June 5, 2000
Summer projects will send 4,000
youth for inner-city evangelism
___By Orville Scott
___Texas Baptist Communications
___Four thousand volunteers from throughout the state and beyond will share their faith in Texas' six largest cities this summer through Youth Inner-City Evangelism Projects.
___Last summer, more than 2,600 similar volunteers served with inner-city churches and others in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Their efforts resulted in more than 600 professions of faith in Christ.
"This summer, at least 4,300 youth and adults will carry out Jesus' command to go into the streets and alleys of the town and bring them in through Vacation Bible Schools, backyard Bible clubs, prayer walking, block parties and other evangelistic ministries."
Bob Fuston, Youth Inner-City Evangelism Projects coordinator for the Baptist General Convention of Texas
___"This summer, at least 4,300 youth and adults will carry out Jesus' command to go into the streets and alleys of the town and bring them in through Vacation Bible Schools, backyard Bible clubs, prayer walking, block parties and other evangelistic ministries," said Bob Fuston, Youth Inner-City Evangelism Projects coordinator for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___The effort also has been praised by BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade. "Youth and youth leaders are linking their Christian witness with inner-city churches to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to multitudes of people as we accelerate our efforts in Texas 2000 to reach more than 10 million unchurched Texans," he said.
___In Houston, 55 teams totaling more than 1,100 young people will join hands with 400 volunteers from First Baptist Church of Houston to do Vacation Bible Schools, kids' clubs, drama, prayer walking and other ministries, said William Taylor, minister of missions at First Baptist Church.
___About 100 of the volunteers are coming from First Baptist Church of O'Fallon, Ill.
___All the volunteers serving in Houston will receive three days of training and be commissioned at Sunday morning services at First Baptist Church.
___"Besides the souls reached for Jesus, we're committed to inner-city missions work because it provides an opportunity to train future Christian leaders," Taylor said.
___About 1,500 volunteers from 52 churches will serve in San Antonio, primarily in multi-housing sites, said Camille Simmons, coordinator of ministry missions for San Antonio Baptist Association.
___Also, 16 student summer missionaries will serve in several of San Antonio's multi-housing projects including the Alazan Housing Project, the oldest housing project in the United States.
___Baptist Student Ministries volunteers during spring break this year reached hundreds of youth in San Antonio and reported 91 professions of faith, Simmons said.
___About 300 volunteers from 12 churches will serve in inner- city ministries and assist new churches in El Paso, said John Roman, project coordinator with El Paso Baptist Association.
___"They come with a lot of energy and do whatever they're asked," Roman said. "All of the groups are so encouraging to the churches."
___One of the largest groups serving in El Paso, 70 volunteers, will come from Hunter's Glen Baptist Church in Plano.
___Fourteen teams totaling about 370 volunteers will serve in Austin, doing VBS, backyard Bible clubs, sports evangelism and construction, said Les Hooper, associate to the director of missions for Austin Baptist Association.
___Volunteers from Hardin-Simmons University "did a wonderful job" during spring break, Hooper said, helping lay the groundwork for other volunteers with a youth revival and other ministries at Living Faith Baptist Church in Austin.
___Volunteers from 16 churches and Smith Baptist Association will share their faith in inner-city Dallas through block parties, sports evangelism, door-to-door evangelism, construction and other ministries, said Jana Young, associate to the director of missions for Dallas Baptist Association.
___Also, 10 churches will send volunteers to Fort Worth to serve in VBS, a sports camp, puppet ministries and other ministries, said Codi West, missions intern with University Baptist Church in Fort Worth.
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