Posted: 2/29/08
IN BETWEEN:
Turning Texas Baptists toward hope
Something special happened in Texas Baptist life a few days ago. The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board elected a new leader, Randel Everett, for our work together. It has been awhile since I have experienced such positive affirmation of a decision. And the following day, the BGCT staff gave a jubilant welcome to Randel and his wife, Sheila. These have been exciting days.
Randel’s theme for the work of Texas Baptists is summed up in one word—hope. Not just a general feeling of hope, but the kind of hope that comes only through life in Christ. This hope in Christ needs to permeate our individual lives and the work of our churches, associations and the BGCT.
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Jeremiah quoted the Lord when God promised to bring Israel back from Babylon. He said, “For I know the plans I have for you. … Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Randel’s first day with the BGCT will be March 31. As the staff prepares for new leadership, as we prepare for the future, our role is to focus on the calling that God gives your church for reaching a lost Texas, training disciples and ministering in Jesus’ name.
We all know the oft-quoted phrase from Scripture, “Without a vision, the people perish.” Randel already has held up a goal to envision as we begin this work together. That goal is for everyone in Texas to hear the good news proclaimed in his or her language and in his or her cultural context by Resurrection Sunday 2010.
No one can argue with the importance, even the urgency, of such an effort. Will it be easy? No. But Texas Baptists are a vast family, and there probably are others who will join us in the task. It is a task that leaps out from the very pages of Scripture, and those have always been the tasks that Baptists, especially those in Texas, have loved to tackle.
Randel will lead the BGCT staff in helping our churches accomplish this goal and others that God may lay before us.
During this interim time while I am working with the staff, please let me know if we are not providing the type of help your church needs in pursuing its kingdom tasks. Let me know if we are dropping any balls.
My phone number is (214) 828-5301, and my e-mail address is [email protected]. Of course, I also would like to hear how our staff is helping your congregation move forward.
We may not be able to solve every problem immediately, but only by knowing about them will we be able to be the valued partner in ministry that our churches need and expect.
This is a great new day. I’m grateful to God for Randel and Sheila. God has prepared them through many years of ministry for this new time of ministry.
But more importantly, I’m grateful God has called the BGCT to help our churches.
Jan Daehnert is interim executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board.
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