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Thank
you Texas Baptists
Thank
you Dr. Rudy Sanchez and Pastor Mateo Rendon for your excellent
leadership through the Executive Board and Administrative Committee.
Thank you Dr. Bob Campbell and the BGCT Seminary Study Committee
members for your diligent and exhaustive effort. Thank
you Dr. Wade for your outstanding leadership, passionate message
and compelling challenge to the Convention messengers! Thank
you Dr. Clyde Glazener for your outstanding leadership during
the proceedings. Thank you Texas Baptists, especially those who
represented Texas Hispanic Baptist churches/missions for your
extra effort to attend and participate in this convention. Thank
you all for your boldness, courage, and excellent leadership. You
voted for the future of Texas and beyond! You voted to steward
your resources in a way that will affect Hispanic Baptist Theological
Seminary's ability to provide theological education that is contextually
appropriate for Texas. You
voted to supply the needs of emerging leaders whom they will equip
to meet the challenges of an increasingly cross-cultural context.
They will use funds to provide scholarships, assistance in the
accreditation and certification process and educational resources
HBTS needs. In
I Corinthians 9:12-13, the Apostle Paul says: "This service
that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people
but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men
will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession
of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with
them and with everyone else." A
new sense of excitement and anticipation flows among our students,
faculty, staff and trustees. HBTS received Candidate Membership
with the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges on August 29,
2000. We have needed academic expertise and financial resources
for accreditation and certification as a Bible college. We have
the expertise but not sufficient financial resources. In
light of God's redemptive activity in history, the timing of this
decision could not be better. The decision to redirect funds for
theological education ushers in a new era in Texas Baptist history.
Adopting the Texas Priority Giving Option through the Cooperative
Program in your church budget for 2001 will secure funds for HBTS. Pastors,
church leaders and budget/finance committee members will aid in
encouraging churches and missions to adopt a budget that reflects
the Texas Priority Giving Option. We need all Texas Baptist churches,
including Hispanic churches and missions, to make this choice.
We need support from every church and mission. No amount of giving
is too small. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! January 2001 |
