Articles by Texas Baptists Communications

Texas Baptists is providing funds to Baptists in California to support ongoing disaster relief and recovery efforts among churches and communities due to the wildfires spreading in that state.

This has been a full and exciting week for your Texas Baptists staff as we’ve just concluded our January Staff Week.

​BGCT and NAMB have established a renewed church-starting agreement, providing eligible Texas Baptists churches with access to NAMB funding and Send Network resources.

I am typing this update on January 6. In some church traditions, this day is called “Epiphany” or “Three Kings Day,” celebrating the arrival of the magi to the house where Jesus and his parents were (Matthew 2:11). In such traditions, the eve of January 6 is considered the twelfth day of Christmas, ending the Christmas season officially and festively. 

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.

The Texas Baptists Center for Ministerial Health welcomed Olga Harris as the new director of Counseling Services. Harris transitioned to the role from her prior position as a private practice LPC. She assumed the new position on Aug. 19.

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.

In July, we posted an article about a change in the overtime rules put out by the Department of Labor. To summarize, in April, the DOL passed a new overtime rule that raised the minimum weekly salary to qualify for exemption from overtime from $684 per week to $844 per week or the equivalent salary of $43,888 per year.

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.”