March 3, 2003

Texas WMU sets $5.1 million goal
for 2003 Mary Hill Davis Offering
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___DALLAS--The Woman's Missionary Union of Texas board of directors unanimously approved a $5.1 million giving goal for the 2003 Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions.
___Last year, Texas Baptists gave $4,754,669 to the state missions offering, falling short of the $5.21 million goal.
___Meeting Feb. 20, the 41-member board set the new goal and approved recommended allocations for the 2003 Texas missions offering.
___Grouped according to strategic emphases of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the offering allocates $1.79 million to "reach all people," $1.33 million to start new churches, $884,500 to improve church health, $170,000 to encourage healthy families, $315,500 to meet human needs, $231,000 to equip the laity and $379,000 to expand theological education.
___Key new items to be funded through the 2003 Mary Hill Davis Offering include:
___ $75,000 for the Emerging Church Network, providing support for cultural specialists in Austin, Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth to help churches relate to an emerging culture.
___ $50,000 for the European Baptist Kingdom Advancement. Funds would help provide orientation, training and ongoing support for 14 indigenous missionary couples who will work in church starting efforts through the European Baptist Federation.
___ $40,000 for resources and training to help churches reach at-risk children and youth.
___ $35,000 to help churches develop innovative and special ministries, particularly in resort and leisure settings around the state.
___ $20,000 for a Hispanic evangelism blitz. Funds would provide training materials and some travel expenses enabling Hispanic students and lay leaders to spend one week witnessing in priority Texas cities.
___Other new items include programs to evangelize and disciple international students, a youth camp for Asian Texas Baptist churches and funds to help start off-campus Bible study groups in urban and culturally diverse Texas communities.
___The offering includes ongoing support for more than 50 ministries, including scholarships to help ethnic and African-American students attend Texas Baptist universities and seminaries, scholarships and other support for Hispanic Baptist Theological School, River Ministry and Buckner Baptist Benevolences projects along the Texas/Mexico border, and the Christian Women's Job Corps program to teach job skills and life skills to low-income women.

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