In mid-March, a short-term team from First Baptist Church Beaumont was sent to join the ongoing work of disciple-making and evangelism in Kenya, serving alongside Kenyan nationals James and Chao Wanje.

Less than a week before the team’s original departure, global circumstances caused their entire flight schedule to be turned upside down. What initially felt like a major setback became an opportunity to trust the Lord more deeply. By God’s grace, new travel dates and an entirely new set of flights were secured, resulting in only a one-week delay. Throughout the process, our team continually cried out to the Lord, asking Him to direct our paths and accomplish His will. And He did just that—faithfully providing every logistical need. By the time the team finally stepped onto Kenyan soil, there was a deep sense of expectancy for what God had prepared.

 While in Kenya, the team worked alongside the Wanjes in their ministry of equipping pastors and church leaders across the country. In three different cities, the team helped lead disciple-making conferences, intentionally investing in those who shepherd and serve local congregations.

Together, they shared Jesus’ model of disciple-making as demonstrated in Scripture and equipped attendees with practical tools to live as disciples who make disciples. The response was overwhelming—marked by spiritual hunger, conviction, and excitement. Many expressed a deep desire to apply these teachings to their daily lives and ministries.

           

"Kenya will be a place I treasure in my heart for years to come. Being on the grounds of Africa reminded me how much God loves the world, including Africa. The culture was different for sure, but the need for a Savior is the same. John 3:16 leapt off the page of my heart and into my feet to move. He loves the WORLD, all of it, including Kenya! During one of the breakout sessions, I had an opportunity to share the gospel with the ladies that were
attending and it was such a sweet, unforgettable moment.

My biggest takeaway was watching the understanding of what disciple making is taking root in the minds of those we taught. Their idea of “discipleship” was different from the Christ model, but they did not know it—someone had to tell them. When the realization set in, the hunger to know and learn more took over. It was so encouraging to my heart to watch these Kenyan brothers and sisters become eager to embrace Jesus’ model of discipling. I look forward to hearing stories of how the Lord continues to move!"
— Jo

"As I’ve been processing the time we spent in Kenya, the biggest thing the Lord has been showing me is how intentional He is about relationships. He drew me in by His grace, and He’s still drawing others the same way. This trip reminded me that His kingdom doesn’t move through performance, but through simple obedience. Disciple making isn’t complicated. It’s just being available, opening the Word, and walking with people toward Jesus.

As much as the Lord used our team to minister to people in Kenya, He was also ministering to me. I’ve seen how much I need to grow in dependence on Him, especially in prayer. I can try to do things in my own strength, but the Lord keeps reminding me that He’s the one doing the work. I just need to abide, be faithful, and trust Him to produce the fruit. God is good."
— Jeremy

"Despite the spiritual warfare we experienced leading up to our departure for Kenya, it was evident that God had already gone before us and disrupted every plan of the enemy. We were met with an overwhelming sense of welcome from the people. They had a deep hunger, expectancy, and genuine openness to receive. They were attentive, eager learners, taking notes while leaning in with generosity and humility. Many were moved to repentance, especially in recognizing areas where they felt they had not fully discipled their own children. Several shared vulnerable, personal parts of their lives with us. There was a clear desire for transformation! As our time together went on, many began asking what “doing church” could look like moving forward after being introduced to a new model of discipling and community.

Our team operated in unity and excellence, truly allowing the Holy Spirit to work in and through each of us. Thanks be to God, we navigated challenges with grace, maintaining a spirit of joy and positivity that kept the atmosphere aligned for ministry. One of the most impactful moments was embracing their culture through worship, as we danced alongside them and experienced their expression of praise. It left a lasting impression on my heart. I walked away feeling like we learned just as much as we gave. Even our time on safari was a gift. Four hours filled with laughter, lighthearted connection, and awe as we witnessed God’s creation up close in such a majestic and natural setting. Thanks be to God for what He’s done and is doing!"
— Becky

We praise the Lord for what He is doing in Kenya! He is actively moving through His Church, and James and Chao continue to follow up with and pour into the pastors and church leaders who attended these conferences.

We remain prayerful that the Lord will continue drawing people throughout Kenya to Himself, transforming them into disciples who make disciples. Our team returned home with deep convictions to more faithfully live out Jesus’ model of disciple-making in their own daily walks. While we can never fully quantify the work the Lord accomplishes through a trip like this, we are already seeing beautiful signs of growth—and we trust Him to continue bringing the increase.

Easter is my favorite time of the year. When I was younger, I loved sunrise services (yes, I am old and that was once a big deal!). Now I love the Community Easter Egg Hunt. For the last 15 years, I have spent the Saturday morning before Easter at Rogers Park. I love the worship music played in the park and the joy on the kids’ faces when they have a basket full of eggs. But, most of all, I love hearing the GOSPEL presented to our community.

Yesterday, I had the JOY of reconnecting with Sheriff Zena Stephens, our Jefferson County Sheriff. I taught her daughter about 18 years ago when I was a music teacher.  Zena is very supportive of our Community Egg Hunt. She, along with four other on-duty police officers, will join for this year’s hunt.They will be there to engage with our children and families, while maintaining safety.  

I encourage you to come to the hunt, invite friends, and pause for a few minutes in the middle of Roger’s Park, and remember the reason for Easter – the GOSPEL reason. In addition to the egg hunt, we will have our first ever FAMILY Easter Service on Saturday evening. We will have Easter bags for the first 75 children. These bags have a few things to help the kids through the service. What a special time for children to worship with their families. Feel free to sit in service with your children, or if you need a little extra space, there will be tables in the commons area, and the service will be streamed there.  

If the family service on Saturday night is not a fit for your family, there are three Sunday services with our regularly scheduled Children’s Ministry.  See you at the Easter service and egg hunt!
Melissa

           

Wide-eyed, little toothless-dimpled smiles, tender hands, and hearts filled with love were recently able to go on mission right here in our community.  Sixteen AWANA families had the great privilege of visiting our church widows and delivering Valentine's flowers and cards to each of them.  This visit was more than just delivering flowers.  It was about sharing the love of Christ with others and letting our widows know that they are cherished, loved, and remembered. 

This special delivery mission comes with a pretty remarkable story that only God could have orchestrated.  My sweet momma went home to her Savior about a year and a half ago.  However, the twelve years before that, she lived her life as a widow after the passing of my daddy.  The first Valentine’s Day after my daddy passed away, was the first Valentine’s Day in their forty-four years of marriage that she had not received a Valentine from her love.  This realization sparked a mission in my momma.  She decided that if she missed getting a Valentine from her love, then surely all the other widows felt the same.  So, she spent the rest of her widowed Valentine days ministering to the widows at her church in Bevil Oaks.  Every Valentine’s Day she would deliver/mail special heart felt Valentines to each of them (maybe a day or three late-she wasn’t well known for her promptness J).  These simple cards were a special, cherished moment shared between two widows.   

Fast forward to about 6 months ago….  I was asked to lead in the ministry of finding Beaumont’s FBC partner families to deliver flowers and cards.  No one knew about my momma and her “card legacy” before asking me to take on this role.  I happily and eagerly agreed all while thinking about my momma.  In preparation for the Valentine deliveries, I was going through a drawer in my momma’s house.  I discovered her pile of Valentine cards that she would have used this year if she were still this side of heaven.  I was able to use those cards and AWANA families were able to deliver them to our widows.  Momma didn’t know when she placed those cards in that drawer that they would be delivered by the little toothless-dimpled smiles of our AWANA kiddos in her absence.  BUT God did!

May we never grow weary of doing good for the glory of God and the love of His people.  I challenge you to go and purposefully be on mission with your children.  Let them watch you, help you, and model you as you serve the Lord and His people.  Leave a “Card Legacy” for your children and grandchildren to follow!

           

Love is in the air. This time of the year, love seems to be everywhere. Before Christmas was over, stores had Valentine’s Day decorations on shelves. I must admit, I decorated my house for Valentine’s Day the first week of January. I think I just need to decorate for something after Christmas!

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. My daughter Grace loves hearts. She draws them all over her schoolwork. From the time she was little, we have always intentionally made Valentine’s Day special.

For the past few years, one of the ways that Grace and I have celebrated Valentine’s Day has been by delivering flowers to some of our church widows. Seeing their smile when we give them a flower is the best part of the day. I have always tried to bring Grace with me for visits to those in our faith family because I want her to always remember how important it is to reach out to those around us. We have spent time in the hospital and know how long those days can be; we remember how wonderful it can be when a friend enters the door for a visit.

I encourage you to sign up to bring a flower to a widow. There will be an opportunity to do this at AWANA. Perhaps you know someone in your neighborhood who would appreciate a flower to brighten their day. Take time to make that visit. Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to show the love of Christ to someone who may not feel loved. Look for those moments where kindness, a thoughtful expression, or the gift of a flower can make an impact on someone’s life. Then, through that connection, share the Gospel, the love of Christ.

           

The busiest time of year has passed. The school year is halfway over. Families have survived the trifecta of holiday months: October, November, and December. Gifts were exchanged, relatives were visited, and memories were made.

After surviving such a whirlwind of school dress up days, parties, and holiday plans, it can feel surreal to move on into the new year. The presence of Christ and unity in the Spirit defines the Christmas holiday. But what about after? How do we as parents keep the focus of Jesus alive and flourishing when the last Advent candle has been extinguished?

As we move into a new year, I challenge you to find ways to keep Christ at the center of the everyday and mundane. Every drop off or pick up, every practice or after school class, and every bedtime can be prime time for family discipleship. Deuteronomy 6:4-9, called the Shema, is the blueprint for parental discipleship: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

            Keeping Christ at the center of your home is only possible if Christ is at the center of your personal life. When thinking about New Year’s resolutions, resolve to prioritize your prayer, discipleship, and Bible study. Resolve to talk to your children about what they learned on Sunday and to go over memory verses for Wednesday. Resolve to make conversations about Christ the norm in your home. And remember, you are not alone in your call to disciple your children. The church is walking alongside and available to offer support, prayer, and discipleship.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! With the Children’s Christmas Party, Gift of Hope Light Park, and Christmas Eve services, we are well on the way to the twinkling of lights and the joyful laughter of children filling the air. Christmas is such an exciting time of the year.

In November, our AWANA club brought 150 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. There was such joy on our kids’ faces as they brought their carefully packed boxes that would be sent to a child on the other end of the world. It was exciting to see our children partnering with Samaritan’s Purse to share the Gospel through this shoebox ministry.

Whether you are like me and want the Christmas decorations up on November 1st, or you decorate the tree the day after Thanksgiving, this time of year is when we remember the HOPE and GIFT of CHRIST. As we go about our lives, shopping in stores, gathering with family, and listening to Christmas music, let us remember to share the hope that Christ brings with those we encounter. Here are some ideas: bring a friend to the light park, invite a neighbor to the Christmas Eve service, or bake and deliver cookies to a neighbor or someone on our FBC “shut-in” list here within our faith family.

Christmas is a beautiful time of the year. I love to sit by the Christmas tree and read a book or watch a Christmas movie. It is easy to get into the routine and not take time to reach out to someone else who may need a listening ear or a friendly smile. Let’s make this Christmas season one in which we are intentional about sharing Christ with those around us.

A Night for the Nations 2025 was filled with encouragement, challenge, and prayer. We gathered around tables, enjoyed delicious BBQ, and listened to testimonies from members of our faith community who participated in mission trips over the past year. As they shared, a common theme emerged: the transformative power of stepping outside their comfort zones to join God in His work in places like Kenya, Pakistan, and Spain.

Each story highlighted how serving alongside global partners and meeting people in their local contexts helped put faces to their prayers. This personal connection deepened their commitment to pray for the people and ministries they encountered.

We also learned more about the Lottie Moon Offering from two of our global partners who benefit from it annually. They shared how every dollar given makes a tangible difference—supporting their daily needs and freeing them to focus fully on ministry in the places God has called them. Our church’s goal for this year’s Lottie Moon Offering is $80,000. We invite you to take a Lottie Moon envelope and prayerfully ask the Lord how He would have you give.

Another highlight of the evening was learning about Unreached Unengaged People Groups (UUPGs) and our church’s history of engaging with them. A UUPG is defined as

• Unreached: Less than 2% of the population are evangelical Christians, with no sustainable, indigenous church movement capable of reaching the rest of the group without outside help.

• Unengaged: No known active church planting or missionary efforts are currently underway among them.

These groups often live in remote or restricted areas, speak minority languages, and may be culturally or politically isolated. Understanding this helps us prioritize our efforts in global missions.

In the past, our church has focused on UUPGs in Brazil and Nepal. This year, our global partners working in Nepal introduced us to a new group they are working to engage: the Nyashangpa (pronounced Knee-Shaaang-Pa). We are committing to learn about, pray for, and potentially serve among the Nyashangpa over the next year.

To close the evening, we split into two groups to hear more from the global partner families who joined us. In one prayer room, we heard the story of a family from our church who was called to the field five years ago and participated in a time of guided prayer over their current sports ministry. In the other, we spent time with the couple serving in Nepal, praying creatively over them, their national partners, and the Nyashangpa UUPG.

It was a powerful night of learning, celebration, and reflection—an opportunity to see how God is moving around the world through our faith family. We were challenged to consider the role each of us might play in His mission during this season of our lives. We praise the Lord for the chance to gather, worship, and grow together!

A season of Thanksgiving–from Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes to twinkling lights–our faith family is sharing the Gospel with our community and beyond. This year, I encourage you to be intentional and invite your friends, family, and neighbors to the Christmas Light Park and Christmas Eve services. This is a great opportunity to reach those around us with the message of Christ.

This year, our Children’s Christmas Party is on Sunday, December 7th, from 4:30-7:30. This is an exciting event for our children as we celebrate the birth of Christ through a gospel presentation, memorable crafts, and fun games! Because this party coincides with most community group parties, many of our regular volunteers are unavailable to serve. If possible, please consider serving at our Children’s Christmas Party. You can contact melissa@fbcbeaumont.org for more information.

Most of all, I encourage you to make an impact this holiday season by sharing Christ through serving those around you. Pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child, sign up to be a greeter for the Christmas Eve service, or share Jesus with the dad in line at the store buying those last-minute Christmas gifts! As opportunity arises, use this holiday season to share the light of Christ

As God has continued to grow our faith family, we find ourselves striving to be good stewards of finances and facilities, but most importantly, the families and friends God has blessed us with. Recent changes, including the arrangement of the worship center and updated lighting, are designed to create a more inviting and worshipful space. The heart behind our volunteers’ efforts and the added services is to make visitors feel welcome. Although we continue to invest efforts into tools such as social media, websites, and apps to help streamline communication and connection, there is no replacement for the authentic hospitality of a warm and welcoming handshake.

God’s Word often reminds us of the importance of hospitality (Romans 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9). In many ways, authentic hospitality is foundational to the identity and mission of the Church, reflecting the Gospel itself. This notion of Christ-centered hospitality is derived from the Greek word philoxenia, which literally means the “love of strangers.” Small acts of care and concern are the foundation for trust and a sense of belonging. Genuine hospitality is not about putting on a show; it’s about consistently demonstrating love while creating a space where people feel valued and appreciated.

Some time ago, I had the opportunity to visit several churches throughout Texas and Oklahoma. My intention for these Sunday morning visits was to evaluate their buildings and systems in the hopes of gaining ideas for our new worship center. Although amazed by many of these church buildings’ architecture and technology, one experience has stuck with me above all others. As I sat alone in a worship service evaluating the sound system, lighting, and projectors, a young father approached me. With a warm smile, he said, “I saw you by yourself. Would you like to sit with me and my family?” Sure, I could tell you about the technology in the room, but none of it had the same impact on me as that invitation.

As disciples of Jesus, everything we do should demonstrate our love for God and for other people. Ultimately, crafting a welcoming and loving environment is a responsibility that we each share as followers of Christ and part of a local church body. While focusing on simple acts of hospitality, we create the first space within our faith family where visitors can encounter Christ and grow in spiritual maturity. As individuals, we often feel that there is little we can do to make a lasting impact. However, God does big work in the small spaces of handshakes, kind words, and hospitality. Every act of disciple-making begins with a warm and welcoming introduction.  

Team. What a powerful word. Some think of sports teams, and others think of leadership teams.  I think of our Children’s Ministry team. This past month, we took on the task and honor of teaching children for three worship services. At the same time, AWANA began with a strong team of leaders!

There were chairs and tables to be moved. New signs were needed for each classroom.  Teams that had just formed for the new school year made decisions on moving to new times.  Additional classes and new teams were formed to meet the needs of the additional service.  Some leaders who served in years past returned to serve again. Sunday mornings now have a total of 98 adults who serve on a rotation, 1-4 times a month, between three service times. WOW! How amazing it is to see the faithfulness of our church family as we invest in our children.

For the first time in the last 15 years, we have our Children’s Ministry available consistently at 3 Sunday services.  At 9:00 and 10:15, we have classes for babies through 6th grade.  At 11:30, read this carefully, we have classes for babies through 2nd grade.  Yes you read that correctly.  Our amazing children’s ministry team has come together and extended our 11:30 class to second grade!!!  If you have children in this age group, you now have the opportunity to choose the 11:30 service!

Countless teams, leaders, helpers and teachers have come together to make 3 services of the Children's Ministry available to those that attend our Sunday Worship Services.  To each of you, I want to say “Thank You”.  I truly appreciate your commitment to investing in our children and begin a part of this ministry. I am excited to walk this journey with you as we teach the Bible to our children (by the way, our curriculum teaches the entire Bible in 3 years – pretty amazing!). God continues to bless us beyond our greatest expectations! 

In mid-May, a team from FBC Beaumont was sent out to go and care for families that serve the Lord through sports in some of the darkest places around the world. Our team lovingly led and invested in the children and youth from the families while the parents were poured into during the conference sessions. Nickie Miller was one of the team members and today we are sharing her main takeaways and convictions from the Lord as she reflects on this trip.

This was my second trip to serve families at this conference. Two years ago, I spent the majority of my time getting to know the teens and watching them have an instant connection with each other because of their shared experiences. I was amazed by their spiritual maturity. I learned about their lives in the host country and even learned a new game or two!

This year I was again looking forward to serving the teens and seeing some familiar faces. I spent my week connecting with students and catching up with the teens I met a couple years prior, seeing how much they have grown (literally) and meeting new faces that instantly stole my heart! There was a slight difference to the trip this time around. This year I spent a considerable amount of time getting to know some of the adults who were attending the meeting. It was those conversations that added to my perspective and made this trip distinct.

This year, it was the conversations during meals and after our time with the children that really made the week. There are specific faces that pop into my mind when I think how the Lord calls us into hard places to serve with flexibility, full surrender in the unknown and joy. I think of the sweet newlyweds who shared with me how different it is living in another country where basic supplies are not always available, or the single women serving in difficult places but with so much joy! I think of the moms that I met and talked with that are not able to run to coffee with a friend when she needs a break or schedule a much needed playdate for her child.

These men, women and families are not super-Jesus followers! They have the normal struggles like you and I. The excuses we use to say "No" to what God is calling us to because it may not fit our timing, they just adjust and persevere anyway fully relying on Jesus. They deal with serious illnesses like cancer, children with special needs and disabilities, marriage struggles and infertility just like everyone else. The difference is they often do it in another time zone, without much support while being very intentional in their relationships and still sharing Jesus. They do not shrink back from the hard. They don't use it as an excuse not to serve, they just lean in and serve where they are, with what they have been given. They hold things loosely and pivot for the unexpected obstacles.

There is a cost to this type of service, these families often miss big family events and milestones back home like graduations, weddings and even funerals. However, in the many conversations I had, it was not the hard but the good they shared. I saw the smiles on their faces and the sincere love for the culture and people God had placed them among to serve.

I look at the world map differently now than I ever have before. I no longer see random countries from my high school World Geography class. I see faces and remember the names of individuals and families who live and serve there. Because of my time spent alongside these families at the conference, my prayer time includes more than the 409, and has expanded way past state boundaries. God has called us to make disciples in ALL nations (Matthew 28:19-20) and for some, He has asked us to move there to do it.

This trip again showed me that God uses our everyday experiences, the good AND the hard, to encourage others. You don't need a fancy credential to serve others well. You can be a mom who is just a little further down the road of motherhood to encourage the mom on the other side of the world. To encourage her to keep pouring into that strong-willed child or hang on because the time with the clingy infant is so short but so important. God can use any season, pain or experience to help you minister, yes...minister to another. We just have to be willing and obedient to go, to share, right where we are.

Growth can mean change. It also brings more service opportunities. Growth may mean a different seat in the worship center or a different time for a Sunday morning community group.  Growth can mean new teams and new friends. 

I am not always the first person to make changes easily. I know that may surprise you but my cups have been in the same place in my kitchen cabinet, in my home, for the past 13 years!  I just celebrated 15 years at First Baptist Beaumont and no doubt, we have seen change. I have served in 4 different locations, in portable classrooms made of curtains and in modern classrooms like we enjoy today. The last few weeks, I have had LeeRoy moving tables all over the kids wing so when children arrive, we are prepared for them.  I have spoken with nearly 100 people over the last month about service opportunities in our children’s ministry on Sundays and in AWANA.  Wow!  Growth can lead to amazing moments as teams come together to teach the Bible and lead our children well. 

For the first time in the last 15 years, we have our Children’s Ministry available consistently at 3 Sunday services.  At 9:00 and 10:15, we have classes for babies through 6th grade.  At 11:30, read this carefully, we have classes for babies through 2nd grade.  Yes you read that correctly.  Our amazing children’s ministry team has come together and extended our 11:30 class to second grade!!!  If you have children in this age group, you now have the opportunity to choose the 11:30 service!

Countless teams, leaders, helpers and teachers have come together to make 3 services of the Children's Ministry available to those that attend our Sunday Worship Services.  To each of you, I want to say “Thank You”.  I truly appreciate your commitment to investing in our children and begin a part of this ministry. I am excited to walk this journey with you as we teach the Bible to our children (by the way, our curriculum teaches the entire Bible in 3 years – pretty amazing!). God continues to bless us beyond our greatest expectations! 

FBC Beaumont is experiencing an incredible season of growth, which is both a blessing and a beautiful challenge. Such growth is a clear sign of God’s favor. Yet with His blessings come responsibility. As Jesus taught in the Parable of the Talents, “the master entrusted his possessions to them” and expected His servants to live faithfully with what He had given (Matt. 25:14f). 

As we celebrate the presence of so many new faces and familiar smiles, we cannot risk overlooking the need to connect authentically and to help others find their spot. Like any growing family, we must ensure there is room at the table. To meet this need, we will begin an additional worship service this Sunday, September 7th. Our new service times will be 9:00 a.m., 10:15 a.m., and 11:30 a.m.

Adding services is not just about filling seats. It’s about seizing Kingdom opportunities. Every talent, every gift, every moment God entrusts to us has a Kingdom application and expectation. By opening up more services and children’s ministry times, we are investing what God has entrusted into our care so that more people can encounter Jesus and His people.

This season of growth is the return on investment from years of faithful service—nursery workers rocking babies, AWANA leaders investing in children, youth sponsors staying up late at camp, volunteers singing and serving, and countless hours of prayer and preparation poured out. Like the faithful servants who multiplied what the Master gave, we now experience the joy of more ministry and more responsibility.

Although Jesus often preached to large crowds, His greatest investments were made in small, personal settings. In the same way, as we expand outward, we must also go deeper. You are part of the church. The mission of the church is not solely about a Sunday morning assembly. Our greatest opportunities to invest in Christ’s work come in those small, personal spaces—over a meal, in a living room, across the table. So as we step into this next season, I encourage you: go beyond a handshake. Invite some of those new faces to lunch. If lunch goes well, invite them to your Community group. If you notice a spiritual influence in their lives during the Community group, ask them to join a Disciple group with you.
Let’s not be like the servant who buried his talent and had nothing to show when the Master returned. Instead, may we hear those words we all long for: “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Master” (Matt. 25:23).

In the Grip of Grace,

Dr. Moody
Lead Pastor
FBC Beaumont

New pencils, crayons, and notebooks often remind us of the excitement of those new school year traditions. Churches have Back to School events and Promotion Sunday. We had an amazing time at Kidz Fest as families and area churches came together for fun, fellowship, worship and a gospel centered message. Kids are excited to meet new teachers at school and in our children’s ministry classes. What a great time of the year!

Along with school comes all the new exciting extracurricular activities. Football begins soon and everyone begins cheering for their team. We are having a 5th Sunday fellowship here at Beaumont’s First Baptist Church (August 31st); everyone is encouraged to represent their team! Some may be surprised to see the team that Grace I will be representing at the fellowship. We are so excited for those fun moments bringing our faith family together in community.

AWANA begins again at the end of August. Kids will memorize scripture with a passion and many leaders will listen to verses, have faith conversations, and plant seeds that will grow throughout the lives of the AWANA child. Parents will invest in their children as they work through their handbook, using it as a tool to disciple their children. This year, we are going to have a new format for loading videos for AWANA AT HOME (stay tuned). Also, new for this year, we are encouraging families to learn a verse per month and post videos saying their verse together as a family. We will do some random drawings throughout the year for Family of the Month and at the end of the year, we will draw for a Family of the Year! It is my prayer that this will encourage families to learn scripture together and to live out those verses as a family.

As you begin the new school year, remember the main responsibility you have as a parent is to disciple your child. So, we encourage you to find ways to study God’s word, reach the community, and build a heart of ministry in your child. For Grace and I, we often do hospital visits together. We know the feeling of being in a hospital room all too well so we like to show up with snacks! When we can’t go in person, we try to send a card or small gift to someone we know has had a medical situation. That is our passion born out of our life’s experience. Through those opportunities, we try to share the love of Christ. Find your passion as a family. Maybe it is someone on your street that needs a little extra help with their yard. Maybe it is a teacher that could use some encouragement, so your family brings them a sonic drink. Look for creative ways to be the feet of Jesus in your everyday life. Make the 2025-2026 school year the best year yet!

What a summer it has been! Student ministry is exciting in that summer ministry is very different from ministry during the school year. Whereas students are locked down to a Monday-Friday school schedule during the year, the summer allows for more freedom from week to week and the ability to do mission trips as well as go to summer camp. Both seasons are fruitful and necessary for the student’s growth as disciples.

This summer, we had the opportunity to take a group of students to serve alongside Sojourn Church in Portland, Oregon. This has become an annual trip for us, and it serves as a tool for our high school students to share their faith in a challenging culture and environment.

They boldly shared their faith in Jesus with the people of Portland and Vancouver, Washington. It is amazing to see students take the message of Jesus seriously and serve so passionately. This is where the Great Commission often moves from a good idea to a reality in their lives.

We also had the fantastic opportunity to take our students to camp at Falls Creek in Oklahoma. This week is always an absolute highlight of our year, and this year was no different. Many students placed their faith in Jesus this year, and others took the call to repent of their sin seriously.

God is doing something magnificent among today’s middle school and high school students. The passion that they have for Jesus, His church, and disciple making is awesome to see. Thanks to everyone who prayed for camp and to those who donated to help students experience this life change at Falls Creek. Your Kingdom investment is so appreciated!

It may seem strange to be talking about Christmas in July, but that’s precisely what we are encouraging you to do! The greatest gift we could give is the love of Jesus. That’s why our faith family is excited to once again partner with Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse. Each year, Operation Christmas Child sends hope, joy, and the message of Jesus Christ to children around the world through a simple shoebox gift.

Operation Christmas Child is a global outreach initiative that delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to children in over 170 countries and territories worldwide. Each box is packed with fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and — most importantly — the love of Christ. For many children, this will be their first gift ever. I had the privilege to experience this personally last year when I was able to present one of the shoeboxes packed at FBC to a child in Nepal. The joy on her face as she tentatively opened her special box is unforgettable! She hugged and kissed the little doll in her box and would not put it down! I loved watching as she and her mom looked at each item in her box with such gratitude and wonder.

But it’s more than just a box. Every shoebox is also an opportunity for a child to hear about God’s love through The Greatest Gift, a Gospel booklet distributed alongside the shoeboxes in their own language. This impacts not only the child but the whole family as they share in their child’s special box. Many also have the chance to participate in The Greatest Journey, that teaches them how to follow Jesus and share their faith with others.

You can Pack a Shoebox – Pick up an empty shoebox from the church or use one of your own. Fill it with small toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and a personal note or photo. Choose to pack for a boy or girl in one of three age categories (2–4, 5–9, or 10–14) and bring your box to the FBC Beaumont Campus. Also, AWANA kids will have an opportunity to pack a box and bring it to AWANA to participate in a contest to see which group packs the most boxes!

You can make a financial donation through the link provided below. These donations will be used to purchase items to fill shoeboxes at the Packing Party!

These shoeboxes will go to the most unreached people groups. A box can be packed for roughly $15 dollars, but any amount helps! (Donate To Help Purchase Items) All proceeds go towards ordering items to pack boxes to be sent through FBC Beaumont. 

Pray for the children who will receive these gifts, for the volunteers who distribute them, and for the local churches around the world who will share the Gospel through these boxes.

"Let’s come together as a church family to make a global impact — one shoebox at a time. Every gift is an opportunity to touch a child’s heart and introduce them to the hope we have in Jesus."

Although the pre-teen ministry at FBC Beaumont is relatively new, it has continued to grow spiritually and numerically at an incredible pace. Fast forward to this summer. What started as a few children has now grown to 109 kids and adult sponsors preparing to board buses for pre-teen camp. As children load luggage and find seats, proud parents offer hugs and encourage their children to "behave, and to brush their teeth" (one can only hope)!

As a photographer and videographer observing from the sidelines, the incredible effect that this ministry has had on these kids is obvious. None of which would be possible without their parents and the dedicated team of volunteers who love these kids and the Lord. Pre-teens occupy a unique stage in their faith journeys as they continue to shape their identity in Christ. This is a formative time when they need not only to feel like they belong in the church but also to take ownership of their faith in Christ.

(Photos by Cat Sims)

At pre-teen camp, I had the profound privilege of witnessing firsthand the impact of faith and community on the lives of these young believers. Yes, these kids were silly! However, the silliness was more a punctuation within the stories of unfiltered faith, openness, authenticity, and understanding. Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”(Matthew 19:14). Many of these kids have grown up within Jesus-focused environments. They have memorized numerous verses in AWANA and actively participated in peer-led worship on Sundays. This was particularly evident at pre-teen camp, where they participated in times of Bible study and worship.

One of my key takeaways from this experience was the remarkable effort our sponsors and leaders made to meet these young students where they are in life. The Apostle Paul teaches, “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). This was lived out at camp as leaders walked alongside pre-teens in their moments of joy on the recreation field, offered encouragement within the dorms, and most importantly, guided them in their spiritual journeys through heartfelt prayers and meaningful conversations. Their willingness to eat dino-nuggets for lunch,  invest their time, and put aside personal comforts truly embodied the servant leadership that Paul speaks of.

Ultimately, this camp was more than just a half week of fun and games; it was an opportunity to plant seeds of faith and cultivate a sense of divine purpose. The lessons learned during this time of immersion in Christ will resonate within their hearts long after the camp has ended, empowering them to continue their faith journeys. Pre-teens may be young, but as both today's congregation and tomorrow's leaders, their potential to make a difference in God's Kingdom is still developing.

If you are new to our faith family, it may surprise you to know that Beaumont’s First Baptist Church is more than 152 years old. Through many seasons, Beaumont’s First Baptist Church has been a testimony to faith, resilience, and God’s endless provision.

Founded in 1872 as a small group of faithful settlers who gathered in the upper room of the Beaumont courthouse, FBC’s roots were humble yet steadfast. From this meager assembly, the Lord began growing a story of faith and ingenuity. As Beaumont was being transformed by its own “modern-day gold rush” thanks to the oil boom, FBC Beaumont found itself at the epicenter of growth and opportunity. Although extraordinary displays of faith and service mark the history of Beaumont's First Baptist Church, our story is not without its human errors.  Such as the skepticism about installing electric lights in 1888, which was dismissed as an “impractical fad.” Still, through trials and triumphs, our congregation remained steadfast, rooted in God’s Word, and committed to His work. Through financial depression, World Wars, and times of great revival, the people of Beaumont’s First Baptist remained in God’s hands.

Over the past 152 years, we’ve built five worship spaces, each serving to deepen our roots as we continued to spread the message of Jesus’ great love. It is impossible to separate the history of FBC Beaumont from landmark moments such as the Oil Boom, Industrialization, and the funding of institutions like East Texas Baptist University, Baptist Hospital, and Lamar College. Today, we see history repeating itself as we are experiencing continued growth. While reflecting on our rich history, we are inspired to remain steadfast and honor God’s faithfulness. Our past encourages us to dream big, stay humble, and trust fully in our Lord's message and mission. By following God’s callings, we will continue to grow and serve for His glory.

From preschoolers to high schoolers, May is the month of graduations and celebrations. Thinking about our faith family graduates, I am excited to see their accomplishments and watch them live out their faith sharing the gospel and making disciples.

As the Children’s Ministry Assistant, it has been a privilege to see many of them come through FBC’s Children’s Ministry and Youth Ministry. I observed them grow into young people with faith as their foundation. My son, Michael, will move to the youth group this coming year. I'm eager to see him grow spiritually and look forward to the day when he participates in Senior Sunday. It is my prayer that my son’s walk with the Lord will continue to mature and shape his direction in life.

I have served in the kids’ ministry at Beaumont’s First Baptist Church, in some capacity, for over 25 years. Walking around each week, seeing kids with smiling faces and running to give me and other leaders hugs is a joy beyond words. It is such an honor to serve and partner with our parents, leaders, teachers, and children. I would not have it any other way than to give my life and heart to this ministry. It is a delight.

Spring is filled with egg hunts, Easter services, end of the year awards, and joy at every corner. The month of May arrives, and Mother’s Day is a time where many reflect on their own mothers, their children, and other women who have greatly influenced their lives.  My own mother has been an inspiration as she set the example of great strength, determination, and faith.

My own journey of motherhood looks different than most as my daughter was a gift through adoption. That gift is one that I never take for granted as someone chose me to be Grace’s mother. My sweet daughter was in the NICU for three months waiting on her forever family. When I received the call, I knew immediately she would be my little girl.
Grace radiates joy. She makes friends everywhere we go. When I adopted Grace, I knew she had hydrocephalus and a VP shunt. I did not know she would be a Cerebral Palsy warrior for a few more years. Hearing the words Cerebral Palsy was so difficult. Maybe you are hearing a diagnosis for the first time. Know that I understand that moment. It is hard. Really, there are no words to explain how one feels knowing the road ahead is uncertain. This I do know: Grace is a blessing beyond measure. I am a better person and a better minister because I have been chosen to walk this journey as Grace’s mom.
Grace is learning to play the guitar, and she sings with all her heart. She plays adapted sports, and on the playground at her co-op, she sits on a picnic blanket full of toys with children excited to play with her. She talks about going to camp all the time and loves to travel or just stroll around the mall. Being Grace’s mom is an adventure. We pray together, cry together, and laugh together. 
This Mother’s Day looks different for many. Some will spend the day without a mom or grandma for the first time. Some will still be longing to be a mom. Some will celebrate motherhood through adoption, and some may be long-time moms or first-time moms. Wherever you are this Mother’s Day, know that God is using every part of your story in a great way. You will minister to someone on a similar path or maybe a totally different path by sharing your story. My story is one that I prayed for, even though I really had no idea how amazing it would be, as God alone is writing this story through the eyes of my daughter, Grace.

In our recent mission trip to Kenya, our team spent an entire morning of disciple-making training exploring the eternal implications and practical application of the assurance of salvation. For a new believer, confidence in one’s salvation is crucial to consistent spiritual growth, and a disciple maker needs to be trained to give this assurance to their disciples.

Easter, of course, embodies the message of hope and the assurance of salvation for those who trust in the Lord. Although all of our Christian holidays are beautiful reminders of God’s love, none of them would not exist without Easter. Christmas celebrates the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah, who took on flesh and lived without sin. Palm Sunday highlights Jesus’ Lordship as both the Son of God and the Son of Man. Good Friday recognizes God’s profound sacrifice in restoring fellowship with His children. But it is Easter Sunday that brings everything to its culmination of hope. Through His sinless life, sacrifice on the cross, and resurrection from the dead, Jesus fulfilled every aspect of the covenant we had broken. Easter presents an opportunity to reflect on the high cost that secured our salvation. Once saved, always saved, if truly saved. If you are genuinely saved, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit and held secure in God’s hand (John 10:29). Confidence in this promise is not found in yourself, your exemplary works, your genealogy, or your heritage. This great assurance of salvation is in Jesus’ completed work and God’s very nature and character.

In Kenya, we spent considerable time training 60+ African DMDs (disciple-making disciples) how to apply the vital truths of Romans 5:12-21, a text that compares two figures—Adam and Jesus. Paul reminds us that all humanity was born under Adam and inherited his sinful nature and condemnation (Romans 3:23). Sin and death entered the world through Adam. But grace and salvation are available through the last Adam, Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection secured redemption for His church. Every Easter serves as a proclamation of the availability of a new arrangement—a new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). On Friday of the first Easter, the temple's foundation shook with an earthquake and the temple veil was torn. On Easter Sunday, the stone was rolled away and the tomb was found to be empty. Every Easter since—including from Beaumont, TX, to Malindi, Kenya—there has been a proclamation that Jesus Christ has defeated the power of sin and death. This victory ensures that those who trust in Jesus are forgiven and assured of their place in God’s eternal Kingdom.

Everything changed at the moment of Jesus’ resurrection. For this reason, Easter is not just a historical event. It is a continual invitation to live out the freedom and assurance of Christ’s supreme victory. Easter reminds us to shift our gaze from our inadequacies to God’s sovereignty. Your salvation is assured because you did not earn it, and you cannot lose it. Take time this Easter to reflect on the enormity of this great promise and celebrate the assurance of your salvation.

Fishing. Canoeing at the lake. Memories of a childhood friend. Camp food. Powerful worship experiences. Seeing the Bible come alive. Yes, you guessed it! We are registering for Preteen Camp 2025!

I love the flood of memories that come back to my heart and mind every year when we begin planning for preteen camp. East Texas Baptist Encampment is a special place.
Missions seem to be a theme in our children’s ministry in recent years. I shared last month about our AWANA kids delivering flowers to widows in our faith family. Our students hear from missionaries, short and long term, in our AWANA large group times.

This year, we will have a REAL-LIFE MISSIONARY FAMILY on our campgrounds, and they will share during the worship services. How exciting! This family serves in Zambia and will be in the states for a short time, and we get to have them at camp this summer! I am so excited to see what God is going to do in the lives of our students.

Please pray for our students as they hear the gospel at preteen camp. Pray for our leaders as they share the gospel. Pray for those at the encampment preparing for us to come this summer. Pray for the child that may be called to missions this year.
What an extraordinary opportunity it is to take a week out of our schedules to be at camp and be a part of the story God is writing in the lives of our preteen students.

*Due to security reasons, we will not mention names of the families or locations that we served in on this trip.*

The trip to Pakistan with a small team from our faith family was one that has been in the works for the past two years! Here’s a little backstory: We have two families in Pakistan that are global partners. One came through a familial connection in our church; the other came through a connection on a past trip our church took to the Netherlands two years ago. On that Netherlands trip, we met another family working in Pakistan. When we found out they knew and worked on the same bigger team as the other family we support, we were amazed by the connection God was making!

From that time, we started dreaming about what it would look like for us to bring a team over to work with both families. A couple of weeks ago, the Lord brought that dream to life as we spent the week serving alongside both of these families in Pakistan! We are praising the Lord for working out the details to bring together this team that went and served alongside the global partners that our faith family supports at just the right time.

Our time in Pakistan was short, but full! We stayed on a college campus where one of the families lives and works on staff. We spent our mornings all together at this family’s home. We would eat breakfast, worship, and walk through a devotional together. Then, one of the global partners led us through times of training on their approach to ministry in Pakistan and the bigger picture vision of God’s work in Pakistan.

Our team was humbled as we learned, realizing just how little we knew about the history of Pakistan, Christianity in Pakistan, and working with people from a Muslim background. One of the most surprising things we learned was that there are around 2 million Christians in Pakistan! There is an interesting history regarding Christianity in Pakistan (that I don’t have time to share here, but if you’re interested, I encourage you to do some research!). Praise the Lord for the ways He’s already been working in Pakistan to establish His church!

We also learned helpful information to understand that, just as Christians have a variety of denominations and areas of differing views, so do Muslims. It is not a monolithic thing, but varies from person to person. As a part of our learning, we got to visit a very popular Muslim shrine where people go to pray in hopes that their prayers will be more effective. It was spiritually heavy to walk on the marble-tiled floor of this historic shrine and see the physical beauty contrasted with the tangible despair etched on the faces of those visiting in desperation to have their prayers answered. For Muslims all over the world, it is valuable to seek to understand their worldview and what they personally believe rather than assuming based on religious rules.

In the afternoons and evenings, we were able to go and serve in a variety of ways. One day we spent time with a local Pakistani couple in a village near the big city. This couple is sold out for the gospel. As they sought God’s plans for them, they felt prompted to move to this village a few years ago and open a school as a way to minister and share Christ’s love in this village. Through this school, the Lord is using them to be a beacon of hope and the gospel truth in this village that faces many physical challenges as well as great spiritual darkness. We were happily surprised when they showed us discipling material that they use from Operation Christmas Child after handing out shoeboxes each year! That was a neat moment to make the connection between the shoeboxes our faith family gives and see how they are being used in Pakistan to reach this village! While we were visiting, we were also able to visit the families of some of their students and spend time with them and pray over their physical and spiritual needs. It felt like we were experiencing the gospels and Acts brought to life!

Another highlight of our time there was getting to help lead a youth night of worship for 400 teenagers in conjunction with a local Christian school! These teenagers all came from a Christian home, but not all had personal relationships with Christ. During this night of worship, we gathered in a beautiful tent in the middle of a neighborhood to worship the Lord and proclaim the gospel. As Nate was preaching the gospel on stage, the Muslim call to prayer went off. It was a haunting reminder of the lostness in Pakistan and the need for believers to lovingly and boldly proclaim the truth about Christ. We pray that the Lord will water the seeds planted in the hearts of all who heard the gospel that evening!

The rest of our time was spent meeting locals in a park and having spiritual conversations, learning how to play cricket, sharing testimony in a Christian studies class with teenagers, going on a scavenger hunt in a local market, and spending time with three Muslim boys that our global partners have been building a relationship with for the past three years. Each of these experiences was unique and provided opportunities for our team to have conversations about Christ and point believers and those who are not yet believers to the beauty and reality of Jesus.

One final aspect of our trip that was just as important as the serving opportunities was the time we got to spend loving on and caring for the global partners there in Pakistan. It is a hard place to live and work. They are far from their families back in the US. They struggle to secure visas to live there legitimately. They are constantly facing challenges to simply live their lives there, much less to do ministry. The time we got to spend listening to their stories, learning from them, and encouraging one another in Christ was invaluable. Many tears were shed on their part expressing their gratitude for our team spending the time and money to come and walk alongside them for a week and share in the burden for people of Pakistan to come to know Christ.

Thank you, faith family, for praying over the team that went to Pakistan and for the gospel opportunities while there. I encourage you–right now–to stop and pray for the global partners living and working in Pakistan. Pray that the Lord will encourage them and help them not grow weary of doing good (1 Cor. 15:58). Pray also for the over 240 million people in Pakistan who do not yet know Jesus Christ as Lord. May the Lord send more laborers into the harvest there (Luke 10:2)!

A few years ago, I felt compelled to integrate missions into our children’s ministry with more intentionality. As I look at our students, I often think about how many may be called to missions. I see some of them leading worship in our preteen ministry and wonder if that calling is beginning in their own lives. My daughter is playing guitar now and LOVES missions, too. I often consider how God will one day use her.

Our Sunday curriculum has a Mission’s Moment in each unit. In AWANA large group on Wednesdays, several missionaries or mission related groups speak throughout the year. While all of that educates our children in the mission work that our church supports, it is those moments that our children EXPERIENCE missions that, I believe, resonate in their lives for years to come.

In February, our students had a mission’s opportunity that was so very special. Our families signed up through AWANA to deliver flowers to our widows on Valentine’s Day. This simple act makes a widow feel seen, and it trains our children to live out scripture by caring for the widow and the orphan.

It is exciting to hear the stories of missions abroad. We are prayerful for those going on numerous mission trips this next year. We are also thankful for local mission opportunities that inspire a kindergartener to be the hands and feet of Christ. I still remember the many times that my mom brought me to check on shut-ins from our church when I was a child. Grace goes with me on hospital and nursing home visits, and she delivered flowers to widows on Valentine’s Day. I pray she remembers those moments as an adult and continues to live on mission reaching out to those that need a smile, a hug, a kind word, and maybe a flower.

Nate Jordan

Hello!  It is truly a joy to serve at Beaumont’s FBC with our student ministry.  Our heart for students is to have them BE a disciple of Jesus and to learn to MAKE disciples for Jesus.  This process looks a little different for every student and our weekly ministries exist to help students along their path as disciples.

Our primary means of disciple-making are our Disciple 6 groups. These are small intentional disciple-making groups of 3-4 students and one leader. Most of our leaders are adults, but this year, we also have three high school students leading groups on their own.

CURT EDGERTON

I'm high jacking Nate's blog post!

Over the last few years, I've experienced young people leading other students to the Lord at summer camp while we slept (I need my sleep)! I've watched as the Lord transitioned students from moments of incredible crisis to the peace of a saved and sanctified life. Recently, in a random conversation, a student casually mentioned guiding their peer group through a disciple-making resource at lunch every day.

I spent many years serving in various roles in student ministry. Still, I had never experienced God working as powerfully and consistently as I have seen through FBC Beaumont's student ministry. These stories are youth ministry folklore—the Bigfoot living in Atlantis, student ministry wildest dreams.

I don't share this to boast about Nate Jordan, though his obedience and consistent faithfulness to God's calling play a critical role. Read this and know that God is at work as you disciple your children, invest in disciple groups, share in community, and pray for our faith family.

Nate Jordan

Our students went through “The Way” this fall in their groups.  This was an amazing experience and our groups truly grew from this experience.  In fact, we had several students put their faith in Jesus for the first time during the groups!
 
Our students have a hunger for the things of God and are not complacent just to be “youth group kids” but want to truly know God and make him known.  I want to encourage parents of teenagers as well as our entire faith family to take your child’s faith seriously and to invest as much as you can in their spiritual walk.  It is a great investment in the church of today!

We also had the opportunity to take our students to Hot Hearts in January.  It was an amazing weekend and our students spent time worshipping God and hearing powerful Gospel messages. It was amazing to see God moving in all the churches in Southeast Texas and beyond.  It is a joy to work together with the church in Southeast Texas to further the cause of the Gospel!

BE ONE.  MAKE ONE.

Nate