TOGETHER: Texas Baptists have much work to do

Posted: 11/18/05

TOGETHER:
Texas Baptists have much work to do

This year's Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting left me with a profound sense of gratitude at being part of this great family of believers. We celebrated what Baptists, as part of the larger body of Christ, “bring to the table.”

Other Christians bring their gifts, their insights and their faithfulness, but this is what Baptists bring–a passion for missions and prayerful, thoughtful faith.

On Monday evening of the annual meeting, I set forth the following seven-point agenda for the BGCT:

Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

Begin new churches. The eternal destiny of millions of people in Texas is at stake. Do we care that there are 4 million more Texans today than there were 10 years ago? That in the next five years we expect another 2 million new Texans? I believe God is calling the BGCT to help start 1,500 churches by the end of 2010.

Affirm the children. It's time we affirm the priority of ministry to children, just as Jesus did. Children need to know they are loved, that someone believes in them, that God not only created them but knows their name. We will work to help strengthen families, but we must do more. We can work with schools, tutor children, provide clothing, study the issues that plague children and make sure our elected representatives understand the needs of children.

Pray for God's peace. We pray for God's peace to reign in the souls of people, and we pray for God's peace to reign in families, churches and communities. We are followers of the Prince of Peace, and we must never allow our prayers and hopes for peace to be silenced or discouraged by war. And as we pray for peace, we must work for justice.

Transform lives and communities. When a church understands itself to be the presence of Christ in its community everything begins to change–sometimes just a little, and sometimes a lot. People need a Jesus kind of church, because a Jesus kind of church is a transformational, reconciling, life-changing, community-changing church. I appeal to every Texas Baptist church. Implement a strategy to reach your community for Christ.

Inspire courageous servant-leaders. There is just one thing worse than a dictator for a leader; it's a leader who is afraid to lead. The BGCT is focusing resources to help in calling out, equipping, supporting, connecting and encouraging ministers for a lifetime of ministry.

Share in the giving. If we did not have the Cooperative Program giving plan, we would be trying our best to figure out how to develop one. You will know your church has caught the vision when they begin to see the Cooperative Program not as an expense to be borne, but as an engine for delivering eternal blessing around the world.

Touch the world. Every church can have at least one ministry in its local community and one ministry somewhere else in the world. And you can double that every two years. What needs to be done? Look around your community and use Jesus' words to help you determine what you need to be doing.

We are a blood-bought people. We dare not act as though this is all about us. Someday, we will gather around the throne of God, and we will sing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 5:13).

We are loved.

Charles Wade is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.