CO-CHAIR THOUGHTS FROM DEAN DICKENS
Straight Talk About A Strong State

It is amusing to consider the absurd, “Chicken Little” statements hurled at “weak” Texas Baptists. Remember when last year in our Amarillo convention we were told that to creatively change the methods of giving would “destroy” the BGCT. Chicken Little rose to pontificate that is we allowed churches the freedom to give according to the dictates of their consciences, “This will weaken Texas.” They told us that Texas churches would simply support the SBC and ignore Texas.

Well, take note that the sky did not fall!

Quite the contrary. Reports are that Texas Baptists giving is up 8.4% over last year’s giving. If this is their description of a “weak state,” Chicken Little may have become an ostrich with his head buried in the sand. I hope you are excited that Texas giving is over our budget. I might suggest that lots of those “strong” state conventions out across the SBC would be thrilled for a little bit of that ‘weakness.”

Immediately after the Amarillo decision to do some “bold mission giving,” the prophets of doom gathered and organized to see that Texas would be weakened: They themselves were the ones who determined to withdraw their support of Texas. 48 churches among them said they would just bypass Texas and support Nashville. 198 of them determined to reduce their giving to Texas missions and give who knows where. One supposes that if they had made their minds up what to do if they did not get their way, they could accurately predict what “would be done.” They would, themselves, work to weaken Texas Baptists.

But, the sky did not fall! In spite of 48 “secessionists” and 193 “reductionists,” Texas Churches rose in a great way to actually strengthen Texas ministries rather than hurt Texas. And we are now labeled a “weak” state convention.

It rather reminds me of the observation H.L. Mencken made about folks who compose life’s great nay-sayers, the Chicken Littles prophesying doom and destruction on anyone who sees or operates differently. He observed that some people are just naturally so pessimistic that when they smell flowers, they immediately look for a coffin.

I am grateful for Texas Baptist folks who are still looking at this great mission field called Texas. We are determined to place it squarely in the scope of world-wide missions and recognize that Christ wants us to reach it all. The sky will not fall and we will not become weak. We will simply be concentrating on the task God has given us.

I guess this is my way of encouraging you to give more to our State Missions Offering. Give more to the ministries of Texas Baptists. Give more to the kingdom. It is called returning to Bold Mission Thrust.

The only one who will be disappointed is Chicken Little.

October 1995