“It has been said it is often lonely at the top.” Moreover, it is required in stewards, “that a man be found faithful” (I Cor. 4:2).
There is an adage that says, “Give them flowers while they are still alive.” So today, during this time of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I feel that is exactly what I need to do. I feel that unless you have had an opportunity to get to know the leadership of the BMA of America, as I have, it might be easy to form unrealistic opinions because sometimes we do our best coaching from the stands. God has richly blessed our association through the years with excellent leaders. You might ask what makes a good department leader? To that, I would declare passion and calling. Most, if not all, of our leaders could excel in secular business yet have chosen to follow God’s will for their lives. Every true pastor knows that the Holy Spirit is the true driving force that guides us day by day. And believe me, I pray that we do not do what we do for money or fame, but to bring glory to the Father.
Having previously served on the Coordinating Committee for 14 years and 6 years as a national officer, I was privileged to get up close and personal with many of them as we, from time to time, had to agree to disagree for the sake of the whole. It would be impossible to attempt to mention them all, for some did not hold positions with titles but labored in the shadows supporting those who were. So, to you who have first been asked and second accepted to lead us, may God give you wisdom.
I remember our late Brother I.V. Hight telling me, when I came into this office, that with around 300 churches, you won’t make everyone happy, but what really matters at the end of the day is to do your best to please God. Names and faces are flooding my mind as I write this. Let us take this opportunity to pray for our leadership and their staff as we unite to be found faithful in His service.
May 2026 be our best year yet. Brothers and Sisters, you know who you are, and so do I. Keep up the good work and have a Merry Christmas.
— Your co-laborer in Jesus, Paul White
From Our Missionaries
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “The holiday season, which for most Hispanics runs from November to January, is a time of parties, gatherings, traditions and special meals. This tradition offers a golden opportunity for our Hispanic church to build bridges of friendship and share the gospel.
“Our main activity this month will be a special dinner on Saturday, Dec. 20. During the event, we will sing Christmas carols, narrate the story of the first Christmas, play games and light candles to sing ‘Silent Night.’
“Every year, this celebration is a blessing, and Ebenezer looks forward to this date as attendance is always high. Visitors often leave with a positive impression of our community. At Ebenezer, there is an atmosphere of grace.
“Our Discovery Bible Studies (DBS) continue to run as usual, and the Celebration Services have been inspiring, with messages focused on the events of the first Christmas.
“We ask that you continue to support us and pray for us. To God be the glory!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “We had a great week at Faith Chapel! Our numbers were down, mostly due to people being out sick, but it was also bitterly cold Sunday morning (11°), so I’m sure that had an effect too. It’s just hard to get out in weather like that. But we still had a good number and a great time of worship!
“This is one of those weeks when we are waiting on the floor contractor before much else can happen. They were not able to get here last week, but they say they will be here on Monday. Hopefully, they will. We are working on the electrical. In the meantime, there is still quite a bit to do there, and we have some sound projects as well. This is certainly weather for inside work.
“We want to thank everyone for your support, especially for your prayers. Please join us in prayer for our members and visitors who are sick, and for the lost in our community who so desperately need Jesus, that we may reach them with His gospel.”
Faith Journey, Benton: Bryan Clay writes, “We had a wonderful day at Faith Journey, celebrating the Christmas season. Our children presented a Christmas program that was very special for our families and friends. One of our ladies spent a lot of time helping the kids prepare, and it really showed. The children shared the Christmas story through the eyes of two shepherds in a fun podcast-style program. They interviewed the donkey, the cow, the wise men and the angels about what they saw on the night Jesus was born. It was both funny and meaningful, and the kids did an amazing job. The children also sang ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain,’ with one of our ladies playing guitar and singing along.
“After the program, we enjoyed cookies, milk and punch, and spent time fellowshipping together as we look forward to celebrating the birth of our Lord.
“We were also blessed to have one of our young ladies make personalized Christmas cards for a local nursing home Bible study group. The ladies are excited to share these cards with their friends and family and to be able to give something back during this special time of year.”
Misión Gracia Soberana (Sovereign Grace), NWA:Roberto Marcelletti writes, “Greetings, brothers and sisters in Christ. This week, we were traveling to Kentucky for my graduation. We traveled on Monday and were accompanied by my sisters Iris and Angeles. It was a very special time that we shared with these two sisters of our congregation. We were able to greet and meet brothers from different parts of the world who came to graduate.
“Thursday, we had the invitation to the president’s house, Dr. Mohler and his wife welcomed us, and we were able to have a very special time.
“Friday at 10 a.m., in the middle of a beautiful snowy day, I was able to receive my degree in the middle of a beautiful ceremony that was an act of total worship and gratitude to the Lord. Hymns, prayers and Dr. Mohler’s sermon completed the day. Reflecting on all these years in the seminary, I see the grace of God in me.
“Since we had to travel, we left it up to the Garcia family to organize the Sunday service as we arrived on Saturday night from Kentucky. What a blessing to see Franklin, Mayerlin and Ashley leading the entire service. Dr. Elton Maccan gave the sermon, and I ended with a word of gratitude for my academic achievement.”
Epic Life, Pea Ridge: Jake McCandless writes, “This weekend we had our Christmas worship gathering, and it was great. Though we’ve been meeting in our rented public space, Room 161, throughout the fall and will continue in the new year, we continued our tradition of having our gathering at the Chadwell’s House. It was a packed house. We had nearly 30, which is up from what we’ve had at our worship gatherings. We had four first-time guests.
“It was a great time of fellowshipping, eating, worship and message. It’s just something special about that many people jammed back in a Christmas-decorated living room with deer mounts on the wall, kids sitting on the floor, worshiping.
“I combined elements of our discovery Bible studies and preaching as we worked through Isaiah 42. I want to give a big thank you to those who have helped us ramp up for the 2026 outreach initiative.
“Please consider coming on board to continue with the training of leaders and forming small groups, but also move to a broader vision of outreach with our public services. I know it’s sometimes more glamorous to give to building programs, but this goes directly to outreach. I hope to raise $2,000 by the end of the year to kick off this new outreach. Also, I hope to raise an additional $400 per month to support outreach. I’m excited about that opportunity.”
