Shepherd church committed to obedience, no matter what_92004

Posted: 9/17/04

Shepherd church committed to obedience, no matter what

By George Henson

Staff Writer

SHEPHERD–Leaders of First Baptist Church in Shepherd believe the key thing about being a “key church” is obedience–even when obedience requires a double dose of persistence.

Since becoming a part of the Baptist General Convention of Texas' key church program, the Southeast Texas church between Livingston and Cleveland has helped start about 12 missions, Pastor Preston Baker said. Four of those congregations still are meeting.

“We've had a lot more failures than successes,” Baker acknowledged, “but you've got to willing to do that. You've got to be willing to take a risk. You've got to be obedient.”

Shepherd and the surrounding area are home to several pockets of population, and many of the people who live there will not come to church in town, Baker said. “Some don't want to come to town, and some don't want to go to 'that big church.' We're trying to give them alternatives.”

First Baptist Church–which averages about 150 in attendance each Sunday–has gone where those people live to offer Backyard Bible Clubs, conduct door-to-door surveys of spiritual needs, hold outdoor gospel music concerts and serve barbecue to the residents.

“And sometimes it has all just come back void,” Baker admits.

That doesn't stop the church from trying, however.

“We're often putting feelers out, and if we get any response we try to start a Bible study or a mission there. We're not giving up on these people,” he said.

The lack of immediate success has not discouraged the congregation, Baker insists.

“The majority has seen the need, and even the mission churches that failed probably baptized 10 people. We don't give up an area. We wait awhile and try again,” he said.

“We're not the only church here, and we're not saying we're the only one doing anything. All we're trying to do is whatever we can to reach our community for Christ. We are at least showing people that we care, and we are establishing contact points which may help us reach people in the future.

“We're just trying to be practical about it–we know a lot of people are not going to come here, so we are trying to find a way to go to them.”

Besides the four missions still operating–two of which were started in partnership with Tryon-Evergreen Baptist Association–the church has had several successful outreaches to the community.

While Shepherd's population is only about 2,000 people, the Helping Hands food pantry the church started 10 years ago helps feed 40 families a month. Other churches, as well as school and civic organizations, now help with the ministry. Bibles in Spanish and English also are available for the asking.

The church sustained an afternoon children's ministry with Bible study and tutoring at an apartment building that drew many children. The church has led a senior-adult Bible study on its property and another at the local nursing home.

“We've had our successes and good ministries,” Baker said. “And like the Helping Hands ministry that grew out of the concerns of a Sunday school class, all of these were started because someone had a burden to do something to reach out. These haven't been my ideas, but the ideas of laypeople.

“We do tell people, 'If you feel a call and want to start a ministry, we'll help you and support you.' We've done a lot of ministry that wouldn't have been done without a particular person feeling a call and being available at a particular time.

“It's been a joy for me to be a part of it. I've been almost as much an observer as a participant. It's great to watch someone grab hold of a ministry and stick with it.”

C.H. Murphy, director of missions for Tryon-Evergreen Association, said that while the Shepherd church is the smallest church participating in the key church program in the association, it has not stopped them from being in the forefront of the association's work.

“They have a great kingdom vision,” he said. “Anytime we need help for a mission or to start a church, all we have to do is give them a call, and if they can help, they will.

“We've had some good ministry through the efforts of First Baptist Church in Shepherd. They've had some disappointments, but they have kept on keeping on.”

Being a part of the key church effort helps keep the church focused on missions, Baker said. A key church council helps decide how to distribute the 3 percent of the church budget dedicated to key church efforts. He estimates 15 percent of the church's receipts go toward mission efforts, even though finances are a constant struggle for the rural church.

“We try to give missions the same level of priority as our youth, education and music ministries. It's definitely a priority,” he said. “It's easy to become a selfish church and just think about ministering to the people who are already coming, and I think becoming a key church helps you not to be that selfish church but to look outside your four walls.

“We're sold on the key church program, and we believe there are a lot of benefits, even from what may seem to be failures. If you're not willing to take risks, you're not going to get into this.

“We never go into an area expecting failure, but we sometimes know an area may be harder than others. We're sure are not trying to fail, but we don't fear it either. If you believe there's somewhere you're supposed to minister, you don't stop because of failure–you keep going until you find success.”