Articles by Kalie Lowrie

Through broken tears, they each gave their lives to God and committed to developing relationships with Him.

Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Council broke a record this year, giving more funds to help churches and support Texas Baptists missions and ministries for 2019 than ever before.

With the expected rain this weekend, flooding could get worse and there are about 300 homes that have been affected by high water already.

Texas Baptist Men volunteers are deploying Saturday morning, October 13, to respond to the devastation left by Hurricane Michael.

On Sept. 20, Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief sent their first group of volunteers, including 13 men and women, to Bayboro, North Carolina, in response to damage caused by Hurricane Florence.

Blue tarps still cover roofs in need of repair in communities like Rockport, near Corpus Christi, and Bevil Oaks, north of Beaumont. Abandoned homes are interspersed among the remodeled on many streets. One year after Category 4 Hurricane Harvey wrecked and ravaged the Gulf Coast of Texas from August 25-September 1, 2017, signs of renewal and hope are evident in the Texas Baptists churches serving along that path of the storm.

Texas Baptists are taking the Good News across the state, country and world, reported Dr. David Hardage during his Executive Director’s Report at the 2018 Family Gathering Monday evening.

Bouncers arrived in Victoria, TX today for the 4th Bounce Mission this summer! So far, Bounce has mobilized hundreds of students who have engaged in disaster recovery work all across Texas. The community of Victoria is still recovering from Hurricane Harvey, and several houses have suffered from wind damage. Because of this, all of the students this week will be repairing roofs. Bouncers will be staying at Northside Baptist Church, they same church that housed the Texas Baptist Men last August. Among the first responders, the Texas Baptist Men engaged in disaster relief work in Victoria, TX immediately after Hurricane Harvey. This week, Bouncers have the opportunity to continue in the ongoing disaster recovery effort and to follow in the footsteps of the Texas Baptist Men who went before them.

During the May 22 meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board, members affirmed a statement from Executive Director David Hardage encouraging Texas Baptists to seek peace in the midst of violent times in America.

By Caleb Seibert

This month, the Christian Life Commission joined Gov. Greg Abbott and several groups to declare April “Second Chance Month” for formerly incarcerated individuals. Second Chance Month is an opportunity to highlight the challenges of formerly incarcerated individuals and their families and to share stories of redemption for those who have successfully overcome their criminal pasts.

Nearly 70,000 people are released from Texas state prisons every year, but most churches have little to no interaction with them. These people and their families often face a mountain of obstacles to re-entry ranging from work barriers and criminal debt to the deep stigmatization that comes with their past experiences.

Research by Lifeway Publishing in Nashville seems to echo this sentiment. After polling 1,000 Protestant churches, Lifeway found that 31 percent said no former inmates attended their church, 36 percent said one or two former inmates attended, and only 33 percent indicated three or more former inmates attending their church.

Hebrews 13:3 says to “remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them.” How can Christians remember those who are in prison and those who have been released?

Here are four practical suggestions for ministry . . .