Ministry Milestones

A Declaration to Pray and Work Together Was Made

The first Prayer Summit (Fall '95) gave the pastors the opportunity to get acquainted with one another and see how similar their personal situations were. They imagined cooperation and lifting Jesus up together in our city. They warmed up to the idea that they really could do some things together. These pastors committed to pray with one another monthly, speak highly of the other pastors from the pulpit, and encourage their congregations to pray for other congregations. 

The second Lubbock Pastors Summit was about two and one-half years later in the Spring of '98. The prayerful anticipation of God's movement continued from the first summit. An afternoon session was given to exploring a statement that all could agree upon. All aspects of the discussion: theological positions, worship norms, outreach and missions goals, etc., each came with some divisive baggage as well as with some uniting factors. The atmosphere was like nothing else these pastors had experienced. About six months later, they placed a statement summarizing these prayerful discussions in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal with 30 signatures of pastors who boldly declared their agreement with the statement. It read... 

"With this statement, we, who represent various Christian fellowships in our city, publicly confess that we have failed to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ toward one another in ways in which our community has been able to see. We purpose to turn from the practices and attitudes that have brought this failure about and commit ourselves to pray and to work together to create an atmosphere for revival in our city. It is our deep desire that each one in our community might know, by our love, that a relationship with Jesus Christ is the solution to all of our needs. We invite our community to watch for the proofs of what we say as we show all of Lubbock ... how we love one another." 

Which pastors dared to sign that First Proclamation in 1998? 

Larry Brooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Community Baptist Church 

Rick Burkhalter . . . . . . . . . . . . .St. Matthew United Methodist 

Steven Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Agape United Methodist 

Charles Carman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Raintree Christian Church 

Bracken Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Church on the Go 

Bill Couch . . . . . . . . . . . .LakeRidge United Methodist Church 

Paul Cunningham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Westminster Presbyterian 

John Donnerberg . . . . . . . . . . . . .First Church of the Nazarene 

Mark and Deborah Elvers . . . . . . . . . . . . .Salvation Ministries 

Jim Gerlt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indiana Avenue Baptist Church 

Douglas Hale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vandelia Church of Christ 

Ricky Honea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . College Heights Baptist Church 

Andy Hurst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Texas Tech Wesley Foundation 

Gary D. Kirksey . … . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Trinity Church 

Tom Lakey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .First Assembly of God 

D. L. Lowrie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First Baptist Church 

Eddie Marcum . . . . . . . . . . .First United Methodist, Wolfforth 

Dick McCreight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Life Family Center 

Tom Mills . . . . . . . . . . . . .St. Luke's United Methodist Church 

Ed Peckham . . . . . . . . . . . Lubbock Canyon United Methodist 

Rodney Plunket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Broadway Church of Christ 

Thomas and Linda Sawyer .Grace Christian Fellowship Center 

Mike Schafer . . . . . . . . . .Aldersgate United Methodist Church 

Gary Scoggins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cathedral of Praise 

Chris Sutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Calvary Baptist Church 

Mel Swoyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shepherd King Lutheran Church 

Bob Veach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christ Fellowship 

Jackie White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Church on the Rock 

Chuck Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . Live Oak Community Church 

David L. Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Southcrest Baptist Church