February 2, 2000
GRACE & PEACE:
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord
___"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ... Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord." (Philippians 1:2-6; 3:1)
___The Apostle Paul's writing to his beloved Philippian brothers and sisters in Christ parallels my feelings about those with whom I have had the privilege of serving as executive director of the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.Being in this position longer than any other person in the history of our convention has afforded me a marvelous opportunity to associate with a large number of wonderful people. This, my last column, affords opportunity to express thanks to God for his provisions and to co-laborers in Christ for their fellowship in the gospel.
WILLIAM M. PINSON JR.
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___My deepest gratitude is to God--to our heavenly Father for his everlasting love, to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his grace gift of salvation and to the Holy Spirit for guidance and empowerment for service.
___And I thank God profusely for the gift of family--for those godly ancestors who both set an example and paved the way for the opportunities we have today; for Bobbie, God's best gift to me, second only to salvation in Christ, for her love, faithfulness, devotion to our Lord, and prayer life; for our daughters, Meredith Creasey and Allison Hopgood, who delight me daily in their Christian walk; for our sons-in-law, David Creasey and Jerry Hopgood, who are indeed men in Christ; for our grandchildren, Austin and Brooks Creasey and Zachary Pinson Hopgood, who provide joy today and hope for the future; for Bobbie's mother, Mrs. J.S. Judd, who is a prayer partner and encourager; for our extended family, each of whom has experienced God's saving grace and membership in a Baptist church.
___For churches in the life of our family I am grateful--the church of our youth, First Baptist Church in Lancaster; the church of college days, First Baptist Church of Denton, L.B. Reavis, pastor; the churches of student seminary days, Birchman Avenue Baptist Church, BO Baker, pastor, and University Baptist Church, James Harris, pastor, in Fort Worth; the churches of joyful pastorates, West Keechi Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Wichita Falls; the church of the years of service as executive director, The Oaks Baptist Church (formerly First Baptist Church of Oak Cliff), Herb Pedersen and Bill White, pastors; and the many churches who have welcomed us for interims, supply preaching, revivals, conferences and other events.
___For the various other Baptist entities where we have served I am thankful--the student department of the BGCT as Baptist Student Union president and youth evangelist; the Christian Life Commission of the BGCT as associate; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as professor; Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary as president; the BGCT as executive director.
___As executive director, God has blessed me with opportunity to serve with many different people--my predecessor, James H. Landes; the marvelous staff of the Executive Board, including Doris Tinker, executive associate, Ed Schmeltekopf, associate executive director, and Roger Hall, treasurer; administrators, staff members and trustees of schools, medical centers, child care entities, aging care ministries, the Baptist Foundation and the Baptist Standard; the officers of the BGCT and of the Executive Board; the leaders of the ethnic and affinity groups related to the BGCT; the thousands of people who have served during these years on the Executive Board and on other boards as well as on committees and commissions; the officers, administrators, staff and members of Woman's Missionary Union of Texas and Texas Baptist Men; directors of missions and other staff in the Baptist associations in Texas; administrators and board members of Baptist encampments in Texas; vocational evangelists; people from Baptist groups beyond Texas; leaders of other Christian groups with whom we have cooperated in common causes; people from government, business, community organizations, the media and the professions, such as physicians, attorneys, architects and consultants who have helped make the seemingly impossible possible.
___How thankful I am for friends who have prayed, encouraged, counseled and provided fellowship and for Baptist churches, pastors, staff and people throughout the state who have partnered in ministry for the sake of the gospel.
___Because of such fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, the Baptist family in Texas represented by the BGCT can celebrate spiritual vitality, financial strength and record increases in area after area.
___The best years, I believe, are ahead for the family of Texas Baptists. With gratitude for the past and "being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ," I pass the responsibilities and opportunities of executive director to Charles and Rosemary Wade and to the generations to follow.
___Indeed, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you ... for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now." To God be the glory! And finally, "Rejoice in the Lord!"
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