Texas Baptist Missions Foundation marks 20 years of mission funding_110804

Posted: 11/05/04

Texas Baptist Missions Foundation
marks 20 years of mission funding

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

It started as a two-year Baptist General Convention of Texas fund-raising emphasis to encourage church starting. Thousands of changed lives later, the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation has blossomed to touch many aspects of the convention's ministry during the past 20 years.

What began in 1984 as part of the Mission Texas church-starting emphasis has developed into an organization that raised about $8.4 million last year for BGCT ministries and has distributed about $3.3 million this year. More than $81 million has channeled through the group to ministry in the foundation's history.

The foundation has become a way for individuals to have a lasting impact through their estates, non-cash donations and large financial gifts, said President Bill Arnold.

The foundation has several endowment funds, but most of the receipts are invested directly into ministries that stretch across the state.

The funds have helped support a wide variety of service, including starting new churches, Texas Baptist Men disaster relief, TBM retiree builders and BGCT River Ministry. Some of the financial resources were used to create low-interest loans for new churches to construct their first buildings. About $13 million of dehydrated food has been sent to Mexico and Belize. Foundation money has helped 23 ministries this year.

Charles Avery and Fred Roach, members of the foundation's board of advisers, said they have seen the funds impact Texas as they travel the state. Individuals have made faith professions. Others have been able to fulfill God's calling on their lives with the help of the foundation. Roach has seen “so many lives changed, so many decisions made.”

For Roach, starting churches is the driving force behind the organization. He wants to see Baptist work keep pace with the growing population in Texas. The majority of funds raised by the foundation are for church starting.

The chance to impact lives in the name of Christ will keep encouraging people to give through the foundation, Arnold said. Believers across the state want to make a difference in their communities and across Texas.

“I think the foundation's future is bright,” Arnold said. “The mission needs and mission opportunities in the state are not going to diminish. One way that Texas Baptists can help meet those challenges is through the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation.”