CO-CHAIR THOUGHTS FROM MAURIECE JOHNSTON
Mary Hill Davis Offering

Every year I feel a sense of spiritual urgency about the importance of the Mary Hill Davis Offering for State Missions. Mary Hill Davis served Texas Woman’ s Missionary Union for thirty-three years. She was state recording secretary from 1898 until her election as state president in 1906. Her commitment to Texas missions is an inspiration and challenge to us all.

Mary Hill Davis, like our BGCT leaders of today, had a broad vision for reaching Texas with the message of Jesus. She recognized the importance and responsibility of women being involved in missions. She said, “If all Texas Baptist women were earnestly a part of the work (missions), the whole earth would feel the impact of their queenly power.”

Her vision enhanced the awareness of immigration to Texas as a mission field. In 1912, she recounted there were 30 Mexican Baptist churches in our state, and believed other ethnic and cultural groups were a “rich harvest field.” Our 1996 State Missions offering includes $526,000 for ministry to language/ cultural groups; $378,000 for Rio Grande mission support; and $100,000 for “Target Laredo” to start new churches.

The Texas WMU was introduced to the Baptist Student Union by Mary Hill Davis in 1915. She was excited that college campuses would have a Baptist witness. She emphasized the importance of education to the continued growth of our denomination. Today our Baptist Student Ministries is at work on 137 campuses across Texas.

Mary Hill Davis did more than just talk about missions giving and needs, she expressed her deep concerns by making personal sacrifices. For example, for Christmas in 1933 she received an amethyst necklace from her husband. Upon receiving his consent, she returned the necklace and gave the money to missions. During the Depression, she gave her only investment check for the year to Memorial Dormitory at Baylor University in Waco.

As the time for giving to the Mary Hill Davis offering draws near, please pray and support State Missions. People with needs and those who do not know Jesus Christ need our enthusiastic support not our apathy. Mary Hill Davis said, “Enthusiastic people make blunders, but fainthearted people never make anything... You cannot hope to touch your neighbor’s heart with anything less than your own.” Let us enthusiastically give from our hearts!

I am excited about the future of Texas Baptists. Like Mary Hill Davis, I want to emphasize the possibilities of the future. I join her in saying, “I do not very much like looking backward. Lot’s wife’s unique experience has, to a great extent, put a damper upon my retrospective tendencies.” Texas Baptists have a great past, but together we will shape the future for the cause of Christ. Join me in shaping the future of Texas by giving and praying for State Missions.

September 1996