At the gavel sounding the end of the annual meeting last month, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention began the 10th year of ministry. God has been pleased to pour His grace and blessings out upon us.The journey has been incredible.

I was serving the Lord in Northwest Arkansas as a Director of Missions in 1998. It was and still is a thriving mission field. God gave me an exciting assignment.The churches of the Northwest Baptist Association launched a church planting strategy.The fellowship of the pastors was sweet. For three and a half years, life was good.Then the phone rang at the associational office asking me to place my name before the search committee of the newly forming convention. I dismissed the caller with a laugh. Later that day a second person in Texas called encouraging me to submit a resume. When I found out that the two callers had not talked with one another, my heart sank. My bird’s nest on the ground was about to be stirred.

I sought counsel with friends, family and denominational leaders. With the exception of only two or three, I was advised to leave it alone. The enormity of the task of trying to reach Texas with the gospel was overwhelming without the many obstacles within the movement itself. When the chairman of the search committee called I told him I would have to fast and pray before meeting with them. He said,“We’re not offering you the job.We just want to interview you.” I told him I still needed to get permission from the Lord.

The story gets too detailed and highly personal at this point. Suffice it to say that over a two month period there were numerous twists and turns. I lost 20 pounds. (I’ve gained it back and more. I don’t want to lose it that way either.) It was the day before the convention was to be formed when issues were settled clearing the way to present me to the Board of Directors.The final vote of the group and subsequently the constituting messenger body was unanimous.

On November 10, 1998 the messengers from 120 congregations formed the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.The real work started the next day. Fleshing-out a new organization was no small task.The office phone number was my cell phone. My work station was across the desk from Ronnie Yarber at his pastor emeritus office in Mesquite.The only computer owned by the convention was in Amarillo.There was no support staff, full-time staff or material holdings of the convention. May God continually remind us of those humble beginnings.

The first year was turbulent for various reasons. Despite the difficulties God gave the convention favor with the churches.The theme of the first year’s annual meeting was “Standing on the Word, Sending to the World”. Churches all across Texas were ready to identify with a state convention that would clearly stand for biblical inerrancy and truly make church planting and evangelism the priority in ministry.

Ten years later, the SBTC is still fulfilling its commitment to the founders’ vision.The SBTC has now expanded to become a provider of choice for many churches in Texas who seek a biblically faithful partner in missions and ministry. Only God knows what the next ten years will be like. Jesus could come before then! If He does not, the SBTC will continue to strive to please Him and serve the churches. I am blessed to be a part of this wonderful move of God.