In the messenger meeting of the MBA of Texas next week (11/15-11/17), the state Ladies Auxiliary Meeting, and in the upcoming Texas Mission Development vote, tough decisions will have to be made regarding which missionaries and projects to support, and which ones not to support.
While the missionaries and projects presented before all three bodies (state meeting, Ladies Auxiliary and TMD) are worthy projects, led by Godly, respectable men, I really want to present the urgency and magnitude of the need in Brownwood and West Texas in general.
First of all, MBA of Texas churches in West Texas are scarce. From Brownwood, our nearest sister churches to the northwest are Wyndrock MBC and Texas Ave. MBC of Abilene, some 84 miles away. To the southwest, Beacon Baptist Church is in San Angelo, some 90 miles away. To the south, Hill Country Mission in Kerrville is approximately 120 miles (two-hours of driving) away, and to the east, Westview MBC of Gatesville is 90 miles away. The nearest churches to the northeast are in the DFW metroplex (2.5 hours away), and the nearest churches to the north are at least 2.5 hours away in Iowa Park and Wichita Falls.
Now the popular perception is that West Texas is full of nothing but desert and tumbleweeds, but that only describes the areas west of the Pecos river... in Far West Texas. The areas in the panhandle and west-central Texas (from Midland-Odessa to I-35) are actually well populated with towns comparable to those in East Texas.
Between Brownwood and Abilene lies Coleman County (population 10,000). Between Brownwood and San Angelo lies Runnels County (population 11,000) and between Brownwood and Kerrville lies Fredericksburg (10,000), Brady (5,000) and Mason (2,000). All of these areas are at least an hour drive from the nearest MBA of Texas associated church.
Why is this relevant? Because these are all areas that need MBA of Texas churches started there, and we'll only be able to reach into these areas if the current mission projects in the area (Brownwood, Kerrville and Midland) are supported so they can become self supporting.
Why do we need MBA of Texas churches in these areas? Do I really need to answer that question? Because (a) people are lost and going to Hell there, (b) Meth and drug distribution rules the streets there, (c) alcoholism is prevalent (in Coleman, local police do not set up DUI check points and monitor night clubs for political and economic reasons) and (d) we can not delegate the responsibility of evangelizing these areas to other Baptist groups.
The predominant Baptist groups in this are are the Southern Baptist Convention churches, which, with all respect and deference made to my friends in the convention, are being fed pastors who were educated at Howard Payne University, a GBCTx school which teaches evolution and de-emphasizes the importance of correct Bible translations. The second most dominant type of Baptist church in this area is the Independent Baptist Church movement, which teaches salvation well and focuses on Soul Winning, but lacks in the teachings concerning the Lord's Supper. (They teach it, but they generally teach it open, though some are closed.) I am not against Independent Baptists, they are passionate about the Lord's Work and if you ever have some join your church, you'll find them to be well-taught, supportive church members. We can not just delegate this responsibility of reaching these groups to other Baptist denominations. The third most prevalent type of Baptist in this area is Primitive Baptist, followed by MBA of Texas churches.
The need in West Texas is great. We need more churches, more missionaries, and more support coming this direction, and while the churches of the MBA of Texas have been willing to support us in terms of state salary, other support is still needed.
At Grace Pointe in Brownwood, we have been pleading for building funds for two years, especially now that our currently rented building is not handicap accessible, and we have several members who need handicap accessibility. We are actually at a liability should anyone have an accident. We need to move into a place that is not only handicap accessible (per ADA laws), but can also accommodate future growth. Future growth is vital to becoming self-supporting.
At Hill Country in Kerrville, they were elected as the state ladies auxiliary project, but as of the end of October, only 25 percent of the goal had been raised.
In West Texas, we face the challenges of isolation. We are far removed from each other. The local association meeting and mission rallies are typically a five-hour drive away, unless you are the host church. Finding preachers to fill-in when the pastor/missionary is gone is also difficult and expensive, as few are willing to accept the appointment and funding the traveling expenses to bring a fill-in preacher to town can range from $300-$1,000. Attending associational functions in East Texas are difficult, as that can account for an 8-hour drive for some of our churches.
There is a need here, a need for the Gospel and the Lord's churches to be multiplied. That need can only be met by the willingness of the churches of the MBA of Texas to invest in West Texas, an area untouched by the MBA of Texas. With the support of the MBA of Texas, the mission projects we have in West Texas now will be able to finalize their organization efforts, and begin the process of reaching the surrounding towns.
We truly appreciate those who have supported us over the past few years. Memorial MBC of Rusk has supported us though they too have suffered hard times, Denson Springs MBC of Grapeland (Slocum community) has faithfully supported us, First Baptist Church of Arp has supported our building fund from the beginning, Muse MBC of Grapeland was one of our first supporters, Heritage BC of Tyler has stepped in when we needed it, White Rock MBC of Center has been a very faithful supporter, Bassett Road MBC and Memory Lane MBC of Palestine have always been there for us, Salmon MBC of Elkhart has ministered to us even though their finances were sometimes very tight, Nevill's Chapel MBC of Mt. Pleasant has been one of our biggest financial supporters, as well as Hickory Grove MBC in Newport, AR (although they never met us), East Side Baptist Church of Jacksonville, TX has been one of our most faithful supporters and I would be remiss if I didn't mention my sending church, Rocky Springs MBC of Jacksonville, who not only sent me out, but raised me up in the faith.
We have also received support from Oakland MBC of Rusk, (Oakland community) Sublett Road MBC and Crestview MBC of Arlington, Craig Rogers of Grapevine, Quaker Ave MBC of Lubbock, Beacon Baptist Church of San Angelo, Beacon Baptist Church of Odessa, Tall City MBC of Midland, Northside MBC of Snyder, and Northcrest MBC of Andrews, along with 58th Ave. MBC of Amarillo. I would also like to thank Heritage Baptist Church of Missouri City, TX, and the entire Southwest Association of Missionary Baptist Churches. I know I am forgetting some, and I do apologize. But Grace Pointe in Brownwood has enjoyed the benefit of supporting churches who help Rocky Springs with the 20 percent match for state salary, and with the various outreach projects undertaken in Brownwood that has helped Grace Pointe lead 18 souls to salvation.
The close fellowship I enjoyed with y'all back when I was in East Texas is always a great memory for me and my family, and I look forward to the day that we are no longer separated by an Interstate Highway and hours of driving, but are in close proximity to each other as we worship our Savior for eternity. Your prayers and support have been invaluable to us, and we appreciate it. We just ask that you don't forget us. May God bless you as you continue to remember us.
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