EDITORIAL: Probability can trump impossibility

Texas Baptists’ next big project would sound preposterous if the needs weren’t so poignant and pervasive, and if the power of the Holy Spirit weren’t present. Together, we’re taking on Texas Hope 2010, a campaign to (a) share the hope of Christ with all Texans in their own language and context and (b) ensure that no Texan goes to bed hungry. We intend to do this by Easter 2010.

Texas Hope 2010 reflects the vision of the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ new executive director, Randel Everett. He began his tenure last spring and quickly set about to help us look past the misfortune and malaise that seemed to dog our convention the past few years. His solution is deceptively simple. We must see beyond ourselves so that we can recognize the tremendous needs in our state and decide what we’re going to do about them.

The impetus for Texas Hope 2010 grows out of Jesus’ twin mandates. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) calls upon us to share the gospel with all people. The Great Commandments insist we must love God and love our neighbors (Matthew 22:34-40). As we take the message of Christ to every Texan, regardless of language, race, neighborhood or religion, we focus on completing one phase of the Great Commission. And as we eliminate hunger throughout our state, we demonstrate our love for God in the most tangible way—by expressing our love for and to our neighbors—both of which are crucial to fulfilling Christ’s commandments.

We will seek to fulfill the Texas Hope 2010 goals by engaging three ongoing tasks:

• Praying. We’re quick to say we will pray, but I often wonder how well we follow through. But we have to admit a task as huge as Texas Hope 2010 is impossible without prayer. Not only does prayer petition God’s involvement in this task, but sustained prayer conditions our hearts and minds for the sustained effort required to fulfill it. Daily focus on the spiritual and physical needs of fellow Texans will channel our interests and inclinations toward the seemingly impossible but increasingly probable.

Please join me in pledging to pray for Texas Hope 2010 and our fellow Texans every day at noon. You can sign up and order prayer guides at www.TexasHope2010.com. On the homepage, click on the word “prayer.”

• Caring. Jesus told us we feed and hydrate him when we feed the hungry and give water to the thirsty (Matthew 25:37-40). No doubt, if any of us actually saw Jesus looking weak from hunger and thirst, we would do everything in our power to provide him food and water. But Texas, home to about 5,600 BGCT churches, also is home to more than 1 million people who do not know where they’ll find their next meal. If we say we take Jesus seriously yet do not feed them, then we’re letting him go hungry.

With our network of churches—that’s people—in almost every community, we’ve got the infrastructure to deliver food to all Texas’ hungry. And with all our skill and education, we’ve got the resources to train many of them to care for themselves.

• Sharing. If we care for Texans’ stomachs but ignore their souls, we’ve done them an eternal disservice. (Just like if we care for their souls but ignore their stomachs, and we do them a daily disservice.) We have the opportunity to reach out to 11 million Texans who do not claim any church home. In these days, when the news often seems hopeless, what could be more helpful than an authentic word of hope delivered by a neighbor from one’s own community?

We’ve got the means to distribute Scripture and speak words of salvation across our state. Sure, it’s challenging, but when have we not loved a big challenge?

Visit www.TexasHope2010.com or call (888) 244-9400 to commit to this task. Make an eternal difference in Texas.