April 14, 1999
GRACE & PEACE:
The impact of Texas
2000, Y2K and 2000 A.D.
___"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7).
___What doTexas 2000, Y2K (year 2000) and 2000 A.D. have in common?
WILLIAM M. PINSON JR.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Committee
___A fantastic opportunity for sharing the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!
___Texas 2000, the Baptist General Convention of Texas' vision and priorities for helping to fulfill the Great Commission, extends through the year 2000. Individuals, churches and associations during the next almost two years will focus on sharing the Good News about Jesus with every person in Texas.
___Y2K, the short term for "The Year 2000," refers to the problems related to computers. Computers now control much of what we depend on for business, finance, safety and comfort.
___Due to lack of foresight, many computers were not equipped to handle the date changes that will result at the turn of the century. These were programmed to recognize dates only by the last two digits, and thus might "read" 2000 as 1900.
___If the problem is not corrected, chaos could result.
___Numbers of people panicked about what could happen with mass computer malfunction. Some people, taking advantage of this fear, are encouraging the purchase of survival materials at high prices.
___Texas Baptist Men have prepared a guide to a sane, simple, inexpensive means of dealing with whatever crises may occur. It is available to individuals and churches and can be ordered from Texas Baptist Men, 333 North Washington, Dallas 75246-1798; (214) 828-5350.
___The Y2K scare affords another opportunity to share the gospel. How better to deal with fear than to trust in the One who casts out fear. Meanwhile, Christians work diligently to correct the computer problem as another evidence of concern for others.
___The year 2000 also brings fear to many, since they believe it will be the time of the end of the world or of the return of Jesus to earth. Again, the remedy for such fear is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
___For those who trust Jesus, his return is not cause for fear but of joy. So we share the Good News of Jesus as an antidote to alarm over the year 2000 and the end of the century and of the millennium.
___The convergence of Texas 2000, Y2K and 2000 A.D. brings an unprecedented opportunity for evangelism.
___As individuals and churches utilize the opportunity, the gospel will be shared and people will come to faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
___Rather than being a time to either join in the panic or to shrug off the matters as inconsequential, churches should be equipping members to share Good News fervently.
___Please pray for churches as they prepare people to deal with Y2K and 2000 A.D.
___Pray for a sense of urgency as we reach toward the conclusion of Texas 2000.
___And pray that a multitude of people will come to saving faith in Jesus Christ in the waning months of the millennium.Frontpage / Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!