CHRISTINA: DON’T FORGET YOUR FIRST LOVE
During the Associate Executive Director report at the 2023 Texas Baptists Family Gathering, Dr. Craig Christina brought a message from the heart to messengers, encouraging them not to lose their first love.
“To go all the way in our walk with Jesus, we have to let love carry us home,” Christina said. “We have to fan into flames a hot heart for Christ and the gospel. We have to let love for Jesus compel us, as the family of God, to work together to reach the world for Christ.”
Christina said Texas Baptists is in “such a good place right now as a convention because we have kept our first love. Texas Baptists, we are related by blood, the blood of Jesus; and that makes us the family of God. But we’ll stay together by love. Our love for the Lord, one another, and our mutual passion for loving the lost.”
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED
Julio Guarneri, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, was elected president of the Convention for a second one-year term. Guarneri previously served as first vice president for two years.
Ronny Marriott, pastor of First Baptist Church in Burleson, was elected first vice president. Marriott previously served as second vice president.
Guarneri and Marriott were unopposed and were elected following a vote by the messengers in attendance.
Two leaders were nominated for second vice president: Debbie Potter, children’s minister of Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, and Glenn Lackey, a lay leader at Canyon Creek Baptist Church in Temple.
Results of the vote for second vice president will be announced during the business session on Tuesday, July 18.
Motions 1 2
Meridith Stone, messenger, Calvary Baptist Church, Waco brought a motion for consideration. I move that the Baptist General Convention of Texas affirm women in all ministry and pastoral roles and that the BGCT Executive Board be instructed to have staff create programs, resources and advocacy initiatives to assist churches in affirming, appointing and employing women in ministerial and pastoral roles.
Ellis Orozco, messenger, First Baptist Church, Richardson, made a motion for consideration. I move that the Baptist General Convention of Texas uphold the autonomy of the local church to affirm a cooperating church’s authority to call women to congregational and vocational ministry as they, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the guidance of sacred Scripture, deem fit.
The Texas Baptists Bulletin is published on the second day of the Annual Meeting by the Communications Department of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. This abbreviated Bulletin includes announcements and motions.
Craig Christina Associate Executive Director / Acting Executive Director
Ward Hayes Treasurer / CFO / Recording Secretary
Joshua Seth Minatrea Director of Communications
Aimee Freston Associate Director of Communications
Coleen Wall Director of Conference & Event Planning
Caleb Arndt Design Manager
George Schroeder New Media Specialist
Lauren Kendall Graphic Designer
Neil Williams Multimedia Specialist
BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OF TEXAS 138TH ANNUAL VOLUME 138, NO. 2 | McALLEN | JULY 18, 2023
2024 ANNUAL MEETING will be held at the Waco Convention Center Nov. 10-12, 2024 VIEW THE FULL PROCEEDINGS AT txb.org/proceedings
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