Faithwalking in the Baptist University of the Americas

I am grateful to God for Faithwalking. My experience as a Christian spans four decades, which includes fifteen years as a pastor, nine years as a Practical Theology professor, and earning advanced theological degrees. Yet the spiritual and relational impact that Faithwalking has had on me rivals anything I’ve encountered up to this time. Because of Faithwalking 101 and 201, I was able to understand why I keep on repeating the same destructive behavioral patterns that undermine my relationships with God, family, friends, and peers. I was able to see why I stopped myself from progressing spiritually and professionally. Any program or ministry is only as good as the people who do it. I am grateful for the guidance of people like Jim Herrington, Randy Schroeder, Todd and Denise McCombs, Steve Capper and Trisha Taylor. They showed me that to be transparent, to be vulnerable, and to admit one’s weaknesses and sinfulness empowers others to be open to the Spirit of God to bring about healing. I was encouraged by their example to do the same.

Through Faithwalking I became aware that my woundedness as a child led me to three vows that made survival possible but undermined my calling as a Christian. I made a vow to be a coward, to be a bully and to be self-righteous (Pharisee). I know that this sounds contradictory, but if we were able to sit down and I could explain in more detail, it would make complete sense. As a result of Faithwalking I was able to turn to God and my fellow Christians for help. I was able to strengthen my relationships with my wife, my three grown sons, and move in areas in my professional life that I would not have previously pursued.

Through Faithwalking I became aware that too many of us Christian leaders are pursuing the American dream rather than the Kingdom of God. A quote from Faithwalking 201 says, “It is the fundamental assertion of Faithwalking that the Christian community in our culture has replaced Jesus’ vision for humanity with a dummied down vision of what it means to be human – a western, materialistic, capitalistic, vision that is driven by fear, ease, and convenience. It is a vision that has its roots in democracy and 51% majorities rather than in a Kingdom where salt and light transform.”

I believe this is one of the major reasons we don’t see the kind of results we would like to see in the church today. Faithwalking is a call to return to the truth of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. It provides a format that incorporates the vital aspects of following Jesus: obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord, commitment to a missional community, and fostering a reflective lifestyle.

I got involved with Faithwalking through my brother, Andy Ramos. Andy is a good friend of Todd McCombs, one of the board members of Mission Houston who helped begin this ministry. It made such a difference in Andy’s life that he recommended it to me. I went and haven’t been the same.

Beginning this fall of 2011, we will be offering Faithwalking as course at the Baptist University of the Americas, San Antonio, Texas. Most of our students are preparing for the “ministry.” I became interested in teaching Faithwalking as a course because of what happened to one of our alumnus. The pressures and the anxieties of being a pastor can be overwhelming. The young graduate took a pastorate after graduation. Four years later he had quit the pastorate and moved out of his house, leaving his wife and three children behind. He eventually divorced his wife. This is someone I personally knew and mentored while he was attending our school. No one anticipated this happening, even his wife. Apparently, there were a number of serious issues that he never talked to me about. I felt badly about graduating a student for the ministry without adequate preparation. My prayer is that Faithwalking will enable ministry students to be healthier people, have a better self-understanding, be more grounded in their relationship with our Lord and their significant others, and be part of a missional community so that, when the stresses and the responsibilities of the ministry come upon them, they will have the resources not only to manage their lives well but also to use those challenges as stepping stones to greater spiritual growth.

I am excited about offering Faithwalking this coming semester and am eager to see what our Lord will do through this wonderful program.


Dr. Mario A. Ramos
Associate Professor
Director of the Christian Service Program
Baptist University of the Americas
San Antonio, TX