June 10, 2002
Heritage offer of historic proportions
___A special place in Texas history is located between College Station and Brenham. Texas independence was planned in a Baptist blacksmith's shop, not far from where Independence Baptist Church now stands. Baptists have met there every Sunday since August 1839. The American flag stands at the pew where Sam Houston and his family sat during worship services.
___Sam Houston was an American giant and a Texas hero. He served as a senator from Texas and was president of the Republic of Texas. He was elected governor of Texas in 1859 but was ousted by angry Texans when he refused to lead Texas into the Confederacy. He died before the Civil War was over, loyal to the Union to the end.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___Many people who know only of Houston's early life are surprised to know how much he changed after his conversion. But he became a firm supporter of Baptist causes, his pastor and his church. Houston's wife, Margaret, was instrumental in leading him to Christ.
___A friend, skeptical of Houston's conversion, said to him, "I hear you were baptized, and your sins have been washed away." Houston replied, "If that be so, pity the poor fish down stream."
___Another layman of extraordinary faith and gifted with a great spirit of generosity was honored recently at Independence Baptist Church by the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Baptist Distinctives Committee and the Texas Baptist Heritage Center. Noble Hurley, active deacon and leader in Gaston Oaks Baptist Church in Dallas, was recognized with the Elder Statesman Award for his loyal and generous support of Baptist causes across Texas and his care for the poor and homeless in Dallas.
___Bill Pinson, executive director emeritus of the BGCT, led a stirring and memorable Sunday School lesson identifying 12 Baptist beliefs and their biblical foundations. Butch Strickland, pastor of Independence Baptist Church, spoke briefly about the life of the church. Many years ago, Independence Church granted letters to 130 African-American members so that they might begin their own church up the road. Pastor Strickland announced the members of Liberty Missionary Baptist Church would join us for dinner on the grounds.
___Then Paul Powell, dean of Truett Seminary in Waco, brought a courageous challenge to today's Baptists to live with the passion for souls and building churches, Christian schools and ministries that marked the lives of early Texas Baptists.
___We ate together under the huge oak trees in the front yard. There was enough chicken to have fed another 100 people, even after a record number of participants had made their way through the lines.
___The Baptist Distinctives Committee/Texas Baptist Heritage Center is offering a set of books and other materials about Baptist history and doctrine at a bargain rate. The set includes Leon McBeth's definitive history of Texas Baptists that could sell for twice what the entire set sells for. I have asked our staff to make available with this offer the audiotape from the service at Independence at minimal additional cost.
___For information on how to order the tape and books, please contact the Baptist Distinctives Committee, 333 North Washington, Dallas 75246, or e-mail tinker@bgct.org or greer@bgct.org and request the order form for the "What a Deal Plus Tape" offer.
___We are loved.
___
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