In Touch: Two months ’til Christmas

Hello, Texas Baptists! As you read this, please know we are now less than two months away from Christmas. Just a reminder!

I so enjoyed being part of the annual meeting of Hill Baptist Association at First Baptist Church in Hubbard, where Bill Roe is the director of missions. Bill was the director of missions at the association in Johnson County when I began my ministry at First Baptist Church of Blum. He is a blessing to me and to my family.

David HardageFor the first time in my ministry, I attended the youth ministry Conclave  at the Arlington Convention Center. I was impressed and thank Jane Wilson, your Texas Baptist youth ministry specialist, for her work. I strongly encourage all who serve or lead in the youth ministry at their local church to attend in 2014.

Thanks to President Bill Ellis of Howard Payne University  for allowing me the honor of speaking at their chapel service. HPU is one of our fine Baptist General Convention of Texas institutions and is enjoying a great fall semester.

Russell Allen is pastor of First Baptist Church  in Grandview and has been at the church 15 years. I really enjoyed the Sunday morning I spent with them a couple of weeks ago.

Several of your Texas Baptist staff participated in BGCT Day at Truett Seminary and Logsdon Seminary  this month. I was invited to preach in chapel at both places, and we had great question-and-answer sessions with students, faculty and staff. Please join me in praying for these schools and their leaders.

I had a great evening with some leaders of Trinity Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant. Mike Kessler has served this church 25 years—10 as youth pastor, and the last 15 as pastor. Thanks to Mike for the invitation.

October was Pastor Appreciation Month, and I want to use this means to say “well done” to all those who are so faithfully serving our BGCT churches. Amen!

God bless you all, and more next time.

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