As I approach retirement from my 45-year career in government and education, I do so with a thankful heart for the privilege to serve 30 years in Texas Baptist higher education.

Lanny HallI could not have imagined the rich blessings that would be in store for my wife, Carol, and me when I left the Teacher Retirement System of Texas in 1986 to accept the position of executive vice president of Howard Payne University. Immediately before that time, I had spent a decade in public service. Since that time, I have been blessed to be president of three Texas Baptist institutions—Wayland Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University and Howard Payne University.

At each of these outstanding institutions, I have had enriching experiences with students, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees. Some come immediately to mind:

• An outstanding chapel address by Mabel Wayland Adams, 102-year-old daughter of Dr. James Henry Wayland, founder of the university that bears his name.

• A meaningful Bible study in a men’s residence hall at Wayland in 1989.

• Listening to tremendous sermons during Wayland’s Pastors’ and Laymen’s Conferences, delivered by the likes of Frank Pollard, Joel Gregory, James Semple and Jess Moody.

• A most memorable chapel time at HSU during which Christian harpist Greg Buchanan played “Amazing Grace” and the students began singing that great hymn.

• Campus revival meetings at HSU with the late Jon Randles preaching.

• The special 1996 HSU memorial service honoring the lives of three precious students—Jason Hale, Erin Greer and Kelli Marshall—killed in an auto accident near Hempstead.

• Wonderful times of worship in HPU’s Mims Auditorium with Richard Jackson, Sara Baker, Cynthia Clawson and Mike Toby.

• Annual HPU campus Christmas lighting ceremonies, followed by cookies and hot chocolate at the president’s home.

• Those heartfelt prayer times with HPU students who requested that we dedicate appointed times they called “Prayer with the President.”

All of these experiences represent significant defining spiritual moments in my career. I would have missed them if it had not been for the support of Texas Baptists, which made these experiences possible. They are not out of the norm for Texas Baptist universities. Caring faculty and staff are intentional about structuring time so these defining spiritual moments may take place. And we, as Texas Baptists, must ensure this important work is supported, nurtured and continued. The world cries out for what Texas Baptist universities deliver.

As I reflect on my own pilgrimage, Texas Baptists made it possible for me to enjoy the Royal Ambassador program during my boyhood, Baptist church camp experiences, wholesome campus life when I was a student at Hardin-Simmons University and the Baptist Student Union on the campus of North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas. I was blessed to receive a scholarship awarded by the Christian Education Committee of Birdville Baptist Church to help me attend HSU. Carol and I were blessed to adopt both our children through Bucker Baptist Benevolences. All of these activities were supported by Texas Baptists and enabled me to be positioned for service at three great universities, for which I thank God.

Having served as a president or chancellor for 27 years, I—and Carol—have been blessed richly. I am proud to have been part of expanding resources at all three institutions. We have helped in the planning and building of facilities. At HSU, it has been a privilege to work with the board of trustees and faculty to launch new programs, including physical therapy and physician assistant studies programs; an undergraduate minor in leadership, which now has a life of 23 years; a doctorate in education in leadership and a doctor of ministry program. The master of divinity program has graduated students across the last 20 years. In addition, at all three institutions, Carol and I have been blessed to work with students with the goal of having a positive impact on their individual lives.

As I close out my full-time work in Christian higher education, I would be remiss if I did not mention the deep gratitude I have for three individuals—Dwaine Greene, Don Newbury and the love of my life, Carol Hall.

Over the long haul and other than my parents, Pastor Dwaine Greene has been the most influential person in my life since my family and I joined Birdville Baptist Church a half-century ago. He encouraged me to serve in government and taught me much about ethics as T.B. Maston had taught him during his Southwestern Seminary years. He mentored me in leadership and encouraged me to serve others.

Don Newbury, my dear friend, opened the door of service to Texas Baptist higher education when he offered the position of executive vice president of Howard Payne in his new administration in 1986. Working alongside him for three years taught me a great deal about administration in a faith-based university.

And, Carol, my darling wife whom I first discovered at an RA-GA camp at Camp Copass in 1962, has been my counselor, encourager and best friend since that summer camp. In addition, she has been a superb “First Lady” in Plainview, Brownwood and Abilene.

I thank God for Texas Baptists and for the wonderful three decades of service he has given me. In retirement, I will continue to serve as chancellor at HSU on a limited basis. More blessings are in store, for which I am thankful.

Lanny Hall retires this spring as president of Hardin-Simmons University, after three decades in Christian higher education.

Serving as the president of a faith-based educational institution is not something I thought I ever would do. When God called me to full-time Christian service 50 years ago, I assumed I would serve as a pastor or church staff member my entire life. When San Marcos Baptist Academy invited Duanea and me to serve as their president and wife in 1996, we prayed about the decision for a long time. We loved the church we were pastoring—First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi. When we accepted the academy’s invitation, it was for us both a calling—just like serving as a local Baptist church pastor and wife 25 years also was a calling.

Although most of us who are privileged to serve in the caPaul Armespacity of president often feel unworthy of the responsibility, it has been helpful for me to remember something my father told me when I was a freshman in college. I was struggling with my call to ministry, and my dad said, “Paul, if God calls you to a task, he has promised somehow to equip and empower you to accomplish that task—no matter how inadequate you may feel.” That word has given me comfort again and again, both as I have served as pastor of four Texas Baptist churches and as president to two Baptist General Convention of Texas educational institutions.

For Duanea and me, our work at Wayland Baptist University has been a wonderful and challenging journey, which we would not have traded for anything else in the world.

Wayland’s blessings are not as much about presidential leadership as they are about discovering and embracing this university’s place in the plan of God. The school is led by a wonderful and professional group of faculty, staff and administrators who know how to do faith-based education really well.

Our founder, James Henry Wayland, had a dream with two dimensions: First, he wanted the education offered at Wayland to be available to as many individuals as possible. Second, he wanted us to retain and encourage the extra dimension of faith in Christ.

In pursuit of the first objective we are, for all intents and purposes, an open enrollment university. Watching students who come from a wide variety of personal and educational backgrounds find their place in the plan of God as teachers, business professionals, doctors, lawyers and church staff professionals has validated Dr. Wayland’s dream repeatedly. Embracing his second objective means this: The faith component of our university’s life remains strong and vibrant and pervasive. As one of our trustees, Ted Sanders, has noted: “Higher education almost always enhances life. Faith-based higher education has the very real and great potential of transforming life.”

During these most recent years of Wayland’s history, our budget and endowment has more than doubled. Enrollment has increased. Three major construction projects have been completed. Infrastructure improvements across the campus have been effected. Wayland is one of the top universities in America when it comes to return on investment. Teaching points have been added in places like Boerne, New Braunfels and El Paso. Advancement efforts have been expanded. Annual giving is at record levels. Academic programs have been added, and we have been approved to offer our first doctoral degree by our regional accreditation agency. The spiritual atmosphere of the university is evident to anyone who visits our campuses.

We are profoundly grateful for our Lord’s gifts, especially the gifts of the students who enroll to study at this very special university family.

Duanea and I have loved our time at Wayland. We have been gifted with two wonderful and meaningful careers, each of which has touched us deeply and grown us spiritually. I think our journey has helped the two of us see life from two complementary perspectives—congregational and institutional. As a result, one of our lifelong convictions has been validated again and again: We can do more together as Texas Baptists than we can do alone as a single congregation or a single faith-based institution. One of the clearest expressions of who we are as Texas Baptists can been seen in the ministries provided by our partner institutions.

Thank you, Texas Baptists, for walking with my wife and me in this wonderful journey of life and ministry together. Thanks to Agee Baptist Church in Hamilton County, Big Springs Baptist Church in Garland, Oakwood Baptist Church in Lubbock and First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi for believing in us enough to call us as pastor and wife.

Thanks also to the boards of trustees at San Marcos Baptist Academy and Wayland Baptist University for your confidence, support and encouragement.

And while we will be spending more of our time with grandchildren, we look forward to our continuing partnership with Texas Baptists, the finest folks on the face of the earth!

Grace and peace to each of you.

Paul Armes is president of Wayland Baptist University. He retires at the end of June after more than 15 years as Wayland’s president.

What a blessing it was to preach at First Baptist Church in Huffman. I always am grateful for the opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be thankful for the role of the pastor in our local churches. One of the greatest benefits in pulpit invitations is gaining great appreciation for the pastors serving those churches. I always leave with thankfulness for their call and their commitment to the gospel.

René MacielAs I preached at this church, I also was encouraged not only by the pastor and his love for his sheep, but also for this church’s love for its shepherd.

It was encouraging to see a joyous and active church:

• That is striving to share the gospel with the community.

• That has a very good worship team and pays great attention to their role.

• Where members and deacons step forward to serve and lead.

• With an active youth ministry that is striving to touch the lives of students.

The highlight of the day for me came in hearing many of the children recite Scripture and then sing “Ancient Words.” I didn’t need to preach after they recited the word of God and sang that song. They were the sermon, and their smiles and words proclaimed God’s word. “In the beginning was the Word ….”

Be encouraged that there are healthy and growing churches in our convention.

Be encouraged that there are many churches that have their focus and passion on Christ. They are striving to be a part of the body of Christ and working to build the body of Christ. They are proclaiming Jesus and living it out in their communities. Like Peter and John in Acts 4—because these churches are healthy and teaching and proclaiming the name of Jesus in their communities—they are causing a disturbance. Some are annoyed; others are hearing the message and believing and being added to the church.

Be encouraged that there are many Texas Baptist churches living out the Great Commission and touching lives. They are speaking boldly by their actions and by their service. They represent the body of Christ. They are churches that have grown into a mature body, a unified body, a healthy body. They are churches where each part does its work.

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).

It was a joy to be at FBC in Huffman. I had a chance to see the church living out the good news of Jesus Christ.

Texas Baptists, be encouraged.

René Maciel is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and president of Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio.

Hello, Texas Baptists! I had a wonderful time preaching recently at Spring Creek Baptist Church in Weatherford. Pastor Jase Waller and his wife were excellent hosts. Also, thanks to Pastor Brian Hill for inviting me to preach at First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi. I also had the privilege of speaking at the annual fund-raising banquet at Texas A&M in Corpus Christi’s Baptist Student Ministry. Thanks to Eric Bean for the opportunity

David HardageThe Welcome Pastor Day in Houston was a big success! Houston Baptist University was so gracious to host this meeting. Our connections team, led by Joe Loughlin, coordinates these gatherings to help share the many resources available to our Texas Baptist pastors. We are here to serve you.

It’s not too late to register for the Everlasting Choir Celebration April 28-29 at Southcrest Baptist Church in Lubbock. 

More than 500 people participated in our [un]Apologetics Conference at First Baptist Church in El Paso. If you missed out, plan to attend our annual meeting at the Waco Convention Center, Nov. 14-15. We will feature three [un]Apologetics workshops. Details coming soon.

Texas Woman’s Missionary Union held its annual meeting and missions celebration at Austin Baptist Church in Austin. It was a glowing endorsement by the Spirit of God of the cultural diversity that exists within the body of Christ.

Please prayerfully consider doubling your gifts to the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions this coming September.

Our annual Bible Drill & Speakers’ Tournaments are under way. Our Great Commission team is raising up a generation of Christ followers by encouraging them to hide God’s word deep in their heart!  

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

Burnout is a major concern for all pastors and other ministers. The definition of burnout is “physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress.” Ministry is stressful, especially when balancing family and occupation as well.

Richard RayI attended a recent funeral of a man who served the Lord as a minister his entire adult life. He served during times of war, traveled as a missionary throughout the world, started numerous churches and preached thousands of messages, serving many years as a bivocational minister. However, burnout did not come into the equation in his ministry.

I have met other ministers who have served the Lord more than 50 years, and burnout was not mentioned in their testimonies.

How does a minister prevent burnout or overcome burnout once it is encountered?

A minister can prevent burnout by finding rest in Jesus Christ and following his direction in the ministry. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

Burnout often is the result of attempting to do ministry alone, even refusing to allow Christ to assist. When the minister takes on more than Christ ever intended, ministry becomes an occupation and not a calling.

Christ called ministers to serve with joy. Psalm 100:2 says, “Serve the Lord with gladness!” Joy or gladness is the antidote and prevention to burnout in the ministry. Each day a minister serves the Lord is a day of experiencing the joy of serving the King of kings and Lord of lords. Joy overcomes the stress of ministry, family and occupation. Serving the Lord with joy leads to entering into God’s rest. When life becomes overwhelming, God’s rest will allow you to overcome and find victory.

I encourage you to serve the Lord with joy, and when ministry begins to become a burden, remember the promise of Christ: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Give Christ your burdens and your stress, and you will find joy in the ministry, just the way Christ intended.

We are here to serve you as you serve the Lord. Remember, the Lord has called you to serve, but he has not called you to serve alone. Visit our website to register for the 30th annual Bivocational/Smaller Church Conference, hosted by Dallas Baptist University, July 15–16, as well as to learn more about how the Bivocational/Small Church Association can assist you in the ministry. For additionalinformation or to schedule a visit, contact me at brother_ray@juno.com.

Richard Ray is executive director of the Bivocational/Small Church Association and director of missions for Tri-Rivers Baptist Area.

Together, Jesus’ followers stood looking into the sky. They all joined together in prayer. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. All the believers were together and had everything in common, and everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:44-47).

René MacielThe early church gave us a wonderful example of being together. We need each other. We crave each other. We need to be together.

Life is all about relationships, but we sometimes take them for granted.People are looking to be connected to others, to be touched, to be embraced and to be recognized. And yet churches continue to reduce their fellowship times, do away with services and close their doors.

In fact, even as families, we are guilty of this neglect. We no longer eat together. We have our own schedules, and we are more connected to the Internet than we are to each other.We have forgotten how to be together.

We want to tell others about Christ, but we do not want to show them our love or be around them long enough to listen to their problems. We are too busy with our own problems and life.We have no time to be together in a community.Sometimes, our churches are so disconnected, we miss the opportunity to connect with others who are searching for truth and relationships, and that includes even people within the church body.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said: “The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believers. It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us. Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ.”

On the cross, Jesus reconciled us to God, and he also reconciled us to each other—both in the same act of salvation. Therefore, we have a new joy of being together. The Scripture once again says, “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” I think we are missing something when we choose not to come together. I know we are busy and life is full, but I also believe God created us to be together. He said, “It is not good for man to be alone.”

There are many people in our communities who are alone, left to their Facebook connections, left to their thoughts and addictions that take them further from the truth and further from others. Searching for community, searching to be connected, searching to be with someone—together.

Maybe it is time we add a Sunday night service back to our activities. Maybe we need that fellowship meal each week. Maybe we open our doors to more fellowship opportunities and connection groups. It will take work, but it will strengthen us as a community of believers. It will bring us and others together.

René Maciel is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and president of Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio.

Now that we have celebrated a wonderful Holy Week, what does Christ expect us to do next?

René MacielHe was crucified on the cross, buried and laid in the tomb for three days, and then he rose from the dead. Then the Scripture says, “He is not here; he has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you.”

It was a beautiful celebration. The weather was perfect, cool and comfortable. The worship service was diligently directed and thoughtful. And being around my family was a blessing. The whole day was a gift from God.

Now what? What is our next step? The Scriptures say the disciples went to Galilee to see him and meet with him, and he went ahead of them.

The imperfect disciples, 11 of them, obeyed, and they saw him and worshipped him, and then Matthew 28:7 also says “some doubted.” Like me at times, they doubted it was him. They doubted his power. They doubted his existence. Maybe they doubted their own eyes.

This wasn’t the first time they doubted him. On the lake, they thought he was a ghost, and they doubted he could calm the waves. Peter doubted and began to sink. I have doubted him many times, and he still proves himself to be the risen One, and yet he still goes before me.

He goes before us, and he tells us like he told them even in spite of our doubting ­to go—go and make disciples, baptizing and teaching them to obey everything he commanded. Then the wonderful promise, “and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Even in our doubting and imperfection, he has called us to be disciples, to be followers, and to go and make other followers. That is our next step: “Go”—an action word. We are called to move forward in the building of the church, and he goes before us. He is in front. He is with us. We have a mission, even in our doubt and struggles, even in our little faith, even when we become discouraged and feel like Christ is dead and in the tomb. He has risen, and he goes before us.

It is the body of believers that has been called to go and make disciples. I know many churches struggle and have lost their vision for Christ, but the church is his bride, and the church is the way he has called all nations to come and worship him.

The purpose of the Texas Baptist convention is to care and support the local church body—to strengthen and build, to plant and grow more churches, to go and make disciples. I ask you to continue to pray for our convention to move forward in supporting the body of Christ and that even in our imperfection and doubting, we will go to meet him and worship him.

What’s next? It’s time to go. He is going ahead of us.

René Maciel is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio.

It has been a wonderful Lenten experience for me this year. God has embraced me through this time, and I have drawn closer to him. I have been reminded Jesus came to take up the cross and to be obedient in following the Father’s will.

René MacielPhillip Yancey says, “If we want proof of God’s love for us, then we must look first at the cross, where God offered up his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Calvary is the one objective, absolute, irrefutable proof of God’s love for us.”

Amazingly, Christ came to this earth with his main objective being the cross of Calvary. Luke 9:51 says, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

The few years he lived on this earth, he never lost sight of the cross before him. He set his face to Jerusalem. He was always reminding his disciples he must be rejected and be killed. He reminds them again in the Gospels that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of man. He came to face the cross, to hold it, to take it upon himself, to embrace death for you and for me. It was his mission, and we were his passion.

He set his face to Jerusalem. On the other hand, we run away from Jerusalem—pain, suffering, anything of danger, evil and death. We especially cannot grasp and comprehend the cross. Why would we want any part of pain and suffering and sacrifice? We want them to sing “O, Happy Day” not “O, The Blood.” It is just our nature to turn away from Jerusalem. We want that easy, happy journey.

I had a chance to lead worship at my church recently, and we sang a song called “Lead me to the Cross.” In the middle of that song, God reminded me of the cross and the reason he set his face to Jerusalem. He was calling me and leading me to that cross.

Lead me to the cross

Where Your love poured out

Bring me to my knees

Lord I lay me down

Rid me of myself

I belong to You

Lead me, lead me to the cross

As I sang this song, I began to weep with conviction of how difficult it is to ask God to rid me of myself and help me set my face to Jerusalem. My Lenten experience has reminded me of the journey I walk in following after Christ. Probably the toughest part is getting me out of the way—then taking up the cross and embracing the wonderful, marvelous effect it has had on my life, my family, my friends and the world.

My prayer is that we will set eyes and hearts to Jerusalem, the cross, and be amazed as it draws and calls us to be faithful on the road to the cross.

O the wonderful cross,

O the wonderful cross

Bids me come and die

and find that I may truly live

O the wonderful cross,

O the wonderful cross

All who gather here by grace draw near

and bless Your name

René Maciel is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and president of Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio.

Two institutions that began as hospitals have morphed into Baptist General Convention of Texas-supported organizations that provide financial, physical and spiritual guidance to families—from children to senior adults.

René MacielIn the San Antonio area, many people have heard of the Baptist Health System, which administered the Baptist Medical Center, Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, North Central Baptist Hospital, Northeast Baptist Hospital and St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital. Those hospitals collectively employ the fourth-highest number of civilians in San Antonio.

BHS opened in 1903 when 30 physicians and two dozen businessmen and professionals organized the San Antonio Associated Charities. They constructed the Physicians’ and Surgeons’ Hospital on Dallas Street, which eventually became the far-reaching Baptist Health System and affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 1952.

Today, that organization is known as the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio. The move from administering the health facilities occurred in 2003, when the BHS board of trustees recognized economic hardships threatened to compromise the system’s ability to provide exceptional care. Vanguard Health Systems, with headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., purchased BHS in 2003. In 2013, Tenet Healthcare Corp. of Dallas bought Vanguard Health Systems.

Baptist Health Foundation was incorporated, with the proceeds from the 2003 sale to fund not-for-profit healthcare services and education throughout Bexar County and contiguous counties in South Texas. The first grant was given in 2005. 

The mission of the foundation is to improve the health of the community by fostering and funding clinical, educational, spiritual and scientific initiatives while honoring God and its Baptist heritage. The foundation enjoys a strong relationship with the School of Health Professions and its Clinical Pastoral Education program. 

Since its inception, the foundation has granted more than $55 million to hundreds of worthwhile nonprofit organizations in the San Antonio area. Many of the grant recipients are Baptist churches and Baptist organizations.

The foundation is governed by a board of trustees whose 20 members belong to BGCT-cooperating churches in the San Antonio area. The BGCT elects 51 percent of the board. 

Frank Elston was the foundation’s first president and CEO until Cody Knowlton became the president and CEO in 2012 upon Elston’s retirement. To learn more, visit the foundation’s website. 

Another institution is Baptist Community Services, based in Amarillo. It also began as a hospital—High Plains Baptist Hospital—in the mid-1960s. It has evolved to operate a variety of facilities and provide a variety of services to the Texas Panhandle area.

Its primary focus is to provide quality, spiritual-based services to senior adults. The Park Central Community in south downtown Amarillo is composed of seven facilities providing independent living, assisted living and long-term care to senior adults. A new addition is scheduled to open this year. It will provide memory care/dementia services for up to 52 residents.

Seven chaplains provided by BCS provide spiritual care for residents, families and employees of 19 senior-living facilities in the Amarillo area.

Baptist Community Services also expands its services at The Arbors, a long-term care and skilled nursing facility that is both Medicare- and Medicaid-certified. In addition, High Plains Christian Ministries Foundation supports the BCS programs but also provides grants to Baptist and other Christian causes in Amarillo and the Panhandle. And as a service to families, the Amarillo Town Club’s Health Promotion Foundation operates two family fitness centers in the city. They impact 22,000 lives by providing wellness programs geared to the entire family.

Learn more by visiting the BCS website or contactiing President/CEO Steve Dalrymple.

René Maciel is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and president of Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio.

As executive director of the Texas Baptist Bivocational/Small Church Association, I have the privilege of meeting ministers who serve on the small-church mission field throughout the state. I enjoy spending time with them and their families while hearing stories of their ministries, families and calling. Each story is unique and powerful, and I am encouraged each time I hear them.

Richard RayThis past week, I had the opportunity to visit with such a minister. He described heartache and tragedy that struck his family. He reported challenges to be overcome in both his family and his ministry. He talked about his childhood, filled with abandonment and despair. As he shared through tears brought on by his struggles and challenges, never once did he say he left the ministry. On the contrary, his pursuit of serving the Lord was never stronger. With each challenge and with each tragedy, all I could see was a man of God finding delight in his weakness.

I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 12:10: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

So often in ministry, we encounter worldly tragedies and struggles that will cause us to pause in ministry, re-evaluating our calling. Ministers often second-guess their calling when hardships enter their family and ministry. If you are called by God to preach and pastor God’s children, it is imperative that regardless of hardships, persecution and difficulties that come your way, strive not to abandon your post, but instead allow this weakness to become God’s strength in you.

As pastors, you should not be ashamed or try to hide the effects the world can have on your family and ministry, but rather find comfort as you share your struggles, seek out prayers in times of hardships and find support during times of persecution.

You need not be afraid to acknowledge your weakness, for it is only then can you be strong. When you can acknowledge your weaknesses, you will find delight in them. The delight comes from God leading you through each struggle to find victory. If you are in the midst of a hardship, I encourage you to acknowledge this hardship; for then you will find strength and delight in the Lord.

We are here to serve you as you serve the Lord. Remember, the Lord has called you to serve, but he has not called you to serve alone. Visit our websitewebsite to register for the 30th annual Bivocational/Smaller Church Conference, hosted by Dallas Baptist University July 15–16. Also see our site to learn more about how the Bivocational/Small Church Association can assist you in the ministry. For additionalinformation or to schedule a visit, contact me at brother_ray@juno.com.

Richard Ray is executive director of the Bivocational/Small Church Association and director of missions for Tri-Rivers Baptist Area.

Hello, Texas Baptists. For the past year or so, we have been diligent about focusing on two New Testament truths. One of those is the Great Commission of Matthew 28, and the other is the Great Commandment of Matthew 22. It is my opinion our practice of giving equal emphasis to these biblical principles is what really distinguishes us as a convention.

David HardageEven as I write this column Texas Baptists are faithfully fulfilling both of these within the borders of this great state.

For example, our Bounce teams (student disaster recovery led by David Scott) are working in the San Marcos and Wimberley areas, assisting those who suffered so much during last spring’s devastating floods. Bounce teams will be working all summer long as well. I can’t encourage you strongly enough to get in touch with David (david.scott@texasbaptists.org) and explore how your students can get involved.

At the same time our Bounce teams are working, our wonderful BGCT Baptist Student Ministry participants are giving careful attention to carrying out the Great Commission. For three weeks in March, about 1,000 BSM student missionaries are working in Beach Reach as a part of spring break. Having personally witnessed the effort and spirit of these student missionaries, I assure you they take these opportunities very seriously.

As a convention of more than 5,400 churches and missions, we will continue to make this work our priority. And honestly, it practically is impossible to engage in one without, at the same time, finding opportunities for the other. The Great Commandment and the Great Commission intersect frequently, and Texas Baptists are actively working to make sure they do.

Thank you for your support of this work. As our new director of the Great Commission Team, Delvin Atchison, says, “We are working to be a great convention through fulfilling the Great Commandment and Great Commission.”

God bless you all.

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

A bivocational/small-church pastor often will become overwhelmed or overburdened in the ministry. The reason for this is the many responsibilities the pastor takes on.

Richard RayOutside of the responsibility of his secular occupation and with his family, the work of the pastor goes beyond preparing a message each week. He is on call every hour of every day, meeting the needs of his congregation, conducting hospital visits, reaching out to new prospects and in many cases taking care of the needs of the church facility, whether that be minor repairs, janitorial or simply locking the doors following each service.

The bivocational/small-church pastor often is the secretary to the church, preparing Sunday worship bulletins, sending out newsletters, calendars and birthday cards, as well as keeping up with social media for the church and its ministries. Not to mention the countless hours of Bible study he spends each week preparing to preach and the times spent in prayer for those in his congregation. Then there are the weddings, funerals, nursing home visits, community activities and benevolence groups the pastor will serve.

Becoming overwhelmed or overburdened in the ministry is understandable. However, it is not desirable.

To decrease the burden of pastoring a bivocational/small church, the pastor must learn to allow others to assume some of the roles within the church. Now, I can tell you from personal experience this is is not easy to do, because when you control all aspects of the ministry, the ministry seems to run efficiently with very little surprise. However, you must learn to release the roles of ministry to the servant leaders of your church. In the beginning, there may be some organized and disorganized chaos, but in time, your burdens will be lightened and the ministry of the church will become stronger.

Galatians 6:2 tell us, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” It is not enough for the pastor to preach this Scripture, but he also must learn to live it. I encourage you to evaluate your ministry and find those responsibilities that can be carried by another, so you will not become overwhelmed or overburdened, for this is desirable.

We are here to serve you as you serve the Lord. Remember, the Lord has called you to serve, but he has not called you to serve alone. Visit our website to register for the 30th annual Bivocational/Smaller Church Conference, hosted by Dallas Baptist University, July 15–16 or to learn more about how the Bivocational/Small Church Association can assist you in the ministry. For additionalinformation or to schedule a visit, contact me at brother_ray@juno.com.

Richard Ray is executive director of the Bivocational/Small Church Association and director of missions for Tri-Rivers Baptist Area.