Cross Roads Baptist Answers God’s Call
By Randy Evans

On July 21, 2003 eight people from our congregation, Cross Roads Baptist Church, traveled over ten hours south to the Rio Grande Valley for a week of missions. Construction, Vacation Bible School and sports clinics would keep us busy from early until late. How is that possible, you ask? Eight people could not do all of that alone! You are right. Our eight member team joined with more than 200 other volunteers from twenty-four Texas Baptist churches in the first ever KidsHeart Rio Grande Valley mission project. KidsHeart is a mission initiative of Buckner Baptist Benevolences and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Its goal is to see the lives of impoverished children and families in some of Texas’ poorest counties improved, enriched, and ultimately impacted for eternity.

After a day of orientation we set to work on Wednesday. On our construction team’s first visit to the home of Jorge & Ramona Lopez in Progress, Texas, we noticed the dirt yard with a few sprigs of grass, trash overflowing from the dumpster, and the house, though newly painted on the outside, needing desperate attention to make it habitable.

In very short time Cross Roads’ mission team, along with others from First Baptist Church of Gatesville, Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, and First Baptist Church of Copperas Cove moved furniture outside, donned dust masks and gloves, and set to work. Hammers pierced holes in old sheetrock, and as it was ripped away dust filled the air and rat feces covered the floor. Work progressed quickly. By lunch sheetrock had been removed from two bedrooms and the kitchen. The small house was the site of a flurry of activity for two more days, and at the end of the week, we were awed by the transformation. Sheetrock had been replaced, taping and bedding done, insulation added, re-wiring of much of the electrical work finished, texture and a fresh coat of paint applied, new carpet laid in two bedrooms, a new stove purchased and installed, a closet unit assembled, and the general safety and cleanliness of the house improved.

While our construction team labored at the Lopez home, three other Cross Roads team members joined volunteers from The Springs church in San Antonio to conduct Vacation Bible School at Primera Iglesia Bautista de Santa Maria. Though there was an error in communication and the church was unaware it would host the Vacation Bible School until one day prior, God brought thirteen students on the first day – thanks to KidsHeart volunteers and church members canvassing the neighborhood prior to start time. The crowd grew each day. Approximately forty students participated on Friday. Their time was filled with games, songs, puppet shows, crafts, snacks, and Bible stories. Though the Vacation Bible School team was comprised of volunteers from two different churches, unity was present and God was glorified.

After the Vacation Bible School finished and the construction ended for the day, our team traveled to the Community Center at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Elsa, Texas, to conduct a sports clinic. There our team joined churches from College Station, Hereford, and Gatesville to teach the basics of basketball, baseball and soccer. Cross Roads was responsible for teaching the fundamentals of soccer, though none on our team had ever played the game, to children that ranged in age from preschool to junior high.

On the first evening the sports clinic welcomed thirty children, on the second evening over sixty, and on the last evening over 100. The children had a fantastic time learning and playing. They learned not only about sports, but also about forgiveness, mercy, and the life changing message of the Gospel through devotionals presented after the games and drills.

What a week we had! KidsHeart was an answer to prayer that enabled our small, rural congregation to extend the grace of Christ in a much larger and more practical way than we could have alone. Though we were excited about the work done during the week we were also disappointed because there remained so much more to do. However, on the drive home we began to hear God calling us back. Perhaps He will call your church to join us!

Randy Evans is pastor, Cross Roads Baptist Church, Rotan, Texas

October 2003