Missions Photo Contest: A New Bike!

A New Bike!

Originally uploaded by onbelayon

Taken June 2008, Jefferson City, TN was on GoNow Missions trip. Little girl staying at the homeless shelter had never had a bike and she got a little train bike, which she loves! She called it her bike and indeed that is what it was, her new bike! 

To see the entire submission group to this point, you may click this link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/missionsphotocontest/pool/show/.

We’d love to have you submit some photos from your involvement in missions over the last year. Deadline is September 1. Contest details are here: http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Page.aspx?pid=5092.

Missions Photo Contest: Senior Adult Prayer Walkers

PPBC Senior Adult PrayerWalkers Irving - Texas - Plymouth Park Baptist Church - July 2008

Originally uploaded by domine_ivimus

Senior Adult Prayer Walkers, July 2008
Irving, Texas - Plymouth Park Baptist Church

To see the entire submission group to this point, you may click this link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/missionsphotocontest/pool/show/.

We’d love to have you submit some photos from your involvement in missions over the last year. Deadline is September 1. Contest details are here: http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Page.aspx?pid=5092.

Missions Photo Contest: Dental Team

Dental Team

Originally uploaded by fcbcsanantonio

We transported 22 patients on Tuesday and Wednesday to Santa Maria, which is 30 miles from San Carlos.

The clinic, a four room building, is operated by the Primera Iglesia Bautista de Santa Maria. When we arrived at the clinic,I found an old coke bottle on the unit which was cracked and leaking, so I volunteered the one that I just finished drinking from…only after thoroughly cleaning it out. : )

First Chinese Baptist Church, San Antonio

To see the entire submission group to this point, you may click this link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/missionsphotocontest/pool/show/.

We’d love to have you submit some photos from your involvement in missions over the last year. Deadline is September 1. Contest details are here: http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Page.aspx?pid=5092.

Missions Photo Contest: Frida

At the apartment complex we visited in Arlington we did memory verses with the kids. This is a young girl named Frida that was showing me the verse she had learned.

To see the entire submission group to this point, you may click this link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/missionsphotocontest/pool/show/.

We’d love to have you submit some photos from your involvement in missions over the last year. Deadline is September 1. Contest details are here: http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Page.aspx?pid=5092.

Building bridges building a building

Texas Baptist Men gets a lot of publicity for its disaster relief efforts, but the organization does much more than that. This week, the TBM Retiree Builders are helping build the first sanctuary for Temple de Alabanza-Ebeneezer in McKinney.

The project has helped further connect the church with the community, said Building Chairman James Smith. People from around McKinney have volunteered their time and money to support the effort. A roofing company has volunteered some of its workers.

More than 80 people are working on the project each day. They want to help the church reach growing Hispanic population in the city.

Please pray for the volunteers as they work through the hot weather and for the church’s efforts to share the hope of Christ with its community.

Photo from James Van Dyke, who noticed the construction.

Missions Photo Contest: Bjorn

Bjorn praying for the schools we were going to visit the next day. 

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some photos that have been submitted to the Missions Photo Contest sponsored by the BGCT. To see the entire submission group to this point, you may click this link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/missionsphotocontest/pool/show/.

We’d love to have you submit some photos from your involvement in missions over the last year. Deadline is September 1. Contest details are here: http://www.bgct.org/texasbaptists/Page.aspx?pid=5092.

$1 million in food distributed in 72 hours

In the wake of Hurricane Dolly, Primera Iglesia Bautista in Santa Maria has stepped up its ministry tremendously. In 72 hours, the church distributed more than $1 million in meals. In reading Pastor Schwarz’s running acount found here, God’s timing and provision can be seen throughout this time.

Please continue praying for the congregation. It is still providing meals for those in need three times a week.

Leaders gather for Texas Hope 2010

On Friday, a group of legendary Texas Baptists gathered to learn more about and share insight into Texas Hope 2010, a BGCT initiative to share the gospel with every non-Christian in the state by Easter 2010. Among the dignitaries were Russell Dilday, Paul Powell, Roy Edgemon, Richard Jackson, Joy Fenner and Jeanne Law.

Several of the people who attended the meeting expressed great excitement about Texas Hope 2010 and volunteered to help however they could. They referenced the impact previous evangelistic emphases had. They hoped to see God’s spirit move.

But as Reading Rainbow taught me, you don’t have to take my word for it. Ken Coffee gives his take on the meeting over on his blog here.

Counseling services

In recent days, I’ve come to understand there is some confusion about BGCT’s counseling and psychological services. While the convention did eliminate it’s counseling and psychological services staff, it continues to support ministers who need counseling by strengthening a network of qualified counselors across the state.

Here’s some more information about the BGCT counseling efforts. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dan McGee via the the contact information at the bottom of this post.

DALLAS - The Baptist General Convention of Texas offers counseling and psychological services for ministers and their families.

While the BGCT has eliminated its psychological services staff, it has asked Dan McGee, who once led the convention’s counseling efforts, to lead the work to help ministers and their families find respected counselors who can help.

McGee is further strengthening the network of counselors across the state he helped establish while working with the BGCT. Each person in the network has been thoroughly researched and comes with strong recommendations.

“Pursuing ministry as a vocation is a spiritually, physically and emotionally difficult pathway to walk,” McGee said. “The burnout and dropout rate is high, and for Baptist ministers there is no ecclesiastical safety net. Isolation is what I notice first among those we have worked with over the years. According to one study, 70% of ministers do not have someone they consider a close friend. “

In addition to connecting ministers with counselors, McGee continues to provide assistance to ministers who have questions about counseling issues. He also conducts tests to help staff members better understand each other and work together.

The BGCT provides some financial assistance for ministers who receive counseling through this network.

For more information about counseling and psychological services, contact McGee at info@danmcgeeassociates.com or 800-388-2005.

Win Oakes dies

Win Oakes, who served on the BGCT staff for years, passed away yesterday. Win was critical in church-starting efforts in the DFW area as well as the partnership between the BGCT and the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention.

For information about the arrangements, click here.