In Touch: Waco, Muleshoe, Beaumont, Marshall & Burnet

Hello, Texas Baptists! During the course of my ministry, I have been a part of many funeral services, but I can’t recall one as uplifting and encouraging as the service for Mike Toby, pastor of 35 years for First Baptist Church of Woodway in Waco, who passed away at the end of last year. The service was led by the staff of the church, and they did a wonderful job communicating Mike’s heart for the Lord and his church.

Thanks to Stacy Conner, pastor of First Baptist Church in Muleshoe, for allowing me the opportunity to preach Jan. 6. He has served there 20 years, and the church is strong and healthy. On that same Sunday evening at Trinity Baptist Church, I had the privilege of participating in a unique service. Led by Director of Missions Lester Griffin of the Caprock Plains Baptist Area and Conner, Trinity Baptist gave the deed to its property, the keys to its building and a $5,000 check to a new congregation, Iglesia Bautista Juan 3:16. It was a moving and powerful service, and I was honored to represent our Texas Baptist family. They truly demonstrated the power found in the practice of cooperation.

I enjoyed speaking to a group of pastors and chaplains of Golden Triangle Baptist Association. We gathered at Beaumont Baptist Hospital and enjoyed breakfast with a time of sharing and fellowship. Please pray for the new director of missions there, Jim Hamilton, as he begins his work in Southeast Texas.

I was blessed by the opportunity to speak in East Texas Baptist University’s chapel service as the spring semester began. I am most grateful for the leadership President Dub Oliver is providing, along with that of University Chaplain and Vice President for Spiritual Development Scott Bryant, as well as Melody Maxwell, director of the Great Commission Center. It was a great day!

For almost six years now, Ricky Guenther has served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Burnet . His invitation to preach in their morning service was an honor for me. It was cold outside, but there was such a warm spirit in the church. During the invitation, it was exciting for the church and for me to see a young husband and father come forward and give his life to full-time ministry. Please take a moment, right now, and pray for Jeff.

As most of you know, I love it when you, our Texas Baptist family, come for a visit to your Baptist Building. Thanks to the leadership of our own Diane Lane, we recently hosted 100 ministers to preschoolers and children for a retreat. It was such a joy to have them in our building learning, growing, sharing and preparing for their next year in ministry. Please know your groups are welcome here, and I hope you’ll visit.

Let me encourage you to check out the plans for Go Now Discovery Weekend. This is when the Baptist Student Ministries missionaries for 2013 will be selected. Let’s pray for God’s hand in this whole process. It will be exciting.

Finally, make sure July 14-17 is highlighted on your calendar. This is the date of our next annual meeting. Yes, it’s in the summer! It will be in San Antonio. It will be like nothing we’ve ever done before. Don’t miss it! God bless you all.

For day-to-day updates, find me on Twitter at @dwhardage!

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