2 0 1 6

NEW CHURCH UP DAT E

TEXAS BAPTIST MISSIONS

FOUNDATION

For more information call or visit:800.558.8263 or 214.828.5236 I texasbaptists.org/give

TEXAS BAPTIST MISSIONS

FOUNDATION

7557 Rambler Road I Suite 1200 I Dallas, Texas 75231

LOAVES AND F ISH

A loaf is so small. A fish isn’t much.

Until they are blessed by the Master’s touch.

The multitudes hunger.

What’s that in your hand?

If a loaf or a fish, it awaits His command.

But, I’ve so little to offer.

He says, “Bring it to me;

It’s enough to feed thousands.

Just bring it, you’ll see.

I’ll bless it and break it.

And send forth my Word.

It will feed countless souls who

might never have heard.”

One of the most well-known stories in the Bible

is that of the little boy whose small lunch fed five

thousand. What made the difference? He gave

what he had to Jesus and it suddenly became

enough to nourish the multitude. Like those

loaves and fishes of long ago, the money that

you give to the Lord through Loaves and Fishes

becomes enough to start the mission churches

that will provide the spiritual food to nourish a

lost Texas. Anything you can give will help

spread the gospel in the same miraculous way.

Thank you for your concern for a lost Texas.

Bill Arnold, PresidentTexas Baptist Missions Foundation

Loaves & Fishes has raised $634,570 for new churches.

• I (we) will pray for new church needs in Texas

• Enclosed is a one-time gift of $ ___________________

• I (we) will pledge $ ____________ over _________years,

beginning_________ and paid

monthly / quarterly / semiannually (circle one).

• I (we) would like to discuss options for

including a gift in my will or establishing a qualified gift

annuity that would also provide me with an income.

• I (we) would like to give to the following urgent need

(see URGENT NEEDS at left):________________________

Name_____________________________________________

Address___________________________________________

City_______________________________________________

State _________________________ Zip_________________

Telephone_________________________________________

Email_____________________________________________

Make checks payable to:

Texas Baptist Missions Foundation

Detach panel and mail to:

Texas Baptist Missions Foundation

Baptist General Convention of Texas

7557 Rambler Road, Suite 1200

Dallas, Texas 75231

Or give online at texasbaptists.org/give.

Your support is vital to our continued success. Thank you.

HELP ING OUTURGE NT NEEDS Please look at the list below and see how you or your Sunday School class could help a Texas Baptist church in need.

Church Creativity Packs The House

If you are a “good ole boy (or girl)” in Southeast Texas, you

go hunting the first weekend of November. It’s what you

do, as the Geico advertisements say. Usually this means

church attendance is sparse at best. Not so for Tyler County Cowboy Church. Under the leadership of Pastor Jordan

Wilson, this committed and innovative congregation turned

that November Sunday into a highly effective outreach

opportunity that packed the house with scores of unchurched

people from the community. The service was adjusted

and advertised as “Camo Sunday – Come Straight From The Field.” Boots were sprayed, hands were washed and

lunch was served while the band played worship music,

followed by a Gospel message from Pastor Jordan Wilson.

An overflow crowd of well over 200 under the tent heard the

gospel in between morning and afternoon hunts and had their

lunch to boot! The church aims to reach adults and families

who have had little exposure to church life and is seeing many

come to a relationship with Jesus Christ. As a result of the

Lord’s blessing, a permanent building is under construction

to help better facilitate the growing congregation. Tyler County Cowboy Church was planted in 2013 in partnership

with Texas Baptists’ Church Starting Process, made possible

through the generosity of those who give to Church

Starting through Texas Baptist Missions Foundation.

New Life From Death

Every church has a Ms. Smith. The favorite of every adult and

child, she inspired Pastor Paul T. Chacko to start Buckner

Community Church Dallas three years ago in partnership with

the BGCT Church Starting department. While her life touched

many over the years, Ms. Smith’s greatest concern had always

been for her family members, particularly her son. A staunch

academic in the field of Anthropology, he purveyed ideas in

the classroom that stood in direct opposition to his mother’s For more encouraging stories of life-change like these, please visit www.texaschurchstarting.blogspot.com.

Christ-centered convictions. Needless to say, Ms. Smith’s

heart grew heavy for her son as she transitioned

into assisted living and her health worsened.

During one visit from Pastor Chacko, Ms. Smith asked for

him to share a Gospel message at her funeral with the

hope that her son’s heart might be changed. Her greatest

desires were to open her eyes on the other side of heaven

and see Jesus face to face, and also for her son come to

know Him. On October 29th, 2015, Ms. Smith was

able to accomplish the first of her two desires,

and Pastor Chacko prepared his message.

True to his word, Pastor Chacko shared the gospel from

John 14. After an invitation following the message, he

noticed multiple people come to the front to accept Christ

into their hearts. One was her son’s daughter-in-law, another

Ms. Smith’s niece and grandniece. What’s more, a few

days after the service, an Ethiopian man contacted Pastor

Chacko and placed his faith in Christ because of the

powerful testimony of Ms. Smith and the message he

heard that day. Her son’s wife also came to know the

Lord following Ms. Smith’s last birthday celebration. We

pray that God continues to work on his heart through the

transformation of others in his family. It is times like these

that remind us that a church is not a building, but body of

believers. Because of Ms. Smith’s testimony, the leadership

of Pastor Chacko, and the family of Buckner Community

Church, these four lives have been changed for eternity and

the Spirit continues to move all around her son as we pray

for his salvation.

STORIES THAT INSPIRE

Fourwinds Church, Balch Springs $2500 Stage Piano

Afrika Community Church, Dallas $2400Replace Stolen Instruments

La Ciudad Iglesia Bautista, Irving $1300Computer Technology

Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida, Hillsboro $2500Children’s Playground and Equipment

Restoring Hope Fellowship, Carrollton $910Church Office Furniture

Kerusso Grace Church $415Children’s Ministry Supplies

Sojourn Community Church, Beaumont $800Sound Equipment

Cypress Community Church, Cypress $2800Portable Room Dividers

REASONS TO REJOICERecap Of 2015

BGCT churches helped start 142 new Texas Baptist congregations in 2015 including 70 new multihousing type congregations. Texas is changing, and the need for churches has

never been greater. With dozens of distinct languages,

cultures, and nationalities, BGCT churches are excited

about the opportunities to represent a diverse

population in worshipping the same loving Savior.

From traditional worship styles to cowboy

congregations, the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation

can help steward your passion for helping start new

churches across the state.

Multihousing congregations and ministries reach,

disciple, and enrich the lives of struggling kids and

families in poor socioeconomic environments. These

groups live within their own “cultural barriers,” and

are almost always disinterested in regular churches,

but respond to onsite churches and ministries.

The goal is changing lives. By giving to the

Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, you can help

ensure that wherever there are lost people,

there will be a church shining the light of Jesus

to guide their way.

TRADITIONAL CHURCH STARTS – BY THE NUMBERS

African American ...................................................................... 7

Anglo .............................................................................................13

Hispanic ........................................................................................17

Liberian ........................................................................................... 1

Lisu .................................................................................................. 1

Mizo .................................................................................................. 1

MultiEthnic .................................................................................28

Western Heritage ......................................................................4

Total Covenant Churches: ...........................................72