November 18, 2002
___ Messenger registration tops 3,300. A total of 3,327 messengers registered for the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session in Waco Nov. 11-12. That's 10 more than last year's session in Dallas.
___The last time the BGCT met in Waco, in 1991, messenger registration topped 11,000, the highest in convention history. That also was the peak of controversy over control of Baylor University, an issue that drew strong emotions.
___BGCT annual sessions drew more than 5,000 messengers most every between 1987 and 2000. Beginning in 2001, attendance fell off as fundamentalists who had been battling for control of the convention left to form a rival state convention.
___Registered messengers this year came from 875 churches. The largest group (301) came from Dallas Baptist Association, followed by Tarrant Baptist Association (240), Waco Baptist Association (223), Union Baptist Association (172) and San Antonio Baptist Association (148).
___ African-American fellowship prioritizes preaching. Every church needs prepared and passionate people and powerful pulpits, Gaylon Foreman, pastor of Carver Park Baptist Church in Waco, told an enthusiastic crowd of African-American Texas Baptists.
___Foreman was keynote speaker and host pastor at the Texas Baptist African-American Fellowship worship service Nov. 10, prior to the annual session of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___"When you live out a passionate relationship with God, your praise goes to another level," he said. "Your worship is authentic."
___The service featured appearances by Dennis Young of Missouri City, president of the African-American Fellowship, and Paul Stripling, director of missions for Waco Baptist Association.
___ Hispanic growth noted. The Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas is doing "very, very well," President Antonio Estrada told messengers to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session Nov. 11. A Hispanic fellowship the previous night drew 600 participants, he reported
___Estrada said the convention plans to increase its mission giving 10 percent this year, up from the $1.1 million given last year. He said that the convention is working closely with the Baptist General Convention of Texas on partnerships and exchanges between Texas and Mexico.
___The convention of 1,128 Hispanic Baptist churches in Texas has also extended its mission work to include partnerships in Chile, Peru, Brazil and Argentina, where Estrada said that they were welcomed as kings.
___"This is a blessing for us. They are excited and thrilled to be working with us," he said. Estrada said the convention plans to host 100 pastors from Mexico for a week in Houston as a part of their continued pastoral exchange. He also invited messengers to attend a meeting of 95 other Baptist churches in Houston to plan mission efforts.
___Estrada described plans for evangelism in Mexico City, exchanging summer missionaries, and an international youth conference in Mexico City in 2004.
___ House Church Plus celebrates victories. Leaders of non-traditional church starts shared insights during a House Church Plus breakfast held in conjuction with the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session Nov. 12.
___"You are doing things that might seem crazy to some and different to others. I say what you are doing is great," said Fred Ater, director of the BGCT Church Starting Institute.
___BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade commended the church starters for their innovation. "It's a privilege to work with those who have vision and are not afraid to try new things," he said.
___Associate Executive Director Bill Tinsley also praised the ministers. "There is no right kind of church, and there is no one way to start a church. You are in the place to see what God can do."
___ Mission Service Corps breakfast honors Pearises. Mission Service Corps in Texas grew from 100 volunteers in 1984 to more than 1,200 this year, volunteers were told at a breakfast Nov. 12 honoring Sam and Polly Pearis. The Pearises are retiring after 18 years as leaders of the Texas Mission Service Corps program.
___Speakers applauded them for their Christian vision and commitment and leadership skills in building a corps of Christian volunteers that equals more than 40 percent of Mission Service Corps work across the nation.
___Mike Riggins, director of Mission Service Corps for the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board, and Jane Bishop, director of the NAMB missions mobilization team, presented the Pearises with a Life Service Award.
___BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade praised the Pearises for their work, noting, "The Pearises will take joy and be proud of what happens as a result of their ministries."
___ River Ministry awards ring a bell. Armando Vera, pastor of Iglesia Cristiana Alianza in the Rio Grande Valley, received this year's Elmin Howell Bell Award at the annual Texas Baptist River Ministry luncheon Nov. 12.
___Howell, founding director of River Ministry, made the presentation to Vera. The award is presented annually to a border church that has done outstanding work in church starting. Under Vera's leadership, the Alianza congregation has begun 59 house churches.
___Other River Ministry recognitions were given to Gloria Chavira of Marfa, medical coordinator for the Big Bend area, for 20 years of service; Gerald Tomes, medical technologist, and Ora Lee Tomes, licensed professional consultant at First Baptist Church of Paris, medical volunteers for 15 years; Fred Worley of Austin, architect; Jack Calk, director of missions for Del Rio-Uvalde Baptist Association; and Wanda Eckeberger of Ennis, a 30-year volunteer in River Ministry.
___ Community ministries recognized. The Center for Community Ministries of the Baptist General Convention of Texas honored churches and individuals involved in community ministries at an awards banquet Nov. 12.
___Lillie Ruth Payne of First Baptist Church of Odem received the Good Samaritan Award for her work on justice issues for the poor and elderly, administration of a delivery service to homebound senior adults and other church activities.
___David Valentine, pastor of First Baptist Church in Huntsville, accepted the Salt and Light Award, which honors churches that transform their communities with outreach. First Baptist Church of Huntsville runs a correctional ministry program for released inmates, victims of crime and their families and 700 correctional officers each week.
___Jana Whitworth, director of church and community ministries at Dallas Baptist Association, received the Barnabas Award as a leader in vocational community ministry. She works with a wide range of ministries through 511 Dallas-area churches.
___Phil Tilden, president of Christian Assistance Ministries of Kerr County, accepted the Philippian Award on behalf of the multiple churches recognized for their cooperative sponsorship of community ministry. The organization served more than 9,000 people last year, providing food, clothing, and other aid to the communities of Kerr County.
___Larry Mills, pastor of Buchanan Street Chapel, accepted the Genesis Award for innovative new community ministries. His mission church, sponsored by First Baptist Church of Amarillo, ministers to mental-health consumers, who often have no place to turn.
___ Top-giving churches honored. Green Acres Baptist Church of Tyler led the Baptist General Convention of Texas in total dollars ($978,072) contributed through the Cooperative Program to missions and ministries last year. Park Cities Baptist Church of Dallas led the convention in total dollars ($1.19 million) contributed through the BGCT, including the Cooperative Program and special missions offerings.
___Sweetwater Baptist Association led the convention in average percentage contributed through the Cooperative Program to missions and ministries, at 18 percent.
___Westside Baptist Church of Lewisville was the top church in Cooperative Program giving among African-American and ethnic congregations related to the BGCT. The church gave $84,141.
___Templo Bautista de South Houston was the top congregation in Cooperative Program giving among Hispanic churches. The congregation gave $24,750.
___Park Cities and Green Acres also were among three churches honored for giving more than $1 million through the BGCT, including Cooperative Program and special mission offerings. They shared that distinction with First Baptist Church of Midland, which gave $1.04 million. Green Acres gave a total of $1.09 million through the BGCT.
___ Missions Foundation presents awards. Three awards were presented at the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session Nov. 12 by the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation.
___Harold Ellis, who died Aug. 16, was honored posthumously with the Adventurer Award for leadership in missions. Ellis was the founder, chaplain and executive director of J.A.I.L. Ministry Inc. He began the ministry with a handful of volunteers in Bell County in 1985. Today, more than 400 volunteers visit the jails in this program.
___Donna Dee Floyd received the Innovator Award for creativity in missions. In addition to working with churches, she speaks to pastors and lay leaders about prayer ministries in the United States and Canada. She organized a Sunday prayer ministry in her home in 1977, then led Tallowood Baptist Church of Houston to launch a 24-hour, seven-days-per-week prayer room.
___Cotton Bridges received the Pioneer Award for service in missions. He held many volunteer offices with Texas Baptist Men before becoming state Royal Ambassador director from 1986 through 1995. He led men, boys and families in mission activities at Calvary Baptist Church of Abilene, and after moving to Dallas, at First Baptist Church of Plano. He also directed child-care ministries during disasters.
The Baptist Standard
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