Articles by Kirsten McKimmey

Prisoners lives are being transformed as their fellow inmates are living out the call of the Great Commission to start ‘Philippi Churches.’

The mission work of Texas Baptists pre-dates the existence of an organized state convention and emcompasses a strong desire to share the Gospel to the utmost regions. When the first Baptist convention formed in Texas in 1848, two endeavors were at the heart of their work—missions and education.

The church is multicultural because God’s people are formed in Christ in different contexts and sent to be His witnesses and represent God’s reign in all nations. Every person who has been reconciled with God in Christ is called and sent to fulfill His commandment.

Bouncers have been hard at work in Victoria, TX repairing homes that have been damaged by Hurricane Harvey. Bouncers stay at their worksites from 7am to 4pm and then return back to Northside Baptist Church for dinner and worship. Worship Speaker Casey Cockrell has been teaching the students about the power of the Holy Spirit. During worship Casey has explained how the gospel has gone viral through the power of the Holy Spirit. Videos go viral because people see them and identify them. In the same way, the gospel can go viral when others see the church in action and resonate with what they are doing; the work that students are doing in Victoria, TX this week is a great example of that!

The Green Wiffle Team comprised of students from Stoneburg Baptist Church, Acton Baptist Church, and McGehee First Baptist Church, is repairing the roof on Ms. Lula Carroll’s home. Due to high velocity winds and rainfall from Hurricane Harvey, Ms. Lula Carroll’s roof is severely damaged. When the Team arrived at Ms. Lula Carroll’s home earlier this week they discovered that the beams in her kitchen ceiling had begun to rot, and the roof was held up by the kitchen cabinets. Ms. Lula Carroll said that every time it rained she would set several buckets in her kitchen and then later, empty out at least ten gallons of water from the buckets.

Bouncer’s headed out to their work sites for the first time today after a commissioning prayer led by Shawn Edwards, the Mission Coordinator. Bouncers were sent out to their roofing projects in Victoria just minutes away from Northside Baptist Church, where students are being housed this week.

Born out of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Dallas, a church that ministers to immigrant families residing in Texas, Pathway Dallas is focused on loving the next generation of Ethiopian believers. In order to accomplish this, a specific pastor was needed - one that deeply understood both Ethiopian and modern American culture. Nebiye Kelile was that pastor.

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.

James Hardin of First Baptist Dallas won this year’s National Invitational Speakers’ Tournament, held on June 14-15 at Mountain Park First Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Josh Britton of First Baptist Church of Allen also competed in the High School Bible Drill portion of the tournament while Joseph Stalcup of First Baptist Church Breckenridge competed in Youth Bible Drill.

The Texas Baptist Mission Foundation (TBMF) will be honoring Suzanne Griffin, Michael Evans and the First Baptist Church of Tyler for their exceptional work and commitment in missions at the annual Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Awards Luncheon, Monday, July 30, 2018, during the Texas Baptists Family Gathering in Arlington.