October 27, 1999

GRACE & PEACE:
Great Day Texas to inspire
Bible study, outreach
___"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing." (Hebrews 10:24-25)
___Texas Baptists are assembling in record numbers to study God's word in order to be more effective disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Last year on Great Day in the Morning a record 760,712 people were involved in Bible study on the last Sunday of October. However, more and more people are gathering for Bible study at other times during the week, and this record attendance did not tell the whole story of the number of Texas

WILLIAM M. PINSON JR. Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

Baptists committed to the study of the Bible.
___Therefore, this year a new emphasis is under way--Great Day Texas. Rather than focusing only on the gathering together for Bible study on Sunday, this year we are highlighting Bible study all during the week with a goal of 777,777 people involved. This emphasis on reporting Bible study attendance for the seven days leading up to and including Sunday, Oct. 31, indicates the all-out effort of churches related to the Baptist General Convention of Texas to involve as many people as possible in the study of God's word.
___The wonderful Texas Baptist tradition of reaching people for Bible study has been accelerating for years because of the many creative methods of outreach used by numbers of Texas Baptist churches and missions. In an effort to reach the millions of lost people in Texas, Bible study is being offered every day of the week to meet the needs of various Texans. It is only reasonable as we have expanded our opportunities for Bible study to expand our reporting.
___Churches and associations are the key. Every association has been challenged to set a goal of 77 percent of Sunday School enrollment to be present for Great Day Texas, and associations have been urged to challenge each congregation to set a similar goal.
___This emphasis is under way, and hopefully you and your church are deeply committed to reaching as many people for Bible study as possible. Many reached during this emphasis will be enlisted for ongoing Bible study. A number may never have trusted Christ as Savior and Lord and through being involved in Bible study will come to know him in this way.
___The Texas 2000 vision begins: "To the glory of God, share Jesus with every person in Texas by the year 2000." Great Day Texas is one of the ways God has given Texas Baptists to help reach every person for the glory of God.
___Bible study not only is a means of helping people to come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, but it also is a way of aiding those who already follow Jesus to become more effective disciples of his. Furthermore, the fellowship of people assembled together for such study provides encouragement for those who participate. Many Bible study groups, whether on Sunday or during the week, become ministry groups, reaching out to the needs of people around them in Christ's name.
___Please pray for your church to be involved in a great way during this emphasis on Bible study. Pray for those who teach and those who participate in the learning process. And pray many will come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord as a result of the Bible study and fellowship.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!