STATE MISSIONS REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2003
- General Fund Beginning Balance $57,610.20
- General Fund Offerings $20,322.96
- Missionaries Salaries $10,854.55
- Administrative Salaries & Expenses $ 2,435.00
- General Fund Closing Balance $64,643.61
The following report was presented and approved at the messenger meeting while convened in Hillsboro. Please take note of the committee that will be helping in a study of our mission program that we might offer for consideration some changes to improve and encourage our overall mission work. If anyone has any suggestions, please send to your secretary treasurer for consideration. Thanks to the messengers for the very good reception of the recommendations made in the report including the approval of each missionary requesting support. Thanks also for the opportunity to serve another year as Secretary/Treasurer.
SECRETARY/TREASURER’S REPORT FOR 2002/2003
We have an unfinished work to do. Our Lord has given His churches the task of taking the gospel to all the world. This work has been going on for two thousand years and it is not finished yet! In fact, it will not be finished until our Lord returns and takes His churches out of this world. His command was to "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15
Our world today consists of more than 6 billion people. That is a large field for laborers. He said "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the world." Acts 1:8 Our United States has 293 million people and that, too, is a very large field. We have our interstate and foreign mission work in the ABA to cover these fields. In our field of Texas, we have 21 million people, the second largest populated state in the United States. This is the field for our churches in the Missionary Baptist Association of Texas. What are we to do about it? Each one of us needs to be praying that God will call more men to preach the gospel and call churches to send men into the areas of our state where we have no witness. In our state there are 27 metropolitan areas. I believe we have at least one church or mission in each of them, but within each of those areas there are many cities where we need to be planting new churches. In fact, it is reported that there are 93 cities in Texas with a population of at least10,000 or more where we have no Missionary Baptist Church.
God gave Nancy and me the privilege of traveling over 7,600 miles in the past ten months to visit and represent our Missionary Baptist Mission work in our great state. We have visited in 45 different churches and have been in services with each of our missionaries. We have been well received by our churches.
If there is anything to be disappointed about it is not the response of the churches in providing funds to support our missionaries. The churches responded very generously in January when the
general fund was getting low. The disappointment to me is that we have only one new missionary coming for support this year.
The new missionary is Bro. Joel Clay. He is coming recommended for designated funds by Baker Drive MBC and Pastor Joe Bozarth of Dickinson. Bro. Clay is working in LaMarque with the Afro-American community there. We have three returning missionaries who are requesting full salary. They are Bro. W.S. Taylor working with Crossroads Baptist Mission in Fort Worth and sponsored by Central Baptist Church and Pastor Larry Jacobs in Bedford, Bro. Larry Frye working with North Lake Missionary Baptist Mission in Denton and sponsored by New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and Pastor Robert Boone of Valley View, and Bro. Dennis Pace working with Pilot Point Missionary Baptist Mission in Pilot Point and sponsored by Cedar Creek Missionary Baptist Church and Pastor Ron Davis in Palestine. Bro. Roy Fikac is requesting half salary, minus insurance. Bro. Fikac is working with Faith Missionary Baptist Mission in Round Rock and is sponsored by Modoc Missionary Baptist Church and Pastor David Dawson of Athens. Bro. David Humber is requesting one-fourth salary plus insurance. He is working with Texas Avenue Missionary Baptist Church in Abilene. He is cosponsored by Westwood Missionary Baptist Church and Pastor Weeks DuBose of Odessa.
Reports from the missionaries this year show that 76 have been saved, 18 were baptized, 50 received by letter and 4 received by statement. Two of the missionaries are currently in the building planning stage (Crossroads of Fort Worth and North Lake of Denton) and the second phase building for Meadowbrook, near Wills Point, where Brother Gorden Riley is the missionary pastor, has been completed during the year. One mission, Landmark MBM of Floresville, where Brother Roddy Rodgers is the missionary pastor, will be organized into a New Testament Church on November 22.
With the beginning of the new fiscal year, September 1st, we had with the able help of Brother Ricky Knight, completed setting up the accounting to be done on the computer using Quick Books Pro, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. This is a faster and more accurate way to do the work of accounting and reporting.
We have made some changes in accounting. We changed from a two week pay period to monthly. At the messenger meeting last year we voted to make the checks payable to the mission or the sponsoring church, so I asked them to work out a pay schedule that was agreeable to the missionary and we would only send one check each month. We are now able to close a month with all bills paid.
Along with this change, I am recommending that we discontinue designating an amount for insurance and just include that amount in the total paid to the mission or sponsoring church, and that we encourage the mission or church to set up their own amount to be designated for insurance and medical expense in keeping with the tax laws and the need of their missionary. Since the church or mission is considered the employer, then it should be their responsibility to work these things out with their missionary. I highly recommend and encourage the churches to make sure their missionary has health insurance coverage.
I would like to recommend that we consider raising the base salary from $2877.00, which includes the $375.00 insurance allowance, to $3000.00 per month for full salary missionaries less the 20% provided by the sponsoring church. And that we increase by 5% the base request by the other missionaries. (For instance all except one on full salary receives less than the 80%. And others are asking for ½ salary less insurance while one is asking for 1/4 salary plus insurance.)
I would like to recommend that you allow me the privilege of appointing a committee of four men to work with me through this next year for the purpose of considering the needs of our mission work, that we would have recommendations for your consideration at the next messenger meeting and that any recommendation that might be planned will be published in advance of the messenger meeting so that you can study them. The committee I am recommending will be Bro. Elvin Crocker of Houston, who has for many years served as sponsoring pastor and as a missionary in the establishment of the church he now pastors. Bro. Roy Culley of Henderson, who is mission editor of the Baptist Monitor and leads his church in much mission work in all areas of our associated work. Bro. Billy Daniels of Bogata, who once served as secretary/treasurer, and himself served as missionary to the Northeast Mission Council and is presently pastoring the church he began as a missionary just a few years back. Bro. Ricky Knight of Grand Prairie who led in a successful mission work in West Virginia where a strong work now exists. He successfully pastored in Grand Prairie until his health required him to leave that pastorate and is now involved in establishing a new work in the South Grand Prairie area. I have spoken with each of these men and they have agreed to serve on the committee if you approve the plan.
October Report of the Missionaries
W. S. TAYLOR
Fort Worth
COMMENTS: Notes From the Pastor in the November 2 church bulletin partly describes the eventful and blessed news of the month at Crossroads:
"God has been moving and working in exciting ways in our services lately! If you’ve been missing , you’ve missed some real blessings. We had 3 public decisions made in our services Sunday before last, first time visitors including a family of 6 who just moved into the neighborhood, returning prospective visitors, chances to witness to several persons with one accepting Christ as her Savior, great special music (including the Whole Heart Quartet), exciting ladies Wednesday evening studies with 9 ladies in attendance the last Wednesday, a new children’s Sunday School class with an enthusiastic teacher and excited kids, a new adult ministry getting started, and on and on!!---
Our building plans have been revised some. As soon as we know these are the last of the changes, Bro. Marion Reed will do the final drawings and they will be sent on to Bro. Leroy Smith and TMB.
Our square foot campaign is going well. Thanks to you churches and individuals across the country who have responded already. If you or your church have not responded by purchasing some square feet, we continue to pray that the Lord will lead you to do so. Each square foot is $45. Again, it’s a small investment which will reap huge results! With our Square foot bank for loose change, we’ve purchased 9 square feet, proving that our small change can go a long way for a big cause! It would be great if your church would start a square foot bank for Crossroads and the membership drop in their change, empty it regularly and purchase a square foot of our new building with it. We empty ours at the end of each month. We’ve been buying 2 to 3 square feet each month that way.
Statistics For October: Souls won 1, By Letter 1, Sunday School 25, Worship 36, Evening 13, Wednesday 13. Total Church Offering 3511.68, Given to Missions $180.00, Paid For Rent $1600.00 Received from Project for Salary $640.00, Received a total of $1219.00 from other churches.
GORDON RILEY
WILLS POINT
This will be my last report to the Secretary/Treasurer. However, we continue as a Mission sponsored by First Missionary Baptist Church of Duncanville. We decided not to request salary this year. We will still need help as a Mission, especially on our property. We ask those who are supporting us directly to please continue. Our self support is increasing, but we haven’t reached the point where we need to organize. We hope to reach this goal by the end of next year.
We sincerely thank the churches of the MBA of TX for your support and confidence. You have shared in the blessing of 62 saved and baptized, some were saved but unable to be baptized due to family or other reasons, and many visible changes in lifestyles. Three men surrendered to preach and many other blessings beyond our ability to count. Our report will continue to go out to The Baptist Monitor, churches and individuals. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
STATISTICS FOR OCTOBER - Souls won 1, baptized 1, by letter 6. Total church offering $1,243.00, Given to Missions $125.00, Paid on property $600.00, Received from project for salary $200.00, Received from others for salary $300.00 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE - Sunday School 18, Morning Worship 23, Evening Worship 22, Mid-Week 8, Teen Night 22.
RODDY RODGERS
FLORESVILLE
The first Sunday in October started us off in the right direction with one addition by statement, Mickie Bowles, and a total offering that day of over one thousand, five hundred dollars. Three Sundays out of the four we had twenty-three or more in our morning worship services, with a high of twenty-nine. We continue to have visitors in our services. Pray for us and come see us.
STATISTICS FOR OCTOBER - Added by statement 1, Total church offering $3,250.26, Given to Missions $262.50, Received from project for salary $1,206.13, Received from others for car allowance, housing, etc. $100.00. AVERAGE ATTENDANCE - Sunday School 17, Morning Worship 23, Evening Worship 16, Mid-Week 15.
Dennis Pace
Pilot Point
This month has been one of the most exciting months ever. God’s blessings are overflowing and we give him all honor glory and praise. Discovery is still our main focal point since most of the children are lost, and our best chance to witness to them is there in class. Memorizing verses is one thing, but it opens the door wide open to explain what the verse means and an opportunity to give them the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are so close to more of our children accepting Christ and being saved.
We also need to remind you, our brethren, that we still need your support financially to keep the mission running. We are doing what we can by knocking on doors and asking folks to come and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached. We knocked on 110 doors this month and made 71 face to face contacts with folks. Pray with us that the Lord will bless our efforts.
Average Attendance: Sunday School 6, Morning Worship 6, Sunday Evening 6, Wednesday Evening 14. We made 71 contacts last month. Total Church Offering $1172.06, Total Given To Missions $157.21, Paid For Rent - $550.00, Total Received for Salary $500.00, Other Offerings Received For Mission $483.92.
Thanks and God Bless.
LARRY FRYE
DENTON
We had 6 Hispanics and 8 English speakers saved this month. Praise The Lord. He has sure opened us a door here in Denton. The Lord, He is Good. We had a great couple unite with us by letter this month. They are Roger and Christine Preuniger. I believe they are wanting to go to work. Bro. Roger, Bro. Rodriguez and I have been working on the dozer when we have time. It looks like we are going to be able to fix it for about $700.00. If you would like to help with this please do so. I would sure appreciate it.
Bro. Rodriguez could sure use some financial support. If you could consider that we would appreciate that, also.
We are still waiting for our plat plans to be approved so we can get started on our water line and grading. There is a gas company here that wants to drill for gas on our property. They tell us that we own the mineral rights. Wouldn't that be great! Please keep this in your prayers.
A very special thanks to our faithful supporters. When the Lord saves someone here you have played a great part in it. You have made a great investment in the souls of Denton and may the Lord richly bless you for that. Until next month, just keep on winning them souls. Praise the Lord!
Average Attendance: Sunday School 29, Morning Worship 29, Evening Worship 9, Wednesday Evening 11.
Your Missionary in Christ, Larry Frye
ROY FIKAC
ROUNDROCK
Attendance averages: Sunday School 42; Sunday Morning Worship 62; Sunday Evening Worship 25; and Wednesday Night Worship 28. Had a high attendance of 93 and a low of 47 on Sunday Morning. Received one on promise of letter; Mrs. Theda Crawford. Received 2 on profession of faith and baptism; Wayne and Rosalie Branham.
Offerings averaged $2,164.20. The mission gave $750.00 to missions and also paid another $2,412.55 on property.
The Brethren of Faith salute you and thank you for your support.
Sponsored by Modoc Missionary Baptist Church of Athens. Pastor, David Dawson.
DAVID HUMBER
ABILENE
We continue to be blessed with guests. We are so thankful for the folks the Lord allows to come our way. We try to express that as we welcome them.One example is Christian & Crystal Prickett. They are a young couple who have been very faithful guests in our Sunday morning services. Christian is the brother of one of our members. We are praying that this young couple will join the Texas Avenue church family. Our Youth Leadership Team is doing a great job with our youth. We elected this team, made up of four college age folks, a few months ago. We have seen great results. They continue to train our youth in some great bible studies on Wednesday nights as well as plan activities and supervise the church wide youth-led services that we have on one Sunday night each month. The idea we have is that this team will train other leaders within the youth group to eventually take their place on the Youth Leadership Team. Please continue to pray for us. We really appreciate the faithful support we received in October. We couldn't do it without you.
Total church offerings: $2,490.50 Gave to missions: $284.00 Paid on property: $888.00 Salary received from project: $1,140 Salary from others: $350.00 (+ half salary from M.B.A. of Texas) Average Attendance: Sunday School: 30 Morning Worship: 35 Evening Worship: 19 Mid-week Bible Study: 19