October 21, 2002
TOGETHER:
Institutions help BGCT touch Texas
___Our state continues to grow. Four million new people--more than the number living in 24 of the 50 states--have come to live in Texas over the last 10 years. Many moved here come from places where Baptists have not been strong.
___Christ's love compels us to welcome these newcomers into our lives and churches. It compels us to start churches, at a rate of more than 200 a year for the last several years. And the churches reflect the diversity of our state. Last year, Texas Baptists started 120 Hispanic, 30 African-American, 29 Anglo, 16 multi-ethnic, two Brazilian and four Asian congregations. Christ's love inspires our churches to reach the lost, baptizing more than 53,000 last year. It urges us to teach the Bible, sharing God's word in 44 languages through our churches.
___It compels us to reach out in ways no single individual or church can. It demands that we work together, as "fellow workers" with God (2
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CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
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Corinthians 3:9). That is why the Baptist General Convention of Texas supports institutional ministries.
___Last year through our institutions, we touched more than 10 percent of the total population of Texas with ministry and service in Christ's name. Baptist hospitals admitted 212,910 patients, treated about 2 million outpatients and provided nearly $200 million in free hospitalization care. Fifty-five chaplains visited over 200,000 patients.
___Child and family service ministries served 74,738 people. Our ministries to the aging served 3,591 residents. The most vulnerable among us found God's care in the hearts of Baptist people.
___Texas Baptist educational institutions enrolled 35,641 students in nine schools. The undergraduate ministerial students in these schools account for almost half of all ministerial students enrolled in the 48 state Baptist universities across our nation. Baptist Student Ministries shared the message and ministry of Christ on 131 Texas campuses.
___And the institutions have given themselves to missions work in the most exciting ways. Texas Baptist hospitals have helped the Baptist hospital in Guadalajara, Mexico. Universities and Baptist Student Ministries are sending students by the hundreds to serve in missions. Our childcare ministries have reached out to help children in orphanages around the world in Russia, Moldova, Kenya, China and Guatemala, for example.
___Texas Baptists love the institutions God has entrusted to their stewardship. Our churches are deeply involved in working with the institutions in these ministries. We are grateful for the way the institutions support the cause of Christ and the goals of our convention.
___The $25 million we put into the institutions each year put our churches in touch with people in Texas who need Jesus, people we never could reach through our churches alone. These missions and ministry dollars connect our Baptist people, churches, convention and institutions in such a way that we become partners in evangelism, missions, Christian education and benevolent work and enterprises, covering our state with more than $4 billion worth of service and ministry annually.
___Our smallest churches can take pride in what they get to be part of across Texas and the world. Our largest churches have to admit that although they can do many things, they could not touch this many people in this many places without the partnership they share with all the other churches and institutions of the BGCT.
___We need each other. We are loved.
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News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
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