Over the past couple of years, I have noticed some encouraging trends, especially at the Missionary Baptist Association of Texas meetings.
One trend I am noticing is a renewed emphasis on state missions. More churches are participating in state missions by either (a) sending out missionaries or (b) supporting missionaries. While this has not translated into increased support through the secretary-treasurer's office, it is translating to new mission works getting started and supported. I cite the works in the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Kerrville, East Texas, and Midland as examples. Some missionaries like myself enjoy the support of the state salary, while others (like Bro. Phil Babcock in Midland) work solely on free-will offerings and support from sister churches.
Another encouraging trend is the acceptance of different mission methods. While some still believe that missions should not organize into churches until they are self-supporting (and ready to pay a full-time pastor) there is growing support for missions organizing into churches as soon as a body is formed. This is a good trend as I believe it will lead to missions organizing and getting off associational support sooner, creates more potential sending churches and lessens the confusion of the Landmark ecclesiology.
One thing that I have noticed is how associational meetings in Texas have become calmer, with whatever debate that does happen being done so out of a spirit of love and respect. No one is raking the MBA churches over the coals for not being progressive enough, and no one is standing up launching false allegations at a sister church. Issues of order are addressed respectfully, and while the decisions don't always go our way, we accept those decisions and move on for the honor and glory of God.
A couple of things do trouble me, however. One is the growing immorality that is plaguing our churches, and even our pulpits. Pastors getting divorced used to be unheard of. Today, you hear of it happening at least two or three times per year. Sometimes the pastor's wife runs off, and many times that is not the fault of the pastor. Other times, the pastor runs off. The divorce rate among church members is also alarming.
Another thing that troubles me is the difficulty in finding a pastor for a local church, especially if that church can not afford to pay a full-time salary. It is not a good thing for our sister churches to go long periods of time without the solid leadership of a man of God. Those of us on the mission field worry about our supporting churches who are without pastors. We worry about the future of those churches. Our goal is to see new churches planted and existing churches flourish. This is not likely to occur if men do not answer God's call to the ministry he has laid out for them.
I greatly appreciate the love and support I have received from our supporting churches and the churches of the Missionary Baptist Association of Texas. Over the next year, I will minister full-time to try to lead Grace Pointe to a place where she can be totally self-supporting. It's a tall order, but with God's help, anything is possible. God bless you where you labor. Be encouraged. Be empowered. We serve the One True God. We are on the right side of the scriptures, we are on the right side of History, because we are on His side.
Things will get tougher. Economics will be worse, those willing to endure sound doctrine will decrease in number, the general public will become less friendly to our presence. Though there will be highlights, like the Manhattan Declaration, you can expect the overall condition of things to deteriorate. Never-the-less, be strong, and of a good courage, because the Lord is with us.
