TOGETHER:
Why attend the convention? Let me count the ways
___Why should you come to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session in Dallas Oct. 29-30? What goes on in these Baptist meetings that makes any difference to you?
___Good questions.
___First, your church needs to be represented by its full number of messengers. Second, you will renew friendships and meet new people you minister with across the state. Third, you will hear firsthand reports on what your church accomplishes in ministry and mission
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CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
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through partnership with other BGCT churches. Fourth, your vision for a world in need will grow large right before your eyes. Fifth, you will have the chance to meet gifted leaders of our BGCT family as they make themselves available to you regarding needs in your church.
___Sixth, you will be inspired by the worship, mission presentations and messages. Seventh, you can learn how to access the many ministry tools available to pastors, staff, lay leaders and members. Eighth, you can exercise your responsibility and privilege as a Baptist Christian to participate fully in the decision making and business of your convention. Ninth, you will play a part in electing the new president and two vice presidents who will serve your church over the next one to two years. Tenth, you can join with thousands of other Texas Baptists in praying for our state, our nation's leaders and our frightened, lost world.
___Need I say more? You and your church will benefit from being at the convention. Do come.
___But perhaps you say, "I don't like conflict, and I hear that the business meetings of the convention can be contentious." Sure, Texas Baptists don't agree on everything. We operate just like a family. And you know, families find ways to work out our differences with love.
___But what we agree on is this: The Bible is inspired of God and is true and trustworthy--all of it. God loves the world and sent his Son, Jesus, to live and die among us so that we might be saved. He was born of a virgin and was raised up from the dead so that he might bring salvation and eternal life to those who believe in him. He was taken up to heaven from where he shall come some day soon to bring an end to time and usher in his kingdom and the reign of God. He called his church into being and has sent us into the whole world to bear witness to the gospel of God so that people in every land and of every tongue could hear and turn from their sin and be saved. He puts us together in churches so that we can be encouraged and nurtured, trained and equipped for meaningful service to God and people and empowered by the Holy Spirit so that we can do far more than we ever thought we could do.
___With that much agreement, we can protect our unity and service to God. As each decision is made, you have the royal privilege that God has given to believers. You are a priest before God. You can vote your understanding of what the will of God is for that question. Guided by the Scripture, the Holy Spirit's nudging, the life and words of Jesus Christ, the counsel of other Christians and your sanctified ability to think, you can vote your sense of God's direction for the BGCT, or as the Apostle Paul would say, "the mind of Christ" (Philippians 2:5).
___We will put the future before us. God has laid it out before us. You will be inspired and glad to be part of the Texas Baptist family.
___We are loved.
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