Talon Keeney to First Baptist Church of Gatesville as senior pastor, from Tri-Rivers Baptist Area, where he served as associate director.

Baylor University announced a $30 million gift from the Moody Foundation of Galveston to the university’s School of Education, renamed the Moody School of Education. The gift will support scholarships, expand faculty research, and provide resources to grow academic programs. The gift also provides the following:

• L. Moody II Endowed Scholarship Fund, for students pursuing careers serving preschool through 12the-grade education populations;
• Russell Moody Endowment for Disability and Flourishing, to expand research and programs to better serve and improve the lives of those with disabilities;
• Frances Anne Moody Endowed Professorship for School Psychology, to fund a faculty position focused on research addressing mental health in school-aged children;
• Ross Rankin Moody Endowment for Developing Talent and Potential, to identify and serve students with high academic potential from low-income areas and to provide early math intervention for young learners in high-need communities; and
• Elizabeth Lee Moody Endowment for School Leadership, to deepen the Moody School of Education’s engagement with Texas educators through professional development and sustained collaborations with current and aspiring school leaders and their schools.

East Texas Baptist University was awarded a grant of $850,000 from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. The grant will go toward the university’s Restoring Feagin Hall Initiative. Feagin Hall, built in 1950, was home for 64 years to men called to study at East Texas Baptist College and ETBU. The building was taken offline in 2014, when ETBU opened Steve and Penny Carlile Hall, previously named Centennial Hall. The Restoring Feagin Hall Initiative carries a total cost of $4,170,000, with $2,040,000 already secured through generous donor commitments.

Howard Payne University’s Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom Museum will soon expand its educational offerings to area schoolchildren thanks to an $881,000 grant recently awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. The grant will fund the facility’s rollout of a wide range of interactive learning opportunities for students in Brown County and surrounding counties. Grant funds will be used to host educator workshops and seminars, and the modernization of the MacArthur Academy’s learning environments through new furnishings, interactive technology, and student-centered events. The MacArthur Academy will offer cost-free museum visits, transportation support, and meals to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Wayland Baptist University is bringing back its competitive dance team for fall 2026. Recruiting for the scholarship sport is already underway for prospective dancers interested in joining the team.

A Protestant pastor, wife, and 3-month-old baby are temporarily staying with relatives in Oaxaca after being forcibly displaced after the pastor was told to kneel and pray to a Roman Catholic saint.

In November 2025, Mariano Velásquez Martínez, pastor, who led Iglesia Camino Nuevo y Vivo in the community of Santiago Malacatepec, San Juan Mazatlán Municipality, in Mexico’s Oaxaca State, was assigned the role of mayordomo, a stewardship role in which individuals are required to lead a traditional Roman Catholic festival and manage expenses.

On Jan. 15, according to a Christian Solidarity Worldwide report, a fellow mayordomo ordered Velásquez Martínez to light the candles, kneel, and pray to Saint James the Apostle. Velásquez Martínez told his fellow mayordomo such a request was not part of the agreement due to his religious beliefs.

The mayordomo complained to village authorities, who detained Velásquez Martínez for five days.

Velásquez Martínez was also bound with a rope and taken to an assembly of 180 men where an announcement was made that he was to be expelled from the village.

Velásquez Martínez was forced to sign a document, forcibly displacing him from the community.

Velásquez Martínez said he “fears it will be used to fabricate the story that he left the community voluntarily,” CSW reported.

Anna Lee Stangl, CSW director of advocacy, is calling on the government of Oaxaca to take swift action on the matter.

“The arbitrary detention of Pastor Mariano Velásquez Martínez and the subsequent forced displacement of him and his family is unconscionable,” Stangl said.

“This case is unfortunately not unique, and it is past time that the Mexican government, at every level, implements policies to uphold freedom of religion or belief for all, including in communities governed under Uses and Customs,” Stangl continued.

“We call on the government of Oaxaca to take swift action to hold those responsible for the forced displacement of this family to account under the law, and to take steps to make it clear that freedom of religion or belief must be upheld for all,” Stangl stated.

The case comes as sanctions have tightened in response to forced displacement in the state of Oaxaca. A prison sentence can last up to 18 years for perpetrators.

When Steve Belote moved to Amarillo in 2020 to plant and pastor Behind the Chutes Cowboy Church, his love for rodeo and Western culture inspired him to serve as a member on the fair board for the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo.

“I grew up [doing] rodeo. I was a cowboy for a long time [before] I went into the military. So, I had rodeo in me from a young age. And then when I got involved with Cowboy Church ministries, [my love for rodeo] overflowed into it,” Belote said.

Later, in Sept. 2021, Belote encouraged his congregation to get involved in reaching the rodeo attendees for Christ by setting up a booth where church members pass out “literature, handouts, [promotional materials] about the church, and give away Bibles and daily devotionals” that relate the gospel to each rodeo event.

Kay Archer, a Behind the Chutes Cowboy Church founding member, said “everything changed” when she started attending Behind the Chutes.

“I went to churches my whole life, but once I came to the cowboy church, it’s like everything changed … [and I understood that] God is open to all [people],” Archer said.

Since 2022, she has volunteered at the booth. She said each year she is surprised by how curious young people are about Jesus.

“They [say], ‘I don’t know how God is involved in this in the rodeo,’ [and] we just get to talking on that topic, and it just keeps on going and going,” Archer said. “They’re just curious. They want to know [and we get to] plant that seed.”

While his church members man the booth, Belote is behind the chutes, to “take care of the roping boxes and [other needs] back there with the ropers, and then on the other side with the bucking chutes where they have the bucking events.”

He takes that opportunity to “talk to the cowboys [about Jesus] and pray with the [rodeo] clowns.”

“It’s fun trying to put Jesus in a rodeo … [and showing cowboys that] you can worship God anywhere,” Belote said.

Cowboy church ‘opens up a different door’

Cowboy church ministry “opens up a different door to minister to these [cowboys] where you wouldn’t have a chance with them otherwise,” Belote said.

“You get cowboys back in the back, and they kneel down and pray [before their event]. You pray whether [you’re] religious or not,” Belote explained. “[So, by ministering to them], we’re actually making that door [to get to Jesus] wider.”

Belote recalled how a church member and high school friend, Marty, has been impacted by “the cowboy church movement.”

“I reached out, and he was just getting out of jail again, and we took him in. I got him involved with the ministry, and we got him involved in church, and for the last three years now, he’s been clean. He’s dedicated his life back to Christ,” Belote said.

“If it wasn’t for the cowboy church movement, I don’t think he’d have ever come to Christ.”

Marty volunteers at the church’s Tri-State Fair & Rodeo booth and shares his testimony with those he encounters, Belote said.

“Now, he’s got a purpose, and because he knows that Christ is with him and has helped him get through this, he’s sharing that through [our] ministry, being up there and talking to those guys while he works that booth [at the rodeo],” Belote said.

Planting seeds, making disciples

Behind the Chutes has grown by having a presence at the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo, Belote said.

“I do get some locals, they come out to church because of [the booth], just to check it out because a lot of people haven’t heard about the cowboy ministry. They don’t know it’s out there,” Belote said. “So, it’s about getting the word out to people [about the ministry].”

Belote shared that another church member and volunteer has particularly contributed to growth.

“She knew a lot of barrel racers. So, with her knowing the people that she knew, she’s able to go [to the rodeo] and work that booth and share the word of Christ with [barrel racers] and bring a few to church that way,” Belote said.

The heart behind the church’s presence at the rodeo is to “go out and make disciples,” he said.

“People think Cowboy Church is just about cowboys. It’s not. It’s about Christ, and it’s about bringing everybody, no matter who they are, [to Christ],” Belote said. “We can’t save anybody, but we can sure[ly] plant a bunch of seeds.”

Celebrating Churches is a new feature column to celebrate Texas Baptist church and minister anniversaries, baptisms, ministries of local churches, and other items and events of note for BGCT-affiliated churches. To learn more about this new column and/or to submit an entry for inclusion, email news@baptiststandard.com.

The First Baptist Church of Olney held a groundbreaking on Sunday, Jan. 18, for a new educational facility. The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility designed to replace aging infrastructure. Chad Edgington is senior pastor.

DaySpring Baptist Church of Waco was selected as the Christians Caring for Creation Church of the Year for 2025. Christians Caring for Creation recognizes congregations that demonstrate exceptional leadership in caring for God’s creation through faithful action, creative stewardship, and community engagement. The church’s property is now designated a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat. Eric Howell is pastor.

We celebrate those churches throughout Texas and elsewhere across the United States who will serve their communities amid the anticipated hazardous winter weather this weekend. Thank you for caring for people in need in Jesus’ name.

Part of celebrating churches is helping them grow and develop. The Baptist Standard’s Equip column is full of resources for the growth and development of the church.

A member of Baylor University’s President’s Council addressed the relationship between racism and greed during Church Under the Bridge’s Annual Racial Reconciliation Worship Service during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.

This year’s theme focused on “why the love of money is the root of all evil” and “how the church can create a new way forward.”

Malcolm Foley, author of the book The Anti-Greed Gospel and special adviser to the president for equity and campus engagement at Baylor University, spoke to a crowd under Interstate 35 in Waco, explaining race and racism is more than about identity and hate. It’s also about greed.

In his book and Sunday’s message, Foley suggested, “The strongest principality in American life is money, and race and racism are a perfect case study for understanding how that works.”

“The argument is race and racism are not fundamentally issues of identity, hate, or ignorance,” Foley said. “Rather, it is about greed.”

“If a community wants to be truly anti-racist, it must be anti-greed, inspired by the Holy Spirit to resist the death-dealing and imagination-strangling wiles of racialized capitalism. Race’s historical and social purpose is to justify systems of economic exploitation. So, it can only be resisted by communities that bear witness to Christ’s call for us to share,” Foley said.

“The body of Christ is supposed to be a place where money doesn’t matter,” which makes Church Under the Bridge so pivotal for Waco and the surrounding community, Foley added.

“What is most inspiring about the Church Under the Bridge is the economic solidarity and diversity present in the congregation. In this country, the primary mode of segregation has always been along the lines of money and opportunity,” Foley said.

Modeling anti-greed

Jimmy Dorrell, pastor and founder of Church Under the Bridge and Mission Waco, said his ministry work targets the issue of need and helplessness daily by meeting people with the gospel and service.

“We’ve been doing this for 25 years and it continues to grow,” Dorrell said. “We believe the church needs to be intercultural and break down barriers. We deal with the poor and the unchurched, and we get to be creative and do things we believe are important for the kingdom.”

Dorrell said his goal was not to blame but instead empower Christians to respond to community needs.

“I believe in the church. I love the church. But I believe we lost our way in some ways,” Dorrell said. “My goal is not to blame people and point fingers but show how the church can do something about these things.”

UPDATED, Jan. 26, 1:30p.m

Texans on Mission is gearing up for the approaching winter storm that may result in widespread power outages, broken tree limbs, and dangerous below freezing temperatures.

Texans on Mission released a statement on social media verifying they are “on alert” after a winter storm watch was issued for the North Texas region.

“Texans on Mission feeding and chainsaw teams are on alert to serve after a winter storm watch was put in place for North Texas. Feeding teams are also preparing to cook meals for those braving below freezing temps. Please pray for volunteers and for Texas residents as they prepare for the weather,” the Texans on Missions Facebook post reads.

“This is what we are called to do. We’re here to be the hands and feet of Christ to serve those in need. By providing hot meals, we hope to show the love of Christ to those sheltering from the cold,” David Wells, Texans on Mission director of disaster relief, said.

Campus closures

As the winter weather grips the majority of Texas, college campuses are taking an abundance of caution, closing campuses and cancelling classes.

Baylor University is providing updates online with modified hours for varying campus facilities and parking.

Dallas Baptist University announced they will be closed Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Saturday and Monday classes will take place online, and on-campus facilities like the library, the coffeehouse, and fitness center will open for modified hours.

Houston Christian University will be closed Monday, and all classes and campus activities have been canceled.

East Texas Baptist University cancelled activities for the weekend but will be open for remote online learning Monday.

Hardin-Simmons University cancelled classes on Friday and encouraged their students, faculty, and staff to check their HSU emails, online resources, and campus text notifications for further bulletins.

University of Mary-Hardin Baylor released a statement, closing campus Monday.

Feeding at Fair Park, Dallas

Texans on Mission is coordinating a large-scale relief effort at Fair Park in Dallas, where they will serve two meals per day, totaling 1,800 meals per serving, for a total of 3,600 meals daily.

Meals will be prepared at Texans on Mission headquarters and transported to Fair Park.

Two shower trailers will be deployed to provide hygiene services for those staying on location.

Meals will be scheduled from Saturday evening through Tuesday.

During the storm, Our Calling and Austin Street are providing temporary housing for the unhoused at Fair Park. Texans on Mission will partner with both organizations to provide meals and showers.

Showers were excluded in the provisions due to city code.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a weekend-long winter storm with the majority of North Texas anticipating freezing rain, snow, ice, and sleet.

Temperatures Friday through Sunday are expected to be in the 10s and 20s.

Church property insurers have urged churches to implement protective safeguards ahead of the storm.

This report will be updated.

Mientras el norte de Texas se prepara para otro importante sistema meteorológico invernal, las iglesias de toda la región se enfrentan a mayores riesgos operativos, de seguridad y de daños a la propiedad.

Los pronósticos indican una mezcla invernal de nieve, aguanieve y lluvia helada a partir del viernes por la tarde, con el mayor impacto previsto en el área de Dallas-Fort Worth alrededor de las 9 p.m.

Las temperaturas descenderán a menos de 0 °C el viernes por la noche y se prevé que se mantengan bajo cero durante todo el fin de semana, lo que aumenta la probabilidad de cortes de energía, condiciones de viaje peligrosas, como carreteras resbaladizas, y daños a la propiedad. Se insta a los residentes de estas áreas a evitar las carreteras y proteger sus tuberías de posibles daños.

Según un artículo de Associated Press, los meteorólogos predicen que Texas podría ser parte de una tormenta potencialmente catastrófica durante el fin de semana, con fuertes nevadas y lluvia helada peligrosa como resultado del choque entre el aire frío y la lluvia, formando una masa de aire frío ártico.

Los meteorólogos advierten que este sistema podría ser parte de una tormenta más amplia y de alto impacto que afectaría a varios estados, con peligrosa acumulación de hielo e interrupciones en el transporte. Para las iglesias, las implicaciones van más allá de las molestias. Implican la administración de recursos, la seguridad y la continuidad del ministerio.

La concienciación es fundamental

Jacob Robb, meteorólogo de Risk Theory Loss Control, enfatizó que las iglesias se benefician más cuando la información meteorológica es proactiva en lugar de reactiva.

“Es posible que las iglesias no tengan la infraestructura [que necesitan]. Queríamos ayudarlas a [prepararse] de cualquier manera posible, comenzando con avisos de heladas”, dijo Robb.

A través de KingsCover, las iglesias inscritas en el programa para iglesias de Risk Theory reciben avisos anticipados de heladas y condiciones meteorológicas adversas. Estas alertas están diseñadas específicamente para las instalaciones y los equipos de liderazgo de las iglesias, proporcionando pronósticos concisos, expectativas de impacto y orientación práctica para la preparación.

En lugar de depender únicamente de la cobertura general de los medios de comunicación, las iglesias reciben comunicaciones específicas centradas en cómo las próximas condiciones meteorológicas pueden afectar los sistemas de plomería, los equipos de climatización, los techos y la infraestructura hídrica.

“Les enviamos avisos, básicamente explicando lo que pueden esperar, y tratamos de desglosar [la información] para brindarles solo la información que necesitan”, explicó Robb.

Cuando las puertas de la iglesia permanecen abiertas

Las iglesias, que a menudo permanecen abiertas durante condiciones climáticas adversas para servir a la comunidad, pueden correr un mayor riesgo de sufrir daños.

Durante una helada que ocurrió el domingo en San Antonio, organizaciones sin fines de lucro e iglesias locales abrieron sus puertas a las personas sin hogar de la comunidad, ofreciendo refugio, ropa y comidas calientes a quienes lo necesitaban.

Según el sitio web del bufete de abogados Voss, especializado en seguros en Houston, las iglesias pueden ser especialmente vulnerables a las inclemencias del tiempo invernal debido al uso irregular de sus edificios.

Las iglesias no suelen estar abiertas los siete días de la semana ni permanecen abiertas durante las heladas, lo que hace que las tuberías sean más susceptibles a congelarse cuando no están en uso.

Operar en estas condiciones climáticas plantea problemas de responsabilidad, lo que podría exponer a demandas a las iglesias que no cuentan con un seguro de propiedad adecuado.

En muchos casos, la estructura del edificio no puede soportar grandes cantidades de nieve o hielo. Esto es especialmente cierto en los edificios antiguos, que a menudo no cuentan con la infraestructura o los sistemas de calefacción adecuados para prevenir daños.

Las iglesias antiguas pueden sufrir el deterioro de los materiales, métodos de construcción obsoletos y el desgaste general asociado con el paso del tiempo.

Consejos para prevenir daños

John Murphy, vicepresidente sénior de KingsCover, explicó que muchas pérdidas materiales son prevenibles si las iglesias comprenden y siguen los requisitos básicos de seguridad.

“En casi todas las pólizas de seguro comercial actuales, encontrará una sección de requisitos de seguridad. Esa sección dirá: ‘Exigimos que mantenga la calefacción en sus edificios durante una helada’”, dijo Murphy.

“La calefacción debe estar encendida a una temperatura mínima de, generalmente, entre 55 y 60 grados Fahrenheit. No se puede apagar la calefacción del edificio y no tomar las medidas de seguridad básicas para evitar que las tuberías se congelen”, agregó Murphy.

Estos requisitos suelen incluirse en lo que las aseguradoras denominan una “cláusula de protección”, lo que convierte su cumplimiento en una condición para la cobertura.

Precauciones adicionales, como dejar correr un poco de agua en los puntos clave de la red de plomería, monitorear las salas de máquinas y revisar los edificios desocupados, reducen aún más la probabilidad de fallas en las tuberías.

“Si sabe que se avecina una helada intensa, debe dejar correr un poco de agua en al menos un grifo de cada edificio, para que el agua siga fluyendo. El agua en movimiento generalmente no se congela”, aconsejó Murphy.

Muchos de los problemas que enfrentan las iglesias durante las heladas se deben a la falta de monitoreo rutinario: “El principal problema específico de las iglesias que observamos es que, con frecuencia, la gente no visita muchos de sus edificios con regularidad”, afirmó Murphy.

Según Murphy, las reclamaciones de seguros pueden empeorar considerablemente si el personal o los voluntarios de la iglesia no prestan atención a los posibles problemas en ciertas partes del edificio.

“Podría reventar una tubería de agua y nadie se enteraría durante varios días. Podría inundar varios pisos y causar mucho más daño que si se detectara de inmediato”, dijo Murphy.

La antigüedad también es un factor importante que afecta a las iglesias, ya que muchas iglesias históricas siguen en uso hoy en día.

“Otro problema común es que muchas iglesias utilizan edificios antiguos. Están construidos con menos aislamiento”, dijo Murphy.

Dado que muchas iglesias no cuentan con instalaciones modernas, es fundamental que el personal o los voluntarios supervisen las tuberías y los sistemas de calefacción y aire acondicionado con la mayor frecuencia posible. Esto incluye los edificios anexos, como las guarderías y los salones de usos múltiples.

Murphy señala que muchas iglesias excluyen la cobertura de propiedad de ciertos edificios debido al costo, lo que hace que sea crucial mantener las medidas de seguridad básicas para prevenir daños en estas áreas.

“En los últimos cinco años, más iglesias han optado por excluir la cobertura de propiedad de ciertos edificios debido a preocupaciones por el costo”, dijo Murphy. “Es más importante que nunca, si no se tiene seguro en un edificio y se sabe, tomar las medidas básicas para prevenir daños”.

Servir a la comunidad con confianza

Ante las bajas temperaturas, muchas iglesias optan por mantener sus puertas abiertas, brindando refugio a las personas necesitadas. Si bien esto plantea preocupaciones de responsabilidad civil, Murphy anima a las iglesias a mantener sus puertas abiertas para quienes lo necesiten.

Durante condiciones climáticas adversas, las iglesias a menudo se sienten llamadas a abrir sus puertas para servir a las poblaciones vulnerables. Si bien esto conlleva un riesgo inherente, Murphy enfatizó que los programas de seguros para iglesias bien estructurados pueden respaldar las iniciativas de ayuda.

“Un buen programa de seguros puede brindar cobertura de responsabilidad civil para estas actividades. Sería conveniente asegurarse de tener una póliza específica para iglesias que no excluya nada relacionado con las labores de ayuda en casos de desastre”, dijo Murphy.

“Siempre existe cierta responsabilidad cuando acogemos a personas para ayudarlas. Pero sin duda es algo que animamos a las iglesias a hacer. Si tienen la oportunidad de ayudar a la comunidad, háganlo y compartan el evangelio al mismo tiempo”, dijo Murphy.

La fe y la responsabilidad no son mutuamente excluyentes, continuó Murphy. Cuando una iglesia está preparada, puede servir con confianza, sabiendo que ha tomado las medidas adecuadas para proteger tanto a las personas como a la propiedad, concluyó.

James Lawrence “Jim” Houser, missionary to Africa and Baylor University professor, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at his home. He was 92. He was born Oct. 19, 1933, in Philadelphia, Pa., the third of four sons born to Myra and Delbert Henry Houser. After the family moved to Mesquite, Jim attended Mesquite High School, where he was active in sports. He later attended Baylor University, where he met Molly Alice Rogers. They married on Aug. 28, 1953, and were married 67 years when Molly died in Nov. 2020. Following Baylor, he earned a master’s in counseling from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, an additional degree from the University of Utah on a National Science Foundation grant, and then a master of education degree from Texas Wesleyan University in 1959. After hearing a missionary speak about their work in East Africa, he and his family began serving in many towns in Kenya and Tanzania. Jim and Molly left Africa in 1993 but continued their involvement in missions at the church and county level in Texas. During their post-Africa years, Jim was hired by Baylor University to teach Swahili, which he did for about 18 years. In July 2025, he moved to Missouri, where he married Carol Ann (Wallace) Brubeck, a former missionary in Tanzania. He was passionate about Africa and preaching, making at least ten return trips to Africa after leaving in 1993. He is survived by his wife, Carol; five children, Stacy Houser and wife Tami, Mona Entwistle and husband Dave, Bryan Houser, Scott Houser and wife Ana, and Bill Houser and wife Lisa; stepchildren, Dan Brubeck and wife Angela, Clint Brubeck and wife Ruth, Jessica Eisenhauer, Linda Brubeck, Maria Brubeck, and Mario Brubeck; three brothers, Charles, Don, and Paul Houser; 18 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Molly Alice Rogers.

MIDAPALLI, India—Villagers in Midapalli, located in the Gadchiroli District of India’s Maharashtra State, demolished the homes of four Christian families Jan. 12, amid an ongoing campaign of threats and violence against the village’s Christian community.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported tensions rose on Jan. 11, when 25 villagers confronted four families and two others to force them to renounce their faith.

Reports go on to say a mob of at least 20 villagers attacked the families, demanding the victims renounce their faith as they demolished the houses of those families.

On Jan. 13, victims tried to file a complaint at the Kawande Police Station, but police took the side of the mob, according to the report. The officer in charge threatened Christian families, “questioned their decision to embrace Christianity as members of a tribal community,” and warned “their unique identity cards and ration supplies would be cancelled.”

Mervyn Thomas, founder and president of CSW, called for intervention over the incident.

“It is deeply concerning to witness the grave and unacceptable assault and humiliation these families have been subjected to on account of their religion,” Thomas said. “Even more alarming is the failure of the police to protect these vulnerable citizens, which has emboldened the perpetrators.”

“We call upon the district administration and state authorities to intervene as a matter of urgency, ensuring the safety of the affected families, restoring their rights, compensating them for the loss of their homes, and holding those responsible to account under the law,” Thomas added.

Call to come alongside

Wissam al-Saliby, president of 21Wilberforce, called on churches around the world to come alongside their Christian brothers and sisters in India

“Anti-conversion laws have been on the books for decades in several Indian states. However, communal relations have worsened since 2014, even in states where Christians enjoyed greater freedom and good relations with their neighbors,” al-Saliby said.

“We call on churches that enjoy freedom in the United States, the Western Hemisphere, Latin America, and elsewhere to come alongside brothers and sisters in India. Listen to them and support their efforts toward greater freedom and peacemaking among communities,” al-Saliby continued.

The support from the officers emboldened the villagers who continued to launch threats toward the families.

Police working the case requested to speak to the local pastor, but during questioning, officers declared the pastor’s ministry “‘andhashradha’ (superstition)” and “prohibited the pastor from visiting families in the village.”

As North Texas prepares for another significant winter weather system, churches across the region face heightened operational, safety, and property risks.

Forecasts indicate a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain beginning Friday afternoon, with the greatest impact expected in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by 9 p.m. 

Temperatures will drop into the 20s Friday night and are projected to remain below freezing through the weekend, increasing the likelihood of power outages, hazardous travel conditions such as slick roads, and property damage. Residents in these areas are urged to stay off roads and protect their pipes from potential damage. 

According to an Associated Press article, forecasters predict Texas may be part of a potentially catastrophic storm over the weekend, resulting in heavy snow and treacherous freezing rain resulting from cold air clashing with rain and forming a cold, arctic air mass.

Meteorologists warn this system could be part of a broader, high-impact storm affecting multiple states, with dangerous ice accumulation and travel disruptions. For churches, the implications extend beyond inconvenience. They involve stewardship, safety, and continuity of ministry.

Awareness is critical

Jacob Robb, meteorologist with Risk Theory Loss Control, emphasized churches benefit most when weather intelligence is proactive rather than reactive.

“Churches may not have the infrastructure [they need.] We wanted to help them [prepare] in any way we could, starting off with freeze notices,” Robb said. 

Through KingsCover, churches enrolled in the Risk Theory church program receive advance freeze and severe weather notices. These alerts are designed specifically for church facilities and leadership teams, providing concise forecasts, impact expectations, and actionable preparation guidance.

Rather than relying solely on general media coverage, churches receive targeted communications focused on how upcoming weather conditions may affect plumbing systems, HVAC equipment, roofs, and water infrastructure.

“We send them notices, basically explaining what they can expect, and we try to break down [the information] so that we are giving them just the information they need,” Robb explained. 

When the church doors stay open

Churches, which often remain in operation during adverse weather conditions to serve the community, may be at higher risk of suffering damage.

During a freeze that occurred on Sunday in San Antonio, local nonprofits and churches opened their doors to homeless members of the community, offering shelter, clothes, and warm meals to those in need. 

According to the Voss Law Firm website, an insurance attorney in Houston, churches may be especially susceptible to winter weather due to irregular use of church buildings. 

Churches may not operate seven days a week or remain open during wintry weather, making pipes more susceptible to freezing while not in use.

Operating during these weather conditions raises liability concerns, potentially exposing to lawsuits churches that do not have proper shelter insurance in place.

In many cases, the building’s structure is unable to withstand large amounts of snow or ice. This is especially true of older buildings, which often don’t have the proper infrastructure or heating systems to prevent damages. 

Older churches may suffer from deteriorated materials, outdated construction methods, and general wear and tear associated with age. 

Tips for preventing damage

John Murphy, KingsCover senior vice president, explained many property losses are preventable when churches understand and follow basic safeguard requirements.

“In almost every commercial insurance policy that you see today, you’re going to see a required safeguards section. That section will say, ‘We require you to maintain heat in your buildings during a freeze,’” Murphy said. 

“The heat needs to be turned on a minimum of, generally, 55 to 60 degrees. You cannot turn the heat off in your building and not do the basic safeguard that will prevent your pipes from freezing,” Murphy added.

These requirements are often included in what insurers call a “protective safeguards endorsement,” making compliance a condition of coverage.

Additional precautions—such as allowing water to flow slightly in key plumbing locations, monitoring mechanical rooms, and checking unoccupied buildings—further reduce the likelihood of pipe failures. 

“If you know a deep freeze is coming, you should have the water run a little bit out of at least one faucet in each building, so that water is continuing to flow. Flowing water will not generally freeze,” Murphy advised. 

Many issues churches face during freezing weather involve a lack of routine monitoring: “The biggest thing specific to churches that we see as far as a problem, is that so often people don’t go into many of their buildings on a regular basis,” Murphy stated.

Insurance claims, according to Murphy, can get much worse as a result of church staff or volunteers not attending to potential issues in certain parts of the building. 

“You could have a water pipe burst, and nobody [would] know about it for several days. It can flood through many stories and do much more damage than if it was caught immediately,” Murphy said.

Age is also a major factor that affects churches, with many historical churches still in use today. 

“Another common issue is that so many [churches] use old buildings. They’re built with less insulation,” Murphy said. 

Because many churches do not have updated facilities, it is crucial for staff or volunteers to monitor pipes and heating and A/C units as much as possible. This extends to ancillary buildings, such as child care facilities and fellowship halls. 

Murphy notes many churches exclude property coverage from certain buildings due to cost, making it crucial to maintain basic safeguards to prevent damage in these areas. 

“More churches over the last five years have chosen to exclude property coverage from certain buildings because of concerns with cost,” Murphy said. “It is more important than ever, if you don’t have insurance on a building and you know it, that you do the basics to prevent damage.”

Serving the community with confidence

As churches experience freezing temperatures, many choose to keep their doors open, providing shelter to individuals in need. While this raises liability concerns, Murphy encourages churches to leave their doors open to those in need.

During severe weather, churches often feel called to open their doors to serve vulnerable populations. While this carries inherent risk, Murphy emphasized that properly structured church insurance programs can support outreach efforts.

“A good insurance program can provide liability for [outreach.] It would be worthwhile to make sure you have a church specific policy that doesn’t exclude anything like disaster relief efforts,” Murphy said.

“There is some liability assumed always whenever we take people in to try to help. But it’s certainly [something] we encourage churches to do. If there’s a chance for you to help the community, do it, and share the gospel while you’re at it,” Murphy said.

Faith and responsibility are not mutually exclusive, Murphy continued. When a church is prepared, it can serve confidently, knowing it has taken appropriate steps to protect both people and property, he concluded.