I was inspired and challenged by “If your church disappeared, would anyone even notice?” (Feb. 23) I issued the challenge to our congregation to think outside the walls in terms of our ministry endeavors in our community.
As I continued to ponder this question, it became more personal. We are the church. It is not only the ministries of First Baptist Church that must impact Tahoka. It is the personal ministry of each individual member that must impact our community.
For me, the question has also become, “If you, as the church, disappeared, would anyone even notice?” Would it make a difference in the school system, at sporting events, in civic organizations or local businesses? Do you impact the lives of others for the cause of Christ?
The activity of the church within the community is not limited to the organized programs of the church. It is each and every member “loving their neighbor as themselves.” Corporately and individually, we must reach out to our communities.
Richard Harbison
Tahoka
‘God’s money’
“Executive Board authorizes use of emergency funds” (March 9) made me disturbed about the decision-making capabilities of BGCT management.
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Is Nestor Menjivar the only voice on the BGCT Executive Board questioning this decision to purchase a constituent relationship management (CRM) system having cost overruns of over 50 percent—when the budget for this project was over $1.49 million to begin with? And then to allow this kind of scope creep—up to $2.14 million—for a CRM system? Management allowing a cost overrun of over $600,000 “of God’s money”? What else is in that budget? How did this happen?
As a technology entrepreneur who has worked with much larger organizations than the BGCT, this is simply hard to comprehend.
What consultant sold the BGCT this bill of goods? Apparently, they found a “mark” and took our hard-earned sacred offering money and wasted it on an ill-conceived CRM system. This is shameful and unacceptable indication of mismanagement and misapplication of our church’s hard-earned and sacred offerings.
Does the Executive Board not know that we give the money to support its work? Do they think they are operating in a vacuum? This is a serious and hurtful betrayal of trust, the trust that millions of Texas Baptists have for their denominational office. All along, we believed that sending offerings to BGCT was a gift to support missions.
Please do not expect our struggling churches to continue to send our budgeted offerings to such a mismanaged organization. Please take this to heart.
Sam Smith
Waco
Evil & peace
Former President Carter is quoted, “There’s not any real difference among the three major religions concerning their commitment to peace and the alleviation of suffering or moral values” (March 9).
For a political and spiritual leader to promote that belief is disastrous for the safety of the United States.
Equal moral values between the three religions? Commitment to peace? Alleviation of suffering? There is not an Islamic-controlled nation in the world that allows the free expression of religion. Many of these nations subjugate women to the most base treatment. Many of these nations support and vow the total destruction of Israel.
Violence is fundamental to these nations. Muslims all over the world were seen in the streets celebrating the 9/11 attack on the United States.
It is not a sin to recognize evil and to act to defend ourselves. Peace at any price will destroy our nation.
Al Havenstrite
Cookville
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