November 25, 2002
TOGETHER:
Institutions guided by able leaders
___I had never been to South Padre Island before, and I did not know Texas could boast such coastal beauty. Rosemary and I walked the beach, felt the sting of a north wind, picked up seashells and watched the waves break white.
___We had come to the area to be among the 800 guests at a retirement dinner honoring Ben and Loren McKibbens. For 25 years, Ben has led the Valley Baptist Health System in Harlingen in developing health services for the Rio Grande Valley. Ben McKibbens hasbeen a health care leader, nationally recognized for his passionate involvement in helping heath care to be both excellent and accessible. His great heart for Christian service is evident in everything the hospital has become under his guidance.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___A few days later, Rosemary and I drove to Waco for a retirement reception honoring Richard and Carol Scott. Richard has worked for the Hillcrest Hospital System of Waco since he was a college student at Baylor. For 41 years, he has served God and the needs of the sick in the Waco region. Across the years, he has done most everything around a hospital that can be done, except for the work of the doctors and nurses. For the last 10 years, he has been CEO.
___Both these men are wonderful members of Baptist churches. Both have stayed at their work with steady commitment and perseverance for the sake of their communities and the glory of God. Both are honored for their leadership skills, vision, compassion and integrity. But for Texas Baptists, the most important accolade I can offer is that by their work and faith, they have made the Baptist name stronger and more associated with compassion in the Valley and Central Texas. They have been good stewards of the trust Texas Baptists have placed in them.
___I have come to know all 23 of our institutional presidents, and I have found that these men love God, love people and love what God has called them to do. They bring passion and spiritual sensitivity to their roles. They want to be God's instruments for ministry. And they want everything their institutions do to be done with excellence. How wonderfully blessed we are in Texas to have the Christian character and spiritual depth exhibited in these men and nurtured in our institutions.
___Please pray by name for each of our institutional leaders. Jerry Bradley, Kevin Dinnin, Jerry Haag and Ken Hall lead our child and family ministries. Tim Holloway and Wayne Merrill lead in ministries to the aging, along with Ken Hall. Leaders at our educational institutions are Paul Armes, Jerry Bawcom, Gary Cook, Russell Dilday, Doug Hodo, Bob Riley, Robert Sloan, Craig Turner, Vic Schmidt, Jerry Johnson, Albert Reyes, Vernon Davis and Paul Powell. Health care ministries are led by Joel Allison, Art Hohenberger, David Parmer, James Springfield and Mike Waters.
___These leaders help Texas Baptists touch the lives of over 2 million people a year. They represent the passion of Texas Baptists to be on mission for our Lord. I have grown to love them and believe in them. I yearn to be able to help our churches know more about all they do to help us be the presence of Christ in the world and advance all the interests of the Redeemer's Kingdom.
___We are loved.
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