Articles by Jessica King

Ethan Hollis, Stephen F. Austin (SFA) State University graduate and active member of First Baptist Church (FBC) Nacogdoches, grew up with inconsistent attendance in church and little understanding of the gospel, but after a friend invited him to youth group, he became more engaged with both.  

The Texas Baptists Center for Cultural Engagement welcomed Carlos Francis as the new director of African American Ministries. Francis transitioned from his prior position as the director of Young Adult Ministries. He assumed the position on Oct. 7.

Inspired by the students’ eagerness to engage, FBC Clarendon began holding a college-led Sunday morning once a semester, where the students get an opportunity to take ownership of their gifts and abilities in ministry, ranging from greeting to preaching.

In the spring of 2023, Hannah Hopkins, a senior at East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) and Texas Baptists’ 2024 Prestidge Endowment Music & Worship Scholarship recipient, transferred to the school with a passion to lead worship. She’d heard the original song “New Day” performed by Lampsato, ETBU’s worship band, and wanted to audition to be a part of the group.

When Nathan Adams joined First Baptist Church Hereford as their senior pastor in Nov. 2022, every area of the church was on a downhill trajectory. Adams was determined to get the church “thinking differently and on an uphill trajectory.” 

The Texas Baptists Center for Missional Engagement welcomed Clinton Lowin as the new director of its Missionary Adoption Program (MAP) and Church Planting Centers. Lowin transitioned from his prior position as the minister of missions at First Baptist Church Tyler. He assumed the position on Nov. 19.

The Texas Baptists Center for Missional Engagement has welcomed Noe Treviño as its new director. Treviño transitioned from his prior position as director of the Missionary Adoption Program (MAP). 

Sixteen years ago, Mark Lindsey, lead pastor at First Baptist Church Big Spring, and his wife Sherry, were new residents in Big Spring, home to a “bible college ministry and a two-year college,” but no established church. Their neighbor, whose late husband happened to be a basketball coach at Howard College in the 1950s and 1960s, encouraged them to get “involved with basketball and things at the college,” as she was ministering to the athletes at the time.