I once spoke in a church that featured split podiums at the front of the sanctuary. The smaller, less-ornate or lower podium was referred to as the “lectern,” I was told. From it, lay people, worship leaders and guests give announcements, pray, sing solos and read portions of Scripture. The other podium, the pulpit, was reserved for the Gospel reading and the sermon itself. Because of this tradition, the right side of the communion rail, the pulpit side, is referred to as “the gospel side,” I learned.

Jeff JohnsonI also spoke once during a Holy Week ministerial alliance “pulpit swap” in a church where the baptistery was located right beside the pulpit—convenient—and full of water at all times, I might add. First Baptist Church in Commerce is among the garden variety of Texas Baptist churches with the Lord’s Supper table centered with pulpit and baptistery behind the choir loft.

Allow me this week to introduce you to a team of “architectural theologians.” Yes, theologians. Throughout church history, the design of a church facility often has revealed as much about a congregation’s theology as the hymns and sermons voiced within it.

Keith Crouch leads our Texas Baptist church architecture team. They work with Baptist General Convention of Texas churches of all types—traditional, contemporary, small and large, new church starts, missions, languages and cultures, cowboy churches, vaquero churches, churches that do not own but lease space, churches relocating, Baptist associations and encampments.

First Baptist Commerce needed some answers and coaching when we recently remodeled our children’s area, and we found them from Keith and his team. They also are helping with our worship center stage renovation.

They will provide a host of answers for questions regarding church business-related issues, such as property purchase, general security, childcare security, safety, environmental hazards, taxable land use and state-licensed day care. They also will make suggestions regarding the physical changes necessary to make existing preschool and children’s spaces safer, while also considering accessibility requirements.

Need wisdom on pre-purchase analysis of buildings and property? Are you considering the purchase of undeveloped land or existing buildings?

Contact Keith Crouch at keith.crouch@texasbaptists.org, and a member of their team will help you clarify your “architectural theology.” You will be glad you did.

Jeff Johnson is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and pastor of First Baptist Church in Commerce.

I’m writing this article as I prepare to take part in a funeral service of a dear lady who went on to be with the Lord. She was fiery, loved the Lord and loved the music of Elvis Presley.

Now, when I say she loved the music of Elvis, I’m not exaggerating. She dedicated a room in her house to his music and his likeness. I once sang a song in her presence titled “Bethlehem,” written and sung by the Christian artist Carman.

Passion

This song was set in the style of the 1950s, and when I performed this song, I wore a leather jacket. Richard RayWell, she just loved the song, because it reminded her of Elvis. This lady was made up of passion, whether it was for her family, her Lord or, yes, even Elvis.

I share that with you because we all know someone who has this type of passion, and it’s not just an everyday passion, but a passion for life. When I think of people with this type of passion, I often think of people who serve in the small-church ministry. To serve the small church and to serve it well, it takes a tremendous about of passion, because it takes a tremendous amount of dedication. You don’t serve the Lord for recognition or for prosperity, but rather, you serve the Lord because it’s your calling and you have a passion for it.

I know a pastor who works two jobs, serves on the school board, serves his association and his church, coaches little dribblers and takes care of his family. His energy level always is high because he loves what God has called him to do.

Overwhelmed?

This person may be you. You may have to work two or three jobs, and you are involved in your community, your school, along with taking care of your family, all the while serving your church as God has called you to serve. You may feel overwhelmed at times because there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day, but somehow you manage it all, and you manage it well.

Read More ‘Voices’ HereWhen we ministers become stressed or feel overburdened, it often is caused by the fact we have forgotten what our lives are about. We get out of focus on what our mission is and what God has called us to be. During these times, I am reminded of Romans 1:1: “I Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.” This verse reminds me who I am and what God has called me to be.

A servant of Christ Jesus

If you are feeling overburdened, if you feel you have lost some of your passion to serve, I pray you will remember you are a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God. You are vital. You are important. But more importantly, you have been equipped to live out this calling in your life.

When I am reminded of my calling and Who I serve, this is when I can put on a leather jacket and sing a 1950s-style Christian song to bring joy to a wonderful lady who now is rejoicing on the streets of gold in heaven. So, stay passionate by remembering you have been set apart and called by God to serve him.

Until next time, please visit our website, www.bivocational.com.

Richard Ray is president of the Bivocational/Small Church Association, pastor of First Baptist Church in Wink and director of missions for Pecos Valley Baptist Association. You can reach him at brother_ray@juno.com.

I thought I would have a few of my congregational members introduce themselves to you this week. As you meet them, ask whether your church includes any or all of these folks as well.

• “I value hard work, saving money, loyalty, patriotism, respect, dependability and stability. I am committed to the church, love the old hymns and enjoy Bible study. I worship God in reverence, and I think others ought to as well. My name is Builder.”

• “I value being educated andJeff Johnson independent. I like quality and am cause-oriented. I long for our church to be family-oriented and worship to blended music. My name is Boomer.”

• “I value practical education and postponing marriage. I like churches that are family-oriented, safe for my children, support local causes and have short services since my attention span is so short. I want options and less structure. My name is Buster.”

• “I crave music variety and diversity. I live a fast-paced life. Catch me if you can! I am tech-savvy, super fragmented, and demanding and tolerant at the same time. I want to hang out and be connected. I want honest relationships and a faith that is transparent and authentic. I can see through fake-ness. I wish churches would be more inclusive and use updated technology, for crying out loud. My name is Bridger.”

Read More ‘Voices’ HereI do not know about your church, but the generations at First Baptist Commerce were on a collision course at the foot of the cross. We needed help to make good decisions regarding a future that was a present reality: Did our church reflect our community? How has our community changed over the past few years? What does our community really look like? What might it look like in the future? How can we strategically prepare?

Good decisions are based on good information. We knew our local world was changing but needed to know the specifics—beyond generational to changes in the cultural fabric.

Allow me to introduce you to Clay Price, Texas Baptists’ information analyst. Clay provides population and church statistical resources. He can prepare demographic studies for your church and association upon request. He also helps interpret your local information and can connect you with ministry resources to help interpret and implement ministries of healing, health and transformation. Email Clay at clay.price@texasbaptists.org. You will be glad you did.

Jeff Johnson is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and pastor of First Baptist Church in Commerce.

Are you a small-church pastor or minister? Are you the spouse or child of a small-church pastor or minister? If you are, I want you to know you are not alone. In our state, there are over 3,500 Texas Baptist ministers who serve in the small-church ministry.

What does this mean? It means you are vital to our Lord in building up his kingdom.

Richard RayI remember growing up watching my father serve as a pastor in a small country church in Fairy. I saw how he balanced his time by putting bread on our table and providing the Bread of Life from the pulpit. Each Sunday, we would travel 85 miles to church, where he would preach and minister to the congregation and its community.

It was on a particular September Sunday as I was again sitting on the second row waiting for my father to finish preaching that God showed me just how important my father was to him. I recall looking at my father preaching and thinking about all he does for our family and the church family. At the time, I was unfamiliar with the word “bivocational,” even though my father was clearly bivocational. But what I did understand was that my father loved what he was doing. My father was called by God to serve this small country church.

A passion for victories

God has instilled that love in me and in many of you, and for that I am proud to say I serve the Lord as a bivocational/small-church minister. I understand that for a minister to serve in the small church, you must have a passion for victories. You must be willing to give your time and energy to your home and to your church. You must be able to learn on the go as you balance life and ministry to the point that they become one. I often compare serving the Lord as serving in the military.

I served our country more than five years in the U.S. Air Force during the time of Desert Storm. It was during those days that I trained to manage multiple missions at once. Each mission was important and vital to the overall efforts of the operation. The Air Force called it “on-the-job training.” I saw 18- to 20-year-olds working on million-dollar aircraft and creating war plans and strategies to defeat the enemy. I witnessed young men and women willing to do what was necessary so victory could be achieved.

Each is important

Today, in our small Texas Baptist churches, we have ministers who need to understand how important and vital they are to the overall efforts of God’s plan. These ministers are creating plans and strategies to defeat the enemy so victory can be achieved in the souls of man. Each small-church minister is important to the overall efforts of God’s operation.

As the president of the Bivocational/Small Church Association, I want you to know if you have been called by the Lord to serve in the small-church mission field, you are not alone. We as an association are here to serve alongside you as an advocate for small-church ministers and their families. We understand what it is to serve in the small church, and we want to assist you as you serve by providing ready-to-use resources, fellowship with other small-church ministers and assistance in time of need.

In the upcoming articles, I will share with you about how our association can assist you, I will share stories of victories from your fellow ministers, and I will offer up prayer concerns for those in need.

Until next time, please visit our website: www.bivocational.com.

Richard Ray is president of Bivocational/Small Church Association, pastor of First Baptist Church in Wink and director of missions for Pecos Valley Baptist Association. You can reach him at brother_ray@juno.com.

I gave up something Dec. 29, 2013: “Pastor’s Pals.” Yes, the one consistent Sunday morning worship service reliable bright spot. We did not exorcise it completely from the order of worship. Our children’s minister has taken the stage and is doing a great job.

Jeff JohnsonAmazing, in my 31-year run in children’s sermons, no matter how badly I botched my chance at communicating the gospel to the youngest church folk, these moments became the most memorable—the most potentially energy-releasing for the entire congregation. Why? Because children are like God’s kingdom. They are predictably unpredictable. Their presence changes things.

When our oldest daughter was born 29 years ago, I heard more than once from wise friends and relatives, “Your lives will change completely!” And they did. Every preacher knows that no matter how carefully a children’s sermon is constructed, the wonderfully unpredictable, energizing force of the children gathered to listen to it will change it. Everyone else in the congregation feels this tension too—and for just a few moments, at least, there is a breath of expectation and of freshness in the air. The kids might say or do something funny, or rude, or horrible, or touching, or beautiful or truthful—and release the energy of that moment, that spirit, over the whole congregation.

The Baptist Standard has graciously given me the opportunity to write a few words of encouragement and challenge to Texas Baptists each week through November 2014, when my term as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas concludes.

My plan is to highlight a different Texas Baptist ministry each week. My hope is that as children of God, you will help somehow energize these words, transform them and help bring expectation and freshness to Texas Baptists. The presence of God is working in and through Texas Baptists and will change things in 2014.

I can’t wait.

Jeff Johnson is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and pastor of First Baptist Church in Commerce.

Hello, Texas Baptists! I had a great Sunday at Eastwood Baptist Church in Gatesville Feb. 2. Thanks to Pastor Matt Richard and his welcoming congregation for their hospitality. It was a joy to worship with them.

David HardageI was in the Houston area Feb. 4 and was able to meet with the leadership of First Baptist Church of Angleton. We had wonderful discussion and fellowship there. The Lord is working in a mighty way in and through that church. Later that evening, I attended the missions banquet of Trinity River Baptist Association at First Baptist Church  in Liberty. They had a great turnout. I look forward to making another visit to that church later this year.

On Feb. 9, I had the wonderful privilege of preaching at New Sunset Community Church in Killeen. Pastor Ed Talley is faithfully serving that church, and I am excited about what is in store for their future.

Another successful Welcome Pastor Day has taken place thanks to Joe Loughlin and his excellent staff here at the BGCT Executive Board. Thanks to all of the pastors who were able to make it to Dallas. I hope those who were unable to make it due to weather or last-minute commitments will be able to join us in August for the next one. For more information about Welcome Pastor Day or how to connect to the BGCT, please contact Joe at joe.loughlin@texasbaptists.org.

In chapel, the staff at your Baptist Building celebrated Black History Month. Thanks to Pastor Oscar Epps Sr. and his praise team from Community Missionary Baptist Church in DeSoto for making that such a special celebration. I am sad I was unable to attend, but I heard great reports!

Please mark your calendars for April 7. The BGCT will host the Texas Baptists Golf Classic at the Dallas Athletic Club. Even if you are not a golfer, I hope you will consider participating in some form or fashion. Money raised for this event will go toward Texas Baptists’ disaster recovery efforts around the world. So, by sponsoring a team, a hole or registering to play, you are changing communities globally.

Our Committee on Convention Business met to continue planning the “Live the Difference” annual meeting. I hope you are planning to make it out to Waco Nov. 16-18. It is going to be an exciting time for Texas Baptists.

God bless you all!

David Hardage is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board.

Most Star Trek stories depict the adventures of humans and aliens who serve in Starfleet, the space-borne humanitarian and peacekeeping armada of the United Federation of Planets. The protagonists have altruistic values, and must apply these ideals to difficult dilemmas. Many of the conflicts and political dimensions of Star Trek represent allegories of contemporary cultural realities.

Michael A. Evans Jr.Star Trek: The Original Series addressed issues of the 1960s,[4] just as later spin-offs have reflected issues of their respective decades. Issues depicted in the various series include war and peace, the value of personal loyalty, authoritarianism, imperialism, class warfare, economics, racism, religion, human rights, sexism, feminism, and the role of technology. Roddenberry stated: “[By creating] a new world with new rules, I could make statements about sex, religion, Vietnam, politics, and intercontinental missiles. Indeed, we did make them on Star Trek: we were sending messages and fortunately they all got by the network.”

Roddenberry intended the show to have a highly progressive political agenda reflective of the emerging counter-culture of the youth movement, though he was not fully forthcoming to the networks about this. He wanted Star Trek to show humanity what it might develop into, if only it would learn from the lessons of the past, most specifically by ending violence.

An extreme example is the alien species, the Vulcans, who had a very violent past but learned to control their emotions. Roddenberry also gave Star Trek an anti-war message and depicted the United Federation of Planets as an ideal, optimistic version of the United Nations.

His efforts were opposed by the network because of concerns over marketability, e.g., they opposed Roddenberry’s insistence that the Enterprise have a racially diverse crew.

Para un tiempo como este…Creo firmemente que nuestra convención esta en un momento crucial con nuevos horizontes y oportunidades para alcanzar.

Bea MesquiasSe que puedo ser una gran ventaja para mover nuestra querida Convención adelante con liderazgo, compromiso, con el animo, el entusiasmo, entrenamiento y construir sobre lo que nuestros pilares del pasado han construido hasta este punto. Una de mis habilidades dado por Dios es unir a personas de a un mayor de nosotros mismos para la honra y gloria de Dios nuestro Salvador. Hay mucho trabajo que hacer y estoy dispuesta y preparada.

Para un tiempo como este…Creo firmemente que nuestra convención esta en un momento crucial con nuevos horizontes y oportunidades para alcanzar. Se que puedo ser una gran ventaja para mover nuestra querida Convención adelante con liderazgo, compromiso, con el animo, el entusiasmo, entrenamiento y construir sobre lo que nuestros pilares del pasado han construido hasta este punto.

Una de mis habilidades dado por Dios es unir a personas de a un mayor de nosotros mismos para la honra y gloria de Dios nuestro Salvador. Hay mucho trabajo que hacer y estoy dispuesta y preparada.

Para un tiempo como este…Creo firmemente que nuestra convención esta en un momento crucial con nuevos horizontes y oportunidades para alcanzar.

Se que puedo ser una gran ventaja para mover nuestra querida Convención adelante con liderazgo, compromiso, con el animo, el entusiasmo, entrenamiento y construir sobre lo que nuestros pilares del pasado han construido hasta este punto. Una de mis habilidades dado por Dios es unir a personas de a un mayor de nosotros mismos para la honra y gloria de Dios nuestro Salvador. Hay mucho trabajo que hacer y estoy dispuesta y preparada.