TOGETHER: Moving forward in a time of transition

Posted: 4/13/07

TOGETHER:
Moving forward in a time of transition

April 11, I announced to the Executive Board and to our staff that it is my intention to retire at the end of January 2008. There are several things I will continue to work on as we bring our eight years in this role to a close.

First, I will work to imbed in our organizational culture the gains we have made in serving churches and connecting them to a kingdom-sized vision.

Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

Second, I will work with our Baptist institutions and Baptist Student Ministries that are dealing with particular challenges.

Third, I will work to encourage a productive Missions Exchange meeting later this month to help Texas Baptists craft a strategic and collaborative approach to missions.

Fourth, I will help Texas Baptists be involved in the Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2008, in Atlanta.

I have preached in Spearman and Harlingen, El Paso and Texarkana, and everywhere in-between. It has been my privilege to help communicate to world Baptists that Texas Baptists want to be part of their lives in mission outreach and ministry.

I want to express my deep appreciation to :

• Myla McClinton and Sandra Sewell for their direct help in managing our office.

• Chris Liebrum, my executive coordinator, for helping me move forward the important work of our convention.

• Don Sewell, my missions liaison, for representing us faithfully in building relationships with Baptist bodies worldwide.

• David Nabors, treasurer, and Ron Gunter, associate executive director, for serving remarkably during so much transition.

• Bob Fowler, Jim Nelson and John Petty for giving extraordinary leadership to our new Executive Board.

• BGCT officers Steve Vernon, Joy Fenner and Roberto Rodriguez for being helpful as we approached this announcement.

And I say a special “thank you” to my wife, Rosemary; our children; and their families. With their support, prayers, encouragement and presence, I have been able to do what I never could have done without them. They are part of what prepared me for this task, and they are part of the reason I am now ready to move forward in the journey God has called me to walk.

Texas Baptists are a great people, and God will use us beyond our ability now to even imagine. I have observed that Texas Baptists believe there is nothing that cannot be done if God is in it and if someone will lead the way.

I need and appreciate your prayers for our work as we move though this wonderful time of transition. The search committee will need all of us praying faithfully for them as they seek to be open to the Spirit of God in his leadership through all of this.

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:3-6).

We are loved.

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