Welcome

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Getting together in person for this year’s Annual Meeting is like experiencing the first gleam of warm sunshine after a cold winter’s storm. I’ve missed you! I’m thankful to God that we can return to face-to-face gatherings. When we are able to worship with one another, pray with and for one another, and lock arms in a common cause for the glory of God, the blessings of God are multiplied in our hearts.

Be sure to give all our Texas Baptist staff a hearty “Thank You” for all of the work they have done, and are now doing, to make this year’s Convention possible. This is the first year in our history where the proceedings of the Annual Meeting can be attended live and online. There are many staff members working double duty to make this Annual Meeting accessible to more people than ever before.

Finally, friends, I can’t wait to experience with you the joy that comes from our common work for the Lord. God has called us together to make a difference in the world we live in. Our goal as Texas Baptists is to share our faith with our neighbors, the nations, and to future generations.

Thank you for participating in this historic Annual Meeting!

Jason Burden President of the BGCT

Hello Texas Baptists!

This is a very special and unique Annual Meeting for our Texas Baptist family. We are in a great location and back together after two years. The worship and preaching will be powerful, the workshops helpful and the fellowship sweet. Thanks for being a part.

Certainly, we all know that the past 18 months have been unusually challenging for our churches and their leaders. As a convention we have worked to be prayerful, supportive, and encouraging to our Pastors and other leaders. Please know, if you need assistance, counseling, finances, pulpit supply, etc... we have resources available to help so do contact us!

The good news is that, in spite of all the challenges, sorrows and uncertainty the Lord has blessed the work and ministry of our Texas Baptist family. New churches were started, thousands of people were saved, hundreds more received assistance for their personal needs and the generosity of the BGCT was evident. We continue to focus on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Our "nickname" for this focus is called GC2. When you see those letters/numbers just know it's our way of making sure, as a convention of churches, we are emphasizing the tasks to which Jesus has called us, loving God and others and making disciples. You'll hear more about this during my report to the convention on Monday night.

At the end of this year I will have completed 10 years of service to you, our Texas Baptist family. Thanks, again, for allowing me the privilege of serving as your Executive Director. There are good days ahead for our BGCT family!

Blessings,

David W. Hardage Executive Director, Texas Baptists