Reach Texas Offering nears $1.1 million goal

Economic difficulties in the past year did not deter Texas churches from generously giving to the Reach Texas Offering, the SBTC’s annual state missions offering. With final gifts still to be counted, giving looked just shy of the 2009-2010 goal of $1.1 million.

With September marking the start of the 2010-2011 Reach Texas giving year?a Reach Texas prayer emphasis was observed Sept. 19-26?the goal is again $1.1 million. This year’s theme, “Faces & Places,” reflects the diverse faces of the 25 million people who live in Texas.

“One hundred percent of the Reach Texas Offering goes for missions and evangelism ministries?all kinds of training, planter support, disaster relief, conferences, missions strategies. None of it goes to administration,” explained Terry Coy, SBTC missions director. “We are grateful to SBTC churches who, in the midst of economic difficulties, have been very generous in their support of the offering.”

Specifically, 50 percent of the offering funds church planting, 25 percent funds evangelism events and training, and the remaining 25 percent helps support various mission ministries, such as disaster relief and people group engagement.

Church planter Scott Mills said he is thankful for the ways the Reach Texas Offering has helped grow the kingdom within his community. Reach Texas money assists his church, Harvest Community Church in Martindale. Mills estimates they are able to make 100-150 spiritual contacts a month through everyday encounters and special outreach events.

During one such outreach event, Mills relayed how a couple accepted Christ and was baptized.

“God did an amazing work in their lives. Now they are very involved, inviting people to church and sharing Christ.” Mills said. “God used the events. It’s neat to see them grow and what this family is doing for him.”

Texas, with its population bursting, is geographically large and ethnically diverse, a daunting international mission field. Growing diversity is apparent in the larger cities, and with more than 100 languages spoken in Texas, a missions approach to the state is essential.

“We are keenly aware that we are in a very diverse state and are looking at how to be more effective in metropolitan areas, core cities and our borders,’ Coy said. “It’s going to take many methods and approaches to be, think and act like missionaries in our state.”

For example, Reach Texas gifts helped Pau Khup, a native of India, reach the Zomi people in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The Zomi are from India.

SBTC churches cooperating in Corpus Christi and Robstown are holding FAITH evangelism training clinics in Mexico, which has resulted in hundreds trained in evangelism and implemented in other parts of Mexico.

The SENT Missions Conference, supported by Reach Texas funds, helps equip and connect people to missions opportunities across the state. Attending the SENT conference served as the catalyst for an apartment ministry in their area.

A Reach Texas devotional booklet is a resource available to help communicate how Reach Texas gifts are impacting the state and is a guide for praying for ministry that is taking place. Each page shares an anecdotal story about how Reach Texas funds have spread the hope of Christ in the state.

Reach Texas promotional resources, including a bulletin insert, are downloadable at sbtexas.com/reachtexas. For additional information, e-mail tcoy@sbtexas.com, or call the SBTC missions office at 877-953-7782.