Kathy Hillman: Showers of blessing

International choir at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church celebrating the church’s International Neighbors Program. (Phyllis Merritt Photo)

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“There will be showers of blessing.” (Ezekiel 34:26)

Texas Baptists have showered my family with blessings. My great grandmother accepted Christ at Floresville Baptist Church. At 19, she married a West Texas rancher. Crawford Mitchell didn’t share Mamie’s faith. Then after looking for strays all day on horseback, he happened on a prayer meeting. kathy hillman130Kathy HillmanA rancher invited him to dinner with L.R. Millican, one of our first convention-supported missionaries. He led my great-grandfather to Christ. Later, Texas Baptist universities blessed Mitchell descendants with Christian educations. Some, including our three children, took their first breaths in Baptist hospitals.

mitchell anniversary300Kathy Hillman’s grandparents at their 50th wedding anniversary in 1947. (Family photo courtesy of Kathy Hillman)Texas Baptists continue to shower our state with blessings. I asked several friends to share Mary Hill Davis Offering ministry-blessings that especially touch their hearts.

Donna Burney says: “‘La Mano de Dios’ Soccer Outreach seems full of exciting possibilities. More and more are involved in sports, and soccer is growing. A community and culture surrounds games and tournaments. To use this context to communicate the love of God fits a current, innovative setting in Texas.”

Jay Abernathy remains passionate about fighting human trafficking: “We can do a better job communicating the urgency of the need for church involvement. hillman soccer425Donna Burney is grateful for ‘La Mano de Dios’ Soccer Outreach. (Kathy Hillman Photo)Not only can they be a part of helping victims, … they can educate and disciple persons to help diminish—and maybe eliminate—the demand. I feel so strongly about this that I will help in organizing and resourcing this initiative. “

Shirley McDonald states: “I teach English-language learners in a public school. Many are immigrants and need help attaining legal residency. I love my students and am so glad we can help fund (the Christian Life Commission’s immigration ministry) ISAAC that fills such a great need.”

Phyllis Merritt declares: “Literacy missions has been my passion since that first Japanese lady asked me to teach her English some 45 years ago. merritt english class425Phyllis Merritt has been blessed by involvement in teaching English to Internationals. ( Phyllis Merritt Photo)The need to reach others in Christian love has never been greater, nor has it lost its effectiveness as a tool for sharing the gospel.” 

Carolyn Porterfield adds, “We have the opportunity to literally change the course of history by reaching internationals who will return home to serve in influential roles in politics, business and education. “

Donna Vernon exclaims: “It is thrilling to hear the testimonies of those who have been touched and had their lives changed through Baptist Student Ministries. There is a mission field on our college campuses, and our leaders and students are bold witnesses.”


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Marla Bearden mentions the hungry: “Mary Hill Davis funds provide $500 scholarships to help churches pack meals for Haiti and Africa.” 

kathryn freeman425Kathryn Freeman reporting to the BGCT Executive Board. (Kathy Hillman Photo)René Maciel adds: “I’m so glad there’s an allocation to feed children. Many in my county (Medina) are hungry every night. Feeding them a meal is a start to feeding their souls.” 

Gerald Davis indicates: “Border Work Compilation/River Ministry Community Outreach ministers holistically to the tremendous needs of families.” Enabled by the 2014 offering, 177 volunteers gave 11,350 man-hours to complete 18 construction/clean-up projects in Eagle Pass.

Joy Fenner shares: Many ministries “tug at my heart … and my pocketbook! These would not be possible without the Mary Hill Davis Offering. And the offering would not be possible without Woman’s Missionary Union. WMU receives no Cooperative Program funds. The entire operating budget is one Mary Hill Davis Offering allocation. Amazing!”

villareal cultural connections425Sylvia Villareal chairing the Cultural Connections Committee at a Texas Baptist Executive Board meeting. She claims personal blessings from ethnic/minority scholarships. (Kathy Hillman Photo)Kathryn Freeman mentions Inmate Discipler because of her passion for “criminal justice reform and ensuring that ex-offenders who have paid their debt to society are given the opportunity to rebuild their lives. This begins with a strong faith foundation. Only Christ can transform hearts and minds and help these men and women live out their God-given purposes.” 

Nancy Jackson agrees, “John and I have been involved with prison ministry and have seen first-hand how lives have been changed by saving faith in Christ.”

Charlotte Watson declares: “With the influx of Hispanics, many of whom do not know Jesus as their Savior, leaders who speak the same heart language must be trained. Baptist University of the Américas is doing a great job.” 

Bill Arnold believes, “The changing and ever-growing population of Texas is best touched by starting churches focused on the needs of unreached Texans.” 

Roy Cotton explains, “Last year, 80-plus new churches baptized hundreds of new Christians and trained approximately 300 new leaders.”

texas baptist voices right120Sylvia Villareal claims personal blessings from ethnic/minority scholarships for deserving undergraduates at Baptist universities: “I am grateful to have been a recipient and graduate from Hardin-Simmons University. I was surrounded by teachers and students who shared my faith. My prayer is that those who receive this scholarship will profit from their experience as much as I did.” 

Indeed, Texas Baptists have been blessed to be blessings. Pass it on like my great grandparents and like Sylvia, Gerald, Phyllis, Jay and countless others.

Kathy Hillman is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She also is director of Baptist collections, library advancement and the Keston Center for Religion, Politics and Society at Baylor University.


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