Buildling Relationships One Person at a Time

Kay and Sammy Richardson

Guest blog by Kay Richardson

In December, a young man came into the Food Pantry. He had lost his job. He has a wife and two small children. We prayed for God to open the doors for a job and we gave him food for his family. My heart went out to him.

A couple of weeks ago, that same young man came back to the Food Pantry for his monthly meeting. He still had not gotten a job. When I asked, “Why?” Tears ran down his cheek and he told me he did not know why. He asked if we could help him out with clothes and shoes. He needed a pair of work shoes or boots. We rarely get men’s shoes…especially those that are in good shape! I asked him what size he needed and he said he needed a size 13; the same size my husband wears! I told him I would see what I could find and he should come back the following week.

The next week, my friend came walking into the Thrift Store and I was able to give him 2 pairs of shoes…one hardly worn and another that had been broken in pretty well, but still in good shape! He was very appreciative.

When he left the building, I stood there thinking of the lessons my Sunday morning Bible study class has been studying on Acts. Each lesson encouraging us to take the gospel to the people. We have had many discussions on how we need to build relationships with those with whom we want to share Jesus .

That very same young man joined us this past Wednesday night for our Free Community Dinner! Who know what God will do next!
 
I am grateful God has allowed me to volunteer in our Thrift Store and Food Pantry giving me a place to build relationships. It is my prayer that I will be Jesus to everyone who walks through that door and that I will get to share the love of Jesus with as many people as I can.
 
Here’s how you can be a part of this ministry!

We need new or slightly used men’s shoes. Tennis shoes, dress shoes, work shoes, boots…whatever you have! There are probably some shoes in your closet that you haven’t worn in ages and really aren’t going to wear again! Bring them by the church office or the Thrift Store! You will be a blessing to someone and you will be a part of building a relationship that could change a life for eternity!

VBS Answered Prayers

Guest blog by Kay Richardson

VBS on the #BTCampus is June 11-15... just days away! Things are coming together. The only area I'm a little weak in is guides and God has really answered some prayer this week!

Last Monday, I was in the church office when a man called and asked if he could enroll his 4th grade autistic son in our VBS. I spoke with him and asked if he could meet me Thursday so I could talk to him about his son. I have 2 adult guides for each grade level, but I knew I was going to need another adult in that 4th grade class because this little boy probably will need some 1 on 1. Later that afternoon, I was working in my SS room on some VBS stuff and a young woman came in. She said, "Do you have to be a member of the church to work in VBS?"

I told her NO, I could use the help! Then she said, "I'm a 4th grade teacher at the charter school."

I told her I had just the place for her! She then told me her parents have a small church on the west side of SA and she just wanted to be a part of our VBS to learn. She said they have some Swahili children who come to their church and asked if she could bring them to our VBS! Oh, my! What a blessing to have these sweet children come and be a part! She has to learn to drive her church's van so she can bring them! So pray she is able to drive their church van!

Now, know that we REALLY need guides for PK4 & Kinder!

I sat in front of the church at a VBS table to catch parents from the charter school to enroll children in VBS. We had sent home a flier the day before. I enrolled 2 different families. BOTH parents were interested in our Adult VBS AND one parent said she has 3 teenagers who would love to help!!! Hello PreK/K!!!

A couple of other people took registration forms with them and said they would return them later. I really was afraid they would forget – it was the last day of school – BUT they did not forget! One family registered a child and an 8th grader who might be a guide. Another family registered 5 kids.

We so want to reach out into our community for this VBS. Last year we did a prayer walk and passed out flyers but didn't get much response. This year we have sent fliers and set up tables at our school and day care. We will be doing two prayer walks and passing out fliers. This year we added "call the church office if you need van transportation" so we'll see what happens.

A young mother has been coming to my Sunday morning Bible study class. She and her kids are living in a women's shelter. She wants to bring her kids to VBS and help so we will be picking her up on a van! Perhaps there are others who live there who will want to come.

My van drivers are gonna be busy!

Please continue to pray for our VBS! If you can be a part of one of the Prayer Walks through the neighborhood that would be great! We have 2 opportunities to pray and pass out fliers on Saturday, June 3 from 9-11 and Friday, June 9 at 6pm.

I'm praying that God will use all of you to teach kids about Jesus and encourage them to follow him!

We will have time for set up on Saturday, June 10 from 9-12 and then after morning worship on Sunday, June 11. I plan to meet with the Guides at 3:30 and ALL volunteers at 4:30. We can then go eat dinner at 5 and we start at 6.

Baptist Temple's Walls Echo with the Sound of Ministry

Guest Blog by Kay Richardson

Listen! Can you hear the voices? Children singing, playing, learning, basketballs bouncing. Teachers teaching...in our charter school, daycare, Sunday school... Teenagers and adults singing, hammering, sawing, mowing, feeding, clothing, learning, ministering... We are alive and working hard to serve God on this corner of Drexel and Gevers.

I've been a member of Baptist Temple almost all my life. I grew up here. I was a child when the construction for our gym building began. I was a young married adult when this beautiful sanctuary was remodeled.

My dad was chairman of the building committee when the gym and connecting building was built. The committee chose the verse in Psalm 127:1, “ Unless the Lord builds the house, the work of the laborers is in vain”. 

At one point a prominent member of the church came to my dad and told him, “If you build a gym this church will go down the drain!” 

I'm thankful my dad and his committee listened to the voice of God! He and his committee listened when the architect encouraged them to make the walls non-load bearing to allow flexibility in the years to come and that has proved helpful just this past year! My dad served on many committees that ensured these buildings would be strong and useful for ministry for many years to come.

So I learned at an early age that these big buildings come with the responsibility of taking care of them...of always looking not just to the present but to the future. These are important buildings but never more important than what happens within them.

Baptist Temple is a facility that God uses for ministry and service and I believe God wants us to make sure this facility is in good repair so that our ministry can continue. I support the Heartstrong for CHRIST Campaign because it takes money to do God's business and we continue to strive to do His business here at Baptist Temple!

It's like being small pieces of a puzzle...one small piece added to another small piece, added to another small piece will enable us to complete the picture! It will take all of us. 2 Corinthians 8:2 says “though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, they have mixed their abundance of joy with their deep poverty, and the result has been an overflow of giving generously.” 

Some can give just a little, some can give a little more, and some will be able to give big amounts. We'll put our money together and our finished product with help us to complete an even bigger task!

When I first heard that we were headed into a capital funds campaign, I began to pray. Then Sammy and I began to talk and pray. Sammy, my mom, and I began to read the devotionals that guided our thoughts and prayers each day helping to prepare our hearts for what God wants us to do. 2 Corinthians 8:8 says, “This is one way to prove that your love is real, that it goes beyond mere words.”

Sam and I have been better off financially in years past than we are right now so with past campaigns we “upped” our giving but it wasn't as much a sacrifice as this one may be for us. Tithing is almost thoughtless for us....it has always been just a given...it's what we should do. Giving above our tithe requires thought, planning, and prayer.

God has not given us a final number yet. He has brought a percentage to mind and he has brought to mind things we can do without so that we can give a little more. Sammy and I will continue to pray and ask God to lay on our hearts what He would have us give.

In the spring of 2009, Baptist Singing Men of Texas sang here in this room. The words to one of the songs were, “I'll follow you down any road at any cost.” One of the men shared a story of a woman who wanted so deeply to give an offering. She said, “I've given all I have. I can't give anymore.” and then she wept. The question God asked me that night and continues to ask me is “When have you wept like that? When have you given like that?”

Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” 

God began a good work in this church over 100 years ago and He will continue to be with us as we allow Him to work through us to complete His purpose through our sacrificial giving.