March Update
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
- Philippians 1:3-5 -
Greetings Friends,
Sorry for the length but the month of March was incredibly full and impactful. Your partnership and prayers mean so much. The month was an emotional roller-coaster...seeing great spiritual things happening on campuses, but also hearing of school shootings in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arlington, Texas. We realize that evil is very real, and that the “thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy,” (John 10:10). Jesus completes the rest of John 10:10b reminding us, “but I have come that they may have life to the fullest”.
That is what we continue to do…speaking life into the next generation, presenting the gospel and seeing lives transformed into His image. His love and plan is unchanged, and we’re all in.
TEXAS
A movement to impact and keep the next generation.
See the basic summary/outlines of our Movement DFW networking initiative and Accelerate Texas plans that I’ve suggested to the team. It’s still aspirational, but we hope to have it operational by next month. Some groups are already leading the way with action plans.
Movement DFW was a tremendous success. Our goal is to change the trajectory of Christianity for the next generation in DFW…and the world. After over a year of research, planning, and connecting, we met at the ballroom of Dallas Baptist College to share research, offer solutions, and collaborate on actions across DFW. Mark Matlock, our new CEO presented the findings, and Shane Pruitt of NAMB, Greg Stier of Dare2Share, Brad Griffin of Fuller Youth Institute, and Billy Beacham of Student Discipleship Ministries gave powerful presentations, mobilizing the group to action. I was privileged to help develop the program, and led a panel with Pastor Ronny Marriot, Preston Cave, and Randy Riggins, former youth pastors now in key leadership roles. Our NNYM Texas (and NW) team provided information about school adoption and 9-month mission trip. A cross-section of influential pastors, youth communicators, seminary professors, community leaders, youth pastors, and businessmen attended, shared ideas, and developed initial plans. The movement team is allowing me, as Texas Network Coordinator, to lead out in our strategic action plan. It’s a large task but connecting for the Kingdom is my calling.
Following our “Accelerate Texas” meeting with key leaders from across the state, we’ve also developed a bold plan to accelerate campus ministry and reaching students in Texas. There are now four new highly effective networks, including Movement DFW in the state. We’re bringing on Aaron Aguirre as NNYM coordinator for greater San Antonio and increasing our effectiveness. One of the youth pastors I mentor, Anthony Tollett of Grandview, is taking the lead in mobilizing leaders in the SW metroplex along with Missions Director Scott Whitson, to develop a plan to reach students, and creating a model we can share across the metro area in each region. Our Willis Texas Network is holding their “Fields of Faith” FCA outreach on April 3rd. They expect over 3000 at the stadium.
Pray for Texas Schools Facebook page now has over 350 participants praying daily for schools, and the group is not only growing, but other regions of the US have caught the vision and have begun their own state and regional groups.
LOCALLY
Inner city missions, Student/Young Adult ministry and worship development.
I had a great time mentoring some student worship leaders on keys this past month. It’s exciting to see Declaration Church intentionally building a team of student worship leaders. I was privileged to take the new youth pastor, Jordan Trapp, with me to Movement DFW, and loved working with students at their “Escape Room” developed by my ministry partner and friend, Preston Cave of Texas Baptist Men. The young adults at Declaration have become special friends, and I’m excited to share a message and study with their group April 6th. On occasion, I still lead worship at Calvary Baptist in Rosenberg and am helping with their Palm Sunday and Easter services. Carol and I also enjoyed attending the retirement party for longtime friend and supporter, Mike Arnold in Fort Worth.
Our new “Becoming the Dream” network in Third Ward met with our Houston Net leaders, John Butler and I, and it is flourishing. They now represent 20 plus key ministry leaders, coaches, community leaders, Baptist Student Union-Texas Southern University, hip-hop artists, and parents leveraging their influence and resources to spiritually impact and transform the Third Ward district of Houston. I’m grateful for Angela Knight, her years of friendship and love, leadership, and influence on students in Third Ward. We also enjoyed our time working with Five Oaks Community outreach.
NATIONALLY
Collaboration and resources for student ministries.
Many youth pastors see campus ministry as an add-on, rather than a priority, and are not trained to minister there. In order to train youth pastors on campus ministry strategy, I am working with three others to rewrite and repackage my friend and mentor, Barry St. Clair’s book on campus ministry, to be distributed free to every Youth Pastor in digital format. We continue to work with Campus Alliance, a group of over 70 major ministries who collaborate monthly and pray together to increase student ministry impact, eventually mobilizing 500 strategists across the nation focused on prayer/care/share ministries on every campus.
Working with and writing for Interlinc for over 35 years, (an organization that combines the best new Christian music with Bible studies and other resources), I was honored to write a Bible study for the song “The Amazing Grace” written and sung by John Elefante, Christian artist, and former lead singer of the group “Kansas” (Dust in the Wind, Carry on My Wayward Son). 15,000 youth leaders utilize Interlinc, 5000-6000 will use the study, and each has 40-50 students in their groups.
GLOBALLY
Multiplying overseas through Zoom and digital strategies
Last month, I coached Aezyl Shyl of Pakistan in Jesus Focused Youth Ministry on a zoom call. We will continue to meet and help him multiply there.
We will be adding several key leaders from El Salvador and Nicaragua to our JFYM leader team, as well, multiplying student ministry through our connections with Links International and Reach-Out Youth Solutions.
Updates/Prayers
Carol and I are going to Vancouver, Washington April 18-22 to train leaders from Washington and Oregon in JFYM. Those leaders will then equip others in the Pacific Northwest. We will also meet with church plant pastors we will be serving on a mission trip this July.
Stacey Callendar, one of our incredible friends and partners with Mom’s in Prayer. She has been dealing with an aggressive brain tumor. Please be in prayer for her.
Also, Travis and Gloria Shaheen and their two children have gone to India to serve for a year. Travis is the former Youth Pastor at Declaration Church in Spring.
Pray regularly for protection for our students at school, and for the victims and families of recent school shootings.
If you are on Facebook please join the “Pray for Texas Schools” group and pray with us.
Also, the first week of May, (National Day of Prayer is May 4th), get your church, small group, or others to gather and pray walk two schools nearby. Go to claimyourcampus.com for a simple outline and “How-to” prayer walk. Prayer walking will be one of our key strategies in the coming year.
Thank you all again for your love and support.
Here are some quotes from Movement DFW partners:
“Gen Z is the least-religious-overly entertained generation in US History. So don’t expect Youth Pastors & College Pastors to primarily be entertainers or event organizers. Empower them to primarily be evangelists, missionaries, and disciple-makers.” - Shane Pruitt
“Establishing a bold vision for your ministry that can only be accomplished in God’s strength inspires your entire group. It gives everyone something to push for, pray for and praise God for.” - Greg Stier
“If you want to have a lasting influence upon the world, you must invest in people's lives; and if you want to maximize that investment, then you must invest in those people while they are young.” - George Barna
