Baptist minister. Civil rights activist. Drum major for justice. Martyr. Christian.

Of all the titles used to describe Martin Luther King Jr., one should consider the preeminent title to be that of Christian. Dr. King once stated:

“Christianity affirms that at the heart of reality is a Heart, a loving Father who works through history for the salvation of His children. Man cannot save himself, for man is not the measure of all things and humanity is not God. Bound by the chains of his own sin and finiteness, man needs a Savior.”

King recognized the hand of God throughout history and that everything in history led up to the time in which Dr. King lived.

As believers, we must realize that history is indeed God’s story — we are but mere characters in the storyline. In Acts 13:27, the Apostle Paul said even those who did not recognize Jesus and were not in tune with what God was doing, still did what had been prophesied according to God’s plan.

Dr. King realized that while a nonviolent movement was not necessarily popular at that time, it was necessary. Representing a fundamental quality of the Christian, he spoke the truth — even when it upset rather than pacified hearts.

For many, the Civil Rights Movement was a reawakening of faith in God similar to the words expressed by theologian Paul Tillich as “faith beyond the unbelievable.” Through the writings of Dr. King, we capture a glimpse of this time in history — God at work through the tragedies and suffering of his people and even through the doubt as it encroached upon the belief that joy would come in the morning.

In writing about the bus boycott in Montgomery, King said: “There is a creative power that works to pull down mountains of evil and level hilltops of injustice. God still works through history His wonders to perform.”

In his last sermon, delivered on April 3, 1968, at Mason Temple Church in Memphis on the eve of his assassination, Dr. King testified to his belief in God’s will and His timing throughout history. King disclosed that if he were standing at the beginning of time and God asked him in which age he would like to live, his answer would be the second half of the twentieth century.

“Now that’s a strange statement to make, because the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land. Confusion all around. That’s a strange statement. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars. And I see God working in this period of the twentieth century in a way that men, in some strange way, are responding — something is happening in our world. The masses of people are rising up. And wherever they are assembled today, whether they are in Johannesburg, South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; Accra, Ghana; New York City; Atlanta, Georgia; Jackson, Mississippi; or Memphis, Tennessee — the cry is always the same — “We want to be free.” And another reason that I’m happy to live in this period is that we have been forced to a point where we’re going to have to grapple with the problems that men have been trying to grapple with through history, but the demands didn’t force them to do it. Survival demands that we grapple with them.”

Often, we long to be a part of another time in history. Feelings of inadequacy sometimes surface when we are unable to see or drive change where we stand. So we think that if we could have sat (where we were not allowed), marched (arm-in-arm across a bridge) or voted (when others didn’t expect us to) in a forgone time, things today would not be as they are.

Well, consider the current state of the world and know that all of those things — sitting, marching, voting — cry out for our action today. God continues to be at work in history and He invites us to join Him in that work.

Rev. Tamiko Jones is executive director-treasurer of WMU of Texas. This article originally appeared at txb.life, the official blog of Texas Baptists.

Since 2001, David Bowman has served as the executive director of the Tarrant Baptist Association in Fort Worth. From deep in the heart of one Texan, he shares his background and thoughts on church and ministry. To suggest a Baptist General Convention of Texas-affiliated leader to be featured in this column, or to apply to be featured yourself, click here.

Background

Where else have you worked, and what were your positions?

I was a congregational strategist for Texas Baptists for four-and-a-half years before coming to Tarrant Association. I served in pastoral ministry for twenty years at churches in Baytown, Nocona, Point and Cleburne. I also served as an evangelism coordinator on staff of the Baptist Student Ministry at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

How did you come to faith in Christ?

I grew up in a Christian home and attended a church where the good news was faithfully preached and taught. I gave my life to Christ on February 11, 1976, during a Bible conference at our church.

Where were you educated, and what degrees did you receive?

I graduated from Sulphur Springs high school, Texas A&M University-Commerce (formerly known as East Texas State University) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I was a history major in college. I earned the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees at Southwestern.

Ministry/Profession

Why do you feel called to your particular vocation?

This is one of two jobs I said I would never have. The other was working for a state convention. Now I have done both.

I love my job! I have the privilege of working with some of the most amazing leaders I have known.

Becky Biser began on staff at TBA over 35 years ago as a receptionist. She is now the director of leadership development. I don’t know anyone who hears and responds to God like she does.

Gary Crowell has been on staff for over 15 years. He served as an IMB missionary for 19 years in Peru. He was shot and left for dead by Shining Path terrorists. His recovery was miraculous. He does miracles for TBA and our affiliated churches in the areas of finances, legal matters and ministry to internationals.

Jay Harris had been on staff at TBA for nearly 20 years. He abandoned us in early 2018 for the greener pastures of retirement. He continues working with us in the areas of leadership coach training and life planning. He is the kindest, gentlest man I know.

Hector Mendez does double-duty as a local church pastor and church-starting consultant. He is an international evangelist and ministry trainer. He and Gary have extended TBA’s reach to Venezuela, Peru and beyond.

Troy Wolfe serves on our staff as a church-starting catalyst. He is an experienced church starter and one of the most intense men you will ever meet. He also serves on the staff of Fellowship of the Parks in Keller.

Casey Lester is our assistant. She is a seminary student and is married to a seminary student. She will graduate in May and then pursue a Ph.D. at Dallas Baptist University. She is also expecting their first child. Casey is an author, blogger and photographer. She plans to become the next Becky Biser.

Walter and Cindy Krueger serve as volunteers for TBA. They keep things working that would otherwise fall apart. They are endlessly delightful and incredibly helpful.

I am called to serve these wonderful leaders as they serve the hundreds of churches that affiliate with TBA. Their ministries extend around the world. They multiply disciple-making ministers.

Please tell us about your association—where it’s located, the key focus of its work and ministry, etc.

Fort Worth is on the kinder, gentler side of the Metroplex. The Texas Rangers play in Tarrant County. The Dallas Cowboys play in Tarrant County. DFW Airport is in the city of Fort Worth. Fort Worth is a big city with the heart of a small town.

Tarrant Association does three things: leadership development, church starting and community engagement. If it doesn’t fit in one of those boxes, it probably belongs to someone else. We focus on opportunities to multiply disciples and churches.

What do you like best about leading your association? Why?

I love working with the pastors, staff members and lay leaders in this community who seek to extend God’s kingdom among the men, women and children who need to know and experience a loving relationship with our Father in heaven. We live and work on mission.

Our mission statement is: “Investing in relationships to connect others with Christ.” Our vision is: “Creating a culture of Christ-centered catalysts.”

No other entity and no other leaders wake up every morning with Tarrant County on their hearts and minds like we do. We want to maximize disciple-making leaders in every domain of community life.

We want the church to be the church seven days a week in their roles as schoolteachers, garbage collectors, city managers and restaurant workers. We want to know our city and county leaders, and we want them to know we pray for them and stand ready to serve them and alongside them in making our area a little more heavenly every day.

What aspect(s) of associational ministry and/or its mission do you wish more people understood?

Associations are not cooperative program ministries. We do not receive funds from the SBC or its entities. We receive a declining measure of support from Texas Baptists because they receive a declining measure of support from Texas Baptist churches. Most associations across the USA are struggling financially.

We have said, for as long as I can remember, that we can do more together than we can alone. Yet we seem more intent on going alone or in going with others rather than working together. However, no church is big enough and powerful enough to serve a community like ours by itself, or even with a handful of others. We really do need each other.

What one aspect of your job gives you the greatest joy or fulfillment?

I love seeing pastors make their churches the heroes. In a day when building a platform has become big business for religious leaders, it is refreshing to hear pastors tell stories about their members who are making a difference in their homes and communities.

Let’s tell more stories like the businessman whose daughter asked about a homeless man as they awaited entry to a performance. That dad went back to work with a new passion to serve his community. He was able to marshal hundreds of thousands of dollars to serve needy people in our area in response to his daughter’s question.

Let’s tell about the elementary school principal who invites church partners to pray over every chair in every classroom after school hours.

Let’s tell about the city manager who wants to demonstrate that inner cities can become oases of peaceful, vibrant, family-friendly entertainment.

About David

Who were/are your mentors, and how did/do they influence you?

I grew up without many mentors.

As I walked across the parking lot of the small, country church where I was pastor when I was 26 years old, I thought to myself, “If I ever figure out what I’m doing, I’m going to spend the rest of my life helping others figure out what they are doing.”

I think God let me do everything the hard way so that I would have plenty of stories to tell and experiences to draw on for the role I am in now.

Other than the Bible, name some of your favorite books or authors, and explain why.

You really do not have time or room for my answer to this question. However, here are a handful of transformational texts.

• “Church Unique” and “God Dreams” by Will Mancini
  Will is a personal friend and occasional business partner. Every church is uniquely shaped for significant ministry. Most never take the time and effort to think about this in a manner that provides breakthrough clarity. This book will set a church on that journey.
• “Nothing to Prove” by David and Caron Loveless
  David was the pastor of one of the largest and most innovative churches in America until he was forced to resign due to an affair. He didn’t want to have an affair, but he did. How do you recover from the worst mistake of your life? David and his wife, Caron, lead us through the steps of healing and restoration. I’m proud to call David a friend.
• “Hearing God” by Dallas Willard
  Read anything and everything by Willard. It will be good for your soul. Take your time. This is not light reading. You need some heavy lifting now and again. This book is a great place to start.
• “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson
  How she managed to write this book so beautifully and so captivatingly, I will never know. However, I will be forever grateful. The last line haunts me still years after it first took my breath away.

What is your favorite Bible verse or passage? Why?

My life verse for the first half of my life was Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

My life verse for the second half of my life is John 3:30: “He must become greater; I must become less.”

What better bookends for a small-town boy from a no-name family adopted into our Father’s family and called into his service?

God is with me wherever I go, whatever I face. Wherever I go, whomever I meet, they need to see Jesus more than they need to see me. May that become ever more true in my remaining days.

Who is your favorite Bible character, other than Jesus? Why?

I read years ago that Barnabas is the second-most important character in the New Testament. Obviously, Jesus is first. Why Barnabas?

If it were not for this man, whose nickname means Encourager, we would not have Mark’s Gospel or Paul’s letters. That is over half of the New Testament.

One man who saw the best in others and obeyed God in building them up changed the world for millions of people. Unless he is the author of Hebrews, we don’t know much about what he taught. We do know how God used him to edify others. He could have created a platform for himself, but he was too busy building them for others.

That is a great role model for modern ministers.

Name something about you that would surprise people who know you well.

I was once struck by lightning, have been shot at twice and had three close encounters with bears in the wild.

If you could get one “do over” in your career, what would it be, and why?

I put my foot down one night. I stepped in it.

Write and answer a question you wish we had asked.

What can you tell us about your family?

I’m glad you asked. My wife is the associate superintendent of a large school district here in the Metroplex. Our son is a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. Our daughter is in her final year of law school and serves as an intern in the district attorney’s office. Our unofficially adopted daughter is an award-winning school teacher. Her husband works for a NASA contractor. Their son is one of the smartest boys in the whole world.

What did Jesus’ appointment calendar look like on the days following his resurrection?

Following his earth-shaking exit from the tomb, Jesus appeared to 10 of the disciples who were meeting in Jerusalem, he walked with Cleopas and his friend on the Emmaus road, he directed the disciples to a huge catch of fish, he instructed Peter to “feed my lambs,” and he later met the disciples on a mountain where he gave to them what we commonly call the Great Commission.

Recently, the Barna Group released the results of a survey indicating that 51 percent of churchgoers are not familiar with the Great Commission, a bothersome bit of data for anyone concerned about advancing God’s kingdom. Of greater concern, perhaps, is that among those who are familiar, many have a limited view of this core assignment. Many presuppose that the Great Commission is given to pastors. Or they rationalize that the commission is given to an advanced group of Christians such as missionaries, deacons, elders, or other lay leaders.

Matthew 28:18–20 is the most common Scripture referred to as the Great Commission:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (NIV).

As a resident of a community adjacent to a naval base, I understand the act of “commissioning” to be serious business, a charge to deploy with radical loyalty. When an officer is commissioned, that officer takes a vow to serve and is given a mission for life. When a ship is commissioned, that ship is given a name and a strategic assignment.

Following the resurrection, when Jesus’ charged his disciples with this strategic assignment, his words became their modus operandi.

After an inspiring Easter celebration, this is a great week to revisit this pivotal mandate. Here are five things every church goer needs to know about the Great Commission:

1. The commission is to make disciples.

First, disciple is a unique word which implies “more than a follower.” It refers to a student who learns from a mentor or a master teacher. The Greek word for disciple, matheteuo, is similar to our English words apprentice or mentee. It refers to a deeper, ongoing learning process.

Second, the call is to make “disciples,” not just “decisions.” We often talk about leading others to make a decision for Christ. And volitional decisions are crucial to beginning this journey of following and learning from Jesus. But leading others to make “decisions” without providing an orientation to the “disciple life” is both counterproductive to the kingdom and confusing to the supposed convert or confirmed.

2. The directive is “as you go.”

In the English translations, we emphasize more of an imperative to drop what you are doing and “go.” While some will be called to be pastors, evangelists and missionaries who veer from their career path to follow the call to vocation ministry, the overwhelming majority will engage in incarnational ministry through their chosen career path. In the Greek translation, there is more of a sense of sharing this good news “as you go.” In other words, we are to be engaged in the enterprise of disciple-making “as you go,” “wherever you go” and in “whatever you do.”

3. The mandate is communal.

This assignment is given to the group, not just to a single individual. Great Commission work is teamwork with significant individual contribution and overarching group cooperation. No one person fulfills the Great Commission alone, but rather by investing their best gifts in kingdom service. There are no insignificant tasks in working toward this mission.

In the local church, for example, team members include those who tend the nursery, sing in the choir or on the worship team, preach and teach, spend time in the prayer room, drive the bus and more. On the mission field, team members include those who make financial contributions, translate the language, plot logistics, teach life skills and articulate the story of the good news.

No one church or denomination can fulfill the commission alone, which means that, to maximize progress in implementation, churches of different stripes should collaborate around the mission, not compete with each other.

4. The scope of the mission is international.

Jesus charged the disciples to take the mission to all nations and ethnicities. Later, in Acts 1:8, Jesus elaborates further by extending the mission to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost regions of the earth.

5. Jesus promised to be with the disciples in this work.

Jesus assured his disciples that he would be with them as they engaged in their mission, even “until the end of the age.” Before his ascension, Jesus informed the disciples that even when his physical presence had departed, he would send his Spirit to comfort, teach and strengthen them. And the Spirit continues to empower and embolden those who engage in this mission in our day.

At its core, Christianity is not assent or affirmation of a doctrinal formula. Rather, the Christian faith is rooted and grounded in a relational commitment to learn and follow the way of Jesus. For sure, Christians believe in grace, forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ. But Christians also believe that the Jesus way of life is the best, most effective, most fulfilling way to live.

Eugene Peterson translates the commission found in Matthew 28 simply and succinctly: “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age” (The Message).

Easter people take the Great Commission seriously. And Easter people join hands and hearts with those like and unlike themselves to engage in the mission.

Barry Howard serves as a leadership coach and consultant with the Center for Healthy Churches. His writings also appear on his blog, Barry’s Notes. You can follow him on Twitter @BarrysNotes.

This article originally appeared on the Center for Healthy Churches’ blog.

For Spring Break this year, I went to New York City—not for a vacation or for sightseeing, but to serve with about 20 of my fellow students with the Hardin-Simmons University Baptist Student Ministries. It was a part of the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association’s “Passport New York: A Collegiate Missions Experience.” It was described to me as a trip where we would do mission work in New York City and help local church planters with whatever they needed. I hopped on board right away, as I love New York and have wanted to go back ever since I went three years ago. To be honest, I was just as interested in going because I wanted to be in New York, not just because I wanted to spread the gospel. God sure had a greater plan, though!

My team was assigned to Pastor Slava and the Russian church. There were about nine of us with HSU and four from Mississippi. At a worship service on Sunday night, we got to meet some members of the Russian-speaking church, sang songs in both English and Russian, and heard a sermon from Pastor Slava. As everyone went to bed that night, I wondered exactly what we would be doing the whole next week, because that’s what we humans do best—wonder and worry about the unknown.

Bright and early Monday morning, we set out for Coney Island. The sweet and smiling face of Pastor Slava met us there on the boardwalk of Brighton Beach, and we listened for his instruction. The plan for the morning and afternoon was to split into a couple of groups and each go with Slava to talk to people walking by and ask them a few questions about their faith and beliefs. Since that area is heavily Russian, we came across many people who did not speak English, so that is where we really had to rely on Slava to translate.

We met and talked to one couple in their 70s and 80s, and we discovered the wife is Russian. She told us about how everyone in her family died in the Holocaust except her, and how she feels God has always looked after her. She said she lives life day to day and believes in God but does not have a strict religion. Another man we met was a 90-year-old fishing off of the pier. He said he is a bit of a skeptic of the church, as there are so many different religions and he has heard of bishops stealing money from the church. Both of these encounters showed me how different these people’s lives have been and are than mine, yet God loves all of us the same. Since the day that we met the couple and the fisherman, I have prayed for them every day.

When you are doing missions and just talking to people on the street, it can be a bit discouraging, because you have no way of knowing if you made any impact on them or if they are going to embrace God’s love after you leave them. I experienced this doubt and worry, but I also felt God saying to me, over and over, that they may not walk away from our conversation a completely changed person, but we have put the thought in their mind and showed them who we are. Now we pray for them. That’s really all you can do when you are evangelizing like this.

We visited diverse places, like the Brighton Beach/Coney Island area, Jackson Heights and Corona throughout the week. It was so interesting to feel like we were in a different country with each area we visited. My roommate, Madison, wrote in a blog post: “To think that we serve a God who speaks so many languages and has the hearts of so many people from so many different countries is so awesome”.

The week flew by, with us getting to explore and see how God is working in the city. One day, we prayed in different parts of New York City. We prayed for the people in the area and for the church planters. We thanked God for the freedom this place represents and the freedom we have in Christ.

On one of my favorite days, we went to the Brighton Beach Public Library to grade papers from prison. It is called Lamplight Studies. They are Bible study papers inmates have the opportunity to receive and send back to be graded. For each lesson, they have to read a certain chapter of a certain book in the Bible, answer questions and send it back to be graded. That is where we came in. Several of us sat at a table in the library with red pens in hand and graded each paper, following the appropriate answer key. My favorite thing about this was that it showed us how God is reaching people that are incarcerated, essentially cut off from the rest of the world. They are still receiving the good news and learning about Christianity. It also touched my heart to see how many people had written the name of a friend or acquaintance that they wanted us to sign up to start receiving the Lamplight Studies. This simple task of grading these papers remains one of my favorite memories from the trip.

Looking back on this amazing city full of life and diversity, I am reminded of a line from one of my favorite songs by Lauren Daigle, “Trust In You. The lyrics say: “Your ways are always higher, your plans are always good / There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood.” This reminds me of what my BSM leader told us in the weeks that we were preparing for New York, that we were not going to bring God to New York City; God is already working there. That was so powerful to me, because I needed to realize that God is everywhere, not just in Texas. with me and my school.

You can’t tell me God isn’t working in New York. By the end of the week, after seeing so many kinds of people, all God’s people, I felt and still feel so inspired by the Lord’s amazing plan for the whole world. Things really are coming together.

Ashlyn Schulle, a student at Hardin-Simons University, served in New York City.

I love my church’s volunteers.

As their pastor, I see all the hard work they put into the church. I know how many evenings they spend away from their families to advance the kingdom.

I see it all, and I am impressed.

Part of being the pastor of a church, particularly a small church, is that you hear everyone’s opinions. That means getting my fair share of complaints, but it also means I am the first in line to hear about someone being blessed by the church.

Whenever anyone sees an answer to a prayer, was helped from some benevolence or was just encouraged by being at church on a Sunday morning, I’m the first to know. I cherish these moments when someone is opening up their heart to me, but my volunteers will rarely ever be the benefactors of such good news.

Whenever I receive a thank you card, an encouraging email or even just a hug around the neck, I am reminded of what amazing things our wonderful God can do through such a broken vessel. I am also inspired to get up the next day and get back to work in anticipation of seeing God’s next miracle.

Serving the body

I sincerely wish that my volunteers could receive the same level of praise and gratitude that I get on a weekly basis. I’m not a one-man band, and it takes the whole body of Christ to complete the mission.

I take my responsibility as my church’s primary shepherd very seriously. I spend time in prayer for my people, I prepare all of my messages with diligence and I do what I can to serve my people. I do put in the work, but it takes more than just me to make my church go.

The average church engages about 43 percent of their members in some volunteer role. I can’t tell you the exact number of people at my church that are putting in the hours, but when I look around, I can’t find a single ministry of the church that isn’t supported or entirely run by volunteers.

There are no small jobs in God’s kingdom.

The apostle Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 12 that real ministry effectiveness takes the whole body of Christ working together: “As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”

Sure, people are blessed when they hear the pastor’s sermon, but it takes more than just the pastor for that to happen. Someone set the temperature in the room. Someone else amplified the preacher’s voice. Another person cleaned up the place beforehand. Others prayed for the service before it happened. A different person greeted everyone at the door with a smile. This list goes on.

Whenever anyone is blessed while they are at church, it is because the Spirit of God was moving through the entire body to be a blessing.

Acknowledging the work

Every Sunday morning before the message starts, I like to acknowledge one of our volunteers publicly. As a part of the worship, we recognize what God has been able to accomplish through a willing servant.

This time of the service has turned into one of my favorites because it gives the whole congregation the opportunity to show their appreciation for the service of their brother or sister. I like to joke that a pastor talking about his congregants is like a grandparent talking about their grandkids. We can go on and on with praises if you don’t stop us. It brings joy to my spirit to see my church members loving on one another.

We all know that Jesus is the only irreplaceable person in our churches. All of us could move on, and Jesus would still keep the church running — amen. Jesus Christ is the hope of the world, and his gospel is preached all across our country in local churches.

Those churches are supported by volunteers.

Thank you, church volunteer

If you are a volunteer in any capacity in my church, I want to thank you publicly. From teachers, deacons and musicians to cleaners, fixers and cooks, I’m blessed to serve in the kingdom of God alongside you.

If you are a church volunteer at another church, I hope I can speak for your pastor, reverend or bishop when I thank you for all that you are doing. Hear it from me: your work and your ministry matters. It matters while we’re here are earth, and it matters as an eternal blessing as well.

I’m grateful to all the people who give of their time, energies and talents to see the kingdom advance.

Church volunteer, I see what you’re doing, and I’m grateful to you for it.

Keep up the good work.

Don McCaig is pastor of First Baptist Church Lipan in Lipan, Texas. Connect with him on Twitter @DonMcCaig.

In January, one of our church members, Bracy Bledsoe, passed away at the age of 100.

I had the privilege of being his pastor for a little over four years. Bracy was a retired pastor, WWII veteran, and a Purple Heart recipient. The Baptist Standard did an article about him in the fall of 2017: ‘Retired pastor testifies to a century of God’s faithfulness.’

In February, Billy Graham passed away at the age of 99.

I never had the privilege of meeting Billy Graham or hearing him in person. Nevertheless, I’ve read numerous biographies about him and have watched him preach on TV and the internet many times. Like so many others, I felt like I knew him.

Bracy and Billy

In some ways, Bracy and Billy are different.

Bracy was not famous and pastored faithfully, mostly in the Temple and Austin areas, and was known by the churches he pastored, by his family, and by his friends. Billy was famous the world over.

Bracy influenced thousands through the churches he pastored and the people he impacted. Billy influenced millions and impacted world leaders.

Bracy’s funeral was attended by hundreds. Billy’s was attended by thousands with thousands more watching.

As I think about their lives, though, I’m struck not by how different they are but by how similar they are. Their similarities continue to impact my life. Therefore, as an exercise to process how these men impacted my life, directly and indirectly, I wrote a list of how these men were similar. This list is by no means exhaustive, but I pray you’ll find it as encouraging, inspiring, and helpful as I did.

The pastor and the evangelist

1. They were faithful over the long haul.

 Both men ran the race of faith as a marathon and not a sprint. They were faithful decade after decade and not just for a few months or years.

2. Their public and private lives were aligned.

These men were not the stereotypical, hypocritical preacher who preaches one thing and lives another. The faith they proclaimed in the pulpit was lived in the privacy of the home. This alignment is most importantly seen by the ways their wives and children reflected on their lives.

When I heard the families of Bracy and Billy talk about their lives, I was struck by the fact that, while the men were not perfect, there was a genuine alignment between their public and private lives.

3. Their humility was about exalting Christ.

As I’ve read and listened to the stories about Billy Graham, one thing people constantly spoke about was his humility, especially for a person of such fame. What I noticed about both Bracy and Billy was that their humility had a purpose. Their humility was not humility for humility’s sake; their humility served the purpose of pointing people to and exalting Christ Jesus.

4. They experienced the pains and disappointments of life but never became bitter.

Both men knew what it was like to experience loss. For example, they both experienced the death of their wives.

Both men knew what it was like to be hurt and misrepresented by others. I remember talking with Bracy about some of the hurt he had experienced as a pastor. What I remember most about these conversations was that he was not bitter and how he turned the conversation to talking about Christ’s faithfulness.

Because they experienced Christ’s faithfulness during the most difficult and painful seasons, they were freed from bitterness.

5. They cared about people, and people knew it.

As I prepared to do the sermon for Bracy’s funeral, his family told numerous stories about how people — people who didn’t know Bracy — were impacted by him in just one encounter. People were not a burden to Bracy or Billy. They cared about every person who came across their path, no matter who they were, and people knew it.

6. They never neglected the word and prayer.

The foundation of their personal relationship with Jesus was spending time reading, studying, meditating and memorizing the Bible and in prayer with God. Maybe this ultimately explains their faithfulness over the long haul: they continued to grow spiritually and never neglected the foundational spiritual practices of the word and prayer.

Examples and encouragement

I’m thankful for the lives of Bracy and Billy. They are an example of not only starting the race of faith but of finishing the race.

They are an encouragement for all of us that Christ is worth it, we can trust Him and He will provide the endurance we need to joyfully live for Him all the days of our lives.

Ross Shelton is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas.

Since 2014, Jeff Smith has served as the president and CEO of HighGround Advisors and its subsidiary, HighGround Trust Company. From deep in the heart of one Texan, he shares his background and thoughts on financially serving Baptists. To suggest a Baptist General Convention of Texas-affiliated leader to be featured in this column, or to apply to be featured yourself, click here.

Background

Where else have you worked, and what were your positions?

I have been with HighGround since November 1990, starting as associate trust counsel and was vice president and general counsel at the time of my election as president.

I have also worked at

• the Collin County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney immediately after graduation from law school
• Baylor University, in the Office of Development, between undergrad and law school
• Dallas Symphony Orchestra, as executive director of the Dallas Symphony Foundation and director of planned giving

Where did you grow up?

Plano, Texas

How did you come to faith in Christ?

I accepted Christ at the age of 12 during a Sunday evening service at First Baptist Church, Alabaster, Ala.

Where were you educated, and what degrees did you receive?

• Baylor University, Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in commercial art
• Baylor University School of Law, Juris Doctorate

Ministry/Profession

Why do you feel called to your particular vocation?

The work is a mix of legal and relationship-building. My undergraduate degree is in art. However, during my senior year, I had the opportunity to work in the Baylor University Development Office as an assistant development officer.

The University hired four graduating seniors to travel and thank Baylor donors. I coordinated the program the second year. During those two years, I decided to go to law school. Upon completion of law school, I worked briefly as an assistant district attorney in Collin County, Texas, before joining HighGround.

My work has always been about developing relationships. Utilizing my legal education to help people make gifts to worthy Baptist organizations and institutions is very rewarding. I have been at HighGround essentially my entire career, mostly on the trust and legal side.

My current role still focuses on relationship development but also on positioning the organization to continue its legacy of service in an ever-changing Baptist world. When I look back over the years, I am fortunate and blessed to work for an organization that has helped develop and grow our institutions’ endowments.

Please tell us about your BGCT institution—the breadth and nature of its work, including its mission, measures of scope, etc.

HighGround was created in 1930 as an integrated auxiliary of The Baptist General Convention of Texas to manage the endowment assets of our Texas Baptist institutions. It was founded to offset the crippling economic disaster that threatened the existence of Texas Baptist universities, schools, children’s homes and hospitals.

It was a daring endeavor undertaken by a handful of innovative businesspeople who had faith, foresight and a firm belief in putting the Lord’s business ahead of their own. Their vision was to build an institution that would play a unique role in enabling Baptist institutions to carry out their missions. The founders knew that by providing endowment management and charitable trust services, HighGround could provide invaluable support to its client institutions and thus enhance each institution’s ability to perform its charitable work.

For the past 87 years, HighGround has consistently and successfully carried out this original mission. Yet, HighGround is much more than a money manager. It is a story of dedication, a story of men and women of wealth and of average means who found practical application of the stewardship they heard preached in the pulpit on Sunday morning.

At its creation, Texas Baptists stipulated that HighGround would own no property in its own right and would make no grants on its own initiative. Property would be held and managed for the various denominational institutions, and each would receive income earned on their own endowment assets. Net assets have grown to almost $2 billion with over 6,000+ endowments and 1,100+ split-interest accounts currently under administration.

The organization has had a rich history of adding capabilities to its scope of services to better support Baptist ministries through the areas of account administration, minerals management and real estate services.

In 1996, a regulated trust company was added to protect the administration of the split-interest accounts. The growth of the trust company over the past twenty years has enabled HighGround to serve clients beyond the Baptist world as well as provide additional service flexibility to HighGround’s core mission.

HighGround is entirely self-supporting. We receive no cooperative program funds for operating expenses. Our purpose is twofold:

1. to serve the institutions and agencies by managing endowment funds established by them or for their benefit; and
2. to meet the needs of those Christian stewards who have the desire and the means to contribute to causes and ministries in Texas and throughout the world.

Responsibility for the administration of HighGround is vested with 12 directors — all active Baptist laypersons who are elected 51 percent by The Baptist General Convention of Texas and 49 percent by HighGround and serve without financial compensation. Daily administration of the investment, accounting, legal and trust affairs of HighGround is carried on by a professional staff of 52 individuals who are very attentive to the needs of those whom we serve.

OUR MISSION
Encouraging, receiving and managing charitable gifts for organizations and charitably minded families dedicated to transforming lives.

OUR VISION
To protect, strengthen and grow the organizations of our clients. We believe there is no pursuit more important than this because we believe the work we do now and in the future will not only shape our lives but will empower the many organizations that truly transform lives.

OUR VALUES
Our core values are the heart of HighGround. These values embrace our Christian heritage and guide us as we work with those who are transforming lives. We put the client first. We are servant-hearted. We act with integrity. We promote innovation. We are visionary. We lead with professional excellence.

OUR SERVICES

• Asset Management
• Planned Giving
• Account Administration

What aspect(s) of your institution and/or its mission do you wish more people understood?

We have no mission of our own other than encouraging, receiving and managing charitable gifts for nonprofit organizations and charitably minded families dedicated to transforming lives. What makes us different is that when an institution partners with HighGround, we make their mission our mission.

We were created to manage endowment assets with all the necessary ancillary services so that our Baptist institutions could focus on their missions and ministries. The “economies of scale” model was thought to benefit the institutions and still holds true today.

How has your institution and its mission changed since you began your career?

Our mission is the same. How we provide services and the expectations of our institutions and donors have changed. Technology has driven a great deal of change as it relates to how information is provided and accessed. Donor expectations have changed. They are more involved and want greater input into how their gifts are used. What this translates to is a constant state of change in order to stay ahead of our clients’ evolving needs.

We have historically been behind the scenes, but, after rebranding, defining our core values and the changing Baptist landscape, we have begun to actively tell our story and pursue new business opportunities.

How do you expect your institution and/or its mission to change in the next 10 to 20 years?

We will continue to have the same mission but will become more visible and more diligent in telling our story. We have developed a strategic plan that will grow and evolve as we change to meet the needs of our institutions. We will become more flexible and agile as institutional needs grow and evolve.

This is an exciting time in the life of an organization with 87 years of institutional history and knowledge. We strive each day to continue to be relevant in the life and work of institutions that partner with us.

Name the three most significant challenges and/or influences facing your institution.

• Staying relevant to our institutions both from a product offering standpoint and competitive price point
• Waning loyalty within the Baptist family
• A greater effort by for-profit money managers to attract Baptist dollars

What one aspect of your job gives you the greatest joy or fulfillment?

Knowing that the work we do has an impact on the institutions’ financial viability for years to come. We are helping to plant trees that we may never sit under. And working with phenomenal donors to our great institutions helping them makes gifts that truly transform lives.

About Jeff

Who were/are your mentors, and how did/do they influence you?

My parents are lifetime mentors and supporters of my sister, brother and me — always encouraging. They continue to model for us what it means to be family with a focus on God and family.

Terry Simmons hired me and shaped my early development as a trust attorney. He taught not only the legal aspects of the transaction but also the relational aspects. A gift transaction needs to be viewed both from the legal and practical sides. Terry was an exceptionally gifted individual with a keen intellect and a huge heart who always championed my success.

Vester T. Hughes, Jr. saw potential in a relatively young trust lawyer and tried to help me be the man God intended. He mentored by example. He modeled that which he tried to get you to understand.

What is your favorite Bible verse or passage? Why?

“Be still and know that I am Lord” (Psalm 46:10). In today’s fast-paced world with all its noise, the verse speaks to me to be still and listen.

If you could get one “do over” in your career, what would it be, and why?

An eighteen-year-old girl was on the jail chain one morning in County Court at Law No. 2 while I was an assistant DA. She had been arrested for theft under $20. During my conversation with her, I asked why she had shoplifted the items.

She said, “I have a bed to sleep in and three meals to eat.”

That conversation has stayed with me, but I did not do anything to explore her situation. As a twenty-something prosecutor, I did not explore the opportunity to help her.

I would very much like to know what happened to her.

Write and answer a question you wish we had asked.

Why did you decide to change your name from Baptist Foundation of Texas to HighGround Advisors?

In 2015, we undertook a brand study to better understand client and market perceptions. This brand study allowed us to understand objectively where improvements needed to be made to continue building on the high level of service provided to clients throughout the years. As a result of the brand study, the decision was made to rename Baptist Foundation of Texas to operate under a DBA: HighGround Advisors.

HighGround Advisors is a fitting name, one that maintains our faith-based legacy and speaks to what we do for our clients. A strong brand is what we stand for; it’s our purpose, our beliefs and our promise. And the HighGround brand takes us to the next level of providing asset management for nonprofit organizations that transform lives. It represents a commitment to be a resource and help to further the work of charitable organizations that are bettering the lives of those they serve.

The HighGround brand reflects our loyalty to our clients and speaks to our extensive expertise in the industry. What we are doing is creating a path forward. We are providing our institutions and prospective institutions with an expanded mix of financial products, services and tools. And we are making a promise. A promise to continue protecting, strengthening and growing endowment and split-interest assets.

Today, our vision is clear. With the implementation of the HighGround brand, we aim to continue to be an innovative and vigilant caretaker of the funds and assets entrusted to us by the institutions we serve and by the generous individuals who donate to those institutions. To this end, we will continually strive to develop strategies for enriching client and donor relationships, enhancing service offerings and fortifying funds to further causes of the nonprofits we serve.

(RNS) — Vladimir Putin’s re-election as Russia’s president is widely believed to have been rigged. Putin’s three main opponents were murdered, forced to flee the country or disqualified and some citizens claim they were forced to vote for Putin. Russia’s history of limiting political freedom makes these events somewhat unsurprising, if worrisome.

But what is surprising is how American evangelical leaders were mostly quiet in response. We’ve heard barely a peep from most, including those in President Trump’s inner circle who speak out with regularity on political controversies.

Their silence aligns with a troublesome trend across this faith community. In recent years, leaders of this influential religious group have nurtured a growing admiration for all things Russia and its strongman, Putin. Despite Putin’s horrific recent track record on religious liberty and campaign to bar American couples from adopting at-risk Russian orphans — issues that believers claim to be of urgent concern here at home — evangelical leaders such as Franklin Graham have praised Putin as a “defender of traditional Christianity.”

Since Trump was elected, journalists at outlets such as The Economist, The Atlantic and New York Magazine have detailed the gusto with which evangelical leaders have embraced Russia for all manner of things — chief among them being the denial of certain rights for LGBT people.

It was not always this way.

A generation ago, evangelical luminaries denounced the Soviet Union in general, and Russian leadership in particular, in the strongest possible terms. Under the leadership of Billy Graham and its founding editor, Carl F. H. Henry, Christianity Today — the flagship periodical of evangelicalism — subjected Russia to withering critique, from its relentless persecution of religion, to its suppression of freedom in both market economies and speech.

When American secular elites called Russian dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn a dangerous zealot for his critique of Soviet totalitarian and atheistic rule, evangelicals embraced him as a new hero. Even after the fall of the Soviet Union, evangelicals kept the pressure up, calling out the suppression of religious groups competing with the Russian Orthodox Church.

One Christian artist who had personal experience confronting Russian authorities was Larry Norman – the father of Christian rock. Although he had traveled the world as a successful recording artist and touring musician, he made a fateful decision to play with his band in the Soviet-bloc country of Estonia in the fall of 1988. Jesus plus rock ‘n’ roll seemed to be too much to swallow for the Estonians’ Russian overlords. And it just so happened that he had arrived on the very night the Estonian Parliament had declared independence from the Soviet Union.

Along the way to their show, Larry and his brother Charles were poisoned by the KGB at the now infamous Viru hotel. When an ambulance filled with burly male nurses mysteriously appeared to take these Americans to the hospital for an “emergency appendectomy,” Larry and his band fled to the concert venue. Despite feeling ill, they attempted to perform the concert. Soviet soldiers shut down the show after 20 minutes. The Norman brothers and their band, Q Stone, beat a hasty trail out of the country and found safe haven in Finland.

With Trump giving Russia the benefit of the doubt in the infamous Salisbury poisoning while the rest of the West was filled with certainty that Moscow was behind the attack, we remember a day when evangelicals viewed Russian authorities at best as a corrupt kleptocracy and at worst, an enemy of the freedom of religion and the dignity of all human persons.

Gregory Alan Thornbury is author of “Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?” and is chancellor of The King’s College. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service or the Baptist Standard.

Four students from the Baptist Student Ministry at Rice University served at Mission Arlington during spring break. On the first day we worked there, our task was to transfer donated clothes from the main site to Grace Street Fellowship Church, where they would be distributed the next day.

We also drove a bus filled with furniture, appliances and other assorted goods to a low-income mobile home park. We hit a small snag when the doors flew open on the highway, and some paintings fell out, but that did not stop us from impacting the community. We sent students to homes to let people know that we were giving away a busload of stuff, and the people responded well. We were able to give away most of the items. This was a great way to show the love of Christ, and we are praying Mission Arlington continues to impact this community.

On Sunday morning, we helped host one of the many apartment-based churches, led by Mission Arlington staff member who grew up attending a similar apartment church. We played games and did crafts with the kids, and we led a Bible study for them. The kids ranged in age from 3 to 14 years old. Daniel, one of the older kids, said he had been attending the apartment church several years, and he told us he could not wait until he was old enough to serve with Mission Arlington.

“All of the kids I met were wonderful and always smiling,” said Ashley, a sophomore at Rice. “It was fulfilling to know that the time I spent with the kids was meaningful, because in addition to playing with them, I was also able to share the Word with them.”

After church, we spent the rest of the day knocking on doors and passing out fliers promoting the spring break activities Mission Arlington was hosting with the help of churches and BSMs.

Monday through Wednesday, we went to a different apartment complex and did the same thing we did Sunday morning. Our students not only learned that kids never get tired of tag, but also learned the impact one can make after only a few days. One young girl named Karter was incredibly shy and spent most of her day alone because her parents were working. By the end of our time in Arlington, she had opened up to us and was participating in the Bible lessons. It was a big win, considering she barely spoke to us the first day.

We also met a Muslim family who had just moved from Nigeria. They had six children ranging from ages 2 to 18. Although the family is Muslim, they had positive views of Christians because of how Mission Arlington had served them in the past, supplying furniture, other necessities, and helping them secure a place to live.

Two of our students, Blessing and Chukwudi, also immigrated from Nigeria as children. This shared culture, combined with the efforts of Mission Arlington, enabled them to connect with this family. Because Blessing and Chuk were able to relate to this family in a special way, we were able to talk to all of them about who Jesus is. The younger children participated in the Bible study while Blessing listened to the oldest, Sophia, tell her family’s story.

Rice students are very passionate about serving others and striving to make the world better. Unfortunately, the university’s rigorous academic requirements often make serving difficult. But by leaving campus and setting aside time to serve God, were able to see what can happen when we follow God’s call to serve the least among us and share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Adam Jones is campus missionary intern at Rice University.

Until 2010, Keith Bruce served Texas Baptists for almost 14 years as director of institutional relations. From deep in the heart of one Texan, he shares his background and thoughts on church and ministry. To suggest a Baptist General Convention of Texas-affiliated leader to be featured in this column, or to apply to be featured yourself, click here.

Background

Where did you grow up?

I was born in the small Texas panhandle town of Memphis. However, my family moved to Amarillo when I was about three years old. Other than a brief period when we lived in Longview, Texas, and Tupelo, Miss., that is where I grew up.

How did you come to faith in Christ?

When we moved back to Amarillo, my parents joined Paramount Baptist Church, a wonderful and nurturing congregation. When I was about nine years old, there was a revival at the church, though I have no idea who the evangelist was for the week.

On the last Sunday of the revival, there was a special emphasis for children, and the evangelist explained the gospel in simple terms. It seemed that all of those things I had learned in Sunday School came together, and I told my mom that I wanted to “go down front.”

She was wise enough to delay me until our pastor, Chester O’Brien, could come by to visit with me. He did so in a few days, and I prayed in my living room, accepting Jesus as my savior.

Why did you feel called into ministry?

As I moved into my teen years, God led some friends into my life who had a closer personal walk with the Lord than I had ever understood to be possible. Their influence, along with the influence of lay and staff leaders at Paramount, caused me to begin to grow in my understanding of God’s work in my life.

As an aside, I would note that at this time Paramount was a place where many young people were being called to ministry under the passion of the church’s second pastor, C. N. “Shad” Rue.

I became very involved in the youth ministry and choir program, and, when a junior in high school, I felt a very distinct leading of the Lord into vocational ministry. At first, I thought that God’s call might be to youth or music ministry, but, through my college years at Baylor, my sense of call was clearly defined as that of Pastor / Leader.

In addition to your most-noted position, where else did you serve in ministry?

My first paid ministry position was as a student at Baylor when I served Connally Heights Baptist Church as youth / music minister.

During seminary and beyond, I had the opportunity to serve as minister of youth and recreation at First Baptist Grand Prairie.

My first pastorate was at First Baptist of Duke, Oklahoma, followed by pastorates at First Baptist Wellington and Shearer Hills Baptist in San Antonio.

When did you leave your most-noted position and/or retire from full-time ministry? How have you occupied yourself since then?

In 2010, the position I held at the BGCT was eliminated in a time of restructuring.

I then had the great privilege of serving for about three years as executive director of Breckenridge Village of Tyler, a residential campus for adults with developmental disabilities that is part of BCFS Health and Human Services, a Texas Baptist agency.

Then, somewhat unexpectedly, I was offered my current position as vice president of mission and ministry for Baptist Health System in San Antonio.

Where do you live now, and where do you go to church?

My wife, Janet, and I currently reside in San Antonio and are active members at First Baptist Church of San Antonio.

Ministry/life

What was your favorite or most joyful aspect of ministry? Why? What part of ministry delivered the greatest heartache or headache?

The answer to both of these questions is the same: the people!

I love the relationships of ministry: giving counsel and encouragement, seeking with others God’s direction and vision, helping children understand about Jesus, weddings, baptisms — even illnesses and funerals as you walk with people through fearful and sad times.

But, of course, people can also disappoint. As a pastor, you grieve with them in personal failures and yes, even in our churches there are those people who can be petty, mean-spirited, judgmental and who create turmoil and angst, not only for ministers but sometimes for the entire congregation.

Thankfully, in my experiences, those people who were a joy to walk with far outnumbered those who created heartaches and headaches!

What would you tell the young you, just starting out in ministry?

“It’s all about relationships and transparent, collaborative leadership.”

Part of this perhaps was my personal background, but I entered ministry with somewhat of a “career” or “executive” mindset, where I had to be the leader and also took full responsibility for all that happened. But that mindset puts undue and unintended pressure on the pastor and denies opportunity for all believers to exercise their gifts and abilities.

When I learned to build relationships, to listen to the hearts of the people and to encourage people to serve in accordance with their passions and giftedness, I discovered a new freedom personally and observed renewed energy within the congregation.

About Baptists

What were the key issues facing Baptists during the heart of your ministry?

Without doubt, fundamentalism and the denominational battles that began in the 1970s were the foundational issues during the heart of my ministry. As a result of this conflict, churches I served as pastor were struggling with their identity as Baptists.

In fact, that controversy and those congregational struggles were the reason I developed my doctoral project around Baptist distinctives in the local church. It was not long into my tenure at the BGCT when the second Baptist convention was formed in Texas.

Several of our Texas Baptist institutions that I worked with in my position as director of institutional relations found themselves struggling with how to best navigate this denominational upheaval. Therefore, a lot of creative energy had to be given, even at the institutional level, to understand our Baptist identity and how institutions and the denomination best work together.

About Keith

Who were/are your mentors, and how did/do they influence you?

I would have to begin with the two men who were my pastors growing up at Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo.

As mentioned, Chester O’Brien was the pastor who led me to the Lord and, through the years, he has remained an encourager and advisor. Though now in his 90s, Dr. O’Brien still sends occasional notes of blessing and encouragement.

Then, C. Nelson “Shad” Rue was pastor during my formative high school years. “Brother Shad,” as we called him, was used by God in a special way to “call out the called.” He was so affirming, would give of his time to mentor young people who felt called to ministry and allowed us opportunities to preach, lead music and serve in other ways. I do hope any tapes of those first sermons have been destroyed, but Brother Shad’s blessing on those called to ministry was very meaningful.

Finally, I would have to mention former BGCT executive director Dr. Bill Pinson. As a pastor, I was involved in the ministries of the BGCT, and I observed his careful and prayerful leadership. But, especially when I very surprisingly was called to work for Texas Baptists, he was so affirming, patient and a true model / mentor to me for denominational leadership.

Other than the Bible, name some of your favorite books or authors, and explain why.

As is true for many people, the writings of C. S. Lewis were very meaningful, especially during my college years.

But, in addition to those works, Calvin Miller is probably my favorite. Somewhat like Lewis, he touches on so many genres in his writings. My favorites include his wonderful gospel trilogy, “The Singer,” “The Song,” and “The Finale,” and his classic parody of the modern church, “The Philippian Fragments.”

What is your favorite Bible verse or passage? Why?

I often say that my “life passage” is Philippians 4:4–7, where Paul encourages the Philippians and guides them in how to experience God’s joy and peace in all situations.

It has taught me that I can be very transparent and honest with God about anything and that even if my circumstances do not change, there is genuine peace in leaving things in his hands. This passage also instructs us to think about the good things and so I am reminded that no matter what is going on, there are good things all around me that I need to focus on with gratitude.

Who is your favorite Bible character, other than Jesus? Why?

I have a real affinity for Nehemiah in the Old Testament. In my understanding of spiritual gifts, I see encouragement as a foundational grace that God has given to me, and I see Nehemiah being an encourager over and over as he led the people to rebuild the city.

He also is an example in his simple trust of God, his patient evaluation of all of the circumstances, and his inclusive collaboration with other leaders and the people. One church that I was privileged to serve was in a situation of rebuilding after a very difficult time and in that place particularly I found a lot of guidance in Nehemiah’s experience.

Name something about you that would surprise people who know you well.

I think most people see me as friendly, outgoing and even gregarious. But, in reality, I am a fairly shy and timid. The Lord has had to help me mature in being confident and learning how to engage with people in what I hope is a cheerful and encouraging way.

If you could get one “do over” in ministry, what would it be, and why?

It is not unusual to hear this from many professions, but I wish I had taken more time for family, friends and the pursuit of recreational outlets (like golf!).

Ministry is a career that never reaches a point of finality or conclusion. While particular projects or efforts might end, such as an outreach event or a building project, there is always the tension of one more call that could be made or one more hour that could be spent in sermon preparation.

Some of those hours I should have spent on family, friends and fun.

As I have gotten older, I have fallen in love with history.

It’s fascinating to me to see the events surrounding the rise of an empire, to observe the timeline of how certain technologies developed over time and to see how a current circumstance was a product of various decisions along the way.

In terms of people, our upbringing and the context in which we were raised plays an important role in how we see the world, and it absolutely affects how we read the Scriptures.

Preparing for the Passion Play

I grew up in a church very similar to First Baptist Bryan, where I currently serve, in which there was an undeniably deep affection for the “big musical production.” There was everything from summer musicals to choir tours to Christmas pageants.

But, without a doubt, the crown jewel of them all was the Biennial Passion Play.

We would masterfully portray (we thought so, at least) the final week of Jesus’ life through drama and music. We would hold auditions for parts, hire a full professional orchestra and usually begin rehearsals six months in advance. There were at least half a dozen closets in our church that were dedicated to the ornate costumes that had been made.

The sanctuary was transformed by all of the carpenters and decorators of our congregation into an all-in-one Judea scene with various spaces for the Garden of Gethsemane, Temple Market, Upper Room, Golgotha and the Empty Tomb on the platform.

On performance nights, they would rub bronzer on our faces and skin so we would look more “Arabic” and cake on eyeliner and lipstick so our faces weren’t washed out by the bright lights of the stage.

Yet, of all the things I remember, I will never forget the scene that brought the Triumphal Entry to life.

The triumphal entry: The musical

It always began with a huge timpani roll and the entrance of Robert Martin, the guy who played Jesus, through the back doors of the sanctuary. He would march slowly toward the stage to meet the “crowd” (approximately 25–30 people) who were all over-dramatically pointing at him and singing, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

When he finally made it to the stage, Jesus would pat the children (I was one!) on the head, and do this grab-the-shoulder/over-exaggerated-nod thing to every person he came into contact with, as if to say, “Yep, I see you. You’re healed.”

The group of guys who played the Pharisees would stand in the corner and shake their heads while overtly throwing up their hands in disgust. This would continue throughout the musical number until the moment came for the big finish: the entire company belting, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

As the final chord was sung, Jesus would find his mark at the center of the stage, turn to the audience and give the biggest grin I’ve ever seen while the rest of the crowd would “strike a pose.”

For many years, anytime I would read the account of the Triumphal Entry in one of the four gospels, that scene would play out in my mind. Thirty or so people in a dramatic, choreographed musical number. A fake-and-bake Jesus with too much eyeliner, patting children on the head.

I have the utmost respect for the leadership of that church, and I wholeheartedly resonate with efforts to bring the gospel to life through creative and engaging ways, but my perception of this event was definitely shaped by this portrayal.

I think, somewhere in my soul, I’d decided that this event was, at best, somewhat silly and, at worst, of little consequence.

I could not have been more wrong.

‘No ordinary week’

Some of the most powerfully rich passages and stories of Scripture are so familiar to us that we can fall prey to that familiarity and begin to skim, overlook or, God forgive us, yawn at them. We live in a time where the message of Christ is cast into the fray alongside works of fiction and fantasy, and it is so easy to shake hands with unbelief and disinterest.

But, thanks be to God that we have not put our trust in a work of fantasy or fiction but in the Word of Truth, a Word that Psalm 119 describes as “firmly fixed in heavens forever.”

This year, March 25 is the first day of my favorite week of the entire year. Historically, it is known as “Palm Sunday,” the beginning of Jesus’ final week, the day when Jesus Christ rode triumphantly into Jerusalem, marching boldly to Calvary, to end the tyrannical rule of sin and death once and for all through his glorious resurrection. The final week of Jesus’ life was full of the most massive and crucial events, and their significance cannot be overstated.

This was no ordinary week back then, and it will not be around here either.

Our prayer for you as you walk through the different services and events that your churches have planned is that you would lay your heart open before the Lord and let him breathe new life and passion for who he is and what he has done through his great son, Jesus.

Find time to get on your knees and seek the Living God. Discover again what they discovered 2,000 years ago.

This was no ordinary week, and we are loved by an extraordinary Savior.

Jason Dunton is the contemporary worship arts pastor at First Baptist Church in Bryan, Texas, where he lives and loves with his wife, Joanna, and daughters, Penelope and Annabelle.

You are not your personality.

In “The problem with personality assessments,” Daniel Harris is right about that. Your personality is not who you truly are, but it is who you have become, whether you like it or not, and whether or not you know it.

The funny thing is, once you figure out your Enneagram number, you’ll never forget how it shapes you, and everyone else will see how those characteristics have shaped you on your faith journey.

We are all born with natural inclinations and then other traits have been nurtured in us, for better or worse. You don’t have to look at your friend group for long to notice some of them always tend to have an opinion, always seem to answer first, are among the loudest and offer to lead more quickly than anyone else. And then there are those who just don’t function that way. They are always quiet, slow to respond and reluctant to expend the energy to lead or speak up.

Try as you might, some of those things will never change. The quiet, reluctant thinker will never be the loud, engaged leader. And yet, as Harris writes, who they are is truly a child of God, made in God’s image, and redeemed in Christ.

However, the work of creation, redemption and transformation are journeys and not merely destinations in the Christian life.

A tool worth considering

To understand your journey, to have compassion for yourself and others, to understand God’s compassion and grace for you and to really allow these to take hold requires some reflection, prayer and discernment. That is all the Enneagram claims to offer.

The Enneagram is not really even a personality tool. It points to nine different ways of being in the world, nine ways of seeing the world around us and nine sins that prevent us from being all that God has created us to be, but it does not claim to be an assessment that names your identity.

In fact, Enneagram teachers claim that the assessment tests are faulty and your true identity is not in your number. However, knowing your number is a remarkable tool for helping you to be formed in the way of Christ that reflects not your personality type or your number but the unique creation God has made you to be.

The Enneagram is really just one tool for considering who God is making you to be and discerning how God is at work in your life. It is a really good one, but, with it being so trendy right now, we have to be cautious about how it is used. It is too easy to turn it into a party trick rather than a spiritual resource for discerning how God continues to be at work in our lives.

‘Self-awareness matters’

As a person with a Type Three personality, I know that I am formed more fully in Christ’s likeness when I am attuned to my feelings and the feelings of others. The Enneagram helped me learn that, and it has made me a better husband, father, minister and social worker.

My colleague and dear friend who has a Type Six personality helps me realize that about myself. Likewise, I help him see the ways he can really trust himself and God’s work within him more fully when making decisions. He has learned to speak what he knows to be true with more confidence as a leader formed in Christ. He is naturally more reluctant but is learning to step out. I am naturally, well, never reluctant, and I am learning to slow down and connect. This is Enneagram discernment.

Might we have learned this otherwise? Perhaps.

But I have been trained as a minister, and I have been seeking to be faithful to Christ for five decades. The enneagram helped me realize some things about my habitual patterns, deep underlying motivations and fears and a few other relational hang-ups in just a few months. It provided a mirror so that I could see some things in my life I just didn’t want to pay attention to.

We all have those traits that get us in trouble over and over again, but they are not the same for all of us. The Bible points out some wisdom about these, but self-awareness matters in ministry. You have to learn your own habits and hang-ups, and you have to walk with Christ in your own way for him to redeem these.

Why use the Enneagram?

As Harris suggested, we should take hold of Scripture for it helps us see who we are. But we have to have eyes to see and ears to hear. And there is so much to see and hear in who we are and how we are made. There is also so much to see and hear in how we struggle on life’s journey.

In Romans 7, the apostle Paul said he didn’t understand his actions. He asked why he always did the very things he did not want to do. Suzanne Stabile teaches that it’s likely because of his Enneagram type. Whatever our number, there are plenty of things we do that we do not want to do and other things we do not want to do that we keep doing.

Your Enneagram type can be your guide as you ask similar questions. It will teach you something about yourself that everyone around you likely already knows, that you may know without wanting to admit it, and that God is using to shape you if you would pay attention to it.

Jon Singletary is professor and dean of the Diana Garland School of Social Work at Baylor and may be reached at Jon_Singletary@baylor.edu.