September 9, 2002
HBTS calls for prayer
___SAN ANTONIO--Hispanic Baptist Theological School needs an army of prayer partners to ensure its victory as it takes on a giant financial challenge, HBTS President Albert Reyes reported.
___This spring, the school's trustees approved a 64 percent increase in its annual budget, raising the total to almost $2.3 million. In response, the goal for its annual fund grew from $250,000 to $600,000.
___Consequently, a second goal of the annual fund campaign is to enlist 1,000 prayer partners by the end of this year.
___The school is owned by the Baptist General Convention of Texas and operated in cooperation with the BGCT Christian Education Coordinating Board. This fall, school administrators hope to see record enrollment, with 160 to 180 students studying at the main campus in San Antonio and up to 300 students attending classes in 20 training centers statewide.
___"Running Together" is the theme for the annual fund campaign, Reyes said.
___The theme reflects the story of David's battle with the Philistine giant Goliath, recorded in the 17th chapter of the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel: "As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead."
___"The idea is that we want to run together with the Lord toward the giants that stand in the way of our progress and the name of the Lord," Reyes explained.
___Reyes launched the campaign May 16, challenging 30 faculty and staff to raise $7,000.
___"They came back three days later with personal cash pledges of almost $14,000," he said. "In addition, they committed to raise another $150,000 in funds from individuals in their circle of influence. Total pledged from HBTS faculty and staff is $164,000."
___Trustees, alumni, friends and the President's Advisory Council also have responded enthusiastically, he said. In the first two months of the campaign, nine churches added the school to their budgets, over and above their Cooperative Program unified budget contributions, he said. In that period, 36 donors also made first-time gifts to the school.
___"Total cash receipts and in-kind gifts in the first two months of our campaign total $48,000," he said. They hoped to receive 80 percent of fund pledges by Sept. 1 and 80 percent of the $600,000 goal by the end of the year.
___The annual fund will help underwrite a new language and literacy program, computers for the library, an automated library catalog system, mattresses for the dormitories, new faculty and scholarships.
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