Sam Bunnell, senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Henrietta, first connected with the Millennial/Gen Z Network, also known as The Pastor’s Common, in August 2024, by attending a Preaching Lab advertised on Texas Baptists’ social media. 

“I did not know what The Pastor’s Common was [at the time], but I saw a post on social media and I thought: ‘Oh, Texas Baptists is putting on a preaching lab, and it’s in Dallas, that’s not too far [from Henrietta]. I can get down there and go see it,” Bunnell explained. 

While there, Bunnell learned a new technique for how to tell stories in sermons, and met The Pastor’s Common leaders David Miranda and David Foster, director of Millennial/Gen Z Network at Texas Baptists, and “just hit it off with those guys.” 

The next month, Bunnell attended a retreat hosted by The Pastor’s Common at First Baptist Church in Richardson, where he met Joseph Adams, pastor of First Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant and now Texas Baptists first vice president. He said they bonded over doing small-town ministry. 

“I was like, ‘Wow, I have actually made a genuine friend here today!’” Bunnell said. “[The Pastor’s Common] just became life-giving to me.” 

Bunnell said he “fell in love with [The Pastor’s Common] pretty fast.” 

“I’m a pastor’s kid, and I’ve been in ministry my whole life, and been around all different types of Baptist life and all this stuff and never found the community and the help [I’ve found with The Pastor’s Common],” Bunnell said. 

The Pastor’s Common is a Texas Baptists ministry dedicated to providing opportunities for emerging ministry leaders to be heard, resourced, and find community, launched in 2019 by then-Texas Baptists staff member David Miranda in collaboration with pastors David Foster, Jordan Villanueva, and Abraham Quiñones. 

Foster stepped into the director role for the Millennial/Gen Z Network in March 2025. He said leading The Pastor’s Common has shown him “the future of pastoral leadership in Texas Baptists is not brittle, but thoughtful, resilient, and quietly hopeful.” 

“These leaders are humble, collaborative, and deeply rooted in the local church. They value cooperation, learning from one another, and staying present in their communities rather than opting out when ministry gets hard,” Foster said. 

Bunnell said The Pastor’s Common has become very meaningful in his ministry: “Those guys have become friends. They’re guys I call or text when I’m having a bad day. They’re guys I’ve asked to pray for me, and they asked me to pray for them. It is a true family.”

Refreshed by The Pastor’s Common retreats 

The genesis of involvement with The Pastor’s Common for Izzy Mendez, co-pastor at Alamo Community Church in downtown San Antonio, was at a gathering at the 2021 Texas Baptists annual meeting in Galveston. 

“I’ve been involved in Texas Baptists’ life for, I want to say, 15 years now … [and] I’m a product of Texas Baptists, but finding places for younger ministers outside of Baptist Student Ministry is kind of hard to do. So, when I heard about this network for Millennial and Gen Z pastors, I was like: ‘How do I get involved? What can I do to help?’” Mendez explained.

Mendez said having “intentionally carved out time for hanging out and spending time together,” and hearing from “seasoned pastors or ministry leaders” at The Pastor’s Common retreats has been refreshing. 

“That carved-out time where we have two days or so, somewhere else, where we’re getting poured into, and then we’re also pouring into one another and getting to spend time together … I think those [times] have been really refreshing,” Mendez said. 

Mendez explained how he was most impacted by a retreat hosted by The Pastor’s Common that emphasized prayer, where he was challenged to “anchor your ministry in prayer.” 

“That reminder from seasoned pastors and ministry leaders caused me to think about: ‘How do I think about this in my own day-to-day life and ministry? What does it look like for me just to abide in God’s presence? What are some practical tools that I can use to do that?’” Mendez said. 

He said anchoring his ministry in prayer has not only impacted him, but also his congregation: “I encourage my church to operate in this way as well: ‘What areas of my life have I just been focusing on prayer as a means to get something rather than just enjoying God’s presence?’” 

“It’s one of those things you know intrinsically, but to hear them again and to be reminded with a group of peers was really beneficial at that time. It still is today. I [still] use some of those practices now … even two years later.”

Finding renewed strength and meaningful community

Israel Villalobos, groups shepherd at Fielder Church in Arlington, said he has also been impacted by The Pastor’s Common retreats. He said attending the Sabbath Retreat in October 2024 “refreshed me just by hearing [about Sabbath].” 

“About a year and a half ago, Jason Parades from Fielder Church was speaking on Sabbath, and I remember that workshop refreshed me just by hearing him [and] how he helped us understand Sabbath,” Villalobos said. 

“It really enriched my soul. It just blessed me, my wife, my family, and whenever I’m needing a refreshment, I go back to those notes.”

Villalobos said The Pastor’s Common has “proven to be a timely and dependable network for a new generation of pastors” by “providing much-needed fellowship through authentic relationships … steady encouragement [and] practical resources, particularly valuable for young Texas Baptists pastors.” 

“What’s being done [through] The Pastor’s Common is revolutionary,” Villalobos said. “This network stands as a genuinely unifying space where pastors can find renewed strength and meaningful community.”

Mendez said The Pastor’s Common leadership has “done a great job of highlighting and celebrating the diversity among Texas Baptists, particularly in Millennials [and] Gen Z.” 

“It matters a lot to walk into a room and say: ‘Is there anybody that looks like me? Sounds like me? Is thinking like me? Or on the other side of that, who thinks differently?”  Mendez continued. 

“[To ask], ‘How do we combine our resources and things to help one another out?’ I think that’s been one of the things I’ve celebrated a lot and benefited from seeing in our Texas Baptist life. I think it’s worth celebrating.” 

Foster said the most encouraging thing about working with the pastors and leaders in The Pastor’s Common is “their desire for faithfulness over flash.” 

“[These leaders] aren’t chasing platforms or shortcuts. They’re asking hard, honest questions about preaching the gospel well, loving their people faithfully, and leading with integrity in complicated moments in our culture,” Foster said. 

To learn more about The Pastor’s Common, visit thepastorscommon.com.   

John Litzler challenged Howard Payne University students to recognize and defend the Christian’s historic and ongoing role in protecting religious liberty.

Litzler was the featured speaker at the 18th annual Currie-Strickland Distinguished Lectures in Christian Ethics hosted by HPU.

Litzler, director for public policy at Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission and general counsel for Texas Baptists, addressed students during HPU’s chapel service on Wednesday, Feb. 4, and those who attended the lecture series Thursday evening, Feb. 5.

Campus challenge

Speaking from the theme, “The Modern Challenge of Religious Liberty: Protecting a Baptist Distinction from Extinction,” Litzler urged students to understand how Christian convictions have shaped religious liberty and to engage thoughtfully in public policy and advocacy.

“For the rest of this week—for the next couple of days—would you wrestle with the concept of religious liberty? Will you challenge

yourself on this topic in some way?” Litzler asked, speaking to students, faculty, and staff during chapel.

“That might mean finding one of your friends from another country—maybe an international student—and asking them what it’s like to live under different laws and the tension between following their country’s laws and God’s law,” Litzler continued.

“Or it might be spending time in prayer and reflection, asking yourself some challenging, introspective questions, like, ‘Would my views on religious liberty be different if I were part of a minority faith instead of a majority faith?’” Litzler added.

Litzler made a reference to Matthew 22:15, in which religious leaders attempted to trap Jesus by asking whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.

He explained the question was designed to force Jesus to choose between Roman law and God’s law, illustrating the tension believers can face between earthly governments and divine authority.

Litzler described Jesus’ response as a framework for navigating dual citizenship in earthly kingdoms and the kingdom of God, arguing it highlights the importance of distinguishing between government authority and God’s authority.

Evening lecture

During the Thursday evening lecture, Litzler walked visitors and guests through the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, focusing on religious liberty.

Religious liberty, a historic Baptist distinctive, is being weakened when political leaders create carve-outs that limit how faith-based beliefs can be expressed in public life, Litzler contended.

“When people become deeply committed to a particular cause, religious liberty can quickly be treated as an obstacle,” Litzler said.

He said the First Amendment’s free exercise and establishment clauses were designed to protect all faiths and nonreligious beliefs, not only Christianity.

Litzler pointed to recent federal and state debates as evidence that both Democrats and Republicans have attempted to weaken religious liberty protections when they conflict with political priorities, including efforts to limit how religious freedom laws apply to issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion.

Litzler also cautioned Christians not to confuse the loss of cultural privilege with genuine religious persecution, noting Christians in other parts of the world face far more severe restrictions.

Texas Baptists has realigned the Center for Cultural Engagement as part of its GC2 Strong strategy to better equip churches for Great Commandment and Great Commission faithfulness.

The changes, effective Feb. 1, redistributed the center’s ministries across the organization to provide churches with more direct access to resources for church, minister, and missions support.

As part of the realignment, affinity ministries, chaplaincy relations, and the Christian Life Commission will now operate within separate teams to allow for greater focus and clearer alignment with Texas Baptists’ GC2 Strong priorities.

Affinity ministries—which serve and support cultural churches across Texas Baptists—will now be housed within the Relational Development/GC2 team.

These ministries include African American Ministries, Texas Baptists en Español, Intercultural Ministries, and Western Heritage. Together, affinity ministries represent nearly 48 percent of Texas Baptists churches.

“This move is taking place because we want to make sure that our GC2 Strong strategy is contextualized for all of our affinity groups through the Relational Development Team,” said Julio Guarneri, executive director of Texas Baptists.

“We want our cultural groups to be involved at every level of ministry across Texas Baptists,” he stated.

Affinity Ministries

The Relational Development/GC2 team, led by Sergio Ramos, connects with conventions, churches, and institutions across the state.

Carlos Francis, current director of African American Ministries, will assume a new role as director of Affinity Relations/GC2 Support. He will continue to lead African American Ministries and will also serve on the Texas Baptists Leadership Team, providing direct input to staff leadership.

“Our affinity ministries represent nearly 48 percent of our churches and play a tremendous role in advancing the GC2 initiative. Their impact is essential to who we are and where we are going,” Ramos, senior director of Relational Development/GC2 Initiative, said.

Guarneri emphasized the realignment is not a move away from cultural engagement, but rather a way to give each ministry greater focus.

“We are intentionally giving the Christian Life Commission, chaplaincy relations, and affinity groups more focus,” Guarneri said.

“Affinity groups can serve cultural churches by focusing on relational development and GC2 faithfulness. Chaplaincy relations will continue to endorse and resource chaplains, and the CLC can focus on engaging issues of advocacy and justice with the objective of serving churches,” Guarneri continued.

Christian Life Commission

The Christian Life Commission will return to its historic role as a stand-alone ministry focused on ethics and justice, advocacy, and public policy.

The CLC remains under the leadership of Katie Frugé, who will continue to serve on the Texas Baptists Leadership Team. Rebecca Treviño has transitioned from her role with the Center for Cultural Engagement to serve as policy analyst for the CLC.

Plans are underway for the CLC to produce new resources for churches in key areas.

“This realignment is an opportunity to support churches and ministers through clear access to key resources in the areas of affinity ministries, ethics and advocacy, and chaplaincy,” Guarneri said.

Frugé expressed confidence in the changes and the future of the CLC.

“I’m confident that each ministry is positioned well to continue the important work they have done so ably for Texas Baptists,” Frugé said.

Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy Relations has transitioned under the Office of the Associate Executive Director on an interim basis.

This ministry endorses chaplains serving in a variety of fields, including military, business, prisons, and hospitals.

Under the leadership of Todd Combee, chaplaincy will work with Craig Christina, associate executive director, to continue supporting chaplains in their ministry roles.

Future changes

Guarneri said there are no immediate plans to realign other ministry centers, including the Center for Church Health, Center for Ministerial Health, Center for Missional Engagement and Center for Collegiate Ministry.

However, he noted Texas Baptists leadership is continuing to evaluate how all ministries align with GC2 Strong.

“As part of the GC2 Strong strategy, every convention ministry will prioritize equipping churches for Great Commandment and Great Commission faithfulness,” Guarneri said.

“While there are no plans to realign other ministry centers at this time, there may be progressive changes over the next few months as we take a closer look at how every ministry supports the GC2 Strong strategy. Ultimately, we want to ensure that ministries are appropriately aligned to strengthen churches, ministers, and missions into the future,” he said.

Guarneri also noted the realignment will enhance the work of leaders within Intercultural Ministries.

“Mark Heavener, Rolando Rodriguez, and James ‘Mac’ McLeod, under the leadership of Carlos Francis, will be able to be involved in the GC2 Strong strategy and contextualize it to serve their churches in a more effective way,” Guarneri said.

“It will be a positive thing for these cultural groups, and they are all on board. First and foremost, we are making this move to equip churches for Great Commandment, Great Commission faithfulness.”

Ministry is a tough calling. It demands more than sermon preparation and hospital visits. It requires the whole person.

Pastors are expected to give spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically, often without a clear system of care for their own well-being.

Recognizing that gap, Bobby Contreras and several ministry peers helped launch a ministry designed not just to serve churches, but to serve the people who lead them.

That vision became The Whole Pastor, a growing effort focused on helping pastors and ministry leaders pursue health in every area of life.

What began as a shared concern among Texas Baptist leaders has become a central hub of encouragement, resources, and advocacy for holistic pastoral health.

For Contreras, the mission is professional and personal.

His own experiences in ministry, along with seasons of illness and recovery, shaped his conviction that caring for pastors must extend beyond spiritual checklists to include mental, relational, physical, and financial well-being.

According to its mission, The Whole Pastor exists “to help pastors, families, and communities find a more holistic way to be healthy.” The organization’s work is rooted in the belief that the health of a pastor directly impacts the health of a church and its surrounding community.

“The easy math says a healthy pastor plus a healthy pastor’s family equals a healthy church community,” Contreras said.

Studying the problem

That conviction was reinforced through a collaborative study involving Texas Baptists, San Antonio Baptist Association, and Baptist Health Foundation in San Antonio.

The findings challenged assumptions about pastoral well-being—especially during a season when many pastors were stretched beyond capacity.

“The Whole Pastor Blog was my response to a team of folks from Texas Baptist, San Antonio Baptist Association, and the Baptist Health Foundation San Antonio coming together to study and find out that pastors aren’t as healthy as we thought,” Contreras said. “And the crux of this study was done right in the middle of COVID.”

The pandemic intensified existing pressures on pastors, highlighting burnout, isolation, and emotional strain. For Contreras and others involved, the data confirmed what many had been experiencing anecdotally for years: pastors were carrying heavy loads with limited support for their own holistic care.

A shared effort

Contreras and his colleagues launched The Whole Pastor to address those gaps by creating a space focused on the full spectrum of pastoral health. The ministry emphasizes five key areas: spiritual, physical, mental, relational, and financial well-being.

“The Whole Pastor Blog began as a dream shared by a group of Texas pastors who care deeply about spiritual, physical, mental, financial, and relational health,” Contreras said. “Our aim is to help pastors, families, and communities find a more holistic way to be healthy.”

Rather than functioning as a single program, The Whole Pastor serves as a platform and resource hub—offering encouragement, reflection, and practical tools designed to help pastors sustain long-term ministry.

Contreras noted, while many organizations are now emphasizing holistic approaches to ministry health, The Whole Pastor is part of a broader movement rather than a stand-alone solution.

“One note is that many groups have been and are now focused in on this holistic approach too. This isn’t exclusive to just us,” he said.

Personal wholeness

Still, for Contreras, the work took on deeper meaning through personal experience.

“Coming out of my cancer season, this holistic awareness was very real for me,” he said. “The physical side of things were great during recovery, but the spiritual and mental side of things lagged.”

That season reinforced the importance of addressing all dimensions of health, not just the ones easiest to measure. It also shaped his passion for advocating for pastors who may be strong in one area but struggling silently in others.

Contreras has been lead pastor of Alamo Heights Baptist Church in the Alamo Heights community of San Antonio for the last seven years. He and his wife, Hannah, have lived in that community for 18 years.

He also has served on the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board, including two years as board chair, and the board of the Baptist Health Foundation in San Antonio.

Contreras’ passion for ministry started when he was in elementary school in El Paso. By middle school, he knew exactly what he wanted to do.

The Whole Pastor

At its core, The Whole Pastor is about helping pastors remain in ministry for the long haul. Contreras sees it as a way to advocate for sustainability, resilience, and long-term faithfulness.

“Simply put, The Whole Pastor, as I see it, is a central hub of encouragement for pastors and ministry leaders, their families, and their church communities,” he said. “I want pastors and ministry leaders, young and old, to be in their called craft for the long haul. But we must stay holistically healthy to accomplish that. The Whole Pastor is a way I can advocate for this.”

The Whole Pastor also works in tandem with other initiatives connected to Contreras’ ministry life, including The Daily Gaze and a newer podcast venture.

“The Daily Gaze and The Whole Pastor run in tandem with each other,” he said. “The Daily Expectation is a new … podcast that me and Layton, our associate pastor, record weekly, Wednesday mornings at 5 a.m. Yes, 5 a.m! The Daily Expectation is based on Psalm 5:3.”

Together, these efforts reflect a broader commitment to spiritual formation, encouragement, and daily rhythms that support healthy leadership.

For Contreras, The Whole Pastor is more than a blog or a resource. It is a response to real needs, real data, and real stories of pastors who are exhausted, hurting, and still called.

By centering the whole person, Contreras hopes to help reshape how churches and denominational partners think about pastoral care—moving from crisis response to proactive, holistic support.

In a time when many ministry leaders are questioning how long they can continue, The Whole Pastor offers a different message: Pastors are not just called to serve. They are also called to be cared for, in every part of life.

The Daily Gaze

The Daily Gaze started more than 16 years ago, a form of outreach Contreras began while serving in student ministry. He wanted to engage students in such a way so they knew “the most profound and important thing that they could carry with them every day is God’s word,” Contreras said.

“The Daily Gaze comes from Psalm 27:4: ‘One thing I ask of the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple,’” Contreras said.

“It started with a group of about seven teenage boys … who were in my small group. So, I just started every single day sending them a Bible verse and a photo,” Contreras said.

“I’m kinesthetic in my learning. I’m very hands-on, very visual. So, for me, when I pair a photo with the Bible verse, it kind of helps me, one, to remember it, but it also helps me to look up and to see the world around me and think, at least, ‘What does God have for me today?’”

Contreras’ weekday mornings consist of individually sending at least 265 people The Daily Gaze, a text message with a photo, Bible verse, and a short message to reflect on the Scripture of the day.

While others say it seems inefficient, Contreras’ desire is to be intentional, as he often prays for specific people and writes specific messages for some recipients.

A calling since childhood

“I’ve known probably since the eighth grade, for sure, that I wanted to be in some form of ministry,” Contreras said.

“My parents accepted Christ when I was in the third grade.”

From then on, his parents served in the children’s ministry, men’s ministry, and women’s ministry of Cielo Vista Church in El Paso. His father was a deacon.

“My brother and I were always in church with them. … When the church doors were open, I was there,” Contreras said.

His time spent in the church, engaging in ministry with his family and among ministry leaders, caused a love for the Lord, the church, and God’s people to grow.

The church poured into Contreras throughout his childhood and youth. He noted people like his youth pastor, James and his wife, Becky Robertson; Sally McWaters, a missionary to Costa Rica; Mary Mueller, a women’s ministry director at his church; Randy Voor; associate pastors John and Jolene Willoughby; and his parents.

“All these people … were extremely influential,” Contreras said, calling them a “great cloud of witnesses” in his life, referencing Hebrews 12:1.

“As an adult now, as a husband, as a father, it matters who I surround my family with, knowing that they will be influential for my kids, for my marriage. And the same speaks true for our congregation. It matters the village that we are a part of. Influential people matter,” Contreras said.

In fifth grade, during a mission trip to Arizona with high schoolers, he knew what he wanted to do with his life.

“Why [my parents] would let a fifth grader go with a bunch of high schoolers, I don’t know, but I vividly remember being on that reservation in Arizona and knowing … I wanted to be a part of this,” Contreras said.

Contreras didn’t know yet he would be a pastor. He just knew he wanted to share Jesus with others and enjoyed the relational aspect of ministry.

Contreras gave his life to Christ at age 13. By eighth grade, he knew he wanted to be in ministry vocationally.

It shouldn’t be such a strange thing for kids to decide early, like he did, Contreras said.

Michael Evans Sr., Tony Evans, and Delvin Atchison will be the evening keynote speakers at the African American Ministries Leading Up Leadership Conference in Mansfield, Mar. 12-14.

Michael Evans Sr. is scheduled to speak during Thursday evening’s worship session, Tony Evans on Friday evening, and Atchison on Saturday morning.

Tony Evans is the founding pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and president of The Urban Alternative.

The first African American to earn a doctorate in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, Tony Evans was named one of the 12 most effective preachers in the English-speaking world by Baylor University.

Evans also wrote and published the first full-Bible commentary and study Bible by an African American.

Tony Evans stepped down from his role as pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in 2024. His son, Jonathan Evans, is now the senior pastor.

Michael Evans Sr. serves as senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield, where the conference will be held.

Michael Evans Sr. has held key leadership roles among Texas Baptists, including serving as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and as director of Texas Baptists’ African American Ministries. He is a graduate of Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary.

Delvin Atchison is the senior pastor of Westside Baptist Church in Lewisville. He previously served as director of Texas Baptists’ Great Commission Team.

Atchison earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity with honors from Baylor’s Truett Seminary.

Training and encouragement

Carlos Francis, director of Texas Baptists’ African American Ministries, encourages ministry leaders to attend the conference and participate in conversations and training.

The conference is planned around what pastors say their churches need, Francis explained.

This year’s conference will focus on AI and media, leadership styles, and the mission and ministry of Texas Baptists.

Sessions will address biblical leadership, preaching, evangelism, apologetics, church finances, media, online discipleship, and the role of women in church leadership.

The conference also will highlight ministry innovation through sessions on artificial intelligence, digital communication, community engagement, and WAVE training for summer camp leadership.

In addition, a Seasoned Saints track will provide encouragement and practical guidance for older adults, focusing on legacy building, mental health, caregiving, grief and loss, safety, navigating Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, and developing a Seasoned Saints ministry.

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.”

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.

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.

The floodwaters that tore through Kerr County last summer are long gone, but the work of rebuilding is not.

Across Kerrville, Hunt, Ingram, and surrounding areas, Texans on Mission volunteers continue to show up through the Revive Kerrville initiative, repairing homes damaged by the July floods and walking alongside families navigating the long road to recovery.

“We’re serving at more than seven homes this week alone,” said Ryan Welch, TXM missions and discipleship coordinator. “Disasters happen fast, but recovery doesn’t. A lot of groups move on. We don’t.”

Crews are tackling everything from roofing and fencing to painting and finishing work, the kind of repairs that often come after emergency response teams leave and insurance timelines slow.

At one home, volunteers rebuilt a fence completely washed away by the river. Inside, others worked to finish painting so the homeowner could move forward.

Driven by God’s love

“God tells us to love one another, and when you see a need to meet it,” said Makenna James, a Texas A&M University student volunteering with Revive Kerrville. “Being here is a way to live that out.”

James said serving months after the flooding has been especially meaningful.

“Right after a disaster, everyone wants to help,” she said. “But later on, when the attention fades, that’s when people are really left dealing with what happened. That’s when it matters most.”

College students from across the state are working alongside experienced volunteers, learning construction skills on the job while building relationships with homeowners and one another.

“We’re helping rebuild a shed that was damaged in the flood,” said Isaac Garcia, a Texas A&M-Kingsville student. “This kind of work costs money. To be able to give our time, skills, and help someone who’s already lost so much—that’s how we show Christ’s love.”

For homeowners, the steady presence of volunteers has brought both progress and encouragement.

“It’s been a real blessing working with a Christian organization,” said Debbie Dossey, a Hunt resident whose home was damaged in the flooding. “They pray with you. They care. And the quality of work has been incredible.”

Joy found in homecoming

Dossey said returning home brought moments of joy and reflection.

“Every day, I find something that survived that I didn’t even remember we had,” she said. “Being back home lets you finally breathe and also start processing everything that happened.”

Brian Keeper, who lives along the river, said the emotional toll of the flood didn’t fully set in until cleanup began.

“The trauma wasn’t just that night,” Keeper said. “It was realizing neighbors were gone, and that the history of my family was stored in this house.”

Working with TXM, he said, made a difference.

“They show up smiling. We pray in and pray out,” he said. “In the middle of all this loss, it’s been people who have given me hope for the future.”

Community amidst tragedy

For students Jonathan Wolf of Texas A&M and Clayton Hargrove of Texas State University, the experience has strengthened both their faith and their understanding of community.

“It shows people they haven’t been forgotten,” Wolf said. “That God hasn’t given up on them.” Hargrove agreed.

“We’re not just here to clear things out and leave,” he said. “We’re here to help rebuild and keep walking with them.”

As recovery in Kerr County continues, Texans on Mission leaders say the work is far from finished and neither is their commitment.

“This is long-term,” Welch said. “We’re here for the whole journey.”