San Felipe Baptist Association

Friends,

One of the great joys of my first months serving as Executive Director of the San Felipe Baptist Association has been listening—learning from you, from our churches, and from fellow associational leaders across the country. Baptist Associations have endured since 1707 because they understand the times and adapt wisely to serve the local church. Today, we find ourselves standing at one of those important moments.

The undeveloped and rapidly expanding areas of West Houston present an extraordinary opportunity to impact the spiritual health of our communities. According to population insights provided by MissionInsite, the churches of our Association collectively serve a region of nearly 1.2 million people, with the majority living in Fort Bend County. This county alone has experienced more than 50% population growth since 2010, is projected to exceed 1.1 million residents by 2030, and is among the most diverse and economically vibrant counties in the nation. Even more striking is the explosive growth in communities like Fulshear, which has grown over 1,000% in the last decade and continues to welcome thousands of new families each year. (Source: MissionInsite demographic analysis)

Population growth often raises questions about church growth. At times, numbers are viewed with suspicion or reduced to mere metrics. Yet when we look through a gospel lens, growth simply represents people—real families, neighbors, and children—who are searching for connection, community, and ultimately Christ. Even modest engagement can lead to eternal impact. If only a small percentage of guests encounter the gospel and respond in faith, we rejoice, because every baptism represents new life in Christ.

The local church is uniquely positioned to meet this moment. Outreach events, seasonal gatherings, and everyday relationships at schools, HOAs, grocery stores, and neighborhood mailboxes all create pathways for gospel conversations. As our communities grow, our churches should expect to grow as well—not for our own sake, but for the sake of the Kingdom.

This is why the San Felipe Baptist Association is prayerfully planning for the future. Together, we are preparing to plant new churches, strengthen existing ones, and collaborate across congregations to welcome the growth that is coming. We are developing a vision to plant 50 churches by 2050 which we know is a bold, God-sized task, but one filled with hope. Join us in prayer as we look toward the future ministry opportunities that the Lord is presenting to us.

Growth brings challenges—but it also brings opportunity. God is not finished with West Houston, and He has invited us to join Him in this work. Let us move forward together, confident that the harvest fields before us are ready.

Grace and peace,
Jon

The future is coming!

Pastor of the Week: Rickesh Patel

The San Felipe Baptist Association is honored to celebrate Pastor Rickesh Patel as this week’s Pastor of the Week. Pastor Rickesh is a beautiful example of faithful devotion to Christ, a deep love for God’s Word, and a genuine shepherd’s heart for God’s people.

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