Interest in placing Scripture in every Texas home through Texas Hope 2010 appears to be surging, as leaders have stepped forward to lead countywide efforts in more than 200 of the state’s 254 counties.
In 15 days, Texas Baptists volunteered to head Scripture distribution efforts in more than 54 counties, bringing the total number of counties with leaders to 202. The surge was punctuated by a 15 county jump Feb. 24.
Through Texas Hope 2010, a Baptist General Convention of Texas initiative to share the hope of Christ with every Texan by Easter 2010, Texas Baptists hope to place Scripture in every home in the same period. To do that in most counties, congregations are coming together and will map out strategies for distributing Scripture in their counties.
"Nothing short of miraculous" response
“On Jan. 1 of this year, we had 12 counties committed to multimedia CD project, and now less than 60 days later, all 254 counties have been contacted, and 202 of them have signed on to provide a gospel presentation to the households of their counties,” said Ron Herring, director of the BGCT Congregational Leadership Team. “The response has been nothing short of miraculous and certainly points to the hand of God in Texas Hope 2010.”
While some major metropolitan areas such as El Paso and Lubbock are following this county model, others will follow a different model, breaking the area down even further, possibly into ZIP codes, cities or neighborhoods.
Some areas will choose to hand-deliver Bibles. In partnership with Faith Comes By Hearing, the BGCT also is producing a multimedia CD-ROM that contains Scripture in multiple languages as well as gospel presentations that can be mailed or hand-delivered. Those CD-ROMs can be purchased for $1 each.
Chris Powell, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lamesa, has volunteered to lead the Scripture distribution effort in Dawson County. Powell hopes Texas Baptists can share the gospel with people who have yet to hear it through Texas Hope 2010.
People who have never heard the gospel
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“I definitely see a county that needs to be reached,” he said. “A lot of times people think in the Bible belt everyone has heard the gospel, everyone knows the story. In counties like Dawson County, there are many people who have never heard the gospel.”
Ross Shelton, pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodville, is leading the Scripture distribution efforts in Tyler County. Shelton hopes to see people come to know Christ through this effort and grow in their new-found faith by joining area churches.
He is excited by the chance to work together with congregations across Tyler County and in conjunction with churches statewide.
“It’s an opportunity to partner with other churches, to engage the congregation in outreach,” Shelton said.
For more information about Texas Hope 2010, visit www.texashope2010.com. For more information about the Scripture distribution effort, call Herring at (888) 244-9400.
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