The Baptist General Convention of Texas and national marriage ministry Communio are announcing a new statewide partnership aimed at helping churches care for marriages, support pastors and church leaders, and reach families across Texas with the love and truth of Jesus Christ.
“At a time when many couples and families are under growing strain, the local church is best positioned to respond not only by preaching the gospel, but by walking alongside people in their most important relationships. This partnership with Communio is timely,” BGCT Executive Director Julio Guarneri said.
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Communio is a nonprofit Christian ministry that helps churches strengthen marriages and relationships as a way to share the gospel and build healthy congregations.
Through data-informed tools, coaching, and relationship ministry programs, Communio helps churches to reduce divorce, renew families, and advance the mission of Jesus Christ.
According to some research, 54% of Texas children are raised by their married, biological parents, meaning nearly half are growing up outside a married home. Additionally, 42.1% of all children born in Texas are born to unmarried parents.
Texas also reports 5.8 marriages per 1,000 residents and 2.1 divorces per 1,000 residents, indicating both continued marriage formation and ongoing marital breakdown.
Transformation evident
“We have already seen tremendous transformation coming from our partnering Baptist churches in Texas with double-digit increases in church attendance, hundreds of first-time guests, and a number of marriages saved,” said JP De Gance, Communio founder and president.
“I am thrilled that this new partnership with the BGCT will give thousands of pastors easier access to our ministry support services. This means many more people meeting Jesus and many more thriving Christian marriages,” De Gance continued.
Ronny Marriott, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Richardson and past BGCT president, has seen his church and community transformed by partnering with Communio in two different churches he’s led.
“Engaging Communio as a ministry partner is like adding another staff member with tons of resources, experience, and ideas,” Marriott said.
“Communio got to know our church, assessed our needs, and developed a fresh approach for us to accomplish our goals. They helped us move this part of our vision farther and faster than we could have on our own,” Marriott added.
Through this joint agreement, Texas Baptists churches will have direct access to Communio’s ministry experts, coaching, and tools.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Communio staff and published by the Baptist Standard.
