Leadership Posts
Leadership & Church Assistance
All through the TEBA churches have been hosting Vacation Bible Schools. VBS is one of the greatest evangelistic opportunities a church can provide reaching countless children and their families.
Church Spotlight – First Baptist Conroe
In our February spotlight, we’re excited to interview Dr. Jeff Berger. Jeff serves as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in downtown Conroe. Originally from Yoakum, TX, Jeff received his DMin from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Carrie have two children, Kaylee (age 27) and Will (age 21).
2026 Sabbatical Report
I was grateful to have completed in June, the Sabbatical our Association provides to full-time Ministry Staff upon their completion of every 7 years of consecutive service to the TEBA. Our policy reads in part, “the purpose of sabbatical leave is to benefit both the association and the full-time ministry staff. It is intended to be a period of spiritual refreshment and equipping to further the full-time ministry staff’s expertise and the mission of the Tryon Evergreen Baptist Association.” It is also required that “Upon completion of the Sabbatical, a report is to be provided to the Administrative Team and the Executive Board.”
Summer Reading & Listening 2026
I reached out to several ministers in the TEBA and asked for recommendations to read and podcasts to enjoy. I wanted to share with you a selection of what was suggested to me, which you might find of interest as well. The book descriptions are taken from the Amazon website, as are the links to purchase the books, and the podcast description and links are from the sites they are found. Whether you listen to one of these podcasts or read some of these books or others on your own list, allow your summer to be one for personal growth.
More Than Numbers
Church Planting is a critical pressing need in the TEBA. Please understand, I acknowledge we are blessed with many healthy churches. We also have churches in the Association who have plateaued or are declining. We need to help churches stay healthy, get healthy, and recover to their God-given potential.
Church Spotlight – StoneBridge Church
In this month’s Church and Pastor spotlight, we spoke with Pastor Steve Bradley from Stonebridge Church in The Woodlands (formerly Woodlands Parkway Baptist Church), where he has served as Senior Pastor for 33 years. Prior to this role, he served for 13 years on staff at Second Baptist Church in Houston. Steve earned his education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married for 45 years with two grown children and six grandchildren.
His Heart – Our Hands
As churches gather to celebrate the glory of the Resurrection this Easter, we do so in a world often marked by division, busyness, and skepticism toward organized religion. But what would happen if churches rediscovered a simple but powerful approach to outreach: loving people through action. Servant Evangelism, the cultivation of a Kindness Culture, and an External Church Focus are three deeply connected ideas that help faith communities reflect the heart of Jesus in tangible, credible ways.
Deacon Ministry Training
The partnership of Pastors and Deacons in ministering to the church family is significant to the health and well-being of every church. Time and again, the Deacons in our Association have asked when another time of training will be made available that is specific to Deacon Ministry.
Church Planting: Building Healthy Churches
Church Planting: Building Healthy Churches Through Intentional Development
Church planting remains one of the most effective ways to reach new people and renew existing faith communities. Yet planting healthy, sustainable churches requires far more than vision and passion alone. Successful church planting is the result of an intentional process that includes recruitment, assessment, training, residency, coaching, collaboration, and partnerships. When these elements work together, they form a healthy pathway that supports church planters and strengthens the mission of the Church.
Choosing Gratitude
Looking for the perfect New Year’s Resolution? Why not choose to be grateful? Gratitude is one of the simplest gifts we can give, yet it is often the one we withhold the most. Modern research and biblical wisdom both point to this truth: gratitude strengthens relationships, deepens faith, and transforms our outlook on life.
Church Spotlight – University Heights Baptist Church
In this month’s Church and Pastor spotlight, we spoke with Richard Rogers, pastor of University Heights Baptist Church in Huntsville for the past 27 ½ years. Richard completed his undergraduate work at Baylor and both his graduate and doctoral work at Southwestern in Fort Worth, where he met his wife, Sarah, as she was completing her degree in Religious Education. They’ve been married for 36 years and have two adult children, Libby & Luke.
A Year of Ministry
This past ministry year has been impactful in so many ways. Here are just some of the highlights of what your Association has been focused on in serving our local church families: Church Planting / Missions, Leadership Development, Church Strengthening, Church Health