TOGETHER: God pours his Spirit on Texas churches_51605

Posted: 5/13/05

TOGETHER:
God pours his Spirit on Texas churches

Four teen-aged boys gathered quietly around me before the morning service at the Baptist church in Anton, a small West Texas community. I was there for a revival meeting, and the boys wanted to pray for me. One by one, they prayed for the guest evangelist.

It was a special moment for me, because when I arrived on Saturday, Interim Pastor Cecil Golden had told me the church was already experiencing revival. Several teen-agers had been saved recently, and he would baptize two of them the next morning.

I was thrilled that in preparing for a revival meeting, God had already begun to give revival to the church. But it also made me anxious lest I not be spiritually ready to match up with the hearts of the people.

Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

I called the college student who for the past two months had been working with the young people to congratulate him on what the pastor had told me and to ask him to pray for me. He prayed, and I asked if I could drop by the youth Sunday school class the next morning.

“Sure,” he said.

As I walked into the church, I looked into the first classroom, which was filled with senior adults.

“I'm looking for the youth Sunday school,” I said.

“Come on in; you've found us,” they laughed.

After a brief visit, they said how glad they were for what God was doing through their interim pastor and the young youth minister, Wes Briscoe. Then they pointed me in the direction of the “other” youth department.

Wes was teaching a Bible study on baptism as I slipped into a seat. He was preparing the two girls for their baptism and teaching the 24 other young people as well. I congratulated them on what God was doing in their lives to help bring revival to the church. I asked them to pray for me.

And there they were gathered around me, shy but bold, praying earnestly for their friends to be saved and to give revival to their church and town.

I'm glad to report that God answered our prayers. More than 10 came to Christ during the revival.

As I looked across the congregation that Sunday morning, I saw five rows of young people sitting side by side. I saw young families scattered around the room. And there were those senior adults with big smiles on their faces. About 20 percent of the congregation was non-Anglo. God was pouring out his Spirit on the whole community.

I thought of the Apostle Paul's admonition to young Timothy. “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

I thanked God he is alive and well in Texas Baptist churches–small ones and large ones, small towns and bustling cities. Among every race and tongue, he is pouring out his Spirit.

All of us who work for and serve our Baptist General Convention of Texas congregations feel humbled and privileged that God and the churches have given us the opportunity to be with you in this good work.

We are loved.

P.S.: I am looking forward to the Hispanic Convencion meeting June 6-7 in Corpus Christi. I always look forward to this meeting, because not only do the adults show up, but the young people are present in great numbers, too. See you there!