• Who makes your clothes, food, and household items?
• How they are treated in the process: forced, exploited, abused? Or respected and empowered?
• How your purchases could help free or enslave a brother or sister in Christ?

Just One fair trade purchase from every Texas Baptist church-member could lift thousands of families out of poverty for one whole year!

Find out more by watching this CLC video:

JUST ONE Fair Trade Purchase (Youtube)

To participate in our Just One program, or to find out more about how your church can get involved, please contact Anne Olson at anne.olson@texasbaptists.org.

Related Site Link:

• Good News Goods

Jye Shafer is from College Station, Texas, where he is studying for a Master’s in policy analysis at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service. He earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy at Clemson University in 2008. As an undergraduate, he was an editor for the Clemson student newspaper, The Tiger, and an active musician.

Since graduating, he has worked as a field technician for Texas A&M’s Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and as a consultant at the university’s writing center. At the writing center, he works one-on-one with a variety of students, from freshmen to PhD candidates writing dissertations. He also works closely with professors in diverse fields to grade written work.

Jye’s policy interests are predominantly issues of social justice, energy and environment, and ethics. At the Bush School, he has taken courses in economic and statistical analysis, state and local government, energy and security policy, and public finance. During his time with the Christian Life Commission, he hopes to gain experience researching relevant policy issues and to learn about the day-to-day routine of lobbyists working for a variety of causes.

Meet Manu! He is a 4th grader attending the Ruth School in Bucharest, Romania, which receives funds from the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering. Manu is a young Roma (Gypsy) who is getting a second chance at education after public education failed him due to discrimination.

Unlike public schools, the Ruth School provides its students with a hot meal each day. For many of our students, it is the only meal of the day and we are able to provide this through a grant from the Hunger Offering. Manu always eats with gusto and is frequently the first to approach the cooks for a second helping! Manu enjoys the food and the cooks like the compliment!

Many thanks to our friends at the BGCT/Christian Life Commission for helping us to give Manu and the other 170 students at the Ruth School a nourishing meal every day!

Encountering the robust and inspiring life of Dr. Virginia Connally, one of our recent Christian Life Commission Distinguished Service Award recipients, has brought this song to mind. In reviewing her life you could put a pin in anyone of the more than 9 decades she has lived and say “it would have been enough,” right there. But her life and generous ministry goes on.

At 98 she is still a witness of joyful, unfettered, and adaptingly novel care for her church, First Baptist Abilene, and her west Texas community. Her list of “firsts” is in itself impressive – one of the first three female students in her medical school, first woman president of the county medical society, first woman chief of staff at Hendricks Hospital… it would have been enough, right?

This wonderful quality remembered in the Passover song and exhibited in Dr. Connally’s life is abundant, generous, and undeniably over the top. But what did you expect? When God’s kind of love is the driving force in someone’s life, then the life they live is inspiring and often unpredictably robust. Ask Virginia about the exceptional quality of her life and she brushes off the perception of her achievements as anything but particularly exceptional. I might have thought this attitude was falsely self deprecating, but it is such a common response in scripture, I have come to believe that this is a fingerprint of God’s kind of love interacting in our lives.

The Distinguished Service Award Tribute:

The Christian Life Commission
of the Baptist General Convention of Texas

presents
Dr. Virginia Connally

with the
2011 Distinguished Service Award

For being the healing hands of Jesus in a hurting world through a lifetime of skilled medical practice and superb health care for the people of West Texas;

For the trailblazing tenacity to follow her dreams in professional achievement and for thereby inspiring and empowering generations of Christian women to follow their own dreams;

For embracing the Gospel in all of its fullness and addressing the concerns of Christian social ethics locally and globally;

For faithful support of First Baptist Church of Abilene, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and Hardin-Simmons University; and

For embodying and blessing others with Spirit-inspired virtues—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

“I ask you also… help these women, for they have labored with me in the gospel together with… the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3

On hand to cheer and support Dr. Virginia Connally’s recognition were more exceptionally inspiring Christian exemplars Dr. Phil Christopher, Sybil Strickland, and Meredith Stone (and her precious girls). Yes, God is in the abundance business. So who in your congregation or your history has lived this kind of inspiring life, worthy of a chorus of “it would have been enough”? It is a good season to lift up and honor those carrying a fingerprint of God’s kind of love in the pews around us.

The TFPR focuses on three primary issue areas of food policy:

• Improving access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) to prevent hunger and help Texas families afford a nutritious diet;
• Increasing participation in Summer Nutrition Programs so that children in Texas continue to grow when school is out;
• Promoting policy solutions to increase nutrition, and reduce and prevent obesity; and
• Creating a local, sustainable and accessible food system for all Texans.

Because of the work of TFPR last session, children living in school districts with 50% of students or higher on free or reduced lunch now have easier access to summer meals; families who are eligible for SNAP benefits no longer have to prove identity through a finger-printing system, eliminating a burden when families hoped to apply for benefits online; the State and general public in Texas will understand better the costs of treating diabetes versus the cost of preventing diabetes; and agriculture entrepreneurs in Texas’ biggest cities will have access to loans for community gardens and urban farming initiatives.

Legislators have made food policy a priority during the interim by creating two interim charges. The House Urban Affairs and Agriculture & Livestock Committees held an April hearing about urban farming and community gardens. There was bipartisan support for these efforts among legislators, especially pertaining to wastewater issues, permitting issues and the potential advantage of public/private partnerships.

On May 22, six members of the Texas Food Policy Roundtable testified in front of the House Public Health and Human Services Committees to update them on summer food programs, and discuss how the lack of access to healthy foods in Texas affects our most vulnerable citizens. Jeremy Everett, Director of the Texas Hunger Initiative, spoke in depth about the importance of public/private partnerships in the fight against hunger, specifically faith-based partnerships, for they are purposeful in doing what God has called them to do in helping feed the hungry residents of our state.

Additional Links & Resources:

• Texas Food Policy Roundtable
• Texas Hunger Initiative
• USDA Food Desert Locator (map)
• Let’s Move Faith-Based and Communities Toolkit [PDF]

“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:15-17

These verses can serve as a great reminder of our call to actively live out faith in many aspects of our lives, beyond simply feeding and clothing our brothers and sisters. However, we too must recognize that ensuring our neighbor has enough to eat is not an act unique to the day of James, and we too are called to be a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:1) in feeding those in our community.

Today, Texas is the 2nd hungriest state in the nation. In Texas, 4.2 million people experience hunger daily, meaning almost 20% of all of its residents are hungry or food insecure. This means that at some point in the prior year, they have either experienced hunger outright, or altered their consumption patterns to avoid hunger. For some families, this may have meant buying less healthy but more filling food, or skipping meals. For others, the choice may have been between buying food and paying for rent, utilities, car payments or medical bills.

Many food insecure Texans live in what are called “food deserts,” or low-income neighborhoods with low access to a supermarket or large grocery store (USDA). Oftentimes, these families do not have the means for transportation to get to a grocery store, and therefore may shop in convenience stores nearby. For some, this process leads to obesity, a health epidemic in Texas.

Thankfully, churches and other faith-based ministries have dedicated their time and resources to become a part of the solution. Churches like Southland Baptist Church in San Angelo, Texas are successfully growing programs in their church to help feed hungry children in their community during the summertime, and organizations like the World Hunger Relief Farm in Waco, Texas host urban and community garden programs  as a way to develop healthy and sustainable communities, while decreasing obesity and diseases like diabetes.

I encourage you to take a moment to look at a map of your community to find where there is a need, and help to feed our neighbors, just as we feed ourselves. Imagine the powerful message Texas Baptists could send to the rest of Texas, living out our faith through action– just as James so wrote and Jesus so desired and taught.

Additional Links & Resources:

• Texas Hunger Initiative
• Let’s Move Faith-Based and Communities Toolkit [PDF]
• Texas Food Policy Roundtable
• USDA Food Desert Locator (map)

Worldwide international adoptions topped out at about 45,000 in 2004, the Associated Press reported. Last year, 25,000 international adoptions occurred. U.S. parents adopting internationally has declined more than 60 percent from 2004 to just more than 9,000.

Bucking the trend, Buckner and its affiliated agency Dillon International facilitated roughly 100 international adoptions last year, said Debbie Wynne, who leads the Texas office that handles Buckner’s international adoptions. That’s about the same as it has been in recent years.

The decline in international adoptions worldwide can be pinned on a number of factors, Wynne said, but most notably countries being more protective of their children – particularly extremely young children – and countries encouraging domestic adoption.

Buckner, which is supported in part by gifts to missions through the Texas Baptist Cooperative Program, has been less affected by those efforts because it often facilitates the adoption of older children, Wynne said. Fewer people are trying to adopt older children, making them easier to adopt. By an adult adopting a child through Buckner, countries are finding homes for children that otherwise may grow up in an orphanage, and Buckner continues its mission of finding families for children in need.

“The greatest need is to help these kids who are the forgotten ones,” she said.

Though the number of adoptions hasn’t changed for Buckner, navigating the international adoption waters is a continuous challenge. Rules change regularly as governments change their policies. Media coverage of bad international adoption experiences has pushed countries like Russia to rework its system of adoption.

Buckner formerly facilitated adoptions of children from Guatemala, but had to end the program when the U.S. stopped all adoptions from the country.

Ultimately, nations are doing what they can to protect children, Wynne said. As they do that, Buckner officials continue seeking ways to connect families with children in need.

“These countries do care about their children, and they want to make sure there are safeguards to protect their children,” she said.

Wynne believes it is still critical people do everything they can to make sure children have loving homes to grow up in.

“It’s important for us not to forget that there are many places around the world that their last hope for a family is international adoption.”

It’s an amazing time of ministry, said Munoz, who serves as a River Ministry coordinator for Texas Baptists. But recently a seed of doubt crept into his mind. He asked the question many Christians have asked themselves over the years: Is he doing what God would like him to do? He asked God for confirmation that He was working in what was taking place.

Three days later, Munoz believes confirmation came in the mailbox. There he found an envelope postmarked from the Baptist General Convention of Texas and addressed for him. Inside, messages he believes were directed by God.

“Well brothers, I opened it up and there it was: God´s miraculously answer,” he wrote in an e-mail. “I was pleased to read the three messages received from real people from Texas. I don´t know who they are, but one thing I´m certain, they were God´s writers, synchronized by Him to let a Mexican Pastor and a just almost 3-year-old church in Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico know: ‘Congrautlations, you’re heading in the right directions. Never surrender and press forward. You’re my children.’”

The notes were written by people who had attended the BGCT Annual Meeting in October. People were asked to write notes of encouragement and prayer for people who serve on the mission field. The messages to Munoz were signed by “Tigue,” Danny Logan of Amarillo and BGCT Church Starter Jair Campos.

Mexico mail is known to be unreliable in delivering letters from the United States, explained River Ministry Director Daniel Rangel. While some people may argue the mail system took its time with the letters, Rangel believes it arrived exactly when God wanted. For pastors and church leaders in Mexico facing difficult ministry environments, notes of encouragement are treasured.

“All of them question their calling because of the situation,” Rangel said. “Notes of prayer, notes of encouragement from Texas Baptists have a great impact. They make all the difference.”

To become a prayer partner with a congregation along the Texas-Mexico border, call Rangel at 888-244-9400.

In much the same way as my alarm pushes me to decide whether to get out of bed or attempt to continue sleeping, the flow of media stories about drug cartel-related violence serve as alerts in my inbox and on my television screen. One of the most recent articles describes nine bodies hung from an overpass in Nuevo Laredo. Twenty-three total people were found dead.

The tales of cartel-on-cartel violence are horrific. But the affect the conflict is having on people who have nothing to do with the cartel is tragic. Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers are concerned continuously whether something is going to happen to a loved one. For them, there are no easy answers as they try to make sense out of a world that makes little sense.

When alerted by the stories and images of a world that is so uncertain, many of us – even miles and miles away – pull back. We attempt to distance ourselves. In essence, we hit the snooze button and hope the alarm goes away.

As people of faith, that is precisely the problem.

We are not called to a life of comfort but to one in which we do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. We are commanded to move toward those who are hurting. Christ said: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

During a recent visit to Ciudad Juarez, Pastor Jose Angel reminded me of this passage of Scripture. Darkness cannot remain where light exists, he reminded me. Darkness runs from light. Even a flicker of light can illuminate a dark room.

There are many flickers of light sparkling in the Mexican border cities even as the darkness of struggle seems overwhelming. Christians continue fighting the good fight and making profound differences in their respective communities despite the conflicts between cartels. They are making an impact where military strength has not – one person, one family at a time.

Help from their spiritual brothers and sisters is needed. Mexican churches that have had numerous U.S. church groups help them with outreach efforts during past summers now have none. They aren’t even receiving phone calls or e-mails from people they once thought of as family.

As Christ-followers, we must make a decision – the same decision we have to make when faced with a neighbor in crisis, a struggling area of our respective towns or a dangerous place on the other side of the world. Will we follow God’s call in our lives no matter the circumstances?

Along the border, that response can vary and still be effective. Maybe it’s reconnecting with Mexico pastors and praying for them on a regular basis. Maybe it’s sending financial and in-kind resources to help a Mexico ministry. In some cases, a small group of mature Christians can serve for periods of time in benevolence ministries, construction projects or No Mas Violencia efforts in schools.

Along the border, the situation is dire. The decision to be actively involved in being part of the solution is difficult. But it must be made.

“In this moment, everything we [Christians] believe is good,” Angel told me. “Our doctrine is good. Now is the time to live out what we believe, to live according to God with confidence.”

Daniel Rangel leads ministry efforts on both sides of the Rio Grande River for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. River Ministry has facilitatee hundreds of teams ministering on both sides of the border. Because of the violence in the area, few teams have expressed interest in serving in Mexico and the office encourages Christians to take precautionary measures when ministering there.

It was an honor for me to preach at the Community North Baptist Church in McKinney (www.communitynorthbc.org) where Bruce Austin serves as Pastor. Bruce has been there 7 years and 4 years ago they moved into a new facility and it is SO nice. The day I was with them they “called” a new Youth Minister to the field and the future looks good for this Church. And, later on that same Sunday, I was able to participate in an Ordination Service at the FBC of Waco (www.fbcwaco.org) where Matt Snowden is the Pastor. Matt will celebrate his 2nd year with FBC at the end of this coming summer and I’m so pleased with the leadership he has provided.

Your BGCT Staff participated in “Staff Week” the first week of May and, as a part of that Jesse Rincones, Pastor of Alliance BC (www.alliancechurch.us) in Lubbock and President of Hispanic Baptist Convention, preached in the Chapel service. He really did a fantastic job and, with leaders like him, the future of the Hispanic work in Texas is very bright. BGCT is proud to partner with HBC!

Thank You! to Robert Sloan, President of Houston Baptist University (www.hbu.edu) and the HBU Staff for making me feel so welcome on your campus recently. It was good to learn, first hand, about the past, present, and future of HBU. HBU will be serving as the host site for one of our Texas Baptists (un)Apologetics Conference in 2013 and we’re grateful for their willingness to work with us. You might want to read “The 10 Pillars” on the HBU website.

Woodlawn BC in Austin (www.woodlawnbc.org) was another good Sunday preaching experience for me this month. The Staff was so gracious and kind and their new Worship Center is just wonderful. If you are in Austin drive by and take a look on Manchaca St. You’ll be impressed!

I enjoyed my first ever trip to Richmond, Virginia and the International Learning Center (missionary training facility) of the IMB. President Tom Eliff hosted all of the state Executive Directors at the ILC for a 2 day retreat. It was a good time of introduction and information for me and I appreciate the gracious hospitality.

Please remember to pray for Albert Reyes as he takes over the leadership of Buckner International. And, I would encourage you to take a look at www.faithvillage.com The Baptist Standard is another good friend to Texas Baptists and “Faith Village” is an amazing, faith based, social networking site.

I hope our next Annual Meeting in Corpus Christi is on your calendar. October 29-31 are the dates and we need our Texas Baptists family together! More next time.

Sincerely,
David W. Hardage
Executive Director
Texas Baptists