Hello Texas Baptists! I begin by thanking the good folks at First Baptist Church in Bryan (www.fbcbryan.org), where David Higgs is pastor, for allowing me to spend a few days with them leading an adult Bible conference. First Baptist in Bryan has worked in Estonia 20 years, and while I was in Bryan, I met the president of the Estonia Baptist Federation, who was there to celebrate the anniversary of that cooperative work.
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Estonian Baptists greet members of First Baptist Church in Bryan.
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It was an honor to preach at the Community North Baptist Church in McKinney (www.communitynorthbc.org), where Bruce Austin has served as pastor seven years. Four years ago, the church moved into a nice new facility. The day I was with them, the church called a new youth minister, and the future looks good for North Baptist. Later that same Sunday, I participated in an ordination service at First Baptist Church in Waco (www.fbcwaco.org), where Matt Snowden is pastor. Matt will celebrate his second year at First Baptist the end of the summer, and I am so pleased with the leadership he has provided.
Your BGCT Executive Board staff participated in staff week the first week of May. Jesse Rincones, pastor of Alliance Baptist Church (www.alliancechurch.us) in Lubbock and president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, preached in our chapel service and did a fantastic job. With leaders like him, the future of the Hispanic work in Texas is bright. The BGCT is proud to partner with the Hispanic Baptist Convention.
Thank you to Robert Sloan, president of Houston Baptist University (www.hbu.edu), and the HBU staff for making me feel so welcome on your campus recently. It was good to learn firsthand about HBU's past, present and future. HBU will serve as the host site for a Texas Baptist (Un)Apologetics Conference in 2013, and we're grateful for their willingness to work with us.
Woodlawn Baptist Church in Austin (www.woodlawnbc.org) was another good Sunday preaching experience. The staff was so gracious and kind, and their new worship center is just wonderful.
I enjoyed my first-ever trip to Richmond, Va., and the International Learning Center. Tom Elliff, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board, hosted all of the state executive directors at the ILC for a two-day retreat. It was a good time of introduction and information for me, and I appreciate the gracious hospitality.
Please remember to pray for Albert Reyes as he takes over the leadership of Buckner International. And I encourage you to take a look at www.faithvillage.com. The Baptist Standard is another good friend to Texas Baptists, and FaithVillage is an amazing faith-based social networking site.
I hope our next annual meeting in Corpus Christi is on your calendar Oct. 29-31. We need our Texas Baptist family together!
More next time.
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—David Hardage is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board.
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