Monday Mission Fields - Fredericksburg, TX

Fredericksburg is the stereotypical Texas Hill Country town. It's downtown buildings are historic, it boasts a culture that is heavily influenced by it's German residents, is full of antique stores and unique gift shops, and makes for a good weekend getaway. In fact, when West-Central Texas towns try to build up their downtown districts (as Coleman and Brownwood are doing now), Fredericksburg is the example they go by.

Don't let the population figure of 10,000 fool you. Fredericksburg fills up every weekend with shoppers, hunters, tourists and travelers. It is a major cultural center in the Texas Hill Country. As influencial as the city of Fredericksburg is, it is without the influence of a doctrinally sound ABA church.

A mission work in Fredericksburg would have some advantages. Close proximity (by West Texas standards) to sister churches in San Antonio, Round Rock, Kerrville and even Brownwood lends the prospect of financial and prayer support, as well as friendships. A work in Fredericksburg would also qualify for state missions support.

Please pray for a missionary to answer the call and go to Fredericksburg today. The Texas Hill Country is one of the most vital mission fields in the state of Texas.

What to do if you didn't get a report...

If you are the pastor or a member of one of Mission: Brownwood's supporting churches and your church is not receiving a monthly report in the mail, please let me know. I compose the reports in Brownwood, then email the report to Jacksonville where it is copied, and then sent out to our mailing list.

Over the past couple of months, we have had major computer issues which have wiped out our mailing list in the computer. We know who our supporters are and have most of the addresses, however, there are some we are still missing. So, if your church has not been getting a Mission: Brownwood report in the mail, please email the church's mailing address to gracepointembc@aol.com.

If you are not a supporting church, but want a report anyway, go ahead and send your address to me as well, and we'll add you to the list.

I really want to make sure that our supporters as well as our sister churches be well informed about what's happening in Brownwood.

The September report will be composed and sent out this weekend.

The Core Group is Solidifying

Based on our attendance last night and last Sunday, and looking at who is coming, and the fact that we have seen the same faces since the summer, I'd say we have identified our core group at Grace Pointe. Most of these folks have been around since last spring, but they are becoming more closely knit together and fellowshipping more and more.

We have also picked up some more folks who have become very stable in their attendance. It has gotten to where we know we will have approximately 10-12 people present whenever we open the doors. I had hoped for more, but in all reality, we are where I thought we'd be about this time. Our people at Grace Pointe are good people who are getting on fire about doing something for the Lord.

I'm really excited to see what God does next at Grace Pointe!

It's about Missions

When was the last time you heard someone say, "I can't wait until the state meeting. I really look forward to the CyberSpace report." Well, maybe the guy giving the report, but other than that, the state association meeting is popular for two reasons. (1) Fellowship and (2) Missions.

The fellowship is going to happen. Anytime 300 or so preachers get together, there will be fellowship.

Missions is the top-priority agenda item on the list. We open the meeting on Tuesday evening to a moderator's address, a message, and proposed changes to the mission policy or requests to set the policy aside. Then, the first item of business Wednesday morning (after the songs, music specials and devotional) is approving missionaries, and any subsequent policy change. Everything after that is all reporting and information sharing, from which we hope that the brethren are encouraged, enlightened, and motivated.

I bring this up for a reason. Over the past few years, there has been a movement toward rushing the missionary approval process. I understand the reasons. (1) If the association is ready to approve or reject a request, why belabor it with ongoing debate? (2) The quicker the missions part is over, the less likelihood for disharmony. (3) Many people leave after lunch.

I'm actually fine with this too. I just don't want to see a bad decision made, or a debate that gets ended before all sides are heard just for the sake of getting finished in time for lunch. We all deserve better than that type of situation.

All that being said, I think we have a good group of missionaries coming up for support this year. After we finish the missions business, we can enjoy some great reports. I'm actually looking forward to the CyberSpace report. With all the new things coming out and going mainstream, there's no telling what we might be able to discuss.

Why I support the proposed mission policy for the MBA of Texas

The proposed mission policy of the MBA of Texas holds superiority to the current policy in that it allows decisions to be made by sponsoring churches and missionaries without fear of interference of policy-driven debate. The proposed policy defines what a missionary is, and what state mission work is. It affirms the authority of the sponsoring church, the autonomy of local churches, yet protects the finances of the association.

Under the new policy, eligible mission work will be new church starts, work with struggling churches to prevent their demise, and works that assist churches with the Great Commission (this is where TMD, Berean Ministries, etc could qualify.) The policy allows for mission projects (such as building funds) and missionary salary.

Instead of paying salary, the mission money would be given to the sponsoring church in the form of "support" that could then be paid by the sponsoring church to the missionary as salary.

Protections for the association come in the form that the messengers are given the authority to set the amount of support to be paid to the missionary.

So far, I have only heard two complaints about the proposed mission policy.

(1) There needs to be a provision that the policy is not a set of laws, but guidelines. This article is in the current policy and introduces a lot of controversy. In my mind, the requirements of the sponsoring church and missionary in the proposed policy are minimal... if one can't live up to the expectations in the proposed policy, one has no business in missions.

(2) There needs to be more missionary accountability. Actually, I'm kind of tired of hearing about missionary accountability. All the association can really expect from the missionary is that he stay on the field and continue the work, and report on that work. What more should be expected?

Hopefully, the policy will be put up for a vote in November. If so, I'll be voting yes.

Catch up!

I've been absent from the blog for a week and a half now. Oh, if only I weren't so tied up with mission work, I could blog more. (That's a sarcastic comment. I prefer mission work to blogging, as is evident by my absence from this site.)

Here's what's happening in my world.

• We're recovering from an active September. During September, we canvassed for "Back to Church Sunday," canvassed the Brownwood Reunion Celebration, and held a pumpkin patch outreach (which was attended by 60 people, most of whom came as a result of the Reunion outreach.)
• The preparation for the outreaches was very intense, and the execution thereof really wore us out. So far, we have seen little fruit from this, which is making me think that we need to simplify our approach to disciple making... but how?
• Went to the MBA of Texas pre-Association meeting. One question was asked of me... "You're working a job there, right?" "Yes." I appreciate Bro. Bobby Sparks. Had it not been for his question, I'd have driven five hours to be quiet.
• I've been invited to speak at the Faith Promise Missions Conference at Faith MBC in Round Rock on Oct. 26.
• I'm back to coaching youth soccer... this time I'm coaching JJ's team. 1-1 so far on the season.
• All three kids are in soccer this year, all on different teams. Between their practice schedules, Rachel's piano lessons and practice, the outreach we do on Tuesdays at the local apartments, and so on, afternoon shuttling is getting hectic.
• Still broadcasting Coleman High School football. We're 0-5 so far this season, but we're up against Dublin, another 0-5 team tonight.
• High school buddy is getting married tomorrow night.
• Looking forward to the MBA of Texas meeting in November.
• Working on church covenant, by-laws and consitution for Grace Pointe.

I think that about covers it.