July 29, 2002
TOGETHER:
BGCT agencies channel love to Texas
___The Baptist General Convention of Texas seeks to bring together the compassion and resources of our Baptist people and churches. Our convention and its related institutions help to channel the Texas Baptist spirit of mission and ministry into hands-on acts of Christian care.
___How do you become a part of ministries that touch people all across Texas? You can give to the BGCT disaster relief fund that helps to provide food, spiritual counsel and financial assistance to people caught in floods and other crises. You can volunteer to be a part of the Mission Service Corps, putting your life to work in missions. Many other examples are highlighted in the Baptist Standard week by week.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___But how do you do even more? Through the work of 23 institutions that relate to the BGCT, you and your church are creating waves of Christian service and influence that roll across Texas every day.
___Jesus taught us to love him with our minds and to study the Scriptures, so we have educational institutions. He taught us to welcome the children and protect them from harm, so we have childcare and family ministries. He taught us to heal the sick, visit those who are hurting and care for the widows, so we have six hospitals and three eldercare agencies ministering to the aged.
___More than $1 million of your cooperative missions contributions every year are invested in six hospital systems. Last year, Baptist Health System, Baylor Health Care System, Hendrick Health System, Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospitals and Valley Baptist Health System admitted roughly 200,000 patients for in-hospital care and treated close to 2 million on an outpatient basis. These hospitals provided $180 million in charity care to more than 41,000 patients.
___The bulk of the money to care for the sick in our society comes from insurance, private pay and the social programs of the government. But Baptist people provide chaplains for these hospitals, prayerfully encourage a culture of Christian compassion and hope, and stand beside people in the most difficult times in their lives. Last year, more than 50 chaplains in our Baptist hospitals made pastoral visits to about 240,000 patients.
___Leaders of our Baptist hospitals care deeply for the souls of the people whom they serve. They want the love of Jesus shared with everyone who enters the hospital. They want people to know Baptists are committed to sharing the finest quality health care available. And most of all, they want the Lord to be able to say to them and to the Baptist family, "I was sick, and you came to me."
___I am grateful to be able to encourage the work of our hospitals, as well as ministries to the elderly that provide intermediate and skilled nursing care for more than 1,500 people and offer safe and secure retirement living to 4,500. Please join me in praying for the administrators, staff and residents at Baptist Memorials Ministries, Baptist Community Services and Buckner Retirement Services.
___You and I get a lot done every time we put money into our offering envelope! When churches are generous in their support of the BGCT Cooperative Program, they extend their ministry in powerful ways to every part of Texas and around the world.
___Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support. Together, we are making a difference.
___We are loved.
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