Five months ago, we conducted a text survey for our association pastors. We asked them two questions: “What could the DBA do for you personally?” and “How could the DBA help your church?” The overwhelming response to the first question was the desire for gatherings for lunch or coffee, with the intention of fostering fellowship and encouragement.
This information was shared with our Revitalization and Vision Focus Committees and discussed in our staff meetings. It was formalized in our Revitalization Committee, leading to the decision to identify leaders in each region of our association to organize gatherings. The county had been divided into six regions, and the following leaders were identified:
- City of Denton – Beau Hughes, The Village Church, Denton
- Northeast – Chris Walden, First Rock Fellowship, Aubrey
- Northwest – Grant Bowles, First Baptist Church, Sanger
- Southwest – Beaux Hinote, First Baptist Church, Justin
- South – Donald Tittle, First Baptist Church, Flower Mound
- Southeast- Ysavel Medina, The Ridge Church, Carrollton
These leaders have been in touch with the pastors of the local churches and have scheduled gatherings to provide a space for mutual support, fellowship, encouragement, and prayer. The aim is to not only provide mutual support but also to encourage personal growth and development among the ministers.
Grant Bowles, the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Sanger, will also serve as the Coordinator for the Northwest Region of Denton County’s Better Together Gatherings. When asked about his thoughts on the Better Together Gatherings, he responded, “God built us for community. That is the simple and complete truth. Just as the members of our churches need to be in community with the church, we as leaders in the church need the community of other leaders with whom we can share both our victories and losses. Having a group of men with whom I can pray and have fellowship gives me the strength to get back up and helps keep me focused on serving my Savior and His church. We are Better Together!”
Ysavel Medina, the Better Together Coordinator for the Southeast Region of Denton County, added, “Think it about: Peter, Paul, James, and John. What do you have in common? These great bond servants from the past found they were better when they were together with other bond servants.” Ysabel added, “I see no better reason to join your fellow DBA pastors just once a quarter for a time of fellowship, friendship, encouragement, and mutual problem-solving than our Better Together Gathering. I look forward to seeing each of you soon!”
In addition to pastors, groups have been formed for Church Planters and their wives and student ministers. We hope to see more groups forming in the future, such as groups for different language groups, worship leaders, children’s ministers and directors, Executive Assistants, Executive Pastors, and Bi-Vocational pastors. If you would like to join one of these groups, you can visit our website, scroll down to Better Together luncheons, and register for the one that applies to your area. If you want to start a group, please email us at morgan@dentonbaptist.org. We will then share this with the appropriate team to get it started.