Fifteen years ago today – Sunday, July 4, 2004 – Joanna and I visited Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas for the first time. I had met George Mason, Wilshire’s pastor, and heard him speak two months earlier in San Antonio at the annual conference of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission – then led by my dear friend Phil Strickland. That one meeting with George was all it took for me to know that we MUST visit Wilshire.
As we drove down Central Expressway from our north Dallas suburb on that July 4, Joanna said, “I don’t know if I want to drive a half-hour to church every Sunday morning.”
George preached a sermon entitled “The Cross and the Flag.” It was an entirely different perspective on God and country than we had seen and heard for 17 years at the church we were leaving. (On patriotic holidays at our former church, a huge U.S. flag was unfurled to – blasphemously, as far as I’m concerned – cover the face of Jesus at the center of a beautiful stained-glass window. Nationalism was the focus of worship on those Sundays, not God.)
George offered a perspective that put Jesus first while still respecting country and flag. After the service, before we had even reached the parking lot, Joanna said, “I want to come back here!”
In the ensuing weeks, we became more and more convinced that the Holy Spirit was leading us to Wilshire, and we joined on the last Sunday of August 2004, as the church was celebrating George Mason’s 15th anniversary as pastor.
For 15 years since then, George Mason and Wilshire Baptist Church have consistently put Jesus at the center. letting nothing obscure or hide Him.
We have been challenged by bold, courageous, prophetic messages from the pulpit – by George Mason, our pastoral residents, and others; in the writings and actions of Mark Wingfield, associate pastor; in the music ministry led by Doug Haney; in our approach to missions and advocacy, now led by Heather Mustain; in our Epiphany Sunday School class; and in so many other ways.
At Wilshire, we have heard and seen women preach, baptize, lead and serve communion, and serve as deacons; we have experienced the privilege of taking part in recognizing those identifying as LGBTQ as full and equal partners in our fellowship; and seen equality – in every way, including between clergy and laity – modeled on the chancel and in the selection of worship leaders, week in and week out.
Well, there’s so much more to celebrate at Wilshire. I could go on and on. But you get the idea. After 15 years, Joanna and I feel more thankful with each passing year that God saw fit to bring us to Wilshire Baptist Church.
Thanks be to God!