with his family and the two ended up spending 14 hours together those next few days discussing foundational Christian beliefs, such as a biblical understanding of the Trinity. The Iraqi man asked, can you explain to me how we believe that there is only one God, but there is also three. After some discussion, he was so pleased to finally understand the biblical teaching. God is at work among the nations here in Houston, drawing seekers and new believers from every corner of the globe to himself and to the body of Christ! God is at work among the nations here in Houston, drawing seekers and new believers from every corner of the globe to himself and to the body of Christ! Finally, let me leave you with an invitation to come and join us in Houston! Like Paul, who saw a man from Macedonia waving and saying, Come on over and help us, we are inviting you to mobilize your church to help us engage this vast mission field. You can join us on a short-term mission trip or you can formulate an ongoing partnership with one of our planters. You can also come and pray for our city and see with your own eyes what God is doing here. Please let me know how I can be of assistance in helping you get involved in reaching Houston with the good news. Please see dates for our upcoming Reach Houston vision tours on our website at sbtexas.com/reachcities. We hope to see you soon in America s most ethnically diverse mega-city! For more information on becoming a supporter please contact Ben Hays, bhays@sbtexas.com. FEBRUARY 25 Irving Convention Center During the Empower Conference Senior pastors and wives who are new to the SBTC, there s a special complimentary lunch and orientation just for you at the Empower Conference. We would love to meet you and answer any questions you may have about the convention or Baptist life in Texas. For details & registration, visit sbtexas.com/newpastor Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. sbtexas.com 19

22 church planting church apocalypse? By Bart McDonald Executive Director, SBTC Foundation The article s title caught my eye and piqued my interest: Retail Apocalypse: Why So Many Stores are Closing. I clicked the link, I read and I pondered. The author addressed an all-too-familiar sight in our changing retail landscape: the closing of stores given changing consumption patterns. Toys-R-Us, Kmart, Sears, JC Penny, Radio Shack, CVS, the list seemed endless and the trend continues. More than 70 million additional square feet of retail space is slated to close in Would you pray about partnering with one of these new plants starting in an existing building or even better, help raise up a planter to lead one? One sentence resonated in my soul, So many stores are closing now for the same reason they ve always closed they don t meet consumer s needs. The church has never been exempt from culture. How do we avoid the same fate? How do we respond to the increasing avalanche of churches who, like familiar retailers, have reached the end of their life cycle? What will our response be toward churches who find themselves in a crisis of survival? How will we preserve the legacy and sacrificial gifts of generations past in the midst of the ever-changing and ever-increasing cultural 20 sbtc church planting

23 church planting diversity of our cities? The questions are broad, multi-faceted and have elicited a variety of efforts within our denominational structures. At the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, one response has involved a more deliberate and collaborative effort between church revitalization, church planting and the Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation (SBTF). In an effort to assist the growing number of churches facing financial crisis, the SBTF developed its Jubilee Property Program in 2016 for the express purpose of preserving preaching points and facilitating the redeployment of kingdom assets. The program reflects biblical principles regarding the Sabbatic Year and the Year of Jubilee detailed in Deuteronomy 15 and Leviticus 25. Two recent participants illustrate the program s features. In 2016, one SBTC church experienced a split, leaving a remnant congregation of less than 30 facing debt they could not pay and facilities they could not support. Upon approval to enter the program, the SBTF settled all outstanding debt, and in return the congregation deeded their property to the SBTF under a Jubilee Property Agreement which specified a holding period during which the SBTF shouldered the burden of insurance, renovations and other property-related expenses. A Redemption Provision documented an option to reobtain all property at the point where financial viability allowed. During the holding period, the convention placed a transitional pastor to shepherd the remnant and identified a new pastor to orchestrate a replant funded by the convention s church planting group. After 13 months, the Foundation conveyed the property back to the new replant and financed the direct and indirect costs incurred. A preaching point was saved and a remnant now thrives with a new identity, a new pastor and a bright future. Another church facing significant shifts in ethnic diversity took a bold and visionary move to respond to their city s changing landscape. Recognizing the absence of an evangelical pulpit aimed at reaching a growing ethnic group, they voted to disband and deed their property to the SBTF. The remnant joined another church and the SBTF is currently working with the convention s church planting group to identify a pastor to plant a new work which will utilize those kingdom assets. One challenge facing new plants is the acquisition of their first permanent home. While many rent transitional space and grow to a point of acquiring property, this new plant will begin its journey leasing a fully-furnished building for a manageable percentage of their weekly receipts. As they grow and reach the point of financial viability, the SBTF will sell the property to the new plant and finance the purchase. All rentals during the holding period are credited toward the purchase price and all debt payments are deposited into the SBTF s Jubilee Property Fund to replenish the resources needed to help other churches facing similar circumstances. Change in the landscape of our work is unquestionable. The Jubilee Property Program represents one alternative for churches facing financial crisis. Its design seeks to replace a potential church apocalypse and transition it instead to a kingdom opportunity. It provides declining and distressed churches a means to accomplish kingdom growth through the preservation of preaching points and the redeployment of kingdom assets. sbtexas.com 21

24 church planting church planter s wife: run like the winded By Allison Crandall Pastor s wife, CityView Church, Pearland Elite runner Desiree Linden wanted to quit. The terrible race day conditions: bitter cold, driving rain, and strong winds, had her on the brink. Feeling fatigued, she hung back with another runner for a moment. She slowed down for only 15 seconds, but it was enough. Surprised, she felt better. Suddenly, she found herself in third place and decided she probably shouldn t quit. She then went on to win the 2018 Boston Marathon Women s Race. The break she took is widely credited as what gave her the energy not only to finish, but also to win. And she almost dropped out. it s a long haul I m no Desiree Linden, but I ve run two half marathons 13 miles and church planting feels a lot like a long-distance race. First, when you tell people you are going to do it, they call you crazy. They wonder how you ever hatched such a ridiculous scheme as to run 13 miles (or plant a church). Even still, you get to the start line. All the work, planning and training has come down to this moment. You feel ready for big things. It s going to be the best race (or church) ever! And for the first few miles, your adrenaline is carrying you. Beautiful day. The wind in your face! Joy. You re. Just. So. Happy. Suddenly, halfway in, your feet start to feel like lead. The sun beats down. Was it this hot before? Why are you sweating so much? And that breeze in your face? It died. You re. Just. So. Tired. It all starts to seem like it was a really bad idea. You wonder why you started that race (or church plant) in the first place. But in church planting, you have good miles and you have bad miles. And that s okay because it s long. What s important is to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and finish what the Lord has called you to. so take breaks While training for the last half, I ran my 13-mile practice run a lot faster than I ran the actual race. Why? The practice run included stoplights a mandatory break. Because I was forced to stop, breathe and drink water I ran faster overall than when I did not stop. Doug Hixson, director of missions for the SBTC, said about church planting, No one will tell you to rest. And he s right. They won t. But you should. Plan short mandatory breaks from your church planting marathon. Get away, even if it is just a day trip or a couple hours. Pause and take some actual time to drink from the well of living water that is Jesus Christ. Because church planting is such a big and overwhelming task, we can forget that God has both a purpose and a plan for rest, and that in the end it helps us do our work more efficiently. be encouraged In any race, both the crowd of supporters and fellow runners play an important role. They re encouragers! Other runners offer advice, especially if they ve done it before. Everything from what to eat to what to wear they want you to learn from their past mistakes and not end up with blisters all over your feet. As for the crowd? Friends, family, and even strangers come out in support. With signs that 22 sbtc church planting

25 church planting say things like, Don t Forget You Paid to Do This! they cheer you on. Since church planting is a unique experience, you need to be in the company of other church planting couples. These are your fellow runners. Whether it is on fundraising strategies or recipes that feed a crowd, they have something to say. So, take advantage of the church planter retreats and workshops that the SBTC offers you. Wherever you are along the way, there is someone further down the road than you who has been there. Be teachable, because blisters on your feet hurt. Also, you need the support of your crowd of friends along the way. Inside your church plant or out, you need people who know the real you, and not just church planter s wife you. They ll encourage you to not grow weary in doing good, and remind you that in due time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up (Galatians 6:9). and celebrate the wins Church planting is a family affair; your children run, too. They re part of every community outreach event and block party you do (mine happen to be eating six snow cones under the radar while I serve popcorn). They are there for everything, so include them when you celebrate the wins. Some of my favorite moments in the church planting journey have been when a brand-new believer asks tough questions because she is wrestling with the hard sayings of Jesus, or when someone I ve been asking to come for a long time surprise! walks through the door. But if you re like me, you tend to complain loudly in the privacy of your family. Do you only mention the bad miles and somehow forget to mention the good ones? Be intentional about mentioning your favorite church planting moments with your children, too. Don t keep them private; no win is too big or too small. I mean, when you re a kid all it takes is a block party and six snow cones to qualify as a win. Desiree Linden took the short break she needed in the midst of a grueling endurance race and she won a great prize. But if we run the race that is our Christian life well, Paul encourages us that we run for something even better a reward that is imperishable (1 Corinthians 9:25). I don t know how long your church planting journey will be, but I encourage you to run that season of your Christian life with endurance (Hebrews 12:1). You just keep putting one foot in front of the other. And I will, too. September San Marcos Take a break from the daily life of ministry and be refreshed through fellowship with other pastor wives. For senior pastor wives only. Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. sbtexas.com/women sbtexas.com 23

26 mobilization partnership missions: transforming lives and transforming churches By Eric Perkins Missions and Church Planting Consultant It has been exciting and amazing to watch the dawn of a new generation of mission sending and going through partnership missions. As the local church has begun to better understand, partnership missions is more than giving and praying for our mission agencies; it requires going. Our mission agencies have led the way and have led our churches and convention well for many years. Yet partnership missions is so much more than just supporting our mission agencies. The church is equipping and empowering growing believers to go. Our Southern Baptist mission agencies are equipping and empowering growing believers to go and through strengthened partnership our mission sending capacity will continue to grow. We have seen this evidenced through the success of the North American Mission Board s focus on Send Cities. The challenge from NAMB President Kevin Ezell was for churches to adopt a focus city, church plant or church planter, and support those planters financially, through prayer and by sending mission teams to assist them in reaching their city. The results have been incredibly encouraging. For many, the expected outcome was for churches to be planted, the lost to be saved and for believers to be discipled. Yet much more is happening; churches are partnering together to directly support church planters and church plants. For many of these church plants their support and resources come from multiple congregations who partner together to support them through prayer, giving, sending mission teams and equipping. Partnership missions has matured from just supporting our agencies in the work to a realization that God has called the church to go, give and serve. The call has become more personal for churches to be directly involved in the work. We have heard the line, churches plant churches ; that is exactly what we are seeing. Southern Baptist churches are joining their resources, working through the North American Mission Board to plant hundreds of healthy multiplying churches. With this spirit and heart for cooperation, cities can and will be transformed. Partnership Missions transforms lives and transforms churches. Our Cooperative Program has been an amazing collaboration of local churches partnering together for the purpose of supporting, sending and equipping Southern Baptists to obediently follow the Great Commission. However, over the last 25 years we have seen a shift in how our churches are supporting missions locally, nationally and globally. While support and partnership with our SBC mission agencies is an essential part of our answering the call to go, this does not absolve the local church and its individual members of their Great Commission calling. When we look at the task, it 24 sbtc church planting

27 mobilization often feels overwhelming. Yet when we realize that together we can do more, everything changes. The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention desires to partner with you in this process of becoming a Great Commission going and sending church. When our churches begin to work together, partnering resources and efforts, our outlook changes. That has always been the beauty of the Cooperative Program. Yes, some churches contribute more, but it takes all of us partnering together to faithfully support the work. While a church might not have a large budget or attendance, when it partners with other churches with the same Great Commission understanding, it can make an incredible contribution to the kingdom. Partnership missions works best when churches join together working in their communities, their state, across North America and Partnership missions allow any church of any size to be all in missionally. We partner by sending our resources to our agencies and we partner by sending our resources directly to the field. around the world. Your SBTC missions team is available to assist your church in answering the call to go, serve and partner. Over the last 20 years I have had the privilege of assisting churches and individuals in discovering how they can partner with other churches and believers in going and sharing the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. I look forward to assisting our churches in discovering, partnering and going missionally, whether that is through church planting here in Texas or partnering internationally. Today, as local churches understand that our calling is to work together not only through our agencies, but also with our sister churches, our potential for making a difference grows exponentially. Partnership missions allow any church of any size to be all in missionally. We partner by sending our resources to our agencies and we partner by sending our resources directly to the field. The result is clearly seen in two ways in the churches that are actively involved in going: their mission giving increases and often those going out on mission teams realize they are being called to serve as well. Partnership missions transforms lives and transforms churches! jan CHURCH ON RUSH CREEK, ARLINGTON apr AUSTIN jul HOUSTON nov 8-9 DFW To reach North America for Christ, we must focus on building the kingdom through multiplication. sbtexas.com/churchplanting Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. Basic Training helps the church planting team develop a step-by-step plan for starting a church that starts churches. The training fits into a twoday workshop with pre-workshop prep. sbtexas.com 25

28 evangelism serve, love and serve again By Jaime Garcia Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Houston The church has been called not to just to be on mission, but to live out that mission in its city. Bethel Baptist Church has been given the biggest evangelistic platform our city has ever seen, due to Hurricane Harvey. As a pastor, my passion is to lead our people to be the church to those who are hurting, broken and forgotten. It takes sacrifice and intentionality to serve others. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22, We must become all things to all people that by all means we might save some. The mission field is just outside our church doors, with so much of the community waiting to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is why Bethel BC has intentionally served in the Hurricane Harvey affected communities. On Thanksgiving Day we served meals to over 1,200 people. At Christmas, we had a parade in a Harveyaffected community. During Easter, over 600 people attended an evangelistic event at our church. Houston has become the missions epicenter at this current season, and we are receiving missions groups to fulfill the mission call to serve. Taking the time to help someone with their hurricane-ravished home, or simply dropping off a bag of groceries, bridges the gap for the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is a testimony from Catherine, of First Baptist Church, Booneville, Mississippi. She spent a week doing missions in our Houston community and said, I want you to know I am hijacking #nothingisnormal for my Sunday School lesson. It s too easy to be content as long as it s someone else who is in need. Nothing is normal as long as there are people who need our help and need us to share God s love, and it shouldn t take the hurricane of the decade to make us look up and look around. Small needs can be just as much an opportunity to live and share the gospel as are the big needs. If we are open to God, he will use us. I believe that serving is the greatest joy in life, and if that s true for you, then go serve, go love and go serve again. 26 sbtc church planting

29 evangelism DISASTER RELIEF TRAINING PREP TRAIN RESPOND Phase 1 Feb 2 Broadview BC, Abilene Mar 9 FBC, Wake Village Apr 13 Spring Baptist Church Sep 28 FBC, Alvarado Phase 2 Feb 1 Broadview BC, Abilene Mar 8 FBC, Wake Village Apr 12 Spring Baptist Church Sep 27 FBC, Alvarado For more info & to register for trainings sbtexas.com/dr Preparing, equipping, training and mobilizing churches and volunteers to fulfill the Great Commission by meeting real needs and sharing the hope of Jesus Christ with those whose lives have been or will be affected by disasters. Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. sbtexas.com 27

30 church planting there is no plan b By Aaron Scarbrough Graceview Baptist Church, Burleson BURLESON IS FULL OF CHURCHES some big, some small, some very fundamental and others very fluffy. Some of our churches are conservative and some chaotic. No matter what a person desires in a local church, Burleson has it. Seven years ago when God called us to plant Graceview Baptist Church, I wasn t sure what to do. What would make us stand out among the other churches? During that time of struggle God brought me to the book of Acts and said, I m not asking you to stand out, I am asking you to look like this. It was in that moment I realized, as we planted, we needed to not compare ourselves to the church across town or down the street, we needed to compare ourselves to Scripture and constantly ask ourselves if we measure up to it. To do so we created standards by which we measure ourselves, based on three words: Biblical, Relational, and Missional. Biblical Our standard is the Word of God. Everything we do is built upon this foundation. We preach biblically with expositional preaching and organize our Sunday gatherings around a liturgy that is scriptural and gospel-driven. We promote biblical discipleship for all ages and stages of 28 sbtc church planting

31 church planting life. We have a biblical church structure with elders and deacons and we hold to a strong biblical statement of faith. We have rejected the business mentality of the modern church and trust that as we follow God he will be faithful as we focus upon him. Our biblical standard will not be compromised by the world but shaped by Scripture. Relational We believe that God has called the local church into community a relational community that shares common beliefs and values. Graceview is a community where discipleship and accountability are understood as being an integral part of the church body. Taking and giving are equally practiced as members serve one another intentionally and incidentally, through personal ministry and as God brings unique opportunities our way. We believe church community is a covenant relationship where covenant members don t say, I m In! but instead say I m ALL In! In doing so, we push back against the We push back against the consumer mentality and not only say, but show that each member is vital to the life of the church. consumer mentality and not only say, but show that each member is vital to the life of the church. Missional Being missional is about action; it s where the rubber meets the road. We believe all Christians have been look like heaven Revelation 7:9 Encouraging cross-cultural interchange among churches with a special emphasis every July. As you celebrate these exchanges, please send photos, videos and/or testimonies so that we may highlight some of them during our annual meeting in November. Ideas include: Pulpit, praise team or choir swap Joint revivals & worship services Coffee or breakfast with other pastors For more info contact Richard Taylor rtaylor@sbtexas.com Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. sbtexas.com/looklikeheaven sbtexas.com 29

32 church planting charged with sharing the gospel in their spheres of influence. That s why Graceview isn t a program-driven church where members are encouraged to just bring friends to hear the gospel, but instead we encourage members to Go and Share! Being missional happens on both a local level and a global level. Locally this means looking for opportunities to share the gospel with friends and neighbors. Globally this means praying, giving and going on mission trips to share the gospel around the world. We believe God hasn t called us to do local or global missions but both! When God impressed this upon us we were overwhelmed and excited at the same time. For years we desired to be a part of a church that attempted to look like a first century church that lives in the twenty-first century. We wanted to be a people committed to God s Word and showing people that his Word is sufficient for all things in faith, life, and salvation. As we lived this out God was very gracious to us. He grew us numerically and families in our community have been impacted by the gospel. He provided financially so that our new church plant could survive. More importantly he grew us spiritually as people walked in discipleship and followed hard after Jesus. Then one day God challenged us regarding church planting. We were struck with the conviction that down the street, locally and around the world wasn t enough. He was calling us to be a people who were reaching the surrounding cities with the gospel through intentional church planting. So, we began to pray that God would give us an opportunity to plant churches that would be biblical, relational and missional. Within months of beginning to pray God gave us that opportunity. The Southern Baptists of Texas Convention reached out and we God s plan to reach sinners with the good news of the gospel is through the local church. There is no plan B, no contingency plan, and no other options we must weigh to see if he will use us to reach the lost. The vehicle for gospel advancement has always been the local church. became a church planting center where we could develop planting interns and prepare them to go out and know what they were doing instead of flying by the seat of their pants. In one year we were able to plant three churches, two here in Texas and one in Massachusetts. We have one planter in residence and are in discussions with another one who will be going out, hopefully, within a year. God has already done more than we could ever ask and it seems like we are just getting started. As we have gone on this journey I have become more and more convinced that if a church is going to say that it is driven by the Bible, then, it will be a church that is about church planting. The two cannot be separated because God s plan to reach sinners with the good news of the gospel is through the local church. There is no plan B, no contingency plan, and no other options we must weigh to see if he will use us to reach the lost. The vehicle for gospel advancement has always been the local church. So, as a pastor of a local church I must be focused on where there is gospel need in surrounding communities and actively working to plant a local church in that area so people can be impacted by the gospel and lives can be changed. I do not need to worry if there are other churches in the area because there is too much need for the gospel in every area. Our hearts must beat with the rhythms of Scripture, and central to that rhythm are the beats of go, send, reach, proclaim, disciple, serve and plant. He has been faithful to us and I know he will be faithful to you as you take up the call to plant churches so the gospel will go forth. 30 sbtc church planting

33 there s training for that. online training sbtexas.com/onlinetraining A training platform enabling churches and leaders to receive and provide basic leadership tools for their ministries. all videos are FREE. no user account needed. However, you can set up account to bookmark favorites and access our free Learning Paths portion. learning paths Curated video courses and tools created to further the spiritual development of church leaders and Christians. paths include: Disaster Relief Phase 1 Training Church Revitalization Teaching & Preaching Series Stand Firm Apologetics Course (English & Spanish) Saving Men in a Hyper Sexualized Culture Helping Men with Pornography and Sexual Addiction To see a library of free courses, visit the online training page and click the Learning Paths tab. Were you unable to attend one of our conferences, or are you looking for training in a host of ministry areas? + Preschool/Children + Young Adult & Preteen + Collegiate + Men & Women + Family & Single Adults + Evangelism + Adult Sunday School + Discipleship + Worship + Missions + Administration + Communications + Leadership & Pastoral + Church Revitalization + Spanish + & More Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. sbtexas.com 31

34 OUR VISION To see a church planting movement among the unreached people groups living in Texas TEXAS MISSIONS INITIATIVES sbtexas.com/txmi Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. OUR MISSION Equip the local church to reach people groups in Texas, moving from friendship and spiritual conversations to discipleship and church planting CORE VALUES Treasure the body of Christ Depend on God through prayer Utilize all God-given resources Prioritize reaching unreached people groups The fields of Texas are white for the harvest. -John 4:35 We invite you to join us for a couple s date where you can enjoy the company and fellowship of other ministry couples. Wolfes Hixsons Pruitts Gonzaleses JAN 18 Lufkin MAR 8 Austin APR 5 El Paso SEP 6 Midland SEP 13 DFW NOV 15 Houston W W W W W W H P G P en Español H P Register & view the schedule at sbtexas.com/datenights 32 sbtc church planting Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving.

35 the sbtc app event calendar archived sessions TEXAN online advance now podcast video/media other sbtc apps Search SBTC to find these resources 1cross revitalization family ilead FOLLOW US Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. sbtexas.com/apps sbtexas.com 33

36 DISCIPULADO RITMOS ESPIRITUALES Un manual diseñado para servir como herramienta en la multiplicación de discípulos. sbtexas.com/rhythms UN DISCIPULADO VIBRANTE recursos disponibles en español sbtexas.com Este webinar con los pastores Eddie Lopez y Philip Levant examina el mandato, modelo, y los desafíos del discipulado. sbtexas.com/online EVANGELISMO 1 CROSS APP El 1 CROSS app está diseñado para facilitar compartir el evangelio con personas de diferentes culturas, idiomas, y religiones. El app contiene más de 45 testimonios en diferentes idiomas de personas que han sido transformados por Cristo. sbtexas.com/1cross IGLESIA MANUAL PARA BÚSQUEDA DE PASTOR Un recurso esencial para la iglesia local y el comité de búsqueda de pastor para ayudar en encontrar el siervo de Dios para su congregación REVITALIZACIÓN DE IGLESIA Un programa que ayuda a las iglesias que están declinando o experimentando estancamiento. Le ayudará a renovar la visión, misión, y propósito de la iglesia. EL PROGRAMA COOPERATIVO Visite nuestro sitio web para descargar videos, estudios, sermones, y testimonios sobre este mecanismo de recaudación de fondos de los Bautistas del Sur, que por más de 90 años ha apoyado los ministerios de la SBC. whatiscp.com/spanish/ CAPACITACIÓN Para ver otras ayudas ministeriales por favor visite nuestro canal de ministerios hispanos por la web donde encontrará videos de conferencias y entrenamientos en evangelismo, discipulado, ministerio, apologética, liderazgo y mucho más. sbtexas.com/online 34 sbtc church planting

37 conferencia 10 de agosto champion forest baptist church, houston La conferencia EQUIP capacita a líderes para todos los aspectos del ministerio en la iglesia local. Este entrenamiento es para el beneficio de las iglesias pequeñas e iglesias grandes. Se ofrecen más de 200 sesiones de talleres para preescolares, infantiles, jóvenes, adultos, y adultos mayores. Se ofrecen sesiones especiales para la tecnología de la Iglesia (sitio web y redes sociales), y para diáconos, y seguridad para la iglesia. También se ofrecen talleres en español que incluyen temas del ministerio de varones, mujeres, discipulado, familia, y adoración. sbtexas.com/equip Hecho posible por el Programa Cooperativo. sbtexas.com 35

38 Es nuestro objetivo final apoyar y facilitar el cumplimiento de la Gran Comisión por medio de la iglesia local. Las Conferencias Regionales se han desarrollado con este propósito en mente: capacitar a los líderes y miembros de las iglesias al ofrecer seminarios prácticos, recursos bíblicos, y la inspiración para continuar la obra que Dios ha confiado a cada miembro. Esta formación se lleva a cabo en zonas claves en el estado de Texas, con la visión de extenderse y multiplicarse a otras zonas. 13 de abril Oak Meadow Baptist Church, Austin 21 de septiembre Bethel Baptist Church, Houston sbtexas.com/regional Temas Principales: Discipulado, Misiones, Evangelismo, Jóvenes, Enriquecimiento Matrimonial, y Desarrollo Pastoral. Para más información, comuníquese con Juani Shelton sshelton@sbtexas.com ext Número de teléfono gratuito Hecho posible por el Programa Cooperativo. 4 de mayo Central Baptist Church, College Station 22 de junio South Jefferson Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant 7 de septiembre Parkhills Baptist Church, San Antonio La conferencia de mujeres FLORECE es un evento de aliento espiritual lleno de enseñanza bíblica, música conmovedora y compañerismo con hermanas de otras iglesias que desean crecer en su caminar diario con Cristo. Y así, Impactar a sus hogares, iglesias y comunidad. sbtexas.com/mujeres Hecho posible por el Programa Cooperativo. Para más información, comuníquese con Juani Shelton sshelton@sbtexas.com , ext Número de teléfono gratuito sbtc church planting

39 A two-day training covering how to develop an ESL program for your church, student placement, lesson building, teaching techniques, evangelism and more. A one-day workshop equipping you to teach English on an international mission trip. Learn to teach using suggested resources and activities, proper preparations for the trip, what questions to ask before you go and when you arrive and where you will be teaching. There is no certificate awarded. For 2019 training dates, visit sbtexas.com/mtraining Made possible by your Cooperative Program giving. 4-5 de Octubre River Bend Retreat Center Nuestra conferencia de Hombres de Impacto está diseñada para que los hombres puedan ejercerse en el servicio a los demás y a entregar sus vidas para convertirse en los líderes siervos que Dios los ha llamado a ser en sus hogares, iglesias, y comunidades. Saturado con enseñanza bíblica, instrucción pertinente y actividades competitivas que fomentan un espíritu de compañerismo, esta es una oprtunidad que no se puede perder. sbtexas.com/hombres Para más información, comuníquese con Juani Shelton sshelton@sbtexas.com ext Número de teléfono gratuito Hecho posible por el Programa Cooperativo. sbtexas.com 37

40 sbtc 45 percent sbc 55 percent reaching texas & touching the world Among state conventions, the SBTC gives the highest percentage (55%) of budgeted receipts to the ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBTC invests the Texas budget allocation (45%) to assist in church planting, evangelistic efforts and strengthening existing churches % leadership Church Ministries Pastor/Church Relations Hispanic Ministries Church Revitalization 36.72% missional Missions Evangelism Church Planting 25.75% supporting Operations & Finance Ministry Relationships Communications 4.62% in state special allocation SBTC contribution for church/assoc. staff retirement & protection benefit We are stronger together through the Cooperative Program. CP SUNDAY APRIL 7 for more info visit whatiscp.com 38 sbtc church planting