Jerry Carlisle has declined to seek a second term as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and the president of Texas Baptists' African-American Fellowship plans to nominate the convention's current first vice president for the post.

Carlisle, pastor of First Baptist Church in Plano, is eligible for a second one-year term as BGCT president. However, seven of the last eight state convention presidents have chosen to accept only one term.

"Several folks have asked if I am open to being nominated again, and I don't feel led to do so.  My involvement with Mission to Unreached Peoples, the Baptist World Alliance, Dallas Baptist University and Baylor Regional Medical Center of Plano—not to mention FBC Plano—will easily fill the void in my calendar and attention next year," Carlisle said.

"I completed 10 years as pastor of FBC Plano on July 31, and our church provides a sabbatical at that point, which would be impossible if the convention elected me for another term."

Michael Evans, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield, will nominate Jeff Johnson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Commerce, as BGCT president at the annual meeting in Corpus Christi, Oct. 29-31.

"Jeff Johnson will serve well, and I will give him my enthusiastic support," Carlisle noted.

Through his service as BGCT first vice president, Johnson has demonstrated ability to serve as an effective "ambassador for the convention," Evans said.

"He is a missionary-hearted and missionary-minded person who has the proven capability to move in and out of different circles and spheres of influence with ease, thanks to his congenial spirit and gracious attitude," he said.

Johnson has a track record as a person who possesses the courage "to stand up for what is right," while also being able to bring diverse people together, he noted.

The next BGCT president will lead the first state convention annual meeting held in conjunction with meetings of the African-American Fellowship, the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas and other ethnic affinity groups.

Johnson "doesn't have to be brought up to speed" in terms of knowing how to work with leaders of various ethnic fellowships, Evans noted.

"Jeff is the man for this time," he said. "He is a bridge-builder."

Anticipation of the summer celebration for all Texas Baptists in 2013 played a key role in Johnson's decision to allow his nomination for convention president, he acknowledged.

"I've been excited to be a part of planning for next summer. It has the potential to be a tremendous expression of the mosaic of Texas Baptists together. It's been a privilege to be part of that process, and I would like to complete that task," he said.

After a term as first vice president, Johnson said, he gained deep appreciation for the way—under Executive Director David Hardage's leadership—BGCT Executive Board staff work together across program assignment lines to help the convention fulfill its purpose in an integrated, holistic way.

"It helped me see the whole picture. It confirmed for me the commitment Texas Baptists have for evangelism, missions, advocacy, education and community transformation—and how all these things work together," he said.

First Baptist Church in Commerce supports the BGCT financially by giving 8 percent of its undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program and by its gifts to the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions. Since Johnson arrived at the church in March, First Baptist also has begun an emphasis on giving to the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering.

Previously, Johnson served as pastor of First Baptist Church in Del Rio. During his time in Del Rio, the church's average weekly worship attendance grew from 80 to about 300. The church also launched two mission congregations and an extensive program to fight hunger in Del Rio and surrounding colonias by providing meals for about 900 people a month.

He also has served as a pastor of churches in Bonham, Sherman and Ivanhoe.

He continues to direct the mission efforts of the Center for Borderland Research, Education and Outreach, a nonprofit organization he founded, and to lead its current focus on the Bridges Out of Poverty program.

Johnson has been in ministry more than 30 years, having served as a pastor, Baptist Student Ministries director and youth minister, as well as on staff at Baptist University of the Américas. He served bivocationally about 10 years, working as a financial analyst.

His denominational involvement has included service on the BGCT Executive Board, the BGCT Commit-tee on Committees, the Texas Baptist Border Violence Committee, the BGCT Historical Collection Council and the board of trustees for Baptist Child & Family Services.

A native of Mississippi, Johnson earned an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University. He earned a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctor of ministry degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He and his wife, Molly, have three adult daughters—Lori, a schoolteacher in Bryan; Sara, a singer/songwriter who currently is on a tour helping raise awareness about human trafficking; and Julie, a college junior.

BROWNWOOD—Joel Tucker is neither a student nor employee at Howard Payne University, but he's a familiar presence on campus.

He spends plenty of time there visiting his father, Robert Tucker, dean of music and fine arts and extended education at HPU. He also inspired his father's book, Like a Crown: Adventures in Autism.

Tucker's book discusses the trials and joys of raising Joel, 22, autistic from birth. Tucker and his wife, Clairissa, have two other sons—Jacob, 25, and Jordan, 19.

"My other children excelled academically, but Joel is gifted in his own way," Tucker said in a recent TV interview about the book. "Raising him was a different set of challenges, so that changed our family dynamic quite a bit."

Tucker—a deacon at First Baptist Church in Brownwood who also serves as minister of music at First Baptist Church in Brady—began chronicling his experiences. That eventually led to 49 chapters of anecdotes, advice and conversations with his son. The book is intended for parents, educators, employers, community leaders and anyone else whose life might intersect with autism in some way.

Clairissa Tucker designed the book jacket, which features a photo of Joel when he was 14.

"Like a Crown is a delightful addition to Dr. Tucker's record of scholarly contributions," said Mark Tew, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Howard Payne.

"In addition to this important work on autism, Dr. Tucker is a published composer, a sought-after music adjudicator and a frequent author in music education journals. I am proud of and appreciate his leadership as an educator, scholar and citizen." 

The Tuckers are available for workshops and presentations on Autism Spectrum Disorders. They hope their experiences will be beneficial to other families.

"We now recognize the blessing poured upon on us in the form of this incredible boy—Joel. We did not deserve him, but he is ours just the same. For that we are lucky and thankful," Tucker wrote.

Energy savings available for Texas Baptists. The Baptist General Convention of Texas has entered into an energy-procurement program with Smart Solutions Energy to help churches in deregulated markets find the rest rates on electricity. Smart Solutions also will offer savings to individual church members through an exclusive residential discount program. Smart Solutions Energy will donate a portion of its normal transaction fee to BGCT ministries. For more information, visit www.texasbaptistsenergy.com or contact McCall Johnson at (512) 473-2288 or mccall.johnson@texasbaptists.org. 

Calvin Miller dies. Longtime pastor, author and seminary professor Calvin Miller died Aug. 19 of complications from heart failure. From 1991 until 1998, Miller was professor of communication and ministry studies and writer-in-residence at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Most recently, he has been research professor and distinguished writer-in-residence at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Ala. Miller wrote more than 40 books. He is survived by his widow, Barbara, and two children.

Baylor receives $7 million gift. Baylor University received a gift of more than $7 million from the estate of Richard Benjamin Goode of Washington, D.C. The gift primarily will benefit the Richard and Liesel Goode Endowed Academic Scholarship Fund. Goode earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor in 1937 before going on to earn his master's degree at Kentucky State University and his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin. He served as an economist at the U.S. Bureau of Budget and taught at the University of Chicago. He was pivotal in the formation of the International Monetary Fund, where he was asked to serve as the first director of the Fiscal Affairs Department when it was established in 1965. He served as consultant to the U.S. Treasury Department, the United Nations and the Brookings Institution, where he also was a guest scholar. He filled the role of professorial lecturer at Johns Hopkins University seven years before retiring in 1988.

Experiencing God team members needed. Texas Baptist Men volunteers will lead Experiencing God weekends, presenting an overview of biblical principles in the book by Henry Blackaby, at five locations in New England during October. Coordinators and resource leaders have been enlisted, but TBM needs at least 50 team members who have completed the Experiencing God curriculum. Cost for round-trip airfare is $450 to $500. For more information, contact Don Gibson at (214) 275-1111 or don.gibson@texasbaptistmen.org or Jeannette Nichols at (214)275-1121 or jeanette.nichols@texasbaptistmen.org.

Baylor, Hardin-Simmons honored as great workplaces. Baylor University and Hardin-Simmons University both have been named to The Chronicle of Higher Education's 2012 Honor Roll as "Great Colleges to Work For." It marked the second consecutive year for both schools to attain honor roll status. The results, released in The Chronicle's fifth annual report on "The Academic Workplace," are based on a survey of more than 46,000 employees at 294 colleges and universities.

–Compiled from wire services

• Pat Bush to Bluff Dale Church in Bluff Dale as interim pastor.

• Pete Houpt to Rosen Heights Church in Fort Worth as pastor.

• Greg Robinson to Bono Church in Godley as pastor.

Jeff Smith has been named president and chief executive officer of the Baptist Foundation of Texas, effective Jan. 1.

The foundation’s board of directors unanimously selected Smith, the organization’s current vice president and general counsel.

Jeff Smith

Smith has served the foundation 10 years as a trust attorney and 10 years as general counsel.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University in 1985 and graduated from Baylor Law School in 1989.

He succeeds Lynn Craft, who will retire Dec. 31. Craft joined the foundation staff in 1968 and was named president in 1976.

His 36 years in the top leadership role at the foundation ranks him among the longest-tenured Texas Baptist agency heads in history, second only to R.C. Buckner, who served 40 years as founding president of what is now Buckner International.

During Craft’s time as president and CEO, the foundation’s assets under management grew from $123 million to $1.5 billion.  

Craft will continue in a consulting role, working with staff and Baptist institutions on real estate, oil and gas, and financing matters.  

• The second annual Great East Texas Hymn Sing will be held at East Texas Baptist University Sept. 7 in Baker Auditorium of the Ornelas Spiritual Life Center at 1 p.m. Harlan Hall, Billy Foote, Andy Elliott, Kermit Tandberg, Mark Crim and Paul Tapp will lead the singing. An optional lunch will be served at noon in the Phillips Great Room on the lower floor of the Bennett Student Center. Reservations for the $15 catered lunch can be made by calling (903) 923-2042 by Sept. 3. The hymn sing is free.

• Recording artist Michael Martin Murphey will perform with the Hardin-Simmons University orchestra Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. in Behrens Audiorium on the HSU campus. Tickets are $26 and can be purchased by calling (325) 671-2258. Proceeds will benefit the HSU endowed orchestra scholarship fund.

• Dillon International will present a free adoption information meeting Sept. 17 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Buckner Children's Home campus in Dallas. An overview of adoption from China, Korea, Haiti, India, Hong Kong, Ghana and Colom-bia will be given. A domestic adoption program for Texas families and adoption programs in Russia, Ethiopia and Honduras, available through an affiliation with Buckner, also will be discussed. For information or a reservation to attend the meeting, call (214) 319-3426.

• East Texas Baptist University will hold its centennial celebration in connection with homecoming activities Oct. 19-20. The four-course centennial gala dinner will be held Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served beginning at 6:15 p.m. in the Quad. A tent seating 1,000 people located west of Scarborough Hall will serve as the ballroom. The $100-a-person, black-tie optional gala will include a fireworks show. To make reservations, go to www.etbu.edu/100/gala.

• The Sam Houston State University Baptist Student Ministry will hold a golf tournament in conjunction with an alumni reunion Oct. 19-20. Register at www.SamBSM.org. Other events include breakfast with former directors at 9 a.m. Saturday at the BSM building, and a barbecue lunch at noon. The homecoming football game will begin at 2 p.m. For more information, call (936) 295-2962.

• Four Truett Seminary students received $1,000 scholarships from the Truett Alumni Association during the school's fall convocation. Recipients were Chansin Esparza, Jennifer Hawks, Kari Tingle and Natalie Webb.

• Qualified students enrolled in the current semester at Baylor University will receive disbursements from an endowed scholarship fund honoring Baylor staff, since the school's staff council reached its $25,000 goal. The staff provided payroll deductions, honoraria and one-time donations—many of the gifts made in honor of specific staff members. Fund-raising efforts for the scholarship began in 2008 as a public show of support for students. The group reached its goal in only four years—one year earlier than the original timeline.

• Dallas Baptist University conferred 216 degrees during summer commencement ceremonies. Of the graduates, 116 received bachelor degrees, 92 received master's degrees, and eight earned doctoral degrees.

• The jersey of Brittany Roberson, a basketball player at Howard Payne University, will be displayed in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame's "Ring of Honor" in Knoxville, Tenn., during the upcoming basketball season.

Anniversary

• Richland Hills Church in Richland Hills, 60th, Sept. 16. Milton Ertelt will be the guest preacher. Activities begin at 9 a.m., with the worship service at 10:30 a.m. James Hooper is pastor.

Retiring

• Earl Belver, as pastor of First Baptist Church of Helotes on the church's annual Founders' Day, Sept. 30. He has been pastor of the Helotes church 19 years and served Texas Baptist churches 51 years. His previous churches include Lanier Church in Austin, Westheimer Church in Houston and Rural Shade Church in Cleveland. He is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Seminary. He and his wife, Jerry, will live in San Antonio and may be reached at (210) 520-1339.

MARSHALL—More than 150 incoming freshmen and transfer students at East Texas Baptist University volunteered at locations throughout the Marshall area during Welcome Week.

The Friday afternoon before classes started, the new ETBU students were grouped into teams who worked in 14 locations including a food pantry, shelter, elementary school, churches, apartment complexes and long-term care facilities.

"Our goal at ETBU is not just for our students to get involved in campus life, but also for them to serve throughout the community and our world," said Melody Maxwell, director of the ETBU Great Commission Center. "As a Christian university, our faith motivates us to share Christ's love with those around us."

At Mission Marshall, one of the teams restocked the United Churches of Marshall Food Pantry shelves, cleaned the facility's exterior and distributed information about the food pantry's new once-a-month Saturday distribution for residents who are unable to access the facility during regular weekday hours.

"Their help contributed to making Mission Marshall a warm and welcoming place, which offers dignity to those who come in seeking help," said Brooke Holloway, minister of youth and community mission minister at Central Baptist Church of Marshall, who supervised the effort by the ETBU students.

East Texas Baptist University students cleaned and prepared football helmets for the NFL Youth football season sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Pines. As part of ETBU Welcome Week activities, new students at ETBU participated in hands-on service projects at 14 locations throughout the community the Friday before classes began.  (PHOTO/Jason John Cowart/ETBU)

Another student group served at Bel Air Baptist Church. "We cleaned the sanctuary and cleaned out some closets in the main building of the church," said MaKenzie Hunt of Winnie. "The members of the church were so kind to us in return and had refreshments for our group after we finished the project."

Student teams also helped sort football equipment at the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Pines, moved desks and other items at an elementary school and played games with children at several Marshall apartment complexes.

"The feedback I have received from the students has been positive. In reading the surveys from the students about Welcome Week activities some said the service project was their favorite part of the week," said Blair Prevost, director of student activities at ETBU.

The Welcome Week emphasis introduced students to the university's ongoing "ETBU Cares" emphasis, which encourages student, faculty and staff involvement in community service projects.

"Our prayer is that God will use students' ministry to impact the lives of community members and to instill in students a passion for ongoing service," Maxwell said.

WACO—Hypocrisy among Christians isn’t what bothers most of the unchurched. Rather, they are repelled by “bloody denominational struggles and church fighting in-house”—a marked contrast to Jesus’ “undogmatic openness,” Dean David Garland told the fall convocation of Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary.

Dean David Garland addresses the fall convocation of Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary.( PHOTOS/Matthew Minard/Baylor University)

Church dropouts and others outside the church recognize that nobody is perfect, but “they are turned off by Christians who treat other Christians poorly, talk but don’t listen, and harbor holier-than-thou attitudes,” Garland said.

Garland made reference to research by Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, who has studied church dropouts.

Garland cited Mark’s Gospel account in which Jesus’ disciples are upset because someone who was not a follower of Jesus was exorcising demons in his name—something they had not succeeded in doing when a father brought his son to them.

“The disciples … can only point fingers at one another and bicker with the scribes, who probably are taunting them for botching the deal,” Garland said. “The scribes can’t do anything either, but they share the attitude that infects many churches today: ‘We are not doing that well, but at least they are doing worse.'”

When the disciples told Jesus what was happening, “He catches them by surprise when he does not commend them for their vigilance.

At the fall convocation for Truett Theological Seminary, four $1,000 scholarships were presented to students (left to right) Chansin Esperza, Kari Tingle, Natalie Webb and Jennifer Hawks.

“He does not say, ‘Good job, boys, way to keep a sharp eye out for imposters.’ Instead, he reproves them,” Garland said.

He suggested that the disciples, rather than being concerned on Jesus’ behalf, perhaps wanted “to corner the exorcism market,” thus making themselves revered and indispensable.

“Jesus’ undogmatic openness to others will trouble anyone more intent on establishing the limits of who is in and who is out rather than focusing on winning the war against the enemy. …This intolerance insists that God can only work through those whom we have vetted first and who met our standards,” Garland said.

“Jesus not only opens admission to the reign of God to all and accepts any who come in his name, he sanctions anyone using the power of his name. … Mark’s text should cause us to reflect on our role and others’ roles in God’s plan with a bit more humility. God’s mission in the world is bigger than we are.”

At the convocation, four $1,000 scholarships were presented to students by Patrick Adair, Truett Alumni Association president and pastor of First Baptist Church in Matador. Recipients were Chansin Esparza, Jennifer Hawks, Kari Tingle and Natalie Webb. Those chosen for scholarships must have completed at least 48 hours of seminary coursework, made a significant contribution to the Truett community, maintained a strong academic standing and demonstrated a strong potential to represent the seminary in the future.

Adjunct professors presented with certificates for their contribution to Truett were Michael Godfrey, executive director of True Course Ministries; Alan Lefever, director of the Texas Baptist Historical Collection and Archives; Ralph West, pastor of the 24,000-member Brook Hollow Baptist Church in Houston; and Dennis Wiles, pastor of First Baptist Church in Arlington.

View a video of the convocation here.

About 100 Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief volunteers await deployment to Louisiana and Mississippi within the next week to respond to needs after Hurricane Isaac lashed the Gulf Coast.

Terry Henderson, state director of disaster relief for Texas Baptist Men, will serve as coordinator at the Louisiana incident command center for Southern Baptist disaster relief in Hammond, La.

At the request of Gibbie McMillam, Louisiana Baptist state disaster relief director, Henderson will coordinate Baptist disaster relief responders from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

TBM Disaster Relief volunteers with the state disaster relief unit—an 18-wheeler specially equipped with a self-contained field kitchen—and the regional unit from Smith Baptist Association are on standby waiting for specific assignment in Louisiana.

Another two TBM disaster relief units have been placed on alert to help prepare meals for people along the Gulf Coast who might be evacuated to Red Cross shelters in Texas.

Water purification units and shower/laundry will respond with each emergency food-service unit. Chainsaw and mud-out units are responding to Hammond, La.

Two temporary emergency childcare units are on alert for deployment to Mississippi.

Edward Smith, director of disaster response for Victim Relief Ministries, also alerted his trained volunteers to be prepared for possible deployment. Victim Relief Ministries will work in close coordination with Joe Hillis at Information Technology Disaster Resources, who was on standby in Houston, ready to enter the affected area after landfall.

The Victim Relief Ministries mobile command unit from Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano and the mobile command trailer from Henderson County both were on alert for possible deployment, Smith reported. Another mobile command unit from Grand Prairie will be on standby in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Victim Relief Ministries is an interdenominational organization that grew out of TBM and continues to serve as an independent but affiliated TBM ministry.

Meanwhile, TBM volunteers wrapped up "ash-out" operations to help victims of wildfires in Oklahoma.

Mike Bailey, incident command for TBM's response in Oklahoma, posted a notice on the TBM website saying no additional teams will be needed. Three volunteer teams that had been on standby for Oklahoma were released, and the last two teams on site were due home Aug. 25.

TBM disaster relief efforts are financed entirely by designated gifts. To give directly to TBM, visit www.texasbaptistmen.org or mail a check to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron, Dallas, 75227.

Memories so strong they produce heart-stopping nightmares simultaneously remain so repressed and clouded she cannot pinpoint the time when abuse began. But Janice—who prefers to withhold her last name—knows three male relatives conspired to abuse her sexually over an extended time when she was a small child.

No caption submitted

"My mother knew and did not protect me. … An aunt told me not to be a tattletale. … It was as if everybody in my little world either molested me or knew I was being molested," she said.

At an early age, Janice became convinced she was unloved. "I knew I had no value," she said.

But a Sunday school teacher told her otherwise.

"She said, 'God loves you.' She didn't know how powerful that message was to me. She didn't know I was being molested," Janice recalled.

That simple message—"God loves you"— made a profound impact on her self-esteem and provided the base on which a mature faith could develop in time. But it's only the first of three statements she believes every church should communicate to every child.

The second directly addresses the abuse that scarred her young life: "If anything bad is happening to you, God wants you to tell—and continue to tell until somebody helps you."

The third statement helps the child know who to tell if a parent or family member is not the right person—a schoolteacher, counselor or principal; a policeman; a Sunday school teacher; or another trusted adult.

Janice has delivered that message to any church in her part of West Texas that will listen—and many are listening attentively. She already has been invited to speak to pastors in one Baptist association, as well as to all the ministers in a United Methodist district.

Gary Morgan, pastor of Cowboy Church of Ellis County, spoke from his pulpit about the damage sexual abuse can cause.  • A video of his sermon is available here.

Gary Morgan, pastor of Cowboy Church of Ellis County, applauds any effort to "turn the light on" and expose sexual abuse. He recalled how, in one recent month, three adult women stopped him at the end of Sunday morning worship services, asking to talk about issues that stemmed from their abuse as children. One senior adult told him she was certain she was going to hell because of something that began happening to her as a child and continued through her teen years.

"What I never really understood before was how victims take ownership of the abuse, feeling somehow they caused it," Morgan said.

Several weeks ago, he decided to address the issue from the pulpit, talking about the everlasting damage sexual abuse can cause.

In the Old Testament, God set clear parameters for sexual conduct and attached harsh penalties to the violation of sexual boundaries, Morgan said, "because he knows what it does to the soul"—the essence of a person. Every relationship in an abuse victim's life—with parents, a future spouse, any children they have and with God—is affected, he told the congregation.

"It alters fundamentally their relationship with God, because they feel so stained, soiled, dirty, guilty and shameful that they think they must look that way to God, too," he said.

Morgan wanted victims of abuse—both female and male—in his congregation to understand they were not to blame.

"If you have been a victim of sexual abuse in your life at any time … wherever, whenever, however you were abused, it was not your fault," he said in the sermon, emphasizing that the person in a position of authority who abuses trust bears responsibility. "It is never the fault of the victim."

Furthermore, he said, victims should not feel responsible for any family unrest that results when they disclose abuse. "You need to realize everyone's already living in their own secret hell."

Morgan also addressed abusers and "bystanders"—accomplices who realize abuse occurs but seek to keep it hidden. "You've got to turn the light on. … If you choose not to disclose, the blood is on your hands," he said.

Victims of abuse feel guilt, hopelessness and isolation, he said. They need to hear someone in a position of authority acknowledge what has happened to them, pronounce it as wrong and assure them of God's love for them, he said. Morgan offered no easy answer or guarantee, but he assured victims if they disclose abuse and seek proper help, "it can get better."

Soon after the sermon, one woman wrote to Morgan, saying she was "still haunted by the abuse I suffered as a child at the hands of my father." On his deathbed, her father told her he hoped she could forgive him someday for what he had done.

"I don't know that I have. I refuse to allow myself thoughts about him. But the memories remain and creep into my life at odd times," she wrote. The woman told Morgan she related to his description of abuse as having one's soul stolen, and she noted the difficulty she had experienced relating to God as Father.

"Your message somehow gave me permission to have the feelings that have been with me for so long and told me it was OK," she wrote.

Too often, victims of sexual abuse have not found the help they need in churches, Morgan acknowledged in an interview.

"The church has contributed to the pain because we've been afraid to address it. The silence is deafening. And to the victims of abuse, it leaves them in a lonely place," he said.

Cowboy Church of Ellis County wants to change that. Morgan reported a staff counselor estimated the sermon about sexual abuse directly affected between 100 and 200 people, based on the response he saw in the weeks immediately following the worship service. The church plans to develop an ongoing, long-term ministry through several off-campus recovery groups for people with sexual abuse in their life history. The groups probably will be built around a study of The Wounded Heart: Hope for Adult Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse by Dan Allender.

Janice, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and went through intensive Christian counseling, now believes God has redeemed her tragic childhood experience.

Like the Old Testament patriarch Joseph, who gained prominence in Egypt and provided for his family in a time of famine after his brothers had sold him into slavery, she says, what others meant for evil, God meant for good.

"My identity is not in my family. My identity is not in what happened to me. My identity is found in my relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ," she said.

GEORGETOWN—More than 1,000 volunteers worked on about 70 community projects in First Baptist Church in Georgetown's second FirstServes Day.

Although some questioned the wisdom of planning the workday on the second Saturday in August each year, Minister of Missions Charlotte Watson said one consideration was the church's ongoing ministry to six elementary schools.

A team of about 20 people worked on the landscaping at Carver Elementary in Georgetown, where many of the students come from lower socioeconomic circumstances.

Since the team was able to work on the grounds right before the beginning of school, they hoped the children would notice it and begin the school year with greater enthusiasm.

"We already had them as one of our adopted schools, but this was something that strengthened our relationship with them," Watson said.

Volunteers from First Baptist Church in Georgetown play with a baby at Annunciation Maternity Home. The group held an ice cream social for single mothers at the home.

The congregation also held back-to-school block parties at two apartment complexes where ministry to children is ongoing. At the parties, the congregation provided school supplies, a cookout meal and a variety of games and activities for children and their parents.

Planning for FirstServes Day began with a general informational meeting in April.

At that point, many of the members who lead the congregation's ongoing ministries such as Meals on Wheels began thinking of a special emphasis or project for their ministry.

FirstServes Day offered a wide range of choices for members interested in taking part.

Some packed the school supplies for disbursement, others worked on fleece lap robes for senior adults, while others baked cookies, sent prayer cards or made plastic canvas bookmarks.

Other ministries included writing notes of encouragement to military personnel, prayer-walking, working at a community food pantry or ministering at one of several nursing homes and senior adult communities.

Volunteers assemble food items for distribution at Georgetown elementary schools through the Backpack Buddy program. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Charlotte Watson)

One group held an ice cream social at a maternity home. Another delivered 700 pair of socks to inmates at the Georgetown jail.

Others wrote thank you-notes to city sanitation workers, walked dogs at an animal shelter or worked with teens at the juvenile detention center.

"We had so many options for people that they didn't have an excuse not to serve," Watson said.

Many of the projects purposefully were intergenerational, she added.

"A lot of our young adults want their entire families involved in ministries and missions. So, a lot of our projects were billed as family-friendly," Watson explained.

A child from First Baptist Church in Georgetown visits with a resident at an assisted-living facility. Parents and children painted flowerpots, planted cacti and delivered the plants to residents.

One of the projects involved fathers and sons who worked together to build 60 bookcases. But Watson noticed some grandfathers, mothers and daughters in the mix, as well.

Thirty of the bookcases went to Georgetown elementary classrooms, and 30 others were sent to Literacy Connexus to use in its ministry along the Mexican border. Each bookcase had five books to start the collection it will house.

Other families decorated flowerpots, planted cacti and delivered them to senior adults in assisted-living centers.

"I was involved in church, but I had to get a whole lot older before I was involved in local missions. I want my child to be involved in missions all during their growth," one mother told Watson.

"It's important to help our children understand that there are people who are right here who don't have as much as they do," Watson said.

On the Sunday after the Saturday of service, she noted, "I walked down the hall (at church), and I got nothing but positive feedback."

SAN ANTONIO—Team Brazil won one game and tied another during its church-run soccer league.

But for Coach Alicia Flores, the team's record, stats and strategy all mean little compared to the league's primary purpose—sharing the love of God with those who most need it in the community.

Young participants in a soccer league sponsored by South San Filadelfia Baptist Church in San Antonio and funded by the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions receive trophies commemorating their achievements. (BGCT PHOTO)

For a team consisting mostly of orphans, that couldn't have been more appropriate.

"The most important thing isn't the winning for the soccer team," Flores said. "It's improving on their skill and most definitely building relationships with them every practice, every game and trying to connect with them and those who maybe were upset about a certain little thing that may have happened and getting down on one knee and looking them eye to eye and trying to truly connect with them."

The children, ages 4 and 7 years old, were recruited to play in the league organized and run by South San Filadelfia Baptist Church and funded through the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions.

South San Filadelfia Church started the league as a way to increase the young people's self esteem and team work as well as connect them with people who will care about them. The youth live at St. Peter-St. Joseph Children's Home.

Flores, who admits she knows little about soccer, is one of several people who stepped up to lead the team. As adults met the children for the first time and learned more about their situations, they found ways to show they care about the children. Those moments included group prayer at the end of practices, words of encouragement and one-on-one practice time. When tears fell, coaches provided a shoulder to lean on. When smiles emerged, coaches helped them grow.

"They miss their homes and their families," Flores said. "They really didn't want to go back to being at the shelter and stuff. It really touched my heart."

Throughout the season, the Lord opened Flores' eyes to the plight of young people.

"God really helped me see that some children aren't growing up with families," she said. "Go and love on them."

Tom Revilla, South San Filadelfia Baptist Church's coordinator of community programs, said the soccer league connects the church with more than 300 people, including family members. It provides a practical way for church members to build relationships with non-Christians and show people the love of God.

At the end of the season, all the teams come together for a closing ceremony. Each player receives a trophy. Community and ministry organizations offer a variety of services such as free teeth cleaning for young people. They also hear about the hope of Christ.

"One of the greatest things we do is when we present the trophies, we present the gospel to them as well," Revilla said.

"We've been blessed enough to have some of the families in these programs come and join the church and accept Christ as their savior and become active members in our church."

Revilla thanked individuals who give to the Mary Hill Davis offering for undergirding the soccer league. Its impact was truly felt on Team Brazil, and the other teams as well, he said.

"Without the generous offering that they gave us, this program would not have been possible," he said.