This past week was one of those weeks that remind me why I love sharing missionary stories. They are not just tales of faraway places but living testimonies of God’s faithfulness. Today I want to give you a glimpse into where we’ve been, what we’ve seen, and how the Lord continues to work in our ministry. If you’ve been following our journey on consfords.com, you know that I’ve been steadily preparing for the release of my new book, That’s My Goat – And Other Missionary Stories. These updates show exactly why I believe stories matter.
Central Baptist Church: 77 Years of God’s Faithfulness
On Sunday, we had the privilege of spending the entire day at our home church, Central Baptist Church of Center, TX. It wasn’t just another Sunday service—it was the church’s 77th anniversary.
Central Baptist was founded 77 years ago during a six-week tent revival led by John Rawlings and R.G. Lee. In fact, Dr. R.G. Lee wrote his world-famous sermon, “Payday Someday”, right here in Center, Texas, while preaching that revival. That message has echoed across the decades, and it was moving to remember that it began right in the same community where I grew up.
The anniversary service was a tremendous success, with more than 230 in attendance. Best of all, one young lady trusted Christ as her Savior after the service. That, to me, is the greatest highlight of any church anniversary.
Of course, no Baptist celebration is complete without dinner on the grounds. This year we were blessed with a delicious spread prepared by Robert Harris and Hound Dog Harris Catering (see their Facebook page here). Robert and his team served championship-worthy chicken that everyone raved about. It’s no small thing to feed hundreds of hungry Baptists, and they did a phenomenal job.
After weeks of traveling from church to church, it was refreshing to spend a full day back at our home church, surrounded by friends and family. However, with a packed deputation schedule ahead, we know we won’t be back until the church’s missions conference in November.
Midweek at Calvary Baptist Church – Palestine, TX
By Wednesday evening, we were back on the road to Calvary Baptist Church in Palestine, TX (calvarybcpalestine.com). I had the honor of presenting our ministry and preaching the message that night. The Lord laid it on my heart to speak about the Great Commission—a theme that never grows old.
The response was powerful. The altars were full, and hearts were tender. At the close of the service, the pastor called for a vote, and the church unanimously decided to take us on for monthly support. That was a huge blessing for our family as we continue raising support to return to Ghana, West Africa, as missionaries.
After the service, a few members asked me to step aside—they had something special to show me. From the lost-and-found table, they pulled out a Bible that someone had left behind. Inside, there were sermon notes written more than two decades ago. As I read the handwriting, I realized those notes were from a message I had preached at that very church 24 years ago.
It was a humbling moment. To think that after all these years, I’m still preaching the same kind of gospel messages—clear, biblical, and centered on Christ—was encouraging. God’s Word doesn’t change, and neither does the message He has called me to proclaim.
Our Deputation Journey – Filling the Calendar
Right now, we are in the thick of deputation, steadily booking meetings across Texas and beyond. Our calendar is filling quickly—already, 45% of our possible meeting days from now through next year are spoken for. That is an answer to prayer.
Deputation can be grueling, but it is also rewarding. Every church we visit encourages us, challenges us, and reminds us that we are not in this work alone. We ask for your continued prayers that as these churches hear our burden, they will partner with us through prayer and monthly support. Each new partnership brings us closer to returning to Ghana to resume church planting, discipleship, and Bible institute training.
Missionary Stories in Print – The Upcoming Book
On top of travel and preaching, I’ve also been working hard on something very personal to me—my new book, That’s My Goat – And Other Missionary Stories.
Earlier this week, the proof copies arrived from the printer. A small team of trusted friends and family members read through them carefully, searching for typos, formatting errors, or anything that needed polishing. Thanks to their feedback, I made the final corrections and sent everything back to the printer.
That means we are officially on track for the release date of August 28, 2025. Lord willing, the book will be available in both paperback and digital formats. I can’t wait for people to read these stories—tales of danger, humor, cultural surprises, and, most importantly, God’s providence in the mission field.
If you’d like to learn more about the upcoming release, visit the announcement page here: New Book Announcement.
Why Missionary Stories Matter
You may wonder why I keep emphasizing stories. The answer is simple: missionary stories are powerful tools of connection.
- They connect us to history, like when we celebrated the 77-year legacy of Central Baptist Church.
- They connect us to people, as in Palestine, where an old sermon note resurfaced after 24 years.
- They connect us to God’s ongoing work, reminding us that He is still calling, saving, and sending.
As I prepare to release Missionary Stories by Joe Consford in book form, I want readers to realize these aren’t just my stories. They belong to the churches that sent us, the people who prayed for us, and the God who sustained us.
Looking Ahead
The coming months will be busy. With dozens of meetings scheduled, book release preparations underway, and our family getting ready for the big move back to West Africa, we are both excited and humbled.
Please continue to pray for:
- Open doors with churches that will partner with us.
- Strength and health as we travel and present our ministry.
- God’s provision for the final steps of deputation.
- The impact of the upcoming book, that it would encourage, inspire, and challenge readers to see missions in a fresh way.
Final Thoughts
This week’s update is just one example of how the Lord continues to weave blessings into our journey. From the 77th anniversary of Central Baptist Church to a surprise connection with a 24-year-old sermon, to the exciting progress of my book, it has been a week worth remembering.
I invite you to keep following along, reading these updates, and sharing them with others. And above all, pray with us that these missionary stories by Joe Consford will not only entertain but also inspire a new generation to obey the Great Commission.
{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “ImageObject”, “contentUrl”: “https://consfords.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/tent-revival-1947-central-baptist-church.jpg”, “creator”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Joe Consford” }, “creditText”: “Consfords.com”, “license”: “https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/”, “acquireLicensePage”: “https://consfords.com/connect”, “caption”: “Vintage 1947 tent revival that began Central Baptist Church in Center, Texas.”, “keywords”: [ “Missionary Stories by Joe Consford”, “1947 tent revival”, “Central Baptist Church history”, “John Rawlings”, “R.G. Lee Payday Someday” ] }
We are excited for you. Every step of the way is a story to tell. We are praying for all of you.