txb. Issue 1 SPRING / SUMMER 2015 life

txb. Issue 1 SPRING / SUMMER 2015 life

Texas Baptists exists to help churches live out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, to share the Gospel and care for others. David Hardage Executive Director @dwhardage txb.life is a new publication created to identify events and ministries within Texas Baptists resources that will help you, as a church and community leader, impact those who God puts in your path. Events and topics are broken down by ministry emphasis to give you a snapshot into what s upcoming and trending in your area of service. Also in the mix are various posts online, many of which are introduced here, which address issues facing Texas Baptists. They are written by a variety of people around the state on a range of subjects. Some address debated topics and others are just a good read for information or entertainment (read the Texas Baptistist on Non-Words online at txb.life). To read more of the topics and see more of the highlighted events for your area of ministry, visit the website txb.life. 2 SPRING/SUMMER 2015 txb.life

MARCH event calendar SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 BGCT Camp Day DALLAS, TX Everlasting Adult Choir Celebration AMARILLO, TX [un]apologetic Conference Greater Houston HOUSTON, TX African American Leadership Workshop WACO, TX Beach Reach 1 " 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Beach Reach 1 SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX Beach Reach 2 " Spring Break Eagle Pass Rebuild EAGLE PASS, TX BOUNCE Spring Break Mission 1 AUSTIN, TX 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Beach Reach 2 SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX BOUNCE Spring Break Mission 2 AUSTIN, TX Introduction to Interim Ministry PLAINVIEW, TX Childhood Certification Program DALLAS, TX Everlasting Adult Choir Celebration BRYAN, TX Instrumental Convergence TYLER, TX 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ENGAGE LUBBOCK, TX 29 30 31 Hunger Offering 5th Sunday txb.life SPRING/SUMMER 2015 3

event calendar APRIL SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 Good Friday 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Easter Sunday ENGAGE AMARILLO, TX Bible Drill & Speakers Tournament ARLINGTON, SUGAR LAND, AND TYLER, TX 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Introduction to Interim Ministry GRANBURY, TX WMU Annual Meeting WOODWAY, TX 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Intentional Interim Ministry Training DALLAS, TX Texas Baptist Educator s Retreat NEW BRAUNFELS, TX Bible Drill & Speakers Tournament ALLEN AND LUBBOCK, TX Congreso WACO, TX 26 27 28 29 30 Texas Baptists Golf Classic SAN ANTONIO, TX 4 SPRING/SUMMER 2015 txb.life

MAY SUN MON event calendar TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 State Bible Drill & Speakers Tournament DALLAS, TX 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Combined Introduction to Interim Intentional Training NORTHBOROUGH, MA 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Mother s Day Hunger Offering Bike Out Hunger BOERNE TO DALLAS 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Memorial Day 31 Hunger Offering 5th Sunday txb.life SPRING/SUMMER 2015 5

event calendar JUNE SUN MON 1 TUE WED THU FRI SAT 2 3 4 5 6 Introduction to Interim Ministry SAN ANTONIO, TX 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Texas Baptists Legacy Award INDEPENDENCE, TX Super Summer Session 1 DBU DALLAS, TX BOUNCE Mission 1 DALLAS, TX 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Eagle Pass Rebuild EAGLE PASS, TX Super Summer Session 2 HSU ABILENE, TX Super Summer Session 3 UMHB BELTON, TX BOUNCE Mission 2 BIRMINGHAM, AL National Bible Drill & Speakers Tournament KINGSLAND, GA Youth Evangelism Conference BURLESON, TX 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Camp Exalted DENTON, TX Super Summer Session 4 HPU BROWNWOOD, TX BOUNCE Mission 3 TBA 28 29 30 Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas AUSTIN, TX Super Summer Session 5 HBU HOUSTON, TX 6 SPRING/SUMMER 2015 txb.life

JULY event calendar SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 Super Summer Session 5 HBU HOUSTON, TX Independence Day Campamento East Texas LONE STAR, TX 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Campamento East Texas LONE STAR, TX BOUNCE Mission 4 WACO, TX African American Fellowship Conference EL PASO, TX 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Disaster Recovery Family Mission Trip Super Summer Session 6 HSU ABILENE, TX BOUNCE Mission 5 MOORE, OK 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 BOUNCE Mission 6 MINERAL WELLS, TX 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 BOUNCE Mission 7 TBA txb.life SPRING/SUMMER 2015 7

events Students BOUNCE A missions experience that provides 7th-12th grade student ministries the opportunity to impact disaster-affected areas by being the hands and feet of Christ. They help communities bounce back from devastation such as flooding and tornadoes. There are two trips available during Spring Break in March (pg. 3) and seven summer trips are offered from June to July (pg. 6-7). texasbaptists.org/bounce Beach Reach A mission trip for college students during which volunteers will spend their Spring Break engaging in spiritual dialogue with spring breakers and offering free pancakes and van rides at South Padre Island. Trips are coordinated through local Baptist Student Ministries in March. texasbaptists.org/collegiate Congreso The largest annual gathering of Hispanic Baptist young people in North America. Hispanic youth engage in worship and small group training in evangelism and discipleship. Ferrell Center at Baylor University, Waco; April 24-25. youth.texasbaptists.org/congreso 8 SPRING/SUMMER 2015 txb.life

events Students Super Summer An intense week of discipleship training for youth from 8th to 12th grade who have surrendered to ministry. Super Summer helps encourage and guide them as they are seeking God s will for their lives. Dates are available in June and July (pg. 6-7). supersummer.com Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) A life-changing, faith-building, motivating worship experience to empower students as they live for Christ in today s world. Venue 510, Burleson; June 19-20. youthevangelism.com Camp Exalted A camp where African American youth from 7th grade to college students receive training, encouragement, networking, and access to information to help them become better servants. Camp Compass, Denton; June 22-26. youth.texasbaptists.org/camp-exalted txb.life SPRING/SUMMER 2015 9

events Church Staff Childhood Certification Program A program to equip leaders in the preschool, children s, and family ministry areas of their church. Dallas, BGCT Building; March 19-20. texasbaptists.org/childhood Texas Baptist Educator s Retreat A retreat for church staff leaders with responsibilities for Bible study and discipleship. Attendees will gain valuable ministry insight and encouragement/connection with colleagues from across the state. T Bar M Resort and Conference Center, New Braunfels; April 20-22. texasbaptists.org/discipleship Welcome Pastor Day A bi-annual event introducing pastors to resources, ministries and experts available through the BGCT. It allows the opportunity for the BGCT to meet new pastors personally, share ideas and resources, and hear about needs facing pastors. Dallas, BGCT Building; January 27, August 25. texasbaptists.org/pastors 10 SPRING/SUMMER 2015 txb.life

events Cultural African American Leadership Workshop A workshop designed to train and equip lay leaders and potential leaders in pertinent, key areas of ministry. Truett Seminary, Waco; March 6-7. texasbaptists.org/aam Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas The annual meeting for Hispanic pastors, church leaders and members designed to provide training, information, inspiration, unity and coordination in the work of Hispanic churches that are part of Texas Baptists. Hyde Park Baptist Church, Austin; June 28-30. texasbaptists.org/hispanicministry African American Fellowship Conference A multifaceted training event introducing ministry resources provided by Texas Baptists in a context unique, encouraging and enriching to the African American Church. El Paso; July 7-9. texasbaptists.org/aam txb.life SPRING/SUMMER 2015 11

events Great Commission [un]apologetic Conferences An evangelistic apologetics conference addresses current ways to remove obstacles to evangelism. Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio; February 27-28. Tallowood Baptist Church, Houston; March 6-7. texasapologetics.com Texas Baptists Golf Classic A golf tournament in which proceeds will benefit the work of Texas Baptists Disaster Recovery. TPC San Antonio; April 27. texasbaptists.org/golf ENGAGE ENGAGE offers regional opportunities for leaders to receive inspiration and training in a wide variety of strategic evangelism models. Lubbock; March 28 Amarillo; April 9. 12 SPRING/SUMMER 2015 txb.life

events Great Commandment Spring Break Eagle Pass Rebuild On this mission opportunity of Texas Baptists Disaster Recovery (open to students, adults and families), volunteers will help repair homes damaged by flooding in Eagle Pass; March 8-12. texasbaptists.org/disaster Bike Out Hunger An initiative to actively end hunger that exists in your community, city, state and nation by raising awareness and money while riding 450 miles on a bicycle from Boerne to Dallas; May 11-16. outhunger.org @OutHunger Mother s Day Hunger Offering Many churches across the state take up an offering on this day to help end hunger as a part of the Texas Baptist Hunger Offering. It s a tangible way to show Christ s love and generosity by helping those in need. May 10. hungeroffering.texasbaptists.org Texas Baptist Legacy Award An annual award ceremony held at Independence Baptist Church honoring individuals who have left and are leaving a lasting impact in Baptist life. Independence Baptist Church, Independence; June 7. texasbaptists.org/legacy txb.life SPRING/SUMMER 2015 13

txb comm shop A new wrinkle in the same old purpose By Joshua Minatrea Associate Director of Communications @TXBCommShop 14 SPRING/SUMMER 2015 txb.life

txb comm shop It s nothing new to say the way we communicate is changing. Just observe a young person for five minutes and you ll see it for yourself. Text neck is now an actual medical condition. Really. Nor is it new to say Texas Baptists exists to help affiliated churches. We ve been on mission since 1884, and we show no signs of slowing. What is new is the combination of these two concepts: a desire to help churches as they navigate the new communication landscape. From the top down, the Convention is rethinking what it means to help the church of the 21st Century. Starting this year, the communications team is proud to launch TXB CommShop, a new initiative aimed at helping churches tell their story through the web and social media, graphic design and print, newsletters and all things audio-visual. church s communication capabilities. Through tweets, helpful tips, weekly blog posts and regional workshops, you and your church can gain and maintain a working knowledge of the latest communication tools, and put them to work in your ministry efforts. If you have a question about something we cover, or need some help with a topic we ve yet to address, simply stop by, give us a call or send us an email, and we ll help out as best we can. To learn more about TXB CommShop, go to texasbaptists.org/commshop. There you can follow us on Twitter, read our tips and weekly blogs, view our schedule of online and regional events, and find out how to contact us with any questions you might have. We re looking forward to helping you tell your story. Happy communicating! Over the next few weeks and months, we will post practical helps designed to improve your txb.life SPRING/SUMMER 2015 15

Questions & Faith By Kalie Lowrie New Media Manager @klowrie84 Do you have questions and anxiety rise up when you think about sharing the Gospel with others? Will I know all the answers to their questions? What if they ask me something I can t explain? What if I stumble over my words? Think about it from an unbeliever s perspective. What questions might interfere with their receiving the Gospel? Can you show positive proof Jesus was who he said he was? How do you know who really wrote the Bible? How do you know the Bible is true? Do heaven and hell really exist? There are many questions that build obstacles between sharing and hearing the Gospel. But 1 Peter 3:15 reminds us to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give a reason for the hope we have. That means we need to be armed and ready to share our faith with those around us our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and others we encounter day to day. As Christians, we cannot let our questions stand in the way of telling others about Jesus. Instead, we need to arm ourselves with Scripture to testify to the absolute truth we know and have experienced personally. In his book The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask, Mark Mittelberg states, The Bible is clear, and the crisis in our culture is great: people of all ages, but especially younger folks need help sorting out what to believe, and we who are followers of Christ are called to respond to their questions and to point them to the truth of Jesus. Our culture needs to hear about Jesus and see the difference he makes in the lives of his followers. In response to this great need, Texas Baptists have gathered leading Christian apologetic experts from across the country for regional [un]apologetic Conferences to address questions just like these. Speakers including Lee Strobel, Mark Mittelberg, Sammy Lopez, Mike Licona, Mary Jo Sharp and others provide great biblical insight into how we can effectively share the Gospel with unbelievers. Although we may still have questions as the conferences come to an end, we need to be bold in stepping out in faith and telling others about the hope we have. Jesus was clear in his command in Matthew 28 to go and make disciples. We must heed his call. The [un]apologetic Conference is just one tool to help spur Christians around the state to walk in faithful obedience. 16 SPRING/SUMMER 2015 txb.life

Freebie Wednesday By Rachel Hendricks Web Content Manager @homegrownhippie We started on a shoestring and look how God has grown it. We are investing in our kids because they are the future...and a lot of these kids won t have a homemade meal like this until next Wednesday. Virginia Cloud, volunteer Almost every Wednesday during the school year, a group of volunteers gather in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church, Killeen, form a circle, hold hands and pray: Watch over the teens that are coming to us today. Begin to open hearts and minds to you God for those who don t know you. For those who this is their first experience inside a church, God I pray it would be a memorable one so that they can know there is a place that loves them and accepts them for who they are. We pray that you d help us move mountains in these students lives and bring down barriers so we can share the Gospel. It s in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Five years ago, Matt Cornelius, youth pastor at FBC Killeen, and eight ladies started what has become known as Freebie Wednesday. Cornelius said, We moved our church location and at that time I began to feel God s pressure to find a way to impact the Ellison High School campus in a massive way. After researching church and school law, Cornelius found a way to minister to these students invite them to a free lunch at the church. Thirty-six students came to enjoy sloppy joes on their first day. Cornelius said, Now we feed around 250 students every Wednesday with not only a hot meal, but also with the Gospel. But while the ministry started with just a free meal, it has become much more: three of Killeen s high school campuses have started attending; a prayer ministry has begun where students submit requests and later during the week receive a letter, email or text from a church member who prayed for them; and many students with no other access to church have started to attend church youth events resulting in several professions of faith. Many of the volunteers feel as if they have become surrogate grandmothers to these students. Virginia Cloud, a founding volunteer, said, We don t push any of the children, but they have started inviting us to special events or award nights and even to their homes to meet their families. Please visit txb.life to continue reading about FBC Killeen s Freebie Wednesday. txb.life SPRING/SUMMER 2015 17

Urban BOUNCE By Rachel Hendricks Web Content Manager @homegrownhippie We must learn to not regard people in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer. Dietrich Bonhoeffer His name was Richard. Just being released from the hospital, he retreated home a familiar place of peace and solitude, but that night he woke to his house under water. Richard, a victim of the October 31, 2013 Austin floods, continued to live in his home without electricity and water, with a growing pain and wound to his psyche. That is, until one of the first BOUNCE Student Disaster Recovery teams came to help rebuild his home and his hope last July. In the summer of 2014, David Scott, director of BOUNCE, followed the calling on his heart: mobilizing students to be on mission (6th grade to 12th grade). Scott launched the project with a model he knew worked. Groups of around 200 students each served in West and Austin, Texas, as well as Moore, Oklahoma; each group did a myriad of construction projects in the community, including rebuilding fences, framing, roofing and painting. Scott believes more than just a community will be changed on these missions trips, though. These trips give us the opportunity to share Christ, says Scott, but also we get to see what happens in the lives of students when they serve, return home, and now open up to other missions and ministry opportunities. This year, students will serve in West and Austin, Texas and Moore, Oklahoma, in addition to a few new cities, such as Dallas, Texas and Birmingham, Alabama. Two of these trips will be uniquely different. Scott has teamed up with Ryan Jespersen, director of Urban Missions, to create Urban BOUNCE. Urban BOUNCE is different only in the sense it is not disaster recovery, but I ve learned disasters come in different forms. People can feel helpless about their living situations and if we can help improve quality of life for them, that s a pretty good deal, Scott said. Both Jespersen and Scott recognize the need to find different ways to serve because natural disasters cannot be predicted. Jespersen knows that disaster recovery work will always be done, but he wondered how he could begin to physically help urban areas. Please visit txb.life to continue reading about Urban BOUNCE and to watch Richard s story. 18 SPRING/SUMMER 2015 txb.life

txb.life Where life and faith are just a click away. A new publication for Texas Baptists, txb.life is available both in print and online. Full articles featured in this piece are accessible at txb.life. Join the conversation on this new website on topics like: great commission great commandment life & faith culture profiles txb commshop church office

If you are interested in receiving more copies of txb.life, please contact Leah Allen at leah.allen@texasbaptists.org. 333 N. WASHINGTON DALLAS, TX 75246 NONPROFIT ORG U.S.POSTAGE P A I D SAN ANTONIO, TX PERMIT NO. 1517