April 14, 2003
TOGETHER:
'Wall' replaced by bridges of love
___More than a decade ago, President Ronald Reagan stood atop the Berlin Wall, and with words that still echo for many of us, he launched the end of the Cold War. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall," the president said. The rest is history.
___The wall came down, and when it did, unprecedented access opened up.For the first time in decades, we got to see what went on behind the Iron Curtain. What we saw were societies devastated by years of socialism. And as is always the case, those devastated the most were children.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___Former Eastern Bloc nations were filled with homeless and orphaned children. Those children were living on the streets and in orphanages. The conditions were appalling.
___But Christians learned long ago that no matter how bad things may be, God knows how to gain victory. Because Jesus could not be contained in the tomb, we look for life beyond death, and we dare to hope when the rest of the world gives up.
___Conditions have slowly improved for children in places like Russia and Romania, partly because of Christian ministries from the United States. One of those agencies invited by the Russian government to help was Buckner Baptist Benevolences. Because of Buckner's long history of caring for children, Russian officials asked this revered Texas Baptist ministry to assist with aiding homeless and orphaned children.
___For more than seven years, Buckner has done just that, improving living conditions in overcrowded orphanages, establishing the first-ever foster care program in Russia, delivering millions of dollars in humanitarian aid, such as clothing, shoes and medicine, to orphans, and developing training models for adults who work with orphans.
___Along the way, hundreds of volunteers from our Texas Baptist churches have journeyed to Russia with Buckner, putting shoes on orphans' feet, praying for them and sharing the love of Christ through Vacation Bible Schools and other ministries.
___Rosemary and I had the privilege to visit St. Petersburg last October and see those ministries. Our Baptist people are making a difference in children's lives here in Texas and around the world. In many ways, this model of a Baptist agency, local churches and the BGCT working together is a model for how our new missions network will work.
___On April 2-4, Buckner President Ken Hall along with staff from Buckner Orphan Care International and several dozen volunteers met in Moscow to celebrate improvements in child care in Russia and to consider future needs. The Mikhail Gorbachev Foundation, Buckner and the BGCT sponsored the event. Who would have thought 20 years ago that one day Texas Baptists would be in Russia offering our expertise at their request?
___What a unique and wonderful opportunity for Texas Baptists to stand alongside the Russians and Buckner, demonstrating the love of Christ for the "least of these." Buckner is one of 23 Texas Baptist ministry institutions that your Baptist General Convention of Texas helps your church to support through our Cooperative Program.
___Thank you, Buckner, for being an extension of our Texas Baptist work. Thank you, Texas Baptists, for being faithful and supportive of this work. And thank you, Mikhail Gorbachev, for tearing down a wall that divided us.
___We are loved.
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