David Barton, a conservative Christian activist who considers the separation of church and state a myth, will serve as an “expert content adviser” to the Texas State Board of Education when it develops new state standards for teaching social studies.

Barton is founding president of WallBuilders, an Aledo-based organization devoted to teaching what it calls “the true story of America and our Biblical foundation,” according to the group’s website.

Two members of the board—Julie Pickren of Pearland and Brandon Hall of Aledo—announced Barton as their choice to serve in the advisory role. Barton, a former vice chair of the Republican Party of Texas, served in a similar role in 2010 when the board revised social studies state standards.

 “I am excited for the State of Texas to retain the expertise of someone I believe to be the foremost American historian of our day,” Hall posted on Facebook. He pointed to Barton’s appointment as the fulfillment of a campaign promise he made.

Barton holds an undergraduate degree in religious education from Oral Roberts University. While WallBuilders describes him as an “expert in historical and constitutional issues,” Barton holds no formal educational credentials in either history or constitutional law.

Book withdrawn by publisher

In the press release announcing Barton’s appointment, Pickren and Hall referred to him as “a recognized author of numerous works on American history and a highly sought after speaker and lecturer.”

In 2012, Christian publisher Thomas Nelson withdrew one of Barton’s books, The Jefferson Lies: Exposing the Myths You’ve Always Believed About Thomas Jefferson, because the publisher had “lost confidence” in the book’s historical details.

WND Books, a publishing house related to the far-right media outlet formerly known as WorldNetDaily, released a revised version of the book in 2016.

Pickren and Hall said they look forward to working with Barton and other advisers “to craft standards that will equip the next generation of students to become well-educated, proud Texans and patriotic Americans.”

‘Propensity to misquote, misinterpret or manufacture quotations’

Baptist historian Mike Williams acknowledged Barton “deserves some credit for trying to answer progressive secularists” who have downplayed the role of faith in U.S. history and who “lampooned evangelicals as redneck fundamentalists from the backwoods of the Deep South.”

“Unfortunately, he ignores the truth about Christianity and religion in colonial America: Religious faith was far more diverse in its origins than just the Puritans and those he incorrectly identifies as evangelicals among the founders,” said Williams, a recently retired professor of history.

“He forgets or never learned something I stress to students from freshman history to graduate courses—context, context, context. His propensity to misquote, misinterpret or manufacture quotations causes most of what he writes to be ignored by legitimate evangelical historians, political scientists and theologians.

“Such inaccuracies hurt historians who are clearly Christian from being respected in broader academic circles and makes them work harder to prove their ideas are valid. His writings seem to confirm to non-Christians that Christians are all lying hypocrites who ‘can’t handle the truth.’”

If the State Board of Education considers Barton an expert adviser, Williams suggested the board also include legitimate historians and political scientists “as a counterweight to what might be considered ‘fake history.’”

Promoting a ‘false narrative’

Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, also critiqued Barton for promoting a “false narrative” about U.S. history.

“For decades, David Barton has consistently pushed the false narrative that America was founded as a Christian nation, legally and historically. It is deeply concerning that he will be advising the State Board of Education on social studies standards in Texas,” Tyler said.

“The ‘Christian nation’ mythology is easily rebutted by reference to constitutional text and history. We should be preparing Texas students to live in an increasingly pluralistic country by teaching them accurate history, not a cherry-picked, false narrative that furthers theocratic interests.”

John Litzler, public policy director for Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission, also noted “serious concerns” raised about Barton’s “version of the historical record of the United States and the veracity of several of his claims.”

Separation of church and state ‘neither a myth nor a modern invention’

Texas Baptists particularly should be concerned about Barton’s statements denying the separation of church and state, Litzler said.

“Separation of church and state is neither a myth nor a modern invention. Baptist ministers like John Leland and Isaac Backus were instrumental in ensuring both the establishment and free exercise clauses of the First Amendment were included in our nation’s Bill of Rights,” Litzler said.

He noted Thomas Jefferson wrote his famous words about a “wall of separation between church and state” in direct response to the Danbury Baptist Association in Connecticut, whose religious liberties were being infringed upon by the government-established church in their state.

“From our earliest days, Baptists have been pioneers in including separation as a key element of religious freedom in our articles of faith. Every version of the Baptist Faith and Message contains the simple statement that, ‘Church and state should be separate.’ This belief is a hallmark of the Baptist faith,” Litzler said.

He echoed Williams’ call for the State Board of Education to listen to other content advisers who might “provide a differing view from Barton’s on this issue to bring balance to the process and help give voice to the millions of Baptists in Texas as the SBOE develops their new social studies agenda.”

“We thank the SBOE for their diligent and important work, while also urging them to seek input from Baptists and others on key issues of religious liberty and the history of the American church,” Litzler said.

‘Truth is unkillable’

Truth—including a true account of American history and the separation of church and state—is strong enough to stand on its own merits without embellishment, Williams asserted.

“Unvarnished truth about U.S. history, including religious history and Christianity, and vital ideas on religious liberty and separation of church and state, can stand on their own. They do not need to be propped up by rewriting history to fit with current political agendas,” he said.

Williams quoted Anabaptist Reformation theologian Baltasar Hubmaier, who often signed his theological treatises, “Truth is unkillable.”

“When American history is taught, it should be the ‘whole truth and nothing but the truth,’” Williams said, “not a fictionalized enhanced version of it that makes heroes from history into 21st century Bartonites. The truth sometimes hurts, but it must be told.”

Victor Reta, a member of Bacon Heights Baptist Church in Lubbock, lives with “very severe” aphasia, a language disability that affects one’s ability to speak and understand what others say. Even so, he serves in several capacities on Sunday mornings despite his disability.

“He loves [Bacon Heights],” said his mother, Rosie Rodriguez. “He’s always around. I don’t think there’s one person in the whole church that doesn’t know his name.”

In 2017, Bacon Heights’ previous pastor approached Rodriguez with a desire to honor her son, who is “always helping,” “always opening doors,” “always smiling,” and is an active participant in the congregation and the church’s special needs ministry.

‘God working in him’

“Our pastor came, and he said the deacons want to do something for Victor. … I thought, ‘OK, they want to give him some chocolate, coupons or something [else],’” she said.

Instead, the pastor told her, “The deacons have talked and they voted, and they would like to ordain him as a deacon.”

Rodriguez said Reta’s desire to serve “came on its own,” so showing up to serve has “started growing him and blessing him in ways that we were not aware [of].” She said through the years, he has “gotten so many recognitions at church [and] at work” for his service.

“I call him our Forrest Gump because all he does is show up, and he’s Victor. He just does what Victor does. But then all these other blessings come his way without him even asking or knowing about it,” Rodriguez said.

“God has really used him and we’re really proud of him, but we know that it’s God working in him.”

Serves in a variety of roles

As a deacon, Reta serves as a greeter and takes up the offering at the end of Sunday service, helps new members and guests get to the right places, and even helps out in Bacon Heights’ special needs ministry Sunday school class.

He also volunteers during the week, helping his best friend and church facilities manager John Kjosa with building upkeep.

Kjosa participated in Reta’s deacon ordination ceremony by washing his feet, “which [was] such a special thing for [him].”

Bacon Heights Lead Pastor Sammy Elliott, who joined the church staff in 2021, said, “an exciting thing in the life of Bacon Heights is their emphasis and strategy of loving well … [and] that shows up in so many ways, [especially] with special friends.”

The special needs ministry hosts a Sunday school class called “Aspire,” which gives special friends “learning opportunities and activities” during both service hours.

Once a month, the special needs ministry also hosts “First Fridays,” a worship service specifically for special friends.

“One of our pillars of our vision and mission is that we love as Jesus loved. And that’s easy to see on paper, but we see that play out and fleshed out in all of our ministries, but especially our special friends ministries,” Elliott said.

‘Here’s what I can bring’

Elliott said Reta “provides a light for us to follow” in serving in the church.

“When you see somebody like Victor serve, it removes excuses,” Elliott said.

Elliott said “[Victor’s] willingness to say, ‘Here’s what I can bring,’” encourages the congregation to do the same.

“When he’s up here, that’s his offering to God … with that mindset [and] heart behind what he does, how can it not be encouraging to others to say, ‘Here’s what I can bring,’” Elliott said.

In addition to serving as a deacon, Reta also has participated as a camper for 25 years at Texas Baptists’ Special Friends Retreat, an event for individuals aged 12 and older with cognitive or intellectual disabilities.

Reta said going to retreat every year reminds him of how deeply Jesus loves him. His favorite part of the weekend, he said, is getting to worship with his friends.

The first of four Special Friends Retreats is scheduled Oct. 3-4 at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Camp and Conference Center in Cedar Hill. A Special Friend Retreat is scheduled for four weekends at locations around the state, including at Bacon Heights on Dec. 6. 

Jon Singletary will cease to be dean of Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, effective Oct. 15.

In a Sept. 25 announcement to Baylor faculty and staff, Provost Nancy Brickhouse wrote Singletary notified her earlier in the week “of his decision to step down from his leadership role” in the Garland School.

“As many of you are aware, these are incredibly difficult times for professionals in the field of social work, and Jon felt the need to step away to take better care of himself, as well as to dedicate more time to his family,” Brickhouse stated.

“Following a sabbatical, Jon intends to return to the faculty and focus on interdisciplinary research and approaches to tackling the growing crisis of mental health in our country.”

Luci Ramos Hoppe, clinical associate professor and director of the undergraduate social work program, will serve as interim dean, Brickhouse said, noting she will announce a national search for Singleton’s successor in late spring 2026.

Center of controversy over grant

While the provost’s announcement makes no mention of it, controversy swirled around the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work this summer.

On June 30, the School of Social Work announced a $643,401 grant awarded to Baylor’s Center for Church and Community Impact. The grant from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation was to focus on the study of “disenfranchisement and exclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals and women” in churches.

On July 9, Baylor President Linda Livingstone issued a statement saying Singletary and principal investigator Gaynor Yancey “voluntarily offered to rescind their acceptance of this grant on behalf of the School of Social Work and return all associated funds to the Baugh Foundation.”

“We recognize that this situation has caused concern and confusion for many within the Baylor Family and among our broader community of churches, partner organizations, and supporters,” Livingstone stated.

“This has been a learning opportunity for many involved in this situation, and we aim to work alongside our college and school leaders, faculty, and research community, particularly during these challenging times for higher education.”

Served nine years as dean, one as interim dean

Singletary was named dean of the Garland School of Social Work in May 2016 after serving a year as interim dean.

He succeeded the school’s founding dean and namesake, Diana R. Garland, who died in September 2015 of pancreatic cancer.

Singletary joined Baylor’s School of Social Work faculty in 2003, serving as director of the Baylor Center for Family and Community Ministries from 2005 to 2011.

He was associate dean for baccalaureate studies from 2011 to 2014 and associate dean for graduate studies from 2014 to 2015.

Singletary has held the Diana R. Garland Endowed Chair in Child and Family Studies since 2010, conducting research on community, family and congregational life.

Before joining the Baylor faculty, he was pastor of Richmond Mennonite Fellowship in Richmond, Va.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor, a Master of Social Work degree and Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Master of Divinity degree from the Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond.

More than a dozen Texas families filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Sept. 22 seeking to stop their school districts from displaying a state-prescribed version of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.

The suit maintains the mandated displays violate the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It further asserts the state’s main interest in requiring the classroom Ten Commandments displays is “the imposition of religious beliefs and tenets on public-school children.”

Plaintiffs in Cribbs Ringer v. Comal Independent School District are asking the court to declare the law mandating the Ten Commandments displays violates the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

They also are seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would require their districts to remove any classroom Ten Commandments displays and refrain from hanging new ones pending resolution of the suit.

In addition to Comal ISD, other school districts named in the suit are Georgetown, Conroe, Flour Bluff, Fort Worth, Arlington, McKinney, Frisco, Northwest, Azle, Rockwall, Lovejoy, Mansfield and McAllen.

“The displays will pressure students, including the minor-child Plaintiffs, into religious observance, veneration, and adoption of the state’s favored religious scripture,” the lawsuit states.

“The displays will also send the harmful and religiously divisive message that students who do not subscribe to the Ten Commandments—or, more precisely, the specific version of the Ten Commandments that SB 10 requires—do not belong in their own school community, pressuring them to refrain from expressing any faith practices or beliefs that are not aligned with the state’s religious preferences.”

Earlier ruling affected 11 other districts

On Aug. 20, U.S. District Court Judge Fred Biery issued a preliminary injunction in Rabbi Mara Nathan, et al, v. Alamo Heights Independent School District, et al, blocking classroom Ten Commandments displays in 11 school districts.

Biery ruled SB 10, which took effect Sept. 1, violates both the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and “crosses the line from exposure to coercion.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed the ruling and filed a motion asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to hear the case en banc—with all active judges of the court involved, rather than a three-judge panel.

“The Ten Commandments are a cornerstone of American law, and that fact simply cannot be erased by radical, anti-American groups trying to ignore our moral heritage,” Paxton stated.

“There is no legal reason to stop Texas from honoring a core ethical foundation of our law, especially not a bogus claim about the ‘separation of church and state,’ which is a phrase found nowhere in the Constitution.”

State-approved version of the Ten Commandments

SB 10—approved in the regular session of the Texas Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 21—requires a donated poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments at least 16 by 20 inches to be displayed in every Texas elementary and secondary school classroom.

At the time he signed the bill, Abbott posted on social media: “Signed a law to put the Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms. Faith and freedom are the foundation of our nation. If anyone sues, we’ll win that battle. Just like when I defended the Ten Commandments Monument on Texas Capitol grounds at SCOTUS.”

The state-approved language of the Ten Commandments is an abridged version of Exodus 20:2-17 from the King James Version of the Bible.

Plaintiffs pointed out Jews, Catholics and Protestants number the commandments differently, and their wording varies. So, they asserted, the required language favors the Protestant approach as the state-sanctioned version.

The plaintiff families represent a variety of religious backgrounds—Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Baha’i, as well as humanist and nonreligious.

Families want to guide children’s spiritual formation

Plaintiff Kristin Klade stated: “As a devout Christian and a Lutheran pastor, the spiritual formation of my children is a privilege I take more seriously than anything else in my life. … I address questions about God and faith with great care, and I emphatically reject the notion that the state would do this for me.”

The families are represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the American ACLU and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

“Our Constitution’s guarantee of church-state separation means that families—not politicians—get to decide when and how public-school children engage with religion,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United.

“Multiple federal courts, including in Texas, have been clear: Ten Commandments displays in public schools violate students’ and families’ religious freedom. These displays must be removed.”

Charles Foster Johnson, founding executive director of Pastors for Texas Children, voiced hope the courts will agree with the call to halt the mandated classroom Ten Commandments displays.

“Pastors for Texas Children is pleased that parents all over Texas are pushing back on these unjust laws that violate the God-given religious liberty of everyone,” Johnson said.

“All true faith is voluntary. It neither needs nor benefits from the endorsement of government. In fact, it suffers from it.

“This state needs to get back to the true conservatism that has fashioned the Texas spirit—limited government and local control that honors the ‘liberties and rights of the people,’ as the Texas Constitution so beautifully puts it.

“Just because current Texas politicians want to use religion to further consolidate their political power, doesn’t mean they can disregard God’s law and American law. God is not mocked by them. We pray the courts will shut this down quickly.”

The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board approved plans to expand its church property and liability insurance program beyond Texas Baptist churches.

BGCT Associate Executive Director Craig Christina announced a “soft launch” of the insurance program in October for 241 churches that participated in an initial feasibility study when Texas Baptists began exploring creation of such a program.

Based on the business principle of “strength through volume,” he anticipates the insurance program will be opened to all churches affiliated with the BGCT or the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention by early November.

Within several months, he said, it will expand beyond Texas to “like-minded churches from other denominations and nondenominational networks.” The program will follow the same doctrinal guidelines for inclusion Guidestone Financial Services follows.

Greater volume will provide the needed “strength, value and sustainability” for the insurance program, Christina said.

While it will make insurance as available and affordable as possible for all churches, churches that give in an undesignated manner to the BGCT will qualify for additional “deeper discounts” of 1 percent to 5 percent, Christina said.

‘Committed to keeping costs low’

“This is your church’s insurance program,” he emphasized. “We are committed to keeping costs low. We are committed to maintaining low premiums.”

After major insurance carriers left the Texas market, many churches either were unable to renew their policies or had to absorb steep premium and deductible increases.

In response to previous action by the Executive Board last September and a motion approved at the BGCT annual meeting last November, the board in February authorized investing up to $12 million from undesignated investment funds in an insurance program to fund the necessary insurance reserve.

When the BGCT committed to make insurance affordable for churches, legal experts advised Texas Baptists to create the two nonprofit entities separate from the BGCT to provide “layers of separation” to protect the state convention.

Initially, Texas Baptist leaders anticipated churches contracting with Texas Baptists Risk Management to receive coverage through the Texas Baptists Indemnity Program.

However, Christina reported he and other leaders discovered that, due to differences in state rules and regulations, churches would be served best by a captive insurance company based in South Carolina. As they looked for partners, they also learned about Artex, a national risk solutions provider.

Establish Covenant Solutions

So, acting on authority granted by messengers to Texas Baptists’ 2024 annual meeting, BGCT executive leaders have taken steps to establish a South Carolina-based captive insurance company, Covenant Solutions.

Covenant Solutions, in turn, will work directly with a new national insurance company, King’s Cover, that will provide underwriting for churches.

The board authorized the Texas Baptists Indemnity Program board of directors to consider transferring up to $12 million to capitalize Covenant Solutions’ insurance reserve.

Texas Baptists’ Executive Board elected Christina as president, GC2 Network Director Sergio Ramos as vice president and BGCT Chief Financial Officer Ward Hayes as secretary-treasurer.

The BGCT Executive Board also elected the board of directors for Covenant Solutions: Christina as chair, Ramos as vice chair and Hayes as secretary, along with Dennis Young, pastor of Missouri City Baptist Church; David Bowman, executive director of Tarrant Baptist Association; and Ann West of Artex as a South Carolina representative.

Budget recommended for 2026

The Executive Board voted to recommend a $37.5 million total Texas budget for 2026, an increase from the $36.7 million budget adopted for 2025. The proposed budget will be presented for approval to messengers at the BGCT annual meeting, Nov. 16-18 in Abilene.

The total budget includes a $36 million net Texas Baptist budget, up from the $35.16 million in the 2025 budget. It depends on more than $28 million in Texas Cooperative Program giving from churches and an anticipated $7.98 million from investment income. It also projects $1.48 million in additional revenue from conference and booth fees and product sales.

An anticipated $1.1 million in worldwide missions giving will allocate $850,000 to international missions and partnerships and $250,000 to North American missions and partnerships.

The Executive Board also elected officers for the next year: Suzanne Liner of First Baptist Church in Lubbock as chair, and Keith Warren, executive pastor of North Side Baptist Church in Weatherford as vice chair.

Executive Board Disciplinary Committee created

At the recommendation of the BGCT Sexual Abuse Task Force Implementation Committee, the board approved a policy creating an Executive Board Disciplinary Committee.

The committee will address any allegations that an Executive Board member has violated the BGCT code of ethics. Members of the disciplinary committee are the board’s chair and vice chair, along with the BGCT associate executive director.

The policy establishes an appellate process and names an appellate committee consisting of all members of the disciplinary committee along with the BGCT president, first vice president and second vice president.

The board also approved revisions to policies related to the Family Medical Leave Act, background investigations and harassment.

For the second consecutive meeting, the board went into a brief executive session.

In other business, the Executive Board approved enlisting the Batts Morrison Wales & Lee accounting firm to conduct the independent financial audit for 2025.

Filling vacancies

The board also filled board, council and commission vacancies by electing:

• Charles Whiteside of First Baptist Church in Kilgore to the East Texas Baptist University board of trustees.
• Maggie Pepper of First Baptist Church in San Angelo, Corbin Couch of First Baptist Church in Burleson, Jill Larson of The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson, Jennifer Clements of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Deborah Woods of First Baptist Church in Farmers Branch and Heather Fairman of First Baptist Church in Anna to the Institutions Audit Council.
• Sylvia Villareal of Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas, Fernando Rojas of Azle Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth and Jeremy Johnston of First Baptist Church in Hallsville to the Hispanic Education Council.
• Sharon Darwin of First Baptist Church in Dallas, David Mahfouz of First Baptist Church in Warren and Betty Booth of First Baptist Church in Tyler to the Baptist History and Distinctives Council.
• Paul Kim of Forest Community Church in Plano, Jerry Ramirez of First Baptist Church in Lubbock, Bill Brian of First Baptist Church in Amarillo, Bill Bevill of First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, D.M. Edwards of First Baptist Church in Tyler, David Paul of Sugar Land Baptist Church in Sugar Land, Charles Whiteside of First Baptist Church in Kilgore and Carla Robinson of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas to the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Council.
• Reagan Miller of Lakeshore Drive Baptist Church in Hudson Oaks and David Goddard of First Baptist Church in Temple to the GC2 Press Advisory Council.
• Austin Lambert of First Baptist Church in Sherman and John Wheat of Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville to the Baptist Student Ministry Council.
• Steve Bezner of Houston Northwest Baptist Church and Kevin Lintz of University Baptist Church in Fort Worth to the Christian Life Commission.
• Jim Browning of First Baptist Church in Floresville; Amy Hall of Madison Heights Baptist Church in Madison Heights, Va.; Ken May of First Baptist Church in Stephenville; Ben Sprouse of Memorial Baptist Church in Staunton, Va.; and David Cross of Westgate Memorial Baptist Church in Beaumont to the Chaplaincy Endorsement Council.
• Rolando Aguirre of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas to the Affinity Ministries Council.
• Charlie Nassar of Top Rail Cowboy Church in Greenville and Chris Maddux of the Cowboy Church of Ellis County in Waxahachie to the Western Heritage Council.
• Joseph Adams of First Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant, René Maciel of First Woodway Baptist Church in Waco and Wisdom Asita of First African Baptist Church in Fort Worth to the Missions Funding Council.

With “You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup” as their theme, Texas Baptist Women in Ministry gathered at The Crossing Baptist Church in Mesquite to discuss stress and burnout.

Organizers planned the event to help ministry leaders and guests grasp the importance of self-care through quiet time with God, art, community service and appointments with licensed professional counselors.

Speaker Judy Jarratt, executive director and dean at the Wayland Baptist University Lubbock campus, said rest, communication and relationships with others within and outside of the church is key to overcoming stress and burnout.

Jarratt acknowledged a feeling of loneliness as a woman who preaches, teaches and serves within the local church.

“When we talk about loneliness, women in ministry—just that leadership role is lonely. Being a woman in a leadership role has its own loneliness. But I assert that men in ministry are also lonely and face many of the same problems. So, connections are vital,” Jarratt said.

Connection and support are vital for leaders and the men and woman who serve within various ministries within the church, she said.

“There needs to be connection with the leader and the members of the congregation. The congregation should support, encourage and be there for the minister,” Jarratt said.

“But the minister or leader also needs people outside of the church for connection. They need to be involved in the community. It is important to be recognized in the community as a leader so that maybe they are involved with a school or chamber of commerce.”

Loneliness comes due to high expectations from others within the church and in the community, Jarrett said.

She described the differences between stress and burnout, describing burnout as “a defense characterized by discouragement” and stress as “over-engagement” and that burnout is “demoralization” and stress as “a loss of fuel and energy.”

“Do what you can do,” Jarratt said. “Talk to your leaders. Ask them: ‘How can I serve?’ and ‘How can I help take the load off what you’re doing?’ If you have a talent, a skill, let the leaders know. They can’t just know that.”

Attendee Pat Jackson, member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Athens said she planned to share what she learned with her congregation.

“It gave me some thoughts that I don’t have to do everything on my own, so I will take a lot of this to heart and put it to work and make things work better for us,” Jackson said.

WACO—Amy Julia Becker, author and speaker on faith, disability and culture, challenged ministry leaders, volunteers and education professionals to think differently about disabilities and the church.

Becker addressed reimagining family life and church life with disability at the Sept. 17-18 conference sponsored by the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities.

In one presentation, Becker highlighted Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast and the parable of the great banquet in Luke 14.

“He’s not saying you should do this for the sake of charity or justice. He’s saying you should do this because you will be blessed if you do,” Becker added.

“And I think just as that first part of the parable is giving us a different way of thinking, Jesus here again is giving us a different way of thinking and being, a different posture of the heart towards one another. And it’s one that is a way of blessing instead of a way of hate.”

Disability is a natural aspect of the human condition, Becker said. Humans are limited, vulnerable, needy, dependent creatures, but humans also are gifted, filled with possibility, inherently valuable and beloved by God, she asserted.

“What we get consistently throughout Scripture is this proclamation that we are gifts that God has created for his purpose,” Becker said.

“We are invited to understand and live out a different anthropology than what we get in our world, which is all about status and hierarchy and who is on top and who is not.”

Becker—author of To Be Made Well, White Picket Fences, Small Talk and A Good and Perfect Gift—created the “Reimagining Family Life with Disability” workshops. She also hosts a podcast, “Reimagining the Good Life.”

“It has been such a delight to be here,” Becker said.

“I have always loved speaking and writing and reading about theology and about the Bible. And yet, the disability piece was completely foreign to me until I was two years into seminary, and our oldest daughter was born and diagnosed with Down syndrome, which really just caused a personal, spiritual crisis for me,” she said.

She called her first book, A Good and Perfect Gift, “a spiritual memoir about what it took to receive my daughter as a gift and to see her that way.”

“That not only transformed the way I saw people with disabilities, but the way I saw humans,” she said. “Instead of seeing humans as separate people—some of whom are gifted and some of whom are needy—expands my world into all the humans I encounter having something to offer and something they might need from me.”

While on campus at Baylor, Becker took questions from attendees that spanned how to engage churches in inclusivity towards disabled individuals and ways to invite individuals with special needs to speak up and engage in church activities.

She provided resources for churches such as Baylor Collaborative on Faith and Disability, WITH Ministries, Hope Heals, Disability Ministry Network, and Western: Center for Disability and Ministry to assist in outreach and learning about people who are disabled.

Jason Le Shana, program director for Baylor Collaborative on Faith & Disability, said Becker’s presentations on the church and disability helped those attending understand how to see disabilities from a biblical perspective.

Families were invited during workshops to reimagine their family lives to see disability as a blessing and something to celebrate, to make room for lament where needed and to take delight in family members who have disabilities.

“Amy Julia Becker is a thought leader and a trusted resource on these topics of disability and family life and church,” Le Shana said.

“She talked about acknowledging the scripts and picture of disability society gives us and invites us to a more gospel-centered reality around disability—to imagine disability, not according to the scripts of the world as tragic or somehow a burden or inspiration only, but as humanity and as people who are loved by God and have a lot to contribute.”

The center is continuing research in the intersection of faith, culture and disability to serve churches and leaders.

“Our center has been doing this kind of faith and disability work for about a year and a half, Le Shana said.

“Our goal is to be a hub for new research on congregational life and disability, on theological perspectives around disability and in doing that in a space where there’s not a lot of work out there.”

Research examining pastoral perspectives on disability and disabled adults and faith also is ongoing.

“Our dream and our vision is to become a trusted resource for congregations, for families in the intersection of disability and faith,” she said.

BELTON—From the first board meeting in 1845 to the quiet corners of campus where students still kneel in solitude, prayer has been the foundation of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

For more than 180 years, prayer has shaped not only the daily rhythm of student life, but also the university’s culture and identity.

“Prayer was very much a part of UMHB from the very beginning,” said Beth Norvell, associate director of museum and alumni engagement at UMHB. “If you’re going to start a Christian school, it better be a part of your core beliefs.”

Minutes from the 1893 board of trustees report recorded pleas for divine wisdom during a challenging time of debt and declining enrollment.

Just five years later, the campus newspaper carried a student’s spiritual vision: “It is our prayer that this small wave may grow larger and larger until it reaches eternity’s shore laden with the freight of precious souls.”

Revivals, sacred spaces important to UMHB

Evidence in the UMHB archives indicates revival has been an important event on campus almost as long as the school has existed.

One of the most notable revivals took place in 1901. Described as “set to go down as one of the greatest revivals ever held,” it featured a packed house and 90 new additions to the local Baptist church.

In 1909, another revival reportedly led to the salvation of every girl on campus.

Today, that revival tradition continues in a tent on the Quad, where students gather for three days of prayer and worship.

This emphasis on student involvement continues with prayer committees for revival, Easter pageant and Mission Emphasis Weekend.

The spiritual foundation also extends to physical spaces—formal and informal—where generations have turned to God in prayer. Some of these sacred spots include Walton Chapel, the Parker Prayer Garden and the tree by Burt Pond, which has served as a popular prayer spot since the 1920s.

There is also Luther Memorial—where students gather annually for the Easter pageant, praying overnight the night before the show—and Vann Circle, the traditional site for the See You at the Pole prayer event each fall.

Even the original site of the Cottage Home System dormitories, where Remschel Hall stands today, is remembered for its spiritual significance.

“The Cottage Home girls were required to seek the Lord on certain things,” Norvell said. “It’s a special spot that’s just rich in history.”

Prayer walks connect alumni to students

For alumni, prayer is a way to stay connected to the campus, and alumni-focused prayer walks are a special way they can uplift students from anywhere in the world.

“This year, based on feedback from alumni, we wanted to have a more focused effort on what is happening on this campus,” said Director of Alumni Engagement Jeff Sutton ‘07. “We put together a guided prayer, so that as a collective, alumni were praying for God to move.”

Prior to Welcome Week, alumni also gathered for a prayer walk around campus, returning to spots on campus that had affected them most deeply—residence halls, academic buildings and even a favorite tree or bench.

“We tracked it so that we made sure each corner of campus had someone praying on it that evening,” Sutton said.

 “Our prayer walks give people a way to connect with the campus in a real, meaningful way. It’s an intentional time to pause in the midst of busyness to just have a focus time to pray for this place that impacted our lives. We ask God to continue to do in the lives of students what he did in each of our lives.”

Prayer woven into campus life

One of the first experiences students take part in when they arrive as incoming freshmen is the Dubbing Ceremony at Crusader Stadium, where students are dubbed “Crusaders Forever” and are prayed over.

But it’s the day-to-day encounters with administrators, advisers, faculty and staff who incorporate prayer into campus life to encourage an integration of faith with education that help students and faculty see their work and studies as part of a larger spiritual purpose.

“I pray for and with my students often,” said Christan Hammonds, assistant professor of nursing. “I pray for them before the semester even starts, as I’m looking at their names on the roster, and as I walk around the classroom on day one, before they start filling in the chairs.

“I pray with them before each class and before each exam. I pray with them in my office. I pray for them when I’m at home.

“There is nothing more powerful than prayer. Bare minimum, it brings peace. It can also bring clarity. And it always brings us closer to the Lord and in alignment with his heart and will.”

Generational legacy of prayer

Graduate student Anna Hoecke imagines praying in the same spots her great-grandmother, Olive Chaffee Boggs, did when she was a student on campus more than 100 years ago.

After hearing countless stories from her family, Anna is proud to be a student at a school where her “Mimi Olive was a prayer warrior.”

“She was strong in her convictions, and I imagine she often took the ordinary walks across campus as opportunities to intercede,” she said.

Anna said prayer is her direct connection with God.

“Prayer is how I include him in my experience of this world that is ever pushing away from its Creator. … I do it because he wants a relationship with me and wants space in my life to speak.”

She said prayer has kept her joyful and motivated throughout her undergraduate years and now while she pursues a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.

“The depth of my prayer has directly correlated to my success in school, and I’ve continued to learn the value, power and peace that prayer brings.”

‘From its beginning … unapologetically Christian’

Each Monday morning throughout the semester, as the campus stirs to life, staff, faculty and administrators quietly gather in the President’s suite. There, in a circle of shared purpose and faith, a different voice leads a time of prayer and reflection.

 “UMHB has always, from its beginning, been unapologetically Christian,” said President Randy O’Rear.

“The beauty of the Christian life is that we go directly to God with our requests and petitions. While God’s answer may not always be what we want or when we want it, God is faithful, and God always provides.”

Throughout UMHB’s history, prayer has helped cultivate a sense of unity and continues to remind everyone of their shared faith and purpose, he noted.

“One thing that has been heartwarming and humbling during my time as president has been the number of people who tell me they are praying for our university,” O’Rear said. “This happens almost every week.

“I believe God answers those prayers because I have seen it happen, and I believe that he will continue to do so for the next 180 years and beyond.”

An expanded version of this article first appeared in UMHB Life magazine.

Leo Regheta led 160 pastors and their families for a weeklong retreat in prayer and a peaceful time with God along the Black Sea in Odesa, Ukraine.

The group was aware of the war taking place to the east, describing how at night hundreds of drones would cover the skies “like swarms of flies.”

All the pastors, their wives and children were from the front lines of Ukraine.

During the retreat, worship—led by young adults—included prayer gatherings for men, art therapy, storytelling for women, seminars on healing and programs for children and teenagers.

Conversations on anxiety, fear and loss created an environment of sharing, praying and encouragement during the retreat.

“Some of them came up to us and said they have never vacationed on the beach their whole lives,” Regheta said.

“All of them came from the frontline zones. All of them came from the daily experience of hearing sirens and watching things get bombed.

“One pastor was looking down as he said: ‘I’ve seen things in my life that no human being should have seen. I have picked up bodies of young soldiers, so young, they didn’t have a mustache growing on their lips.’ So, people were traumatized.”

Another account was of a family of refugees who escaped with all their documents packed, saying, “We are not sure there will be a home for us to go back to.”

The inspiration for trauma healing care

Regheta and his team at Hope International Missions are familiar with the dangers that come with visiting and serving in the region and caring for refugees of the war in Ukraine.

“Our ministry has been doing mostly summer camps and leadership training for over 25 years,” Regheta said.

“A couple of years before the [2022] wars started, we were invited to Ukraine. We were already there doing camps and leadership training,” he continued.

“When the war happened, things broke loose. We got requests for gas money from our church partners as they were taking people to safety. They were taking people to the border. Other people were picking up from the border.”

A team of female volunteers was sent to Krakow and Warsaw, Poland, to meet incoming trains with women and children during the first weeks of the war.

The team met a director of a refugee center who served many of the men, women and children who fled. The connection birthed an opportunity for Hope International Missions to create a summer camp for children suffering from trauma from the war.

“You could see that they are still processing the trauma,” Regheta said.

A few weeks after working with kids, the discussion to include trauma healing for women began. Female refugees said they were struggling with their mental health and were in as much need as their children.

“God has put our organization in touch with Christian psychologists, trauma therapists and other Christian leaders who are doing those very things,” Regheta said.

“We did 10 conferences for women and trauma healing in Poland, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Latvia and then Ukraine. Our organization has been inside Ukraine seven or eight times since the war started.”

Regheta is going back to Ukraine in October with Hope International Missions to host two major trauma healing conferences for women in Kharkiv and Odesa. They are expecting 600 women throughout Ukraine to attend the weekend conferences. The event also will include partners from Ukraine and a trauma healing practitioner from the United States.

A local connection

In Plano, where Regheta serves as pastor of River of Life Church and connects with refugees from Ukraine weekly, he knows firsthand how the trauma of the war has affected the youngest of his congregants.

“I met a couple of families here in North Texas that are still recovering, and their children are still recovering,” Regheta said.

“One family came to our church and their older daughter, who must have been 6 or 7 at the time—that was two years ago—she was grabbing onto her mom’s skirt, hiding behind, and I said: ‘Hello, little princess. How are you?’

“The youngest one came out and gave me a high-five. The older one kept hiding. The mom says, ‘She’s still recovering from what happened in Kyiv.’ Those kinds of observations and experiences gave us the first face-to-face understanding of how bad the trauma is.”

In April, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson phoned Regheta to inform him the city of Dallas would become a sister city to Kharkiv. The city officially signed a memorandum and in March, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov came to Dallas by invitation of the city, where he also had a chance to meet volunteers and leaders of Texans on Mission.

The Dallas mayor’s office is working with the mayor of Kharkiv and Hope International Missions to set up a trauma healing center in Kharkiv, locally run by residents in Kharkiv.

“We realized to help people more long term, we need to really invest into trauma healing for them. And our organization, being a Christ-centered, biblically based organization, we understand the real transformation comes from the Lord,” Regheta said.

“The real healing only comes from Jesus. He is not just putting a bandage on something that hurts. He is healing from the inside.”

But Hope International Missions still is looking for support from churches and individuals.

Regheta added that they are grateful for the support they have received from individuals, churches, ministries like Texas Baptists and others.

To support Hope International Missions’ efforts through fiduciary donations or giving of materials like biblical trauma healing lessons or laptops, or books, visit https://www.him4nations.org.

Andrew “AJ” Ireton owns a small construction company in Van Zandt County, but his clients know he won’t be available for a couple of months. The Baptist layman will be building a children’s home in eastern India.

About a year ago, Ireton met Pastor Maduh—whose full name is withheld for security reasons—at a conference at Rose Heights Baptist Church in Lindale.

Maduh leads Global Kingdom Ministries in India, where he is pastor of a church and currently shelters 25 at-risk children in a rented house. Some are orphans, while others were rescued from sex trafficking.

At the conference, Ireton learned Maduh was building a children’s home/safe house that also will provide a place for his church to meet. But construction stalled soon after the foundation was completed.

Ireton saw it as the perfect intersection of his construction experience—including building on a mission trip to Mexico—and his sense of God’s calling to minister to children in need.

“It was a divine appointment all the way around,” he said.

Ireton grew up attending First Baptist Church in Stanton with loving adoptive parents. However, he struggled with depression and said he “believed the enemy’s lie that I would never amount to anything.”

“This path led me into sin and addiction until January 2018, when in a Texas jail cell, I encountered the Lord in a powerful way,” he wrote in a recent newsletter to ministry supporters.

‘Vision of children crying out in need’

God gave him “a vision of children crying out in need of safety and care,” he wrote. “From then on, I dedicated my life to serving the Lord wholeheartedly.”

Ireton has made international mission trips previously. So, customers of Trinity Handyman Service understand he sometimes is not available for several weeks at a time. And East Texas businesses understand when he contacts them seeking ministry support.

“I’ve been calling in favors, dotting every I and crossing every T to get ready,” he said.

When Ireton packed up his equipment to leave for India, about half of the money required to complete the first phase of the construction project was in hand.

“We’re stepping out in faith and trusting that the Lord will provide the rest of the funds once I get down there,” he said.

Ireton knows his wife Meagan and their four children will be “living on bare minimum” until his return, but they support his commitment to go where he believes God leads.

“When the Lord opens a door, sometimes he kicks it in,” he said.

For more information and updated prayer requests, email GKingdomministries@gmail.com.

James Virgil “JV” Thomas Jr., who led Texas Baptists’ church-starting initiatives to new heights, died Aug. 27 in Colleyville. He was 94.

Thomas was born March 13, 1931, in San Benito to James Virgil and Agnes Thomas. He spent his childhood in Shepherd.

He attended East Texas Baptist College, graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Southern Methodist University.

In his early 20s, he felt called by God to vocational ministry. He was pastor of Texas Baptist churches in Harleton, Smyrna, Aubrey, Cleveland and Corpus Christi. He also served as the director of missions of the New Bethel Baptist Association.

Thomas joined the Baptist General Convention of Texas staff in June 1969. For the next 24 years, he served as the director of church extension before retiring in March 1993.

Thomas was instrumental in developing creative strategies and innovative approaches to church planting. They included the Key Church strategy—beginning with First Baptist Church in Arlington and its Mission Arlington ministry started by Tillie Burgin—and the development of western-heritage cowboy churches.

He helped recruit and train a new generation of pastors and leaders focused on helping churches start churches to reach every socio-economic, ethnic and language group in Texas.

‘Heart and mind’ of Mission Texas church starting

When BGCT Executive Director William M. Pinson Jr. challenged Texas Baptists to start 2,000 churches in five years as part of the Mission Texas emphasis, Thomas played a key role.

In fact, Pinson called Thomas “the heart and mind” of the Mission Texas church-starting effort.

“His compassion, dedication, innovation, creativity and organizing ability guided the effort to reach the goal of 2,000 new churches,” Pinson said.

Working with State Missions Commission Director Charles McLaughlin and Missions Division Director Charles Lee Williamson, Thomas led the church extension staff “to implement the strategy of reaching the Texas mission field with its rapidly growing, diverse population for Christ, and thereby strengthening the Texas mission base to help reach a lost world for Christ,” Pinson said.

“The BGCT did not start these churches. Existing churches did that. And JV Thomas and staff developed creative ways for Baptist associations and the BGCT to help provide the resources for churches to start churches.

“In so doing, JV wrote new chapters in the story of church planting by Baptists. Only God knows the impact that this has had on making and maturing disciples for the Lord Jesus Christ.”

William Tinsley, former assistant executive director of the BGCT, was among the church planters Thomas recruited.

“Only heaven will measure the influence of this unlikely leader who came from obscure beginnings and ended up spearheading church planting movements that extended from Texas to the ends of the earth,” Tinsley said.

“We should not be surprised. People like JV Thomas have always been God’s chosen way to work in the world.”

Thomas was preceded in death by his childhood sweetheart and wife of almost 60 years, Lucy Jarboe Thomas, and son Timothy Thomas.

Survivors include his wife, Marion Thomas; daughter Teresa Krimm and husband Mike of Dallas; son Terry Thomas and wife Mary Fox-Thomas of Andrews, N. C.; 11 grandchildren; and numerous great- and great-great grandchildren.

Memorial gifts in his honor can be made to the Texas Baptists Church Starting Fund through the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation at 7557 Rambler Road, Suite 1200, Dallas, TX 75231 or online at www.missionsfoundation.org.

Laws restricting nondisclosure clauses in sexual abuse settlement agreements and setting aside classroom time for prayer and reading religious texts in public classrooms are among statutes that went into effect Sept. 1.

The new laws resulted from legislation passed during the 89th Texas Legislature.

The statute regarding sexual abuse settlements—known as Trey’s Law—makes unenforceable any provision in a nondisclosure agreement that would prevent a person from disclosing facts related to abuse of themselves or another individual.

The law is not a blanket ban on nondisclosure agreements or confidentiality provisions in sexual abuse settlements, but it delineates the narrow parameters in which nondisclosure agreements would be enforceable.

The law is named for Trey Carlock, a victim of child sexual abuse at Kanakuk Ministries who later took his life. His sister, Elizabeth Phillips, advocated for passage of Trey’s Law.

“My brother, Trey, was silenced to his grave. He endured institutional abuse on top of sexual abuse as a child,” she said. She and other advocates launched an online community to “support survivors’ voices” to coincide with the law going into effect.

“I hope this can bring healing to the many people who have been suffering in the shadows dur to predatory NDAs,” she said.

‘Culture of concealment … serves no one well’

Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission supported Trey’s Law and advocated for its passage in the Texas Legislature.

“As Christians, we are called to bear one another’s burdens—but we cannot carry what we do not see. Survivors of sexual abuse must have both the freedom to pursue justice and the right to share their stories without being forced to choose between them,” CLC Director Katie Frugé said.

“Preventing survivors—especially through the use of nondisclosure agreements—from disclosing facts related to their abuse fosters a culture of concealment that serves no one well. While we recognize that legitimate privacy concerns exist, survivor autonomy must remain paramount.

“When the identity of an alleged perpetrator is shielded, the risk of reoffending increases, and institutions may fail in their duty to protect the vulnerable. Such provisions should be void as a matter of public policy in Texas.”

Frugé, who also directs Texas Baptists’ Center for Cultural Engagement, also noted churches can help provide healing and support to survivors when they are allowed to speak freely.

“When survivors are free to share their stories, their faith community can offer meaningful support and stand with them on their healing journey,” she said.

“This bill affirms the fundamental dignity of survivors by ensuring they do not need to sacrifice transparency for justice, nor justice for the right to speak truth. In doing so, it strengthens both our legal system and our ability to live out our faith authentically.”

Prayer and Bible reading in schools

SB 11—another law that went into effect this week—allows school boards to adopt policies setting aside designated time for silent prayer or reading religious texts in public school classrooms.

The new law requires trustees of each school district to take a record vote on whether to adopt such as policy within six months of Sept. 1.

While proponents of the law emphasize participation requires parental consent and is to be voluntary in nature, Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office on Sept. 2 issued a statement saying, “In Texas classrooms, we want the Word of God opened, the Ten Commandments displayed, and prayers lifted up.”

The statement from the Office of the Attorney General states, “For Texas students considering how to best utilize this time, Attorney General Paxton encourages children to begin with the Lord’s Prayer, as taught by Jesus Christ.” The statement goes on to quote Matthew 6:9-13 from the King James Version of the Bible.

Charles Foster Johnson, founding executive director of Pastors for Texas Children, questioned Paxton’s moral authority to offer such recommendations.

“Given Attorney General Ken Paxton’s personal history, our pastoral counsel to him would be to reflect on his own religious practice, rather than cramming it down the throats of our Texas teachers and children. Jesus would reject his authority, and we suggest you do also,” Johnson said.

Ten Commandments in classrooms

Some—but not all—Texas public schools will begin posting a prescribed version of the Ten Commandments in classrooms this week, as a result of SB 10.

U.S. District Court Judge Fred Biery issued the preliminary injunction Aug. 20 in Rabbi Mara Nathan, et al, v. Alamo Heights Independent School District, et al. The injunction blocks implementation of Ten Commandments statute in 11 school districts.

SB 10 requires a donated poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments at least 16 by 20 inches to be displayed in every Texas elementary and secondary school classroom. The state-approved language of the Ten Commandments is an abridged version of Exodus 20:2-17 from the King James Version of the Bible.

Opponents of SB 10—and plaintiffs in Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights—pointed out Jews, Catholics and Protestants number the commandments differently, and their wording varies. So, they asserted, the required language favors the Protestant approach as the state-sanctioned version.

Additional laws regarding education

A voucher-like education savings account program allows families to direct public funds to private—often religious—schools also launched Sept. 1.

“With $1 billion in funding for the 2026-2027 school year, the program will be the largest day-one launch in the country,” Gov. Greg Abbott stated.

In addition to voicing strong support for the education savings account program and the law mandating display of the Ten Commandments, Abbott also applauded SB 12, known as the Parental Bill of Rights.

Abbott said it “strengthens parental rights” by “protecting parents’ rights in directing their child’s upbringing and medical decisions, and refocusing [public school] curriculum on core subjects and U.S. founding documents.”

Abbott also hailed SB 13, which he said, “increases parental oversight of school libraries by requiring parent-led advisory councils and giving school boards final authority to approve, retain, or remove materials.”