Bi-Vocational pastors receive dream trip to Israel
DALLAS — Fifteen bi-vocational pastors received an unexpected gift at the 2025 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting: an all-expense-paid trip to Israel, courtesy of Signature Tours, a company specializing in Christian destination travel.
One Tennessee pastor who was among the recipients called it “the kind of blessing you pray for but never expect.”
D.J. Horton, President of the Pastors’ Conference, expressed his gratitude for these often-overlooked servants.
“I’m grateful for the men who serve across our convention in churches that are often not celebrated,” Horton said. “All of them face the challenge of supplementing their income by working a job outside of their ministry.
“It’s not that they’re part-time pastors — there’s no such thing. They’re full-time servants of the living God, and they love the church so much. Their call to pastor is as real and valid as any full-time pastor.”
Horton, who was raised by a bi-vocational pastor himself, understands their unique challenges firsthand.
According to Horton, one goal was honoring these bi-vocational ministers, especially since they often cannot attend annual meetings due to work obligations. Most bi-vocational pastors have never been to an annual meeting, he noted. The 15 pastors were invited and sponsored by their state conventions to attend the 2025 meeting.
Roger Britton
Standing before applause that lasted several minutes, the bi-vocational pastors represented states from Alaska to Florida. Among them were Randy Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB), and Roger Britton, bi-vocational ministry specialist for the TBMB. Britton has served as a bi-vocational minister for nearly 45 years, including the last 27 as pastor of Whites Creek Baptist Church in Rockwood.
“I never thought God would open the doors for me to become part of the TBMB team,” Britton told the B&R. “But God had plans for me that have allowed me to reach bi-vocational pastors across the great state of Tennessee.”
Britton explained that when Davis asked him to represent Tennessee’s bi-vocational pastors at the SBC Annual Meeting, he expected nothing more than recognition. When D.J. Horton invited a representative from Signature Tours to the microphone, Britton again assumed they would simply hear words of affirmation.
“When I heard the words, ‘We are giving all these pastors a trip to the Holy Land,’ I immediately began to shed tears of joy, excitement, and unbelief,” Britton recalled.
Going to the Holy Land has been on Britton’s bucket list for years. “I never dreamed I would actually have the opportunity to be where Jesus walked, where the disciples walked, and where so many other followers of our Lord walked. I am so thankful that Brother D.J. Horton has such a heart for bi-vocational pastors.”
Britton said he and his wife Kathy will begin planning their trip soon and are grateful for this opportunity. The other bi-vocational pastors on stage were equally excited about the gift, as most never thought they would be able to walk where Jesus walked.
“I have had the desire to send bi-vocational pastors to Israel,” Britton said. “My prayer is that this will provide opportunities for other bi-vocational pastors to travel to Israel. I am thankful for the leadership of Dr. Randy Davis and for our Southern Baptist Convention. This has been an amazing four days in Dallas representing Tennessee and the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.”
Rev. Johnny Horton, D.J. Horton’s father, prayed over the men, asking God to “give them a Paul, a Timothy, and a Barnabas” — referring to biblical helpers who would provide wisdom and strength.
In the surprise announcement, Brad Brown, one of the owners of Signature Tours, declared, “It is an honor and privilege to give each one of these pastors behind me an all-expense-paid trip to the Holy Land.”
The bi-vocational pastors will be able to schedule their trips at their own convenience. B&R
