December 15, 1999

GRACE & PEACE:
Final year pivotal in seeing
Texas 2000 vision completed
___"... making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:16)
___The Texas 2000 vision and priorities have inspired and challenged the Baptist General Convention of Texas for the past several years. Based on the Great Commission and the Great Commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ, Texas 2000 was brought into being under the direction of the Holy Spirit by a praying and pondering group of Texas Baptists in a strategy council.
___The vision, which I believe came from God, seemed audacious when presented by the strategy council: "To the glory of God, share Jesus with every person in Texas by the year

WILLIAM M. PINSON JR. Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

2000; be a family of loving, joyful obedient servants of Jesus Christ; seek fresh, new direction and power from the Holy Spirit through Scripture and prayer; develop Great Commission churches for all persons."
___Yet Texas 2000 was launched with the conviction that God would provide the resources and plans to fulfill the vision.
___Drafters of the Texas 2000 vision did not attempt to determine how it would be implemented. That was left to individuals, churches, associations, institutions and the staff of the Executive Board and related entities, such as Woman's Missionary Union of Texas and Texas Baptist Men. Through prayers and deliberation, ways are being discovered and followed to fulfill the vision.
___For example, an Executive Board staff member excitedly shared about being in a church where a map of the city was prominently displayed with a pin in the place where people lived with whom the gospel had been shared. The intent of the church is to have a pin in every place where people live by the end of 2000. If every church in Texas does this, every person in Texas will have Jesus shared with them.
___In another instance, a layman has come forward with a vision to see that every household in Texas receives the "Jesus" video. Executive Board staff are working to enlist associations and churches in follow-up to the mailing, so a personal visit will accompany receipt of the video. Thus, in a way the original strategy council did not contemplate, the vision is being fulfilled.
___There is only one more year to go until the end of the time frame for Texas 2000. Surely a urgency must grip us if we are to be faithful to the vision God has given us. The Apostle Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to write about how important it is to finish the race God has set before us. So let us run with patience and urgency to the finish line "redeeming the time" so the Texas mission field will receive the Good News of Jesus and the Texas mission base will be strengthened to help share the Good News with the whole, wide world.
___ As we cooperate to make and mature disciples for the Lord Jesus, he will provide direction and resources to carry out our mission. Satan will use every demonic power at his disposal to thwart this God-given effort, but "greater is he who is within you, than he that is in the world."
___Please pray that all Texas Baptists will have a sense of urgency in fulfilling the entire vision God has given. Pray that the efforts of Satan to undermine our efforts will be foiled. And pray that at the end of the year 2000, the vision will be fulfilled to the glory of God.

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