City Reach meets needs

Posted: 11/17/06

City Reach meets needs

By Barbara Bedrick

Texas Baptist Communications

DALLAS—Sharing an 18-wheeler of donated chicken and Christian love, the Baptist General Convention of Texas City Reach 2006 missions project connected with hundreds of families across the Dallas-Fort Worth area during a “Day of Sharing” partnership with Lift Up America.

The BGCT City Reach collaboration with Lift Up America—a corporate partnership that included Tyson, Interstate Batteries, FC Dallas and Ty Beanie Babies—was the first initiative of its kind for the Texas Baptist convention.

The City Reach 2006 alliance will put food on the tables for many less fortunate families in the Thanksgiving season. Volunteers distributed more than 20,000 donated chickens to needy people through Baptist churches or affiliated agencies during the missions effort, scheduled in conjunction with the BGCT annual meeting.

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“We had 23 Baptist churches and relief agencies pick up the bulk of their Tyson chicken distribution this morning,” said Gerald Davis, BGCT community missions specialist and coordinator of City Reach 2006.

Texas Baptist Men volunteers loaded trucks and vans at the Baptist Building parking lot, including one headed for Valley View Baptist Church in Farmers Branch.

“This will help us tremendously,” said Ernie Boren, pastor of Valley View Baptist Church. “We are seeing an increase in the numbers of families needing food this year.”

Distributing chicken and a message of hope through Christ, Valley View aided at least 35 needy families in one day, and church leaders expected to help another 35 families before Thanksgiving.

“We had a 30-year-old lady who was saved in the parking lot,” Boren said. “She became a Christian during a block party last weekend. We also gave the names of 35 prospective Hispanic church members to our mission church.”