In Touch: Focus on education

Hello, Texas Baptists! This month, we have a special printed piece I hope you’ll make available in your church. It is a simple document highlighting the work and ministry of our Texas Baptist educational institutions. I am so proud of the great partnership we enjoy with these schools, and I think you’ll enjoy sharing the good news with your people.

David HardageI had an opportunity recently to attend my first meeting of the Baptist World Alliance. We met at the BWA headquarters in Falls Church, Va., just outside Washington. It was a good time of meeting people from around the world, learning about them and how they go about meeting needs and sharing the gospel. Texas Baptists have a long history with BWA, and I was honored to go and listen and learn.

I recently was able to host Elie Haddad, president of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Lebanon, in my office. They are doing good work in a difficult environment. Please take a moment and pray for them today.

Matt Snowden, pastor of First Baptist Church in Waco, was the recent chapel speaker for your Baptist Building staff. We have a chapel service once a month, and he did a great job providing a word of encouragement and challenge. Matt has served at his church for two-and-a-half years and is serving very well.

Thanks to Danny Reeves, pastor of First Baptist Church in Corsicana, for allowing me the privilege of preaching in both their morning worship services. First Baptist has just completed a thorough renovation of their entire facility, and it looks great. I always enjoy meeting new people when I’m able to be in a local Texas Baptist church, but sometimes I have the joy of seeing old friends. For example, at First Baptist in Corsicana, one of my longtime friends from college “back in the day” is a member there. Frank Means and his wife, Melissa, are good people!

Every spring, Gary Cook and Dallas Baptist University host a Baptist retirees reunion. Again, this year, I had the honor of sharing some of the challenges facing us as Texas Baptists and of the progress we are making together. It was so good to see many who I have known over the years, and it was an extra blessing to meet others about whom I had only heard. It was a good day and really good lunch!

For more than 10 years, Larry Tarver has served as the pastor of Clearfork Baptist Church  in Hawley, just north of Abilene. I enjoyed preaching in their 11 a.m. worship service. The Sunday I was there came at the end of a week when the Volunteer Christian Builders from First Baptist Church in Allen had been on site building an education wing and fellowship hall. It is going to be beautiful and very functional. Bright days are ahead for this good church.

Easter Sunday is March 31. It will be a glorious day all over the world and especially here in Texas Baptist churches. Please allow me to encourage you to receive a special collectin on Easter (however you’d like to do so) for our Texas Baptists World Hunger Offering.  This should be above and beyond the regular tithes and offerings to the church, and it certainly will help us meet the needs of so many around the world. Thanks for your help.

David Hardage is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board.