Articles by Guest Author

Throughout the vast expansion of land, Robert Wheat, the director of missions for the association, wanted the churches to have a mobile resource to reach people in need of the Gospel. After months of dreaming, Wheat envisioned a ‘Life Trailer’ that was mobile and versatile for churches to utilize in reaching their communities.

Blue tarps still cover roofs in need of repair in communities like Rockport, near Corpus Christi, and Bevil Oaks, north of Beaumont. Abandoned homes are interspersed among the remodeled on many streets. One year after Category 4 Hurricane Harvey wrecked and ravaged the Gulf Coast of Texas from August 25-September 1, 2017, signs of renewal and hope are evident in the Texas Baptists churches serving along that path of the storm.

Texas Baptists are taking the Good News across the state, country and world, reported Dr. David Hardage during his Executive Director’s Report at the 2018 Family Gathering Monday evening.

Today marks the end of the final Bounce Summer 2018 Mission! It’s been a good week in the Rockport area as Bouncers finish up their projects. This week 250 students from eleven churches helped to rebuild the Rockport community.

Randy Beggs, the Worship Speaker, has been leading students through Acts. Beggs has been focusing challenging Bouncers to rethink what it means to be a witness for Christ. On Tuesday evening, Beggs explained to Bouncers that being a witness for Christ can be awkward, because the world’s purposes are different than Christ’s purposes. On Thursday evening Beggs challenged students to be a witness for Christ anytime, anywhere and to anyone.

On a hot and humid July day, a group of Bounce Student Volunteers arrived at Ms. Longoria’s home willing to repair her roof for free. The students were not merely offering Ms. Longoria their labor at no cost to her, but they had actually raised $279 to participate in Bounce for the week! A week of their summer and $279 per student seemed like a small price to pay when the students realized that Ms. Longoria would not have been able to receive help any other way.

Bouncers were sent out to their work sites in Rockport, TX this morning! Aaron Austin, one of the Mission Coordinators, led the students in a commissioning prayer before the students began their first day of work.

The eye of Hurricane Harvey passed over Rockport, TX in August 2017 leaving behind a trail of destruction. The Lord is faithful to gather these students and volunteers through Bounce to be his hands and feet, to help rebuild the Rockport community. While the students will be offering the Rockport community relief by rebuilding homes, students will also be going to their work sites with the word, that is the hope of salvation through Christ.

Homeowner Lee Garcia accepted Christ on Tuesday morning after hearing the gospel from one of the students who was repairing his roof. He said that he experienced the love of Christ through the students who were working on his home. Lee explained that he wanted to know more about living by faith so that he could teach his family the same.

Twenty-eight Texans partnered with MAP missionaries along the Amazon River to share the Gospel and strengthen the ongoing work in Brazil.