September 16, 2002
TOGETHER:
Offering, prayer strengthen missions
___TThis past spring, a medical specialist called the River Ministry office in San Antonio, expressing his desire to work with Mexican health care ministries. The following month, he began working with River Ministry and has made significant contributions to its health care ministry.
___Later, he shared his testimony. He was a refugee from a country where the gospel cannot be preached freely. He had been shot in the head by soldiers enforcing the military regime. While he was hospitalized, a Christian nurse led him to faith in Christ. His family disowned him because he had left the Muslim religion. He came to the United States, received political asylum and became a naturalized citizen. His only family now is his Christian family, and his desire is to be the presence of Christ by sharing his time and talent in medical clinics.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___This past year, a Paris layman with the same medical specialty retired and donated all of his equipment to River Ministry. Some of it was delivered to the clinic where the mission volunteer serves. When the equipment arrived, our River Ministry health care coordinator said, the volunteer was like a kid with a new toy. Isn't it wonderful how God provides both the human and financial resources to accomplish his kingdom purpose?
___Texas Baptist River Ministry, led by Dexton Shores, ministers on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border in life-changing ways. New churches have been started, parsonages built and homeless children cared for in nine orphanages along the Rio Grande. Medical and dental clinics have operated on 200-plus sites, and more than 40,000 people have been treated.
___Why is the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions so crucial? River Ministry receives $420,000 from this offering, which accounts for 68 percent of its total budget. Aren't you glad that in a world where so much can go wrong, you and I through the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions can be part of something so good!
___This offering also helps start churches. Last year, Texas Baptists were able to start 201 churches. This year, we have started 173 churches since January. These new churches look like the face of Texas, reflecting our increasingly diverse population—110 new Hispanic churches, 18 African-American, 18 Anglo, 18 multi-ethnic, and nine others, including Brazilian, deaf, Indonesian, Korean, Russian and Western heritage. In a few years, these new churches will be like hundreds of churches in Texas that got their start through the efforts of our churches and associations and the BGCT's Church Starting Center.
___The list of ministries supported by the Mary Hill Davis Offering is covered in a brochure that has been mailed to your church for distribution. If you would like a copy, contact Woman's Missionary Union of Texas at (888) 968-6389 or visit the new Mary Hill Davis Offering website at www.maryhilldavis.org.
___The Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions statewide giving goal is $5.21 million this year. A little over $1 million already has been given. As the offering is being received all over Texas these next few weeks, I encourage you to join me in making a generous and joyful offering that celebrates our gladness that we can be part of things so great that only heaven fully knows!
___But as much as the offering accomplishes, the call to prayer for Texas missions is even more important. So, please, as you read this column, and every time you read about these missions efforts, pray for all our Texas missionaries and the people they serve.
___We are loved.
The Baptist Standard
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
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