SAN ANTONIO—More than 125 San Antonio teenagers took their first steps toward a college degree and brighter future by participating in “The Road to Independence”—a self-sufficiency conference and job fair sponsored by Baptist Child & Family Services.

For 10 years, the BCFS transitional living program has sponsored the conference for young adults aging out of the foster care system, answering questions about how to build and maintain relationships, find housing and employment, apply to college and receive financial aid, and manage money.

This year, BCFS added a job fair to the conference to help connect foster teens with local employers.

“Before I got involved in the BCFS program, I thought maybe I could be a mechanic. But now I’m in college, and have the confidence to start a foundation to help the homeless,” said Michael Ramirez, age 18.

The hardest thing about aging out of the foster care program is feeling that nobody understands what foster children are going through, he said.

“Because of the BCFS program, I can be a living testimony for other kids,” said Ramirez, a Northwest Vista College student. “There are people out there who do understand and who can help.”

San Antonio teens spent a Saturday investing in their future at the Road to Independence conference sponsored by Baptist Child & Family Services. (PHOTOS/BCFS)

Ernesto Olivares found that help through the BCFS transitional living program.

“You have people who are working with you to make things better,” he said.

While on some levels the youth participating in BCFS’ conference and job fair are typical teenagers, they have had to deal with many issues that are foreign to most young adults. The BCFS transitional living program has helped thousands of teenagers overcome great challenges and will continue support in the future.

When asked what advice he had for young adults about to transition out of foster care, Ramirez grinned and said: “Simple—stick with the program. Those three hours a week will be worth your time. They’ll change your life.”

To find out more about the BCFS’ Transitional Living program, visit www.bcfs.net/transitionalliving.

BELTON—Bivocational ministers and their spouses gathered at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to discuss “Simple Solutions for Tough Times: Living By Faith” during the annual Bivocational Smaller Church Ministers and Spouses Statewide Conference.

In addition to times of networking and fellowship, the gathering included seminars on such topics as conflict management, the use of technology in ministry, counseling and evangelizing communities, how to juggle a career, ministry and family and how to equip church leaders to serve congregations.

“I hope families had good experiences in our workshops and learned a lot through them,” said Cecil Deadman, Baptist General Convention of Texas small church/bivocational consultant. “I also hope that (participants) were able to spend time together and enjoy some relaxation.” 

A teen conference also was held for children of pastors, deacons, music leaders and administrators. The Nick Gainey Band led worship, and Emily Prevost , associate director of the BGCT Congregational Leadership Team and young leaders consultant, was the keynote speaker.  Prevost’s message challenged students to train themselves spiritually by praying and dwelling on Scripture by reading it habitually and focusing on key words.

“The talks were really good,” said Laurel Luedecke, a Bell Baptist Association summer missionary who helped lead the youth portion of the conference. “I hope it enriched their worship experience, and that they realized worship goes outside the normal church service.”

She believes it is beneficial for youth to network with other students with common backgrounds.

“It is important youth have this opportunity to mingle with kids that are in their same situation,” Luedecke said. “They’ve made good friendships, and hopefully realized they’re not the only ones going through their particular situation.”

Scholarship were presented to Joao Chaves of Grace Point Church in San Antonio, a Baptist University of the Americas student, and James Han of New Song Church in Carrollton, a Baylor University student, from the Claude and Ilene Slate Memorial Scholarship Fund.  The scholarship fund is made possible through individual contributions and a pre-conference golf tournament each year. 

“I think God worked through people like you,” Chaves said in receiving the scholarship. “It’s amazing how God has been faithful to me and my family.”

Both scholarship recipients are going into bivocational ministry, and the money will be used for their education.

“God is a great provider,” Han said. “Because of you, the Lord has pulled through in my life again.”

Leonardo Diaz of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Hitchcock was named Exemplary Bivocational Pastor of the Year because of his committed leadership to both the church and his community. He was recognized for his service during the Hurricane Ike recovery period as he encouraged the community through work projects, block parties and worship services.

Others honored included Jimmy Young of Streetman Baptist Church as the Exemplary Bivocational Music Minister of the Year and Derrell Monday of the Bi-Fork Baptist Area as the Exemplary Director of Missions. The association also provided a plaque expressing appreciation for Randy Rather as president of the Texas Baptist Bivocational Ministers and Spouses Association since 2007. 

The group elected a new slate of officers: President Tony Tawater, pastor of Lone Willow Baptist Church in Cleburne; First Vice President Rosalind Ray of Fairy Baptist Church in Fairy; Second Vice President Richard Ray, pastor of First Baptist Church in Wink; Treasurer Danny Rogers of Living Proof Baptist Church in Cleburne; and Secretary Ellen Goodson of Highland Baptist Church in Denton.

Just like the Apostle Paul needed Luke the physician as his traveling companion on missionary journeys, a wheelchair-bound young woman who feels called to India needs someone to serve alongside her.

Heather Herschap worked in Bangalore on two month-long mission trips— during the summers of 2005 and 2006—with the help of classmates at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary and WorldconneX, a missions network the Baptist General Convention of Texas launched.

Herschap, who has cerebral palsy, served with proVision Asia, counseling and ministering to physically challenged people.

Heather Herschap worked in Bangalore, India, on two month-long mission trips when she was a student at Truett Theological Seminary. She feels called to return for a one-year missions commitment, but she needs a caregiver to serve with her. (PHOTO/Ken Camp)

Since her graduation from seminary, she has dreamed of returning to India for an extended one-year missions experience.

But finding a classmate who could receive field-experience credit for a one-month missions trip proved easier than enlisting a long-term traveling companion. After more than 18 months, she has been unable to find a caregiver to accompany her.

“There have been possibilities along the way, but they all fizzled out for a number of reasons,” she said.

While she has found it “very difficult to wait,” Herschap noted her physical limitations make it essential that someone to travel with her.

“Cerebral palsy is caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain at birth. That means my body is spastic—tense and contracted—affecting my extremities with complete feeling in my entire body. There is a loss of hand-eye coordination and fine motor control,” Herschap explained.

As a result, she needs help with bathing, grooming, basic hygiene and transportation.

“I need to be pushed in a manual wheel chair, but I can drive an electric one on my own,” she added.

If she can find a caregiver, both she and her traveling companion would serve with proVision Asia under the auspices of the Mission to Unreached Peoples missions-sending organization.

“I need someone not only to take care of my basic needs, but also to be my missions partner, going and serving as a missionary, as well,” Herschap explained.

Responsibilities include providing respite care for parents of children with physical disabilities, as well as helping disabled people with vocational training, physical therapy, job placement and English-language skills.

The caregiver would not have to be a seminary graduate, but she would need to complete training provided by Mission to Unreached Peoples. Herschap remains confident she has enough financial support to cover her caregiver’s expenses and provide some compensation, as well.

Anyone interested in more information about serving as Herschap’s caregiver in India can e-mail her at herschapah@gmail.com.

Waiting and searching unsuccessfully for a missions companion has proven frustrating, Herschap admits. But she remains confident God has a plan and purpose.

“I’m completely out of ideas. It’s all in God’s hands,” she said. “I’ve given it back to him.”

HOUSTON—Parents of missionaries support their children’s ministry, but they also need support from other missionary parents who understand the hardship of being apart from their children.

Susan Kilcoyne, who attends South Main Baptist in Pasadena, works as the state coordinator for the Missionary Parents’ Fellowship and participates in the fellowship’s Houston group. She serves as the connection among the missionary parents’ groups in Texas.

Amber Hill Beck, who grew up in Thailand where her parents served as missionaries, enjoys time with grandmother, Betty Price of Carrollton. (PHOTO/Courtesy of Missionary Parents Fellowship)

The International Mission Board started seven groups composed of 475 family units, including parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. The families come together in their areas in homes, restaurants and churches to share common concerns.

Those concerns become particularly acute for families when missionaries serve in places closed to overt Christian missions.

“A lot of parents of missionaries now can’t talk to anyone about what their children are doing,” Kilcoyne said. “It’s a good place for them to come and see that other parents have the same feelings.”

Parents whose children recently went overseas need to hear from parents who have gone through these experiences for 15 years or more, Kilcoyne said.

“It’s an encouragement, especially for parents who are new to this,” she said.

The groups meet and share information from the International Mission Board, prayer requests, praises, things going on in the lives of their children and if someone has visited his or her children. They also pray together.

“We always, always have a time of prayer for the children and the other missionaries on the mission field,” Kilcoyne said.

Kilcoyne can relate to parents in this group. Her son and daughter-in-law serve, along with her granddaughter, as missionaries in France. Although she does not see them as often as she would like, advances in technology have helped bridge the distance gap.

“I can’t imagine not being in contact with them,” Kilcoyne said. She uses Skype—with a computer and webcam—to see and talk to them. “We don’t get to see them (in person) as much as a normal parents or grandparents.”

The distance and dangers involved can be tough issues for parents at home. Parents sometimes have difficulty understanding their children’s call to missions when they have not felt this call themselves, Kilcoyne said.

“I have to let them do what God has called them to do,” Kilcoyne said about her son and daughter-in-law. “I know in my heart-of-hearts, if the Lord has called them to go to another country, I cannot stand in their way.”

The group addresses concerns like these and would love to have as many parents as possible involved in their efforts, Kilcoyne said. The group also communicates to parents through e-mail, but getting together can be more rewarding, she said.

“I think it gives the parents a feeling of not being alone, not being in a situation where no one knows what they’re going through,” Kilcoyne said.

Groups meet in Fort Worth, San Antonio, Brownwood, Tyler, Houston, Northeast Texas and North Dallas. For security reasons, the group does not encourage people who do not have children in missions to come.

HITCHCOCK—Last fall, Hurricane Ike left Primera Iglesia Bautista with nothing. One building was filled with two feet of water. Another building filled with four feet of water. Everything was damaged and needed to be replaced.

But Pastor Leonardo Diaz said God delivered the congregation. It managed to be a source of calm in its neighborhood following the storm and rebuild its facilities with the help of friends across the state. The congregation recently rededicated its facilities.

Churches statewide discovered the congregation’s needs, Diaz said. Some connected through the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Others did so through the Galveston Baptist Association. Often, connections were made through friends of friends.

First Baptist Church in Paris partnered with Primera Iglesia Bautista in the recovery process. The Paris church raised $18,000 for its Southeast Texas brethren for building supplies as well as teams to do the construction.

“They’re the ones God had in mind who would not give up in faith, because we have no flood insurance. When we saw the devastation, we knew it would take a God-sized miracle,” said Diaz, who recently was honored with the Texas Baptist Exemplary Bivocational/Smaller Membership Church Pastor Award.

The choir at Primera Iglesia Bautista in Hitchcock leads in worship at a rededication service for the church facilities after the building was severely damaged by Hurricane Ike. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Primera Iglesia Bautista, Hitchcock)

Bill Kennedy, a member of First Baptist Church in Paris, said the church cherished the opportunity to build a relationship with Primera Iglesia Bautista. “I feel like we were doing what God wanted us to do. There have been a number of times in my life when I felt I was in God’s will. That’s how I felt throughout this.”

The assistance helped the church rebuild as well as reach out to its neighbors. Members of Primera Iglesia Bautista handed out bottled water following the storm. They also provided backpacks and school supplies to area children and offered mounds of clothes to the community. Most recently, the church held a Vacation Bible School in an effort to share the gospel.

The congregation’s commitment to reaching its community embodies the spirit of Texas Hope 2010, a Baptist General Convention of Texas initiative to share the hope of Christ with every Texan by Easter 2010.

“I always thought that God has a purpose for us just being there because the people need to know about Jesus,” Diaz said. “We need to be the light there. We’ve been really blessed by the help that has been coming in.”

Many families see it as a milestone when they are able to send their first child to college. The family of caregivers associated with Children’s Emergency Relief International is no exception.

CERI celebrates the success of Velautham Subasini as she recently received acceptance to college, a rare achievement in Sri Lanka. (BCFS PHOTO)

CERI, the overseas arm of Baptist Child & Family Services, established the foster care system in Sri Lanka at the government’s request after a devastating tsunami swept across the island five years ago, leaving thousands of children orphaned.

Since then, CERI caseworkers have found permanent homes for the children in their care.

And the CERI-Southeast Asia family is celebrating an important achievement by one of the young adults in its care. Thanks to CERI’s financial and emotional support, 20-year old Velautham Subasini was recently accepted to college.

Only 11 percent of the children in Sri Lanka who take pre-university classes go on to study in college. Thanks to CERI, Subasini said, she has confidence to achieve her goals. Subasini has been with CERI two and a half years, and financial provision for her pre-university education was made possible solely by CERI supporters.

Subasini has three sisters and two brothers. When she was just 1 year old, her father disappeared in the civil war that continues to plague Sri Lanka. Two years ago, her mother died of cancer. Since then, she has lived with her aunt, and CERI has helped the family with basic day-to-day needs.

“CERI’s financial assistance, love and care are a Godsend in my life,” said Subasini. “I believe God will continue to support me as I further my education.”

MUSANZE, Rwanda—Baylor University graduate student Evan Martin traveled to the other side of the globe expecting to bring Christ and western technology to Rwanda. But what he found was a people who, in spite of a history of genocide, poverty and depravation, have a vibrant relationship with Christ.

More than 500 African children sang, danced and lifted their hands to God in worship as Martin stood in awe observing the youth of Rwanda on fire for God.

“It was mind-blowing; more than I had ever expected,” he said.

Martin and 34 other Baylor University business, social work and engineering students—along with six faculty members—served two weeks in Rwanda putting into practice on the mission field what they learned in the classroom.

Baylor Mechanical Engineering Professor Bill Jordan coordinated the engineering projects. The volunteers partnered with Bridge2Rwanda, an organization seeking to advance Rwandan technological and enhance education with specialized training from outside agencies.

“One of the things I like about Bridge2Rwanda’s stated purpose is that they want to build a bridge from the west into Rwanda, and change people at both ends,” Jordan said. “I want to help Rwandans, but I also want to help students here.”

The Baylor engineering team was stationed at Musanze’s Sonrise School, a facility in northern Rwanda that provides quality education to children and orphans. The students originally planned to build a solar panel system to power a technology lab. However funding and timing conflicts delayed the panels’ delivery from China. So, the team re-focused their mission on a series of water purifying projects.

“They had a well drilled, but it wasn’t connected to the school,” Jordan said. “So, students designed a system that would pump water from the well to the school.”

Baylor University engineering students work on a solar power control system in Rwanda. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Bill Jordan/Baylor University)

The project provides long-term potable water access to the school. Sonrise was paying $2,000 a month for water and $800 a month for firewood to boil the water.

Students worked from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a mixture of high and low-end technology projects using their knowledge of concepts like distance, gravity and elevation.

“The majority of what we did was the students’ ideas,” Jordan said. “They did the calculations and contributed on their own.”

The students taught the workers how to operate the various filtering systems, so the Rwandans could continue to have clean water after the team left.

“They have a lot of bright people over there, but very few engineers and accountants,” Jordan said. “They need borrowed talent to train and further educate the (people).”

Jordan believes the experience profoundly affected the Baylor students.

“They saw what engineering in the developing world looks like, and I think now they have a better vision of what Christian engineers can do.”

Jordan’s hope was for students to learn they can use their vocational skills as a ministry tool.

“There’s not a Christian approach to fracture mechanics,” Jordan said. “But where Christianity plays a role is in what you can do with the skills you have. Students love the fact that they can use engineering in a Christian context.”

When not working, the team developed relationships with the people.

“We were spiritually blessing them by helping them engineering-wise, but everyone wanted to do more on a personal level,” Jordan said.

The students were not hesitant about sharing their faith wherever they went.

“One cool thing that happened was that our driver, Salim, came up to one of our team members, Brad Sanders, to talk about Christianity,” Martin said.

“He was a Muslim and wanted to be prayed with. He had known about Christianity, but what was holding him back was his family. They were his lifeline; if they found out he wanted to be a Christian, he’d be kicked out.”

Despite the language barrier, Sanders was able to communicate God’s love to the driver.

“He ended up accepting the Lord,” Martin said, “And we found someone to help support him. Right before we left from the airport, Salim prayed for us in Rwandan.”

Martin said seeing the people turn to God was an eye-opening experience. The country is still recovering from a 1994 genocide that killed a million people in 100 days.

“It was amazing to see how God is healing them,” Martin said. “They are able to live side-by-side again.”

Martin is thankful he could use engineering as a ministry in this developing part of the world.

“Everybody has things they’re good at,” Martin said. “No matter where you go, there’s something you can do to be a disciple.”

GARLAND—For some, it happened as tears rolled down their cheeks. For others, it took place as they were kneeling quietly. But for most, they simply raised their hands.

The students were called. And their lives changed.

Teenagers reacted differently to hearing the gospel during the Baptist General Convention of Texas Youth Evangelism Conference, but whether they showed an outpouring of emotion or stood in stoic reflection, they were affected.

Students made professions of faith, rededicated themselves to Christ and strengthened relationships within their youth groups. They answered a call to vocational ministry. They responded to a call to evangelize their campuses.

Leighton Flowers, director of BGCT youth evangelism, said God moved through the conference to change young people’s lives. Leading up to the event, every person who attended the conference was prayed for, and counselors and youth group leaders continue to follow up on each decision.

“All are called. If you are a believer, you are called. You don’t have to sit around and wait for (God) … to call you to spread the good news. You are already called,” Flowers said.

“The calling to the non-believer is the call to Christ, the call to come, the call to all you who are heavy laden, come, and I will give you rest. It’s a universal calling to all mankind. Not all will respond. Not all will come. But all are called.”

Gordon Banks, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver and current senior pastor of New Heart Worship Center in Auburn, Wash., calls people to Christ during the BGCT Youth Evangelism Conference.

The event was part of Texas Hope 2010, an initiative that encourages Christians to pray for un-believers, care for people in need and share the gospel with every Texan by Easter 2010.

Featured speakers Gregg Matte, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Houston, and Gordon Banks, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver and current senior pastor of New Heart Worship Center in Auburn, Wash., urged students to grow closer to God through studying the Bible and praying, using that as a foundation to spread the gospel with others in their schools and beyond.

More than 100 students exemplified what it means to respond to God’s call as they were commissioned to spread the gospel in Tokyo as part of Super Summer Global.

During the commissioning, parents prayed with students, students prayed with each other and the Youth Evangelism Conference crowd prayed for the trip.

Flowers believes mission trips like the one to Tokyo affect students’ view of the world and how they minister in it. Going to a place like Japan, where there is little evangelical Christian presence, students see the need for sharing the gospel in Texas, he said.

“Students are changing Texas by changing Tokyo,” Flowers said.

“When a student gets out of his bubble and goes to a place where there is darkness, he begins to appreciate the light he has at home and tries to spread it.”

Baptist Health System chief moves to parent company. Baptist Health System President Trip Pilgrim has been named senior vice president and chief development officer for Vanguard Health Systems, parent company of Baptist Health System in San Antonio. Graham Reeve, current chief operating officer for Baptist Health System, has been named as Pilgrim’s replacement. Pilgrim has served as president and chief executive officer for Baptist Health System since Sept. 30, 2005. Prior to that, he served for three years as Baptist’s vice president of business development. 

Baylor music professor honored. Terry York, who teaches both in Baylor University’s School of Music and at Truett Theological Seminary, received the W. Hines Sims Award from the Baptist Church Music Conference. The award is named for the editor of the 1956 Baptist Hymnal who also served as secretary of the Church Music Department of the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board nearly 20 years. York, who served as project coordinator for the 1991 edition of The Baptist Hymnal, is the author of numerous hymns, including “Worthy of Worship.” The Sims Award came on the heels of the news last month that York’s lyrics for “See God’s Light” had been selected as the new university hymn for Ouachita Baptist University.

ETBU accreditation reaffirmed. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has reaffirmed accreditation of East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. All institutions accredited by the SACS Commission on Colleges are required to have their accreditation reaffirmed every 10 years. Accreditation by the commission signifies the institution has a mission appropriate to higher education and the resources, programs and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission. This accreditation also signifies the institution maintains clearly specified educational objectives consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers and that indicate whether it is successful in achieving its stated objectives.

Deadline nears for missions awards. The nomination deadline for the 2009 Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Mission Service Awards is Aug. 15. The awards, selected by the foundation’s council, include the Pioneer Award for service in missions, the Innovator Award for creativity in missions and the Adventurer Award for leadership in missions. The awards will be presented during the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation’s luncheon Monday, Nov. 16, at the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Houston. The Pioneer Award goes to a long-time leader in missions or someone who played a key role in beginning mission work that affected Texas Baptist life. The Innovator Award is bestowed upon a church or individual who provided a model for missions others can adopt. The Adventurer Award honors an individual who advanced missions through direction of significant mission activities, outstanding financial support or leadership in ministry opportunities. Nominations may be submitted to Bill Arnold at the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246.

Wayland music school accredited. Wayland Baptist University’s School of Music has been granted full membership status with the National Association of Schools of Music, doing so in commended fashion. The association—the national accrediting agency for schools of music is a peer-reviewed organization that seeks to maintain the highest standards of education within schools of music across the nation. The association has accredited 615 schools nationwide.

SANGER—At First Baptist Church in Sanger, hope began with children.

The children in the church recently kicked off the congregation’s involvement in Texas Hope 2010 by leading its Sanger Cares Day and raising money for the hungry through the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger.

The children traversed the town collecting and earning coins to put in 75 Texas-shaped banks. On Sanger Cares Day, they sang songs and read Scripture during First Baptist Church’s worship service. Then, they placed the banks on the altar.

Jeff Dooley, the church’s minister of education, said the congregation was inspired by the children’s efforts to help people in need. The children raised more than $600 for the offering, encouraging adults in the church to care for people around them.

“If we can do this with change, we can do so much more with our feet and our arms,” he said. The congregation is looking for ways to share the gospel with the 6,000 people who live near Sanger.

Emphasis on increasing gifts to the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger is part of Texas Hope 2010, a Baptist General Convention of Texas initiative encouraging believers to pray for people around them, care for those in need and share the gospel with every Texan by Easter 2010.

“Our children are taking the lead in this 2010 vision,” Dooley said. “It really was a teaching tool for our congregation.”

The exercise in faith helped children understand how blessed they are, he said. While they have plenty to eat, more than one Texas child in five does not know where the next meal is coming from. Collecting money for the offering provided an opportunity for children to help others.

“The kids showed the congregation how easy it is to get involved in missions,” Dooley said.

Texas-shaped banks are available through the BGCT for $1 each, Dooley noted. He encouraged each church to consider using them repeatedly as a way to help young people become involved in missions work and minister to people around the world searching for spiritual and physical nourishment.

“I think every church needs to do this,” he said. “The banks are really good tools.”

For more information about Texas Hope 2010, visit www.texashope2010.com. For more information about the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger, visit www.bgct.org/worldhunger. To support either effort, visit www.bgct.org/give.

DALLAS—Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana is working with multiple community agencies to provide free summer programming for children in northwest Dallas in collaboration with Buckner International.

“It’s about putting all our resources together and finding where and how can we meet the (community’s) needs … and getting to know the kids,” said Sandra Martinez, coordinator of global ministries for Buckner Children & Family Services and director of the summer programming at the church.

All the participants hope to engage neighborhood children and youth—ages 3 to 19—in classes encouraging fun, physical wellness and spiritual growth.

“We want to reach out to the community and show Christ’s love to the kids and the families that we come in touch with,” Martinez said. “We want to get outside the walls of the church and let them know we want to serve.”

Before the program started, 125 children signed up, but Martinez expects more to join throughout the summer.

Activities include crafts, games, Bible lessons and a week of Vacation Bible School.

The North Texas Food Bank is providing boxed lunches for students Monday through Friday free of charge.

The church has a small collection of children’s books, donated by Buckner, and participants earn prizes by participating in the summer reading program.

“Buckner focuses on networking and how we can work together to reach more people,” Martinez said. “Serving the community is a group project.”

Girls in Motion enlisted female students from Southern Methodist University, the University of North Texas and Brookhaven Community College to mentor adolescent girls on the importance of self-worth.

“It is a program for girls 10 to 12 years old, and it is hosted by specially trained students. The cost is normally $120 per child, but Girls in Motion is doing it free for us,” Martinez said.

Program Associate Stacey Reinig said the organization’s mission is to “empower young women to appreciate their bodies … with the goal of promoting positive body image and preventing obesity and eating disorders.”

Girls in Motion partnered with the church and Buckner because they, too, want to serve low-income and minority populations.

“We wanted to reach a group of participants that may have otherwise not had another summer camp opportunity. This was a perfect match,” Reinig said.

In the fall, the church’s ministry will cater to adult needs by offering bilingual programs, concentrating on technology, financial management, health and English as a Second Language.

The adult programming came as a result of a community assessment done by Buckner in partnership with the church and other community agencies, Martinez said.

“The No. 1 problem in the area is poverty and a lack of resources,” she said.

She points out that many families cannot afford rent, utilities, school supplies or even clothing. Additionally, 80 percent of the target population is Hispanic, creating a language barrier.

“We hope to find the gaps in services and fill those,” Martinez said.

A health clinic with free immunizations, a bloodmobile and $10 physicals will be offered in August.

Martinez noted the church, Buckner and the supporting agencies are looking forward to seeing how the children’s summer programming—and later the adult educational classes—will benefit the neighborhood.

“We know there are needs, and it’s our desire to be God’s hands and feet in the community,” Martinez said. “Hopefully through us, people will see Christ … and be encouraged and empowered.”

PADUCAH—God gave Ilene Robertson a gift, and she’s given it back Sunday after Sunday for 70 years at First Baptist Church in Paducah.

Robertson, now 95, has been the church’s organist since the day the organ arrived in 1955, and before that, she was the pianist.

Ilene Robertson, now 95, has been the church’s organist since the day the organ arrived in 1955.

While she started playing the piano at age 10 for the junior department in Sunday school, Robertson doesn’t count that as part of her service because “that wasn’t official.”

She learned to play the piano as a child while growing up in Dallas. When she and her family moved to Paducah, her aunt, Ella Stokes, was the church pianist.

At age 15, Robertson was elected the church’s assistant pianist, and when the Stokes family moved the next year, she was named pianist.

Two years later, however, she left to attend Wayland Baptist College, where she played in chapel services. When she returned to Paducah in 1934, she again was elected pianist, a post she held until 1939, when she married Carroll Robertson.

After several years of service in World War II and his career, they returned to Paducah in 1946, and she has played the piano or organ since these last 63 years.

Although not initially thrilled about the prospect of learning to play the organ, she soon took on the task with determination. After the church ordered an organ, she began making the 120-mile trip to Lubbock each week for lessons. After she felt she had learned most of the fundamentals, she then continued to teach herself from instructional manuals.

All 70 of her years of service to the West Texas church have been as a volunteer. Her giving spirit and the longevity of her service are impressive to her pastor.

“Ilene’s record of service is amazing,” Pastor Ronnie Lambert said. “She is an example to all of us of what it truly means to live a life devoted to serving the Lord.”

Serving the Lord has been central to the 70 years as a church instrumentalist, Robertson said.

“Service to the Lord is dominant in all of it,” she said. “That’s the way I feel in my heart. I’m supposed to be doing it.”

Robertson has fallen about 20 times, and each time she wonders if it will be the one that stops her. But so far, she’s always managed to recuperate by Sunday.

There have been many funerals during her tenure—one pastor, after checking through some records years ago, told her she had played for more than 2,000 funerals.

“I told him, ‘I’ve got a real good secretary who knows, but I don’t,’” she said with a chuckle.

While she doesn’t know how many funerals she has played for, she does feel they have been a special part of her ministry.

“I really enjoy—now that’s not the word, but I enjoy funerals because I feel like you’re helping a family individually, that you’re comforting them,” she said.

First Baptist Church recently honored Robertson for seven decades of service. “Ilene is just an extremely special Christian woman who has spent her life serving the Lord while playing music in his church,” Lambert said. “The whole church family is proud of Ilene and is appreciative of her many years of service to the Lord with this church family.”

When asked how she felt about the celebration, “It made me feel 95,” she said with a laugh.