Pan Dulce

Make a Summer Run to the Border…Make Life Better

Buckner exists to make life better for at-risk children, orphans, and families. We do this in many places in Texas the USA, and around the world. One of those places is along the US-Mexico Border. We have five summer intern slots along border colonias on the Texas side of the border and have Mary Hill Davis funding available to pay expenses such as transportation, housing, and meals for a four week, eight week or ten week term. These slots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Student interns would serve in our humanitarian aid center in the Rio Grande Valley and with mission groups doing VBS, Backyard Bible Clubs, Sports Camps, building and repairing housing for families living in poverty, etc.

So here are the requirements:
We prefer that summer interns are bilingual, but that is not required for all slots. Students must be enrolled in a university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas to be eligible for a full intern scholarship. If you are interested in signing up for this opportunity for this summer, please call Dexton Shores at 210-771-2904 or email him at dshores@buckner.org for more information.

2 Million Pairs of Shoes…2 Million Lives Impacted

Today I have asked Rachel Garton, Director of Shoes for Orphan Souls to write about our Shoes program. You will enjoy this…

The countdown has begun.  Soon we will be receiving the 2-millionth pair of shoes.  As the Director of Shoes for Orphan Souls, I am always aware of the numbers:  the number of shoe drives that take place, the number of churches, radio stations, Rotarians and Girl Scouts troops involved, the number of shoes we receive, the number of volunteers this week at the Warehouse, the number of countries in which we distribute shoes, and the list goes on.    While numbers are important, when it comes to placing a new pair of shoes on a child’s feet, my perspective changes from quantity to quality.  No, I am not talking about the brand or construction of the shoes; I am talking about how the shoes are delivered.

On a shoe trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, we visited an orphanage about an hour and a half outside the city.  There were 125 children age 5 -16 and our goal was to spend the day with them.  We played with them, ate with them, shared a Bible story, constructed memory boxes and distributed shoes.  By the end of day we were exhausted – the children had zapped our energy.  On the drive back to St. Petersburg we learned that the children had not had anyone visit them in a year; in fact, the last group was a Buckner shoe team.  That was the day that I learned it is all about ‘quality.’ Anyone can collect and send shoes to those in need, but the true quality of shoes is shown when and how it is delivered.  It is about taking time with each child, playing with them, giving them attention and the all important hug; showing them that someone loves and cares about them. It’s about providing hope.

This year, Shoes for Orphan Souls is celebrating our 10th birthday.  With the help of our donors, from all 50 states and even a few from Canada and Mexico, more than 1.8 million pairs of shoes have been distributed in 68 countries.  That translates to 1.8 million children receiving ‘quality’ shoes.  

Join us as we eagerly await the arrival of the 2-millionth pair. Weekly updates will be posted on our website www.ShoesForOrphanSouls.org.   We will then follow that pair of shoes to the child who receives them.   Have you donated shoes yet?  Yours just might be the 2-millionth pair.

 

Legacy: 4,000 Hispanic Youth and Singles Congress at Baylor University

The annual meeting of “Congreso” at Baylor University featured the 45th anniversary of students and singles gathering on Easter weekend to celebrate education, vocation, and spiritual formation for their lives. Over 4,000 youth, singles, and youth leaders gathered to hear Gabe Salazar – Youth Pastor at South San Filadelfia Church in San Antonio, Sergio Ramos – Buckner Director of Church Relationships in Dallas and South Texas, “Salvador” and “Leeland” along with numerous breakouts and opportunities to go on mission in the Waco community. Gabe Salazar is one of the most dynamic youth speakers I have ever heard. He did an excellent job of connecting with youth. I know because our boys were totally engaged and their lives were changed. Sergio did an excellent job connecting with the crowd as well, in two languages. Both Gabe and Sergio spoke to the theme of legacy and destiny. Salvador? What an awesome time of worship. Leland seemed to really connect with the crowd as well.

Buckner staff such as Felipe Garza, VP for National Operations, Sandra Martinez, Director of Community Ministries at Primera Church in Dallas, Violeta Alvarado, Volunteer Coordinator at the Dallas Campus, and Cara Jane Crowson, Truett Student and Buckner Representative at Baylor gathered to serve future leaders of our Texas Baptist family. We made numerous contacts with pastors, students, youth workers, and singles who had not heard of Buckner before. Belinda accompanied me and served at the Buckner booth and our sons, Joshua, David, and Thomas attended the event as well.

The services were marked by the moving of the Holy Spirit in the lives of hundreds of teens. We saw youth come to faith in Christ, rededicate their lives, answer a call to vocational ministry, and commit to make a difference on their school campuses. Sweet 180, a worship band from South San Filadelfia led the worship experiences throughout the weekend. South San Filadelfia and Buckner share a collaborative agreement to serve the community of South San Antonio.

I had the privilege of running into several alumni from Baptist University of the Americas at Congreso who serve with Buckner, on church staffs and in other ministries. Buckner also enjoys a collaborative agreement with BUA through Patty Villarreal, Director of Community Ministries in Texas from that campus.

Buckner was well represented in Break-Outs and Exhibit Space. This is one example of how Buckner and its collaborative relationships with South San Filadelfia and BUA work together in collaboration with the BGCT to advance the work of the Kingdom. Hats off to Frank Palos, who coordinate this event with the help of his staff. What happens when more than 4,000 students, singles, and youth workers descend onto the campus of Baylor University and the Waco community on Easter weekend? Lives are changed, the community is blessed, and the risen Lord is celebrated.

Congreso, the largest three-day gathering of Texas Baptist youth in our state, is probably one of the best things Texas Baptists do and one way to ensure a Baptist and Christian witness for the future.

Orphan Summit 2009

Today I have asked Jeff Jones to write about the upcoming Orphan Summit in Dallas, Texas. My prayer is that churches all across the state and nation rediscover the force of James 1:27 and consider ways to serve children in distress. Jeff Jones is Director of Operational Effectiveness, International Operations for Buckner.

Dallas-Area Summit V: A Place to Start Your Church’s Orphan Ministry

Buckner exists to help children and families in need. Our ministry spans generations as we seek to minister to people God puts in our path. From elders to the newborn, we have a passion to impact lives for the Kingdom. That mandate is true here in Dallas Texas, across state and country borders, and across oceans. Nowhere is the need more pronounced than in the lives of orphans. But there are others who have that same passion, and we actively seek them out as collaborators in the global effort to change orphans’ lives.

In 2005 a group of incredibly passionate people came together to brainstorm ways to have a greater collaborative impact than as individual organizations in meeting orphan needs. Buckner was there as plans were made to host an orphan summit. Though not yet officially organized or recognized, this group of representatives sought to dream of ways to have a louder voice. Adoption agencies, foster care organizations, advocacy groups, orphan ministries, family ministries, and churches were present and decided to strategically analyze and attack the worldwide problem of forgotten children.

Three of the main agencies driving the process realized their voices were loud and could truly effect change. They were Shaohannah’s Hope, Focus on the Family, and Family Life’s Hope for Orphans. Today this group of agencies, advocacy groups, and churches is known as the Christian Alliance for Orphans. Over the past few years, this Alliance’s event, the Orphan Summit, has experienced exponential growth. The impact is difficult to measure in full because it is not limited to this event, or to the individual agencies involved. I am amazed at the doors God has opened as a result of this collaborative effort.

Our government has taken notice and millions have heard the message over the airwaves. Specifically, there has been an annual campaign called the “Cry of the Orphan.” Several radio programs focus their attention on the plight of the orphan and the need for Christians to act. Topics such as adoption, foster care, orphan ministry, missions, etc. are predominant features during this time. Web-addresses and email blasts spill out to the masses and the message is clear: “You can make a difference.”

On April 30-May1, the Alliance will hold its fifth annual Orphan Summit, hosted by the Tapestry ministry, at Irving Bible Church in Irving, Texas. Buckner will be present again, along with so many trusted partners in the Christian Alliance for Orphans. There is a mandate to care and advocate for these children and it is not solely in the hands of such organizations. The Church is called to action time and time again in the scriptures. Summit V will be an incredible opportunity for churches and individuals to see how they can help in practical and substantial ways.

Buckner is proud to be a member of the Christian Alliance for Orphans and we look forward to what God has in store this year at Summit V. Come see how your church can begin an orphan ministry and truly impact the “least of these.”

Visit www.christianalliancefororphans.org for more information.