Holiday 2011 Edition
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NETWORK MISSIONARY REPORT
Don Fawcett
Network Missionary, Heart of Texas Baptist Network
We want to recognize all those who offered reports and testimonies of God’s work in the world through the Network churches and related organizations and ministries. Brother Randy Rives, Minister of Music and Education at FBC Early, did a tremendous job leading in worship and getting other groups involved. We appreciate all those who used their gifts and talents to serve the Lord. Adam Hardy produced an excellent video of our recent trip to Nigeria. We also appreciate Brother Eddie Ailshie for his message of hope and challenge from God’s Word. Eddie has served as our Moderator for the last few years and has faithfully walked with this Network during that time. He has moderated with fairness, respect, and a spirit of humility. Our meal was provided by Howard Payne University and Sodexo Food Service. This is our first partnership with HPU and Sodexo, and we want to thank Paul Dunne, Vice-President for Development for approaching the Network with this idea. We were blessed to work with HPU, and their ministry lifted a tremendous burden from our staff. We are looking forwarding to next year as we continue our partnership with HPU and Sodexo. We also want to recognize the Rocky Creek Baptist Church and the Calvary Baptist Church (Brown Fellowship) for moving chairs and tables from their church to Mills County and for all their set-up work. Brother Rick Justice and Neill Trull are faithful supporters of the Network. Trey Fawcett and Patrick Valencia did an outstanding job running the sound and media and Juan Valencia worked all day with set-up as well as the installation of two doors in the church facility. Also, the pastors’ wives convened for their first meeting at the FBC Goldthwaite at 3:30 p.m. We appreciate the hospitality of Brother Doug Holtzclaw and FBC for the use of the Youth Building and Julie Battenfield, Bobbie Fawcett, and Lindsay Trull for facilitating the meeting. They are also planning a December meeting. Finally, we are thankful for Abbie Valencia and her ministry in this office. Many entering this office are hurting and in need of a kind word, and Abbie faithfully ministers to all who come through the door. Kyle designs our mail outs, operates Constant Contact, manages our website, and produces the newsletter. We appreciate Kyle and his work in this office while he takes a full load of pre-med courses at HPU and plays on the soccer team. Finally, we appreciate the churches and all those who faithfully support this ministry with their participation, prayers, and financial gifts. The last 3 years have been trying, but God’s presence continues to be manifested through this ministry. We are looking forward to our next Annual Meeting. Brother Tim Skaggs and the Coggin Avenue Baptist Church have graciously offered to host our meeting on Sunday, October 14, 2012. We also are planning a spring meeting and hope you can join us then as well. |
| “Ready and Willing” Teacher and Potential Teacher Training |
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If you have served the Lord in any capacity, you could attest to the fact that often times a “willingness” to serve does not automatically mean there is a “readiness” to serve. I remember how inadequate I felt the first time I was called upon to teach a Sunday School class. Readiness speaks to preparation, and stemming from a dialogue with Brookesmith Baptist Church and others, we are hosting the “Ready and Willing” training conference at the First Baptist Church of Early on Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. This conference will give training to potential teachers and those who need further help in basic teacher training in the local church. Our focus will be upon those who teach children and youth in the local church (Jr. High and High School). Many churches have a teacher and worker shortage, but this can, in some context, be linked to lack of training. This conference will equip and give i nstruction in the fundamentals of teaching. Our leaders will be Diane Lane, a specialist in pre-school religious education and Jane Wilson, a specialist in youth religious education in the local church. Both of these women have served extensively in local churches as teachers and church staff. We appreciate Marcia and Bill Wells, (Bill is pastor of Brookesmith Baptist Church) and their work to make this training a reality. Huckaby Baptist Church (Erath Association) is also participating. If you would like to attend and/or bringing children, please call this office so we can get an accurate count for materials and for child care. Thank you, Brother Eddie and FBC Early for your willingness to host Network training events. Your location makes these events readily accessible from most parts of the Network and your hospitality is appreciated. |
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| Heart of Texas Baptist Network Receives Gift |
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The Heart of Texas Baptist Network has been working with the New Sunrise Fellowship over the past few months to assist them in determining the Lord’s will for their church. The church has struggled over the past few years to minister in a changing community and church membership continued to decline. After much prayer and deliberation, the church voted to close and liquidate their resources through the sale of their property.  Subsequently, two substantial gifts were given to the Network. The first gift of $38,930 was placed in the Mission Fund of the Network. The second gift of $15,061.80 was received on October 24, 2011 and was also temporarily placed in the Mission Fund. We anticipate these gifts will be used primarily to fund mission endeavors in the Heart of Texas Baptist Network. The Network wishes to express their deepest appreciation for the generosity and faithfulness of the remaining membership of the New Sunrise Fellowship. Church closure is never an easy process and it involves some of the same emotions and grief associated with the death of a loved one. This church is to be commended for their act of selflessness as they rest in the fact that God’s resources will be utilized for years to come in support of the Great Commission among our Network churches. |
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| Brother Mares Honored |
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| Brother Jose Mares, long-time Mexico Missions Coordinator for the Brown Baptist Fellowship was honored at a special service held at the Calvary Baptist Church on Saturday, October 22, 2011. We appreciate Brother Neill Trull and Calvary Baptist Church for hosting this event. Brother Jose and Sylvia were honored with a plaque while several gave testimony of traveling and ministering with Jose Mares. Speakers included Brothers Castaneda and Munoz (deacons, Primera Brownwood) and Brother Dan Connally (Pastor, Mt. Pleasant, Comanche). At 5:00 p.m. we shared a meal together of barbeque provided by the Companerismo de Corazon de Texas. Brother Mares has made hundreds of trips to Mexico throughout his 30 years of service, taken clothing, equipment, food, and supplies to believers in Mexico, and worked with teams to construct buildings, clinics, churches, orphanages, and senior citizens’ centers. Many people have responded to the call to missions through traveling with Brother Mares, and countless churches have engaged in short-term missions through his ministry. Brother Mares serves as pastor of the Iglesia Nueva Esperanza in Brown Fellowship. | |
| Visioning Trip to Bastrop, Texas |
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| A group of 6 traveled to Bastrop, Texas to conduct a tour of the area recently devastated by the huge fire that swept through Bastrop, Texas earlier this year. Ricky Cavitt (Minister with Students, Coggin Avenue)., Glenn Williamson (Minister of Facilities and Administration, Coggin Avenue), Keith Platte (BSM Director, Howard Payne University), Rick Justice (Pastor, Rocky Creek Baptist Church), Seth Pitman (Youth Pastor, Rocky Creek Baptist Church), and Don Fawcett (Network Missionary, HOTBN) met J.R. Hopson, Pastor of Ridgeway Baptist Church, Paige, Texas on Tuesday, October 25 at 4:00 p.m. From Paige we traveled to several subdivisions in the area and looked at potential work areas. I (Don) stood next to one slab where someone once made their home, and I looked down and saw where pools of molten glass flowed from the burning house forming glass “rocks” as it cooled. As I looked at one of these “rocks” one of our team members commented how someone with artistic ability could make something beautiful from the glass, and I thought of how God, in his creative and redemptive power, can remake our lives into something beautiful, even after it is devastated by sin. I brought the glass back to the Network Resource Center as a reminder of God’s grace.We know God is at work in the Bastrop area. Brother Charles Carrol (FBC Comanche) has already ministered there with the Texas Baptist Men and with a work team from his church. Please pray for God’s direction and leadership as we discern how God wants to use this Network in Bastrop, and pray for Pastor J.R. Hopson as he continues to minister to the hurting people in this area. | |
| Financial Report |
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| The financial report for the Network as of September, 2011 is as follows:Monthly Budget- $12, 637.50 Spent Under for Month ($1,869.13) Total income to date $111,521.01 Total spent to date $116,275.20 Diff. income to spent ($4,754.19)This year we are getting closer to realizing our goal of sound financial stewardship which includes no deficit budgeting for this ministry. We have done this through 3 major budget cuts, some to ministries we have funded historically but are no longer able to do so. We have also tried to budget intentionally as a reflection of the priorities and goals of this ministry. We appreciate those who have given sacrificially to this ministry. I am aware of increased giving to the Network by some churches. A simple plan of shared responsibility would include each church giving 2% of their undesignated receipts to the Network which would more than fund the cooperative work of Baptists in this ministry. Would you seek the Lord concerning what you might give? |
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| Heart of Texas Baptist Network Coordinating Board Meeting |
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 The Coordinating Board of the Network will meet on Friday, December 2, 2011 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Network Resource Center. The meeting is Friday and any publications or communication which list the date as Thursday, December 1 are incorrect. At this meeting the Network Missionary will present a vision for 2012. A meal will be shared at the conclusion of the meeting. |
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| Holiday Office Hours |
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| The office will be closed Wednesday, November 23, 2011 and re-open on Monday, November 28, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. for Thanksgiving Holiday. The office will also close at noon, December 21 and re-open on Monday, January 2, 2012 for the Christmas Holiday. | |
| Upcoming Events Calendar |
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| November 2011 2, 9, 16, 30- P.E.N., Brown, 8:15 a.m., NRC (No meeting on the 23rd) 12- “Ready and Willing” Teacher Training Event, 8:30-Noon, Early FBC 17- HTBCCC, Noon 23- Office closed, will reopen the 28th 28- B.U.L.L., Comanche Fellowship, C.J.’s, Noon 29- Adults on Mission, Brown, Avenue DDecember 2011 7, 14, 21- P.E.N., Brown, NRC, 8:15 a.m. 2- Network Coord. Bd. Meeting, 9:00 a.m., NRC 5- Pastors’ Wives Fellowship, Early FBC, 6:00 p.m. 8- HOTBCCC Christmas Banquet 17- HOTBCCC Bd. Meeting, Noon 21- Office closed, Noon, Reopens Jan. 2 January 2012 |
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