A GC2 Celebration of Missions 1
A Seminary for the Church, in Texas and Beyond At Truett Seminary, we equip God-called people for gospel ministry in and alongside Christ’s Church. We are committed to providing a spiritually engaging and academically rigorous residential experience in Waco, Houston, and San Antonio while also ensuring that theological education is affordable, awarding over $5 million in scholarships every year. TRUETT DEGREES AND PROGRAMS EQUIP GRADUATES FOR:
+ Pastoral Ministry + Chaplaincy + Children & Family Ministry + Youth Ministry + Worship Ministry + Missions
+ Spiritual Formation & Discipleship + Sports Ministry + Nonprofit Ministry + Doctoral Work + And more!
TRUETT ALSO OFFERS JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS WITH BAYLOR UNIVERSITY IN:
+ Business + Education + Law
+ Music + Social Work
Experience Truett Seminary Waco | Houston | San Antonio baylor.edu/truett/visit
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Baylor University admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.
TABLE OF CONTENTS INSTITUTIONS
31
Letter from David Hardage
4
GC2 Vision Statement
5
Wayland Baptist University
32
Texas Baptists Ministry Centers Overview
6
Valley Baptist Missions Education Center
34
CENTER FOR MINISTERIAL HEALTH
8
University of Mary-Hardin-Baylor
36
CENTER FOR CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
10
Stark College and Seminary
38
CENTER FOR COLLEGIATE MINISTRY
12
South Texas Children’s Home Ministries
40
CENTER FOR MISSIONAL ENGAGEMENT
14
San Marcos Baptist Academy
42
BOUNCE 15
Howard Payne University
44
River Ministry
16
Houston Baptist University
46
Church Starting
17
Hendrick Health System
48
The Pastor’s Common/Church
18
Hardin-Simmons University
50
Church Planting Centers
18
East Texas Baptist University
52
Philippi Church / Organic Church
19
Dallas Baptists University
54
TXB Missionaries/ Missionary
20
Children at Heart Ministries
56
Missionary Adoption Program (MAP)
21
Buckner International
58
Minister of Missions (MOM)
21
Baylor University
60
Community Ministry
22
Baylor Scott & White Health
62
23
Baptist University of the Américas 64
Dallas Baptist Association
24
Baptist Hospital of Southeast Texas
66
El Paso Baptist Association
26
Baptist Health System
68
San Antonio Baptist Association
28
Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio
70
Baptist Community Services
72
ASSOCIATIONS
A WORD ABOUT THIS REPORT This first-of-its-kind Impact Report is designed to show a snapshot of the combined missions efforts of a number of Texas Baptists ministry partners and staff and the lives impacted by them. The listing is by no means exhaustive. Information was solicited from ministry partners and staff for the date range of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. Sources of information include ministry submissions, the Book of Report, the 2020 CP Annual Report and other sources.
MINISTRY PARTNERS
75
Denison Ministries
76
Texas Baptist Men
78
Women’s Missionary Union of Texas
80
LIVES IMPACTED
83
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MESSAGE
from the
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Thank you for taking the time to review this first-of-its-kind report and celebrate with us the astounding impact of our cooperative missions efforts in Texas and beyond during the last year. Missions and evangelism have always been the heartbeat of our BGCT churches and ministry partners. The lives impacted through the efforts outlined in this report are just one more example of what God can accomplish through our convention when we work together to advance his Kingdom. My sincere hope is that this impact report reignites in you and your church or organization a fervent desire to increase engagement with these and other attempts to share Christ and show love through praying, going and giving. Let me also say a special word of thanks to all who have given to the Cooperative Program over the past year. The stories and statistics filling these pages - the lives impacted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ - simply would not be possible without your remarkable generosity. And to those of you who have yet to give, it is never too late to begin! I am so grateful for your heart for cooperative ministry. As God opens doors for like-minded GC2 people to partner together in Texas and beyond, I know our brightest days are still ahead. Thank you and God bless,
David Hardage Executive Director Texas Baptists
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VISION GC2 is a movement of God’s people to share Christ and show love. Our driving passion is to follow the LORD’s call to fulfill the Great Commission “to share Christ” and the Great Commandment “to show love.” The Great Commission and the Great Commandment form the two “GCs,” or GC2. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with likeminded Christians across Texas and beyond through this exciting organic movement.
gc2movement.com | #gc2
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THE CENTER FOR CHURCH HEALTH
PHIL MILLER director
MINISTRIES: Church Health
(214) 828-5213 phil.miller@txb.org
Evangelism Discipleship Music & Worship Church Architecture
“The Center for Church Health is where we focus on anything that can be helpful to the local church. Drawing from Acts 2:42-47, we will focus on equipping the local church to do what they are called to do through disciple-making, worship, evangelizing, studying God’s word and creating a space for others.” – Phil Miller
GC2 Press Women’s Ministry
THE CENTER FOR MINISTERIAL HEALTH
DOWELL LOFTIS director
MINISTRIES: Minister Connection
(214) 828-5275 dowell.loftis@txb.org
Area Representatives Counseling Services Financial Health Western Heritage Bi-Vocational Pastors
“The Center for Ministerial Health exists to assist pastors in being as strong and healthy as possible. We take a holistic approach that includes Counseling, Financial Services, Area Representatives, and specialized ministry consultants for areas such as Bivocational Pastors and Western Heritage Ministry. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to ministry so we do all we can to support and care for each pastor in their unique ministry context.” – Dowell Loftis
Interim Church Services Pastor Strong Initiative
THE CENTER FOR COLLEGIATE MINISTRY
MARK JONES director
MINISTRIES: Baptist Student Ministry
(214) 828-5255 mark.jones@txb.org
Go Now Missions TX College Church
“The Center for Collegiate Ministry engages 1.6 million Texas college students with the Gospel to follow Christ and transform the world. This is a model focused on engagement, discipleship and mobilization through partnership with local churches to develop future leaders.” – Mark Jones
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THE CENTER FOR CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
GUS REYES director
MINISTRIES: Christian Life Commission
(512) 473-2288 gus.reyes@txb.org
Texas Baptists en Español African American Ministries Intercultural Ministries Faith Fosters Texas Chaplaincy Relations
“ The story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37, is a great picture of the ministry for the new Center for Cultural Engagement. In this story, we see a servant leader going out of his way to care for someone in need. To carry out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment (GC2), we will serve as agents of transformation to replicate the servant leadership exemplified by Jesus and found in this story. Engaging the culture by meeting needs, showing Christ’s love, and sharing the Good News of Jesus becomes our primary focus.” – Gus Reyes
THE CENTER FOR MISSIONAL ENGAGEMENT
JOSUÉ VALERIO director
MINISTRIES: Church Starting & Replanting
(214) 828-5212 josue.valerio@txb.org
River Ministry & Mexico Missions Bounce & Disaster Recovery Missionary Adoption Program Minister of Missions
“The Center for Missional Engagement connects churches with missional opportunities whether that is in their community, the city, the state, the US or internationally. From a practitioner perspective, this is not just praying, giving and going, but also the development of a different way of thinking—a missional lifestyle.” – Josué Valerio
Texas Baptist Missionaries House Churches & Philippi Churches Minister’s Development & Missional Networks Urban Partnerships National Conventions & Unions
MINISTRY CENTERS OVERVIEW
7
CENTER for
The Center for Ministerial Health invests in Texas Baptists ministers to encourage them towards excellence so they can be their best to serve the Lord and his people.
Lives Impacted:
10,000+
THROUGH GRANTS, LOANS, AREA REPRESENTATIVES AND MORE
OVER $900,000 9,500 190+
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IN GRANTS AND MATCHING FUNDS distributed to ministers experiencing financial challenges in 2020
CONTACTS
between area representatives and church leaders in 2020
COWBOY CHURCHES STARTED since Western Heritage ministries inception in 2000
The Area Representatives team is continually aiding Texas Baptists pastors and congregations in fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. Despite the challenges of limited in-person worship and outbreaks of the Coronavirus, the Area Representatives continued their faithful service, engaging in missions across Texas. In East Texas, Area Representative Director Tim Watson was contacted by First Baptist Church in Hallsville (FBCH) in June of 2021 regarding a missions project for the upcoming Royal Ambassadors (RAs) summer camp. Watson suggested that the RAs collect items for hygiene kits that could be distributed to immigrants entering the United States through the Texas border town of Brownsville. The RAs at FBCH collected over 100 kits that included not only hygiene essentials but also Spanish Bibles and personal notes assuring the immigrants that God loved them and that people they did not know were praying for them. This hygiene kit distribution was truly a team effort. Tim Watson went to FBCH and collected the kits from the RAs. While at a meeting in Dallas, the kits were then given to Joe Aguilar, Area Representative for the Rio Grande Valley. Aguilar then distributed the hygiene kits to Vanessa Quintanilla, Texas Baptists River Ministry missionary, who is based in the Rio Grande Valley. Only our Lord will know how many lives will be touched by these hygiene kits and Spanish Bibles distributed to those who are new to our country. Steve Dominy, Area Representative for the Greater Dallas area, served as interim pastor of Webb Baptist Church (WBC) in Arlington. During his tenure as interim, Dominy was asked to help WBC strategize on how they could minister more effectively to their neighborhood. To support that mission, WBC adopted Beckham Elementary School in Arlington. During the Covid-19 pandemic, WBC created goody bags for all 85 faculty and staff members and thanked them for an excellent job in caring for the children entrusted to them during a very difficult time.
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CENTER for
CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT The Center for Cultural Engagement seeks to bring people to God and community with God’s people by building bridges between people groups, healing brokenness, confronting systemic evils and speaking truth to power. Mission Projects: PROJECT: START - A refugee resource center connecting refugees in Dallas with the resources they need to find stability. HISPANIC EDUCATION INITIATIVE - The goal of the Hispanic Education Initiative is to keep students in school through graduation and then on to college, reclaiming students who left school and helping preschoolers be prepared for Kindergarten.
Lives Impacted:
243,000+ 24,102 1,500 500+
BIBLES/TRACTS WERE DISTRIBUTED by community care ministries
PASTORS AND CHURCH LEADERS
trained through Texas Baptists en Español
ACTIVE CHAPLAINS currently serving
18,895,101 10
MEALS SERVED IN 2020 through the Texas Baptists Hunger Offering
Iglesia Bautista Principe de Paz in Austin has actively served its community through a food pantry ministry for the past 20 years. Through a partnership with the Texas Baptists Hunger Offering and the Central Texas Food Bank, the church has opened its pantry every Wednesday to give out food products to those in need. Rose M. Irizarry, food pantry co-director, shared that since the COVID-19 pandemic began, more people have sought help from their food pantry. “Before COVID, we were averaging about 80-85 people representing different families from the community. Once the COVID crisis came, we started getting a lot of people that hadn’t regularly come to our food bank. We grew a lot in those months and started averaging 100-120 families. Now, I’d say we’re probably averaging about 145-150 families from the community on a weekly basis,” she said. The Hunger Offering funds enabled the ministry to adapt to the new conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. “People couldn’t freely come in or out; we had to keep our distance and even separate ourselves from clients and church volunteers. Through our funds with the Hunger Offering, we were able to buy gloves, sanitizers, masks and other needed supplies to keep everyone safe. As we’ve experienced a lot of growth, the Hunger Offering has been a great blessing to our ministry,” shared Irizarry. The Hunger Offering is a special offering Texas Baptists has designated for the purpose of easing the needs of hunger and poverty throughout the work of different ministries in Texas and around the world. “The Hunger Offering has empowered communities with much-needed resources that they wouldn’t be able to have otherwise. Through the Hunger Offering, smaller ministries such as the food pantry at Iglesia Bautista Principe de Paz can continue faithfully serving and meeting their community’s needs,” Katie Fruge, director of the Hunger Offering, explained. 11
CENTER for
COLLEGIATE MINISTRY
The Center for Collegiate Ministry reaches college students for Christ, strengthens Christian students through discipleship and apologetics, and prepares future leaders. Mission Projects: GO NOW MISSIONS - Go Now Missions mobilizes Texas university students to share the love of Christ across the world. REACH 21 - BSMs engaged in missions by serving in the mission field in their own backyard during Spring Break.
Lives Impacted:
62,669
12,504 STUDENTS
2,294
sent by Go Now since 1946
592
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS engaged with the Gospel
12
SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS
during 2021 Go Now summer missions
282
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH by college students
137
CAMPUSES WITH TXBSM
Last year at Beach Reach, Jade, a University of Texas at Tyler BSM student, met spring breaker Alexa, who was a student at Lone Star College. During Beach Reach last year multiple students shared the Gospel with Alexa, and on March 10, 2020, Alexa gave her life to the Lord! Over the last year, Jade has been discipling Alexa and walking with her as she studies the Bible. Because of Covid-19, Alexa was even able to join virtual Bible studies with the BSM in Tyler. When discussing what it looked like to disciple a new believer, Jade said “you have to give discipleship more attention and care than you think. Do not leave them alone. You have to invest your time and really be their friend. In our culture, everything has to be quick, but that won’t work with discipleship.“ As Alexa got to know more college students in Tyler, she knew the Lord was calling her to transfer to Tyler Junior College this Semester.
On March 7, 2021, exactly a year after going to South Padre Island and having her life changed forever, Alexa headed to Arlington with the Tyler Junior College BSM for her very first mission trip. The BSM team did some renovations at a church and got to prayer walk campuses, where Alexa prayed out loud in front of others for the first time. They also got to participate in evangelism on one campus. “I got to share my testimony with one girl whose parents are Muslim, but she wasn’t sure if she believed the same thing. I got to share with her what my life was like before Christ. And that if He can love me then He can definitely love her too. If I share with one person, it will make a difference.“ Alexa’s story is one of breaking free from the bondage of sin and truly walking away from her former self. She’s moved forward as a new believer and both Jade and Alexa encourage others that a five-minute conversation just might change someone’s life. Alexa said, “Little choices have big outcomes.”
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CENTER for
The Center for Missional Engagement connects churches with missional opportunities whether that is in their community, the city, the state, the US or internationally. Lives Impacted:
781,388+ 280,143 PEOPLE SERVED
NEW CHURCH STARTS
7,187
208
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH
MISSIONARIES
1,669
36,670
BAPTISMS
14
64
VOLUNTEERS
BOUNCE BOUNCE offers student ministry leaders the opportunity to mobilize their middle school, high school and college students to be engaged in challenging mission service and inspiring times of worship. Mission Projects: BOUNCE SPRING BREAK AND SUMMER MISSION TRIPS - Churches from Texas and other states brought their youth to participate with BOUNCE to serve in Student Disaster Recovery and Student Church Planting to help communities BOUNCE back from disaster and help Church Planters BOUNCE forward in ministry.
Lives Impacted: 695 PARTICIPANTS 370 INDIVIDUALS
1,065 695
PARTICIPANTS
370
POINTS OF IMPACT
47
PROJECTS COMPLETED
899
HYGIENE KITS PUT TOGETHER
Aida’s home is a small, beachy wooden house perched on stilts in a small neighborhood in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico. It was her mother’s home before her, so Aida was determined to continue living there even after Hurricane Maria caused extensive damage to the roof. Her house was one of the homes BOUNCE Student Disaster Recovery worked on during their trip to Puerto Rico on June 28 - July 3. At Aida’s house, 12 students and adults from First Baptist Church of Shallowater worked to tear down the old, rotting roof and replace it with a new one. The trip was the perfect opportunity for their students to learn about serving and sharing the gospel. “We believe strongly that we’re supposed to spread the gospel every opportunity we get, and one of the primary ways we can do that is by seeing the needs that other people have and finding ways to meet those needs,” Brad Miles, pastor of FBC Shallowater, explained. “So we’re grateful for BOUNCE because we have all these folks here in this community and we get to come alongside them and meet their needs. And that’s what Jesus would do. When He saw needs, He met needs.” 15
RIVER MINISTRY River Ministry connects churches to specific projects along the Texas/Mexico border and in the most populous Mexican cities.
Mission Projects: RIVER MINISTRY - promotes mission trips to the Border for Texas Baptists churches to evangelize by holding VBS, sports clinics, medical brigades, and more. Churches and BSMs participate with River Ministry by helping to distribute hygiene kits and new testaments, clothes, food, and other practical resources. This ministry supports church planting in Mexico and sends resources to the Baptist Regional Conventions to contribute to this area. It also provides training for the Texas and Mexico churches and Conventions / Associations that partner with us. IMMIGRANT CENTERS - Last semester, River Ministry planned to put together immigrant centers by working along with local churches and associations.
Lives Impacted:
51,683 60
BAPTIZED
27
49,532 SERVED 2,151 VOLUNTEERS
10
NEW CHURCHES IN MEXICO RIVER MINISTRY MISSIONARIES IN THE INTERIOR OF MEXICO SERVED 47,059
2,151 VOLUNTEERS
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1,199
PEOPLE MADE A PROFESSION OF FAITH
RIVER MINISTRY MISSIONARIES ALONG THE BORDER
Many of our River Ministry missionaries find opportunities to share Christ daily, but they don’t always get the opportunity to follow up on that story. Once that person accepted Christ they are no longer in the circle of the missionary; they are now in a church across town, in another city and state, so they aren’t in the sphere of influence of the missionary. However, Cutberto Ramirez serves immigrants and deportees in Nuevo Laredo. One day he met a young man named Jose from Venezuela who was immigrating to the US. He had given him some food and supplies and asked Jose how he could pray for him. This led to a spiritual conversation and Jose gave his life to Christ. A few days later Jose was able to get his appointment with immigration and was allowed through to Houston. A week later Cutberto received a message from Jose with a photo. He had found a church, recommended by a missionary in Houston, and was in discipleship with a pastor. He was happy to have found Cutberto, and more importantly to have asked the Lord into his life. This is the impact of so many people praying and giving support for River Ministry! One life change at a time! Praise the Lord! 16
CHURCH STARTING Church Starting helps assist, train, and support church planters as they start new works. We work with churches and associations to identify where new churches should be started.
33
NEW CHURCHES
1,834
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH
While sabbatical from his job as a student and missions pastor at Heritage Park Baptist Church, Kyle Jackson began his journey of church planting. He looked to God for guidance and felt a clear draw to start a church plant. The call was so clear, and his passion was so fierce, that he could only describe it as: a “fire in his bones”.
457
BAPTISMS
And so, the Jackson family built their new house and moved in at the end of February 2020--just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Churches are a community of believers; now Jackson was going to have to build a new one in a time that restricted gatherings. He started where any pastor should: prayer.
As soon as he came home, he stopped by to see Trent Henderson, his senior pastor, to share his new passion. And he wasn’t shy about it, either. “I’m not sure where yet, but I want to enter into residency with the Houston Church Planting Network and I want you to come alongside me in this process,” he told him. Henderson laughed, perhaps amused by his boldness, and said he had a meeting next week with the Texas Baptist Director of Church Planting, and he wanted Jackson to come along. One thing led to another, and Jackson embarked on a journey with Texas Baptists that helped prepare him for church planting. He continued his current job responsibilities at Heritage Park Baptist, but he also received monthly church-planting training. Meanwhile, Jackson and his wife, Kacee were praying and trying to identify where they should go. “We knew we wanted to stay in the Southside of Houston--it’s an area from Beltway 8, of Houston, to the Beach of Galveston,” Jackson explained. More than 55% of its residents consider themselves without a religious affiliation.”
“As we met people I’d pray for them by name,” Jackson said. “I’d pray for the minivan with the three kid stickers or the smaller house thinking this may be someone retiring or downsizing.” And one day, Jackson decided to visit the neighborhood Facebook page and introduced himself as a pastor who wanted to pray for the community. The prayer requests flowed in. And as Jackson prayed on his jogs, he would pause in front of the homeowner’s property and send in a selfie to show them that they were being prayed for. That was the beginning of the new community. “We have about 100 that come on Sundays and about 150 that we call ‘ours,’ Jackson said. “People who have never read the Bible are getting to read the Bible. We were recently able to baptize a husband and wife in the lagoon.” “We have seen people who have walked away from the church come back,” he said. “We have seen people who have never been to a church call this place home.”
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THE PASTOR’S COMMON The Pastor’s Common exists to strengthen the Church by creating a space for Millennial and Gen Z Pastors to build community, grow intellectually, be resourced, and be heard.
Lives Impacted:
190
190
CHURCH PLANTING CENTERS Church Planting Centers exist to assess, equip, coach, mentor, and resource potential church planters to start new Texas Baptist Churches and ministries.
Lives Impacted:
118
15 118
CHURCH PLANTING CENTERS
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PAST AND PRESENT PARTICIPANTS
PASTORS
PHILIPPI CHURCH / ORGANIC CHURCH There are many ways to start a church. We recommend the organic model for church planting. This is a natural model comprising a simple way to work as a church without the complications of a full system of programs.
Mission Projects: PHILIPPI CHURCH - Exists in 61 prisons across Texas with 102 active prison churches that meet daily with 635 inmates attending. Each Philippi Church is led by an inmate and their goal is to reach other inmates for the Lord. ORGANIC CHURCH - Churches that meet in apartments, parks, homes, and may not look like a traditional church, but serves the needs of that small body of believers and that community. Our 22 Catalysts in the state help us serve the 602 congregations across Texas.
Lives Impacted:
550,147 Philippi Churches:
102
635
ACTIVE PRISON CHURCHES
INMATES ATTENDING
61
PRISONS ACROSS TEXAS
Organic Churches:
33,824 652
VOLUNTEERS
BAPTIZED
1,950 602
PEOPLE ACCEPTED CHRIST
CONGREGATIONS
Philippi Church - Paul Atkinson, the director of multi-housing/house congregation & Philippi Churches at Texas Baptists, received a phone call from an ex-prisoner, Juan Reyes, who, upon his release, was taken to the border to be deported. He headed straight for his home in a large town in the central highland state of Guanajuato. It is an area where few American missionaries have ever visited and in which less than 1% of the population is Evangelical. He was very excited as he reported, “We are starting a new church here!” He also indicated that other prisoners saved in the Philippi prison ministry are gathered there. Pray for this new church that Brother Reyes is starting among former prisoners in Guanajuato. Organic Church - At one of the apartment communities that houses an organic church, a building burned down. By the grace of God, no lives were lost - including those of pets. However, everyone lost everything they owned. One family lost all the pictures of their parents; another family was unable to recover the ashes of their son who passed 2 years ago at only 5 years old. In the midst of all this pain and suffering, our Catalyst was able to minister to the staff and was there to help his disciples, Daniel and Sarah Hall, minister to these families. One of our partner churches, Crossbridge Community Church, wrote a generous check to serve these neighbor’s needs. In this situation Daniel and Sarah have thrived in their role, facing this challenge head-on and keeping Jesus front and center the whole way. This tragedy has birthed 2 different bible studies! God is continuing to work through this tragedy for the advancement of his kingdom. 19
TEXAS BAPTISTS MISSIONARIES
are sent to serve in Texas and beyond in a multitude of mission locations like Texas university campuses, ESL strategists in the Northwest, serving more. They raise their own support,
116,705
SERVED
church, Texas Baptists Missionaries
trafficked women overseas, and
Lives Impacted:
116,705
With connections to a Texas Baptists
and we give them training and encouragement.
134
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH
83
BAPTISMS
We have missionaries who serve alongside their spouses on college campuses in Texas. One such person is Kaitlin Warrington, serving with her husband on the University of Texas at Dallas campus. This past year the BSM at UTD was unable to meet in person with their students. This caused Kaitlin and others on the staff to spend much of their time using all forms of social media to keep in touch with students. It was a hard and trying year. However, this fall the campus has opened and the BSM is enjoying a new enthusiasm as they begin this new semester. One of Kaitlin’s responsibilities is reaching out to Internationals who are attending UTD. A couple of weeks before this semester began, paired with the international office on campus, the UTD BSM helped with meeting and picking up 1000 new international students who were arriving from all over the world from the DFW airport. The school had to make plans to meet on the intramural fields to receive the internationals. Kaitlin texted, “I appreciate your encouragement and the truth you spoke to us yesterday. I think you have understood my heart well…both heaviness and excitement and anticipation and hope going on right now. I so appreciate your prayers in this crazy back-to-school time.” Another group of missionaries live outside the United States and includes missionaries in Germany, Senegal, Beirut, Italy, and Spain. In my attempt to encourage those who live in several time zones, and all have different responsibilities, I created a Zoom meeting. I was able to get them together a couple of times. Each time I just sat back and listened as they all interacted with each other about what things were like where they were serving. My world shrank while I listened to stories of extreme poverty in Lebanon, government unrest in Dakar, ministering to refugees in Milan, helping church starts in Spain, and walking through pandemic shutdowns in Germany. Two missionaries have been delayed in their return to the field where they serve those trapped in Human trafficking as they continue to work to raise support. Another missionary, a campus worker, and his wife recently had twin sons who were premature. Their financial stress has been increased as some of their supporters have withdrawn due to their own financial pinch. As I listen and try to encourage, I must admit it is difficult to assure them of the best outcome. While talking with the father of the premature twins, he assured me that the Lord would take care of them. Many times, it is I who is encouraged and strengthened by the faith of our Texas Baptists missionaries. May we as Texas Baptists continue to provide ways for many to serve and may we as people of faith continue to encourage, and when possible, financially support them. 20
MISSIONARY ADOPTION PROGRAM (MAP) Missionary Adoption Program (MAP) facilitates partnerships between Texas Baptist churches with churches and missionaries around the world.
Lives Impacted:
109,486 109,486 1,973
394
SERVED
21
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH
BAPTISMS
NEW CHURCHES IN 9 COUNTRIES
MINISTER OF MISSIONS (MOM) Minister of Missions (MOM) partners with Texas Baptist churches who are practicing missional principles within their church, their community, and around the world. We also partner with Texas Baptist churches in expanding the outreach/community ministries of the local church.
Lives Impacted:
3,477
3,477 97
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH
SERVED
23
BAPTISMS
21
COMMUNITY MINISTRY Community Ministry, comes alongside Texas Baptists churches to discover ways to engage their community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Identifying possible points of impact within the community, developing a plan and a team are the first steps, followed with the last step of sharing Christ and showing love in tangible ways.
Lives Impacted: MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN HELPED TO DATE
200+
11
HOMES SERVING 26 INDIVIDUALS
Southside City Church of Fort Worth, a church with only 50 active members developed a Housing and Discipleship ministry called True Faith Community which provides a home, a community and resources needed to step out of homelessness. Currently, there are 11 homes, serving 26 individuals. Over 200 men, women, and children have been helped through this ministry to date. Southside City Church is underway with plans to build a small, tiny home village on the church property. These homes will house 2 individuals each. They are also building a 3200 sq ft. facility in Northwest Fort Worth which will house up to 10 men. Countless testimonies of how sharing Christ and showing love has changed lives forever have risen from this small ministry with a great impact. One of those individuals is Ken Miller. Ken found himself homeless, living in his van after relocating to Texas from Oregon. He heard about TFC and made contact. Though there was not a space for him initially, Ken persevered. The first few nights, he stayed with the pastor’s family until a room was made available in the Men’s discipleship house. Ken was dealing with deep depression and at times was suicidal. Several months after coming to TFC, Ken was gloriously healed of the depression as well as a long-time addiction to nicotine. Ken recalled that in his teenage years, he sensed a call of God on his life for ministry but believed he was disqualified after years of seemingly defeat. Southside leadership walked Ken through months of discipleship and training until he reached a place of certainty that God would still use him. Ken enrolled in Bible School and graduated in 2020. He is now one of the ordained pastors of Southside City Church and serves as the Men’s Director for TFC as well as pastoring one of our remote.
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ASSOCIATIONS
Texas Baptists ministers alongside more than 80 local associations across the state.
The following pages reflect just a sampling of the vital ministry taking place each day. Learn more at txb.org/associations.
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Dallas Baptist Association exists to assist our churches in fulfilling the Great Commission of making disciples of all nations.
ASSOCIATION Mission Projects: ASSOCIATIONAL VBS TRAINING - This is a free training program for all Vacation Bible School teams at Dallas Baptist Association churches that prepares them to serve and share the gospel with the children they will interact with.
Lives Impacted:
1,900+
12
VIDEOS SHOT
24
485
CHURCHES WITH TRAINING ACCESS
19,000 VIEWS
Every year, Dallas Baptist Association, with assistance from Texas Baptists, provides a high quality, association-wide, training for churches that are utilizing Vacation Bible School (VBS). VBS has been and continues to be a fruitful ministry tool for many of our churches, so we were greatly looking forward to once again hosting this in-person training. As the date approached, it became clear that due to COVID-19, we would not be able to host the in-person training. We gathered our team together and made the decision to shoot videos that churches could watch with their own respective teams. Our VBS team, made up of church leaders from across the association, quickly mobilized to prepare content. Amazingly, twelve videos were shot within one Saturday. Training for missions, preschool, special needs, crafts, snacks, Bible study, recreation, worship and more were all covered. After our communications assistant edited the videos, they were uploaded online. Immediately, views began to register. A training which normally reaches several hundred participants eventually had over 19,000 views online. Despite difficult circumstances, the Dallas Baptist Association VBS team was able to come together and quickly pivot to produce useful training for a countless number of churches. That training served to prepare church leaders for summertime ministry which would impact children across communities. It was amazing to see how God multiplied the results.
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ASSOCIATION Connecting Missional Churches in the Paso Del Norte Region.
Mission Projects: FOOD DISTRIBUTION - El Paso Baptist Association distributed over 4.8 million pounds of food from May 2020 through May 2021. NEW MIGRANT CENTER LAUNCHED - The new El Paso Migrant Center, housed out of Scotsdale Baptist Church, will assist migrants and is part of a collaboration with the Texas Baptists River Ministry.
Lives Impacted:
OVER 100,000 4.8
MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED
100+ 6 26
CHURCHES PARTICIPATED IN FOOD DISTRIBUTION
CHURCHES ADDED TO THE ASSOCIATION
From May 2020 through May 2021, the El Paso Baptist Association distributed 4.8 million pounds of fresh food to more than 100 churches throughout the El Paso region. Over four million meals were handed out. First Baptist Church of El Paso allowed the association to use their parking lot for 1 year. Faithful volunteers came out each and every week and helped distribute 3,800 boxes and gallons of milk. Our partnership with Texas Baptists, Howard Payne University El Paso Center, and others who have been so faithful to serve, give and donate to this important ministry are the ones who have made it possible. Another way the association got involved in providing fresh food was through Farmers to Families, a government program that initiated church involvement throughout their communities. Each week the El Paso Baptist Association engaged between 50-70 churches, who in turn reached hundreds of families with food and the gospel. Thousands of people were touched through this opportunity.
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ASSOCIATION Connect, encourage, and support churches for kingdom impact.
Mission Projects: COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH SAMMY TIPPIT MINISTRIES AND LA CONVENCIÓN BAUTISTA DE NICARAGUA. - SABA collaborated with La Convención Bautista de Nicaragua to host 3 nights of live streaming on Facebook with Sammy Tippit speaking on the topic of “the cost of discipleship.” DEACON TRAINING - The San Antonio Baptist Association hosted two deacon training events in 2021 VIDEOS AND PODCASTS - The topics for our podcasts and videos are related to our 5 priorities: church planting; community impact; leader development; media technology; and kingdom expansion.
Lives Impacted: OVER 170+ DEACONS, 30 CHURCHES, AND HUNDREDS OF VIDEO AND PODCAST CONSUMERS
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Collaborative efforts with Sammy Tippit Ministries and La Convención Bautista de Nicaragua.
1,236
VIEWS OF THE EVENT
Deacon Training
170+ DEACONS ATTENDED
30
3
CHURCHES HOSTED WATCH PARTIES
NIGHTS OF LIVE STREAMING
Videos and Podcasts
30+ CHURCHES PRESENTED
270+ VIDEOS
104 PODCASTS
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DO YOU HEAR THE SIRENS? The coming cultural tsunami is the gravest threat Christians in America have ever faced. We can still turn the tide, but we must act now. Visit TheComingTsunami.com to pre-order Dr. Jim Denison’s new book, The Coming Tsunami, today!
GOT A MINUTE?
Take 60 seconds to learn about and pray for the missionaries and ministries you support across Texas and around the world through the Cooperative Program. Ten new stories will be posted each quarter in 2021 for you to use in your church! Historias disponibles en español. Get free resources for your church to use in 2021 at txb.org/cpstories
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INSTITUTIONS Texas Baptists partners with numerous educational, healthcare and human care institutions to carry out its mission of strengthening churches and ministers, engaging culture and connecting the nations to Jesus. Learn more under “Partners” at txb.org/ministries.
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Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.
Mission Projects: SHINE PROJECTS - The Office of Spiritual Life made the move to offer 50 different chapel small groups to help boost the spiritual climate of our campus. Each chapel group was challenged to come up with a group project to complete by the end of the semester that intentionally addressed a few of the social justice issues that plague our community. CAN FOOD DRIVE - Cans of food were collected for the local food pantry to replenish the shelves after the holidays
KALEO YOUTH THEOLOGY INSTITUTE – KALEO is a program dedicated to equipping and empowering young Christian leaders going into their Junior and Senior years of high school to be better leaders in their churches, schools, and communities. The NYC mission trip was the last leg of our 18-day program. SOLDOTNA, ALASKA - Fellowship of Christian Athletes conducted a week-long sports camp.
SHOE DRIVE - Most Buckner shoe drives were canceled due to COVID. Our shoe drive helped provide shoes for children in local communities.
Lives Impacted:
3,098+ Shine Projects
500
STUDENT VOLUNTEERS 32
VOLUNTEERS AND INDIVIDUALS SERVED, ALONG WITH COUNTLESS OTHERS IMPACTED BY THESE MINISTRIES
Shine Projects
Shine Projects
1500
306
CANS OF FOOD WERE COLLECTED
PAIRS OF SHOES WERE COLLECTED
50
500
8
150
STUDENTS VISITED THE BLESSINGS CLOSET FOR PERSONAL NECESSITIES
FAMILIES WITH FOOD AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS
80
ARTICLES OF WINTER CLOTHING AND WARM BEDDING WERE GIVEN AWAY
INDIVIDUALS REACHED AT KALEO YOUTH THEOLOGY INSTITUTE
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE IMPACTED BY THE SOLDONTA, ALASKA MISSION TRIP
2
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH
Wayland’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes partnered with Alaska Missions to conduct a week-long sports camp in July of 2021. Each day about 150 kids came to learn skills in basketball, football, and archery. Throughout the day they heard about the love of Christ through using sports to share the Gospel. Each day at “half-time” two of our Wayland students would share their testimony and share how Christ had changed their lives. On the last day, each team leader shared the gospel one more time and gave the students an opportunity to respond. A fourth-grade boy responded and gave his life to Christ. Deng was one of the basketball players from Wayland who went on the trip. Deng had been meeting with a Christian student named Cole throughout the summer to discuss matters of faith. Upon returning home from the trip, Wayland’s Director of Spiritual life met with Deng for lunch. They reminisced about the trip and talked about the stories we had heard while in Alaska. When asked about his baptism, Deng disclosed an interesting story. Deng is from Uganda. When he was a young boy, He said his brother told him it was time for him to get baptized and receive his biblical name. So he did… When asked about how the gospel was shared before his baptism, Deng disclosed that he had never been presented with the gospel. When I asked if there was ever a time in his life that he had committed his life to Christ, he said “no.” The Director of Spiritual life saw an opportunity and simply asked Deng, “Would you like to commit your life to Christ?” After a quick, “yes,” they packed up their items and headed to a quiet place to face-time the student who had spent so much time discussing matters of faith with him. Over the phone, Cole led Deng in his commitment prayer to Christ! Deng has attended Wayland for two years. He has been to church. He met weekly with Cole. He listened weekly to the basketball team chaplain. He then went on the Alaska mission trip. All of these things prepared his heart to say “yes” to Jesus in July of 2021. On Sunday, August 29th, 2021, in front of his basketball teammates, friends, and his church family, Deng followed through with his decision and made his decision public by being baptized into the family of God. 33
To prepare leadership for congregations in Texas and to provide a quality education and missions experience to students and participants within a disciplined Christian atmosphere to maximize opportunities to enjoy the fruit of successful Christian lives.
Mission Projects: HELP FOR HOMES - Two churches and 17 homes were refurbished during 2020 for those under the poverty level. Work was accomplished for older members (sometimes called “seasoned saints”) belonging to Baptist churches throughout the Valley. “FARMERS-TO-FAMILIES-FOOD-BOX” PROGRAM - The U.S. Department of Agriculture began a “farmers-tofamilies-food-box” program, a new ministry opportunity we embraced.
Lives Impacted:
COUNTLESS 34
1.8
MILLION BOXES OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTD TO MORE THAN 1,000 CHURCHES
+
2
CHURCHES AND
17
HOMES WERE REFURBISHED DURING 2020 FOR THOSE UNDER POVERTY LEVEL
In 2019 before the pandemic, Valley Baptist Missions Education Center’s two youth campuses housed over 1,800 campers in three months. Guests representing 83 churches and other Christian organizations came from eight different states to work on church constructions and Vacation Bible School Day Camps; they also witnessed to poor residents of colonias throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The next year saw only one group come in all of 2020. During the campers’ absence in 2020, Valley Baptist Missions Education Center’s two youth camps struggled to fill the void left by no camp ministries. Also, during 2020, The U.S. Department of Agriculture began a “farmers-tofamilies-food-box” program, a new ministry opportunity we embraced. Participating almost from the year’s start, Valley Baptist Missions Education Center distributed over 1.8 million boxes of food to more than 1,000 churches (of all denominations) in Laredo, Roma, Mission, Harlingen, Brownsville, and Corpus Christi. During a lengthy dark time for many families, those deliveries created innumerable chances to share hope and to witness about God’s love. Now during 2021, Valley Baptist Missions Education Center shows great promise as visitor numbers continue increasing back to near-normal.
1,800
CAMPERS WERE HOUSED IN TWO YOUTH CAMPUSES IN THREE MONTHS 35
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor prepares students for leadership, service, and faith-informed discernment in a global society. Academic excellence, personal attention, broad-based scholarship and a commitment to a Baptist vision for education distinguish our Christ-centered learning community.
Mission Projects: BACKYARD BIBLE CAMPS - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor sent 21 students to Anchorage, Alaska to help with Backyard Bible Camps and food relief for those who lost their jobs during COVID-19.
Lives Impacted:
3,000+
2
HOMES REBUILT
36
4
TEAMS SENT AROUND THE U.S. FOR THE 20202021 ACADEMIC YEAR: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA; LA GRANGE, TEXAS; AND NORTH CAROLINA
2
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH
All of the Backyard Bible Camps students at the University of Mary-Hardin-Baylor served while in Alaska took place at local parks. Most of the children at the parks came from homes whose families had lost their jobs. The only food they had access to that day would be what was served at the park. The camps lasted for eight weeks, and each week a new team would come to help facilitate. During week one of the camps, zero children attended. Our first team facilitated the second week of the summer, and slowly, the kids began to trickle in. Our second team facilitated the eighth week of the series and closed out the camp. That same park that had zero children attend during week one had 45 children. The love of Jesus was shown to these kids this summer, and it was amazing to see the hard hearts of these children soften over the weeks of being loved by the body of Christ.
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Stark College & Seminary (SCS) is not your traditional college but neither are our students, staff and faculty. Our mission is to equip educationally under-served followers of Christ for service in the church and community. Everything we do is driven to help students answer their call to ministry through Christian higher education.
Lives Impacted: STUDENTS PREPARED FOR MINISTRY
292
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SCS aims to create an environment in which the grace of God’s love and the truth of God’s Word are exemplified, not only in belief, but in behavior. In South Texas, SCS is surrounded by a diverse community and this beautiful tapestry is reflected in every aspect of Stark, including our students, faculty, staff, and trustees. SCS seeks to value and unite people of all backgrounds and ethnicities as one under the Lordship of Jesus. Multiculturalism is a core value at Stark. Additionally, the rich multiplicity of perspectives provides a bigger picture of the Church at large in our community and contributes to the learning context at Stark. We are grateful for students who dig deep and wide, not only in their theological education, but also in their ministry practice. This model, in turn, leads to local congregations who are flourishing with well equipped leaders. At SCS we embrace all who seek to answer God’s call to ministry and desire to stay in the Texas region where they live and serve. Stark specializes in equipping working students who have limited options due to family, ministry, and work obligations. Since most students work full-time, have family dependents, and serve in some capacity in their local church, SCS designs degree programs for working students to build success upon success. Starting with a yearlong certificate program, students can achieve their educational goals from the Diploma to the Bachelors and even a Master’s degree in Ministry. Therefore, Stark students do not lose hours when moving from one degree to the next, thereby experiencing a sense of accomplishment and confidence.”
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Our vision is to show the love of Christ to each and every child and family to whom we minister. We do this by creating a culture where the needs of families are seen and met in creative and innovative ways. Efficiency and accountability are strategic priorities with effectiveness and excellence the resulting evidence. We desire God to use STCH Ministries in mighty ways to do His work.
Lives Impacted:
10,911
18
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH ACROSS NINE MINISTRIES
40
3,299
SERVED THROUGH FAMILY COUNSELING
136
SERVED THROUGH HOMES FOR CHILDREN
At Homes for Children, on the Boothe Campus in Pettus, a group of siblings, Edna, Mary and John, came to live on the campus in June 2014. These siblings had not received any formal education and never stepped foot in a classroom or walked the halls of a public school. Through hard work, long study hours, tutoring sessions and encouragement and guidance from their houseparents, teachers, counselors, caseworkers and cottage sponsors, they have all three now graduated in the top of their class! Edna was valedictorian of the 2021 senior class at Pettus High School. She is attending Hardin Simmons University to study social work with the goal of becoming a medical social worker. Mary graduated salutatorian from Pettus High School in 2018 and graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in May 2021. She is continuing on to pursue her master’s degree at the University of Texas at Arlington in social work.
John also graduated from Pettus High School as salutatorian of his class in 2017. He went on to attend Texas A&M - Kingsville and graduated with a degree in range and wildlife management in May 2021. He is continuing on to pursue his master’s degree in range and wildlife management. “When I came to STCH Ministries I had this idea of myself, that I was this person who was damaged goods and was someone who was so tainted that I couldn’t really truly move forward, and I no longer see myself as that,” explained Mary. “I don’t have to think of myself in that way anymore. To know that someone can say, ‘you can be more, and I believe that you are made to be more. You don’t have to stay where you’re at.’ That’s hope.” John, Mary and Edna shared that without STCH Ministries they would not be where they are today. They would not have dreamed of college, let alone masters programs. Today, each of the siblings recognize the intrinsic value of their lives because of Christ and know that long before their first day at Homes for Children, they were made to be more.
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The mission of San Marcos Academy is to educate young men and women within a nurturing community based upon Christian values.
Mission Projects: WATER FOR VACCINE SITES - The middle school collected water bottles to distribute at vaccination sites in Central Texas, where lines were so long that people had to wait for long hours in the cold or heat.
Lives Impacted:
1,500+ 1,500 $500+
WATER BOTTLES DONATED BY PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF THE ACADEMY
DONATED FOR LABELS
PARTNERED WITH ONE CHRISTIAN MEDICAL TEAM (MEDICAL EXPLORER POST 4077 FROM TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY) DELIVERED WATER BOTTLES TO A CENTRAL VACCINATION SPOT
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In the spring of 2021, students in Mrs. June Bond’s middle school classes prayed for water bottle donations and designed labels with encouraging Christ-centered messages to be delivered to Vaccination Sites in Central Texas, where lines were so long that people had to wait for long hours in the cold or heat. Michelle Harper, CEO of United Way of Hays and Caldwell Counties and a San Marcos Academy middle school parent, had visited the classes and shared about the needs of our community. Covid-19 was hitting hard, and people were in long lines for hours with nothing to drink waiting for a vaccine. The students decided to help. When a parent heard the students were going to try to help by providing water bottles with messages about Christ’s love to vaccination sites, his company donated over 1,500 bottles of water. The students prayed for the money needed to buy labels. It was wonderful as we saw together all the different people who “felt” the prompting to give money. Students even donated small change of their own. They recorded and watched as God answered prayers for the money. They spent days designing and putting labels on the bottles. Our Corps of Cadets joined the younger students in carrying the packs of water to and from trucks and vans and delivering the bottles to the Medical Explorers, who took them to the sites. The students found a real need, for real people, and did the real work needed to be like Christ.
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Howard Payne University is a Christ-centered academic community dedicated to excellence by developing and equipping the whole person for intellectual inquiry, personal and professional integrity, and service to God and humanity.
Mission Projects: BSM served at the Heart of Texas Baptist Camp to help staff there prepare for camps during the summer months. WEEKLY FREE BREAKFAST - The weekly Free Lunch event, through which local churches fed students on a weekly basis, was changed to Free Breakfast, which allowed more churches to participate.
$2,000+
RAISED FOR GO NOW MISSIONS THROUGH 2 FUNDRAISERS
44
7
BSM MINISTRIES
6
LOCAL CHURCHES PARTICIPATED IN WEEKLY FREE BREAKFAST
HPU’s Baptist Student Ministry was led by a team of 14 students who facilitated seven ministries. The weekly Free Lunch event, through which local churches fed students on a weekly basis, was changed to Free Breakfast, which allowed more churches to participate. Six local churches fed students weekly during the spring semester. Also in the spring semester, the BSM served at the Heart of Texas Baptist Camp to help staff there prepare for camps during the summer months. Through two fundraisers, the BSM raised over $2,000 for Go Now Missions.
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The mission of Houston Baptist University is to provide a learning experience that instills in students a passion for academic, spiritual, and professional excellence as a result of our central confession, “Jesus Christ is Lord”.
Mission Projects: REACH 21 SPRING BREAK MISSION TRIP (12 STUDENTS SERVED) - Students spent the mornings serving at West Houston Assistance Ministries meeting the physical needs of people that increased during the pandemic and the afternoon was spent working with Urban Outreach doing after-school programming with kids at five different apartment complexes. LIFE TREE MINISTRIES - After School Programming with Refugee Children at an apartment complex near campus (6-10 students ministered) BSM HURRICANE LAURA RELIEF TRIP - Relief work with TBM Texans on Mission (12 Students and 2 staff members volunteered) LOCAL MEDICAL MISSIONS TEAM - Students found a desire to serve locally at Casa Buien Samaratano through medical missions (8 students served)
Lives Impacted:
4,693+ 46
HOUSTON WELCOMES REFUGEE MOVE-IN TEAMS - We partner with HWR to set up apartments for new refugee families on the day they arrive to the states (4 HBU students served) SUMMER 2020 GO NOW STUDENT MISSIONARIES (2 STUDENTS MINISTERED) - Students spent their summer in Austin, Texas working with church plants and the UT BSM on outreach to Muslim communities CHRISTMAS 2020 GO NOW STUDENT MISSIONARIES (3 STUDENTS MINISTERED) Students served with Go Now Missions, Operation Shoe Box with Operation Christmas Child, Mission Arlington and worked with refugees in Fort Worth, Texas SUMMER 2021 GO NOW STUDENT MISSIONARIES (5 STUDENTS SERVED) - Students served across the globe for their entire summer. Houston, Texas worked with Mission Centers Houston; Phoenix, Arizona working with refugees; Tacoma, Washington working with a church plant; Loveland, Colorado working with a church plant; and Zambia, Africa engaged and equipped youth in Zambia with evangelism and discipleship
500 1,500
PEOPLE WERE ESTIMATED TO BE IMPACTED THROUGH SUMMER 2020 GO NOW STUDENT MISSIONARIES
FAMILY OF 3
PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED THROUGH THE REACH 21 SPRING BREAK MISSION TRIP
WAS IMPACTED THROUGH HOUSTON WELCOMES REFUGEE MOVE-IN TEAMS
1,000+
20
PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED THROUGH CHRISTMAS 2020 GO NOW STUDENT MISSIONARIES
PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED THROUGH LOCAL MEDICAL MISSIONS TEAM
1,500+
150
PEOPLE WERE IMPACTED THROUGH SUMMER 2021 GO NOW STUDENT MISSIONARIES
CHILDREN WERE IMPACTED THROUGH LIFE TREE MINISTRIES
2021 IMPACT REPORT
Hurricane Laura Relief Trip Narrative Story
Campus Outreach, a parachurch ministry partner at HBU, hosted our discipleship program called Project Galveston (PG) this summer. Nine students from HBU joined other students from four state campuses for 9 weeks in Galveston being trained and equipped to read their Bible, pray, and share their faith. Along with discipleship groups, the students worked at a variety of jobs where they practically lived out all that they are learning about discipleship. The goal is to help students walk with Jesus and be equipped to share their faith for the rest of their lives! Our hope is that God would use Project Galveston to give students a strong foundation built on Him and that we would see them participate in His Kingdom even after they graduate.
It had already been a long day and we were wet with sweat through our clothing. We were given our last assignment, which was a large home on a corner lot. It belonged to an elderly couple and their back fence had been blown down by the hurricane with multiple large limbs strewn about on their property. Our team was tired, but the couple was such an encouragement to us. There were several limbs that it took three to four of us to move. We were about halfway done with our project when one of their neighbors showed up to check on them. He was a veteran and when he saw us working, he was so thankful that we were helping his neighbors. He returned home and then came back with a small zip lock bag full of American flag pins. He called them his hero pins. He gave each member of our team a hero pin because we were heroes to him and to his neighbors. While I do not know where this gentleman stood on matters of faith, I can tell you we were able to tell him that Jesus was the real hero, and we were able to pray with him and his neighbors. This moment stuck with the team and many of them still know exactly where their hero pin is.
• A total of 12 students attended with 9 students from HBU participating in Project Galveston • Of the 12 students who attended Project Galveston, all are evangelizing to the people God has placed around them After this semester 3 of our HBU students will have graduated. They are excited to impact their workplace with all they learned at Project Galveston.
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To deliver high quality healthcare emphasizing excellence and compassion consistent with the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.
Lives Impacted:
444,000
48
TREATED
3
17
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH
REDEDICATIONS/RECOMMITMENTS
4,428
179
PATIENT VISITS BY CHAPLAINS
WORSHIP SERVICES CONDUCTED
The year 2020-21 was a monumental year in our organization’s history. In October 2020, Hendrick successfully completed the purchase of two additional hospital campuses—the former Abilene Regional Medical Center and the former Brownwood Regional Medical Center—which enlarged the Hendrick mission while expanding access to quality healthcare to the region. Through this transformational transaction, we increased our capacity to 959 licensed beds; and all of this was done during the COVID-19 pandemic. To accentuate our new identity, our name was changed from Hendrick Health System to Hendrick Health; and we introduced a revised logo to reflect this change. Hendrick offers a comprehensive range of healthcare services, including women’s health, orthopedics, rehabilitation, oncology, neuroscience, cardiovascular, neonatal intensive care and children’s services. Additional highlights from the previous year include: opening of a new outpatient dialysis center; relocation of Hendrick Regional Blood Center; and opening of three new urgent care clinics—two in Abilene and one in Brownwood. Much energy and expense was focused on addressing issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Early on, we began offering virtual COVID-19 triage for the public and a curbside COVID-19 testing facility away from all acute care areas. We also partnered with other organizations to educate the public about COVID-19 and the benefits of vaccination, and we served as one of the primary distributors of the vaccine, especially to high-risk population groups. Our employees regularly volunteer their time, talents, and abilities to many civic and religious organizations. Qualified employees can also receive additional Paid Time Off to participate in approved mission projects.
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The mission of HardinSimmons University is to be a community dedicated to providing excellence in education, enlightened by Christian faith and values.
Mission Projects: CAMP ALLEN FAMILY RETREAT CAMP LONE TREE FAMILY RETREAT ABILENE WHEELCHAIR RAMP BUILD PROJECT GO NOW FRANCE REFUGEE PROJECT
REACH 21 SPRING BREAK MISSION GO NOW SEATTLE INNER CITY MINISTRY MISSION ARLINGTON ORTIZ ELEMENTARY CHRISTMAS MEAL OUTREACH
Lives Impacted: INDIVIDUALS AND SEVERAL FAMILIES
343+ Camp Allen Family Retreat
41
Go Now France Refugee Project
50
CAMPERS + FAMILIES
Camp Lone Tree Family Retreat
40
50
PEOPLE
Reach 21 Spring Break Mission
100
CAMPERS + FAMILIES Abilene Wheelchair Ramp Build Project
2 50
Mission Arlington
LOCAL FAMILES
PEOPLE
Go Now Seattle Inner City Ministry
30
PEOPLE
Ortiz Elementary Christmas Meal Outreach
30
FAMILIES
PEOPLE
At the heart of Hardin-Simmons University’s culture, you will find servant scholars. The vision statement of HSU exemplifies this principle. “Hardin-Simmons University will be an innovative community of servant scholars engaging the minds and nurturing the spirits of future Christian leaders.” This is lived out through the school’s commitment to missions both locally and abroad, where faculty, staff, and students come together to live out their faith by serving others and sharing the Gospel in tangible ways. Faculty incorporate service-learning opportunities into their curriculum to reinforce HSU’s responsibility to create “servant scholars.” These outreach activities and trips often focus on curriculum enrichment, allowing students the opportunity to use the skills and training learned in the classroom. Dr. Dennis O’Connell, Physical Therapy Professor and Co-Founder of HSU Physical Therapy Ministries, acquaints it as essential to the student experience. “In the Physical Therapy program, we focus on service learning. We believe it is important that we represent Christ by doing all we can to spread the Good News. We do this through service projects. We demonstrate our faith through being the hands and feet of Christ and sharing our beliefs as we do.” HSU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program participates in many different projects each year, both internationally and locally. One of their partners is Joni & Friends, whose goal is to be “committed to bringing the Gospel and practical resources to people impacted by disability around the globe.” In addition to their global relief projects, Joni & Friends hosts camps throughout the U.S. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2020 and 2021, the PT students and faculty could not reach the countries they usually visit. Instead, their outreach efforts focused closer to home. This past summer, 37 students and 4 faculty traveled to Camp Allen in Navasota, TX, to serve 41 campers and their families in a volunteer respite capacity. HSU students and faculty were matched with campers to provide one-on-one care for those with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities while their families were allowed space to recharge. The experience also provided a handson learning opportunity for students to learn about patient care and the importance of spreading the Gospel with compassion and understanding. “During the week at Family Retreat, I learned to see the soul of an individual and not just the body where it is housed. Working with individuals with severe disabilities demonstrated that sometimes the people with the most broken bodies have the most beautiful souls,” said second-year DPT student Parker Johnson. “For some of the individuals at camp, spoken communication isn’t an option, but that doesn’t mean they cannot communicate. Sometimes a smile or an explosion of laughter says so much more than our words ever could. I hope to carry this into my practice as a physical therapist through showing Christ-like unconditional love.” HSU students also chose to spend their time out of class participating in university-organized mission trips through the Baptist Student Ministry (BSM). These trips vary in location and size, but all focus on giving back to the community. Below is a sampling of the different projects and mission trips HSU students participated in for the 20202021 academic year. 51
As a Christ-centered institution, East Texas Baptist University educates students by integrating biblical faith and learning to develop mind, body, and soul through community engagement to prepare graduates to be Christian servant leaders in their calling to God and humanity.
Mission Projects: OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD - Collected shoebox gifts-filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items and delivered them to children in need around the world to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way.
Lives Impacted: CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES RECEIVED A BOX THAT INCLUDED THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL
300+
5TH ANNUAL
PARTICIPATION BY THE UNIVERSITY IN THE OUTREACH PROGRAM ORGANIZED BY SAMARITAN’S PURSE.
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East Texas Baptist University participated in its fifth annual Operation Christmas Child, an outreach program organized by Samaritan’s Purse. This year, ETBU Residence Life joined in the festivities, with each residence hall contributing shoeboxes to the cause. “It’s incredible to see the difference a simple shoebox gift can make in the life of a child. They bring the message of unconditional love and forgiveness found only in Jesus Christ,” President of Samaritan’s Purse Franklin Graham said. “There’s still nothing like seeing how one gift can impact the eternal destiny of a child.” ETBU collected more than 300 boxes, a record for the University. The ministry involves filling shoeboxes with small toys, school supplies, and other items that are sent to children all over the world as a Christmas gift and a tangible reminder of God’s love for them. “Participating in Operation Christmas Child is a rewarding experience, especially during the holidays when it is a time of giving,” senior speech communication major and tennis player Syvoney Ybarra said. “Not only is it a time to give, but it’s also a time to serve the Lord and others. It is important for the University to find ways to serve, especially in light of the pandemic and not being able to go into the community to serve during these tough times. This is a time when we need to be there for others.” Little did the students know that the very boxes they packed up in Marshall, Texas would reach a group of children outside of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico almost two months later. While on a mission outreach in Mexico at the time, a fellow Texan named Kevin Orr had the unique opportunity to watch the kids receive the boxes, and sent an e-mail to the University recounting the details of his experience when he returned to the States. “Back in January, I was on a 3-week trip to Mexico and joined a missions outreach with a church near Puerto Vallarta. We went to a small village in the mountains where we had to take a small fishing boat about two hours from the nearest road. To my surprise, I saw many Operation Christmas Child boxes ready to be given out to kids by the local church. I found a letter saying that ETBU was the location that packed the boxes and here are a few photos. I took a photo of a letter written from a girl named ‘Jessica from ETBU.’ I thought y’all would like to know that the boxes made it to the children and the Gospel was shared. A few of the parents came to know the Lord that day and many were blessed because of the hard work that ETBU did weeks or months before.” - Email from Kevin Orr
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The mission of Dallas Baptist University is to provide Christ-centered quality higher education in the arts, sciences, and professional studies at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to traditional age and adult students in order to produce servant leaders who have the ability to integrate faith and learning through their respective callings.
Mission Projects: SWAT (STUDENT AND WELCOME TRANSITION WEEK) SERVICE DAY 2020 SPIRITUAL LIFE GIVES BACK 2020 GREEK LIFE GIVES BACK 2020 CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP SERVICE DAYS WEST TEXAS TRIP SPRING BREAK 2021
Lives Impacted:
900
+
+
4,000 STUDENTS SERVED ACROSS THE STATE WITH 494 DIFFERENT CHURCHES, MINISTRIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR 54
Due to COVID-19, Dallas Baptist University (DBU) focused on safely partnering with organizations in their local community. During their 2020 Student and Welcome Transition Week (SWAT) Service Day, over 800 students participated in service projects in the surrounding areas. Incoming students, led by upperclassmen, served at organizations such as Voice of Hope, Grand Prairie Pregnancy Resource Center and Duncanville Independent School District. Throughout the 2020-2021 school year, students also served during the Spiritual Life Gives Back and Greek Life Gives Back, reaching an estimated 650 people. Over Spring Break, a group of 12 DBU students went on a mission trip to West Texas. Theyworked closely with three local churches in Midland/Odessa that are actively engaging The University of Texas Permian Basin and Midland College to relaunch a thriving BSM. They also served four 4 community ministries to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of the Permian Basin. One student shared their experience about the trip, saying, “The part of the trip that had the most impact on me was when we tore down a shed for a sweet older woman. She shared her story of hardship and pain with us, yet her faith and hope in the Lord was so evident. It was a great reminder that joy is not determined by circumstances. After we finished our work, we circled around the homeowner and prayed for her.” Due to COVID-19, we were not able to go on any mission trips during the summer and fall of 2020, but instead, we focused on safely partnering with organizations in our local community. In the spring of 2021, we were able to take a small group of students on a mission trip to Midland, Texas with our Baptist Student Ministry. Attached are a few photos from the various service opportunities students participated in. We are thankful for the work the Lord did through these local partnerships and look forward to the work He will do in this upcoming year!
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A family of Christian ministries that exists to honor God and build a better world by serving children and strengthening families.
Mission Projects: Through our four ministries, we met the pressing needs of the children, families, and young adults in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lives Impacted:
20,171
17,551
CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND PARENTS RECEIVED FREE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING
INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED COMMUNITY SERVICES THROUGH AFTERCARE AND REFERRALS
78
21
CHILDREN WERE SERVED THROUGH FOSTER CARE
21
CURRENT AND FORMER RESIDENTS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COLLEGE AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
11,618 56
1,866
KNOWN SPIRITUAL DECISIONS
237
CHILDREN, SINGLE MOTHERS, AND YOUNG ADULTS RECEIVED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES IN MINISTRY TO OUR RESIDENTIAL CAMPUSES
A common thread weaves through the lives of the children, single mothers and young adults in residence at Texas Baptist Children’s Home and Gracewood, the teenage boys in care at Miracle Farm, and the families we counsel through STARRY in the community. Beyond the housing, counseling and other vital support they receive through our ministries, their souls need healing. One of our greatest joys comes from watching those we serve begin to blossom as they experience the restoration that can only come through God’s grace and a relationship with a loving Savior. Tamara, one of the single mothers living at our Gracewood campus in Houston, is a beautiful example of God’s healing power. When she first moved into care last October, Tamara was timid and very withdrawn. She felt lost in the sea of chaos that surrounded her. She had finally mustered up the courage to leave an unhealthy, threatening relationship, but was immediately hit with carrying the full weight of creating a good home for her 3-year-old little girl, Chloe. She didn’t have a job or savings and was deeply in debt. The weight of everything she had gone through and everything she now faced in her new independence was crushing her spirit. During her admission interview with our Gracewood program director, one of the things Tamara shared was her deep longing for a way to reconnect with God and reset the broken pieces of her soul. Stepping into an atmosphere saturated with Godly influences offered the healing she needed. As God restored Tamara’s heart, He also lifted her confidence. She quickly landed a full-time job and in six short months, had already been promoted and earned a pay raise. Her persistent efforts helped her pay off her debts and save several thousand dollars to create a nest egg that she’ll use to build a new life after she leaves Gracewood. Tamara and Chloe recently passed the one-year mark of living at Gracewood, and they are looking toward the future with confidence. With her newfound boldness, Tamara had the courage to begin attending online school full-time to earn a Bachelor’s degree. She plans to use her education to build a career as a counselor and help families like hers overcome similar obstacles. We are so grateful for the prayers and support we received in the past year from Texas Baptists that equipped our ministries to help families like Tamara and Chloe. Because of you, God is transforming their whispers of sorrow into shouts of joy.
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Buckner International transforms the lives of vulnerable children, enriches the lives of senior adults, and builds strong families through Christ-centered values.
Mission Projects: BUCKNER SHOES FOR ORPHAN SOULS® BUCKNER FAMILY PATHWAYS
Lives Impacted:
125,011
1,129 155
CHILDREN WHO FOUND A FOREVER HOME THROUGH ADOPTION
404
SINGLE PARENTS AND CHILDREN SERVED THROUGH BUCKNER FAMILY PATHWAYS
36,258
SERVED THROUGH OTHER MINISTRIES
79,256
TOTAL NUMBER OF SERVED THROUGH MINISTRIES (NON DUPLICATE)
45,755
ADDITIONALLY SERVED THROUGH BUCKNER SHOES FOR ORPHAN SOULS®
413 58
CHILDREN SERVED THROUGH INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC FOSTER CARE
PROFESSIONS OF FAITH
The COVID-19 pandemic was one of the biggest threats to our way of ministry in 142 years. It was a year that also posed a new set of threats to those we serve, the vulnerable. You see, we serve a population in Texas and six countries that is always distanced: They’re distanced by cultural perception, poverty, education, status and lack of opportunity. When you start from a position of weakness, additional barriers only serve to put you further behind. We also serve residents and members of six senior living communities in the state, a population identified early during the pandemic as especially at-risk and vulnerable from the illness. The coronavirus threatened the health of those we are committed to protect.
I saw our other team members pivot from serving families at ministry sites to serving them on video conferencing sites. The families we serve domestically and internationally were at immense risk, so we sent 382 tons of aid in response. Children were kept safe through the continuing miracles provided by foster care and adoption. 413 professions of faith in Christ made by our children and their families during the year: Most of these occurred during a time of social distancing and were made as our teams communicated with clients through digital media such as Teams, Zoom or WhatsApp. God never ceases moving in people’s lives. We never ceased operation And the biggest miracle? In a world that said, “Shut down for your safety,” Buckner kept serving with courage – even if it was six feet apart or through digital platforms.
I saw miracles but when the vulnerable were distanced, we all stood in the gap – supporters, volunteers, Buckner team members – and I saw miracles happen. I watched as our senior living leadership team and associates became heroes almost overnight, implementing protective protocols while still serving our residents and members in the spirit of our promise of Inspiring happiness.®
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The mission of Baylor University is to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.
Mission Projects: MISSIONS WEEK - provides missions education and raises student awareness about the possibilities to grow, love, and serve both through Baylor mission trips as well as with many global and community partners.
Lives Impacted:
17,000+ 18
ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATED IN MISSION WEEK
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17,000 MEALS DELIVERED
Because of a global pandemic that led to travel restrictions, Baylor Missions collaborated with faculty partners in different disciplines to engage their classes in experiential virtual mission projects. The students connected with local and global community partners via web conferencing technology to identify needs and implement action plans.
Baylor students planned and designed the market, and Baylor Missions will fund the market’s physical construction. Albeit through a computer screen, seeing the looks on the One More Child representatives’ faces to this news was Dunayer’s favorite moment in the semester-long project.
Addi Smith Dunayer, B.B.A. ’21, was part of a team of entrepreneurship students tasked with designing an artisan market and a sustainable business model and marketing plan for villagers served by Baylor global partner One More Child in a remote area of the Dominican Republic. Dunayer says it was inspiring to see what could be accomplished on behalf of a village nearly 2,000 miles away.
Rebecca Kennedy, assistant dean of Spiritual Life, anticipates the day when Baylor will be able to again send students on mission trips around the globe.
“Something I’ve definitely struggled with is how to pursue God’s mission whenever I’m not in the trenches of the quote-unquote mission field, but I’m going into corporate America,” Dunayer says. “This project definitely opened my eyes to the fact that my God-given strengths and the major I chose can directly benefit the Kingdom of God in ways that I didn’t realize when I was entering college.” Dunayer, who majored in accounting and finance, begins a commercial banking job in Dallas this summer.
“There will always be something uniquely transformative about international travel and what it does for a student to be immersed in every way,” Kennedy says. “But we also have to make these opportunities accessible, and technology has helped us do that.” Baylor Missions turned their attention to serving Baylor students who were isolated and quarantined due to the Covid-19 virus. The department used its logistical and strategic skills to create a system for meal and mail delivery to students who could not leave their rooms for a CDC-recommended amount of time. In the end, Baylor Missions, with assistance from other Student Life staff, delivered over 17,000 meals during the academic school year. Our campus became our mission field to help those in need.
“It’s also made me realize that whatever my career looks like, if I do everything I can with excellence unto the Lord, it will make an impact on the people around me,” she says. 61
Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Scott & White Health promotes the well-being of all individuals, families and communities.
Mission Projects: CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS - Students receive educational hours in the theory and practice of spiritual care, and they provide hours of ministry to patients at Baylor Scott & White hospitals. CHAPLAINCY - Chaplains reach out to those who are grieving in the community and provide muchneeded comfort. FAITH IN ACTION INITIATIVES - regularly distributes medical supplies and sends staff on missions. BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE HILLCREST MEDICAL CENTER FIAI - program provides free use of medical equipment to enhance the lives of community members.
Lives Impacted:
2,342+
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12 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, OVER 2,200 GRIEVING FAMILIES, 130 INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED SURGERY
1,700
3,500
EDUCATIONAL HOURS
HOURS OF MINISTRY
12
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
130
$20 MILLION+
SURGERIES PERFORMED THANKS TO MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT SHIPPED TO ESWATINI
DOLLARS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTED BY FAITH IN ACTION INITIATIVES
The educational arm of the Office of Mission & Ministry (OMM) has a strong international presence and influence. During the last year, 12 international students from Africa, Asia and Europe participated in our Clinical Pastoral Education programs. The students received a combined total of 1,700 educational hours in the theory and practice of spiritual care, and they provided 3,500 hours of ministry to patients at Baylor Scott & White hospitals. The students graduated with a quality theological experiential education and will serve as ambassadors of our Christian ministry of healing in Texas and around the world. In a similar way, spiritual care by chaplains extends far beyond our facility walls. Chaplains reach out to those who are grieving in the community and provide much-needed comfort. During the month of October, BSWH chaplains found creative ways to honor precious little ones received by God in the early dawn of their lives. For example, one virtual video service received more than 2,000 views. Bereaved families and staff members expressed gratitude for the service, with one mother stating, “Thank you so much for a beautiful and memorable service.” At one site, chaplains offered a private butterfly release to honor those who have experienced pregnancy and infant losses. Still another hospital mailed remembrance boxes to families. These efforts reached an additional 200 family members and friends throughout the Baylor Scott & White system.
Mission outreach is at the heart of all that we do. We support the only health system-based agency that regularly distributes medical supplies and sends staff on missions. This branch of OMM, called Faith In Action Initiatives (FIAI), did more than double the work of previous years by distributing over $20 million dollars of medical supplies, equipment and personal protective equipment around the world from July 2020 through June 2021. In one instance, FIAI shipped medical supplies and equipment to a hospital in Eswatini (in Southern Africa) where doctors were able to perform 130 surgeries. The people were grateful and stated, “Together with your support, we have been able to accomplish more than we could imagine.” FIAI also has a strong local impact. In Waco, a Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center FIAI program provides free use of medical equipment to enhance the lives of community members. Recently, our Second Life Resources warehouse was able to lend a family a wheelchair for a couple of days so they could take their grandmother on a family outing to the zoo. The family was ecstatic and expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to all be together.
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The mission of Baptist University of the Américas, as an institution of higher education, is the formation, from the Hispanic context, of crosscultural Christian leaders.
Mission Projects: FALL BREAK MISSION TRIP TO MISSION ARLINGTON – The main focus was to assist Mission Arlington in preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas outreach events. RIVER MINISTRY TRIP – The main focus was to serve border refugees, the homeless community and a local church through feeding ministries, cleaning bathroom and shower facilities and teaching children. MINISTRY TO HOMELESS COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO – Partnering with Church on the Bridge, students fed the homeless community in attendance and handed out backpacks with much-needed supplies for winter. SPRING BREAK MISSION EFFORTS IN SAN ANTONIO – In partnership with FBC San Antonio and a local nonprofit, students served in local apartment communities conducting Bible clubs and activities with children. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS IN SAN ANTONIO – Students served at multiple Vacation Bible Schools held at several local churches in the San Antonio area.
Lives Impacted:
2,000
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7
CHURCHES IN 5 COMMUNITIES, CITIES AND TOWNS SERVED BY CHURCHES
2,000
LIVES ARE ESTIMATED TO BE IMPACTED THROUGH THEIR WORK
Through mission trips, Baptist University of the Américas students served seven churches in five communities, cities and towns. We estimate that 2,000 lives were impacted through their work. Alondra Gonzalez, a student at BUA, shared about his experience serving at Mission Arlington, where he and other students helped prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas outreach events. ”This was my first ever mission trip. It really changed my perspective on how I serve. The first couple of days we cleaned cans and moved boxes. At first, I did not think that I was making much of a difference, however, someone said, ‘It’s not what you are doing, it’s who you are doing it for.’, that changed the way I view serving. It might not have meant much to me initially, but I was not doing it for me, but for God and the people who needed it.,” Gonzalez shared. “At that point, I took everything in stride. I would have happily finished another container full of cans if it meant that people would be able to eat Thanksgiving food for Thanksgiving. I would have happily continued moving boxes if it meant that kids would get the Christmas presents they wanted. And I would have done it because that is what God wanted me to do. There was a point when we had to go out and serve snacks and food to people living in apartments. I don’t really like meeting new people, so I got very nervous. But I felt that I needed to. I like serving in the background. However, I felt that God was telling me that He needed me to serve in that area. Thank you, BUA, for making this opportunity possible!”
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Together, we perform Sacred Work by uniting Kindness, Quality and Healing…ALWAYS.
Mission Projects: PARTNERSHIPS - Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas partner with the churches of the Golden Triangle, Emmanuel, New Bethel, Sabine Valley and Trinity River Baptist Associations to assist churches, their staff, and members to minister within the healthcare context of illness and trauma. TRAINING - The Chaplaincy Department provides training and in-services pertaining to healthcare ministries to these associations and the staff and congregants of the member churches.
Lives Impacted: NURSES AND FAMILIES, AMONG COUNTLESS OTHERS
880
66
613
FAMILIES ASSISTED WITH MEDICINE, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, FOOD, LODGING, AND UTILITY PAYMENTS BY THE CHAPLAIN’S EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND
127
REGISTERED NURSES PROVIDED CONTINUING EDUCATION THROUGH SIX WEBINARS
141
REGISTERED NURSES TRAINED BY BAPTIST HOSPITALS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS
The Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas partner with the churches of the Golden Triangle, Emmanuel, New Bethel, Sabine Valley and Trinity River Baptist Associations to assist churches, their staff, and members to minister within the healthcare context of illness and trauma. The Chaplaincy Department provides training and in-services pertaining to healthcare ministries to these associations and the staff and congregants of the member churches. During the COVID-19 pandemic in particular, the Chaplaincy has networked with church staff to serve the needs of patients and their disenfranchised loved ones not permitted into the COVID-19 treatment environment under CDC guidelines. At the Faith Community Resource Center located on our campus, registered nurses learn to develop health ministries that relate directly to the unique needs of the members of their congregations and communities. They provide congregational and individual health assessments, education, spiritual care, and referral for care and follow-up. Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas has trained 140 registered nurses. This year additionally our Resource Center provided continuing education to 127 registered nurses through six webinars. Our Faith Community Nurses are working with health departments, civic organizations, and military groups to help establish COVID vaccination stations throughout our area. In addition, a select group of Faith Community Nurses are providing homebound ministry programs that includes providing letters of encouragement and making concerted phone calls to pray with and assess congregants’ needs. Many Faith Community Nurses are also developing research through the local university related to a health program providing residents isolated within long-term care facilities with artwork and letters. Faith Community Nurses serve as health ministers providing classic weekday ministry to both the congregations they serve and the surrounding community. Established almost fifty years ago, the Chaplain’s Emergency Relief Fund is a Christian Social Ministry outreach to underserved and indigent patients and their families. This year we have assisted 613 families with medicine, medical equipment, food, lodging, and utilities payments. The Chaplaincy Department has maintained a robust ministry to hospital staff through personal pastoral support during the extreme emotional and physical demands of the pandemic during 2021. 67
We help people achieve health for life through compassionate service inspired by faith.
Lives Impacted:
337,000
36,455 PATIENT VISITS BY CHAPLAINS
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PATIENTS TREATED
2,692
PASTORAL COUNSELING VISITS
Baptist Health System (BHS) has been providing quality healthcare to the South Texas region since 1903. Over the past 118 years, BHS has grown from a small downtown hospital into six acute care hospitals across the San Antonio region with multiple imaging, rehab, and outpatient service centers, as well as a School of Health Professions and eight Baptist Emergency Hospitals. As a part of Tenet Health, BHS is known for its quality and safety with repeated Leapfrog patient safety recognitions and consistently earning high marks for quality metrics. BHS is at the forefront of many highly-needed services such as cardiac, comprehensive stroke, orthopedic, neonatal and labor and delivery services. Our North Central and St Luke’s Baptist hospitals have recently earned Level IV status to provide the highest quality of services to our most vulnerable in our neonatal and women patients. Mission Trail Baptist Hospital has recently opened “The Nest” to provide additional Labor, Delivery, Postpartum and NICU services to South San Antonio. Three Baptist hospitals -- Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, North Central Baptist Hospital, as well as Resolute Health Hospital in New Braunfels -- join more than 260 health care institutions nationwide that have implemented “Own the Bone” education for osteoporotic patients and are Star Performers. Through the Own the Bone program and its national web-based quality improvement registry, all three hospitals are equipped with the tools to establish a fracture liaison service (FLS) and to document, track, and benchmark care of fragility fracture patients. To meet the special needs of adult heart failure patients and enhance their transition of care from discharge to home, Northeast Baptist Hospital has developed The Heart Failure Clinic, a part of The Baptist Heart and Lung Center. The main goal of the Clinic is to reduce the symptoms of heart failure with a focus on improving outcomes and the quality of life for patients. The Heart Failure Clinic assists in goals of care and advanced care planning, regardless of the stage of illness. The most visible way that the faith-based mission of BHS is fulfilled is through the pastoral care for patients, guests and staff. Meaningful spiritual care services exceeded 36,000 patient visits. Our 18 frontline staff chaplains and 11 CPE students administered these visits while offering 24/7 chaplain availability during the height of the pandemic. During this past year, many additional hours of staff support were offered to help debrief critical situations as well as to build resiliency among our staff. In recognition of superb ministry, Pastoral Care Directors Katie Ivey (Mission Trail Baptist Hospital) and Jeremy Roy (Resolute Health Hospital) were selected as Tenet Heroes for their exceptional ministry and staff support at their facilities through the peaks of the Covid-19 surges in South Texas. 69
Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio is committed to improving the health of our community by fostering and funding clinical, educational, spiritual and scientific initiatives while honoring God and our Baptist heritage.
Mission Projects: DISASTER RELIEF GRANTS - These grants provide proactive and reactive funding to organizations responding to human needs requiring immediate attention following the declaration of a disaster. SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS - These grants provide scholarship funding to colleges and universities offering health education in Bexar County and surrounding counties. RESPONSIVE GRANTS - These grants provide funding of up to $300,000 for mid- to large-sized organizations working to improve health in our community. COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS - These grants of up to $15,000 support smaller initiatives and organizations that have a large impact on community health. STRATEGIC TO MISSION GRANTS - These grants help ensure attention, priority, and funding are given to each of the Foundation’s God-inspired and God-appointed Mission Focus Areas of supporting initiatives that are clinical, educational, spiritual, and scientific.
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Lives Impacted:
103
ORGANIZATIONS GIVEN GRANTS
$8,155,843 30
AWARDED IN GRANTS IN 2020, A 27% INCREASE FROM 2019
OF THE ORGANIZATIONS GRANTED IN 2020 IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS FAITH-BASED
20
OF THE ORGANIZATIONS GRANTED IN 2020 WERE FIRST-TIME GRANTEES
One of Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio’s 2020 Strategic to Mission grants went toward a Mobile Wellness Unit, the product of five local nonprofits’ collaboration. This program provides mental health counseling and care from licensed professionals to students in two of San Antonio’s highest need school districts. BHFSA’s gift of $291,500 allowed expansion of the project to a third district, and met the Strategic to Mission Committee’s declared 2020 goal of fostering improved mental health in youth through science-based initiatives.
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BAPTIST COMMUNITY SERVICES Our mission is to oversee and provide all levels of services for senior adults and health promotion to all of our residents and customers in a Christian atmosphere of love and understanding.
Mission Projects: ROVING CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM - Each chaplain provides spiritual care for the residents/clients & employees of three different organizations or facilities, dedicating 13-14 hours a week to each.
Lives Impacted: RESIDENTS, CLIENTS AND STAFF
4,054
GROWN FROM SERVING 3 ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVING 21 IN 13 YEARS
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Chaplain Byron is one of seven chaplains serving nursing homes and assisted living facilities, a low-income senior adult apartment community, a Christian school, and 2 non-profit community outreach centers across Amarillo. This is a story he shared about his experience at one of those nursing homes. “I have known Mable (not her real name) for several years. She has lived in 3 buildings on the campus, progressing to various needs of care. As Mable began to open up about some of the struggles in her life, it became evident that she had some unresolved issues with certain family members. These seemed to stem from money issues and other relationship issues, brought on mostly by her straight-forward, sometimes abrupt, method of communication. Oftentimes, I would encourage her to have more grace and mercy with family members. One day, Mable showed me a registered letter she had received from her daughter. The letter was harsh and put some very strong restrictions on communications between them. Mable was heartbroken over this. I felt a strong sense of leading from the Lord to try and help mend this relationship as Mable’s health was rapidly declining. After much prayer, I reached out to the daughter to see if I could facilitate some healing in the relationship. After several phone calls and a face-to-face meeting with the daughter, eventually, all of us came together, and there was a beautiful reconciliation between them. During that time, Mable bragged to me how beautiful a person her daughter was in both her personality and physically. Her daughter talked of the great life lessons Mable had taught her and how thankful she was to have had the raising she did. Mable’s daughter spent the last several days of Mable’s life at her bedside, reminiscing about events and sharing stories with each other. I was able to pray with them shortly before Mable died. The family asked me to speak at Mable’s memorial service to which I am honored to do. God moved in very great and gentle ways to bring healing to this family, and I was blessed to witness it.” 73
is now
New name, same great Bible study curriculum Beginning in the summer of 2021, BaptistWay Press is becoming GC2 Press. This name change reflects our driving passion to fulfill the Great Commision and the Great Commandment - the two “GCs” - by sharing Christ and showing love. GC2 Press will continue to publish the same solid, biblical CONNECT 360 Bible study curriculum in the print and digital formats. These undated, quarterly materials are currently being distributed in 38 states and 16 countries and have been translated into seven different languages.
Find your resources online at GC2press.org
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MINISTRY PARTNERS
Texas Baptists is grateful for the work and ministry of numerous partners who share Christ and show love in Texas and beyond through disaster relief, state missions, cultural engagement and more. Learn more under “Partners” at txb.org/ministries.
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At Denison Ministries we’re resourcing millions of people with daily content, combining the power of meaningful content with modern technology. Because we believe that meaningful content transforms lives, and transformed lives transform the world around them.
Mission Projects: DENISON FORUM - Denison Forum (DenisonForum.org) had a monthly aggregate audience of 2.3 million people. The Daily Article email has over 359,000 subscribers. Denison Forum content was viewed 1.293 million times on Youtube and had over 440,000 social media followers. Dr. Denison released multiple books including, Biblical Insights to Tough Questions vols 6-8, Every Hour I Need Thee, Respectfully, I Disagree, and Bright Hope for Tomorrow. FIRST15 - First15 (First15.org) completed the release of its 12 volume First15 Devotional series in print. The aggregate monthly audience across all platforms reached 1.9 million people. Our Spanish language devotional Primeros15 (Primeros 15.org) continued to gain readers and impact Spanish-speaking believers. First15 also launched First15 Worship, an initiative designed to help people connect with God through worship every day of the week. First15 Worship collaborates with songwriters, artists, and producers to create songs that are specifically designed for a believer’s daily time in God’s presence (First15Worship.org). CHRISTIAN PARENTING - Christian Parenting (ChristianParenting.org) increased its monthly aggregate audience to 623,417 people. The CP podcast network curated the best parenting podcasts from across the country with over 195,000 downloads each month. CP also released three books: Marked by Prayer, A Parent’s Prayer Journal, A Parent’s Guide to a New Baby, and A Parent’s Guide to Sorrow and Suffering. Christian Parenting also hosted its first-ever Perfectly Imperfect Digital Event created to give parents the practical and spiritual help they need in an easily accessible digital format. Together, parents set aside perfection to grow into the perfectly imperfect parent we were made to be. FOUNDATIONS WITH JANET DENISON - Foundations with Janet Denison (FoundationsWithJanet.org) produced an online Bible study series entitled A Foundation of Faith, that was created in a digital format for people to be able to consume during the pandemic. She also released her tenth advent devotional entitled Our Christmas Stories. The aggregate reach of Janet’s blogs, Bible studies, books, and articles reached over 69,000 people per month.
Lives Impacted:
7,492,417
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Denison Forum
2.3 MILLION
359,000+
MONTHLY AGGREGATE AUDIENCE
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS
1.3 MILLION
440,000+
VIEWS ON YOUTUBE
SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS
4.9 MILLION
TESTIMONIALS:
BELIEVERS OF AGGREGATE AUDIENCE EACH MONTH
First15
12 VOLUME
FIRST15 DEVOTIONAL SERIES RELEASED IN PRINT
1.9 MILLION
PEOPLE OF THE AGGEGRATE MONTHLY AUDIENCE WERE REACHED ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS
Christian Parenting
623,417
INCREASE IN MONTHLY AGGREGATE AUDIENCE
195,000+
DOWNLOADS OF THE CP PODCAST NETWORK EACH MONTH
Foundations with Janet Denison
69,000+
Denison Forum “I enjoy reading your articles every day. I felt led to start a men’s group in my neighborhood that I refer to as ‘Garage Theology.’ We meet once a week for an hour in my garage and talk about life and current events. I use your articles as a reference quite often. Thank you!” - John
First15. “Been starting my day with your devotional for about a year...truly life-giving. I absolutely love it and find that it completely changed the way I go about living, and I find myself reflecting throughout the day what I read/listened to in the morning. The past five years have found me going through a trial unlike any other in my life and your ministry has helped me find peace that most are surprised I have.” - Noel
Christian Parenting “I love y’all! You point me to truth, grace, and the hope of Jesus in living my daily life and parenting my girls. So grateful!!” - Julie
Foundations with Janet Denison “It is a profound privilege to experience the presence of our Lord in and through this ministry! We see through the lens of God’s Word and embrace the Gospel with courage and conviction to live and serve according to His purposes. Thank you for your wise and compassionate leadership.” - Monica
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Texas Baptist Men delivers help, hope and healing through disaster relief and water ministry around the world and raises up the next generation to do likewise.
Mission Projects: WINTER STORM RELIEF - When winter storms left roughly 8 million Texans without access to clean drinking water, Texas Baptist Men set up distribution centers to deliver more than 69,000 water bottles to those in need.
Lives Impacted:
69,000
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DISTRIBUTION CENTERS
69,000+
WATER BOTTLES DISTRIBUTED
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In February, winter storms plummeted Texas into historic freezing temperatures, ravaging the state’s water supply and pushing its power grid to the brink. In their wake, roughly 8 million Texans had no access to clean drinking water as they struggled with broken pipes. Thanks to the generosity of Woman’s Missionary Union, TBM volunteers provided immediate relief in the name of Christ. TBM distributed more than 69,000 bottles of water within days of the storms, including efforts in senior living communities, apartment complexes and citywide initiatives. In one of those locations, water was delivered to about 80 disabled veterans who had gone without water for days. Because of their physical limitations, they were struggling. Bottled water helped them carry on. At an apartment complex in Houston, residents and volunteers unloaded a trailer load of water after having none for days.
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At the Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas (WMU of Texas), we are passionate about empowering Christfollowers to radically participate in the mission of God. In partnership with national Woman’s Missionary Union®, we offer mission small groups and approaches, as well as ministries, that enable every member of the church to learn about missions, become involved in missions, and live a missional lifestyle.
Mission Projects: WINTER STORM RELIEF - When winter storms plummeted Texas into historic freezing temperatures, roughly 8 million Texans lost access to clean drinking water. Through the generosity of WMU of Texas, TBM distributed more than 69,000 bottles of water within days of the storm. In one location, water was delivered to about 80 disabled veterans who had gone without water for days. CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S JOB CORPS® AND CHRISTIAN MEN’S JOB CORPS® CWJC and CMJC seek to equip women and men, in a Christian context, for life and employment. Lives continue to be literally transformed through these two vibrant ministries that help participants gain self-confidence, purpose, direction, and hope for the future. WMU of Texas provides the framework for 41 sites scattered all across Texas. Each site is independent and provides services tailored to the needs of the residents in their area. Our sites serve single moms, ex-offenders, sex traffic victims, working poor, generational poverty, disabled, teens, immigrants, young and old. No two sites are completely the same, but all create transformed lives through our core values of Bible study, prayer, unconditional love, mentors, and life skills training.
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Lives Impacted:
2,176
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PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS IMPACTED
33
CWJC/CMJC SITES
NEW CHRISTIANS
806
1,370
CWJC/CMJC PARTICIPANTS
VOLUNTEERS
From the streets to the classroom, a CWJC success story KERRVILLE—Suzie (not her real name) was a 16 year old meth addict who lived on the street. She found herself pregnant. Her current boyfriend attempted to murder her and the baby. Suzie was able to escape, and found safety in an empty, dilapidated shed. There was no electricity, and she raided trash cans for food. Still hooked on meth, she found herself in labor and delivered the baby boy in this old shed. A passerby heard her and took the baby and Suzie to the hospital where the baby was found to be healthy. Suzie vowed to get clean. Suzie went to Arms of Hope, a home for homeless women, and they told her about Christian Women’s Job Corps. She applied to CWJC, was accepted, and graduated with the goal of fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher. She was accepted at a college and is currently making straight A’s. In 21 years of service, CWJC Kerr County has graduated 453 women with a 90 – 92% employment rate.
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WOMEN GRADUATED WITH A 90-92% EMPLOYMENT RATE
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Stay equipped, encouraged and informed. Sign up or update your preferences at our new online subscription center. txb.org/subscribe
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LIVES IMPACTED
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Thanks to your Cooperative Program investment of $26 million, more than 9 million lives have been impacted through collaborative missions efforts of the Texas Baptists ministry partners and staff featured in this first-of-its-kind Impact Report.
OVER 9 MILLION LIVES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED THROUGH COLLABORATIVE MISSION EFFORTS OF TEXAS BAPTISTS MINISTRY PARTNERS AND STAFF
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LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR In this pandemic era, thousands are coming to faith in Christ and you have a strategic part in this spiritual harvest. When you give to the Cooperative Program, you are ensuring Texas Baptists can continue to Share Christ and Show Love where needed most.
Read the 2020 CP Annual Report and find more info at: txb.org/cp
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Your dollars go from your church to churches and ministries around the world to fund Kingdom work taking place in Texas and beyond! All of us are needed to reach our neighbors in need with the Gospel through cooperation and prayerful ministry.
waco, tx
2022 TEXAS BAPTISTS
Annual Meeting A movement of God’s people Texas Baptists is a movement of God’s people to share Christ and show love by strengthening churches and ministers, engaging culture, and connecting the nations to Jesus. Experience the practice and power of cooperation in Waco in 2022.
november 13-15, 2022
waco convention center
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Connect with Us Receive our Texas Baptists Life magazine and newsletter by emailing subscriptions@txb.org. Social Media Facebook @texasbaptists Twitter @texasbaptists instagram Instagram @texasbaptists Contact
(888) 244-9400
7557 Rambler Road, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75231-2388
txb.org
Share Christ. Show Love.
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