One searcher after the flood in Kerr County came across personal items with the names of four children on them. Those items are being returned to those families with a special touch from Texans on Mission volunteers.

Lacy Daves, a volunteer from Kingsland Baptist Church in Katy, deployed to Kerrville as part of the Texans on Mission response to the devastating July 4 flood which has claimed at least 135 lives.

“My neighbor (in Houston) had a connection here in Kerrville who was out doing search and rescue,” Daves said. “He found some of the belongings of campers who did not make it. He picked up some of their personal items and sent a picture of the names.”

Daves made more connections as she deployed with a flood recovery team the week of July 15. She was determined to “bring these things home if the families would like to have any of the belongings back,” she said.

“Some of the ladies here knew what I was going to be doing and wanted to make it even more special,” Daves said.

Jeannie Stover, a volunteer from Taylor’s Valley Baptist Church in Temple, had made blankets for survivors of the flood, and the group had been praying God would use the blankets to help comfort someone. Then they heard about the effort of returning the children’s items.

Blankets, Bibles and recovered keepsakes

The recovered items, a blanket and a Bible signed by Texans on Mission volunteers were packaged into baskets for delivery to the children’s parents.

Daves and Stover were joined in the effort by Fred Stover (Jeannie’s husband) and Gayle Romans of First Baptist Church in Farmersville. The Stovers were part of a shower/laundry unit, and Romans deployed as on-site coordinator of the Texans on Mission incident management team in Kerrville.

With the help of other volunteers, the four put together the baskets and prayed over the contents, which will be sent to the children’s parents.

“Our prayer would be that God would give them comfort and assurance and they would feel the love and the covering of Jesus as we do this for them,” Jeannie Stover said. “It comes from the bottom of our hearts.”

Fred Stover felt a deep connection to the grieving parents.

“I lost a son a little over a year ago. So, my heart feels the grief that these parents are feeling,” he said. “And when this was brought up, the girls said to me, ‘We need to get some Bibles and get them signed.’ So, I went and got the Bibles.”

He then involved the staff of Kerrville’s Trinity Baptist Church in the effort.

“I’ve gone through the entire church, the pastoral staff has prayed over these Bibles and these blankets, and we have gotten signatures from everyone,” Stover said.

Romans summed up the team’s desire for the message of the baskets by pointing to Scripture. “In Romans 15:13, it says, ‘May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace that you trust in him so that you may overflow with the hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’”

In the tiny village of Ninilchik, Alaska—where the road ends and Cook Inlet begins—Wayland Baptist University students, Donnie Brown and Marcos Hinojos Jr., brought more than sports skills and service projects this summer. They brought joy, encouragement and the hope of the gospel. Led by Brown, director of spiritual life, and Hinojos, offensive line coach for Pioneers football, the team partnered with Alaska Missions to host a weeklong sports camp for local children in one of the state’s most remote communities. The camp combined afternoon sessions of football and basketball drills with spiritual moments. Eight children responded by placing their faith in Christ. Alaska Missions is following up with those students, connecting them with local churches to foster discipleship and growth. Wayland students experienced their own spiritual transformation through the week. Wayland has a long-standing partnership with Alaska Missions, led by Brenda Crim.

Hardin-Simmons University has earned multiple honors from Colleges of Distinction, a national resource for guidance counselors, parents, students, and hundreds of colleges and universities across the United States. For the 11th consecutive year, HSU has been named a College of Distinction—an honor that highlights universities demonstrating excellence in undergraduate education through engaged students, excellent teaching, vibrant campus life and strong student outcomes. HSU is one of only five universities in Texas recognized this year as an Affordable College of Distinction, reflecting the university’s deep commitment to making Christ-centered education both accessible and attainable.

Stark College and Seminary hosted historian and author Beth Allison Barr of Baylor University on The Stark Difference Podcast to speak on calling, ministry and her newest book, Becoming the Pastor’s Wife.

Texans on Mission continues to respond to disaster response needs in the Hill Country after devastating flooding on July 4. The organization has established a webpage specific to this relief. Visit the page to make donations, volunteer to help with relief efforts or request assistance.

When volunteer Matt Enriquez called his 89-year-old grandfather, Ramiro Peña, to tell him he was deploying to Kerrville with the Texans on Mission flood response there, he ended the call with a surprise proposition: “Why don’t you deploy with me?”

Even more surprising? Peña, a retired surgeon from Temple, said yes.

“Matt said, ‘Come on. We’ll find something for you to do,’ and so here I am,” Peña said.

After losing his wife of 67 years a year and a half ago, Pena said, “Matt, his mother and another daughter have been trying to rescue me.

“They’ve dragged me back into enjoying living again. Originally, I was pretty depressed. My wife and I were very, very close.”

Enriquez, a member of the chainsaw team of Kingsland Baptist Church in Katy, is active with several other Texans on Mission teams around the state.

“With a young family, sometimes scheduling doesn’t work, so a lot of bluecaps have been very gracious to let me jump in and even more gracious to let me and my grandfather join today,” Enriquez said.

Despite some back pain, Peña, like his grandson, jumped in to help remove debris from a flooded home near Hunt.

He said he was “surprised with the dedication and the selflessness of the men and women that come into this type of work, and I’m moved emotionally.”

As for Enriquez, he said he is there “just to help and to try and show others Christ through me. There’s very little I can do on my own, but God works through me.

“My grandfather joining me was icing on the cake for me. It’s probably one of the most memorable times we’ve had together.”

HUNT—John Vlasek stands in the middle of his home, stripped bare of furnishings, walls, ceilings and flooring. Even his rock fireplace is gone.

Giving testimony to the height and depth of the floodwaters that destroyed the house July 4, the waterline can still be seen right below the ceiling.

Surrounding him, Texans on Mission volunteers continue scraping floors and removing nails from studs. They’ve already torn out everything else and are preparing to spray a black mold preventative.

Their work is a critical step that will prepare the Vlasek family for the next phase of their disaster recovery, rebuilding.

As Vlasek stands in the room, a Texans on Mission volunteer comes over and offers a hug in a show of support and love.

“This, … all of these volunteers, it means everything to us,” Vlasek said. “I can’t believe they’re here and helping us. I don’t know what …”

Overcome with emotion, he doesn’t finish the sentence. His reaction is common among families here who survived the tragic flood that roared through the area July 4, leaving 120 people dead and more than 100 still missing.

One of Vlasek’s neighbors noted in passing, “We’re all experiencing some form of PTSD. Every time a helicopter passes by or a door slams, I jump.”

Vlasek, his wife and a son were awakened by the flood as water began entering their home. It was a shock for the area native, who says he’s “never seen the water rise this high.”

The family raced up a hill in their neighborhood to escape the waters.

Working one home over from Vlasek’s, Benny Williams serves as the “blue cap” leader for Texans on Mission’s Marble Falls Disaster Relief, swollen to 30 people from several cities.

His team is providing the mud out work for the Vlasek family and two of their neighbors.

“We have a large team, and so we split them up, and all of these houses are pretty much complete, total removal on the inside,” Williams said. “The house structure is fine, and it didn’t float off the slab or anything like that, so the houses can be rebuilt.”

In another Hunt neighborhood, Sid Riley and Nathan Buchanan canvassed a small subdivision prior to sending in day volunteers to provide mud out work in the 10 homes there. Riley is Texans in Missions day volunteers coordinator and Buchanan is overall volunteer coordinator for the organization.

HOA president David Bolduc said all of the homes in the neighborhood would need mud remediation except for one—his. It was completely swept off its foundation.

Riley said day volunteers provide “synergy” to large deployments.

“They bring a willingness to serve and learn. They are a force multiplier of our trained volunteers that in some cases quadruples our work we can perform in a given time.”

He noted, “Our day volunteers often see their work as an opportunity to demonstrate to others what we have been called to do and often generates a desire to join organizations like ours.”

The work is hot, humid and muddy. The homes in the neighborhood smell like river water, and the mud is still wet. Dark brown waterlines extend past head height in most.

The deployment differs from many others. The incredible loss of life has affected most of the survivors, and there’s an air of grief among many.

And with more than 100 people still listed as missing, it is one of the few times Texans on Mission teams have had to work in an active search and recovery zone.

One team member noted that an assessor team had to wait for law enforcement to clear a home they were assessing. The authorities located and removed a body in the mud before assessors were allowed in to do their work.

Chaplains speak hope to survivors, responders

In an environment like this, Texans on Mission chaplains have never more needed. Chaplain Paul James worked with one survivor who “was very distraught because they had lost everything in the house, and everything was flooded.

“As soon as I started talking to him, … he just started weeping,” James said.

The man was “a burly guy and his two sons and his daughter-in-law were there helping him. … He was getting the support from his family that he needed, but it was an overwhelming task.

“We prayed with him and at the end of the day he was much better,” James said. “But this isn’t about us chaplains. It’s also the way that everybody here loves. It really makes my job easy as a chaplain because (survivors) look at everybody and know they really care about them, and they’re wanting to lift the burden and give them some hope.

“And so by the end of the day today, that particular family was really experiencing hope,” James said. “They were joyful and (we) got to pray with them.”

Texans on Mission’s Stacie Meeks said chaplain teams also ministered to first responders, many of whom were already physically and emotionally exhausted.

“I asked one of them, ‘How’re you doing today?’ He said he was fine, but I asked again: ‘No, seriously. How’re you doing today?’

“We talked, and I delved a little further,” she recalled. “And then he had a story to tell. He talked about how he felt insignificant.”

After Meeks inquired why, he responded that “he was wasting his time,” and his efforts “didn’t matter.”

“He said, ‘Yesterday we had a chance to really make a difference on the river. And today, not so much.’

“And I told him, ‘Your time matters. You made a difference. You’re here for a purpose. What you do matters for these people in this community.’”

Meeks said the team “encountered many, many people experiencing the same emotions. They hurt, and these people are exhausted. Now it’s day six. They’re exhausted, hot, tired.

“That’s when they need us speaking about the hope of Christ the most,” she said.

Buckner International hosted a reunion July 12 honoring Vietnamese orphans who fled Vietnam 50 years ago, arriving in Dallas after a two-month journey on June 12, 1975.

Recently, seven of the orphans from Cam Ranh with their families returned to Vietnam marking the 50th anniversary of their journey.

Representatives from Buckner International joined them on the trip to Saigon and Cam Ranh, which for some was their first time back in Vietnam.

The trip to Vietnam included a return visit to the site where Cam Ranh Christian City Orphanage once stood. While there, they distributed shoes to children in need.

During the reunion ceremony, Albert Reyes, CEO of Buckner, noted the words of James, Jesus’ half-brother, inspired founder R.C. Buckner to begin the organization.

James 1:27 says “religion that God our father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widowsin their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Reyes told reunion attendees that was the driving passage that he saw and from the very beginning those two groups are the “focus of our work—care for children and senior adults.”

“Your experience and your story is woven into the larger Buckner picture that now stretches all around the world,” Reyes said.

The Buckner reunion event gave the orphans a chance to reflect on five decades of impact and changes—in their home country and in themselves.

To conclude the reunion, Buckner dedicated a bench as a memorial to honor Pastor Nguyen Xuan Ha and Pastor Jim Gayle for their efforts in caring for the orphans at Cam Ranh Christian Orphanage.

The orphans’ journey, 50 years ago

During the final days of the Vietnam War, 69 Vietnamese orphans traveled across South Vietnam. The children spent two days on a broken boat on open seas until they made it to the United States and eventually were transferred to Buckner Children’s Home in Dallas on June 12, 1975. Their arrival in Dallas garnered national attention as the largest single group of refugees from Vietnam.

North Vietnamese military forces were sweeping through south Vietnam in the spring of 1975. The city of Cam Ranh began to collapse, leaving the Cam Ranh Christian City Orphanage with the difficult choice of fleeing.

Thirteen caregivers and their children fled with orphans, accompanying them as they boarded busses bound for safety.

When Saigon fell, the group made their way to the South China Sea on a leaky boat that failed two days into the voyage.

They were rescued and towed into Singapore where they waited five days without food or water before Southern Baptist missionaries intervened.

The group flew to the United States and made it to Buckner Children’s Home where about half of the children eventually were adopted.

Those who were not adopted remained on the fourth floor in the children’s home dormitory, where they were given English lessons to prepare them to enroll in Dallas Independent School District.

The group has remained close through the years.

Sam’s salvation story

Sam Schrade (Sang Nguyen) a toddler at the time, was one of the orphans. Years have passed since the day he arrived at Buckner Children’s Home.

He now runs a media company covering sports for ESPN and Fox Sports in Houston where he resides with his wife and children.

“I was able to go back for the first time in 50 years two weeks ago. My dad was an American soldier. My mom was Vietnamese … I wasn’t very wanted. They did not need me. And I was amazingly scooped up by the Cam Ranh Christian Orphanage,” Schrade said.

Schrade reflected on the trip he made back to the place he once called home. He considered how far God brought him and the rest of the orphans.

“It is hard to know how far we’ve come in life when we don’t know where we started. And for this trip, for me, it meant seeing where we started. Now I know how far we’ve come,” Schrade added.

“We were transferred here. I was three years old. The fact that Buckner facilitated Christian homes changed my life. My mom led me to Christ in fourth grade. I became a Christian and all of us in the group have a lot of gratitude,” Schrade concluded.

Buckner International Communications contributed to this story.

KERRVILLE—The Wheat brothers are well-known as ministers in this part of the Texas Hill Country. Robert serves as director of missions for Hill Country Baptist Association, while his brother John is pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville.

When a deadly July 4 flash flood tore through the area, killing more than 100 people and displacing hundreds more, they found themselves at the center of ministering to others.

They ministered while experiencing their own grief and the loss of neighbors, friends and fellow church members.

Currently, about 160 people remain missing, and search and recovery efforts by authorities still are active.

After experiencing the devastation firsthand, Robert Wheat, a volunteer with Texans on Mission, contacted the group and called for a response from its disaster relief volunteers.

 “These are the best, most willing servants that get up and go and do whatever it takes,” he said. “Whether it’s handing out (moving) boxes, cleaning mud and debris, chainsawing or even helping do laundry for the teams that keep going out.”

He also pointed out the immediate response of Texans on Mission chaplains as a “point of connection that reaches out to these folks for the first time. Many of them are desperate.”

Robert Wheat has ministered alongside Texans on Mission chaplains before, and he said each encounter has been a blessing.

“The blessing is once you meet somebody, once you meet a homeowner or their family, the first thing they do is, we gather with them, we introduce ourselves, we circle up and we pray. And after we pray, we get busy,” he said.

“And typically the chaplain will be the responsible person with the homeowner, keeping contact with them, making contact with neighbors and just building that rapport.

“Whether we’re going to be there a few hours or whether we’re going to be there several days, that chaplain is important. We do this because there’s an eternal message for us behind what we do, and we want you to understand it.”

‘Great loss of life’

John Wheat, who also has been involved with Texans on Mission, said the community is reeling from the tragedy.

“We’ve had great loss of life, great loss of property,” he said.

Following the flood, the church served as an information and host center for families missing loved ones at a local school.

“There were a lot of people missing. So, the families went there to try to relocate their children,” he explained.

“We were there to pray with families, but pretty soon, it was apparent that there was another need, because some of the parents there would be united with their children, and there’s another group of parents that wouldn’t.”

Responding to a request from the Kerr County Sheriff’s Department, Trinity opened its doors to offer a place for parents waiting on word about their children in a safe place.

“They were with us on Friday most of the evening, and our church got a chance to love on them a little bit,” John Wheat said. “This is a place that felt more home for them. They began to sit together and … share each other’s story.

“These families had sent their children to camp maybe for years, but they didn’t necessarily know each other. But they bonded through this time.”

Many of the families stayed at the church through Sunday—many receiving the news their loved ones’ remains had been located.

Continuing to pray and offer hope

The church continues to pray with them and offer words of eternal hope. The pastor reflected on the disaster’s short and long-term impact on his community.

“We have lost loved ones in our community—pillars of great standing in our community, a lot of children in our community,” John Wheat said.

“I don’t know the exact numbers, but the majority of people who were affected with this flood probably were not from our community. They were the campers who were here for the July 4th weekend. They were children who had gone to camp, and parents were going to pick them up on Friday and take them home on their way down here.”

Since hosting the families, Trinity has “transitioned to Texans on Mission being here and looking at the next phase of relief effort,” the pastor said.

“Teams will be coming in for mud-outs and clean-outs and whatever they can, and providing chaplain services as well,” he explained.

“We’re so fortunate and glad to have them here and know that this is a place of ministry and hope.”

KERRVILLE—Seven Texans on Mission chaplains are ministering to people dealing with the aftermath of the deadly Hill Country flash flood on July 4, and assessors are gathering specific information from homeowners who need help.

Kai Kowalski, a Texans on Mission chaplain, said the team is ministering to survivors who experienced life-changing trauma and “miraculous” events during and after the disaster that killed more than 100 people and displaced hundreds more

“When we went out today, we met with survivors and heard the miraculous things that the Lord has done to save people,” Kowalski said July 8.

One man told the chaplain of being “washed out of the house, and he had his wife wrapped around him, like sitting on his lap, legs, body facing towards him.”

“He’s holding onto her with his right hand, and they’re in water above their head,” Kowalski said. “He’s about to be sucked downstream, and a lightning bolt went off. The only thing he saw was that tree branch right there, so he grabbed that tree branch. He pulled himself to the tree, and they climbed six feet up into the tree to save themselves until the water went down.”

On the other side of the Guadalupe River, the chaplains went with Texans on Mission assessors and talked to another couple.

“The gentleman tells me that (the floodwaters were) coming down … and then all of a sudden he heard ‘help me’ three times,” Kowalski recalled.

When the man turned around, he saw two little girls, 15 feet out in the water.

“He swam out there to grab those two little girls and save their lives and pull them back. That’s a God moment,” Kowalski said.

“I see and hear of miracle after miracle after miracle. But then I hit the deep end of where two people, two families, are just looking for closure for what they’ve already lost. To me,  … that is a chaplain moment.”

A “chaplain moment,” he explained, is “spreading the gospel to the people, being the voice of Christ and getting out there” among hurting people to share the love of Jesus, and letting them know there are people who care for them.

Chaplains “are not here for a hurrah,” he added. “It’s just seven of us … out there spreading the love of Christ, looking and seeing who and where, we can help, house to house, walk by walk.”

That dedication to sharing their faith “is what Texans on Mission is all about,” he added.

“It’s not about fixing things. Fixing things can be done by the 1,000 other people who are here,” he said. “It’s about the voice of Christ and the hands of Christ being given out to the people who need hope.”

More than 60 Texas Baptist pastors and church leaders endorsed an open letter of support for Baylor University’s decision to return a grant for the study of the “disenfranchisement and exclusion of LGBTQIA + individuals and women” in churches, while the grant-issuing foundation issued a statement expressing disappointment.

On June 30, Baylor’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work announced a nearly $644,000 grant from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation awarded to the school’s Center for Church and Community Impact. The stated intent of the “Courage from the Margins” grant was to fund a study “to help foster inclusion and belonging in the church.”

However, on July 9, Baylor President Linda Livingstone issued a statement saying: “Dean Jon Singletary and principal investigator Dr. Gaynor Yancey have voluntarily offered to rescind their acceptance of this grant on behalf of the School of Social Work and return all associated funds to the Baugh Foundation.”

She noted the situation surrounding the grant had “caused concern and confusion for many within the Baylor Family and among our broader community of churches, partner organizations, and supporters.”

Demonstrating ‘moral courage’

In response to Livingstone’s announcement, a group of Texas Baptist ministers and church leaders issued an open letter commending “Baylor’s commitment to hold together theological conviction and compassionate presence.”

“We recognize the thoughtful, prayerful discernment reflected in your actions,” the letter stated.

The group applauded Livingstone for speaking “with clarity and conviction, rooted in love and guided by wisdom.”

“In a polarized culture, Baylor’s decision demonstrates moral courage, affirming biblical orthodoxy while cultivating a campus environment where every student is treated with dignity, care and grace,” the letter stated.

“We affirm the sexual ethic outlined in Ephesians 5, which presents marriage as a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, patterned after Christ’s love for the Church. We affirm the call to love all people with Christlike kindness.”

The church leaders stated they “stand with Baylor University and Truett Seminary in their continued mission to serve Christ faithfully through the academic and spiritual formation of future leaders—living out their calling Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana, Pro Mundo with conviction and grace.”

The church leaders pledged “ongoing prayers” for Livingstone and “for the entire Baylor community.”

‘Pulling the rug out’ from under faculty

Meanwhile, the Baugh Foundation board of trustees posted a statement saying it was “deeply saddened” by Baylor’s decision to cancel the “Courage from the Margins” grant.

“This was an opportunity to answer the Christian call to care for the marginalized by creating resources and providing important research for faith communities. … Not all Baptist believers or churches are aligned on every interpretation of scripture concerning women or LGBTQIA+ individuals, but churches need evidence-based research,” the board stated.

“We believe that all humans are created in God’s image and deserve a loving spiritual home. The purpose of this research was not to dictate theology, but to better understand the disenfranchisement that LGBTQIA+ individuals and women often face in the church.”

“This decision disserves Baylor students, faculty, and the broader Christian community,” the board statement continued.

“Pulling the rug out from under its faculty after those researchers have already put the grueling work into securing funding, work they undertook with Baylor’s full knowledge and approval, is a chilling affront to the very concept of academic freedom.”

The board said the foundation will “continue to support partners who have the courage to listen to voices from the margins and who are dedicated to a more just and welcoming world.”

Widespread show of support

Texas Baptist church leaders who signed the letter of support for Baylor were: Jay Abernathy from First Baptist Church, Woodville; Stan Allcorn from First Baptist Church in Stamford, Adrián Amézquita from Red Pastoral, Houston; Howie Batson from First Baptist Church, Amarillo; Jeff Berger from First Baptist Church, Conroe; Chad Bertrand from South Park Baptist Church, Alvin; Steve Bezner, formerly of Houston Northwest Church and now at Truett Seminary;

Duane Brooks from Tallowood Baptist Church, Houston; Trevor Brown from First Baptist Church, Amarillo; Collin Bullard from First Baptist Church, Longview; Sam Bunnell from First Baptist Church, Henrietta; Chad Chaddick from First Baptist Church, San Marcos; Ross Chandler from First Baptist Church, Marble Falls; Stacy Conner from First Baptist Church, Muleshoe;

Bobby Contreras from Alamo Heights Baptist Church, San Antonio; Al Curley III from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington; Craig Curry from First Baptist Church, Plano; Russell Cravens from Neartown Church, Houston; Daniel Crowther from South Main Baptist Church, Pasadena; Kenny Dean from The Bridge Fellowship, Sugar Land;

John Durham from Highland Baptist Church, Waco; Hugo Gallegos from First Baptist Church Duncanville en Español; Brent Gentzel from First Baptist Church, Kaufman; Jeff Gravens from First Baptist Church, Sulphur Springs; Mark Hartman from Sugar Creek Baptist Church, Sugar Land;

Brian Haynes from Bay Area Church, League City; Jim Heiligman from First Baptist Church, Bryan; Kyle Henderson, formerly pastor of First Baptist Church in Athens and now with the Baptist World Alliance; Brian Hill from First Baptist Church, Corpus Christi; Kay James from First Baptist Church, Kaufman;

Chris Johnson from First Baptist Church, San Antonio; Pablo Juarez from First Baptist Church Kaufman en Español; Paul Kim from Forest Community Church, Plano; Josh King from Valley Ridge Church, Lewisville; Juan Lambarria from First Baptist Church, The Woodlands en Español;

Ronny Marriott from First Baptist Church, Richardson, current president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas; Gregg Matte from First Baptist Church, Houston; Jordan McKinney from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Cedar Hill; Dwight McKissic from Cornerstone Baptist Church, Arlington;

Chris McLain from First Baptist Church, Bandera; Juan Moreno from First Baptist Church, Athens; Roger Patterson from West University Baptist Church, Houston; Matt Richard from First Baptist Church, Llano; Moses Rodriguez from First Baptist Church, Cotula; Mark Rotramel from First Baptist Church, El Paso;

Will Rushing from University Baptist Church, Houston; Lawrence Scott from Harvest Point Church, Pearland; Kris Segrest from Cross Church, Wylie; Joshua Sharp from First Baptist Church, Chappell Hill; Ross Shelton from First Baptist Church, Brenham; Nichole Sims from First Baptist Church, Marble Falls; Meredith Summers from Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, Abilene;

Jeff Warren from Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas; Bruce Webb from First Baptist Church, The Woodlands; Jeff Wells from Woods Edge Community Church, The Woodlands; Bruce Wesley from Clear Creek Community Church, League City; Hunter Wheatcraft from First Baptist Church, Athens; John Whitten from Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, Abilene; Dennis Wiles from First Baptist Church, Arlington; and Darin Wood from First Baptist Church, Midland.

Joining the Texas Baptists who signed the letter were Stephen Allen from Tabernacle Baptist Church in Carrollton, Ga.; Will Dyer from First Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga.; and Jeff Raines from First Baptist Church in Shreveport, La.

About 60 students and sponsors from churches across Texas showed up in Nederland to volunteer with Bounce, a student disaster recovery ministry.

Middle and high school youth gathered at First Baptist Church in Nederland where they were housed, fellowshipped and participated in nightly worship services.

“They have been so gracious to open their facility for us. They have played a significant role in the recovery efforts. We appreciate their partnership,” David Scott, director of Bounce, said.

The teens spent multiple days divided into multiple job sites to make repairs on homes that suffered damage from previous storms. Students and leaders teamed up with 4B Disaster Response, South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena and Texans on Mission.

“People are still living in Harvey-affected homes,” Scott said. “It’s been almost seven years. We are delighted that there are so many highly motivated students who are giving a portion of their summer vacation to serve these people who have such great needs.”

High school student Uriel Moctezuma participated for the first time in Bounce with his team of seven youth and three leaders from The Crossing Baptist Church in Mesquite.

“I’ve been on a mission trip before, but I never worked in a big group of seven people. I’m really excited. I have experience with repairing houses damaged from natural disasters. I really want to help where I can,” Moctezuma said.

Siblings sent to serve

Lydia, high school student and member of The Woods Baptist Church in Tyler came to Bounce with three students and four leaders. Two out of her group are siblings, high schoolers Joseph and Mary.

The siblings worked together to shift furniture around a home to make room for replacing and installing new wood flooring.

“We felt led to go on a mission trip this summer because we were trying to figure out summer activities. We wanted to do something local, but outside of our city, something out of our comfort zone. We want to help people,” Lydia said.

Joseph came to Bounce with years of experience ranging from remodeling bathrooms to building storage nooks like bookshelves.

“It is always a great opportunity for everyone to learn about the Lord and to be able to do what God told us in the Great Commission,” Joseph said.

The background on Bounce

Bounce—a ministry of Texas Baptists—was created to engage middle, high school and college students in mission work from church planting to disaster recovery.

Chris Liebrum, former director of disaster recovery, consulted with Scott to launch the ministry in 2013. In 2014, they gathered their first crew of students to start ministering to people in West.

“We were in West in June of that year doing recovery from the fertilizer plant explosion. We spent two weeks there,” Scott said.

Scott added Bounce was the first ministry integrating student ministry and volunteer service together for community service ever to do disaster recovery.

Ron Zimmer, construction coordinator for Bounce, makes sure the projects are prepared for the volunteers to learn onsite and start projects.

“My responsibility is to get everything ready for the kids, so when they get here it is a meaningful experience for them. Most of my job is done months and weeks ahead of a project. I work with the agencies like Jefferson County Long Term Recovery. We’ve done a lot of projects with them. They embrace us,” Zimmer said.

With supervision and training, the students are prepared to spend each day installing bathroom vanities, replacing baseboards, repairing roofs and installing floors. The goal is to help each student understand the importance of sharing the gospel and serving communities.

“We’re here to minister. God needs us here to minister to people, and that’s our first and foremost goal. We do that through loving on the neighbors, the residents, and do some work too,” Zimmer continued.

Bounce plans for Hill Country flood disaster recovery

Scott and his team are reaching out to churches and ministries within the Hill Country in preparation for disaster recovery from the tragic floods that overwhelmed the community along the Guadalupe River.

While there are preliminary conversations between Kerr County officials and local ministries, the decision at this time is to wait until emergency response is completed.

“They are not ready for us at this point in time. They’re still in that first phase of disaster work. We’ve reached out to a couple of people in the area and a couple of the churches to see what their role is going to be and how we might partner with them to mobilize students,” Scott said.

BRYAN (BP)—Desiring to reach kids with the gospel no matter their language or background, First Baptist Church in Bryan hosted two Vacation Bible Schools this year—a daytime VBS in English and a concurrent option for Spanish-speakers in the evenings.

In their second year partnering for the event, kids pastor Jay Miller and Spanish pastor Teo Cisneros continue to see an opportunity to reach families by taking a multi-cultural approach to VBS.

“Between the two events, we had over 1,100 people a part of VBS this year including kids and volunteers,” Miller said.

More than 75 kids made decisions for Christ during the week, and the church has plans to offer additional events this summer to continue connection with the families who attended.

“My favorite part of VBS is two-fold,” said Laura Bauer, who has been volunteering to teach in the children’s classes since 2020.

“On the leader end, it is a sweet picture to see the sacrifices adults are making to have an eternal impact on the next generation. It is the greatest gift to have the opportunity to love on kids and show them what it is like to be loved and known by Jesus,” Bauer said.

Julie Hamilton has been participating in First Baptist Bryan’s VBS for 26 years and has seen a lot of changes along the way. She said one of her greatest joys is knowing that that the church is focusing on kingdom-building work through breaking down language barriers.

“It is a great outreach opportunity,” Hamilton said. “Over the years, my children and I have invited so many kids to VBS who may not go to church. It is a wonderful opportunity to invite unchurched kids. I love to see how God uses and brings together so many people to put together an amazing week.”

The church wrapped up its VBS celebration with a swimming party at a community pool that brought more than 500 people.

“Our VBS week is really focused on being one event with everyone working together for a common goal,” Miller said.

“I’m so thankful to have a Spanish pastor who creates a bridge into the church for English and Spanish speakers, and this is not a one-off event, but a representation of the ministries already in place,” Miller continued.

Cisneros has been leading the Spanish congregation at First Baptist Bryan since 2019.

For churches considering putting together multi-cultural outreaches like this one, Miller offers insight and encouragement. Each year, they review and listen to feedback while coming up with new ideas. The pool party wrap-up was one such idea for this year.

“VBS is a launching point for growth,” Miller said. “Identify people in your church who are passionate about reaching people and who have an evangelistic heart and are passionate about kids having a multi-cultural experience. We really want to be careful not to have kids from other backgrounds trying to conform to our style or traditional way of doing things.

“Kids will be inviting their neighbors and friends from sports and dance teams, and we wanted to clearly communicate the gospel, so we really wanted to utilize gifted leaders who understand different cultures. We want families to feel welcome and feel like they are part of a family, whether they are English-speaking or Spanish-speaking.

“This isn’t a singular movement. This is a kingdom movement, and our desire is to benefit other churches as well, to build the kingdom and glorify God as we reach these kids with the gospel.”

Miller said First Baptist Bryan’s VBS offers a glimpse of what heaven will be like.

“Even a couple of years ago, statistics showed that in 10-15 years that we wouldn’t have a majority ethnicity in our state, because Texas is a beautiful melting pot,” he said. “The church should look more like heaven with all the nations represented, and that is certainly being reflected in our community.”

David Dykes, longtime pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, died July 3 after a brief time under hospice care. He was 72.

Dykes began his tenure as pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler in 1991, where he served until his retirement in 2021, becoming pastor emeritus.

The church announced his passing on Facebook: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. David Orlo Dykes. Pastor David finished his race surrounded by his family at his home in Tyler, Texas on July 2, 2025. …

“Pastor David was deeply loved by his church family and East Texas community. His passion and dedication to teaching God’s word has impacted countless lives over the years in East Texas and around the world.”

Under Dykes’ leadership, Green Acres Baptist Church gave substantially to Baptist causes at state and national levels.

Dykes received on behalf of the congregation the M.E. Dodd Award, the Southern Baptist Convention’s highest cooperation award, at the 2008 SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis.

In the year preceding the award, Green Acres’ giving to the SBC Cooperative Program eclipsed the next highest giving congregation by almost one half-million dollars.

In his acceptance speech, paraphrasing New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig, Dykes noted: “I consider myself to be the most blessed person alive. I’m pastor of the most missions-minded church I’ve ever heard about. They’ve taught me more about missions than I could ever teach them. …

“If I told them we were going to attack hell tomorrow morning with water pistols, they’d ask, ‘Pastor, where do we fill up?’”

Equally committed to Texas Baptists’ Cooperative Program, the congregation also was honored in 2019 as the top giving church of its size at the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, a distinction the church has held multiple years.

Texas Baptist responses

Texas Baptists quickly began to respond on social media to the news of Dykes’ passing.

East Texas Baptist University President Blair Blackburn—where Dykes served in numerous capacities—reflected: “Dr. Dykes has been teaching me God’s truths since I was in college. He has modeled for me what it means to give your life in service to Jesus and to shepherd the flock.

“He has fed his sheep, and I am one of them. I am grateful to have been a part of his ministry at Green Acres—what a blessing to grow in my walk under his guidance since my college days at UT Tyler,” Blackburn continued.

“He has been a loving and caring pastor to Michelle and me, our kids, my parents, and the ETBU Family. He has shaped our lives and our discipleship. … I watched him show us what ‘become less’ means as he led others to see ‘Jesus become greater.’”

ETBU noted Dykes “is the namesake of ETBU’s Servant Leadership Award and has served as a dedicated trustee, chapel speaker, adjunct faculty member, and faithful friend to our campus community.”

David Ritsema, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Waxahachie, expressed deep loss in a Facebook post and by email: “I’ve been dreading this news. David’s impact on my life is immeasurable—my first pastor, my mentor, my dear friend.

“He was not only the first pastor I ever had, but the one who shaped the course of my calling, my convictions, and my character.”

“He was part of every major decision of my adult life; he was one of my biggest cheerleaders and encouragers,” Ritsema said, “believing in me, even when I struggled to believe in myself.”

“His calls, notes, emails, and prayers always came at just the right moment and always felt like they came straight from heaven,” he said, noting, “I know I wasn’t the only one. David made everyone he loved feel uniquely seen, deeply valued, and eternally anchored in Christ.”

“To me—he was the prince of preachers, and a man who walked the walk with the highest humility,” but “his sermons went beyond what was spoken. His life was a living sermon, and he lived it with quiet courage and unwavering faithfulness.”

Ritsema asserted, “The legacy he leaves behind is not etched in stone but in souls—in mine, and in countless others who met Jesus more clearly because of him.”

Yet, Ritsema recalled a sermon in which Dykes said he wanted Philippians 1:21 etched on his gravestone: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

“How fitting,” Ritsema said.

Darin Wood, pastor of First Baptist Church in Midland, paused a social media break to note: “We have lost a legend and for me, this loss is profound. Dr David Dykes was used by God to change many lives including mine. In 2008, I was at a low point in ministry, to the point I was seriously considering leaving pastoral life altogether. Into that moment David called me.

“To this day I don’t know why or how he even knew I existed,” Wood continued. “He invited me to lunch and thus began a conversation that has endured. His encouragement and confidence in me gave enough strength to try again and to keep going.”

Dykes submitted Wood’s resume to First Baptist Midland on his behalf, Wood noted.

“I laughed at him and told him he was crazy,” Wood said. “He saw something in me I didn’t. Literally, I wouldn’t be where I am without David … Thanks David. If I am half the man you were, I’ll count myself fortunate and highly blessed.”

Andrew Hébert, lead pastor of Mobberly Baptist Church in Mobberly, wrote on behalf of the church: “David Dykes’ influence for the gospel in East Texas and around the world cannot be quantified in this life.

“He was a pastor’s pastor. He and his wife Cindy have made an eternal impact through their ministry at Green Acres Baptist Church. His time at Mobberly Baptist Church as interim pastor before the Lord called our family here provided stability and wisdom to the Mobberly church family.”

Background and memorial information

Dykes was raised in Alabama, where he earned a degree from Samford University. He attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and also studied at the University of Cambridge in England and ETBU.

Dykes authored more than 20 books, baptized thousands and led many mission teams to serve internationally in more than 30 countries, notably including trips to both the Crimea in the early 1990s and China in the 2000s.

Dykes often described himself as a missionary disguised as a pastor.

Before being called to Tyler, he was pastor of churches in Alabama.

Dykes was born in Ruston, La., on January 16, 1953. He became a Christian at age 9 and began preaching in 1970 at age 17.

In addition to his formal degrees, in 2017 Dykes received an honorary doctorate from East Texas Baptist University and was honored as Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Alumni of the Year in 2021.

Dykes served locally on the boards of the American Red Cross, P.A.T.H., The Greater Tyler Chamber of Commerce, The Mother Frances Foundation and Baptist Child and Family Services (Breckenridge Village).

He also served on the Board of Trustees for ETBU and LeTourneau University. He served 10 years as a member of the Executive Board of the SBC, and he served as volunteer chaplain with the Smith County Sheriff’s Department.

In his 30 years as senior pastor at Green Acres Baptist Church, the church grew from 9,000 members to 17,000 members.

Dykes was married to his wife Cindy for 51 years, and he was a devoted father and grandfather. He was an avid golfer and had his private pilot’s license. Throughout his life, he enjoyed traveling the world, and he and Cindy led more than two dozen tours to Israel.

Dykes is survived by his beloved wife Cindy; his daughters Jennifer Holman and Laura Grace Dykes; his sons-in-law Jason Holman and Joseph Provencher; his grandchildren Lizzie Holman, Caroline Holman, Ada Liner, Grant Holman and Samuel Provencher; his sister Judy Kapa and his brother Daniel Dykes.

A memorial service for Dykes will be held on Wednesday, July 9, at 1 p.m. at Green Acres Baptist Church Worship Center with Michael Gossett and Jim Gillen officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Green Acres Foundation, 1607 Troup Hwy., Tyler, TX 75701, or through gabc.org.

Texas Baptists responded with prayers and support when flash floods July 4 led to a devastating loss of life and substantial damage along the Guadalupe River in areas stretching from Kerrville to San Antonio.

Associated Press reported 104 fatalities as of July 7, including 28 children in Kerr County. Ten girls and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp, remain missing.

More than 12 inches of rain fell within 12 hours. Roads were washed out, and area businesses were destroyed by the rushing floodwaters that carried brush and debris.

Baptist community responds in prayer, mourning

Baylor University President Linda Livingstone, who currently is in Brisbane, Australia, to attend the Baptist World Congress, said, “My heart is back in Texas as I stay updated on the tragic flooding and heart-shattering loss of life along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country and in other areas of the state.”

Livingstone also said the Baylor Care Team is offering prayer and resources to the 18 students from the Kerrville, Hunt, and Ingram areas.

Keith Bruce, a former pastor, seminary administrator and denominational executive, reported on social media one of the missing girls from Camp Mystic is part of his extended family.

“Greta Toranzo, one of the missing girls from Camp Mystic, is the niece of our son Preston and his wife Michelle,” Bruce posted on Facebook.

“I know you will continue to pray with us and for all who are missing, families who have lost loved ones, and for the tireless efforts of rescuers. We covet and are grateful for your specific prayers for our extended family.”

Early Tuesday, Bruce confirmed through Toranzo’s mother on Facebook that Toranzo “lost her life in the July Fourth flood in Kerr County.”

Jeff Warren, senior pastor at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, reflected on the tragic loss for his church—which was home to one girl who was killed—and for the University Park community.

“We had 8 in our community … none of those girls or counselors made it out alive,” Warren said.

“It’s been heartbreaking, but the Spirit is moving among us and God’s people are bringing hope and healing in the midst of unspeakable loss. Grief is the price we pay for love, and the greater the love, the greater the grief. These girls loved so well and were loved by everyone who knew them.”

Jim Denison, in his online newsletter “The Daily Article,” shared a story of sacrifice by Dick Eastland, the director of Camp Mystic who died trying to save kids during the flood.

“He was one of the most loving, gracious people I know,” Denison wrote. “A camp counselor said Dick was among the ‘most selfless men in the whole world. He was an inspiration to so, so many. He was a father figure, a comforting force in the uncertainty of everything.’”

Kathy Hillman of Baylor University, a past president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, reported on Facebook, “Tears flow as memories flood our minds in the heartbreaking loss of Jane Ragsdale, longtime director and owner of Heart O’ the Hills Camp,” who died in the floods.

Hillman recalled from personal family experience how Ragsdale “made every summer one to remember with her passion, love, and attention to each girl, and her unique personality and gifts.”

Texans on Mission deploy to affected areas

Texans on Mission disaster relief volunteers deployed to Central Texas July 7 once “some of the water … receded.”

Volunteers set up their base of operations at Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville, and volunteer chaplain are ministering to families affected by the flood.

The group has placed incident management teams, shower and laundry units, assessors, electrical and electronic support, asset protection and flood recovery teams on standby to serve, said David Wells, director of disaster relief for Texans on Mission.

Gaylan Mathis, volunteer feeding coordinator for Texans on Mission announced, “All openings for volunteer feeding are full through at least the first 3 weeks.”

Matthis added Kerrville has full deployment and is capable of feeding about 100 Texans on Mission volunteers. In San Angelo, Mathis confirmed volunteers still are needed and anticipate feeding 60 to 75 volunteers by the middle of next week.

Mickey Lenamon, executive director of Texans on Mission, said volunteers from his organization likely will be serving in varied capacities—relief, recovery and rebuilding—in Central Texas for up to six months.

Lakepointe Church in Rockwall will deploy its flood recovery unit to Kerrville on July 20. Anyone interested in volunteering for deployment can call Dyan Drain at 214-681-8766 or email at dwdrain@yahoo.com.

Texans on Mission is gathering the names and addresses of people who will need assistance and identifying the needs. To report needs, click here.

(https://www.texansonmission.org/hill-country-request-for-assistance)

Editor’s Note:  This is a developing story. See updates in paragraph 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 20.