CO-CHAIR THOUGHTS FROM MAURIECE JOHNSTON
Keeping Our Priorities

I wish every one of you could have attended the 1996 Texas Baptists Committed Convocation in Fort Worth. If you had been there, you would understand what Texas Baptists Committed is all about.

We desire that Texas Baptists stay focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not power politics. The Convocation highlighted the priorities we as Texas Baptists must stay focused on in order to accomplish the goals of Texas 2000— sharing the Gospel with every person in Texas by the year 2000. It was an inspiring meeting.

The highest priority any Christian can have is his or her personal relationship with Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior. As we seek to grow in this relationship with Christ, we share our experience with Christ with others, knowing Jesus is truly GOOD NEWS!

To fulfill the Great Commission, in Texas and throughout the world, we must have strong churches. Strong churches are churches which are focused on prayer, evangelism, mission giving and going, and ministry to those in need in the name of Christ.

Texas Baptists Committed exists to support the Baptist General Convention of Texas, our leadership, both elected and employed, and to encourage Texas Baptists to keep our priorities during a time of constant criticism of our state convention. It is not an easy task. Sometimes anger and frustration prevail.

However, anger and frustration are not the solution. We must protect our state convention and its leaders, but we must do so with love and integrity, without losing our priorities. We are here to minister in Jesus’ name.

If during a time of turmoil in Baptist life you find yourself losing your priorities, we invite you to be a part of Texas Baptists Committed. Attend our meetings. Be refreshed. Become focused. Keep your priorities God’s priorities. God will bless us if we honor Him and seek Him.

August 1996