June 4, 2001

TOGETHER: Mission statement
helps BGCT be 'presence of Christ'
___"The mission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas is to assist churches and related ministries to be the presence of Christ in the world."

CHARLES WADE Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

___The church is the body of Christ. So says the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12:27 and all through Ephesians.
___"For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. ... Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it" (1 Corinthians 12:12, 27).
___As Paul used that beautiful and simple metaphor to describe the mystery of the church, we Texas Baptists have adopted that same idea in order to help us be on mission for Christ in our world.
___The BGCT Executive Board heard the report of the Strategic Planning Committee and adopted that report unanimously a few days ago.
___The heart of the report is the mission statement. It is biblical. It is about who we Baptists are, how we want to see ourselves. It sets the direction. It is beyond our grasp without the miraculous empowering of the Holy Spirit. It will change our lives, and it can change Texas.
___The mission statement is this: "The mission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas is to assist churches and related ministries to be the presence of Christ in the world."
___That is a mission big enough to ask for our best while relying on the power of God to make it possible.
___As Jesus was God robed in human flesh, miraculously born of a virgin, so the church is the continuing presence of Christ in the world making known his mind and heart, his word and way, his death and resurrection through our lives and witness. Seen this way, the local church is a miraculous gift of God to the world, called into being by the Son and filled with power by the Spirit.
___ Who are we?
___We are the body of Christ. We are his hands and feet, his eyes and ears, his heart and lips, his arms and legs. He is our head, and we pray for his will to be done and for the "mind of Christ" to be in us (Ephesians 4:15, Philippians 2:5).
___ What are we about?
___What he was about: Doing good. Teaching the word of God. Preaching the good news of the kingdom of God. Loving the lost. Healing the sick. Welcoming the left out. Bringing conviction on the hearts of the religious as well as on known sinners. Reconciling people to God. Creating a new family of faith. Calling people to follow him. Praying. Loving God. (See Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.)
___ When are we to do this?
___Now. For "the night cometh when no man can work" (John 9:4). It is time for us to say the "yes and the amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20). We say "thanks" for all that has been, and we say "yes" to all that is to come.
___ Why do we do this?
___Because the love of Christ compels us to be his witnesses and servants in the world (2 Corinthians 5:14).
___ Where are we to do this?
___In the world. Someday our Lord will take us home to heaven.
___But in the meanwhile, the only place we have to serve is here ... where we are and where we go (Matthew 28:18-20).
___Let us get on with it!
___We are loved.
__

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