Minnesota-Wisconsin report upbeat
___By Orville Scott
___Texas Baptist Communications
___DALLAS--New churches are being started at an unprecedented pace in Minnesota-Wisconsin, about 200 Texas and Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptists were told at a partnership missions dinner during the annual session of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___Minnesota-Wisconsin Interim Executive Director Gerald Palmer called the 45-year partnership with Texas Baptists "unique in Southern Baptist life" and thanked "hundreds of Texas Baptist churches who have left their imprint on the two-state convention."
___BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade told the participants, "We are proud to be your long-time partners."
___Palmer, who served with the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board for more than 40 years, succeeded Bill Tinsley, who returned to Texas this year to be associate executive director of the BGCT.
___While Tinsley was executive director, the Minnesota-Wisconsin convention, which has about 150 churches and missions, adopted a goal to increase to 400 congregations by the year 2010.
___Part of the goal is to start new work "in every village and place," Palmer said. "If we multiply by 10 times, we will hardly touch the hem of the garment."
___The newest Texas Baptist to join the Minnesota-Wisconsin staff, Rebecca Reeves, former secretary to BGCT Treasurer Roger Hall, confirmed that "God is moving in the two states in a wonderful way."
___Besides starting new churches at a record pace, Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptists have expanded their missions outreach through partnership missions in Brazil and Russia, Tinsley said.
___Dennis Hansen, director of missions for Bay Lake Baptist Association in Wisconsin, said his association has increased from eight churches to 18 in eight years.
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