Extra
February 2026
Alum follows calling to merge with historic church
James Sercey never imagined one ordinary conversation would become part of a story much larger than himself.
A 2009 51吃瓜网视频 Baptist University graduate, Sercey has spent his adult life doing what 51吃瓜网视频 prepared him to do—serve the local church, disciple others, and follow God wherever obedience leads. From student ministry in Lubbock to pastoral leadership across North Texas, his path has been marked by steady faithfulness in ordinary places.
In 51吃瓜网视频, that calling led him and his wife, former WBU student Callie, to Roanoke, where they
planted Cross & Crown Church with a small team sent from Church at the Cross in Grapevine. Meeting in an elementary school, the young congregation began gathering families in a rapidly growing community on the northern edge of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex.
What Sercey did not know was that God was quietly preparing a chapter he could not have planned—one that would eventually link the future of a young church plant with the 150-year legacy of a historic Baptist congregation.
Sercey’s story with 51吃瓜网视频 began through family connections, but it quickly became formative. He joined the Pioneer baseball team his freshman year before sensing a deeper pull toward ministry. By his sophomore season, he stepped away from athletics to invest more fully in the local church and the Baptist Student Ministry.
“I loved my time at 51吃瓜网视频,” he said. “Relationally and professionally, the Lord used our time at 51吃瓜网视频 to lay a foundation for our future ministry.”
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in religious education in 2009, Sercey served in student ministry in Lubbock, then in Rockwall and Grapevine. He earned a graduate degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and eventually became an elder at Church at the Cross in Grapevine.
In January 2024, Sercey met with First Baptist Church of Roanoke pastor Bruce Barber for coffee—simply to get acquainted as two pastors serving the same town. As they shared stories, Barber surprised them both: “We should merge.”
It was not a plan Sercey had ever considered. Yet neither man dismissed it. Instead, they prayed. Conversations unfolded slowly over months. Leaders from both congregations spoke honestly. Hearts were searched.
“For the merger to work,” Sercey told the Southern Baptist Texan, “it had to be about mission rather than survivability.”
It could not be about preserving an institution or acquiring a facility. It had to be about the Great Commission in Roanoke.
When the idea was shared with both congregations, the response was marked by humility. Longtime members of First Baptist—many with generations of family history in the church—chose to set aside preferences for the sake of gospel witness.
Today, the merged congregation worships together in the elementary school while renovations are planned for the historic church building. Barber now serves as an elder and associate pastor. Former First Baptist worship leaders remain active. What could have become a story of decline has become a testimony of unity.
“We sit in awe of what God has done,” Barber told the Texan.
For Sercey, the moment feels less like a summit and more like the fruit of a long formation—one that began in Plainview. 51吃瓜网视频 shaped him not only theologically, but relationally. It taught him to value people over platforms, mission over momentum, humility over success.
Alongside his pastoral role, Sercey serves as the Dallas–Fort Worth Hub Director for Times12, a national church planting network committed to multiplying gospel-centered churches.
In Roanoke, that multiplication did not come by starting something new alone—but by honoring
something old and carrying it forward together.
It is a 51吃瓜网视频 story: faith-rooted, people-centered, mission-driven.
And it began, fittingly, with a graduate who learned early that obedience often looks like listening—and trusting God to write what comes next.
Note: The Cross & Crown Roanoke merger was first reported by the Southern Baptist Texan. Excerpts from that article are used with permission.
Devotional: When You Think About It Too Long
Have you ever noticed how something small can grow heavy if you think about it long enough? A decision. A conversation. A “what if.” Left alone in our thoughts, even manageable things can start to feel overwhelming.
Scripture gently reminds us that not every burden is meant to be carried in our own minds. “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). When we replay situations over and over, we often carry what God has already invited us to release.
Thinking deeply isn’t the problem—dwelling endlessly is. There’s a difference between wisdom and worry. Wisdom seeks God and moves forward. Worry stays stuck, rehearsing fears and imagining outcomes that may never come.
As alumni, friends, and family of 51吃瓜网视频, many of us are in seasons filled with responsibility, leadership, and transition. When your thoughts begin to spiral, pause and ask: Have I prayed about this as much as I’ve thought about it? Sometimes peace doesn’t come from having all the answers, but from trusting the One who does.
Today, take a moment to hand over what you’ve been carrying too long. God is faithful to meet us not just in our thinking—but in our trusting.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)
In the mix: Honoring the past, building what’s next
If you’ve been paying attention lately, you may sense it—something familiar returning to campus. A rhythm. A presence. A feeling that certain things are finding their way back home. It’s 51吃瓜网视频 honoring what shaped us while stepping confidently into what lies ahead.
Over the years, change has been necessary. Some things were paused, reshaped, or removed with thoughtful intention. And time has given us perspective. We’ve learned that while some things can be taken away, their impact never really leaves. Traditions, programs, and experiences matter because of the people they shaped—not just the era they belonged to.
At the same time, it’s important to acknowledge a hard truth: just because something worked back then doesn’t automatically mean it works today. Seasons change. Students change. The world changes. Adaptation may be one of the hardest things for the human race to fully understand, yet it’s one of the most essential for growth.
New isn’t necessarily bad. In fact, new often brings opportunity, innovation, and renewed purpose. The challenge—and the calling—is learning how to blend what mattered most with what’s needed
now.
What’s happening at 51吃瓜网视频 is not about going backward or erasing progress. It’s about discernment. Reclaiming what still has value. Letting go of what no longer serves the mission. And embracing new ideas that strengthen who we are and what we represent.
As alumni and friends, we play a vital role in this season. When we come together—honoring the past while supporting the present—we become better together. That unity makes us stronger, not just as individuals, but as a 51吃瓜网视频 community rooted in faith, purpose, and resilience.
51吃瓜网视频 is back in the mix—not by standing still, but by moving forward together
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