txb. Issue 3 FALL / WINTER 2015 lifes3.amazonaws.com/texasbaptists/issue/txb-life-03-2015.pdfWBU...

Issue 3 FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 txb. life

Hello, Texas Baptists!We serve a God who appreciates rhythm. He has placed an obvious rhythm to our lives, and

with it comes many blessings. The sunrise and sunset prove there is rhythm to our day. Sunday,

or the Sabbath, declares rhythm to our week. Twenty-eight to thirty-one days signify rhythm

to our months. And seasons bring rhythm to our year. With each season there are diff erent

rhythms, but rhythm nonetheless. The transition from summer to autumn brings with it

signifi cant changes in rhythm, and change brings newness.

As you and your church begin to adjust to the new rhythm of a new season, Texas Baptists’

prayers are with you. Sunday school classes are shifting, Wednesday night programs may be

settling back into normalcy, small groups may be meeting more regularly, students are heading

back to school, new jobs are being started, and the myriad of other changes, adjustments and

autumn-like rhythms are setting the beat for the months ahead.

I want to ask you to pray for your Baptist Student Ministry as they ramp back up for the fall

semester. BSM is making a huge impact on campuses across our state. If there are students

from your church looking for a place to connect and belong at their schools, please send them

to texasfreshmen.com. They will not regret being part of this group of believers. Also, if they are

looking for a home church, send them to texasbaptists.org/churches. There are churches waiting

to welcome those students with open arms!

The Annual Meeting will be taking place November 8-10 in Frisco. This year we are celebrating

our deep roots as Baptists. In God’s work through you, your church and the ministries you are

involved with, a living legacy carries on. We have so much to be thankful for, so let’s come

together and worship the Lord for all of His blessings together! Go to

texasbaptists.org/annualmeeting to learn more.

Thank you for your continued support of Texas Baptists! We cannot do what we do without you.

Sincerely,

David Hardage @dwhardage

Executive Director | Texas Baptists

2 FA L L/W I N T E R 2015 txb. life

Where life and faith are just a click away.

txb.lifeEvent Calendar

Featured Events

newsWhat is your growth plan?

great commissionCollege connection for your high school grad

profilesConnect with your Collegiate Ministry Team

faithOperation Giver

church officeHow the Aff ordable Care Act aff ects your church

txb. life FA L L/W I N T E R 2015 3

txb.life Magazine Editors and Writers

Joshua Minatrea, Associate Director of Communications

Kalie Lowrie, Publications Manager

Rachel Hendricks, Web Content Manager

Leah Reynolds, News/PR Manager

t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s

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Empower South SAN ANTONIO, TX

Hispanic Men’s Retreat WOODLAKE, TX

Campamento DFW CEDAR HILL, TX

Shalom Builders Home Build TBD

YEC Southeast TexasBEAUMONT, TX

YEC West Texas LUBBOCK, TXIntroduction to Interim Training CONROE, TX

Childhood and Family Ministry Summit ARLINGTON, TX

HungerOff ering5th Sunday

“YEC is a conference that is excellent in all it does. Your students will leave encouraged, enthused, and inspired to grow spiritually and reach others for Christ.”

Jeff HollowayYOUTH MINISTERFIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, CROSBY



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Special Friends RetreatFLOYDADA, TX

Hispanic Men’s RetreatMENARD, TX

See You at the Pole

Equippers Workshop CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

Engage LIBERTY, TX

Equippers WorkshopEL PASO, TX

Seasoned Saints & Family ConferenceDESOTO, TX

Hispanic Men’s RetreatGLEN ROSE, TX AND CEDAR HILL, TX

National Boomer and Senior Adult Ministry Conference SAN ANTONIO, TX

Chaplaincy Training Event WAXAHACHIE, TX

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“The Black Preaching Conference has been very informative and helpful to me in my own ministry. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect with Texas Baptists and to create better networking contacts. It has helped me as a pastor in Houston quite a bit.”

Black Preaching ConferenceSAN ANTONIO, TX

Labor Day

Worship Summit, WestPLAINVIEW, TX

Worship Summit, SouthSAN ANTONIO, TX

Steve W. HallPASTORBETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH, HOUSTON

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Charles WashingtonYOUTH MINISTERTEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOME, ROUND ROCK

Youth Ministry ConclaveARLINGTON, TX

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Childhood Certifi cationDALLAS, TX

“I was just blown away by the effi ciency and knowledge available to me [at Conclave]. I learned new things and also gained a diff erent perspective on many diff erent issues related to ministry. It was also very encouraging to meet and connect with other youth ministers and share with them!”

“This year at the Annual Meeting, we’ll examine Baptist distinctives and share the reasons we choose to be Baptists. Together we’ll explore our deep roots and celebrate our living legacy through inspiring worship, enlightening workshops and educational exhibits.”

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Hispanic Leadership ConferenceDALLAS, TX

Fiesta RingSAN ANTONIO, TX

Annual MeetingFRISCO, TX

HungerOff ering5th Sunday



Thanksgiving

Kathy Hillman 2015 TEXAS BAPTISTS PRESIDENTMEMBER OF COLUMBUS AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, WACO

“It was a special treat for my husband and me to drive down to Dallas last Christmas and be a part of the Christmas Open House at the Texas Baptists Building. It was great to be able to visit with the staff on a personal basis while we were there. We are looking forward to going again this year at the new location. Come and join us!”

Rynell Novak EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERMEMBER OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, DENTON

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Christmas Open HouseTEXAS BAPTISTS DALLAS OFFICE

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Christmas Eve

Christmas

New Year’s Eve

Christmas Open HouseThe Texas Baptists Dallas offi ce is opening its doors to celebrate Christmas with the surrounding Baptist family. Come for refreshments and a Christmas photo opportunity! Dallas; December 10.

texasbaptists.org

Hunger O� ering 5th SundayTexas Baptists are working together with many Baptist partners in Texas and around the world to show Christ’s love and generosity by meeting immediate hunger needs and helping people escape the devastation of poverty. The Texas Baptist Hunger Off ering seeks to empower those in need by funding relief and development projects that are holistic and sustainable. August 30, November 29.

texasbaptists.org/hungeroff ering

Shalom Builders Home BuildShalom Builders is a Texas Baptists Disaster Recovery initiative that sends trained construction workers to areas aff ected by disaster. Workers will build two homes from the foundation up on this trip. The goal is to continue rebuilding until God’s shalom returns to the aff ected area. TBD; August 9-15.

texasbaptists.org/shalombuilders

Special Friends RetreatThis retreat is hosted by Texas Baptists’ Childhood Ministry and caters to the mentally challenged of ages 12 and up, their parents, chaperones and those who work with the mentally challenged. Plains Baptist Assembly, Floydada; September 11-12. Mt. Lebanon Baptist Encampment, Cedar Hill; October 2-3.

texasbaptists.org/childhood

Great CommandmentEvents to serve and love others


Annual Meeting“Deep Roots Living Legacy,” this year’s annual meeting for Texas Baptists, will focus on Baptist Distinctives. This is a time for church ministers and Baptist leaders from around the state to come together for fellowship and learn more about Texas Baptists ministries. Elected messengers will also vote on convention business. Dr Pepper Arena, Frisco; November 8-10.

texasbaptists.org/annualmeeting

Childhood and Family Ministry SummitThis ministry summit provides an opportunity for professional development for those in family, children, preschool and weekday ministry, or anyone who works with or is impacted by children’s ministry. Registrants have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions, which include topics on safety, child development, music, curriculum, special needs, technology and more. Weekday teachers required to complete continuing education throughout the year can earn CEU’s for attending. First Baptist Church in Arlington; August 7-8.

texasbaptists.org/childhood

ENGAGEENGAGE off ers regional opportunities for leaders to receive inspiration and training in a wide variety of strategic evangelism models. Liberty; September 11-12.

texasbaptists.org/engage

National Boomer & Senior Adult Ministry Conference This conference is designed to train pastors, volunteers, ministers and anyone who works with boomers and senior adults. Volunteers and leaders will be equipped to be more eff ective in reaching out and ministering to these age groups. Breakout sessions will be aimed at helping reach boomers and senior adults, with specifi c tracks from the Hispanic and African American churches that will help clarify the generational diff erences within each ethnic group. Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio; September 9-11.

texasbaptists.org/boomer

Worship SummitTexas Baptists Worship Summits are events for worship pastors that focus on current trends in music and worship. These one-day events include training, music reading sessions, round table discussions, networking and more. Wayland Baptist University, Plainview; September 22. San Antonio; September 24.

texasbaptists.org/worshipsummit

Great CommissionEvents to train and develop church staff and leaders

1 0 FA L L/W I N T E R 2015 txb. life

f e a t u r e d e v e n t s

CulturalEvents to equip and support cultural groups

Black Preaching ConferenceThis conference aims to celebrate the art of Black preaching and is designed to enrich, train and motivate pastors to love, teach and proclaim the Word of God. Baptist University of the Américas, San Antonio; September 1-2.

texasbaptists.org/bpc

Equippers WorkshopThese workshops are designed to help multiply and produce strong-willed individuals for kingdom growth. El Paso; September 12. Corpus Christi; September 26.

texasbaptists.org/aam

Hispanic Leadership ConferenceThe Hispanic Leadership Conference is designed to train and equip leaders to turn around and empower their church members to maximize their leadership potential. Dallas Baptist University, Dallas; November 6-7.

texasbaptists.org/hlc2015

Hispanic Men’s RetreatThese regional retreats are designed for Hispanic men and their teenage sons in partnership with Compañerismo Hispano de Tarrant. Pineywoods Camp, Woodlake; August 28-29. Riverbend Retreat Center, Glen Rose; September 11-12. Mt. Lebanon Baptist Encampment, Cedar Hill; September 11-12. Menard; September 18-19.

texasbaptists.org/hmretreat

txb. life FA L L/W I N T E R 2015 1 1


Youth Ministry ConclaveYouth Ministry Conclave is a conference for adults who work with youth. Keynote speakers include: Dennis Wiles, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Arlington; Michael Evans, senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfi eld; Ed Newton, Bible communicator; and Tim Elmore, founder and president of Growing Leaders. Worship will be led by The Digital Age. Arlington Convention Center, Arlington; October 12-14.

conclave.texasbaptists.org


Engage24Engage24 is a 24-hour period when college students will make a coordinated eff ort to engage their campuses with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. College campuses; October 15.

engage24.org

See You at the PoleSee You at the Pole is an annual event where students across the globe gather around their school fl agpoles and pray for their friends, families, schools and communities, asking God to intercede for their generation. September 23, 7:00 a.m.

seeyouatthepole.org

Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC)A life-changing, faith-building, motivating worship experience to empower students as they live for Christ in today’s world. Southeast Texas YEC, Beaumont; August 7-8. West Texas YEC, Lubbock; August 14-15.

youthevangelism.com

Students


Events for youth and college-aged students

The Hispanic Education Initiative raised $30,000 this year to award to Hispanic students seeking higher education. This initiative is aimed at deserving Hispanic students who attend Texas Baptist churches, to empower them to reach their goals. To donate to the Hispanic Education Initiative, visit texasbaptists.org/hei.


If someone were to ask, “What is your growth plan for your life?” – would you have an answer? Many of us may fail to come up with an immediate response, but it is a plausible question to consider.

In the past few years, the Offi ce of Hispanic Ministries for Texas Baptists has observed a desire within the Hispanic Baptist community for growth in leadership development. Last fall, they hosted a successful fi rst “En Sus Manos” Hispanic Leadership Conference, which off ered leadership training for English-speaking adults, Spanish-speaking adults and youth. They are off ering the second annual conferencethis November.

“In this conference, we focus a lot on empower-ing people,” said Rolando Rodriguez, director of Hispanic Ministries for Texas Baptists. “If you delegate a lot of responsibilities, you’re going to have a lot of followers, but if you empower people, you’re going to develop leaders.”

Empowering people may sound simple, but when it comes time to do so, we often fi nd ourselves hesitant to give up control.

“We naturally want to be in control, we want to maintain power,” Rodriguez explained. “But Jesus said all power is given to Him and then He says, now He’s giving you that power. If Jesus was willing to empower people, then I have to empower people. A lot of times we feel threatened by that.”

Through conferences like the Hispanic Leadership Conference and year-round Entrena-T trainings, the Hispanic Ministries team hopes to train and equip leaders to turn around and empower people in their own congregations to maximize their leadership potential.

Rodriguez advises everyone to also have a personal “growth plan” for their life, no matter their role in the church. A growth plan should always include honing leadership skills and striving to use your God-givengifts to their greatest potential.

By Leah Reynolds News/PR Manager | @leahdenise91

What is your growth plan?

Scan this QR Codeto learn

more!

Maximizing Hispanic leadership potential


College connection for your high school gradAt the end of the school year, high school seniors are recognized and their future plans are celebrated by family, friends and their local church. In the coming months, many students likely will be taking classes at junior colleges, colleges and universities within the state of Texas. Have you equipped your graduates with information on how to fi nd a local church and get involved in a Baptist Student Ministry on their future campuses?

Of the 158 campuses in Texas, 115 have a local BSM with a director ready and willing to con-nect with your students. Texasfreshmen.com is a great resource where students can share their information and quickly be connected with a BSM in their area. They will be contacted directly by someone on the campus.

Over half of students attending college stay in the communities where they are from, but they are transitioning out of their high school student ministries and need a new place to plug in for discipleship, mentoring, evangelism training and service opportunities. BSMs are ready to welcome them with open arms.

Ginger Bowman serves as the BSM church life specialist, helping college ministers connect with students. She recommends that youth ministers and church staff help connect their

graduates with local BSMs and churches in the area where they are moving.

“Their home church has been their spiritual family, so it’s important church staff hand their students off to the next place, helping them make that transition,” Bowman said. “It’s very rare that students take their own initiative to fi nd a place to plug in spiritually. They usually need help from a youth minister or family member to encourage them to fi nd a new church home.”

Bowman encourages ministers to access texas freshmen.com and register their students on the site. Providing students’ information to the Texas Baptist staff ensures that the gradu-ates will quickly hear from a local BSM leader, even before school starts this fall.

While statistics vary on the number of students who transition from high school to college and walk away from their faith, the results are clear. If Christian students are not connected with a local church or campus ministry within their fi rst few weeks on campus, they may not return.

As fall approaches, be proactive in your church by helping connect your students with a BSM on their campus so they can continue to grow in their relationship with the Lord and be equipped to share the Gospel with their new classmates and friends.

Visit texasfreshmen.com today!

By Kalie LowriePublications Manager | @klowrie84

Texas has:1.5 million college students158 college campuses 115 campus BSMs

DID YOU KNOW?

Scan this QR Codeto learn more!


Bruce McGowanTEXAS BSM STATE DIRECTOR

[email protected]

Joyce AshcraftASSOCIATE STATE DIRECTOR

[email protected]

Peggy MouldenADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

[email protected]

Cindy Zoller MINISTRY ASSISTANTRECEPTIONIST/FINANCES

[email protected]

Becky BarnesMINISTRY ASSISTANTCOMMUNICATIONS/DATA MANAGEMENT

[email protected]

Rick SpencerREGIONAL COORDINATOR

[email protected]

John PearceREGIONAL COORDINATOR

[email protected]

Beth SmithDALLAS/COLLIN METRO COORDINATOR

[email protected]

Brenda SandersMISSIONS CONSULTANT

[email protected]

Robert Hooker EVANGELISM CONSULTANT

[email protected]

Ginger BowmanTX COLLEGE CHURCHSPECIALIST

[email protected]

Katie GravesCOMMUNICATIONS AND LEADERSHIP SPECIALIST

[email protected]

Connect with your Collegiate Ministry TeamThe Texas Baptists Collegiate Ministry Team connects and supports Baptist Student Ministry (BSM), a ministry of Texas Baptist churches that encourages students to follow Christ and transform the world. This team also oversees Go Now Missions, sending 475 student missionaries around the world in 2015; Texas Freshmen, connecting freshmen students with a BSM and local church in their area; TX College Church, partnering with churches to reach Texas college students; and provides evangelism and mission training for students around the state.

Toothbrush

Laundry bag

Something you like doing

Bible and King of the Campus by Lutz

Phone charger

Adventure and a passport

Basic cooking skills

Money and more money

Good pair of shower shoes

Alarm clock with reminders to pray and re� ect

Student Walmart Reloadable Dual Card

Quarters for laundry

@TexasBSM texasbaptists.org/collegiate

What should every freshman pack in his/her bag for college?


Matt Reynolds is pursuing a Master of Theological Studies from Dallas Baptist University. He sat down with Dr. Mike Williams, a professor and former dean in the DBU College of Humanities, to discuss Baptist Autonomy.

“I thought long and hard about what Dr. Williams was saying and left remember-ing the rich history of Baptist autonomy I had been raised under. Every Baptist

church is diff erent, but extremely similar in its structure. Growing up in East Texas in a Southern Baptist church and being born into the family of a long-time minister in the Baptist faith, I can hardly imagine church life without the church members. Smaller churches understand more than any congregation the importance of the involvement of its lay members. Without their personal involvement, the spiritual gifts and willingness to serve each other, their church would either live or die. We have to understand the church is the equivalent of the people it also serves and the pastor is the shepherd charged with leading that part of the body in the example of Christ.”

Isa Torres is a recent graduate of George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. He sat down with Gerald Davis, Texas Baptists Disaster Recovery and development specialist, to discuss Voluntary Church Cooperation.

“As Davis said, this cooperation simply enables us to ‘allow the Lord to really be the Lord of our hearts.’ Even when churches cooperate with other churches that

do not have as much, they get to learn what it is to truly rely on God. The greatest gift is that churches learn the new life to which Christ has called us can only be lived together.”

Visit txb.life/operationgiver to read these full stories and others from other Texas Baptist university students.

Operation Giver is a project connecting young Texas Baptists with more experienced professors, pastors and theologians to discuss Baptist Distinctives. Similar to the book, The Giver, our goal is to pass on wisdom from seasoned Baptists to the up-and-coming generation. While times continually change, the beliefs we share as Texas Baptists have held true for more than 130 years. Facilitating these conversations will help educate and encourage younger Baptists as they continue in the biblical tradition set before them.

A new publication for Texas Baptists, txb.life is available both in-hand and online. Full articles featured in this piece are accessible at txb.life. Join the conversation on this new website on topics like:

Where life and faith are just a click away.

txb.life


How the Aff ordable Care Act aff ects your church

By Rollie Richmond Human Resources Director


As a convention, we seek to help meet the needs of our churches. As a church, you, in turn, seek to help meet the needs of your pastor and other ministry staff . One of the ways many of you care for them is through reimbursement for the premiums of health insurance policies. However, due to recent changes in government regulations through the Aff ordable Care Act (ACA), this may no longer be possible beginning July 1, 2015.

If you allow this practice, called Premium Reimbursement Plans, to continue after June 30, your church could be subject to a penalty under the ACA of $100 a day per participating employee. That could add up to an annual maximum penalty of $36,500 a year per participating employee!

That’s the bad news. But here are some clarifi cations and suggestions of ways to deal with this new provision of the law so that you can avoid the penalties and still maintain the health care coverage that you want to provide for your employees.

First, you don’t need to do anything if:

You currently have a church/employer-purchased group health plan in place. The new regulations only apply to individual policies purchased by the employee that are reimbursed by the church or paid directly by the church (Premium Reimbursement Plans).

You only have one employee for whom you are making or reimbursing the payment on an individual employee policy. You can still reimburse or pay for the employee’s premium in this case, tax-free with no penalty.

Second, if you are currently out of compliance with the new regulation, you can get in compliance and avoid penalties by:

Instituting a church/employer-purchased health plan. Healthcare.gov has plans you can review and any insurance broker is a potential source of plans as well. Also, GuideStone has just made available a church/employer-purchased health plan for a group as small as two people.

Increasing the pastor or employee’s taxable compensation to a level that will cover the cost of their health insurance (and tax exposure if you feel it’s appropriate). In order for this approach to be in compliance, the pay increase needs to not be conditioned on purchasing health insurance.

Now is the time to take a look at your current practices and determine what, if any, corrective actions you need to take to get into compliance with the ACA and avoid those potential compliance penalties. Please know that we are here to help. If you have any questions or if we can provide any additional clarifi cation, please contact either of us:

Rollie Richmond, HR [email protected]

Jim Reed, Controllerjim. [email protected]


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