TOGETHER: BGCT makes progress in San Antonio_111504

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Posted: 11/12/04

TOGETHER:
BGCT makes progress in San Antonio

After the mission service at the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual session, a pastor said: “This was great. I saw a new vision for missions, and I felt the old feelings stirring again.” Several young pastors and church members paused to say: “This is what we've been waiting to hear and see. We can build on this.”

This was music to my ears. Our people have worked hard to tell the Texas Baptist mission story. Excitement is building. The work is growing. Texas Baptists working together are making a difference in people's lives in Texas and around the world.

We also adopted new mission, vision, values and priorities statements. Now, as we develop core strategies to help our staff and related ministries address our priorities, you will begin to see positive changes occurring in our approach to the work God has given us to do. The key thing to remember is that our convention staff is committed to getting closer to the churches in order to know you better and be able to work with you in facilitating the work God has given your church to do.

CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board

There are three key verbs to consider–encourage, facilitate and connect. The BGCT takes seriously its role of encouraging the churches to see what can be done. To encourage is to “put heart into” someone who has been discouraged, who had “the heart cut out” of them. Our purpose statement says we are to “awaken and stimulate” the churches. We will advocate with you on behalf of God's mission to reconcile the world to himself.

We also will seek to facilitate your church's efforts to do the work of gospel reconciliation. We will provide easier access to resources and quicker response to questions, and we will follow up with the churches to see if what we worked together to develop actually worked.

Then we will connect your church to other churches so you can do more evangelism and missions, more Christian education and Christian ministry to hurting people than you could by yourself.

The convention approved the first reading of the revised constitution, which gives us a better governance structure. This called forth strong discussion. Clearly, most felt the basic idea was on target. The Executive Board chairman and I will work with Executive Board members and others to fashion the bylaws and make sure concerns raised by our Baptist people will be addressed.

There was great appreciation by messengers for the patient, fair and generous demeanor of our BGCT president. Ken Hall has led Texas Baptists well. The president of Buckner Baptist Benevolences was in top form on Monday as he preached and then presided over the business session. We saw Baptists doing their work freely and openly, respecting one another, honoring one another in the Lord. Ken Hall deserves and was given hardy applause for his leadership. The two vice presidents served admirably as well. Albert Reyes was elected our new president. He is a gifted communicator, visionary leader of Baptist University of the Americas, and will be an encourager of churches in our work together. Dennis Young is the former president of the African-American Fellowship, gifted preacher, builder and pastor of Missouri City Baptist Church in Missouri City. He presided beautifully in the Tuesday business session.

Our new leaders will follow in these deep footprints. Joining Albert Reyes, Michael Bell, pastor of Greater St. Stephen First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, and Stacy Conner, pastor of First Baptist Church in Muleshoe, will be strong servant leaders as the two new vice presidents. All together, these three good men will bring their gifts and passion for God's work to bear on the challenges before us.

I am glad God has called us all to serve him, knowing all the while …

We are loved.

Charles Wade is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas

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