We have never really pushed people to join Texas Baptists Committed in our newsletter. We have appreciated all who “officially joined by contributing” and sent the newsletter to anyone who requested it. BUT FRIENDS, IT IS TIME FOR US TO PUSH YOU A LITTLE!

Our mailing list of churches and individuals in now over 16,000 (it was 6,000 in April, 1992). We plan a Convocation every June and the annual breakfast every year during the BGCT. Breakfast and Convocation reservations have to be kept up with in the computer. We publish five newsletters and would do more if we had the money) per year. This is an extra edition due to recent events. The last newsletter cost $6,500 to print, sort, label, and mail. Not to forget the eighteen dinners and lunches we had last fall with our coordinator speaking at each one. Imagine setting those up, mailing out the invitations, and speaking at each one!

In one day in April our office got over 40 pieces of mail — new persons for the mailing lists, contributions, requests for information, reservations for the Convocation, etc. In one week in April, we had over 500 new names and addresses given us to add to our mailing list. This is wonderful, but every name has to be checked to see if they are already on the mailing list and then added if they are not. All new persons are mailed a copy of the latest newsletter. We keep up with local churches and associations as well, along with every contribution, where it came from, send a thank you, etc. Plus the phone rings constantly.

Friends, we accomplish all this with one full-time coordinator, David Currie, and one part-time secretary. To be honest, the workload has gotten overwhelming. And if you wondered why you got a March newsletter in April, the answer was simple. We did not have the money to pay staff and mail the newsletter in March.

So this is what we have done. We have told our coordinator to hire a full time secretary (or another part time person) and turn all the data base management over to the secretary. We told him to buy another computer for him to write the newsletter on and handle correspondence. We told him to use his time on the phone setting up the details of the convocation, breakfast, meetings, etc., and responding to the many requests for information. Let the support staff handle the “tons” of paperwork. We told him to add another phone line so he could finish a conversation with us FOR ONCE without having to ask us to hold while he took another call!

And finally we told him that Texas Baptists know, appreciate, and understand that God has used this organization to help keep the BGCT free, and that Texas Baptists will support this organization because they realize how important this ministry is for helping shape the future of Texas Baptists. Yes, the money given to TBC could go to foreign missions, but we believe it is a tremendous MISSION to preserve the mission, education, and benevolent programs of the BGCT. We believe you agree.

We believe that strongly. Imagine where the BGCT might be if not for Texas Baptists Committed. If you are not a member, please join. It is also time for some churches to support this work. Right now one church gives $50 per month. A couple of other churches have given occasionally.

Remember the last newsletter and read this one. Is this ministry giving you helpful information? If so, please support us.

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