StartCHURCH se ha asociado con la Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas para apoyar y proporcionar recursos y herramientas para los pastores y plantadores de iglesias de la Convención.

StartCHURCH ayudará a las casi 1,100 iglesias bautistas hispanas en Texas con experiencia en las áreas de: incorporación de iglesias, estatutos, políticas, exención de impuestos, administración financiera, ordenación y otros asuntos de cumplimiento de normas.

StartCHURCH proporcionará recursos gratuitos a las iglesias de la Convención, que incluyen:

• Paquetes de recursos con políticas y documentos esenciales para cada congregación
• Recursos para fortalecer las finanzas de la iglesia
• Recursos de recaudación de fondos
• Un blog y un podcast en español
• Una consulta gratuita para cada iglesia

Los recursos gratuitos en español están disponibles en: http://espanol.startchurch.com/convencion

Las iglesias y los líderes también recibirán seminarios gratuitos en línea y talleres presenciales en los próximos eventos de la Convención y la reunión anual en junio de 2022.

Las iglesias de la Convención también recibirán descuentos especiales por cualquier servicio adicional pagado que les gustaría recibir de StartCHURCH.

Lester Ruiz, el Director de Negocios de StartCHURCH, dice: “Hemos tenido el privilegio de ayudar a miles de pastores y plantadores de iglesias a establecer una base legal sólida para su iglesia cada año y nos sentimos honrados de asociarnos con la Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas para ofrecer las herramientas, consejos, capacitación y servicios que necesitan para proteger sus iglesias y prevalecer en su misión”.

“Personalmente he visto los desafíos que enfrentan las congregaciones hispanas con los problemas para cumplir con las normas”, dijo Jesse Rincones, Director Ejecutivo de Convención. “Los desafíos que enfrentan las iglesias son cada vez más complejos y ya no es suficiente tener una visión. Más que nunca, es necesario contar con un socio durante todo el proceso. Estamos contentos de que StartCHURCH sea nuestro socio”.

“El corazón de esta colaboración es ayudar a todas las iglesias de la Convención con un socio de confianza que las acompañe en su llamado a llevar la esperanza del evangelio a todas las naciones”, dice Ruiz.

StartCHURCH ha servido a más de 19,000 iglesias y ministerios durante sus 21 años de servicio. Brinda servicios en los 50 estados y Puerto Rico.

Nebiye Kelile, pastor of both Pathway Church and Orchard Hills Baptist Church in Garland, will be nominated for second vice president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Ethiopian Evangelical Baptist Church is the sponsor of Pathway—a BGCT-supported start-up church geared toward reaching Millennials and Generation Z—and also is the host site for Orchard Hills.

Ryan Jespersen, executive director of Dallas Baptist Association, announced his intention to nominate Kelile.

“We have said so very often that we need men who will step up and pastor traditional churches as well as start new works. Pastor Neb is doing both at the same time by being the pastor of Pathway Church and Orchard Hills Baptist Church. I believe this unique role gives Neb the ability to lead well in Baptist life,” Jespersen said.

“I am grateful for his ability as a speaker, as a leader, and as a person who is working hard to bring people together. He is working to both give an existing church the ability to leave a great legacy, and to start a new work, which is so needed in Baptist life.”

Kelile, who was born in Ethiopia, grew up in California after his family moved there when he was 2 years old. He has served 16 years as a preacher and pastor. He helped an immigrant church in Sacramento, Calif., develop an English-language ministry to reach and disciple the rising generation.

When leaders of Ethiopian Evangelical Baptist Church learned about Kelile and his work through a network of churches devoted to reaching Ethiopian immigrants in the United States, they invited him to move to the Dallas area to launch Pathway Church.

Pathway not only reaches English-speaking individuals with family ties to Ethiopia and Eritrea, but also has drawn young couples from other backgrounds—many of them previously unchurched.

As pastor of Orchard Hills Baptist Church, Kelile ministers primarily to senior adults who are longtime members of the church whose building Ethiopian Evangelical Baptist Church now occupies.

“If we are going to bridge the generations and reach more people for Christ, I believe Pastor Neb Kelile will be a strong voice in the room to help work toward this task,” Jespersen said.

If elected, Kelile said, he would be “honored to serve and contribute to the mission of Texas Baptists beyond what I’m already able to do as a pastor and church leader.”

“We need to be known for what we are for instead of only what we are against. We are for the gospel,” he said.

Kelile noted this time in the life of Texas Baptists parallels in many respects his own “personal journey” in ministry.

“I believe in giving priority to strengthening established churches and starting healthy new churches,” he said.

Because of his background, Kelile said he feels equally comfortable among various ethnic groups, as well as in majority-culture settings.

As a next-generation leader working with Millennials and Generation Z, Kelile wants to help Texas Baptists wrestle with the challenge of “learning how to disciple the next generation of Christians, for whom there is no social capital to be gained by identifying as a Christian or joining a church.”

Kelile and his wife Hiwot have four children—Lydia, Daniel, Haset and Zaema.

StartCHURCH has partnered with the Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas to support and provide resources and tools for Convención pastors and church planters.

StartCHURCH will help about 1,100 Hispanic Baptist churches in Texas with expertise in the areas of: church incorporation, bylaws, policies, tax exemption, financial administration, ordination and other compliance issues.

StartCHURCH will provide free resources to Convención churches, including:

• Resource packets with essential policies and documents for each congregation
• Resources to strengthen the finances of the church
• Fundraising resources
• A Spanish language blog and podcast
• A free consultation for each church

The free Spanish-language resources are available at espanol.startchurch.com/convencion

Churches and leaders will also receive free webinars online and in-person workshops at upcoming Convención events and the annual meeting in June 2022.

Convención churches also will receive special discounts for any additional paid services they would like to receive from StartCHURCH.

“We have been privileged to help thousands of pastors and church planters establish a strong legal foundation for their church each year, and we are honored to partner with the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas to offer the tools, advice, training and services they need to protect their churches and prevail in their mission,” said Lester Ruiz, the chief business officer of StartCHURCH.

“I have personally seen the challenges that Hispanic congregations face with compliance issues,” said Jesse Rincones, the executive director of Convención. “The challenges that churches face are becoming more complex and it is no longer enough to have a vision. More than ever, it is necessary to have a partner throughout the process. We are glad that StartCHURCH will be that partner with us.”

“The heart of this collaboration is to help all the churches of the Convention with a trusted partner to accompany them in their call to bring the hope of the gospel to all nations,” Ruiz noted.

StartCHURCH has served more than 19,000 churches and ministries over its 21 years of service. It provides services in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Texas Baptist Men provided its 100,000th meal after Hurricane Ida as the organization’s disaster relief effort inches toward the one-month mark.

The TBM state feeding unit with a field kitchen deployed hours before Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana with 150-mph winds. TBM volunteers began serving hot meals amid widespread devastation.

The massive feeding effort was made possible by people statewide responding to meet the need, said TBM Disaster Relief Director David Wells.

“Many, many, many people stepped up to serve in response to God’s call,” he said. “Some served for the first time. Others served with a feeding team for the first time. Others yet extended their service to meet needs. Those who couldn’t go prayed God would provide. Together, the TBM family provided significant help to people in their most difficult days.”

As some TBM teams were providing meals, others were clearing fallen trees and limbs. Working home to home, the sound of TBM chainsaws could be heard from Baton Rouge to just northwest of New Orleans.

Just seeing the yellow shirts of TBM volunteers lifted spirits. Residents knew help was coming.

“You all are an answer to my prayer,” said Judy Robinson of Mt. Airy, La. “I’ve been laboring in this house since Sunday, and when I saw Texas-TBM pull up yesterday, I was so overjoyed. I thank God.”

For many, TBM chainsaw teams were an answer to prayer.

“Thank you for helping my son clear the fallen trees and limbs from his yard,” said Lynda Jo Shugars. “It would have taken him weeks. I could tell from his voice that he was suffering from exhaustion, so I prayed. God sent you.”

While helping with trees, TBM volunteers connected to homeowners. Chaplains helped people work through the trauma they’ve experienced. They prayed with people. They distributed 250 Bibles. At least 24 people have come to faith in Christ.

“God is at work in Louisiana,” Wells said. “His people are responding to his call, and because of that, lives are being transformed. Please continue to pray for Louisiana as well as those responding to needs after this storm.”

To support TBM financially, visit tbmtx.org/donate or send a designated check to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron Drive, Dallas, TX 75227.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board approved a policy declaring any registered sex offender “permanently disqualified” from church leadership.

A committee-recommended policy would have stated any congregation allowing registered sex offenders in church leadership roles “will be considered out of harmonious cooperation” with the state convention.

Instead, the board approved an amended policy statement that any church violating the standard “may be” rather than “will be” considered outside of harmonious cooperation with Texas Baptists.

Chad Edgington of First Baptist Church in Olney made the amendment, suggesting the BGCT needed flexibility to consider exceptional situations “on a case-by-case basis.”

Several board members expressed a desire to send a “strong statement” about sexual abuse, while allowing some latitude to consider individual circumstances. Cindy Wiles of First Baptist Church in Arlington cited the example of churches geared toward ministry to ex-offenders.

Help churches ‘think rightly about best practices’

In 2016, messengers to the BGCT annual meeting granted the Executive Board authority to remove churches from affiliation with the BGCT.

At the time, the convention identified four criteria to determine whether churches are in “harmonious cooperation” with the BGCT—praying for its work, supporting the BGCT financially, engaging in convention ministries and affirming “biblical marriage as between one man and one woman in covenant relationship with the Lord and each other.”

At the recommendation of its administrative support committee, the board added a fifth item related to registered sex offenders serving in church leadership positions.

The background document presented to the board as part of the recommended policy addendum “affirms the autonomy of the local church in all matters of governance including the selection of leaders.”

However, it also noted “conventions and associations of churches may help one another think rightly about best practices regarding issues such as the protection of children and vulnerable adults from those with a history of sexual abuse or exploitation.”

So, the board approved the following amended policy statement: “The Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas maintains that any registered sex offender, having sexually abused and/or exploited others, should be permanently disqualified from serving in leadership positions in the church. Churches which violate this standard may be considered out of harmonious cooperation with the churches of the BGCT.”

Board approves GC2 statement of faith

At its Sept. 27-28 meeting in Dallas, the board also approved a statement of faith for the “GC2 movement”—an emphasis on the Great Commission and the Great Commandment identified as “a movement of God’s people to share Christ and show love.”

The “reasonable summary” statement of “core theological truths” includes some hot-button social issues not included in the 1963 Baptist Faith & Message, the statement of faith adopted by BGCT annual meeting messengers.

The GC2 statement affirms “the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death,” defines marriage in terms of one man and one woman, and identifies gender exclusively as male and female.

Texas Baptists need a succinct explanation of their theological identity when the convention is approached by groups or entities asking if they can relate to the BGCT, Executive Director David Hardage explained.

“The Lord is continually presenting Texas Baptists with the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded, orthodox, evangelical Christians in the USA and around the world who are increasingly uncomfortable with the extremes of pharisaical fundamentalism or culturally accommodating liberalism,” the background rationale for the recommendation stated.

“The need exists for a big-tent approach to missions and ministry that affirms the historic truths of Scripture and Baptist distinctives. This organic movement has created an opportunity for Texas Baptists to lead the way in offering a new vision for collaboration: the GC2 Movement.”

The statement of faith affirms historic Christian doctrines such as the Triune God; Jesus Christ as the head of the church; Christ’s virgin birth, atoning death, resurrection and return; the Bible as “God’s word and truth without mixture of error;” the “urgent need to reach the lost with the good news of Jesus;” the Lord’s Supper and baptism as the ordinances of the church; salvation “by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone;” “the priesthood of every believer and all believers;” and “the autonomy of the local church in governance and ordination.”

In addition to the statement about the sanctity of human life, it also includes affirmations “that gender is a gift from God who creates humankind male and female in the divine image and likeness” and “that biblical marriage is one man and one woman in a covenant relationship with the Lord and one another.”

The rationale for the statement of faith indicated it is not intended to replace either the 1963 or 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, the proposal presented to the board stated. Rather, it is meant to “function as a guide for collaboration with like-minded conventions, denominations, churches, ministries, foundations, institutions or Christians.”

“The GC2 Statement of Faith is meant to be a summary of the core beliefs we hold dear,” the proposal stated. “While we affirm many additional theological truths not included in the GC2 statement, the inclusion of additional doctrines inevitably limits the potential for networking and collaboration.”

Recommends $34.6 million budget

In other business, the board recommended a $34,588,280 total Texas budget for 2022, a $321,592 increase over the 2021 budget. Messengers from Texas Baptist churches will vote on the proposed budget at the BGCT annual meeting in Galveston, Nov. 14-16.

The board’s budget recommendation projects a $32.8 million net Texas budget—based on Cooperative Program giving and investment income—for 2022. The budget proposal depends on $27.37 million in Texas Cooperative Program receipts from churches.

The recommended 2022 budget anticipates slightly more than $5.4 million in investment income. It also anticipates more than $1.77 million in additional revenue from conference and booth fees, product sales and other sources.

The board also recommended continued division of undesignated receipts from affiliated churches, with 79 percent allocated for the BGCT and 21 percent for worldwide causes. Each church determines the recipient or recipients of its worldwide giving.

If approved at the annual meeting, an anticipated $1 million in worldwide missions initiatives and partnerships will be allocated in this manner: $340,000 for missions mobilization, $200,000 for River Ministry and Mexico missions, $100,000 for Texas Partnerships, $55,000 for the Baptist World Alliance, $5,000 for the North American Baptist Fellowship, $50,000 for intercultural international initiatives, $200,000 for Go Now Missions, $20,000 for the Hispanic Education Task Force and $30,000 for chaplaincy.

Officers reelected

The BGCT Executive Board reelected Clint Davis, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant, as chair and Bobby Contreras, pastor of Alamo Heights Baptist Church in San Antonio, as vice chair.

During the meeting, members of the Executive Board donated more than $1,000 to the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas Missions after Davis called for an impromptu offering—noting his own contribution was in lieu of participating in a Mary Hill Davis 5K run.

The board granted autonomy to STARRY, previously the foster care and adoption affiliate of Children at Heart Ministries. STARRY, which is funded primarily through government contracts, requested independence from Children at Heart Ministries, and the trustee board approved the request, pending Executive Board endorsement. The Executive Board also adopted the modified restated certificate of formation for Children at Heart Ministries.

The BGCT Executive Board approved building exchanges for Baptist Student Ministries in Galveston and at Texas State University. The board also authorized the purchase of property adjacent to the West Texas A&M University BSM building for up to $400,000.

The board approved the establishment of a new ministry “focused on assisting our Texas Baptist churches in reaching, discipling, developing and utilizing single adults beyond college.” Funds for single adult ministry are included in the proposed 2022 Cooperative Program budget.

The board filled vacancies on several councils and commissions by electing:

• Abigail Rojas from Azle Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Bryant Lee from Higher Expectations Church in Humble, Alice Ward from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Kalie Lowrie from First Baptist Church in Brownwood and Emmanuel Roldan from Primera Iglesia Bautista in Waco to the Christian Life Commission.
• David Cross from First Baptist Church in Lumberton; George Will Bearden from First Baptist Church in San Antonio; Sara Hester from First Baptist Church in Oneonta, Ala.; Robert Pipkin from West End Baptist Church in Suffolk, Va.; and Rachelle Binion from Invitation American Baptist Church in Sioux Falls, S.D., to the Chaplaincy Endorsement Council.
• Joshua Hays from First Baptist Church in Waco and C.V. Blake from First Baptist Church in Abilene to the GC2 Press Advisory Council.
• Rolando Aguirre from Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Felipe Garza from Bill Harrod Memorial Baptist Church in Dallas, Tina Cooper from Calvary Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, David Reyes from Fielder Church in Arlington and Pablo Juarez from First Baptist Church in Kaufman to the Hispanic Education Initiative Council.
• Alan Grisham from First Baptist Church in Buffalo and Leonard Hatcher from Oasis Baptist Church in Dallas to the Ministerial Health Council.
• Oza Jones from Westside Baptist Church in Lewisville and Ryan Jespersen from Hillcrest Baptist Church in Cedar Hill to the Missional Engagement Coordinating Council.
• Bill Skaar from First Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Robert White from Freedom Church in Bedford, Fernando Rojas from Azle Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Ken Holden from Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas and Charlotte Greenhaw from First Baptist Church in Garland to the Missions Funding Council.
• Ed Dyer from Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, Steve Dalrymple from First Baptist Church in Amarillo, Alice Curtis from Agape Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Jack Woodworth from Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Pat Hyde from First Baptist Church in Kenedy, Carla Robinson from Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Michael Griffin from Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas and Ben Raimer from First Baptist Church in Galveston to the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Council.
• Dan Upchurch from Sunset Canyon Baptist Church in Dripping Springs and David Smith from First Baptist Church in Quanah to the Theological Education Council.
• Tuffy Loftin from the Cowboy Church of Leon County in Centerville and Jerry Stewart from Lone Star Cowboy Church in Lubbock to the Western Heritage Council.

FORT WORTH—During a Sept. 23 chapel service at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Director David Hardage expressed his belief “the best days of cooperative ministry” between the convention and the seminary “are still ahead.”

Greenway hails ‘special relationship’ with BGCT

Prior to Hardage’s chapel sermon, in which he encouraged students to consider how to be believers and ministers who balance “living in this world, but not becoming one of it,” Southwestern Seminary President Adam Greenway noted the historical and “special relationship” between the state convention and the seminary.

Greenway pointed out the seminary was founded in 1908 as part of Baylor University, a school affiliated with the BGCT, until ownership was transferred to the Southern Baptist Convention in 1925.

Southwestern Seminary’s founding president, B.H. Carroll, also had previously led the effort to bring five separate state conventions in Texas together in 1886, giving birth to the BGCT, he added.

The “special relationship” continues today, with 70 percent of the BGCT seminary-trained pastors having been educated at Southwestern Seminary, Greenway continued.

Greenway also reflected on the opportunity for a renewed and strengthened cooperation between the seminary and the state convention.

“Now, speaking candidly, we have not always been as close in our relationship with the BGCT as we should, but I’m thankful in my two and a half years as president of Southwestern Seminary that every time I’ve been around David Hardage, he has said Texas Baptists extend the right hand of fellowship and partnership to Southwestern Seminary,” Greenway said.

“I want to publicly say to you, Dr. Hardage, Southwestern Seminary, its president extends our right hand of fellowship in partnership to you and to Texas Baptists.”

Prior to his message, Hardage, a Southwestern Seminary alumnus, offered remarks in response to Greenway’s remarks.

“On behalf of Texas Baptists, thank you for today,” an emotional Hardage said. “I’m convinced, I believe, and I pray that the best days of cooperative ministry between the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary are yet to come.”

Choose between worldly comfort and serving God

Hardage then preached from John 17:15-16, noting the prayer in that passage is one for Jesus’ disciples “to find that place and know how to live rightly in this world, but not become too much a part of it.”

Answering the question of why this would be the prayer of Jesus, Hardage said, “I propose to you that it is because Jesus knew this would be not the greatest challenge they would ever face, but this will be the greatest temptation they would ever face.”

The temptations to seek favor and comfort from the world are understandable, Hardage acknowledged. But Christians ultimately must choose between worldly comfort and serving God, he insisted.

However, Hardage continued, in this pursuit to not be “of the world,” believers must be cautious to not “develop an attitude that is so arrogant, and language and deeds that are so abrasive that they drive away the very people they’re trying to draw in.”

“We do not want to be one of the world,” Hardage said. “And yet, as sometimes we try to speak the truth, we do so and it is void of grace and love, and all of a sudden what we’re trying to say is not being heard because how we say it is overwhelming what we’re trying to say, and all of a sudden the message fades, and the people who need to hear it miss it.”

“And so, I just wonder,” Hardage continued. “Is this not why Jesus prayed that we would find that right place?”

Hardage then offered students a final exhortation, reflecting on the hymn, “Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go,” written by B.B. McKinney, who served on Southwestern Seminary faculty in the early 20th century.

“Students, as I have thought about this and prayed for you, it is burned on my heart, wherever God takes you, go there,” Hardage says. “Wherever God leads you, go there. But when you get there, pay attention to those New Testament directives. … Be alert, stand firm, be on your guard, and find that place that is safe, protected, find that place that has you living and effectively serving in this world, but yet you have not become one of it.”

DEL RIO—The ministry City Church in Del Rio provided last month to hundreds of migrants camped beneath a bridge prepared the congregation for a much more extensive response to a surge of Haitians at the border.

The first week in August, City Church prepared and provided more than 2,000 sandwiches in four days for migrants at the request of the U.S. Border Patrol. The migrants found shelter beneath a bridge while they waited to be processed.

At the end of that crisis, Pastor Matt Mayberry said: “Lord willing, we won’t have to do this again anytime soon. But when there is a need, we want to be obedient.”

After a reprieve of little more than a month, the church learned about an even greater need.

Shon Young, associate pastor at City Church and missionary with Texas Baptists’ River Ministry, received word from Border Patrol on Sept. 11 that 1,500 Haitians were camped beneath the bridge. Young also is president of the Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition, a broad-based group of citizens and organizations that provide assistance to refugees.

The numbers escalated each day, reaching 10,000 by Sept. 16. The Washington Post reported the Haitians are part of an even larger wave, including many who first arrived in Brazil and neighboring countries after the 2010 earthquake.

“It’s surreal,” Mayberry commented after seeing firsthand the thousands camped under the border bridge.

‘We immediately reached out to other churches’

In light of the overwhelming numbers, City Church is getting by with a little help from their friends.

“We learned from last time,” Mayberry said. “We immediately reached out to other churches.”

Churches in the area began providing sandwiches. Congregations in South Texas, West Texas and Central Texas provided financial support and pledged prayers. Within a week, about 20 congregations were working in partnership with City Church.

Alto Frio Baptist Camp in Leakey, about an hour and a half drive from Del Rio, also began preparing sandwiches in its cafeteria for distribution to migrants at the border bridge.

This time, City Church and its partners have no illusions of feeding all those camped beneath the bridge. U.S. Border Patrol is using federal funds to purchase meals from local restaurants, but the sandwiches help fill gaps and provide emergency help when demand exceeds supply.

The local Del Rio processing center is capable of serving about 1,100 new arrivals a day working at maximum capacity, Mayberry said. Some sources expect another 20,000 to arrive at Del Rio within the next couple of weeks.

While that could mean several weeks of continued service—perhaps more than a month—Mayberry remains hopeful.

“We’re not alone. Others are serving alongside us,” Mayberry said. “It’s a real picture of the body of Christ working together.”

GONZALES, La.—Hours before the sun peeks over the horizon, the sound of footsteps on pavement echo through the air at Ascension Baptist Church.

It’s soon joined by the clunking of plastic containers and the clanking of large metallic skillets. By 5 a.m., the parking lot is filled with a symphony of activity.

In this hurricane-battered area of Southern Louisiana, it’s music to residents’ ears. It means Texas Baptist Men volunteers are cooking meals for them—nutrition that will give residents the strength they need to push forward.

“Every morning, TBM volunteers wake up at 4:30 to prepare lunch,” TBM Disaster Relief Director David Wells said. “Quickly after finishing that, they’re back at it cooking dinner. These are long, tiring days.

“That’s what it takes to serve 7,000 to 10,000 meals a day. But people need to eat and have no other way of getting food. That’s what drives us to serve as Christ did.”

TBM feeding volunteers from across the state have provided more than 70,000 meals since Hurricane Ida made landfall Aug. 30 with 150-mph winds that tore through much of Louisiana. They continued serving even as Hurricane Nicholas moved across the state with heavy rain.

TBM teams spread across the region

While the food-service volunteers are based in Gonzales, TBM’s work is spread across South Louisiana. More than two dozen TBM volunteer teams have been serving, including chainsaw teams, shower/laundry teams, an incident management team, chaplains and more.

“Needs are all across Louisiana,” Wells said. “Our chainsaw teams alone are spread across communities along a 30-mile stretch. Electricity is starting to come on, and cities are getting up and running again, but the recovery process will be long. We will continue working for weeks.”

Churches across Texas donated cleaning supplies and bottled water to TBM to help Louisiana churches meet immediate needs. TBM already has sent two tractor-trailer loads, as well as another trailer filled with supplies.

“Texas has wrapped its arms around Louisiana,” Wells said. “It is remarkable how often we hear about a need, and then I turn around and a church is donating items that meet that specific need. In the aftermath of the hurricane, God continues to work wonderfully.”

TBM volunteers are meeting more than physical needs. They’re encouraging people. They’re praying with them. God is comforting people after Hurricane Ida, Wells noted.

“God is transforming lives,” Wells said. “Four people have come to know Christ as Savior. Others have grown closer to him.

“Please continue to pray for Louisiana. Pray for those who are responding to needs. Your prayers are truly making a difference after this storm”

To support TBM disaster relief financially, visit tbmtx.org/donate or send a designated check to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron Drive, Dallas, TX 75227.

Food insecurity spiked during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting one in four Texas households, according to a recently released analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture data by Northwestern University.

However, the combined response of the federal government and private-sector charitable organizations—such as ministries supported by the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering—helped mitigate food insecurity later in 2020.

Overall, one in eight Texas households struggled to avoid hunger between 2018 and 2020, with an average 13 percent of Texas households experiencing food insecurity—a comparable percentage to several years before the pandemic.

“Food insecurity is about economic uncertainty, and these latest data reflect the roller-coaster of uncertainty launched by the pandemic. While many Texans experienced this uncertainty for the first time over the last 18 months, the reality is that millions of families faced hunger prior to the pandemic,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas.

“This uncertainty is likely to continue for some time, particularly given the resurgence of the virus. In the meantime, we need to sustain our efforts to keep our neighbors nourished and our communities resilient.”

Private charity, public investment ‘bridge the gap’

Cole emphasized Texas cannot “food bank” its way through the end of the crisis.

“But we have seen clearly that private charity partnered with public investment in nutrition programs, unemployment assistance and child tax credits can bridge the gap. COVID may be a tough battle to conquer, but hunger is easily treated,” she said.

The pandemic brought into focus the reality of how many Texas families are potentially vulnerable to food insecurity. But it also reinforced the importance of ministries supported by the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering that “deal with food insecurity in sustainable and holistic ways that minister to the body and soul,” said Katie Frugé, associate director of the Christian Life Commission.

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic reversed many of the “positive gains communities had made in the past few years combatting hunger,” Frugé said.

“Recovering will require us working together, combining the best of all available resources providing training, education and support. Hunger offering ministries provided emergency aid and training at the peak of food insecurity in 2020 and will continue to play a crucial role going forward,” she continued.

“Now more than ever, faithful and continuous support of the hunger offering is one of the most impactful ways to help support Texas Baptists as our hunger ministries work to serve the least of these.”

WACO—Chronic hunger has decreased globally in recent years, but armed conflict has increased the prevalence of acute hunger, the chief of the United Nations’ food-assistance and humanitarian agency said.

When he became executive director of the World Food Programme in 2017, “80 million people were marching toward starvation,” David Beasley told a crowd at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary on Sept. 10.

That number rose to 135 million at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

Beasley pointed to three causes of acute hunger: “Man-made conflict, and I emphasize the gender; global climate extremes; and fragile governance.”

Use food to wage peace

But just as food often is used as a weapon of warfare—and as a recruitment tool for terrorists—he insisted it can be used as a powerful tool “for defusing explosive situations.”

“We can end hunger by 2030, but it won’t happen unless we end man-made conflict,” Beasley told participants at the Forum on Global Hunger, sponsored by the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty.

“My goal is to put the WFP out of business” by making peace, eliminating hunger and promoting self-sufficiency, he asserted.

“Food brings peace. Hunger brings conflict and destabilization,” he said.

Last year, Beasley addressed the U.N. Security Council, warning members the world was teetering “on the brink of a hunger pandemic” at the same time it faced the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unless the international community intervened, he predicted the number of starving people could approach 270 million by the end of 2020. International leaders responded, and the most severe possible outcome was averted.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the WFP not only delivered food around the globe, but also served as the hub for transporting life-saving medical equipment at times when the supply lines and delivery systems were disrupted.

For its efforts to combat hunger, create conditions for peace in areas affected by conflict and “prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict,” the WFP received the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.

See each person as created in God’s image

Beasley, former governor of South Carolina, spoke to the issues of making peace and fighting hunger from his own Christian faith. He began his address at Baylor by quoting the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: “Whatever you have done to the least of these, you have done it to me.”

As a Christian, Beasley said, he has been able to appeal to other Christians, Muslims and even atheists to recognize the wisdom of the command in both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

In fact, he learned from a Jewish scholar assigned to the Vatican that an alternative translation from Leviticus is “love your neighbor as your equal.” Beasley said he interprets that command as being grounded in the reality that all people are equal because every individual is made in God’s image.

“Even the worst of the worst is created in the image of God,” he said.

So, in his work with WFP, Beasley seeks to appeal to the God-given desire to help people—at least their own people—that exists even among warlords and terrorists.

“We meet with bad guys in bad places,” negotiating for access to deliver food to people in critical situations, he said.

When asked in an interview after his public presentation how he makes peace with difficult people, Beasley suggested: “Be honest. Don’t play games. Speak from the heart. You’ve got to listen and take the time to let them share. That’s how you develop relationships that impact the hearts of leaders—sit down, break bread, and build trust.”

The U.S. Supreme Court halted the execution of a Texas inmate who had asked the state to allow his pastor to lay hands on him and pray for him at the moment of his death—a request the state denied.

The court granted the temporary stay of execution hours before John Ramirez, who was convicted and sentenced to die for the 2004 murder and robbery of a Corpus Christi convenience store clerk, was scheduled to die.

Significantly, the court called for oral arguments regarding the case in October or November.

Ramirez had asked prison officials to allow Dana Moore, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, to lay hands on him and pray for him when he is executed by lethal injection.

When the Texas Department of Criminal Justice denied Ramirez’ request, citing security concerns, Ramirez filled suit.

Lower courts sided with TDCJ, saying the state agency has a “compelling interest in maintaining an orderly, safe and effective process” when carrying out executions.

‘The power of touch’

Moore began his role as spiritual adviser to Ramirez four years ago, after two members of his church who knew the inmate and had been visiting him no longer were able to make the 300-mile trip from Corpus Christi to Livingstone.

After Ramirez made a profession of faith in Christ on Texas Death Row, Second Baptist Church allowed him to join the congregation by proxy, Moore said.

Ramirez wants Moore not only to pray, but also to lay hands on him at his most difficult imaginable moment, and Moore wants to be able to honor that request.

“We learn from Scripture the power of touch,” Moore said. “Jesus touched people, and they were healed. People touched Jesus and received healing. Jesus welcomed children and took them in his arms. … Touch is powerful.”

Several cases regarding spiritual advisers

The Ramirez case marks the fifth time in two years the Supreme Court has been presented with a question regarding a spiritual adviser being present in the execution chamber.

One case involved a Texas Death Row inmate Patrick Henry Murphy, who wanted a Buddhist spiritual adviser in the execution chamber. At the time, TDCJ allowed its employed chaplains in the death chamber, and it only had Christian and Muslim clergy on staff.

For a time, TDCJ responded by prohibiting any spiritual advisers or chaplains from being physically present in the execution chamber, a policy that drew criticism from across the religious spectrum.

That outcry led the TDCJ to change its policy and permit condemned inmates to be accompanied in the execution chamber by the spiritual adviser of their choice, subject to verification and a background check. However, the spiritual adviser is required to stand in the corner and not make physical contact with the condemned during the procedure.

First time court granted full review

While the Supreme Court has been presented with several cases in recent years involving the question of a spiritual adviser in the execution chamber, the Ramirez case marks the first time the court has granted full review, including briefing and oral argument, said Jennifer Hawks, associate general counsel for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.

“Cases about the religious exercise of prisoners boil down to the tension between protecting the ability of inmates to practice their religion and ensuring the safety and security of the prison,” Hawks said. “In agreeing to hear this case, the court takes on the weighty question of whether the safety protocols of an execution justify denial of a prisoner’s free exercise.”

Moore agreed the Supreme Court could render a “big decision” regarding religious liberty.

“It’s a time for prayer,” he said. “Scripture commands us to pray for those in authority, and that includes the Supreme Court—praying for wisdom.”

Northwood Church in Keller has trained 150 members to help resettle Afghan refugees when they arrive in North Texas.

“Every day, we’re told the first families could arrive today, or it might be a week from now,” said Bob Roberts, global senior pastor at Northwood Church, a Tarrant County congregation affiliated with Texas Baptists. “Right now, they are housed in U.S. military bases, just waiting to be resettled.”

The Northwood volunteers will help the new arrivals move into apartments, provide them with transportation and assist them in finding jobs. The church organized 10 ministry teams of volunteers to help refugees.

“Our people already have raised between $60,000 and $70,000” to assist the refugee families, Roberts said.

Responding to request from World Relief

A few weeks ago, Roberts received a call from World Relief saying a significant number of Afghan refugees will be resettled in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Northwood Church has a longstanding ministry among the Afghan people. Roberts began helping build schools and medical clinics in Afghanistan not long after the 9/11 attacks 20 years ago.

He and Scott Venable, lead pastor at Northwood Church, announced the need to help resettle refugees and urged members to attend a World Relief-sponsored informational meeting in Fort Worth.

At the meeting at Southcliff Baptist Church a few days later, Northwood members made up about half of those in attendance.

“We began training our people—not only about resettlement, but also Afghan culture. We want to make sure we go slow and be culturally sensitive,” Roberts said.

‘Serve people who are hurting’

He pointed to a three-fold motivation for Northwood’s involvement in refugee resettlement.

“First, it’s an opportunity to serve people who are hurting. Second, it’s an opportunity to present a positive witness of Jesus to people who are in need. And third, in a polarizing time, it’s an opportunity for us to come together to serve,” he said.

In addition to his ministry at Northwood Church, Roberts also is seeking to help Afghan refugees through his leadership role with the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network. The network seeks to “build resilient communities of mutual trust and respect among faith leaders through civic engagement, authentic relationships and honest dialogue.”

As part of a 9/11 Day of Service, the network coordinated a national campaign encouraging churches, mosques and synagogues to assemble personal hygiene kits for Afghan refugees.

Evangelical Christian churches, mosques and synagogues in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, Detroit, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., committed to join the initiative.