Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission

10/02/2026

Are you heading to Conclave NextGen next week?!

Be sure to check out the workshops led by our CLC team members. You can also swing by the CLC Booth; grab some swag and say "hi!"

See you there!

TXB Youth Texas Baptists

10/01/2026

This week, the CLC joined other advocates at Dallas Baptist University for the Global Religious Freedom Gathering, hosted by the K. Randel Everett Center for Global Religious Freedom. The event featured Pastor Ezra Jin of Beijing Zion Church, released from a Chinese prison just this summer.

After Zion Church refused to install government surveillance cameras, it lost its building and kept gathering online, with up to 15,000 people joining daily devotionals. In October 2025, authorities detained its pastors and members, and Pastor Jin faced a possible life sentence for "illegal use of information networks." Through prayer, advocacy, and diplomacy, authorities released him in July. Eight of his fellow pastors and many church members remain in prison. He continues to speak boldly for them and for Uyghur Muslims and other religious minorities persecuted in China.

Around the world, three out of four people live under some form of religious persecution. Baptists have long championed religious liberty for people of every faith, and the CLC is proud to continue carrying that conviction forward as one of our public policy priorities.

-Pray for Pastor Jin, Zion Church, and all imprisoned for their faith.

-Invite your church to observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on Sunday, November 1.

-Find more resources on religious persecution from friends of the CLC, 21Wilberforce

09/23/2026

We celebrate the order by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, which requires all TDCJ facilities to have air conditioning by December 31, 2029, and we agree with Judge Pitman’s reasoning that Texas’ failure to negate extreme temperatures in its state facilities constitutes a violation of the Constitution’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. We are optimistic the State of Texas will accept this court order rather than appeal.

All people are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image and have inherent dignity and worth. This ruling affirms that God-given dignity and will ensure everyone working or incarcerated in a TDCJ facility is treated as the valuable image-bearer we know they are.

In light of this ruling, the Texas Baptists Christian Life Commission renews its call for Texas legislators to pass laws that apply the same standards for Texas prisons as they require for county jails. Temperatures should be kept between 65 and 85 degrees. Additionally, Judge Pitman stated in his order that financial considerations will not be considered a legitimate reason for failure to comply with the Court’s order. Therefore, we urge the Texas legislature to budget the appropriate funds in its 90th Legislative Session appropriations bill to ensure that TDCJ has the resources necessary to comply with the order.

High temperatures violate the Constitution’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment, the judge ruled. Texas will appeal.

09/14/2026

Lawmakers have been at the State Capitol this month for what we call “interim hearings” so the Texas Baptists Christian Life Commission is here too. Here’s why.

08/14/2026

A recent report from Feeding America revealed that Texas ranked first in the nation for the number of people experiencing food insecurity for the third straight year. Currently, nearly 20% of Texans are food insecure.

Texas Baptist Hunger Offering ministires continue to stand in the gap as food insecurity continues to impact millions across the state. Read more in the story below.

Based upon the recent findings, more than 6 million Texans, experience food insecurity, which includes uncertain or limited access to food throughout the year.

08/12/2026

SAVE THE DATE.

The 2027 Advocacy Summit will be March 8-9! The event will take place at the Texas State Capitol, and we can't wait to share the lineup of speakers we are bringing to you! More details and registration details coming soon!

08/06/2026

"[The Hunger Offering funds] help us make sure our guests are given that meal they rely on every day. It fills in when we are lacking because something in another area costs more money, like the light bill,” Cindy Smith said. “The Hunger Offering helps us buy lunch meat or stuff for soup. It fills that [need] in a faithful way, and we deeply appreciate that."

We are so thankful for the many faithful hunger-offering ministries as they serve their communities, loving their neighbor as themselves!

Community members line up to receive a meal from Angel House Soup Kitchen at Austin Baptist Chapel. Angel House serves around 500 meals per day.

07/22/2026

This week, the majority of North Texas is under an extreme heat advisory.

Still, today, more than 85,000 incarcerated Texans are housed in cells without air conditioning, where summer temperatures regularly climb above 115 degrees. As of July 1, TDJC still only reports 37% of Texas Prisons are fully air-conditioned.

The record high temperature recorded in a prison unit to date is 149 degrees. That is the staggering temperature reportedly recorded inside an environment where human beings are expected to live, work, and minister.

These conditions do not affect incarcerated people alone. Correctional officers must work long shifts in the same dangerous heat. Medical personnel, support staff and chaplains enter these units to care for, counsel and minister to people under conditions that threaten everyone’s health and safety.

The Christian Life Commission continues to advocate for adequate air conditioning in Texas prisons as a pro-life issue and continues to urge lawmakers to fund Texas prisons as quickly as possible. A federal judge has ordered Texas prisons to be fully air-conditioned by 2029. This means the Texas legislature must act now, during the 90th legislative session, to both do what is right and avoid violating a court order.

A prison sentence should not mean exposure to potentially deadly temperatures. Every person bears the image of God, and human dignity does not disappear when someone enters a prison cell. Protecting life also means protecting the officers, chaplains, and other professionals called to serve within our correctional system.

Texas has begun investing in additional cooled beds, but tens of thousands of people remain vulnerable. We must continue urging our state leaders to provide safe temperatures throughout every Texas prison.

07/16/2026

What can God do through the generosity of Texas Baptists?

During the second quarter of 2026, Texas Baptist Hunger Offering ministry partners reported serving:

291,211 people
104,956 children
1,760,640 meals

Each number represents a neighbor: a child receiving nutritious food while school is out, a senior stretching a fixed income, a family navigating an unexpected job loss, or a community gaining access to clean water.

Across Texas and around the world, Hunger Offering partners are doing more than distributing meals. They are walking alongside families, teaching job and financial skills, supporting education, providing health resources, strengthening local churches and creating opportunities for people to build more stable futures.

Thank you to every church and individual who gave to the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering! Your generosity is helping meet immediate needs while supporting long-term transformation.

Together, Texas Baptists are feeding hungry people and caring for their hearts—in Texas and around the world.

07/06/2026

Often food related ministries find themselves not just serving a meal in the name of Christ, it also means helping find a job, learn to manage finances, strengthen their family, and discover renewed hope.

That’s exactly what is happening through Brother Bill’s Helping Hand in Dallas! With support from the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering, this beautiful ministry is meeting immediate needs while also equipping people to build lasting stability. From groceries and financial coaching to parenting classes, mental health support, and discipleship, lives are being transformed.

As Christians, we’re called to care for the whole person. Jesus fed the hungry, but He also restored dignity, offered hope, and invited people into abundant life. Compassion and empowerment, together.

Every gift to the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering helps support ministries that are faithfully serving neighbors across Texas and around the world with both practical care and the hope of the gospel.

You can read more about Brother Bills here:

Hunger Offering funds help Brother Bill’s Helping Hand provide groceries and empowerment programs for the community. Silveria Arriaga, a Pathways program graduate, now seeing her full potential met in Programs Coordinator role.