Matt Alexander

After another sleepless night thanks to our favorite DART train zipping by every eight minutes and a late-night Texas thunder boomer shaking the windows, we rose with the righteous on Monday morning and mapped out the day’s excursions. With the SBC Pastor’s Conference on deck and a fresh round of foodie dreams to chase, we were fired up.

We kicked things off with a humble Sausage McMuffin for $2.29 — because sometimes fine dining comes in paper wrappers. We returned our rental car to the AirBnB parking deck and though we couldn’t see Snoop Dogg, we were again blessed with his lingering presence. Let’s just say, the unmistakable pungent aroma of the Doggfather’s favorite pastime was still strong in the air.

From there, we summoned a Lyft and headed to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center to dive back into the Pastor’s Conference. But first — coffee. We stopped by the LifeWay booth, which was giving away free cups of coffee. I went with the blonde roast, and honestly, it surprised me — really smooth and flavorful. I wouldn’t be shocked if it was Sanctuary Hills Coffee from my good friends Keith and Nicole Boggs in Blaine, Tennessee. If so, hats off to them! Commercial: If you are looking to learn more about how to “Help Men Win”, reach out the Keith at REAL MOMENTUM and connect. He’s helped me more than Texas Brisket!

By 11:15 AM, we joined the Great Migration to the SEND Network NAMB Luncheon. Imagine organizing over 7,000 boxed lunches. Turkey sandwiches, chips, cookies — the works. And yes, they handed out NAMB duffle bags to everyone. Classic NAMB move. The room was packed, the service was efficient, and the vibe was joyful. We laughed, we listened, and we left encouraged by both Vance Pittman and Kevin Ezell, who spoke powerfully about church planting, adoption, and the continued mission of reaching North America. Kevin Ezell spent time walking us through several stories in our NAMB family that tugged on our heartstrings and we heard from Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael Jr too! Powerful time.

As a church planter, I’ll admit — despite some of the swirling controversy around NAMB in recent years — I’m still incredibly grateful for the investment they made in my life and ministry. Their ongoing support of planters is vital, and it was good to see that fire still burning.

After the luncheon, we regrouped, caught more of the Pastor’s Conference, and began plotting dinner — and that’s when we made the call to go all in on Hurtado Barbecue.

Let me introduce you to Hurtado’s: Born in Arlington and now firmly rooted in Downtown Dallas, Hurtado Barbecue has carved out its place in the heart of Texas BBQ culture. Known for its Tex-Mex twist on traditional smoked meats, Hurtado’s takes bold flavors seriously — and their reputation is climbing fast among Texas BBQ elites.

I got the chance to chat briefly with their pitmaster, Jim Lero, who was gracious and kind. While he didn’t unlock any secret recipes, he did share some insight into their process — particularly the balance of heat and smoke in their Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage, which was hands-down some of the best I’ve ever had.

Here’s what I ordered:

• Pork Belly Burnt Ends – Smoky, tender, and seasoned with a bold crust of pepper and salt. Sweet Sauce was tacky and Delish! Each slice practically melted in my mouth.
• Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage – The cheddar popped, the jalapeños kicked, and the casing had that perfect snap. This stuff should come with a warning label.
• Street Corn – Creamy, smoky, tangy — everything you want in Elote and more. The corn was fire-kissed and topped with lime cream, cotija cheese, cilantro, a good drizzle of Hot Sauce and a lime wedge!

I’ve got a new favorite BBQ joint in Texas. Sorry, Terry Black’s — you’ve got company.

But the best part of our day wasn’t the brisket (though it came close). We made our way back to the Convention Center for what became the most impactful moment of our entire trip: the Worship and Prayer Gathering led by Shane & Shane.

They didn’t just lead worship — they ushered us into the presence of God. With Scripture-led prayer, heartfelt songs, and moments of spontaneous praise, the room of over 10,000 Southern Baptists was drawn into unity like I’ve rarely seen. When Shane & Shane walked off the platform and the room erupted into a cappella Doxology, it felt like a taste of heaven. I promise you, it was one of those moments where — like John in Revelation — you just wanted to say, “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”

Shane & Shane are more than worship leaders; they’re worship shepherds. Their ministry, The Worship Initiative, sends out daily devotionals, Monday through Friday, filled with Scripture, song, and encouragement. If you haven’t signed up — do it. Your heart will thank you.

After Dr. Robert Smith closed the night with a powerful and Christ-centered message, we limped back to our luxury AirBnB — where, once again, the train bells, fire station sirens, and ambient urban noise of Dallas sang us into another night of restless “sleep.”

One more day left… and plenty more to chew on!

• Matt Alexander
  Fusion Church Madison