Impact Report 2022

A GC2 Celebration of Missions

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter from David Hardage 4

GC2 Vision Statement 5

Texas Baptists Ministry Centers Overview 6

CENTER FOR MINISTERIAL HEALTH 8

CENTER FOR CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT 10

CENTER FOR COLLEGIATE MINISTRY 12

CENTER FOR CHURCH HEALTH 14

CENTER FOR MISSIONAL ENGAGEMENT 16

BOUNCE 17

River Ministry 18 Church Starting & Rreplanting 19 Devoted 19

The Pastor’s Common 20

Church Planting Centers 20

Philippi Church / Organic Church 21

Texas Baptists Missionaries 22

Embrace 22

Missionary Adoption Program (MAP) 23

Minister of Missions (MOM) 23

Community Ministry 24

ASSOCIATIONS 25

Heart of Texas Baptist Network 26

Union Baptist 27

INSTITUTIONS 29

Baptist Community Services 30

Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio 31

Baptist Health Systems 32

Baptist Hospitals for Southeast Texas 33 Baptist University of the Américas 34

Baylor Scott & White Health 35 Baylor University 36 Buckner International 37

Children at Heart Ministries 38 Dallas Baptist University 39

East Texas Baptist University 40 Hardin-Simmons University 41

Hendrick Health System 42

Houston Christian University 43 Howard Payne University 44 San Marcos Baptist Academy 45

South Texas Children’s Home Ministries 46

Stark College and Seminary 47

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 48

Valley Baptist Missions Education Center 49 Wayland Baptist University 50

MINISTRY PARTNERS 51

Denison Ministries 52 Texas Baptist Men 53

Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas 54

LIVES IMPACTED 56

Hello Texas Baptists!

Every Sunday I have the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ and the incredible work of Texas Baptists in a different church across Texas. I look forward to each Sunday, as every church is different. However, the complimentary themes of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment make each Lord’s Day similar.

Every week, I hear our fellow Texas Baptists say how glad they are to be a part of our collective work and how they didn’t know we were doing so much good together.

The purpose of this Impact Report is to give you a glimpse of the mission and ministry we do together. There’s a lot of information in this report, yet it still doesn’t tell the whole story. When one combines the work of our Convention, our partner institutions and, of course, all our churches and their partners, we truly are making a positive Kingdom difference.

I sincerely hope you are encouraged and inspired by the facts and figures you find here. Please use this Impact Report to encourage your church to continue faithfully and generously giving to the Cooperative Program and through our annual Mary Hill Davis Offering for State Missions.

Thank you for your support. I’m praying that the best days of the Baptist General Convention of Texas are still ahead, making a greater impact for the Lord in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.

Blessings to you all.

Sincerely,

David Hardage

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.

THE CENTER FOR CHURCH HEALTH

MINISTRIES:

Church Health Strategy Evangelism Discipleship

Music & Worship Church Architecture GC2 Press

Women’s Ministry

Single & Adult Ministry

PHIL MILLER director

(214) 828-5213 phil.miller@txb.org

“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

THE CENTER FOR MINISTERIAL HEALTH

MINISTRIES:

Minister Connection Area Representatives Counseling Services Financial Health Western Heritage Bivocational Pastors

Interim Church Services Pastor Strong Initiative

DOWELL LOFTIS director

(214) 828-5275 dowell.loftis@txb.org

“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

THE CENTER FOR CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT

MINISTRIES:

Christian Life Commission

Texas Baptists en Español

African American Ministries

Intercultural Ministries Chaplaincy Relations

KATIE FRUGÉ director

(214) 828-5286 katie.fruge@txb.org

“The Center for Cultural Engagement helps equip Texas Baptists to engage in our respective communities. Each ministry is uniquely equipped and works collaboratively with a purpose. God calls us to be salt and light. We help bring others into community with God’s people by building bridges between groups, seeking justice, healing brokenness, confronting systemic evils, empowering, equipping and going beyond the walls of a building to see the church reach its maximum potential.

– Katie Frugé

MINISTRIES:

Baptist Student Ministry

Go Now Missions TX College Church

MARK JONES

director

(214) 828-5255 mark.jones@txb.org

“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 partnerships with local churches to develop future leaders.”

– Mark Jones

THE CENTER FOR MISSIONAL ENGAGEMENT

MINISTRIES:

Church Starting & Replanting

River Ministry & Mexico Missions BOUNCE & Disaster Recovery Missionary Adoption Program

Minister of Missions Texas Baptists Missionaries House Churches & Philippi Churches

Minister’s Development & Mobilization

Church Planting Centers Community Missions

JOSUÉ VALERIO

director

(214) 828-5212 josue.valerio@txb.org

“The Center for Missional Engagement connects churches with missional opportuni ties whether that is in their community, the city, the state, the U.S. 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

Ministry Centers

Ministerial Health

Mission Projects:

AREA REPRESENTATIVES - The Area Representatives team is strategically located in several regions throughout the Lone Star State. This team is continually aiding Texas Baptists pastors and congregations in fulfilling the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.

Lives Impacted: OVER

15,000+

distributed to ministers experiencing financial challenges $306,000 IN GRANTS AND MATCHING FUNDS

The Center for Ministerial Health invests in Texas Baptists ministers to encourage them toward excellence so they can be their best to serve the Lord and His people. between Area Representatives and church leaders in 2021 CONTACTS 13,493

Spiritual fingerprints and footprints are constantly made by the “missionary” pastors, staff and church leaders of our Texas Baptists churches. In South Central Texas, we observe Brother Jack Hutson, Pastor of FBC, Vanderbilt, ministering in all the traditional ways of a small church in a small town. The second week of summer more than 50 3-year-olds to 12thgrade children filled the sanctuary with praise and laughter. Bible study, memorization, crafts and songs provided the opportunity for all the communities’ children to put their faith and lives in Jesus’ hands. Ministries are thriving in each of the churches, whether the ways are traditional or not.

LifeRestored Church’s ministry to the poor in downtown San Antonio is not just an outreach, but the very DNA and culture of the church. Pastor Alex Fleming is a strong voice for the marginalized through the treating, transitioning and ending the homelessness of one individual at a time as well as seeking to transform culture to eliminate hopelessness through the gospel of Jesus Christ. During wintry weather, the church’s facilities are open with cots set up for hundreds nightly. People have accepted Christ and become church leaders collaborating with Pastor Alex.

Frelsburg Baptist Church is a small country church with an inviting slogan: “Come as you are!” They strive to be known as those that display God’s love by seeking the needy, the despondent and the lost throughout their community. Frelsburg can also be found in Latin America, conducting mission projects and sending their own to Alaska to share the gospel. Pastor Gary and the congregation bring hope found only in our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Praise the Lord for Texas Baptists churches across South Central Texas who are on mission today.

40 YEARS OF IMPACT - African American Ministries celebrated its 40th year of impact in Texas Baptists life. At the annual Culp Banquet, African American Fellowship Conference attendees raised over 500 pairs of shoes in partnership with Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls.

CAMP FUSION 2022 - youth from 10 uniquely different cultures from 19 different Texas Baptists Intercultural Churches.

African American Ministries celebrated its 40th anniversary during the annual gathering of the African American Fellowship Conference (AAFC). This year, the conference took place at Resurrection Baptist Church in Schertz, Texas, on June 23-25, and focused on the “Impact” that African American Ministries has made over the last 40 years and its continued impact to make in the years to come.

The James W. Culp Banquet took place on Thursday night. The night centered on celebrating the leaders of the past and present who have built the AAFC into what it is today. The banquet is named after James Culp, who began the Texas Baptists African American Ministries in 1982.

Ten of the former presidents of the AAFC and two of the former African American Ministries directors were honored for their service and given plaques.

“You presidents that are here tonight have left a great legacy. And we will never forget that we are standing on your shoulders,” said Oza Jones, director of African American Ministries.

Young pastors presented the men with their awards. Jones called it a “Moses and Joshua” metaphor, with the new, emerging leaders honoring past leaders for their wisdom.

Delvin Atchison, senior pastor of Westside Baptist Church in Lewisville, brought the banquet’s message. He encouraged attendees to look back at the “odometer” of the ministry and reflect on the memories and all that has happened. He also reminded the audience that the best is yet to come.

“I’m excited about African American Ministries because our past is so imminently prominent and our future is so iridescently promising,” he said.

The banquet also served as a fundraiser in partnership with Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls. The 296 banquet attendees donated over 500 pairs of shoes, which will be distributed to orphans and vulnerable children in the United States and throughout the world.

On Friday and Saturday, Timothy Woods, Sr., pastor of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Birmingham, brought the messages during the worship services. On Saturday, he preached from Acts 2 about worship being a lifestyle, not an event. He pointed out that the early church did life together and showed love to their community and each other. Woods encouraged conference attendees to live similarly, focusing on witnessing to others through their daily actions.

The Center for Collegiate Ministry exists to reach college students C ENTER for Collegiate Ministry 26 TEXAS CITIES 15 STATES 22 COUNTRIES SERVED IN GO NOW MISSIONARIES

Mission Projects: 86,979 Lives Impacted:

BEACH REACH - For two weeks, more than 800 students from nearly 40 campuses spent their spring break on South Padre Island to share the love of Jesus through safe rides, free meals and evangelism.

12,906

Beach Reach STUDENTS SENT BY GO NOW

15,534 “DEATH TO LIFE ” STORIES 207

766

PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

for Christ, develop Christian students through discipleship and missions and grow the next generation of church leaders. Go Now BSM

8,269 54 140 533

SAFE RIDES GIVEN GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS BAPTISMS ON THE BEACH CAMPUSES WITH A BSM PROFESSIONS OF FAITH

“As God always promises, He did way more at Beach Reach than I would have ever expected. One of the biggest takeaways from the trip was how much God works through prayer. I tend to get in the habit of seeing prayer as a task to do just before eating, but this trip required constant supplication. We prayed before, during and after our conversations with spring breakers. A whole third of the Beach-Reachers were set aside just to pray for the rest of the team. I relied on prayer partners back home for what I was seeing personally, and we prayed continuously for energy and boldness as we worked late into the night. It was definitely a lesson in trusting God with both the big and small things and seeking to be used by Him. The prayer room was one of my favorite places during the trip. Up at the front was a Twitter feed projected on a wall that kept us up-to-date with how all the van rides were doing. It was so poignant to fervently pray with other Christians that God would save, and subsequently get a notification that someone put their faith in Jesus” - Mark Warrington, BSM Director at UT Dallas

for Church Health

MINISTRIES:

• Discipleship

• Evangelism

• Music & Worship

• GC2 Press

• Church Architecture

• Women’s Ministry

SUPER SUMMER - Almost 50 summers and over 150k people taught to know and share the gospel. This summer we continued that legacy as we examined the life of Jesus and His desire to have a relationship with each of us and how we adopt His interest and join Him in His work of reconciling the whole world back to the Father. Yet there is more for Super Summer. New ministry is on the horizon as Super Summer expands with Greenhouse, a groundbreaking all together new way to teach families and encourage whole households to share their faith.

AFRICAN AMERICAN EVANGELISM - The Recharge Conference focused on dealing with the current challenges and dangers hurting the African American Church. Some of these challenges are Black Identity cults like the Hebrew Israelites. The Hebrew Israelites are the fastest growing religion in the African American communities. The goal for Recharge is to educate and equip African American churches to speak against these new heresies and give tools and techniques to evangelize all people, including Black Identity cults.

CONGRESO - Congreso is designed to reach Hispanic students with the gospel, invest in their lives and equip them for impactful living as disciples of Jesus. This year was our first in-person Congreso post-COVID. It took place at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Ft Worth, Texas. We had about 1,500 students attend and engage in biblical teaching and worship, and there were 124 decisions made for Christ. We look forward to hosting Congreso Experiences in the fall that will lead up to the main event next spring.

APOLOGETICS - Our [un]Apologetic Evangelism Conferences continue to reach new heights as we engage the minds and hearts of new churches, associations and college campuses across the state. One conference alone saw participation from over 50 churches from 25 cities represented from five different states. In addition, students across 15 college campuses have been equipped with training for apologetics in evangelism. In a culture that is filled with doubts and questions, we teach others how to provide biblically based answers in truth and love.

“Over the years that I’ve attended Super Summer, I can honestly say that I will never experience something else on earth that is as close to heaven,” said Molly Choate, a student from Wildwood Baptist Church in Village Mills. “This is the one place where I found myself truly overwhelmed with peace, joy and serenity.”

Choate was one of 1,075 students and volunteers who participated in Super Summer this year. Super Summer is designed for students entering the 8th grade through students about to begin their freshman year of college. First started in 1974, this year Super Summer hosted four sessions across three different Baptist university campuses. Over 148,000 students have participated in the camp since its inception.

This year, there was one profession of faith, 14 rededications, 15 calls to ministry and 74 other faith-based decisions.

Super Summer is a unique summer camp experience. Unlike other youth summer programs that take place across Texas each summer, Super Summer is geared toward students who have already accepted the Lord. It is designed to encourage students to better know and share the gospel.

“When they’re here, they’re immersed in learning the importance of sharing their faith and not being intimidated,” explained Kevin Towery, assistant director of School Staff at Super Summer Session 1. “They’re equipped when they leave Super Summer and they’re not afraid to share the gospel.”

Every year, Super Summer focuses on equipping students to know and share the gospel. This year, the camp honed in on the theme of “One Thing.” Students reflected on understanding and articulating their lives before Christ, what He did in their lives and then sharing that with others.

In the Orange School, the group for students entering 10th grade, Assistant Dean Brianne Dean helped students understand reconciliation and how to articulate it to others. She explained to students that it is only through Jesus that humans can be reconciled to God.

“It’s not through what we do, because we can never do enough,” she said. “The only hope we have, the only way we can receive the reconciliation we need is through Jesus.”

“The whole point of Super Summer is evangelism – to know and share the gospel,” Dean told the students. “So we spent the first days focusing on knowing the gospel and now that you know, it’s your responsibility to share.”

In addition to the sessions, each school broke into teams to discuss the application of what they learned in the students’ lives. Teams gave students the chance to talk about their own spiritual growth and struggles in a more intimate setting.

For graduating high school seniors, Super Summer gives students an important opportunity to solidify their faith and practice boldness before going to college.

“The whole idea of Super Summer is to evangelize and to prepare you for that next step. And whether you’re in your hometown or somewhere else, even your college campus, it prepares you to share the gospel and really dive into your testimony and also listen to others,” said Allie Towery, a senior from Allen’s Point Baptist Church. “So once you learn the truths of evangelism you can go out and take it wherever you go.”

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.

In Jefferson County, life has not yet returned to normal for many families affected by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Some have been unable to gather the necessary supplies to rebuild as lumber prices have skyrocketed, others have been hit by subsequent hurricanes, adding to the already existing damage. To help aid in the ongoing recovery efforts, BOUNCE Student Disaster Relief has sent groups of middle and high school students to the area for the past four years, and will again in 2023.

Over spring break, BOUNCE sent 270 students and leaders to partner with Jefferson County Long Term Recovery Group. The students served primarily in Beaumont and Port Neches, doing repairs and recovery work. Students came from all over Texas, including Fort Worth, San Angelo and Longview, and a group also came from Louisiana.

First Baptist Church, Lewisville, students helped install flooring, picked up trash, mowed lawns, power washed and painted during their week with BOUNCE. While installing floors in one of the homes they worked on, they had to move carefully around the matriarch of the home, who was bedridden after a recent stay in the hospital. They paused their work regularly to allow nurses to take care of the woman, and they gingerly moved around the bed to put in the new floors. BJ Foster, the youth minister for the church, expressed his joy at watching his students show love, patience and understanding throughout the process.

“It never ceases to amaze me what students can accomplish when challenged to overcome…BOUNCE placed my student in situations where they could show Christ’s love to others in a multitude of ways,” Foster shared.

River Ministry connects churches to specific projects along the Texas/Mexico border and in the most populous Mexican cities.

Mission Projects: 40 RIVER MINISTRY MISSIONARIES

MEDICAL MISSION TRIP - Members of the Center for Missional Engagement, in collaboration with River Ministry Missionaries and Go Now Missionaries, went on a medical mission trip to Mexico City July 9-16.

Members of the Center for Missional Engagement, in collaboration with River Ministry Missionaries and Go Now Missionaries, went on a medical mission trip to Mexico City July 9-16. We worked in four different marginalized areas of Mexico City and set up clinics in three local churches and a new church start. The group was made up of six members and volunteers from our center in collaboration with five Go Now student missionaries. We served 385 patients and had the privilege of leading 46 people to faith in Christ.

Missions brings people together, and we were able to serve with volunteer members from 10 different churches in Mexico City. Some of the pastors were surprised to see so many volunteers from different churches. The Lord used this mission trip to bring a sense of collaboration and unity among these churches and a new church plant.

For one of the students, this was her first mission trip experience. Isabel is a pre-med student at Baylor University, and she simultaneously experienced the use of her skills in the health profession, as well as the gift of sharing her faith in Christ.

It is a blessing for all of us to be present in communities, meet human needs, and share our faith in Christ. This is a refreshing experience for everyone. - Josue Valerio, Director, Center for Missional Engagement

Church Starting and Replanting

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.

Tradewind Community Church in Amarillo launched weekly worship services in an elementary school cafeteria in September 2019. The church met there for six months, then the Covid-19 pandemic shutdown TCC’s rental space. For the next 14 months, this brand-new congregation was without an indoor space to meet for church.

Still, by May 2020 when TCC resumed services inside, God not only sustained the church plant, but TCC had grown during that time. TCC added new members, celebrated seven baptisms (most outdoors at TCC’s “Parking Lot Worship” services), and welcomed many new first-time guests.

When the 2021-2022 school year began, the church was poised to provide school supplies and backpacks to every student who attend the school where the church is located. New home Bible study groups launched late August. And several community-wide events already have offered new opportunities to engage with neighbors.

Devoted is a program for Texas Baptists young adults based on Acts 2:42. The early church was devoted to one another in prayer, fellowship, breaking of bread and the teaching of the apostles. Devoted seeks to gather young adults from across the state as a means to identify potential leaders and connect them to Texas Baptists l ife and ministries.

Philippi Church / Organic Church

ORGANIC CHURCH

A young adult came to volunteer at Mission Arlington. He recently completed the hours he was required to serve, but he has been touched deeply by the spirit of the work and the workers that he experienced while serving at Mission Arlington. He stated he planned to come back to serve simply because he desired to know God personally and deeply. We thank God for the way He moves in the hearts of those who serve here so that everyone who comes for whatever reason will have the opportunity to know God’s love. - Debbie Burgin, House Church Catalyst

Esmeralda and Agustin are small business owners that cater to people during a difficult time. As the person up front Esmeralda has the opportunity to talk to people and share with them about Jesus as they come to their business. This month she was able to share with a mother and son and both prayed to receive Jesus right there in her front office. Now she is trying to continue to work with them to help them grow. - Jerry Joule, House Church Catalyst

Texas Baptists Missionaries

With connections to a Texas Baptists church, 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 trafficked women overseas and more. They raise their own support, and we give them training and encouragement.

Embrace is a mentorship program in partnership with the WMU of Texas. The objective of the program is to identify young women leaders with a passion for work in ministry. Embrace will connect them to mentors and ministries of the BGCT.

In a new partnership in South Asia, U.S. Missionaries have been training and discipling local Christian leaders for years. These local leaders are our MAP Missionaries who are starting churches among their own people and sharing Christ in their own communities. Pastor J shares, “In the north, our local leaders began ministry in a couple of new areas. Several clusters of villages with no known believers are being engaged with the gospel. There were even some baptized. Thank the Lord for His faithfulness.”

Community Missions

Churches

ADOPT

“Community Missions” means the church steps out of the four walls of the building and becomes the hands and feet of Jesus to their community to show His love in action. Churches must first be transformed, individually, then as a church, before they can transform others. If churches want to see their communities transformed, they must have a desire to reach people outside of the building. Churches that engage their communities with the gospel and with good works will see their communities transformed. The condition of the community around the church reflects how well the church is doing at being the people of God.

We seek to help churches make an impact in their communities. Only God can transform by changing the nature and character of a person or a community. It’s important to always be in prayer individually and as a church. There is no “system” or “program” better than for your church to see its mission as glorifying Christ and spreading the news of His love and salvation that extends to all people. You may be stuck and not sure how to even start reaching out to your community. Let’s work together to start the process.

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.

Heart of Texas Baptist Network

ASSOCIATION

INDIVIDUALS

47 9

CHURCHES

from 7 churches went on the mission trip partnering with 3 church plants

This past summer we took a mission trip to Madison and Milwaukee. We had forty-seven people from seven different churches go on this trip. Nineteen people from five churches went to Madison to help Jose Marco and Emmanuel Church and Johnson Ugorji and Shalom Christian Assembly. Twenty-eight people from two more churches went to Milwaukee to partner with Issa Safadi and the Arabic Church of Milwaukee. During the week we hosted evangelistic block parties where we helped each church make connections with their communities and spread the word about their church and ministry.

Altogether we have nine churches partnering with these three church plants. Each church has committed monthly financial support of at least $75, to continually pray for their partner church and pastor and to send people to help support their partner church and pastor when they can. Because of the involvement of our churches, each church plant in Wisconsin has been able to start a relationship with Texas Baptists. Your support for our convention is making a difference in Wisconsin. This partnership

has already begun to unify our association in powerful ways. Our association is made up of 60 churches across four counties. It has been a struggle to bring us together for a project where all could have an equal stake. Our partnership with these church plants and the Southern Wisconsin Baptist Association has helped bring us together from across county lines, from one of our smallest congregations to some of our biggest and everyone has a valuable role to play. We now have a tangible way for us to work together and see the Kingdom is bigger than our four walls.

The beauty of this partnership was on full display in June on our mission trip to Wisconsin. Between Milwaukee and Madison, we had people from seven churches ranging from children all the way to senior adults involved in helping Johnson, Jose and Issa. One morning in Madison two groups went out into the community to pass out fliers advertising the block party we would help Shalom Christian Assembly host that night. There were a few who could not do all of the walking necessary, so they stayed behind. One of the ladies told

me the day before how bad she felt about not being able to do everything physically. But, that morning these ladies stayed and talked with the wife of the church planter we were helping. For the next few hours they laughed, they cried, they encouraged one another and they prayed for their church, their ministry and their family. It was one of the most powerful moments of the trip.

Everyone has a part to play. Everyone can make a difference. These ladies came to Wisconsin for that moment. Yes, we were there to help them reach out to their community, but we were also there to let them know we are with them, we love them, and we are walking beside them not just for the stories or successes, but as brothers and sisters in Christ. This partnership isn’t just about the pictures or statistics. This is about truly partnering with our friends in Wisconsin in every sense of the word. Texas Baptists have helped us build this relationship and have played a vital role in helping us be true partners.

The Heart of Texas Baptist Network seeks to equip, encourage and inspire our churches and their leaders to be faithful in all

they do.

Union Baptist

ASSOCIATION

Union Baptist Association is a collaborative network of churches in Houston, Texas, strategically advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mission Projects:

Lives Impacted:

OVER 7 MILLION

FOUNDATIONS OF MISSIONS CONFERENCE - Fifty church leaders attended a three-day conference geared toward pastors and churches who want to learn how to become more missionally involved both locally and abroad. The goal was to bring awareness to the diversity of our city and to highlight the tremendous need to evangelize the nations that are right in our backyard. The conference also focused heavily on the Central Asian region.

“CULTIVATING THE DESERT” - The UBA held its first “Taking Back the Desert” meeting with several churches and church planters to seek a path forward to planting in the areas of Houston that are most neglected spiritually and need good church plants.

15

CHURCH PLANTS STARTED

BIVOCATIONAL PASTORS

trained in our Bivocational Pastor Training Cohort.

240

HISPANIC PASTORS AND SPOUSES

trained for church missional work in their communities through Lideres Transformadore, a year-long leader training program and retreat.

Garden Villas Baptist Church was closing its doors after decades of serving its community in the Hobby Airport area of South Houston. The Union Baptist Association consulting team partnered with the remaining lay leadership to pray about and research the best path forward. The team decided to have UBA take over the property and find other churches in the area that needed the space to do ministry. After extensive demographic research of the area by our team, it was determined that we needed to find one African American church and one Hispanic church. Garden Villas Baptist Church was a small, dying Anglo church in the middle of an area that was 50% Hispanic and 50% African American. In the end, one dying, small church will become two thriving churches that will be able to effectively evangelize and reach the community for Christ.

Of course, this story is a work in progress, but one of the highlights so far is how God has been raising up two pastors of two different races, serving very different communities, to unite together under the same roof. We were amazed to find out that the Hispanic pastor and the African American pastor have lived on the same street for the past decade and didn’t even know each other. Now they do! Got to love how God works!

Celebrate and worship together

When we worship together, we witness on Earth a glimpse of the unity we will one day see in Heaven. Save the date for this joint session of the Texas Baptists Annual Meeting and African American, Hispanic and Intercultural fellowship gatherings in one place, at one time, for His purpose.

INSTITUTIONS

Texas Baptists partners with numerous educational, health care 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.

Baptist Community Services

3,500 Lives Impacted: RESIDENTS/CLIENTS AND EMPLOYEES

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:

CHAPLAINS 7

serving 23 facilities, as of August 2022

“In September 2020, I began working as a chaplain at Heal The City. Almost immediately, I was contacted by one of the staff members, Sarah (not her real name), who wanted to meet with me privately because she was having trouble with her common-law husband. I prayed with her, and eventually, the two split up, only to reunite later, in 2021.

While they eventually reunited, they continued to have struggles throughout 2021. In 2021, Sarah gave birth to their daughter. I met with Sarah several more times to counsel/pray with her. Then in June, they decided to get married and asked me to officiate.

I explained that because their relationship had already been riddled with major problems, I would not perform the ceremony unless they agreed to pre-marital counseling.

They happily agreed and went through eight one hour sessions between June and November. As part of the counseling, I also had to address some major issues which had been the most problematic in their relationship. One of those issues was Sarah’s fiance’s (Dan) alcoholism and past drug use.

After confronting the matter, Dan admitted he needed help, and I was able to enroll him in a recovery program. Dan has been alcohol-free since August. He also enrolled at AC to become a truck driver in the hope of securing a steady job and income flow.

Sarah and Dan did very well with their sessions. They allowed me to bring to light some difficult and personal issues that needed to be addressed before they could have a healthy marriage. I addressed some abandonment

issues with Dan that had more than likely led to his alcohol and drug use. I performed their wedding ceremony in November 2021, and they’re doing well.

All in all, being a chaplain allowed me to help both Sarah and Dan get some inner healing and learn healthy life habits. It allowed me to help them prepare for a healthy marriage, and it allowed Dan to pursue recovery and a new career. “ Margie Gonzalez

ROVING CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM - A single chaplain provides spiritual care for the residents/clients and employees of three to four different organizations/facilities, dedicating 10-14 hours a week to each organization.

PROFESSIONS OF FAITH 25

Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio

Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio is committed to improving the health of our community by fostering and funding clinical, educational, spiritual and scientific incentives while honoring God and our Baptist heritage.

DISASTER RELIEF GRANTS - Proactive and reactive funding to organizations responding to human needs requiring immediate attention following the declaration of a disaster.

SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS - Scholarship funding to colleges and universities offering health education in Bexar County and surrounding counties.

RESPONSIVE GRANTS - Funding up to $300,000 for mid- to largesized organizations working to improve health in our community.

COMMUNITY IMPACT GRANTS - Up to $15,000 to support smaller initiatives and organizations that greatly impact community health.

Projects: to organizations specifically working with foster children and foster families. given went to faith-based organizations.

Mission WERE AWARDED IN GRANTS IN 2021 WERE GIVEN IN GRANTS OF THE TOTAL GRANT DOLLARS

In addition to the five separate grantmaking programs, BHFSA gives an annual recognition called the Spirit of Health Award. This award acknowledges and recognizes an individual’s or organization’s accomplishments in leadership and service in improving the community’s health. In 2021, BHFSA chose eight recipients of the Spirit of Health Award.

The award was previously given to a single individual or organization, but in 2021, in recognition of the community’s hard work

As part of the award, each county received $1,000 to give to a nonprofit operating in the area. The recipients were chosen through a collaboration between the county representatives and BHFSA.

Cody Knowlton, BHFSA President and CEO, and Dr. Dawn Stockton, BHFSA Board Chair, traveled to each county seat to present the awards at Commissioners Court.

Representatives of the 2021 grantee organizations frequently attended their county’s presentation, furthering relationship building and sharing BHFSA’s God-honoring mission.

Baptist Health Systems

Baptist Health System is a healthcare institution that helps people achieve health for life through compassionate service inspired by faith. Baptist Health System is located in San Antonio and has been serving people since 1903.

Mission Projects:

NEW MEDICAL CAMPUS IN WESTOVER HILLS - This new location will provide critical services for the fastgrowing community including cardiovascular, maternity and surgical care among others.

ENHANCEMENT OF WOMEN’S SERVICES - In the past year, labor and delivery services have been added at Mission Trail, and facility renovations have been completed at North Central Baptist and St. Luke’s Baptist hospitals. A Women’s and Children’s Center is slated to open soon in Westover Hills.

Baptist Health System (BHS) has been providing quality healthcare to the South Texas region since 1903. The past calendar year has been marked by growth and bolstering programs as BHS continues to seek how to best care for its patients.

Baptist Health System has begun construction on a new medical campus in Westover Hills on 72 acres of land located at Wiseman and Highway 1604. The multi-phased project includes medical office buildings, an ambulatory surgical center and an acute care hospital, with the potential for

additional medical and retail entities in future development phases. This campus represents our ongoing commitment to expanding high-quality healthcare access to greater San Antonio. This new location will provide critical services for the fast-growing community including cardiovascular, maternity and surgical care among others.

Baptist Health System has also purchased land in Boerne, Texas, with plans to build a hospital campus that will include an acute care hospital with outpatient services, imaging and other diagnostic services and a medical office building for physician practices and other ancillary healthcare services.

North Central Baptist Hospital and Resolute Health Hospital, two BHS hospitals, have been named “Best Hospitals in America” as ranked by Money (formerly Money Magazine) and the Leapfrog Group. North Central and Resolute are two of only four hospitals in Texas to be listed as Best Hospitals. The consistent track record for safety and patient experience at North Central and Resolute is a testament to employees and physicians at the hospitals for their continuous commitment to placing these things at the forefront of the care they provide. Hospitals named as a “Best Hospital in America” are selected for their record on delivering high quality patient care and for preventing medical errors, infections, and harm to patients.

Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas

Together, we perform sacred work by uniting kindness, quality and healing…ALWAYS.

Mission Projects:

CHAPLAINS’ EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND - assists impoverished patients and their families who are underserved and overwhelmed by the cost of modern medical care.

Lives Impacted:

24,000+

For close to 50 years, the Chaplains’ Emergency Relief Fund has sought to assist impoverished patients and their families who are underserved and overwhelmed by the cost of modern medical care. Donations to the fund, many by hospital employees, have helped 445 families this year with medicine, personal medical equipment, food, lodging and home utilities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to strain medical care far and wide. Deaths were pushed to record numbers as employees continued to provide compassionate care in the ebb and flow of supply needs, staffing and changing regulatory guidelines. The Chaplaincy staff continued to attend to their arduous task with intent listening, encouragement and the consolation of prayer. As visitation guidelines adjusted for close family members of the critical and dying, chaplains, nurses and other bedside caregivers would stand in the gap to provide for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those patients with and without support.

Despite the pandemic, various disciplines of care providers were serving the community by giving flu and COVID-19 vaccines at schools and churches, offering diabetic education and behavioral health education including suicide prevention, stress management and sensory therapy. A total of 21,453 HIV screens were performed last year. And in conjunction with Gift of Life, 1,451 free mammograms were provided at Baptist Hospital’s Dauphin Women’s Center.

As we near its 20th year, our Faith Community Nurse program has dedicated and commissioned 10 new nurses, bringing our total to 160. This past year presented an opportunity to share this health ministry by virtual format with 142 bachelor of nursing students from Lamar University, Beaumont and the University of Colorado. Locally as well as nationwide, 289 Faith Community Nurses benefited from educational webinars such as Dealing with the Aftermath of COVID-19, Resilience and Selfcompassion, Geriatric Care of Older Adults, Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics and The Many Faces of Breast Cancer from our FCN Resource Center.

Baptist University of the Américas

The mission of Baptist University of the Américas, as an institution of higher education, is the formation, from the Hispanic context, of cross-cultural Christian leaders.

Mission Projects:

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS 2021 –

Students volunteered their time to assist local San Antonio churches with VBS.

FALL BREAK MISSION TRIP TO MISSION

ARLINGTON 2021 – Students served during Fall Break to assist Mission Arlington in preparing for their Thanksgiving and Christmas outreach efforts.

BEACH REACH 2022 – The BUA BSM (Baptist Student Ministry) dedicated their spring break to sharing the gospel with college students in South Padre Island.

SET APART MISSIONS TOUR – Students conducted ministry and assisted churches in San Antonio, Midland, Corpus Christi and New York City.

BSM SAN ANTONIO OUTREACH –Students worked with the BUA BSM in sharing the gospel at multiple colleges and universities around the city.

Student testimonial: My name is Angela. I am a Junior at BUA and recently had an opportunity to serve on a mission trip to New York City through GO Now Missions. I was appointed to work with the Global Gates Organization to bring the gospel to one of the least reached communities in the entire city. Initially, I was not sure what I would encounter; however, this mission trip exceeded all my expectations.

Our group was the first post-COVID team of the summer, sent throughout North Manhattan and the Bronx neighborhoods to help research and develop digital prayer walks for two ethnic groups: the Fulbe Futah and the Soninke. Besides gathering digital research, we also identified the most receptive places for foreign visitors, so future groups will have an idea of where to best utilize their resources.

I was excited to help with ESL classes in the Bronx and Brooklyn and minister to different areas of the neighborhoods. We were able to visit a mosque and some West African markets and businesses. Additionally, we were able to pray together in common gathering places. We listened to people’s stories and developed relationships with them, some of which had never heard the gospel.

One day, we met a group of young Muslim women in a mosque. They were friendly and welcoming and invited us to join them for a picnic in a nearby park. They shared their food and shared some of their teachings about Islam. After lunch, I was able to connect with Shahadah, one of the women in the group. We spoke about her life and beliefs, asked each other questions and had a pleasant conversation about multiple things. I shared with her that I was a follower of “Isa Almasih,” which is “Jesus” in Arabic.

I never thought we would have something in common with Muslims, but after learning about Islam, I learned we do. Certainly, they do not know Jesus as we do. The Koran teaches that Jesus was only a prophet and not the Son of God. Knowing this, I asked her, “If Mohammed is the final prophet, then why does your book say Jesus is the one who will return?” She said she had never thought about that before. I then proceeded to share the gospel with her. This was the first time Shahadah had heard about Jesus, and she was so interested. Finally, I told her that I share the message of salvation with other people out of love and by sharing it was my way of showing her I loved her. She was so grateful. Please pray for Shahadah, so God may encounter her during her uncertainty and find the love and salvation every person needs.

Lives Impacted:

115,845

25,800 Ukrainians received medical treatment 90,000 people used the MyBSWHealth prayer feature 45 Clinical Pastoral Education students receive training

Baylor Scott & White Health

Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Scott & White Health promotes the well-being of all individuals, families and communities.

Mission Projects:

SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE - Faith in Action Initiatives (FIAI) sends medical supplies and equipment to the region’s hospitals and churches.

PRAYER FEATURE ON MYBSWHEALTH APP - Chaplains provide online prayer support to patients and members seeking healthcare online.

CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION

- Ministers and lay volunteers learn to bring the good news of the gospel through compassionate presence for those in need.

In November 2021, when rumors of a Russian invasion began circulating, international partners reached out for assistance. Since then, Baylor Scott & White Health’s Faith in Action Initiatives (FIAI) has sent over $500,000 of medical supplies and equipment to our partners in Ukraine, Poland and Hungary, resulting in 25,800 lives impacted, as reported by our partnering nonprofits. That number is expected to double by the end of this calendar year. One of those receiving organizations is the Arlene Campbell Humanitarian Foundation. FIAI has been shipping supplies to the foundation over the last four years to help efforts in two of its heart hospitals located in Kyiv. Its president, Lena Denman, had this to say to the supporters of FIAI: “We are blown away by this answer to prayer and the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness in the midst of tragedy. Thank you for the lifesaving work you do!”

Meanwhile, In January of this year Baylor Scott & White’s Office of Mission & Ministry and the Digital Health Office launched a new feature called “Community Support” on the MyBSWHealth app to provide spiritual support beyond the walls of our hospitals. This feature allows people to anonymously share prayer requests, struggles and other needs through posting on the support wall. Baylor Scott & White chaplains respond to these posts with prayer and spiritual care.

The response to the new feature has been overwhelmingly positive. During the first six months, over 15,000 users accessed the

feature each month, with over 2,000 people leaving

requests during the entire period. The MyBSWHealth app is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play and at My.BSWHealth.com. Users do not have to be Baylor Scott & White patients to access this service of spiritual support.

Throughout the year, the educational mission and vision of Baylor Scott & White’s Office of Mission & Ministry (OMM) are fulfilled through the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education’s (ACPE) accredited Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) centers. CPE is professional education for individuals seeking personal growth and competence in spiritual care. This past year, OMM’s three accredited CPE centers provided training for 28 interns and 17 residents—all of whom completed 90 units of CPE. Through our collective programs, we seek to advance training efforts through cultural and religious diversity, the sharing of resources, best practices and spiritual care delivery for the next generation of spiritual leaders. OMM’s CPE department serves as an integral component of our Christian ministry of healing by training graduates who will serve in a variety of ministries, including chaplaincy, pastors of churches and pastoral counseling.

All of us at Baylor Scott & White are grateful for the partnership of Texas Baptists in making these much-needed ministry efforts possible in Texas and around the world.

prayer

Baylor University

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:

MISSION TRIPS - Baylor missions planned 11 mission trips for 140 students and leaders to a variety of places across the globe to support the ongoing efforts of Baylor’s global partners.

Lives Impacted:

THOUSANDS

After a hiatus due to COVID-19, Baylor Missions worked to plan 11 trips for about 140 students and leaders to a variety of places, both domestically and internationally, to support the ongoing efforts of our global partners. These trips allow students to integrate their disciplines and skills with service to show Christ’s love to others. Thousands of lives across the globe were impacted through the acts of service Baylor students, faculty and staff showed. Students that went were also deeply impacted through learning about different cultures, how their vocation could positively impact the world, how to love their neighbor and in their own spiritual formation.

Buckner International

To follow the example of Jesus by serving vulnerable children, families and seniors.

Mission Projects: 81

TEXAS CHILDREN WERE ADOPTED into loving families

Lives Impacted: 673

CHILDREN WERE PROTECTED AND CARED FOR THROUGH BUCKNER FOSTER FAMILIES IN TEXAS.

PROTECTING CHILDREN - Buckner Foster Care and Adoption is motivated by faith and deeply rooted in the gospel. Seeking to follow the example of Jesus by serving vulnerable children and families, Buckner always puts the child’s needs first and aims to protect and empower them to achieve their goals and flourish in life.

TEXAS YOUTH WERE HELPED WITH SKILLS

designed to transition them from foster or other forms of care to successful adulthood through transitional case management programs.

412 CHILDREN WERE PROTECED THROUGH BUCKNER PERMANENCY EFFORTS

including 39 who were adopted into Kenyan families, and 373 who were provided foster, kinship transitional home or other types of care in Kenya, Guatemala and Peru.

There’s a sense of energy when you walk through Faith and Gerald Varlack’s front door. It’s more than a house; it’s an experience.

Usually, though, the energy in the house comes from the constant movement and laughter from Zane, Jesse and Moses (names have been changed to protect privacy) – all under the age of 3 – as they play with their parents. Foster and adoptive parents through Buckner, the Varlacks adopted Zane in 2021 after fostering him since he was a newborn. They are currently fostering Jesse and have since adopted Moses.

All members of the family are active musicians. Faith and Gerald participate in the music ministry of their church, Calvary Baptist in McAllen, and their three older children have been vocalists in school and church since childhood.

Adding to the energetic feel of the home is Faith and Gerald’s admission they’re also roller coaster riders of sorts. As they say, the highs and lows come with the territory of God’s calling for them to serve as foster and adoptive parents.

Gerald described the highs: “God was giving us this opportunity, and we looked at it as ministry with caring and compassion, everything like when we talk about what it means to be a Christian and what it really means ... ‘widows and orphans,’ right? The orphan finds mercy in God, and God cares about the orphans. It’s really what we should be all about. I guess for me I was feeling, ‘Wow, this is what my faith in action looks like.’”

But there are also lows, including when placements leave their home. That eventually led Faith to the emotional realization that a foster parent’s job “is to love them while we have them. And that was a hard lesson,” she said between tears.

“I know God has a purpose for [our foster children],” she said. “We got the opportunity to be in their lives and that they will just be happy and really, really will serve God. I want them to do really great things. I really have dreams for them to do that because I don’t think it was an accident that they were with us.”

Children at Heart Ministries

Children at Heart Ministries is a family of Christian ministries that exists to honor God and build a better world by serving children and strengthening families.

GRACEWOOD

MIRACLE

Our three ministries have a shared purpose of helping children, families and young adults whose lives have been shattered by tragedy and unimaginable hardships. Each ministry offers a loving home and daily comforts that bring a sense of safety and opens their hearts to new hope. We provide counseling to help heal the wounds of the past and supportive services that help lift them up to more stable ground. In all that we do, nothing brings us more joy than seeing those we serve discover what it means to have a relationship with a living Savior who can be their forever comforter and friend.

This summer, nine children who live with their single mothers in our Family Care Program at Texas Baptist Children’s Home had the chance to attend a weeklong summer camp held by Student Life Ministries at YMCA of

the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. Two of our Family Care staff accompanied the kids on this amazing trip. Most of the kids had never been on a real vacation, much less traveled out of Texas. They went hiking in the mountains, enjoyed a lot of water sports and had loads of fun.

Our staff led a small Bible study group each day that included our girls along with several others attending the camp. At the beginning of the week, all of our TBCH kids were pretty resistant to engaging in Bible study and worship. As the week unfolded, the Lord slowly began to chisel away the walls that had built up around their hearts through years of growing up in hard places. What started as a fun trip to the mountains quickly became a life-changing mountaintop experience with the Lord. Instead of dragging their feet, the girls in the small

study group began to ask, “When are we going to read our Bibles today?” By the time they headed home, five of our TBCH kids had made professions of faith in Christ.

We are grateful for the prayers and support we received over the past year from Texas Baptists. Because of you, our ministries were equipped to meet the needs of others. Thank you, for all you do to make it possible for those we serve to have an opportunity to experience God’s grace.

Dallas Baptist University

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.

Lives Impacted:

2,250+

East Texas Baptist University

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:

FAITH INTEGRATED EDUCATIONAL

EXPERIENCE - A core commitment of the faith-integrated educational experience at ETBU is serving people and enhancing community. Every ETBU Tiger serves 24 or more hours in community service and ministry each year.

jumped into action to help clean up after the devastating storm in March. Over the summer, ETBU’s Tiger Golf Teams traveled to St. Andrews, Scotland, where the group partnered with International Sports Federation and spent eight days serving the people of Scotland.

“The trip to Scotland meant so much to me, because my love language is acts of service,” sophomore Hannah Blaha said. “Through this mission trip, I now have a deeper passion for serving on mission and for helping others in need. I saw God’s presence within the people that we served.”

TIGERS SERVED ON A MISSION in Israel and Scotland in 2022

1,000+ ETBU FRESHMEN SERVED in all five Marshall elementary schools each week

400+ TIGER STUDENT-ATHLETES served in tornado disaster relief in East Texas

A core commitment of the faith-integrated educational experience at ETBU is serving people and enhancing community. Each ETBU Tiger participates in at least 12 hours of community service each semester. Throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, more than 1,000 students served more than 20,000 hours in the local Marshall community, including facilitating Fall Festivals in October, where more than 400 ETBU students set up games at elementary schools for children and families.

“I was born and raised in Marshall and I attended Young Elementary, so it means a lot to come back here and serve the community where I grew up,” freshman Salome Pineda said.

Tiger student-athletes have collectively spent some 6,000 hours serving with various projects and ministries, including providing assistance after a severe tornado struck the community of Gilmer, Texas. More than 140 Tigers

Many ETBU student organizations also focus on providing students the opportunity to put their faith into action. Over spring break, ETBU’s Baptist Student Ministry sent a team of staff and students to South Padre Island, Texas, as a part of Beach Reach, an annual evangelism initiative to share the hope of Jesus by providing free food and transportation to college student beach visitors. In partnership with Texas Baptists, the ETBU BSM team provided 5,917 rides, served 2,310 breakfasts, prayed with 2,251 college students, and having 2,024 gospel conversations, resulting in 58 students beginning a relationship with Jesus.

“One thing this trip reminded me of is the power of the body of Christ acting as one unit, each using their unique gifts,” senior Annika Johnson shared. “It’s about faithfulness to God, and grace upon grace for all of us. He has called us to join Him in the Great Commission, and that means giving everything to share the joy that we know.”

Hardin-Simmons University

Mission Projects:

ORTIZ ELEMENTARY OUTREACH - Ortiz Elementary is located near HSU and is considered a “sister school” to HSU. 93% of the school population is classified as economically disadvantaged. Through this partnership, HSU has provided school supplies, food baskets and gift cards to families in need.

MEDICAL MISSION TRIP TO KAJIADO, KENYA

- The HSU team set up a clinic and brought suitcases filled with medical supplies provided a makeshift pharmacy and supply closet. Once set up, the team began to see and treat patients. All services were free and almost 1,500 people were seen and treated.

PROM PARTY - For 16 years, HardinSimmons University’s Social Work Club has hosted a Prom Party for local high schoolers in foster care. The yearly tradition has provided a safe space for young women in foster care to get ready for and enjoy their school’s prom.

Lives Impacted:

The mission of Hardin-Simmons University is to be a community dedicated to providing excellence in education, enlightened by Christian faith and values.

CHILDREN & 76 FAMILIES impacted by Ortiz Elementary outreach

For two weeks this April, the Hardin-Simmons University Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, and Nursing programs joined together for a medical mission trip to Kajiado, Kenya. During this trip to Kenya, HSU partnered with the African Inland Church (AIC) Childcare Center in Kajiado. AIC is a center for the rehabilitation and empowerment of physically disabled children who are in dire need of orthopedic surgery, physiotherapy, and longterm post-operative care and rehabilitation.

Upon arrival, the HSU team set up their temporary clinic across five buildings and two tents. Suitcases brought and filled with medical supplies provided a makeshift pharmacy and supply closet. Once set up, the team began to see and treat patients. All services were free and almost 1,500 people were seen and treated.

Dr. Janelle O’Connell, Dean of the College of Health Professions and Professor of Physical Therapy, shared about one of the patients: “In the pediatric center, children were evaluated, and their parent or guardian educated regarding positioning and ways to improve daily functioning. When available and needed, children were fitted with ankle-foot orthosis, braces, or mobility devices such as walkers.

She continued, “A heartwarming story from pediatrics involved a 6 year-old girl, named Naomi, who became disabled at age 3 following a severe bout of meningitis. Due to the infection, she lost her ability to communicate verbally and to walk.

The Physical Therapy team outfitted Naomi with braces and a walker so she could regain some of her mobility. Her wide smile and bright eyes are all that are needed to be seen to share the joy she was experiencing with regaining a little independence!”

For 16 years, HSU’s Social Work Club has hosted a Prom Party for local high schoolers in foster care. The yearly tradition has provided a safe space for young women in foster care to get ready for and enjoy their school’s prom. HSU students fundraise for dresses, accessories, and shoes while partnering with other agencies in town to make the day special for local youth.

According to Melissa Milliorn, Department Head of Social Work, there is no funding available in foster care that gives these girls the opportunity to do the fun things other children their age do. Prom Party is an emotional event for her because, “for that one day, these girls can feel love, be seen and be heard. They are not distracted by their lives in foster care. It’s a day where we can help remind them they are worthy.”

Hendrick Health System

Lives Impacted:

594,427

OF FAITH AND REDEDICATIONS

Mission Projects:

Our employees regularly volunteer their time, talents and abilities to mission projects sponsored and endorsed by numerous area churches and religious organizations. Qualified employees can also receive additional paid time away to participate in approved mission projects. Hendrick has donated over 6,000 hours toward these various worthwhile activities that are consistent with the aims and values of our mission. Through this program, Hendrick employees have extended our mission reach to over 40 countries around the world.

Hendrick Health, consisting of three hospitals, serves the healthcare needs of Abilene and Brownwood and all the communities and citizens of 23 counties in West Central Texas. Much of 2021-22 was focused on addressing the personal and community health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Special attention was given to fulfilling staffing requirements and maintaining employee morale.

In the spring of 2022, Hendrick Health unveiled a special painting, entitled “The Armor of God,” honoring the personal and professional commitment of our healthcare workers to our mission during the COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioned by our Board’s Mission and Ministry Committee, replicas of the piece were placed on all three hospital campuses.

Our employees regularly volunteer their time, talents and abilities to mission projects sponsored and endorsed by numerous area churches and religious organizations. Qualified employees can also receive additional paid time away to participate in approved mission projects. Hendrick has donated over 6,000 such hours toward these various worthwhile activities that are consistent with the aims and values of our mission. Through this program, Hendrick employees have extended our mission reach to over 40 countries around the world.

Hendrick offers ministry students of the four faith-based universities within our service area the opportunity to receive academic credit while learning hospital ministry in a classroom and laboratory setting. During 2021-22, 18 students were enrolled in either a graduate or undergraduate section.

In the words of our mission, Hendrick employees are committed to delivering high-quality healthcare with excellence and compassion that is consistent with the healing ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Toward that end, we are always grateful for the gracious and prayerful support of Texas Baptists.

Houston Christian* University

Lives Impacted:

2,500+

The mission of Houston Christian 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:

HOUSTON WELCOMES REFUGEE (HWR)

MOVE-IN TEXAS - collaboration with HWR to set up apartments for refugee families on the day they arrive in Houston.

HORIZON BAPTIST CHURCH PUMPKIN PATCH FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKINGStudents helped church members unload and set up a semi-trailer full of pumpkins to sell. Proceeds from the sale go to Elijah Rising, a Houston-area faith-based nonprofit that fights human trafficking in Houston.

BEACH REACH - Spring Break mission trip at South Padre Island, offering free van rides, free pancakes and ministering through servant evangelism opportunities with the expressed goal of sharing the gospel with other college students.

Houston Welcomes Refugees (HWR) is a faith-based nonprofit organization that HBU BSM has collaborated with the last several years. Several times a semester in southwest Houston near HBU, we take four to six students to help move a refugee family who has literally just arrived in the city into an apartment that will be their new home.

Imagine moving to a new country with absolutely nothing, except what you can pack in a bag, and starting over not knowing anyone or anything about the transportation, currency or the community around you. HWR partners with local churches and other organizations in Houston to give refugee families the basic essentials they need to call their new apartment “home.” The BSM students are then mobilized to serve as a move-in team

REACH THE CAMPUS REACH THE WORLD PARTNERSHIP - Organized prayer walks across Galveston campuses.

SUMMER 2022 GO NOW MISSIONSStudents served in South Africa, Guatemala and London, sharing the gospel and supporting long-term personnel in their ministry efforts.

HBU-COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING DETROIT MEDICAL MISSIONS TEAM - Students and faculty served one week in Detroit with Fellowship Plus for the purpose of integrating vocation and mission by providing handson experiences in serving Jesus to those needing medical health care.

CAMPUS OUTREACH PROJECT

GALVESTON - Students from four state schools and HBU gathered on the island for six weeks. Each student had a job where they applied their training in sharing the gospel within a real-life context at work.

NAVIGATORS SUMER TRAINING PROGRAM - a parachurch ministry partner at HBU who selected students for the Lonestar Training Program. Students invested their summer working at Kalahari Resort, serving those at the resort while learning to pursue Christ on a deeper level through training in evangelism, teaching, living in community and personal daily time with God.

where we take the essentials, unpack them and put things into their proper place. This includes setting up furniture, making the beds, unpacking the kitchen and even putting up the shower curtain, so when the family comes through the front door for the first time, it is an apartment ready to be lived in and belongs to them.

In addition to the unpacking, a week’s worth of groceries are in the fridge and a hot meal has been prepared for them to feel at home. This ministry is an amazing opportunity for our students to “love the foreigner” in our own backyard. * On September 21, 2022, Houston Baptist University announced a name change to Houston Christian University.

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:

WEEKLY FREE LUNCH - This event is a partnership between the Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) and local churches to provide a meal to students.

GO NOW MISSIONS - BSM students participated in Go Now Missions, a Texas Baptists ministry that sends college students on mission trips around Texas, the United States and around the globe.

Howard Payne University RAISED

100-150 BSM MINISTRIES across campus

HPU’s Baptist Student Ministry was led by a team of 13 students who facilitated five ongoing ministries along with several others that took place throughout the year. More than 30 students participated in discipleship through these ministries.

The weekly free lunch event is a partnership between the Baptist Student Ministry and local churches to provide a meal to students. The lunch averaged 100-150 students per week and provided opportunities for connection. More than 15 local churches and ministries participated in feeding students. The BSM raised over $3,500 for Go Now Missions and sent three students who chose to serve both domestically and internationally.

San Marcos Baptist Academy

The mission of San Marcos Academy is to educate young men and women within a nurturing community based upon Christian values.

Mission Projects:

SERVE DAY - Sponsored by Mission Able of First Baptist Church, this day enabled students to participate in a house cleanup, front port construction and wheelchair ramp painting at several locations.

SEVERAL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A FOUNDATION ON THE PROMISES OF GOD

In line with the Christian ministries theme of the year, “Promise,” several student organizations, including Ambassadors, NHS, NJHS, the Corps of Cadets, Rec Club, JSA, and Leo Club, were committed to building a foundation on the promises of God by helping people and changing lives within the local community. “I like being involved in leadership and helping out our community to make a positive change. I think that’s really important,” shared Gabby Barrientos, a 10th grader.

Students have been able to transform their compassion into action by partnering with external organizations such as the San Marcos Lions Club, Hays County Food Bank, Brown Santa, and School Fuel. Grace Barrett, an 11th grader, said, “I was really excited to get to help out with School Fuel with some of the Student Ambassadors. I like when we get to do service projects in our community.”

A memorable, volunteer opportunity in the fall was “Serve Day.” Sponsored by Mission Able of First Baptist Church, this day enabled students to participate in a house cleanup, front port construction and wheelchair ramp painting at several locations. After a successful day of building and painting ramps and also cleaning out a house, members of several campus service organizations gathered for lunch at First Baptist Church before returning back to school.

“Every time I do something to help someone else, I always feel a little bit more happy with myself,” said 7th grader Blain Montgomery. “Right now it’s kind of a crazy world there needs to be a little bit of light in this world right now.”

South Texas Children’s Home Ministries

Honoring God, reaching children and families with His love and truth, enabling others to join us in this ministry

PROFESSIONS OF FAITH across the nine ministries.

On May 1, 2022, STCH Ministries celebrated 70 years of ministry, impacting the lives of children and families. The ministry started on the Boothe Campus just outside of Mineral, Texas. At Boothe Campus, also known as the Homes for Children campus, we seek to be an extension of the child’s home as we partner with parents, grandparents or other legal guardians to restore relationships and return children to their families when possible.

The support the children receive while on campus includes loving houseparents, counselors and case workers, but it goes beyond even that. During the summer, the children are encouraged through a reading program organized by our campus librarian. Some of them take the program very seriously and love the competitive and rewarding aspect of it.

During the reading program, one young lady decided to start joining her houseparents as they read through the Bible in a year. She started doing this because of the reading program, but now is excited to continue reading the Bible even after the reading program ends. Other girls in the cottage saw this and decided to join in as well. This is a great opportunity for the children to read the Bible together with their houseparents and allows for conversations for further understanding.

In 2021, STCH Ministries added the Bluebonnet Campus in Yoakum, Texas, to our Homes for Families ministry. STCH Ministries Homes for Families is designed to be a resource for single mothers and their children who are facing a crisis and need help transitioning into independent living. The ability to impact two generations is part of what makes this ministry so important. Jessica, a mom on the Bluebonnet Campus, came to STCH Ministries after going from shelter to shelter where she felt like just a number.  After coming to STCH Ministries, Jessica and her two daughters have experienced so much love they are finally able to let their guards down from years of pain and trauma. Jessica cried tears of joy as she realized she no longer had to lock her children out of the bathroom to protect them from seeing her do drugs. She has grown hungry for God’s word and is seeking God as she rejoices over the changes she is seeing not just in her life but in her girl’s lives as well.

From the beginning, STCH Ministries adopted three founding principles that remain true today. We will never incur any debt. We are 100% privately funded and do not take any state or federal funding, and we provide our services regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. With no signs of slowing down, we continue to pray for God’s guidance as we look to the future and find new and innovative ways to impact more lives.

INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED through Homes for Children

MOTHERS AND CHILDREN were served through Homes for Families

INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED through Famiy Counseling in 18,461 sessions

INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED through International

INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED in our Faith & Work and Faith & Finances courses.

Stark College & Seminiary

Lives Impacted:

129CHURCHES SENT ONE OR MORE STUDENTS TO STARK FOR MINISTRY PREPARATION

The mission of Stark College & Seminary (SCS) is to prepare men and women to serve in the local church. The men and women who study at SCS want to be confident ministry leaders, and that means they need biblical training. The problem is that these students are often aware of the gaps in their educational experience which leads to great fear and doubt about their ability to serve.

We understand the insecurities that many students may feel when they are called to serve, and that’s why we are an accredited institution with a proven track record of preparing men and women for the church. Our classes are all taught by faculty who have experience serving in the local church. Thanks to generous partners who have contributed for nearly 80 years, SCS guarantees that 100% of the students who apply for financial aid will receive it.

SCS students are able to apply their education directly to the many ministry settings in which they serve. One of SCS’ Bachelor in Ministry students serves as youth pastor at a church in the Rio Grande Valley. His youth ministry experienced 10 salvations and eight baptisms recently. He also serves as an ambassador for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to his local school district.

Another student is a Spanish ministry coordinator at a large multicultural church in San Antonio. He also works for a nonprofit that seeks to alleviate children’s hunger. A student in the Diploma in Ministry program serves as the mission trip coordinator for South Texas Children’s Home. She spent 33 days in the Dominican Republic this summer and ministered in various ways by providing groceries, leading Bible studies and VBS, building bookshelves and scheduling community activities.

These stories are just a small representation of the many ways SCS students are answering God’s call to serve. Together, they are making an impact on a countless number of lives throughout the state and across the world.

Stark College and Seminary exists to equip educationally underserved followers of Christ for service in the church and community.

UNIQUE STUDENTS

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STUDENTS SERVE IN VOCATIONAL MINISTRY

STUDENTS COME FROM 64 CITIES, 35 COUNTIES, 5 STATES

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

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.

Between the winter 2021 and summer 2022 breaks, the university sent seven Global Outreach teams to various locations, including Alaska, Costa Rica, Guatemala, New Mexico, New Orleans and Washington state. Overall, UMHB mobilized 65 students across the world. Many participating UMHB students had never left Texas or flown on a plane before these trips. In many cases, this was their first mission experience, and they found this opportunity life-changing.

The Guatemala and Costa Rica teams were on medical missions, working with OneMoreChild. Each team saw more than 150 people from the community through physical assessments, first aid and dental education. The Guatemala team was the university’s first team to include Doctor of Physical Therapy students. It was an excellent partnership with undergrad nursing students for basic clinical practices. Each team had eight UMHB students and two sponsors.

UMHB sent a team of four students and two sponsors to work with Graceworks in Anchorage, Alaska. They partnered with a local church to adopt a park and hold a weeklong Bible camp. UMHB’s team worked with approximately 20 kids from the community.

UMHB also sent four students and two sponsors to Seattle, Washington, for two weeks to serve with Epic Life Church. They worked in various ministries through the church and partnered with the church-owned coffee shop.

Valley

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:

DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM - VBMEC distributed over $2,500,000 in food, clothing, appliances and household goods to over 120 churches and their members.

HELP FOR HOMES - Twenty-Two churches and three homes had repairs done. Work was accomplished for older members belonging to Baptist churches throughout the RGV.

VALLEY BAPTIST MISSIONS EDUCATION CENTER’S TWO YOUTH CAMPUSES housed over 2700 campers. Guests came from five different states, representing 92 churches and other Christian organizations, to work on church construction and Vacation Bible School day camps. They also witnessed to poor residents of colonias throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS - Winter Texans and retirees that sewed and filled over 3,000 Christmas stockings. The children from over 15 churches were blessed.

Wayland Baptist University

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:

CANNED FOOD DRIVE - 2,000+ cans were collected to replenish the shelves of the local food pantry after the holidays.

BEACH REACH - 12 students served at South Padre Island. They had over 100 gospel conversations and four professions of faith.

REFUGEE MINISTRY - Wayland partnered with iGO Global to minister to over 150 refugees that have been relocated to Fort Worth.

KENYA MISSION TRIP – A group of 12 served with Open Door Kenya. Open Door is a ministry that serves in Murang’A City. They worked with local churches to conduct VBS, teacher training, entrepreneurship training, preaching and shared testimonies.

When Donnie Brown, director of Spiritual Life at Wayland Baptist University, initially put together a trip to Kenya, Africa, he opened it up to the Plainview campus. Two traditional students and a couple of professors and their families signed up to go. Brown then opened the trip up to the Wayland external campuses and online students, hoping to get a few more volunteers to complete the team. Four online students from Amarillo, Austin and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a student from Alabama signed up. Training for the trip began in April via weekly online Zoom meetings and covered cultural training, evangelism training and Kenyan history.

During the last two weeks of June, the team of 12 traveled to Murang’A, Kenya, to work with missionary and Wayland alumni Blake and Michelle Northam of Open Door Kenya. Keith, a youth minister and online Wayland student from Austin, Texas, was instructed to prepare a sermon that could be preached in a local Kenyan church during the pre-trip training. The second week of the trip, Keith was given the opportunity to preach on Sunday morning, his first ever sermon. Faith, another

online student from San Antonio, was able to speak to ministry leaders regarding personal entrepreneurship for bivocational ministers.

Other team members planned and prepped for numerous Vacation Bible School (VBS) experiences that were conducted at various private schools around Murang’A. Over the course of the two weeks, the team led 1,080 children in VBS, helped them create salvation bracelets and created 1,470 popsicle stick “tambourines” during VBS and teacher trainings. The group gave out 50 teacher bags during training events to children’s teachers and children’s church leaders that contained teaching resources and interactive t eaching strategies.

From the beautiful people they met to the beautiful Kenyan landscapes, this trip was one to remember. It provided an opportunity for Wayland students to gain real-world missions experience and to fulfill the mission of Wayland to “Share the Light” with the world.

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.

DENISON FORUM - Denison Forum (DenisonForum.org) increased its average monthly content experiences to 971,587. The Daily Article email was averaging over 540,000 opens each month. Denison Forum content was viewed on its website approximately 146,000 times per month and had over 146,000 monthly social media engagements. Dr. Denison released multiple books including, Biblical Insights to Tough Questions vols 9-10, The Coming Tsunami, The Greater Work and A Light Unto My Path. In addition, Dr. Ryan Denison released How to Bless God by Blessing Others.

FIRST15 - First15 (First15.org) continued providing its daily devotional, averaging approximately 1.9 million content experiences each month. Craig Denison released Living Intentionally, a book designed to help create a simple, personal and powerful framework to facilitate the life you most want to live. First15 Worship (First15Worship.org) an initiative designed to help people connect with God through worship every day of the week, released Songs for Prayer ol II. Primeros15 (Primeros15.org), the Spanish language version of First15, is now averaging over 23,000 email opens per month.

CHRISTIAN PARENTING - Christian Parenting (ChristianParenting. org) increased its monthly average content experiences to 830,584. The CP Podcast Network curated the best parenting podcasts from across the country with over 687,000 downloads each month. CP is working with Terra Mattson to create and distribute a video curriculum for moms and daughters titled Helping Moms Raise Confident Daughters. CP also released three books: Key Psalms to Pray over Your Kids, Love God, Love Others, Read, Ask Go! An Interactive Advent Devotional for the Whole Family, and Noteworthy Kids: 50 Encouraging Notes Every Child Needs to Receive.

FOUNDATIONS WITH JANET DENISON - Foundations with Janet Denison (FoundationswithJanet.org) continued to produce online Bible study series such as the Sermon on the Mount, The Birth of the Christian Church, In Step with the Spirit, Our Biblical GPS and Our Influence for God’s Glory. She also released her 11th Advent devotional entitled A Shepherd’s Christmas. The aggregate reach of Janet’s blogs, Bible studies, books and articles reached approximately 32,000 content experiences per month.

Texas Baptist Men

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.

TBM DISASTER RELIEF responded after hurricanes in Louisiana; wildfires in Texas, Colorado and New Mexico; tornadoes in Texas and Kentucky; in Poland and Ukraine after the invasion of the latter country; and in Israel as Ukrainian refugees settled. TBM Disaster Relief met significant physical, emotional and spiritual needs after each of these disasters.

Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas

WMU of Texas walks alongside churches across the state to make disciples who make disciples. By engaging in local missions, establishing partnerships for missions and empowering others for worldwide missions, WMU has the opportunity to transform lives and hearts with the love of Christ.

Mission Projects:

WOMEN’S BUILD - Women from across Texas gather in Peñitas, Texas, to partner with Buckner International to build a home for a family in need.

11

YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP WITH BUCKNER INTERNATIONAL to help build homes for families in need in Peñitas, Texas

Six-year-old Raul met the Women’s Build team the first day of the project. He was adventurous and curious and so excited that he and his soon-to-arrive baby sister were getting a new home. He quickly made friends with the team and was always ready to provide a play-break to anyone willing. As the walls went up and his new home took shape, he made sure everyone knew which room was his. Although the studs lacked sheetrock and the floor was plywood, he already loved spending time in his very own room. He gave us a tour of what his room would look like. He was fascinated as he read the notes and Scripture verses written on the studs that would support the walls of his room. He saw women stop working to pray for him in his room. He heard them speak his name before God. He saw women who loved him and loved the Lord. Raul experienced the love of God personally and practically through the relationships built with the team.

LIVES IMPACTED

Thanks to your Cooperative Program investment of $27 million, more than 11 million lives have been impacted in person and online through the collaborative missions efforts of Texas Baptists ministry partners and staff featured in this report.

OVER 11 MILLION

LIVES

IMPACTED THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE MISSIONS EFFORTS OF THE TEXAS BAPTISTS FAMILY