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