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Articles by Jayson Larson
‘A lasting difference’: Generous giving pushes Reach Texas State Missions Offering to another record
GRAPEVINE—Southern Baptists of Texas Convention churches generously gave $1,974,193 as part of the latest Reach Texas State Missions Offering, marking the largest collection in the campaign’s history. The offering period spanned September 2025 through August 2026. One-hundred percent of Reach Texas giving is used for missions and evangelism, funding efforts such as church planting, disaster relief, missions mobilization, and the SBTC’s annual Empower Conference.
Blake White is lead pastor of South Side Baptist Church in Abilene. This article, originally published through Southwestern Seminary’s Equip The Called, is an adapted excerpt from his book, What is a Baptist? Regenerate church membership is the Baptist distinctive. It is what makes Baptists Baptist. It is our North star, our foundational tenant. It simply means that only regenerate people, i.e. born-again believers, can join the local church.
Go ahead, use your manuscript
Editor’s note: This point-counterpoint column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. You can find the counterpoint to this column here. For more information on the Shepherds Collective, visitsbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. A few weeks ago, as I was on the stage starting my sermon in our church service, I opened my iPad and realized I never loaded my manuscript on it. A slight panic came over me, but eventually it got sorted out.
Leave your manuscript behind
Editor’s note: This point-counterpoint column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. You can find the counterpoint to this column here. For more information, visitsbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. As a former speech major, watching my sermons has become a very helpful practice for my growth as a preacher. Early on, I found myself thinking, “I felt that more than it showed,” and a friend pointed out one of the reason why.
Five things I have learned while church planting
Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. Aug. 31, 2020, is a day I will always remember. My wife and I were well into the application process with the International Mission Board. I was working through the six-month New Testament reading plan, Deepen Discipleship. That morning’s reading was Matthew 13–15, highlighting a progression of faith.
How to lead your church to sing louder
Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. Years ago, my pastor friend commented after guest preaching at our church, “Your church is quiet.” He wasn’t only referring to a lack of “amens” during sermons—he was mainly commenting on our singing. I can gladly say our church has grown tremendously in this area since then.
Study: Pastors, churchgoers say their congregation is multigenerational
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.—When pastors look out from the pulpit and congregants glance around the pews, most say they see a church with people from across the generations. Almost 4 in 5 pastors (78%) and 9 in 10 churchgoers (91%) believe their church is multigenerational, with a good number of active members from all generations, according to Lifeway Research. Despite their perceptions, the statistical reality paints a picture of a congregation that skews older.
Ministry fatigue is not inevitable
Editor’s note: Mark Dance is executive director of the Arkansas Baptist Convention. This article was originally published through Southwestern Seminary’s Equip The Called. It is being republished here with permission. Some pastors are on the road to burnout and consider it a badge of honor. They may even consider ministry fatigue to be the inevitable price of pastoring. Perhaps they were told only wimps get winded or that rest only applies to the weak, lazy, or unemployed.
Small group participation linked to higher discipleship scores, Lifeway Research finds
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.—Regular small group participants are likely to be among the most mature disciples in a church, but they still need encouragement in some areas. According to the latest analysis of Lifeway Research’s State of Discipleship study, U.S. Protestant churchgoers who regularly attend a small group Bible study, such as Sunday school, have the highest discipleship scores.
EQUIP 2026: Hundreds of church leaders strengthened as they receive tools and training at annual conference
COLLEYVILLE—Pastors and church leaders from across Texas converged on CrossCreek Church on Aug. 1 for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s annual Equip Conference. The event was led by more than 70 speakers and 200 breakout sessions covering nearly every ministry area relevant to the local church.
Bible engagement increases sense of calling, promotes human flourishing, study finds
PHILADELPHIA—Scripture-engaged adults are more confident of their calling or purpose in life and thereby flourish, the American Bible Society (ABS) said in its latest release from the 2026 State of the Bible. But those who are least engaged with the Bible often continue to seek a purpose or calling well into adulthood and score lower on researchers’ flourishing scale, ABS said of findings released July 9 in the study’s fourth chapter.
The weight you were never meant to carry
Anxiety has become so commonplace that many people accept it as a normal part of life. We make jokes about being chronic worriers, but fear quietly steals our joy, clouds our judgment, and distracts us from the goodness of God. Like a cancer that contaminates our spiritual blessings, hidden anguish is not a minor problem to ignore. Every generation finds new reasons to fret. Parents fear for their children. Students stress over grades. Workers wonder whether they will keep their jobs.
GuideStone expands property & casualty insurance solutions for Texas churches
GuideStone has transitioned its property and casualty insurance solutions to an independent agency model through GuideStone Agency Services, which is operated by GuideStone. This move marks a significant step forward in expanding the scope and flexibility of its offerings in the Lone Star State. GuideStone has provided insurance guidance and risk management support to churches and ministries for nearly 20 years.
SBTC DR Louisiana deployment brings hope and new life
MOREAUVILLE, La.—The week America turned 250, a couple in Louisiana discovered a new kind of freedom in Jesus Christ, thanks to a divine appointment with Southern Baptists of Texas Disaster Relief crews who brought help and hope to this small town in Avoyelles Parish. Mid-June torrential rains from Tropical Storm Arthur swamped central and southern Louisiana, southeastern Mississippi, and lower Alabama, prompting Southern Baptist Disaster Relief crews to action.
Finding new life at your church through children’s ministry
Editor’s note: Matthew Phenix is senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Canadian. This article was originally published through Southwestern Seminary’s Equip The Called. It is being republished here with permission. You’ve most likely heard that children are the future of the church. Indeed, if there are no children, the church has no future. Many aging churches are finding themselves with only senior adults left, but they want their church to survive.
Which vision pattern does your church follow?
Editor’s note: Anthony Svajda serves as pastoral ministries associate for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and leads its Regenesis church health and renewal process. This is the second in a three-part series on healthy churches. The previous installment can be found here. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus …” — Ephesians 2:10 Vision is not measured by statements on a wall. Vision is revealed by how a church operates, evaluates ministry, and envisions the future.
World Cup outreaches are helping churches ‘live out the gospel in very practical ways’
“I’m excited to see people fully engaged in these soccer camps, knowing the gospel will be clearly shared with them,” said Tony Mathews, SBTC senior strategist of Missional Ministries, pictured at far right. Mathews is seen at a soccer camp at TCAL Church alongside church staff, volunteers, and a member of a pro soccer team from Ecuador who is helping lead the camp.
Turn meetings into ministry opportunities
Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. We have all heard the dangers of “death by meeting” where those in attendance leave with information overload and exhaustion. But if you are a lead pastor blessed with a team around you, have you ever considered using your regular staff meetings for accountability and spiritual development?
SBC26: Messengers gather to conduct the business of the convention at annual meeting
ORLANDO—The 2026 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention drew 11,690 messengers June 9-10. A number of noteworthy decisions were made over the course of the two-day meeting: Convention officers Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, Fla., was elected president over Josh Powell of South Carolina.
Messengers approve 51 percent of national Cooperative Program dollars for IMB
SBC Executive Committee President Jeff Iorg delivers his second of two reports to messengers at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting June 10 in Orlando. Photo by Sonya Singh Metadata: Event(s): 2026 SBC Annual MeetingTopic(s): SBC Annual MeetingsFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: ORLANDO, Fla.
‘Relish … the presence of God,’ Turner urges in 2026 convention sermon
ORLANDO – In a culture awash in spiritual doubt, political upheaval and economic fluctuation, Southern Baptists have an opportunity to change the course of history if they will embrace the presence and power of God through faithful obedience to His Word. That was the challenge issued by Caleb Turner, senior pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church in Mesquite, Texas, during the convention sermon delivered Wednesday at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting.
SBC26: During convention sermon, Mesquite’s Turner urges Southern Baptists to lean into the power, presence of God
ORLANDO—In a culture awash in spiritual doubt, political upheaval, and economic fluctuation, Southern Baptists have an opportunity to change the course of history if they will embrace the presence and power of God through faithful obedience to His Word. That was the challenge issued by Caleb Turner, senior pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church, during the convention sermon delivered Wednesday at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting.
SBC26: SBTC pastor calls CP ‘one of the most powerful tools for kingdom advancement’ during main-stage testimony
ORLANDO, Fla.—Caleb Fleming, senior pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Sherman, can pinpoint the moment he fully surrendered to the calling God had put on his life. It happened one Sunday when a man came to speak at his church, Houston’s Sagemont Church, about the Cooperative Program. Fleming shared a brief testimony about the Cooperative Program during the first day of the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting at the Orange County Convention Center.
SBTC DR responds with prayer, personnel following ‘Stinky Fire’ in the Panhandle
POTTER COUNTY—The so-called “Stinky Fire,” a wildfire that started in a landfill just northwest of Amarillo on May 18, destroyed 52 homes and impacted or threatened another 325 residences, officials said. “It was a sad day,” Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner said during a May 20 news conference. She implored citizens to “keep the prayers coming.” Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief volunteers quickly obliged with not only prayers but personnel.
Vision, Mission & Values: Getting the Language Right
Editor’s note: Anthony Svajda serves as pastoral ministries associate for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and leads its Regenesis church health and renewal process. This is the second in a three-part series on healthy churches. The previous installment can be found here. “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” — Proverbs 15:22 Churches often talk about direction, but they rarely agree on the language.
SBTC Collegiate Network Lead Team offers prospective planter connections, confidence
Cody Carroll is a church planting resident and former college director at Redeemer Church in Lubbock. He is also a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Collegiate Network Lead Team, which connects and resources college ministry leaders across the state. What is it about the SBTC Collegiate Network Lead Team that compelled you to get involved and serve?
Everything is discipleship
When I was in high school, the Lord began stirring in my heart a desire to pursue vocational ministry. For me, that started in music ministry. I was heavily involved in my local church: there on Sundays, Wednesdays, camps, retreats, small groups—all of it. I loved the church and wanted to serve. But honestly, I don’t think I really understood what was happening in those environments. In my mind, Sunday mornings were times when we gathered to worship.
Churches are formulating outreach plans as World Cup draws closer
CONROE—The Church at 242 doesn’t have a lot of members who are soccer fans or who know much about the sport, according to its pastor, Dennis Parish. That didn’t stop the church from jumping at the chance to get involved with a statewide outreach planned to coincide with the FIFA World Cup this summer. “Our church is not a soccer church,” Parish said.
SBTC Executive Board advances proposed Constitution and Bylaws amendments to messengers
GRAPEVINE—In August 2025, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) Executive Board authorized the creation of a special Constitution and Bylaws Review Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the convention’s governing documents. The committee was charged with reviewing the documents in their entirety to ensure the convention’s polity and affiliation requirements are clearly stated, particularly regarding the office and title of pastor.
Sabbath is a person
Editor’s note: The following excerpt is being published with permission from Mark Dance’s latest book, Rest Well, Lead Well. The Bible’s conversation about Sabbath began in creation (Genesis 2), which was ultimately fulfilled in the Lord of the Sabbath Himself—Jesus Christ. All Christians can rest in His peace because they have found eternal rest for their souls through the love of Jesus Christ.
A battle plan for defeating envy
Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. Envy. Every pastor has dealt with it. It can raise its head when a brother pastor gives thanks for a spike in Sunday morning attendance or baptism numbers. It wakes from slumber when we hear about the healthy budget of the church across town.
East Texas church is experiencing a movement of God ‘in the middle of nowhere’ as it focuses on prayer, care
HALLSVILLE—Trebor and Taylor Webb had a problem. Not long ago, they were working to persuade their insurance company to approve coverage for a medication needed by someone in their family. After several months of wrangling, they were left frustrated and without resolution. It was a problem they knew needed prayer.
SBTC DR crews rapidly deploy to help North Texas tornado survivors
WISE COUNTY—The EF-2 and EF-1 tornadoes that swept through Runaway Bay and Springtown northwest of Fort Worth on Saturday, April 25, claimed at least two lives and displaced dozens of families from homes damaged by the storm. Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief teams rapidly deployed to help. Assessors and chaplains were in the field the next day, while SBTC DR recovery, feeding, and shower/laundry units began arriving on Monday, April 27.
Rediscovering zeal
Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. When your dog ages, its energy and enthusiasm decreases. She no longer leaps off the couch and instead carefully stretches and touches down upon the floor. Treats don’t make her move like they once did. The days of sprinting, jumping up to your chest, and vigorously playing seem to be in the past.
The building is temporary, but the mission is eternal
Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. Nobody tells you that you might lose your mind when you start a building project at your church. The excitement of finally moving forward overshadows the reality of all the challenges and obstacles you’re about to face during a relocation.
Churchgoers seek God in intentional and impromptu ways, according to Lifeway Research
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.—Most churchgoers look for time to spend with God and regularly find themselves with Him in unplanned moments. Both deliberate and spontaneous instances of prayer and worship are part of seeking God, according to Lifeway Research’s State of Discipleship. Seeking God is one of eight signposts that measure characteristics evident in believers progressing in spiritual maturity. The average churchgoer scores 78.5 out of 100 in seeking God, ranking it first among the signposts.
Caring for Europe’s seniors turns crisis into gospel opportunity
European streets and sidewalks still bustle with a young generation that is growing through immigration. However, more and more neighborhoods are filled with senior citizens. Many local populations are aging rapidly. Birth rates are falling. Migration is bringing in fresh faces, yet the continent’s native population is slipping into the senior bracket faster than any other region on the planet.
The best kind of boasting
Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. I’m a pastor, and I’ve struggled with pride. Not the loud kind—I’ve never stood in a pulpit and thought I was the greatest preacher alive. But I’ve checked the clicks. I’ve watched how many people viewed our service online. I’ve scrolled the comments looking for something good.
Moving from confusion to clarity
When it comes to my theological upbringing, I am a bit of a mutt. I was raised in a Christian home, but it was certainly not a Baptist one. As a kid, I attended a variety of different churches and experienced several different denominational traditions. Then something amazing happened: I started dating a Baptist deacon’s daughter. To spend more time with her, I began attending church with her in Salem, Ore. This is where my theological confusion reached a fever pitch.
Excitement builds as SBTC churches prepare for outreach trainings
The FIFA World Cup is coming to Texas this summer, with the event expected to attract more than 1 million soccer fans from around the world. Southern Baptists of Texas Convention churches are preparing to greet these fans with Lone Star State hospitality—and the gospel. To facilitate this effort, the SBTC has scheduled a pair of trainings—on April 18 at Lamar Baptist Church in Arlington and April 25 at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston—to help churches develop and execute an outreach plan.
Seeking God’s counsel before godly counsel
Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. There’s a saying that it takes a village to raise a child, and God’s village for raising godly children is the church. God has truly blessed me with a great village of men who have come alongside me to be the pastor I am today. I began pastoring at 26. I knew I needed help if I was going to pastor well.
Hispanic church planters have unique advantages, obstacles in gospel work
MIAMI—José Abella’s parents grew up in Cuba before immigrating to the U.S. in the 1960s, but he’s spent his entire life here. Abella says this multicultural pull is both an advantage and an obstacle for Hispanic church planters. Having planted Providence Road Church in Miami in 2010, Abella knows from personal experience the circumstances surrounding starting new Hispanic congregations.
Leading when you’re the youngest in the room
Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. I was 31 when I preached my first sermon as a senior pastor. Compared to many figures throughout church history (and many rookie pastors today!), that’s not remarkably young.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.—Most churchgoers say they’re looking for ways to serve God as well as the people in their churches and communities, but many still struggle to make that a reality. Serving God and others is one of eight key signposts measuring distinct characteristics for believers progressing in their spiritual maturity, according to the Lifeway Research State of Discipleship study.
One of the most faithful expressions of leadership we can offer
Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. If we’re honest, many of us have felt the tension around corporate prayer. We affirm it theologically. We schedule it strategically. We want our churches to value it deeply. And yet we’ve all felt how fragile it can be, especially when attendance fluctuates or participation feels thin.
El mensaje de Apoderados es claro: la evangelización es parte de la identidad fundamental de toda iglesia - TEXAN Online
FORT WORTH—Apoderados, el evento de evangelismo organizado por la Convención de los Bautistas del Sur de Texas y celebrado cada año juntamente con la Conferencia Empower, reunió a líderes hispanos de todo el estado con un mensaje claro: la evangelización no es opcional, es la esencia misma de la iglesia.
EMPOWER 2026: Apoderados call is clear—evangelism is part of every church’s core identity - TEXAN Online
FORT WORTH—Apoderados, the Spanish-language evangelism event organized by the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and held in conjunction with the annual Empower Conference, brought together Hispanic leaders from across the state with a clear message: Evangelism is not optional—it is the very essence of the church. Approximately 175 pastors and their wives gathered for a special dinner on Friday night, Feb. 20, followed by 520 attendees on Saturday for general sessions and practical workshops.
God is the goal of the gospel
Editor’s note: This column was written by a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Shepherds Collective. For more information, visit sbtexas.com/networks/shepherds-collective. “In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a person to get to heaven?” This key question has stuck with me since I first heard it training as a youth in Bobby Welch’s FAITH evangelism method.
EMPOWER 2026: Pastor testifies to the ‘high priority’ of giving through the Cooperative Program
IRVING—In 3 John 5, John commends Gaius for his generosity to brothers and sisters in the faith. Some 2,000 years later, standing behind a podium at the Irving Convention Center, West Conroe Baptist Church Senior Pastor Jesse Payne referenced that passage of Scripture and echoed John’s words before a ballroom filled with hundreds of believers representing Southern Baptists of Texas Convention churches from across the state.
EMPOWER 2026: Panel addresses burnout and finding a path forward
The Monday evening session of the 2026 Empower Conference included a question-and-answer session on the topic of avoiding ministry burnout. The panel, led by Southern Baptists of Texas Convention evangelism consultant Ryan Fontenot, included Amy Hinote, a pastor’s wife and educator; Danny Rangel, a young adult pastor; and Shanon Thomas, a pastor and counselor. The following is an excerpt of that conversation edited for clarity and length.
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