TEXAS BAPTISTS 2018 COOPERATIVE PROGRAM ANNUAL REPORT
SHARE CHRIST & SHOW LOVE Our message as Texas Baptists is that simple. We’re a fellowship of transformational churches sharing Christ and showing love across Texas and around the world.
Our 2019 Budget shows how your CP dollars will be invested through the rest of this year. But let’s take a moment to look back at 2018 and see how CP giving was invested in mission work, and a few results from that investment. Thank you for giving through CP and being a generous part of our fellowship. Chris Liebrum | Director Office of Cooperative Program Ministry 214.828.5292 chris.liebrum@texasbaptists.org
2018 CP ANNUAL REPORT
team reports one three five seven nine eleven
Texas Baptist Men Collegiate Team Missions Team Great Commission Team Connections Team Institutional Partners
thirteen fifteen seventeen nineteen twenty-one twenty-three
Christian Life Commission Cultural Engagement Team Executive Director Associate Executive Director Treasurer / CFO Disbursement of Funds
TEXAS BAPTIST MEN
$
A FEW RESULTS FROM CP INVESTMENT OF :
106
77,102 1,971
heavy equipment hours
1
94,810
professions of faith
3,662
330,789
loads of laundry
volunteer hours
8,914 ministry and chaplain contacts
meals served
11,322 11,022
showers provided
volunteer days
Any time you see TBM teams at work in disaster response, you are seeing the Disaster Relief arm of Texas Baptists.
2
A FEW RESULTS FROM CP INVESTMENT OF :
$
4.1 MILLIO
How do you engage more than 1.6 million college students in Texas to follow Christ and transform the world? Invest $4.1 million into Texas BSM. 3
COLLEGIATE TEAM
REID BURKETT, Baptist Student Ministry (BSM) director at Wayland Baptist University, has seen firsthand the impact that BSM has on students’ lives, including his own.
When he was a sophomore at Howard Payne University (HPU), Reid came to know the Lord. As a new believer who felt called to ministry, Reid became involved with the HPU BSM, saying that their director was the first person to invite him in and give him a chance to learn and do ministry. “It’s had a huge impact in my life,” he said. “I wouldn’t be in ministry today if it wasn’t for HPU BSM.” As a BSM director now at WBU, Reid’s story has come full circle, and he wants to give the same chance to Wayland students that was given to him. One of those students is named Kaili. In the fall of 2018, upon hearing the Gospel presentation at the BSM’s first Monday night gathering, Kaili couldn’t shake the feeling that she needed more in her life. After sleepless nights and conversations with the BSM’s leadership team, Kaili approached Reid at a BSM free lunch. There, he was able to pray with her and lead her to Christ. Since then, Kaili has been baptized and plugged in to BSM. Three of Kaili’s friends also now participate in BSM. “She’s not the same person,” Reid said.
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The Lord is working through the lives of BSM directors and students all over the state, and when your church gives through the Cooperative Program, you support that work.
TEAM STATS 124,165 14,826 2,170
students reached on 144 campuses students involved weekly in BSM students trained to take the lead in serving other students
481 35,882 462
Go Now missionaries sent around the globe spiritual conversations
new believers 4
A FEW RESULTS FROM CP INVESTMENT OF :
$
1.93 MILLION
Your gifts made it possible for the Missions Team to connect, equip, and mobilize churches for mission opportunities across Texas and around the world. 5
MISSIONS TEAM
CHURCH STARTING: FROM CUBA TO CONROE In 2017, Isaias Martinez received a phone call to his home in Cuba from his friends at Under Over Fellowship in Conroe, Texas. They invited him to start a church for the Hispanic community in Conroe and offered to serve as his sponsor church. Less than two years later, Conroe Hispanic Baptist Church was meeting together on Sundays, rejoicing in 44 professions of faith in one year. “Right now, the support we receive from the Cooperative Program covers the majority of our operating budget,” Martinez said. “Thanks to these gifts, we’ve been able to grow and become stable.” Martinez said that the plan is for the church to become self-sufficient within the next few years. “The Cooperative Program funds have been essential for us to be operational,” he said. “It would be impossible without them.” Your church’s gifts through the Cooperative Program provide for new churches, like this one, to share the love of Christ with communities around our state.
TEAM STATS 408,424 65 1,546
lives impacted through Multihousing / Organic Church Ministries churches started in 2018 – working with 384 total mobilized in Hurricane Harvey recovery working a total of 54,110 man-hours
132 45,183 14,117
missionaries supported by Missionary Adoption Program in 10 countries reached through River Ministry
new believers 6
For the third consecutive year, Texas Baptists Great Commission Team was recognized by the North American Mission Board for the most baptisms of any state convention in the SBC – 25,451. A FEW RESULTS FROM CP INVESTMENT OF :
7
$
1.8 MILLIO
GREAT COMMISSION TEAM
BREATHING THROUGH NEW LIFE & NEW LUNGS Victoria Lopez was born with a genetic lung disease. On her 16th birthday, she decided she wanted a lung transplant and was admitted into the hospital. After her condition worsened, she was placed on the top of the lung transplant list in Dallas.
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While waiting for a transplant, Victoria attended Congreso to share her testimony with the crowd of more than 3,000 Hispanic students. Victoria shared how the disease brought her family closer together and closer to God. “We had peace knowing He was in control,” Victoria said. Congreso students and leaders prayed fervently for Victoria—for God to provide lungs for her ailing body. Soon, the family received the phone call they had been praying about. “We have lungs for Victoria,” the doctor said. “How soon can you be at the hospital?” Although there was much rejoicing at the completion of her surgery, complications caused Victoria to remain in ICU on a breathing tube for weeks. During that time, she struggled in her faith, but continued to cry out to the Lord. Seven weeks after her transplant, she was able to return home, gain strength, and realize things would improve. “It clicked in my mind that God had a bigger plan,” Victoria said. “I started feeling God’s love and mercy again.” Six months after her transplant, Victoria stood before her church to share her testimony through baptism. “God has done so much for me and I wanted to show the world that I trust Him with my life,” she said. Victoria plans to attend the next Congreso and share with her peers about God’s healing power.
TEAM STATS 14,000 + 3,000 +
ministers and laypersons trained in Discipleship, Evangelism and Music & Worship trained through Discipleship
9,550 663 1,400 +
trained through Evangelism youth ministers trained at Conclave music and worship leaders trained
8
The Connections Team connects pastors and churches with resources and ministries available through Texas Baptists. A FEW RESULTS FROM CP INVESTMENT OF :
$ 9
1.47 MILLION
CONNECTIONS TEAM
EDDIE PUGA, has been the Pastor of Iglesia
Bautista Ambler in Abilene for four years. This small bilingual church partners with churches along the border, and is faithful in their giving to the Cooperative Program. Pastor Eddie sacrifices much for the church. He was able to help the church get out of debt. But, as a husband, full-time pastor, full-time seminary student on scholarship, and a new father to four foster children, his own finances were tight. When the weight of it all seemed too heavy, he reached out to Tammy Tijerina, director of Texas Baptists’ Center for Ministerial Excellence (CME). Tammy walked Eddie through the application for CME’s Ministerial Excellence Matching Grant, where Texas Baptists pastors and church ministerial staff can apply for up to $5,000 in financial relief. Eddie was able to receive the full amount of funds by matching the funds that he and his wife had saved. “You have no idea how much of a blessing this grant is for pastors as we are trying to do as much as we can for our churches,” Eddie said. “This is such an encouragement for us, knowing that our state convention cares about us and is concerned with our needs. CME came in at the right time.” He continued, “I support the Cooperative Program 100% because I know that we’ve been blessed and that it blesses other churches.” Your church’s Cooperative Program gifts help fund the Texas Baptists Connection Team as they facilitate the work of CME.
TEAM STATS 9,000 + 300 + 71 2,300
contacts made by Area Representatives bi-vocational / small church leaders helped pastors in need received financial assistance calls received by Counseling Services
211 320 900 +
churches contacted by Interim Church Ministry new profiles added to Minister Connection Cowboy Church leaders trained through Western Heritage Ministry conferences 10
$
10.86 MILLION OF YOUR TEXAS BAPTISTS COOPERATIVE PROGRAM giving was used
to support these outstanding ministries. Their work in Christian education and human care to the most vulnerable reached more than 2,000,000 Texans in 2018.
EDUCATION PARTNERS
11
HUMAN CARE PARTNERS
Although not funded directly by CP, these visionary ministries are supported through the work of Texas Baptists.
12
CLC
A FEW RESULTS FROM CP INVESTMENT OF :
$
973,668
The Christian Life Commission challenges Christ-followers to boldly live out biblical commands to pursue righteousness, seek justice and serve others. 13
CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMISSION Wellness Wednesdays are a big deal at St. Luke’s Baptist Church City on a Hill in San Antonio. Pastor Joe Barber’s eyes fill with tears when he talks about it. On those days, people who are struggling to receive much-needed medical services are treated with love. Wellness Wednesdays have turned into a collaboration of several groups and individuals who work together to meet the needs of those in the area. A retired nurse from the congregation helps with basic things like wound care, and a partner organization offers medical testing. When the church does their feeding ministry on Wellness Wednesdays, Barber sits, eats and laughs with those he ministers to. The lunch table becomes his pulpit. He said that in his most recent Wellness Wednesday, three people accepted Christ, and he was able to share his testimony with a man suffering from HIV. “He told me, ‘I’ve never been to a church where people don’t look at me like I’m crazy, and here the pastor wants to hug me,’” Barber said. “Because of this ministry, we can get him the services he needs to treat his HIV.” Your church’s gifts through the Cooperative Program help the Texas Baptists Christian Life Commission provide Pastor Barber’s church with basic health and medical supplies and hygiene kits.
TEAM STATS 200 + $
people attended the Micah 6:8 conference
549,202
raised by CP-supported staff for Texas Baptist Hunger Offering
67
families received help with legal immigrant status issues
3
ministries to the underserved— prisoners, the deaf, children in foster care
The Christian Life Commission supported a pro-life agenda in 2018 by co-sponsoring the Rally for Life in Austin, raising funds for a crisis pregnancy center in Decatur, and providing a pro-life workshop in Sugar Land.
14
A FEW RESULTS FROM CP INVESTMENT OF :
$
1.1 MILLION
The Cultural Engagement Team is reaching the myriad people groups from around the globe right here in Texas.
EDUCATION is important work for
Texas Baptists Hispanic Ministries – for students and for parents. They have a hand in community parenting classes, raising funds for college scholarships for Hispanic students and in GED classes for adults who desire to finish high school. This ministry, led by Director Rolando Rodriguez, helps churches help communities. One such church is Erez Church in Duncanville. On a weekly basis, the church ministers to and disciples over 30 college students who are attending higher learning institutions in the area.
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“We are doing more than just investing in the education of students by providing scholarships to meet their financial needs. We are investing in their lives and developing their leadership potential,” said Rodriguez. “Erez Church is reaching the next generation.” Your church’s gifts through the Cooperative Program help support the Hispanic Ministry Team and their mission to make education a possibility for all generations.
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CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT TEAM
TEAM STATS
hispanic ministries
579 4,500 1,500 7
african american ministries
pastors trained
1,100
leaders trained
400
students trained
intercultural ministries
69
leaders trained youth and adult counselors impacted
new believers
previously unreached people groups received help with pastor training and church starts
16
17
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR A FEW RESULTS FROM CP INVESTMENT OF :
$
3.69 MILLION
Through the office of Executive Director David Hardage, we continued to support Disaster Relief through Texas Baptist Men, forge new and stronger relationships with our San Antonio area institutions, expand awareness of all that can be done through cooperative giving, and preserve and communicate the history and heritage of Texas Baptists.
5,167
donors made 18,326 gifts through the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation providing over $6,500,000 for ministry needs in Texas.
350 +
pastors, staff, and lay leaders helped by Church Administration.
1 million
impressions made by the Communications Team sharing the Texas Baptists story through print and digital media.
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A FEW RESULTS FROM CP INVESTMENT OF :
$
11.71 MILLION
If your church gives through Texas Baptists CP, you impact millions of lives of all ages and cultures every year through Associate Executive Director Steve Vernon’s team. In fact, one out of every 12 Texans is impacted by our education and human care institutions. 19
ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Homes for Families, a program of STCH Ministries, provides single mothers and their children an opportunity to heal and grow after abusive relationships, financial instability or homelessness. Leaving an abusive relationship, Ashley Kaufman visited Bear Creek Baptist Church in Katy. She was so upset that she ran out of the worship service and asked for help. She was told that STCH Ministries offered counseling services at Bear Creek, and was soon able to talk with a counselor. “What I really wanted was for someone to tell me abortion was okay… that it would be the best choice for me,” said Ashley. “Instead, the counselor told me abortion isn’t okay and if I went through with it, I would feel more pain in the end than if I chose to have this precious baby God was giving me.” STCH Ministries welcomed Ashley to their Homes for Families campus where, four months later, her son, Isaiah, was born. This brought a new peace Ashley had never known. “I am so glad I didn’t go through with the abortion and that I have Isaiah!” Ashley exclaimed through tears of joy. “Being here has been the best experience of my life.” Your church’s gifts through the Cooperative Program help support life-giving work like STCH Ministries’ Homes for Families.
TEAM STATS 46,158
Baptist university students received $8.2 Million in aid
948
1,563
ministry students given Ministerial Financial Assistance
1,058
383,245
lives impacted through 4 child and human care institutions
553
chaplains endorsed to service across the world churches using BaptistWay Press literature churches assisted by Church Architecture with $548,360 in grants and loans
20
TREASURER / CFO TEAM
A FEW RESULTS FROM CP INVESTMENT OF :
$
7.44 MILLION
The most effective and efficient ministry support possible is the goal of Treasurer/CFO Jill Larsen’s team. PROCESS gifts,
CREATE effective
PROVIDE adminis-
MANAGE ministry
MAINTAIN effective
ENSURE building
contributions, and payments accurately productively with IT equipment and support
conference and event planning
HR functions and legal compliance
trative support of the Convention’s mission operations and support services are well-managed
The Treasurer’s team also manages income of $4.9 million from endowments that have been provided by generous donors to Texas Baptists CP or specific ministries within the budget. With this investment income, 14.7 cents of every Texas Baptists ministry dollar spent is provided by endowment earnings rather than CP giving. 21
TEAM STATS $
904,000
contribution to encourage churches to help ministers save for retirement
$
4.9 million
endowments provided 14.7 cents of every ministry dollar spent
22
37% MISSIONS 16% MINISTRIES 3% CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMISSION
WHERE DO CP $ GO?
28% EDUCATION & HUMAN CARE MINISTRIES
4% COMMUNICATIONS 12% ADMINISTRATION
For a complete listing of Texas Baptists Missions and Ministries and detailed 2019 Budget and Reports, including the CP Annual Report, please go to texasbaptists.org/cp
MISSIONS (37%)
MINISTRIES (16%)
3,000+ Worldwide Missionaries 200+ BSM Missionaries on 114 Campuses River Ministry/Mexico Texas Baptists Missionaries 436 Go Now Missionaries Texas Baptist Men Bounce (Student Disaster Recovery) Hispanic Ministries African American Ministries Intercultural Ministries Church Starting
Evangelism Discipleship Bible Study Music & Worship Church Architecture Student Ministry Interim Church Services 800+ Endorsed Chaplains Counseling
EDUCATION & HUMAN CARE MINISTRIES (28%)
23
CHRISTIAN LIFE COMMISSION (3%)
12 Texas Baptists Universities and Schools 7 Baptist Hospitals & Health Foundations 5 Child/Elder Care Ministries
Ethics & Justice Social Issues Advocacy Public Policy Hunger & Community Care
COMMUNICATION (4%)
ADMINISTRATION (12%)
News & Media Design & Print Web & Marketing
Accounting Technology Human Resources
In 2018, Texas Baptists churches, through the BGCT, contributed
$
23,714,826.26 to the SBC to reach the lost around the world for generations to come
8,000 +
full and part-time missionaries resulting in almost
100,000 new believers
9,000 * future and current ministers training at six SBC seminaries *
Approved CP Funding
Connect with Us Contact 888-244-9400 barbara.forbis@texasbaptists.org 7557 Rambler Road, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75231
Social Media
TexasBaptistsCP
@TexasBaptists
The stories shared in the Annual Report are from 52 Sundays. Sign up to receive CP stories every month in your inbox at texasbaptists.org/sundays This report is available online in English and Spanish at texasbaptists.org/cpannualreport