April 29, 2002
TOGETHER:
We believe 'Jesus loves New York'
___Some of the strongest churches in Texas are not the largest ones. As I have traveled across our state, it has been humbling to stand in the pulpits of churches that are faithfully, week after week, living the gospel and being the presence of Christ in their towns and counties. People are being saved, and saved people are learning to minister to others and grow in Christ.
___These churches are in the Valley, along the coast and the coastal plains, in the Piney Woods, in North Texas and the Red River Valley, the Panhandle, the South Plains, from Alpine to El Paso, up and down the I-35 corridor, the Hill Country, Central West Texas, and Old Texas stretching from Waco to Galveston.
___I was inone of those strong churches, First Baptist Church of Plains, the other day. Saturday morning they conducted disaster relief training led by deacon Jeff Roper. Thirty-five people showed up to learn how their church or association could be involved in responding to disasters.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___First Baptist of Plains sponsors the Top of Texas disaster team. I first met them when they were preparing food in the Houston hospital district after the terrible floods there last year.
___When 9/11 happened, they were some of the first called and on the scene in New York City preparing food for rescue workers and others. They produced wonderful bright blue T-shirts that say on the back, "Jesus loves New York."
___A policeman put the shirt on over his uniform. His commanding officer reprimanded him for violating the uniform code, but when the man turned around so the officer could see the message on his back, the officer broke down and wept. "I want one of those," he said.
___Bill Wright, pastor of the Plains church, took a shirt to the man. "Do you really want this?"
___"I sure do."
___"You can have it with one condition. ... You have to put it on over your uniform!" He gladly received the gift.
___New York Baptist Men have been working all these months providing meals to the people involved in the work around Ground Zero. Their disaster relief mobile kitchen was seriously overtaxed by the demands of this great need.
___Our Texas Baptist Men knew of their heroic efforts and that New York's unit was breaking down and inadequate. So, from disaster relief funds Texas Baptist churches have given since September, we have purchased a large mobile kitchen and a super-size pickup truck. They soon will be on their way to New York.
___It is a gift from Texas Baptists and Texas Baptist Men. It will enable them to finish the job in New York City and be prepared for years to come to respond to desperate needs in New York and across New England. Praise be to God!
___I walked through the halls of First Baptist Church of Plains as Sunday School classes were being taught. I went by the "BOYZ" class where Linda Wright teaches four adult men who live with some difficult limitations. They have been included in the church family. Recently they were baptized, and the church responded with shouts of joy.
___This is not limited to one church. First Baptist Church of Plains represents what I see wherever I go. God's people are seeking to be the presence of Christ in the world. Churches are committed to living out the gospel of Jesus Christ that changes everything about us, our families and our communities.
___We are loved.
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