Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Send Luncheon highlights tragedy, grace, gospel transformation

  • June 15, 2022
  • Shawn Hendricks
  • California Southern Baptist Convention, Latest News, SBC
Pete Ramirez (left), executive director of California Southern Baptist Convention, presents a check to Pastor Juan Castellon to aid in his church’s ministry to migrant workers.
(Photo by Taylor Mitchell/The Baptist Paper)

Send Luncheon highlights tragedy, grace, gospel transformation

Dalia Valencia remembers the pain of losing her husband last September after his battle with COVID-19. Just six months later her eldest daughter died tragically of an accidental overdose from a painkiller. If that wasn’t tragic enough, she learned on the day of her daughter’s death that she, herself, had been diagnosed with cancer.

Despite the pain and loss, Dalia shared during the North American Mission Board Send Luncheon June 13 in Anaheim that her faith in the Lord has sustained her through it all.

“With all of this, we continue looking to the Lord,” said Dalia during the luncheon. “God is good. God is good.”

NAMB President Kevin Ezell and Pete Ramirez, executive director of the California Southern Baptist Convention, interviewed Dalia, a member of Iglesia Bautista Bethel in Soledad. Ezell surprised Dalia who is going through cancer treatments with the announcement that her mortgage will be paid for one year. Ezell also announced a car will be provided for her son whose car was sold to help the family pay the bills. Ron Ellis, president of California Baptist University, also announced scholarships for her son and younger daughter.

Dalia’s pastor, Juan Castellon, joined her on the stage as Ezell shared about the church’s ministry among migrant workers and presented the pastor with a check for $25,000.

Ezell said, “This is what Southern Baptists are about. You’re looking at it. Thank you for all you do.”

Other moments

The annual luncheon kicked off with Christian comedian Tim Hawkins and testimonies of ministry efforts throughout the nation. These ministry works include NAMB’s efforts to reach college students through campus ministry.

Shane Pruitt, NAMB’S next gen evangelism leader, shared how college students are being reached through campus ministries throughout the country.

“Students’ lives are being changed,” said Pruitt, who noted many of today’s college students are struggling to find meaning and are questioning the need for God.

But NAMB, he noted, is seeing opportunities to come alongside students on college campuses and reach them in their brokenness with the gospel.

While there can be initial resistance to the gospel, Pruitt noted, once students “go all in, they go ALL in.”

“College students are not looking for a cool leader,” he added. “They are looking for a real leader.” The same gospel that worked 2,000 years ago, he said, works today.

Shelby’s story

Last December a student at Dallas Baptist University, Shelby Houston, also received devastating news that no daughter would want to receive. She found out that her father, a police officer, had been killed in the line of duty.

Houston shared her story during the luncheon. She shared how her dad had impacted her life and how he had helped lead her to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

During the funeral for her father, Shelby spoke about how she had forgiven the man who had taken her father’s life and how she hoped to one day share the gospel with him.

Shelby recalled at the luncheon that only the Lord could have given her the strength she needed to speak the way she did during the funeral service.

“That eulogy wasn’t me,” she said. “It was Jesus.”

Since then, Shelby shared, many have reached out to her about her response to the loss of her dad. Some have since given their lives to Christ, and she also spoke to a group of inmates about grace and forgiveness.

Reflecting back, Shelby shared how her experience was painful, and she misses her father, but she can’t help but believe her dad would say it was worth it so that people’s lives could be transformed for Christ.

“It was worth it to tell people about Jesus,” she said with tears.

View more photos from the Send Luncheon here.



For more stories from the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, visit thebaptistpaper.org/sbc2022.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023
    Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me
    First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • 2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open
    2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open
    February 1, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Disaster Relief leaders across U.S. meet, prepare for 2023

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Jason Yarbrough kicked off his first year as state disaster relief director for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma by

First Person: God was faithful to missions trailblazer George Liele; I believe He’ll be faithful to me

A missions trailblazer — that’s who George Liele was.  He was born into slavery. His owner freed him so he could pursue God’s call on

2023 SBC Annual Meeting: Pre-registration now open

Pre-registration is now open for churches to pre-register messengers for the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, set for June 11–14 in New Orleans. Pre-registration

What can a church learn from Krispy Kreme about advertising?

Whether doughnuts are healthy or not is another subject, but I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who doesn’t like Krispy Kreme. Churches buy them by

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel