Articles by Cherish Mason

Today students were sent out into Kingwood, TX to fulfill the Great Commission by sharing the gospel while rebuilding homes. Brian Pearce, the Mission Coordinator, prayed over the students before he sent them out to their work sites for the week. Brian encouraged the students to consider making disaster recovery work a habit in their life so that the Church may be known for the way that it is quick to help those in need. The Collegiate Staff waved students good-bye as they left Kingwood First Baptist Church. The majority of the Teams served in trailer parks either doing heavy demolition work or installing metal roofs. Bouncers maintained positive attitudes even amidst the heavy rain.

Bouncers arrived today in Kingwood, TX! Kingwood First Baptist Church, where students will be housed this week, has been participating in Bounce disaster recovery work for several years, but when Harvey hit, several of their church members' homes where affected. While members of Kingwood First Baptist Church experienced damaged and flooding to their own homes, they were quick to respond to the needs of those in their community. The youth from Kingwood First Baptist Church used the skills that they had learned from doing disaster recovery work through Bounce to respond to the needs of those in their community. Many of them know the immense personal loss that comes from the aftermath of a storm like Hurricane Harvey and so they are overjoyed that they can serve others in the Kingwood community in this way. The Kingwood students are filled with enthusiasm and are prepared to go out into this week and build up homeowners through the work that they will be doing.

Students completed their final day of disaster recovery work in Nederland, TX! Students completed two roofs in the rain, and installed sheet rock and cabinets. Today teams presented their homeowners with a team picture and a Bible. Homeowners have felt immensely loved by these students'service. This week Bounce students had over 54 spiritual conversations, 16 gospel presentation, and 164 acts of kindness. Teams have built one another up, challenged each other and encouraged each other. Those teams who finished their projects early went to assist other teams at their work sites.

Bouncers have made tremendous progress at their work sites this week! Today students and Bounce volunteers worked through rain to complete the roofs at their work sites. Students and Bounce volunteers have experienced humidity, heat, and rain, and through it all they have maintained a great attitude and are now close to completion at their work sites!

Bouncers have made progress at their work sites this week in Nederland, Port Arthur and Orange Texas. The "Blue Dodge" Team has been hard at work at a location in Groves, TX where they have been doing inside demolition work. The Team has spent most of their time installing cabinets, which has proved challenging. Though there have been set backs in the group with the cabinet installation, the group has maintained a positive attitude.

Bouncers were commissioned this morning in Nederland, TX by Aaron Austin the Mission Coordinator. Bouncers woke up early this morning for breakfast at 6 am, and then were sent off to their work sites for the week. Aaron led the Bouncers in prayer and reminded them that they will serve as a light to those in Nederland and and Port Arthur, TX this week.

The combined missions efforts of Texas Baptists over Spring Break involved more than 1,400 middle, high school and college students engaged in ministry across the United States. Projects ranged from rebuilding homes in Houston damaged by Hurricane Harvey, providing free van rides and pancakes to fellow college students in South Padre Island and engaging in evangelistic efforts alongside church planters in New York City.

From March 12-13 & March 15-16, the 580 students and student leaders volunteering with BOUNCE Student Disaster Recovery completed projects such as installing drywall, insulation, siding, painting and flooring for homeowners who had been affected by the disaster.

The Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas approved a motion on Tuesday to form a committee to research ways in which the Convention could be more agile in response to emerging needs.

Back in 1848, at the first Baptist state convention in Texas, a handful of words were used to describe the primary purpose of the group gathered. Later on, in 1886, those same words were incorporated into the Baptist General Convention of Texas constitution at its formation.