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LEANARD LEACH, pastor of the Mount Hebron Baptist Church of Garland, preaches on the need for Christian conduct to be characterized by love.
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BGCT African-American leaders worship in unity
___DALLAS--More than 500 Texas Baptists made history Oct. 28 by participating in a worship service for messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas from African-American churches across the state.
___ The worship service, held at Singing Hills Baptist Church in Dallas, was sponsored by the BGCT office of African-American ministries and the African-American Fellowship of Texas.
___The worship service was designed to bring people together and to display unity among the African-American church community, explained Michael Evans, director of the BGCT office of African-American ministries.
___The service also provided an opportunity for pastors to become more familiar with the names and faces of BGCT denominational
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WORSHIPPERS jam the sanctuary of Singing Hills Baptist Church in Dallas for the worship service.
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workers, Evans added.
___"The average pastor in the African-American community is not embroiled in issues of politics; he is concerned about the health of his community and the spiritual well-being of his people," he said.
___"Our goal ... was to introduce both pastors and laity to denominational servants throughout the BGCT and the Southern Baptist Convention."
___In addition to Evans, those denominational workers were Roy Cotton of the BGCT Church Starting Center; Jim Culp, retired director of the BGCT black church development office and director emeritus of the African-American Fellowship of Texas; Gerald Davis of the BGCT Center for Community Ministries; Leroy Fountain of the SBC Annuity Board; Andre Punch of the BGCT Bible study/discipleship division; and Phillip Williams of Buckner Baptist Benevolences.
___Leonard Leach, pastor of Mount Hebron Baptist Church in Garland, challenged participants to focus on "unity and love." He examined the character and conduct of Christians and emphasized Christians' lives should provide light in the world.
___Other program participants were African-American Fellowship of Texas President Dennis Young, pastor of Missouri City Baptist Church in Missouri City, and former presidents Paul McBride, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in The Colony, and Howard Anderson, pastor of the host church.
___Also included were Michael Bell, pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Baptist Church in Fort Worth; C.A. Noell, pastor of New Providence Baptist Church in Fort Worth; and Maurice Wilkes, minister of music at Friendship Baptist Church in The Colony.
___"This was a monumental event for us, and God truly blessed this gathering," Evans said. "It was a joy to see the number of churches represented and to fellowship in the spirit with our brothers and sisters from around the state of Texas."
___The next fellowship service will be held at Macedonia Baptist Church in San Antonio Jan. 27, prior to the BGCT Evangelism Conference.
___ Below, Leonard Leach, pastor of the Mount Hebron Baptist Church of Garland, preaches on the need for Christian conduct to be characterized by love.
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