Matt Henslee's Blog, page 11

Buy our home! We just placed our home on the market as we prepare to move from Farmersville and…

608 Meadowview St, Farmersville, TX 75442 | Shoot2Sell

Buy our home! We just placed our home on the market as we prepare to move from Farmersville and Irving, and we’d love for you to spread the word…or better yet, buy it! We loved every second in this house that quickly became a home––we had room to spread out as a family of six, a spacious living room and dining room to entertain, a quiet and quaint backyard that we used mostly for playing catch, and it is in a safe, convenient, and walkable neighborhood near all the schools in Farmersville. Check it out!

This is the sermon I preached from Genesis 18:9-15 as I went in “view of a call” to be the lead…

This is the sermon I preached from Genesis 18:9-15 as I went in “view of a call” to be the lead pastor of Plymouth Park Baptist Church, a dynamic church in Irving, Texas. In it, I challenged the members of Plymouth Park to pray big prayers, believe big promises, and trust an unknown future into the hands of the One who holds it. While I made some specific application to the saints called Plymouth Park, I pray it would also encourage you to trust in the God of the impossible.

An update…

When my dad’s health took a turn for the worse, our family prayerfully concluded that we needed to come back to the DFW Metroplex. Having been a pastor of some kind for over twenty years and a lead pastor for almost ten, along with my denominational ties and networking as an encourager for fellow ministers and pastors in the trenches, Dr. Barber asked if he could submit my name for consideration to be the Associational Missionary for Collin Baptist Association. I agreed, and eventually, the members of the CBA unanimously elected me to lead and serve them. 

The CBA had gone through a tumultuous season, and it was a joy to take the helm, steady the ship, and steer it toward calmer waters. We are seeing churches planted, churches revitalized, and leaders encouraged as we make strategic hires and efforts to strengthen areas of weakness and advance the mission of the Collin Baptist Association. We have launched a church planting cohort, added or re-engaged many incredible, high-impact churches, and expanded our reach and ministry through our growing staff of stellar leaders. It is an honor to be trusted and supported well through this monumental effort. 

Professionally, I am growing as a leader, pastor, encourager, and denominational servant. Personally, our family is adjusting well to living in a bigger city and is showing great patience with my busy and hectic schedule. Providentially, we are well-plugged into a great local church, which gives us a loving, supportive “home base,” if you will. Still, I can’t lie and say there isn’t a small, nagging sense of longing to shepherd a flock as a lead pastor.

I fought against that desire by working harder, staying busier, and serving as a volunteer pastor at our home church. The latter allowed me to make visits, counsel, and scratch some of the itches of what I missed by not being a pastor. But I was resolved to lead and serve the CBA with as much grace and faithfulness as possible for however long God will allow me.

A few weeks ago, after a series of events I could only describe as providential or even miraculous, I reluctantly but prayerfully became a candidate to be Plymouth Park Baptist Church’s next pastor, a historic south Irving church. Yesterday, they called me 248-4 to be their pastor, which is why I write to you today.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I do not want to leave you in the dark, either. I also do not want the CBA to start 2024 with a limp but at a dead sprint, and I will fulfill my duties to the best of my ability to hand off the baton well for the next season. We will share more about our transition plan in the coming weeks but know that the Collin Baptist Association’s work of planting and strengthening churches and encouraging leaders will continue unabated.

Finally, I turned down every other opportunity to be a lead pastor because I love what I do and strongly believe in our mission! I relented here because God’s will seemed crystal clear, and it was within minutes from my aging mother, seconds from Rebecca’s sister, and close to my ailing aunt. While we are excited, it will prove bittersweet to lay aside a role I have grown to love and move away from hundreds of pastors I am blessed to call friends.

Accordingly, I ask for your prayers as we begin this transition—prayers for our work here and prayers for the work there. Plymouth Park has gone from around 500 people to just over 200 in a rapidly changing demographic over the past few years. To turn it around will easily be the most challenging task I have ever attempted, and I will fail spectacularly without God’s help, your support and encouragement, and the prayers of many saints who believe in us.

With Christ, after the lost,
Dr. Matt Henslee
Associational Missionary

Big weekend ahead…

It’s finally Friday, and that means we’ll be loading the car soon and heading for a weekend in Irving.

Tonight, we’ll have dinner with the Plymouth Park Baptist Church ministry staff and their spouses, as well as the search team and spouses, and a few others.

Tomorrow, we’ll start the day off with coffee and donuts with the deacons, committee members, and Sunday school teachers and all of their spouses. We’ll get a bit of a break for lunch, and then begin an afternoon come-and-go meet and greet with members from the church. I’m not entirely sure what Saturday night will bring, but I suspect the girls will have earned some time in the pool at our hotel, thanks to the generosity of PPBC.

Then, Sunday! We’d covet your prayers as we make our way through this weekend––by faith.

A thought about prayer…

“Never was a faithful prayer lost. Some prayers have a longer voyage than others, but then they return with their richer lading at last, so that the praying soul is a gainer by waiting for an answer.” – William Gurnall

Rarely have I prayed and received an answer instantaneously. In fact, I could probably say never. This quote reminded me of that, though, because sometimes answers to prayer come much, much longer than others. After all, sometimes God answers “no” or “not yet.” Maybe you’ve been praying about something for a hot minute––wayward child, job situation, sickness…you name it. Can I share something from my devotional with you?

As I was thinking about that quote this morning on the heels of Christmas, I reflected on something. Many gifts were given and received, and I started thinking about an answered prayer in light of a gift. Now, I’m the hard-to-buy-for kinda guy who buys whatever he wants on Amazon or wherever throughout the year, but Rebecca had a gift she was exceptionally happy about giving.

I didn’t know what it was. Had no idea. I was even bribing the girls, who knew what it was, to tell me what it was. They wouldn’t budge––not even for $100. The shape of the box gave me no real clue, either. I was befuddled, but she was so excited to give me that gift!

Anticipation rose as we approached Christmas, and more-so because Reb asked that it be one of the last gifts I opened. OH COME ON! Ha! And yeah, we’re one of those one-gift-at-a-time kinda families. So, it felt like I may get raptured or die of old age before I got to open that thing. Anyway, the time finally came, I opened it, and my jaw hit the floor (pictured below).

Maybe answered prayers are like that sometimes. That “not yet” that sure might seem like a “no,” or might tempt you to think He’s not even listening…but He is. And God’s Word promises that He does answer––in His time, in His way, according to His will.

Maybe knowing that answered prayer to come is a gift may give you a little more joy as you pray, as you wait. And maybe, in the waiting, He’s doing something in you, too. Believer, trust God. Pray and pray some more. Pray big prayers. Wait expectantly.

Consider: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Matthew 6:5-13; Hebrews 4:16; James 5:16; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Timothy 2:1, etc.

Some news…

The Henslees could use any adjective to describe the rollercoaster of emotions we’ve experienced over the past few weeks, “bittersweet” is certainly there, but “hopeful” or “thrilled” seems to rise near the top. After weeks of prayer, counsel, and more prayer, we have accepted an invitation to come “in view of a call” for me to be the next pastor of Plymouth Park Baptist Church on January 7th at 10:45 am. My text will be Genesis 18:9-15, if you would kindly pray for me.

Plymouth Park has a rich history of gospel witness in Irving, across the Metroplex, and around the globe, and, if the Lord wills, it will be an honor to pick up the baton from a long, storied line of faithful proclaimers of Christ and Him crucified, buried, and risen again, including First Baptist’s own, BO Baker. As we approach Sunday, we covet your prayers for the upcoming weekend of meet and greets, meals, and everything else.

If you’re in or near the #irving area, we’d love to worship with you at 1714 North Story Road this Sunday at 10:45 am.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from the #HensleePartyOfSix (and my favorite jacket of all time)! We don’t know what 2024 holds, but we do know Who holds it––trust in Him, friends, and if you don’t know Christ, or maybe have wandered from Him, or simply don’t know, I would be delighted to talk to you. Connect with me on Twitter/X or Facebook.

Aside from my daily Bible reading, here are twelve quotes I’ll reflect on as I journal throughout the year:

1. “We’re all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” - Chuck Swindoll

2. “We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be conspicuous in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is because he knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray.” - C. H. Spurgeon

3. “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supplies.” - Hudson Taylor

4. “The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.” - Billy Graham

5. “Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.” - Jim Elliot

6. “There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God.“ - Alistair Begg [I’d add, there is no insignificant church in the purpose of God]

7. “We ought to be living as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back this afternoon.” - Adrian Rogers

8. “I’m not afraid of failure; I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.” - William Carey

9. "This is our time on the history line of God. This is it. What will we do with the one deep exhale of God on this earth? For we are but a vapor and we have to make it count. We’re on. Direct us, Lord, and get us on our feet.” - Beth Moore

10. “Lord, give me firmness without hardness, steadfastness without dogmatism, love without weakness.” - Jim Elliot

11. “No matter what our circumstances, we can find a reason to be thankful.” - Dr. David Jeremiah

12. “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” - Martin Luther

What a year!

One of the goals I set for 2023 was to carve out more intentional, one-on-one time with each of our princesses. In just a few short weeks, we’ll have a 13, 14, 15, and 16-year-old, and I realize that kinda time is running out fast. So, on my calendar they went! I wanted some time with them away from the home, away from their sisters, and to simply be able to listen to them, pray with them, and talk about whatever they wanted to talk about.

Sometimes, they’d join me on trips to lunch with pastors, which they liked to remind me didn’t count, so we’d grab a sweet treat after, coffee before, or something like that. Other times, they’d get to pick where I took them on a “date,” or I’d really set the bar high for their future husband and take ‘em out to Taco Bell or Wendy’s. My favorite, of course, was taking each of them to games at the Ag Barn in Arlington.

Pastor, your name plate may say “senior pastor,” “youth pastor,” or whatever, but that is not your first ministry. Your first ministry is in the home and I encourage you to find ways for them to do ministry with you, 100%, but also some time to get away from it all and enjoy some one-on-one time with those you love. There’ll be seasons when a crisis hits or a building campaign starts or something wild has to take your attention away from the fam. Never ideal, but it happens…and that’s okay, for a short time. They can handle stints like that WHEN they are well loved, appreciated, and cared for during the normal seasons. Don’t neglect your family!

Aaaaand the reverse is true. They might be your first ministry, and they are, but you’re still called to pastor your church. There’ll be seasons when a family member needs a little extra TLC like a tough diagnosis or sickness or a wedding or whatever. It’s much easier for your church to understand (and maybe even appreciate) your above-and-beyond care for them during those seasons when you haven’t abused that all the time. Don’t neglect your ministry!

In other words, there’s a balance to be had between not sacrificing your family on the altar of ministry, and not sacrificing your ministry on the altar of family. And pssssst, you will never perfectly balance them! That’s okay, but if one or the other is regularly neglected, brother, you. will. not. make. it.

So, for 2024, (just an idea of what works for me) consider throwing each child on your calendar each month and your wife each week. Place them on days you don’t typically have things scheduled, of course, and do your best to protect those days! What you do on those days doesn’t even have to cost a dime. You could grab a soda from the fridge and take 'em out for a long drive to talk or a walk to the park, but regularly give your wife and children some one-on-one time!

However you do it, whatever would work for you, or whatever you do––find ways to make sure your entire family knows they matter in 2024. Because they do.

What a year!

2023 will end with somewhere around 15,000 miles driven all over Collin County to encourage and be encouraged by Collin Baptist Association pastors and ministry leaders, as well as denominational servants or opportunities to represent the CBA. None of these meetings have any other agenda than encouragement, and I’m grateful for each and every opportunity I have to connect with these amazing folks.

Collin Baptist Association is a family of over 120 churches that range from thousands and thousands of members to dozens and dozens, in contexts spanning from rural to urban. Many of these leaders are thriving, but I often have the privilege of helping some simply hang on during a difficult season. 1,712 meetings thus far, and each one reminds me of the evergreen truth that we truly are better together.

Pastor, you need a Paul…and a Timothy. In other words, find someone who can pour into you and find someone you can pour into. You need guys in your corner, guys who can “tell you like it is,” but also pick you back up when you fall. You also need to be investing into the next generation of pastors and leaders, too.

Y'all, ministry can be lonely, but it doesn’t have to be…reach out to your local DOM or area representative of your state convention, connect with pastors near you, plug into opportunities for fellowship locally, regionally, and nationally…you need it, and they need you.

What a year!

2023 will wrap with my 52nd sermon of the year as we gather with the saints called Waddill Street Baptist Church in McKinney. If you’re in the area and don’t have a church home, we’d love to worship with you at 1401 N Waddill St, McKinney, TX 75069 at 10:45 am.

It’s been an amazing year with our First Baptist Church family and our extended family of Collin Baptist Association churches (and beyond). I’ve always treasured every opportunity to preach and aim to share each one as is if its my last, but a highlight this year was probably preaching two sermons with a translator; one in Puerto Rico and another at a Brazilian church plant in Plano. It will forced me to narrow my focus, cut off any unnecessary fluff, and be crystal clear with language (I mean, I’d hope I always try to do that, but when you’re really going phrase-by-phrase, yeah…por que?! IYKYK).

Another highlight was when we gathered with a church in Farmers Branch where some of some extended family worships. We turned it into a good old-fashioned family reunion, complete with food and fellowship, as just about our entire family came out for the day. I also wrapped up an extended time of preaching at First Baptist Church Of Josephine and am incredibly grateful they called an incredible pastor in Wayne Slay.

All told, as I look back on sermons preached and some of the notes I sketched out about each one, there were a number of duds and only a few where I felt I nailed it. But, whether I felt not-so-great or amazing, God’s Word was proclaimed and He promises it never returns void. THAT’S the only reason I’d keep at this!

Pastor, keep that in mind in 2024…you’re gonna preach a few “homers,” and maybe even a grand slam! But there are gonna be a LOT of singles, or even sacrifice flies. Just aim for faithfulness in proclaiming Christ and Him crucified, buried, and risen again, not performing for an audience in the pews but the audience of One.